Latvia facts

In Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. The demonstration called The Baltic Way marked the 50th anniversary of the Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact between the Soviet Union and Nazi Germany (which divided Eastern Europe into spheres of influence and led to the occupation of the Baltic states in 1940). The chain connected the three Baltic capitals – Vilnius, Riga, and Tallinn. Video footage taken from airplanes and helicopters showed an almost continuous line of people across the countryside. Few months later all three republics declared independence.

Latvia. Courland is one of the historical and cultural regions in western Latvia. The largest city is Liepāja, the third largest city in Latvia. The regions of Semigallia and Selonia are sometimes considered as part of Courland as they were formerly held by the same duke.

Allasch is a type of caraway liqueur of around 40% ABV, usually flavoured with bitter almonds, anise, angelica root and orange peel. Invented in 1823 in Allasch in Latvia, a von Blanckenhagen family property, it was widely popular and produced there until 1944 when the Soviet Union re-occupied Latvia and expelled ethnic Germans from the region. In Latvia it's still produced under the name "Allažu ķimelis".

Euro. The Latvian lats (plural lati) was the currency used in Latvia in 1922—1940 and in 1993—2013. On 1 January 2014, Latvian lats was replaced by the euro.

Riga. With 700,000 inhabitants (2015), Riga is the largest city of the Baltic states and home to one third of Latvia's population.

Daugava. The Daugava or Western Dvina is the second largest river (by river discharge) flowing into the Baltic Sea, after the Neva.

Latvia. Non-citizens in Latvian law are individuals who are not citizens of Latvia or any other country, but who, in accordance with the Latvian law "Regarding the status of citizens of the former USSR who possess neither Latvian nor other citizenship", have the right to a non-citizen passport issued by the Latvian government as well as other specific rights. Approximately two thirds of them are ethnic Russians, followed by Belarusians, Ukrainians, Poles, and Lithuanians.