DIVERSE LATVIA The population of Latvia is only 0.4% of the total EU population. The total land area of Latvia is 64, 600 km². It is approximately CUS IR C R E 5 times smaller than Germany T IN and 2 times larger than Belgium. W The flag of Latvia is one of the oldest flags in the world. 13th Century Livonian Order Chronicles reference the use of the red white red flag that we still use today. Latvia is THE ONLY The national coat of arms BALTIC of Latvian combines symbols COUNTRY WITH national statehood as well as symbols of ancient historical districts. ITS OWN WINTER Latvia has over 1.2 million CIRCUS. dainas (folk songs) from over The winter circus was a thousand years ago. They built more than define and distinguish unique 100 years ago Latvian culture. in 1888. GENERAL FACTS ABOUT LATVIA AU KO VE TH U O O R N K T R R A A M The historic centre of Riga, One of the world’s best known artists, abstract a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is expressionist widely recognized as having MARK ROTHKO, the finest collection of WAS BORN IN ART NOUVEAU/ DAUGAVPILS, JUGENDSTIL Latvia (formerly known buildings in Europe. as Dvinsk) in 1903. RKET MA L OX A N R I T M N F E E C V The Latvian factory VEF (Valsts elektrotehniskā fabrika) manufactured The Riga Central Market (Centrāltirgus), also part of UNESCO’s THE WORLD’s World Heritage designation, is FIRST THE LARGEST MARKET MINIATURE AND BAZAAR IN THE CAMERA – the BALTICS AND ONE OF VEF MINOX from THE LARGEST OPEN- 1937 to 1943. The Minox was notorious AIR MARKETS IN as a spy camera and EUROPE (72.3 thousand m²). today is a popular The main pavilions were completed collectible. It was in 1930 by reusing old World War 1 invented by Baltic Zeppelin hangars. German Walter Zapp. Latvian Presidency of the Council of the European Union The State Chancellery of Latvia, 2014.