Latvia is a country located in Northern Europe, bordered by Estonia to the north, Lithuania to the south, Russia to the east, Belarus to the southeast, and the Baltic Sea to the west. Its strategic location along the Baltic Sea has historically made it a crossroads for trade and cultural exchange.

Latvia has a population of approximately 1.8 million people. The majority of the population are ethnic Latvians, making up around 62%, with a significant minority of ethnic Russians at about 25%. Other minority groups include Belarusians, Ukrainians, Poles, and Lithuanians. 

Riga, the capital of Latvia, is situated on the Gulf of Riga, where the Daugava River flows into the Baltic Sea. It’s the biggest city in the Baltic States (Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia). Founded in 1201 by Bishop Albert as a key point for the Germanic Crusaders, the city soon became a busy trading center because of its great location at the crossing of important trade routes. In the 13th century, Riga became an important part of the Hanseatic League, a group of merchant guilds and their market towns that controlled trade in the Baltic Sea.

Latvian, the official language, is one of the oldest languages in Europe. It’s part of the Baltic language group, along with Lithuanian, and has preserved many archaic features no longer found in other Indo-European languages.

The Latvian flag is one of the oldest in the world, dating back to the 13th century. Its distinctive red and white design is believed to symbolise a historic battle where a wounded chief’s white sheet, stained by his blood, became the flag.