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Latvia
Physical
Latvia is located in Northeastern Europe, bordering Estonia to the north,
Russia to the east, Lithuania to the south, and the Baltic Sea to the west. It
covers an area slightly larger than West Virginia. The climate is maritime with
wet, moderate winters. A low plain runs across much of the land to form the
Latvian terrain. Natural resources are minimal and include amber, peat,
limestone, and dolomite.
People
More than 2.3 million people live in Latvia. The official language is
Lettish, while Russian, Lithuanian, and other languages are also spoken.
Ethnically, the population is composed of Latvians (57%), Russians (30%),
Belorussians (4%), Ukrainians (3%), Polish (3%), and other (3%). The major
religious groups in Latvia include Lutheran, Roman Catholic, and Russian
Orthodox.
Government
The country is officially known as the Republic of Latvia or Latvijas
Republika to local inhabitants and consists of 26 counties and 7
municipalities (totaling 33 administrative divisions). Its capital, Riga, is
located in the central region of the country about 10 miles off the Gulf of Riga
coastline. On November 18, 1991, the Soviet Union recognized Latvia's independence. A member of the United Nations, Latvia is a parliamentary
democracy with a president elected by parliament to a four-year term. The prime
minister is appointed to office by the president.
Economy
Latvia's transitional economy recovered
from the 1998 Russian financial crisis, largely due to the Skele government's
budget stringency and a gradual reorientation of exports toward EU countries,
lessening Latvia's trade dependency on Russia. The majority of companies, banks,
and real estate have been privatized. Latvia officially joined the World Trade
Organization in February 1999. Preparing for EU membership over the next few
years continues as a top foreign policy goal. The high current account and
internal government deficits remain major concerns. The gross domestic
product (GDP) is comprised of: agriculture (5%), industry (26%), and services
(70%).
Areas of Concern
Pollution of the Gulf of Riga and the Daugave River, and contamination of
soil and groundwater at military bases are the nation's primary environmental concerns.
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