|
|
|
Home |
|
Countries & rates |
|
How it works |
|
Agents |
|
SEARCH |
|
| |
|
|
Latvia
|
Find out more about Latvia
|
|
|
|
The lakes of Latvia
There are about 3000
lakes in Latvia.
Most of them are
rather small.
Approximately 40 %
are located in
Eastern part of
Latvia. The
deepest lake is
Dridzis (65,1 m),
the Largest - Lubans
(80,7 m), while
Ezezers is rich in
islands (33 islands)
and is situated in
Latgale. There is
also Usma lake in
Kurzeme with the
oldest nature
reserve on the
island - Moricsala
(founded in 1912).
Flora
Latvia is located in
the mixed forest
area. Apart from
conifers - fir-trees
and pines, there are
also deciduous trees
- oaks, lindens and
maples, alders,
birch-trees and
aspen trees. There
are more than 1600
species of flowering
plants and filicides
in Latvia. The most
typical flora of the
country is forests,
meadows and bogs.
The forests cover
more than 40 % of
the territory of
Latvia, although
nowadays, intensive
timber cutting takes
place in Latvia.
Most of the forests
are coniferous
forests
(pine-trees). There
are very few
deciduous forests in
Latvia.
Fauna
The fauna of Latvia
has characteristics
of the mixed forest
area. Significant
birds€™ migration
routes (Pape Lake)
cross the territory
of Latvia. There are
more than 14000
registered animal
species in Latvia
(70% of them are
insects). We can
find 60 species of
mammals in Latvia.
The animals that can
be haunted live in
the forests €“ elks,
deer, does and wild
boars. The number of
beavers has
increased
significantly. The
most popular
predators of Latvia
are wolves, foxes
and lynxes. Due to
pollution, the
population of seals
in the Riga Gulf is
endangered. There
are also quite many
small rodents €“
mice, rats,
hedgehogs, moles
etc. Latvia is rich
in 300 species of
birds, 190 of which
nest in Latvia. For
hunting, wood
grouses and black €“
cocks, as well as
ptarmigans are very
popular. A stork is
one of the symbols
of Latvia (there is
a storks€™ museum in
Staicele €“ a city in
the north Vidzeme).
Sparrows, crows and
pies are also very
common in Latvia.
The national bird of
Latvia is a wagtail.
The most widespread
water €“ birds are
ducks, swans, and
different species of
seagulls that live
near the sea. There
are 29 typical sea
fish in the fish
fauna of Latvia, 14
species live both in
the sea and in the
freshwaters, while
28 species live only
in rivers and lakes.
Economically, the
most important sea
fish are the Baltic
sprat, sprats and
flounders. The
salmons spawn in the
rivers of Latvia (Salaca,
Venta, Gauja). The
haul of lampreys is
also very popular in
Latvia.
The rivers of Latvia
Daugava is the
largest river of
Latvia. It
starts in Russia, in
Valdajs elevation,
not far from Volga
source - one of the
largest rivers in
Europe. The word
€œDaugava€ in the
language of ancient
Balts means €œrich in
rivers€. Outside
Latvia - in Belorus,
it is called
Zahodnaja Dzvina,
while in Russia -
Zapadnaja Dzvina.
Daugava is 1005 km
long (352 km in
Latvia). The ancient
part of Daugava is
between Kraslava and
Daugavpils, where
Daugava flows in ten
large arches, making
beautiful scenery.
There is Adamova€™s
path in Kraslava,
which is a great
place of attraction
for tourists. In
Riga, at the
bridges, Daugava is
700 m wide, however,
as it approaches the
sea, its width is
1.5.km and depth -
8-9 meters.
The river Gauja
starts in the
territory of Latvia,
in Vidzeme
elevation. Its total
length is 452 km (it
is the longest river
in Latvia). The most
beautiful scenery
from Valmiera to
Murjani (ancient
vale of Gauja) is in
the territory of
Gauja National Park.
On the banks of the
river Gauja, the
Devon sandstone
rocks can be
observed (Sietiniezis,
Red Cliffs, Eagles€™
Cliffs). These
places have become
very popular among
the tourists.
Gauja€™s eddies are
dangerous, because
the river changes
its base. Sigulda is
an outstanding
tourism city and
lies on the banks of
Gauja (there is also
the world famous
bob-sleight route in
Sigulda).
The river Venta
starts in Lithuania,
in Zemaitija
elevation. There are
rapids at Kuldiga
and the widest
waterfall in Europe
€“ 2 meters high
Venta rapid. In the
river mouth, it is
150 €“ 200 meters
wide and very deep
and therefore, a
port was built in
Ventspils. Lielupe
is the second
largest river in
Latvia. It starts at
Bauska city in the
place where two
rivers Musa and
Memele meet. Lielupe
is 119 km long. It
has more than 250
tributaries. At the
time of spring
floods, the river
very often
overflows, reaching
4 km width at its
lower.
Earlier it was a
tributary of Daugava,
but since 1755, has
been flowing into
Riga Sea Gulf. The
most ancient part of
Lielupe is Bullupe
that flows into
Daugava.
The environment
protection in
Latvia
There are four
territories with a
status of natural
reserve in
Latvia, where
any economic
activities are
prohibited. The
oldest natural
reserve (founded in
1912) is established
in Morcsala in Usma
Lake, Ventspils
district. There you
can find the rare
hornbeam, as well as
yew, that have been
registered in the
Red Book. There are
also 222 species of
butterflies. Slitere
National Park
(recently €“ a
reserve) is situated
in the north €“ west
of Latvia, maritime
lowland (founded in
1921). There you can
find 38 protected
species of plants
and many rare birds
which nest there.
