29 interesting facts about Latvia

Located in the Baltic States, Latvia is a very interesting country for an inquisitive tourist. Walking along the narrow winding streets of old Riga or enjoying the amazing nature somewhere outside the city is definitely worth it.

Facts about the country of Latvia

1. Here is the only one in all of Europe bobsleigh track of the highest class.
2. The Latvian flag is one of the oldest in the world.
3. The official language in Latvia is only one – Latvian, but in fact more than a third of the population here speaks Russian. Many also speak English.
4. The most popular name in this country, according to statistics, is Janis.
5. Almost a third of the population of Latvia lives in the capital, Riga.
6. Riga, by the way – the largest city in the Baltics.
7. Children under 16 years old are allowed to ride a bicycle here only with a special driver’s license. To get them, you need to pass an exam.
8. For driving a bicycle while intoxicated, the violator is entitled to a fine of several thousand euros and an arrest for a couple of weeks to think about his behavior.
9. Before the transition to the euro in 2014, Latvia used the national currency – lats, and the lat was one one of the most expensive currencies in the world.
10. Not all citizens of Latvia have all civil rights. Persons in this category are issued «alien’s passport» with limited rights.
11. Public transport is never late here.
12. In 1937, a resident of Latvia, Walter Zapp, invented the world’s first compact movie camera that could be used by holding it in his hands.
13. The air here is always clean and fresh, and all because the fight for the environment in this country is paid a huge impact. The ecological situation here is better than even in Finland, second only to Switzerland (Facts about Switzerland).
14. The Latvian army is one of the smallest in Europe. Only about 6,000 professional soldiers serve on a permanent contract basis.
15. In the Latvian city of Cēsis, there is one of the world’s oldest operating breweries, which began its work at the end of the 16th century.
16. Famous Soviet films «Seventeen moments of spring» and «The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes» were filmed in Latvia.
17. The period when the Latvian territories were part of the USSR is considered the period of occupation here.
18. Contrary to a common myth, Latvia does not belong to Eastern Europe, but to Northern Europe.
19. Once upon a time, this country, which was then called Courland, had its own colonies in Africa and in the Caribbean Sea (facts about the Caribbean Sea).
20. The national stone of Latvia is amber. Most tourists who come here buy souvenirs with amber.
21. The Latvian flag is confusingly similar to the Austrian one, and differs only in shade.
22. Here is the widest (almost 250 meters!) in Europe, a waterfall called «Kuldyga».
23. About half of the territory of Latvia is covered with forests.
24. The percentage of the population with higher education is one of the highest in the world.
25. Latvian has no official religion.
26. Smart mobile Internet catches on 99% of the country, just like in neighboring Estonia (facts about Estonia).
27. Latvian folklore includes almost a million traditional songs.
28. The law prohibits anyone in Latvia from keeping dogs of fighting breeds at home.
29. On Independence Day, every house here is required to display the state flag for all to see. Violators will have to pay a fine.