LATVIA

Letonca:Latvija Estonca:Lati

Almanca:Lettland Fransızca:Lettonnieİspanyolca:Letonia

İsvecce:Latviaİngilizce:Latvia

GEOGRAPHY• Latvia, officially the Republic of Latvia , is a country in the Baltic

region of Northern Europe.• It is between latitudes 55° and 58° N(a small area is north of 58°), and

longitudes 21°and 29° E(a small area is west of 21°).Haritadaki konumu: Avrupa

• Latvia has a total area of 64,559 km2 of which 62,157 km2 land, 18,159 km2 agricultural land, 34,964 km2 forest land and 2,402 km2 inland water.

• The total length of Latvia's boundary is 1,866 km of which 343 km is shared with Estonia to the north, 276 km with the Russian Federation to the east, 161 km with Belarus to the southeast and 588 km with Lithuania to the south.

• The total length of its maritime boundary is 498 km, which is shared with Estonia,Sweden and Lithuania.

• Latvia has a temperate climate that has been described in various sources as either humid continental or oceanic/maritime

• Most of the country is composed of fertile lowland plains and moderate hills.

• Most of Latvia's territory is less than 100 m above sea level.• Latvia's highest point is Gaiziņkalns, 311.6 m• Mires occupy 9.9% of Latvia's territory. Of these, 42% are

raised bogs; 49% are fens; and 9% are transitional mires. 70% percent of the mires are untouched by civilisation, and they are a refuge for many rare species of plants and animals.

• Utilised agricultural areas account for 1,815,900 ha (4,487,000 acres) or 29% of the total land area

Demographics

• Latvians formed 68.3% of the total population of 1.93 million; Russians accounted for 12%, Jews for 7.4%, Germans for 6.2%, and Poles for 3.4%.

• Sex ratio• at birth: 1.054 male(s)/female

under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female15–64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.48 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.86 male(s)/female (2011 est.)

• On 1 January 2011 the average age was 41.6 years - 6 months more than the average age published earlier.

• Population growth rate• -0.598% (2011 est.)• Birth rate• 9.97 births/1,000 population (2011 est.)• Birth rate• 9.97 births/1,000 population (2011 est.)• Death rate• 13.6 deaths/1,000 population (July 2011 est.)• Net migration rate• -2.34 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2011 est.)• Urbanization• urban population: 68% of total population (2010)

rate of urbanization: -0.4% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

• Total population: 72.68 yearsmale: 67.56 yearsfemale: 78.07 years (2011 est.)

• Total fertility rate• 1.33 children born/woman (2011 est.)• noun: Latvian(s) (archaic: Lett(s))

adjective: Latvian (archaic: Lettish)• Ethnic groups• Latvian 59.3%, Russian 27.8%, Belarusian 3.6%,

Ukrainian 2.5%, Polish 2.4%, Lithuanian 1.3%, other 3.1% (2009)

• Religions• Lutheran 19.6%, Orthodox 15.3%, other Christian

1%, other 0.4%, unspecified 63.7% (2006)• Languages• Latvian (official) 58.2%, Russian 37.5%, Lithuanian

and other 4.3% (2000 census)

• Literacy Definition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 99.7%male: 99.8%female: 99.7% (2000 census)

• School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)• total: 15 years

male: 14 years female: 17 years (2008)

• Education expenditures• 5% of GDP (2007)• Maternal mortality rate• 20 deaths/100,000 live births (2008)• Health expenditures• 8.1% of GDP (2009)• Physicians density• 2.988 physicians/1,000 population (2009)• Hospital bed density• 6.42 beds/1,000 population (2009)• Obesity - adult prevalence rate• 15.6% (2006)

• The total number of phone lines: 731,000 (2005)• Dialing code: 371• The abbreviation of the internet: .lv-.eu• Internet service provider: 42 (2000)• Internet users: 1.03 milyon (2005)• Network of railways: 2,303 km (2005)• Network of highway: 69,532 km (2004 verileri)• Network of waterway: 300 km (2005)• Pipeline: natural gas 1,097 km; crude oil82 km; oil products 415 km

(2006)• Harbours: Daugavpils, Liepaja, Riga, Ventspils• Airports: 46 • Unit of currency:Lat• Symbol:Ls• Banknotes:5-10-20-50-100-500Ls• Hard cash:1Ls= 100 cm • 1-2-5-10-20-50 cm and 1-2 Ls

Prejeduces and Streotypes for Latvia

• Latvia is a cold country• Latvians eat fish so much• Latvian girs are beautiful and wear fashionable• Latvians don’t do sunbathing• Almost everyone in Latvia speak Russian• Latvia is a beautiful and cold country• Almost every season is clousy and snowy• Women are more active in working life

• Drivers are driving crazy• There is so much traffic accident• Their summer festivals are so populer• Education is very important there• They like animals.• The most popular game is ice-hockey.• They like playing with snow.• Youngsters are easy-going.• The population is composed of much more

older than youngsters.