Facts about Riga
Riga is the capital of Latvia. Riga is situated on the Baltic Sea coast on the mouth of the river Daugava. Riga is the largest city in the Baltic states. The Historic Centre of Riga has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Riga is particularly notable for its extensive Art Nouveau (Jugendstil) architecture, which UNESCO considers to be unparalleled anywhere in the world. Riga International Airport, the largest airport in the Baltic states. Business and leisure travel to Riga has increased significantly in recent years due to improved infrastructure. Riga as a city-port is a major transportation hub and is the center of the local road and railway system. Most tourists travel to Riga by air via Riga International Airport, the largest airport in the Baltic states, which was renovated and modernized in 2001 on the occasion of Riga's 800th anniversary. In 1767 Riga's population was 19,500. In 1800 Riga's Population reached the figure of 29,500. As of 2007, Riga's population was 722,485. In 1987 Riga's population was 900,300, and its population has been continuously decreasing sinse then and only 722,485 citizens left in Riga in 2007, BUT still Riga has more population than any other city in Baltic states. Notable causes of reduction in Riga's population include out-migration and low fertility rates. Some have estimated that the population may fall by as much as 50% by 2050.[2007] According to the 2007 data, native Latvians make up 42.3% of the population of Riga, with the percentage of Russians at 42.1%, Belarusians at 4.4%, Ukrainians at 3.9%, Poles at 2.0%, and others at 4.3%. By comparison, 59% of Latvia's inhabitants are native Latvians, 28.5% are Russians, 3.8% are Belarusians, 2.5% are Ukrainians, 2.4% are Polish, 1.4% are Lithuanians and the remaining 2.4% are accounted for by other nationalities (2006). Riga covers an area of 307.17 square kilometers. Number of newborns per 1000 inhabitants in Riga was 7.1 in 1995, 7.1 in 2000 and 7.3 in 2001, which is a very low ratio. Riga has parks on 57.54 square kilometers which make 19% of its total area.[2006] As of 2006, the density of the population in Riga is 2434 per 1 km2. Riga is located at the site of an ancient settlement of the Livonians, an ancient Finnic tribe, at the junction of the Daugava and Ridzene rivers. The Ridzene was originally known as the Riga River, at one point forming a natural harbor called the Riga Lake, neither of which exist today. It is believed that the name of the river Riga gave Riga its name. The modern founding of Riga is regarded by historians to have begun with the arrival in Latvia of German traders, mercenaries and religious crusaders in the second half of the 12th century, attracted by a sparsely populated region, potential new markets and by the missionary opportunities to convert the local population to Christianity. German merchants established an outpost for trading with the Balts near the Liv settlement at Riga in 1158. The Augustinian monk Meinhard built a monastery there ca. 1190. Bishop Albert was proclaimed Bishop of Livonia by his uncle Hartwig, Archbishop of Bremen and Hamburg in 1199. He landed in Riga in 1201 with 23 ships and more than 1500 armed crusaders, making Riga his bishopric. In 2001, Riga celebrated its 800th anniversary as a city. The climate of Riga is maritime. The coldest months are January and February, when the average temperature is -6°C but can frequently drop as low as -25°C. Due to the proximity of the sea autumn rains and fogs are frequent in Riga. The summers in Riga are very warm and humid, with an average temperature of 18°C, the peak often goes as high as 36°C. The Doma Cathedral which is located in Riga is the largest church in the Baltic states. It was built in the 13th century. Riga Radio and TV Tower is the third highest tower in Europe.[2007] Riga Circus is the only stationary circus in the Baltic States.[2007] |
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