Latvia

Official name: Republic of Latvia

Capital city: Riga

Internet country code: .lv

 Flag description: Three horizontal bands of maroon (top), white (half-width), and maroon

National anthem: “Dievs, sv¯et¯ı Latviju!” (God bless Latvia!), by K¯arlis Baumanis (better known as Bauman˛u K¯arlis)

National bird: Balt¯a cielava or white wagtail (Motacilla alba)

National flower: P¯ıpene or daisy (Leucanthemum vulgare,

earlier also known as Chrysanthemum leucanthemum)

National insect: Two-spot ladybird (Adalia bipunctata)

National river: Daugava, the “river of fate” or “mother of rivers”

National stone: Amber

National trees: Linden, or lime tree (Tilia cordata, Latvian: liepa) and the oak (Quercus robur, Latvian: ozols)

Geographical description: Eastern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea, between Estonia and Lithuania

Total area: 24,938 sq. mi. (64,589 sq. km.)

Climate: Maritime; wet, moderate winters

Nationality: noun: Latvian(s); adjective: Latvian

Population: 2,259,810 (July 2007 CIA est.)

Ethnic groups: Latvian 59%, Russian 28.5%, Belarusian 3.8%, Ukrainian 2.5%, Polish 2.4%, other (including Lithuanian) 3.8%

Languages spoken: Latvian (official; also called Lettish) 58.2%, Russian 37.5%, Lithuanian and other 4.3%

Religions: Roman Catholic 22%, Lutheran 20%, Russian Orthodox 15%