Period 1-2

1. Statue of Liberty Period 1-2 Latvia Ashley McLean

2. Introduction The name comes from: originates from the ancient “Latgalians”, one of four eastern Baltic tribes that formed the ethnic core of the Latvian people (ca. 8th-12th centuries A.D.). The region came under the control of Germans, Poles, Swedes, and finally, Russians. A Latvian republic emerged following World War I, but it was annexed by the USSR in 1940.An action never recognized by the US and many other countries. Latvia reestablished its independence in 1991 following the breakup of the Soviet Union.

3. Nauda-Money Currency information: Latvian Lat (LVL; symbol Ls) = 100 santims. Notes are in denominations of Ls500, 100, 50, 20, 10 and 5. Coins are in denominations of Ls2 and 1, and 50, 20, 10, 5, 2 and 1 santims. There are no restrictions on the import or export of local or foreign currency.

4. Population • 2,231,503 has of July 2010, the population growth rate -0.614% has of 2010. • The birth rate is: 9.78 births/1,000 population. The Death rate is: 13.62 deaths/1,000 has of July 2010.The Migration rate is: -2.3 migrant(s)/1,000 has of 2010. Nationality is: Latvian(s).Ethnic Groups are: Latvian 59.3%, Russian 27.8%, Belarusian 3.6%, Ukrainian 2.5%, Polish 2.4%, Lithuanian 1.3%, other 3.1% has of 2009.The official language is: Latvian 58.2%, Russian 37.5%, Lithuanian and other 4.3%. Ja/Yes Ne/NoSveiki/HelloVisulabu/ByeLabdien/Good dayLudzu/Please Paldies/ThanksTe/here Coat of Arms

5. Lutheran-19.6% Orthodox-15.3% Christian-1% Other-63.7% Religion

6. Geography • Located in Eastern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea, in between Estonia and Lithuania. Slightly larger then West Virginia. The Climate is wet, moderate winters. The natural resources are: peat, limestone, dolomite, amber, hydropower, timber, arable land. Most of the countries is low lying- plain with some hills in the east. The Capital is Riga. Largest Cities: Rīga, Daugavpils, Liepāja, Jelgava, Jūrmala, Rēzekne, and Ventspils. National bird WhiteTail National Bug <--Ladybug

7. Music & Art & Literature • Some of the famous painters in Latvia are: • IvetaPriedite • Martins Krumins • IngmaraZalite • The Music they listen to mostly is folk songs, and Opera.

8. Food • The food normally is traditional. Latvia's most popular national foods are usually considered to be caraway cheese, grey peas with bacon, bacon-filled pastries made from yeast dough and a special rye bread prepared according to ancient recipes

9. Government • Country name is: Latvian Soviet Socialist Republic, government type is: parliamentary democracy. Independence from the Soviet Russia was: 18 November 1918. • National Holiday, Independence Day, 18 November (1918); President-ValdisZatlers Prime Minister

10. Economy • GDP plunged nearly 18% in 2009 - the three former Soviet Baltic republics had the world's worst declines last year. The IMF, EU, and other donors provided assistance to Latvia as part of an agreement to defend the currency's peg to the euro and reduce the fiscal deficit to about 5% of GDP. GDP exchange rate has of 2009, $26.25 billion. Unemployment rate has of 2009 17.1%. Agriculture products are:

11. Basic Facts: • Writing sins on rocks, then tossing the rocks into a body of water, will allow a person to atone for their sins…Sometimes Preformed before a wedding • Red Ribbon, symbolizes the future of the bribe and groom • Latvian carved wooden spoons make great, easily-packed souvenirs • 26 counties and 7 municipalities

12. Flag Description Three horizontal bands of maroon at the top, white in the middle. The flag is one of the older banners of the world. Red standard with a white stripe being used by Latvian tribes in about 1280. Flag was adopted in 1922. The Latvian’s blood for liberty white stripe may stand for the sheet that