Latvia

Latvia

Latvia / is a country located in the Baltic region in Northern Europe. It is bordered on the north by Estonia, to the south by Lithuania, to the east by the Russian Federation, to the southeast by Belarus, and it shares maritime borders to the west with Sweden

Latvia is located in northern Europe, on the eastern shores of the Baltic Sea, and the northwestern part of Eastern Europe, between latitudes 55 ° and 58 ° north (a small area to the north of 58 °), and longitudes 21 ° and 29 ° E (a small area to the west of 21 °). Latvia has a total area of ​​64559 km2 (24926 sq mi) of which 62157 km2 (23999 sq mi) land, 18 159 km2 (7011 sq mi) and agricultural land, 34964 km2 forest land (13,500 sq mi) and 2402 km2 in inland waters (927 sq mi) 

The total length of the Latvia border is 1866 km (1159 mi). Its total land border length is 1368 km (850 mi), of which 343 km (213 mi) are shared with Estonia in the north, 276 km (171 mi) with the Russian Federation to the east, 161 km (100 mi) with Belarus in the southeast. And 588 km (365 mi) with Lithuania in the south. Its maritime border is 498 km (309 mi), which shares Estonia, Sweden and Lithuania. The extension from north to south is 210 km (130 mi) and from west to east 450 km (280 mi

Most of the territory of Latvia is less than 100 meters (330 feet) above sea level. Its largest Lubāns lake is 80,7 km2 (31.2 sq mi), Deep Lake Drīdzis is 65.1 meters (214 feet). The longest river in the territory of Latvia is Gauja, 452 km (281 mi). The longest river that flows through the territory of Latvia is Daugava, which has a total length of 1,005 km (624 mi) of which 352 meters (1,155 feet) are in the territory of Latvia. The highest point in Latvia is Gaiziņkalns, 311.6 meters (1,022 feet). Along the Baltic coastline Latvia is 494 km (307 mi). At the entrance to the Baltic Sea, it is located on a shallow bay of Riga in the northwest

Most parts of the country consist of fertile plains and mild low hills. A typical view of Latvia is a mosaic of vast forests alternating with fields, farms, and pastures, amid the arable land of birch trees and wooded groups, which carry many habitats for plants and animals. Latvia has hundreds of kilometers of undeveloped beaches lined with pine forests, dunes, and continuous white sandy beaches

Latvia has the highest 4 percent of forested land in the European Union, after Finland, Sweden and Slovenia. Forest account for 3,497,000 hectares (86,400,000 dunams), or 56% of the total land area

Latvia has more than 12,500 rivers that extend to 38,000 km (24,000 miles). Major rivers include the Daugava River, Lielupe, Gauja, Venta, and Salaca, the largest fertile land for salmon in the eastern Baltic states. There are 2,256 lakes that are larger than 1 hectare (2.5 acres), and a collective area of ​​1,000 km2 (390 sq mi). Muds occupy 9.9% of the territory of Latvia. Of these, 42% swamps are raised, 49% are phenols, and 9% are transitional clays. 70 percent of all clays are exposed by civilization, and they constitute a refuge for rare species of plants and animals

Agricultural areas account for 1,815,900 hectares (4,487,000 dunams), or 29% of the total land area. With the dismantling of collective farms, the area devoted to cultivation has decreased dramatically - now mostly small farms. Nearly 200 farmers and the occupation of 2,750 hectares (6,800 acres) are involved in environmentally pure agriculture (that is, without the use of industrial fertilizers or pesticides)

Public parks in Latvia National Park National Park in Vidzim (since 1973), National Park in (1997), National Park in Kurzim (1999) and National Park in 2007

Latvia has a long tradition of conservation: laws and regulations 1 were promulgated in the 16th and 17th centuries. There are 706 countries specially at the level of protected natural areas in Latvia, including: 4 national parks (1), biosphere reserves, 42 nature parks, 9 landscape areas, 260 nature reserves, 4 strict nature reserves, and nature features 355, 7 Marine protected areas

The National Reserve for the regions account for 12,790 km2 (4,940 sq mi) or about 20% of the total area in Latvia. The book Latvia Red (endangered list of species from Latvia), founded in 1977, contains 112 species of plants and animals 119. Latvia has ratified the Washington International, Berne, and Conventions

The 2012 Environmental Performance Index is ranked Latvia 2 after Switzerland, based on the environmental performance of country policies

Since the end of the communist era, the government has been allocating public sector services. In 2000, Latvia achieved the highest economic growth rate in Europe. Its entry into the European Union in 2004 helped the economy tremendously. The most important industries are machinery, fishing, furniture and textiles. Northern European countries are the most important trading partners. Tourism, especially on the shores of the Baltic Sea, is an important factor in the development of the economy

Rail and road roads are concentrated around the capital, Riga. Most of the rails are used for cargo transport purposes, but there are passenger lines connecting the country with important nearby cities such as Vilnius, Kaunas, Minsk, Moscow and St. Petersburg. Riga Airport is the country's largest airport, from which Baltic Aviation International is based. The highway runs through the Baltic Road from the south to the north of the country. There are seaports in Riga, Ventspils and Libya, as many ferries run to Scandinavia and Germany