Grini reserve was
founded in 1936, is
situated in Liepaja
district, at the sea
and is famous for
its unusual forest
type. Krustkalni
reserve was founded
in 1977 and is
situated in Madona
district. In this
reserve, you can
observe almost all
types of forests
that exist in
Latvia. The relief
of the reserve is
uncommon - rich in
springs and 13
lakes.
Teici reserve was
founded in 1982 and
is located in
eastern Latvia€™s
lowland. Teici
reserve is famous
for its protected
bog ecosystems. It
is the largest
reserve according to
its area. Gauja
National Reserve was
founded in 1973.
There are the
largest sandstone
detritions in the
territory of the
park, which is
situated on the
banks of Gauja. It
is also famous for
many protected
architectural
monuments (in
Turaida, Cesis,
Straupe) and
archaeological
monuments (Araisi
Palace) etc.
Kemeri national park
is the most recent
of the parks. There
is the high bog €“
moor and valuable
sulphurous water
sprigs. There are
many natural
conservancy areas in
Latvia, which aim at
maintaining and
protecting rare or
uncommon natural
elements that are
typical of a
respective district.
Growth ring
traditions
The Latvians belong
to the nations who
mainly dealt with
agriculture and
cattle breeding.
Thus, they have
always been
dependent on certain
rhythm dictated by
the nature. Winter
and summer solstice,
as well as spring
and autumn equinox
were the most
important moments in
their lives. The
Christmas or winter
solstice has been
one of the happiest
and most important
festivities. It
started with
trundling and
burning of a log,
which symbolised
liquidation of the
solicitudes of the
year and awakening
of the sun and all
living beings. In
their folk songs,
Latvians mention
Christmas food €“
peas, beans, muzzle
of a pig etc. Morris
dancing tradition
has to do with
Christmas and can be
perceived as an
ancient theatre. The
most typical masks
used in Morris
dancing were a mask
of a goat, wolf,
death, bear, crane
and haystack etc.
Every mask had its
symbolic meaning.
The 12th of February
was the Shrovetide
day. It was
considered as a
border between
winter and spring.
The Easter
symbolised coming of
spring (it has no
important relations
with rebirth of the
Christ that is
celebrated in the
world). For
Latvians, the Easter
symbolises revival
of the nature. The
most significant
activities during
the Easter were
hanging of swings
and swinging, which
symbolised promotion
of arrival of the
sun.
The summer solstice
was the culmination
for the farmers,
because all spring
works had to be
accomplished by that
time and the period
of summer works
started. St. John€™s
Day was celebrated
in the shortest
night of the year.
The day before St.
John€™s day was
called the Herbage
Day, because it was
considered that on
this day all herbage
have a healing and
magic power. The
culmination of the
festivity was fire
making on the top of
the hill and at
midnight on the 24th
of June. Nowadays,
St. John€™s Day is
the national holiday
of Latvians and
official vacations.
There are songs of
St. John€™s Day in
the Latvian
folklore, which
clearly depict the
traditions of summer
solstice.
Celebration of St.
John€™s Day was
followed by
celebration of St.
Peter€™s Day (on 29th
June) and St.
Jacob€™s Day (on 25th
of July), which are
also related to
fertility cult.
Autumn sets in with
St.Mikelis Day (on
29th of September) €“
by this day the
harvesting had to be
accomplished. Today,
a particular feature
of this day is
organisation of
autumn fairs. After
this day, the so-
called period of the
ghosts begins.
According to opinion
of Latvians, it was
the time when the
dead ancestry
visited them. The
period of ghosts
ends in Martini
(10th of November) €“
that is considered
as the beginning of
winter.
Relief of
Latvia
Upsurges and
lowering of bedrock
form the relief of
Latvia.
Quaternary cornice
played an important
role in the
formation of the
relief, as well as
the Baltic Sea.
Although Latvia is
not rich in
mountains, there are
many place names
with a name €œkalns€
or €œkalnins€
(mountain) in them.
The highest point in
Latvia is
Gaizinkalns in
Vidzeme highland
(311,5 m above the
sea level, 61,6 m €“
relative height).
Mineral deposits
Latvia has rich
resources of
quaternary sand and
grit (approximately
43 billion m3).
Dolomite resources
are also abundant
(26 billion m3).
Clay is widely used
in Latvia,
especially in the
production of
bricks, regular
roof, as well as
pottery items. There
are different rocks
in Latvia €“
chalkstone, rock
gypsum. One of the
most widespread
minerals is turf.
There is also wide
choice of mineral
waters (in Kemeri,
Baldone, Sigulda).
The Baltic Sea
The Baltic Sea is
one of the most
recent and
shallowest seas in
the world. The
deepest point (470m)
is to the north of
Gothland. The
coastline of the
territory of Latvia
is 490 km long. Irbe
channel links Riga
Gulf with the
central part of the
Baltic Sea (between
Kolka horn and
Saaremaa island).
The Baltic Sea is a
typical inland sea
with about 250
inflowing rivers.
Therefore, it has
the least salty
water in the world
(approximately 7 €“ 8
per mille). The sea
currents and waves
shape the coast of
the Baltic Sea and
Riga Gulf. There are
about 40 fish
species in the
Baltic Sea. After
the autumn storms,
it is possible to
find small ambers at
the seafront.
Reach family,
friends and work
colleges and make
your cheap phone
calls today.
|
|
|
|
 |
Call rate
3p |
| |
Our standard call
rate to
phone Latvia
is just 3p per
minute. From a
mobile to a landline
the charge is
10p/pm.
Make your low rate
international
call to Latvia by
calling
our low rate access
number.
Alternatively you
can top-up using
your mobile by
simply texting GO
CALL to 80041.
To make your cheap
international call
to Latvia, click on
the link below...
Call Latvia from a
landline
Call Latvia from a
mobile
Mobile call rates
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
