Latvia is a country located in Eastern Europe on the Gulf of Riga and the Baltic Sea. It is bordered by Estonia on the north, Lithuania and Belarus on the south, and Russia on the east. It is 64,589 square kilometers in land area, slightly larger than the state of West Virginia.
Latvia is a republic, and the capital is Riga. It was a Socialist Republic of the former USSR, declaring its independence on August 21, 1991, during the attempted coup against the Gorbachev regime in Moscow. The Soviet Union recognized Latvia as an independent nation in September 1991.
The region has been under control of foreign powers since the 12th century. These powers included Germany, Poland, Sweden, and finally, Russia. Before World War I, Latvia was occupied by the Germans and the Russians. From 1918-1939, it was an independent republic, but was assigned by Germany in 1939 to the Soviets as part of the Treaty of Non-Aggression. On August 5, 1940 Latvia officially became part of the Soviet Union (USSR).
The population is 2,231,503 (July 2009 est.).
The name “Latvia” is derived from “Latgalians”, which is the name of one of four eastern Baltic tribes which lived in Latvia from the 8th to the 12th centuries AD. There are two major ethnic groups, Latvians (57 per cent) and Russian (30 per cent). Major languages are Lettish (official), Lithuanian, and Russian. Chief religions are Lutheran, Roman Catholic, and Russian Orthodox.
Industries include agriculture, machinery, and textiles. Natural resources include arable land, peat, limestone, dolomite and amber.
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