General Information about Latvia

Latvia is one of the three Baltic States and is located between Lithuania and Estonia, in the North-East of Europe and at the eastern shore of the Baltic Sea.

The landscape of Latvia is characterized by lowlands and hilly uplands. Most part of the country is elevated not higher than 100 m above sea level, with no high mountains but plenty of rivers and lakes.

Area: 64 589 sq km 
Total length of national border: 1 862 km 
Length of Latvia’s Baltic coastline: 494 km 
Population: 2 236 910 million (2011) 
Capital: Riga
 
Local time: GMT/CET +2

Government: parliamentary democracy 
Head of State: President Andris Bērziņš 
Head of Government: Prime Minister Valdis Dombrovskis

Administrative territorial division:  from July 1 2009 109 regions and  9 republic cities (Riga, Daugavpils, Jēkabpils, Jelgava, Jurmala, Liepaja, Rezekne,

Valmiera, Ventspils) were created.
Latvia's cultural and historic regions: Kurzeme, Zemgale, Vidzeme, Latgale
Largest lake: Lubans, 80,7 sq km 
Deepest lake: Dridzis, 65,1 m 
Longest river within the territory of Latvia: Gauja, 452 km 
Largest river flowing through the territory of Latvia: Daugava, 1 005 km (within Latvia: 352 km)
Highest point: Gaizinkalns 311,6 m

Major cities: 
Riga ~ population 715 978 
Daugavpils ~104 870 
Liepaja ~ 85 149 
Jelgava ~ 65 630 
Jurmala ~ 56 069 
Ventspils ~ 43 088