Geography of Latvia

The Latvia is located on the coasts of the the Baltic. It is bordered in the south by the Lithuania (453 km), in south-east by the Bielorussia (141 km), in the east by the Russia (217 km) and in north by the Estonia (331 km) that is to say a total of 1150 km borders. It belongs to the Baltic States.

Latvia extends from the 55°04' NR in the Valmieras rajons with the 55°37' S close to Daugavpils and of the 20°57' E beside Liepaja with 28°15' E in the Ludzas let us rajons

The capital is Rīga (753 000 hab.); the other main cities are (Lielpilseta): Daugavpils (112 000 hab.), Liepaja (84 000 hab), Jelgava, Jurmala, Ventspils, Rezekne.

Of a surface of 64.589 km ², Latvia is comparable with Denmark, in Estonia, in the Netherlands or Switzerland.

Formation

The physical aspect of Latvia as of the adjoining countries is due mainly to the period of glaciation of the Pléistocène which took place during the quaternary one. It gave, by the movement of the glaciers, the slightly undulating landscape of today and which covers 75% of the country.

Landscape

Latvia is a country of low altitude: 98% of the territory are with less than 200 m (higher point to 312 m, Gaizinkalns).

The forests cover 41% of the territory. The dominant species of trees are the common spruce and the woodland Pin which represent two thirds of the forest cover. Thanks to a stage low preserved, the bays are numerous there as well as mushrooms, this is why the gathering is a very snuffed pastime of the population. However, it is interesting to note that this forest suffered from violent storms during the years 1960 and that trees multi centenaries were torn off.

The arable lands account for 27% of the total territory and are mainly located in the area of Zemgale, the grazing grounds 13% and 10% are covered with marshes.

Fauna

Fauna is very varied and the particularly many animal population. Latvia belongs to the countries which still count specimens of Lynx of Eurasia in a wild state. Certain forests shelter wolves but mainly Sanglier S, various deer tribe, dash S or russet-red foxes.

The territory also counts a great number of Cigogne S black or white, beaver S, eagles pomarins as well as Loutre S.

This richness is however resulting from a fragile balance which the human pressure tends to upset. On the one hand, because of the reduction of space wild to the profit of agriculture and on the other hand, because of the hunting of the wolf or the beaver in purely entertaining matter or based on the fear.

Climate

Its climate is continental in spite of a strong maritime influence of the Baltic which borders the Western part of it. The summer season is short with intersaisons also very reduced; the winter thus lasts nearly 8 months. Rīga knows temperatures of -10°C with -4°C in January for temperatures active of 11°C with 22°C in July. The coastal part is however more moderate and wetter (6,6°C of average temperature and 701 mm of precipitations in Liepaja) that areas close to Russia or Bielorussia (5.5°C and 633mm with Daugavpils).

Hydrography

The country counts more than 12.000 rivers and rivers, but only 17 make more than 100 km. The principal ones are the Daugava, the Lielupe and the Gauja. The mode of the rivers is nival and rain as a whole and more than 60% of the water which runs out in Latvia comes from the frontier countries to the south. Moreover, territory is covered of lakes (the rumor wants that there is more than 3000), the majority tiny and eutrophic.

Most of the network is opened with fishing winter as be but the animal populations remain stable.

Coasts

Latvia counts 531 km of sandy coasts and its ports, in particular Liepaja and Ventspils, know an important traffic because, unlike the Russian or Estonian ports, they are practically always free of ice. The Gulf of Rīga, not very deep and partially isolated from the remainder of the Baltic by the Estonian islands Saaremaa and Hiiumaa as well as the Isthmus from Courlande, is particularly polluted. However, certain factories were closed in the area, and certain communes of the gulf of Rīga obtained the Blue Pavillon of Europe.

The coasts, except for Jurmala, being territories borders lasting the Soviet era, the houses were all shaven. That made it possible to limit the human pressure on the dunes which are become again more or less wild. However, the years which followed independence saw to be accentuated illegal construction for a fast profit without any reaction of the government. If this last does not intervene quickly, the wild coast that Latvia presents could very quickly worsen.

The territorial water is rather rich in fish and makes it possible to generate certain incomes with export. They extend on 12 miles (either 22 km) and ZEE on 200 miles (or 367 km).

Natural resources

Latvia cannot pride itself to have enormously natural resources excluded wood, some careers (of Calcaire, Gypse, Argile or Dolomite) and peats. The country enorgueillit in addition to be itself that of the Amber and it is not rare to find some on the beaches; this resource is very required in the jewelry.

Administrative divisions

It is divided into four great geographical areas and histories which have also an administrative but secondary value:

the Zemgale which covers the great southern part, it is primarily agricultural from its past on the one hand but also thanks to the fertility of its grounds.
the Kurzeme which covers the western part, is a coastal region whose two main cities are old fishing ports. The sea front is flat with however some hills in the back country.
the Latgale which covers the south-eastern part; the argillaceous grounds of this part of the country allow only little agriculture. The economy is unfortunately not very flourishing. The other characteristic of this area is the strong proportion of catholics.
the Vidzeme in north; it is the most mountainous part; agriculture is directed mainly towards the breeding but the sector which seems to bore is well tourism.

In addition to the above mentioned areas, Latvia is subdivided in Rajons (cantons).

These entities themselves are divided into Pilseta S (cities), Pagasts (common) or Novads (communities of communes). The territory counts seven cities with the special statute in addition; they are the Lielpilseta S. Each subdivision have a sphere of influence on the various aspects of the public service and perceive part of the income taxes paid by the people being recorded in the subdivision.

See too

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