Letonia
Nestled in the Baltic region of Northern Europe, Latvia, officially the Republic of Latvia, is a charming nation bordered by Estonia, Lithuania, Russia, and Belarus. With a population of 1.9 million, it boasts a temperate seasonal climate perfect for exploring its capital, Riga. Latvians, part of the Baltic ethnolinguistic group, converse in Latvian, while a significant minority of the population speaks Russian. Latvia’s history is rich, having gained independence in 1918, experiencing a period of dictatorship, and enduring both Nazi and Soviet occupations. Today, it thrives as a democratic parliamentary republic, its advanced economy ranking 39th in the Human Development Index.
