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Riga

Rīga
City
From top, left to right: the Freedom Monument, the Riga City Council building, the House of the Blackheads, Livonian Square, and the Latvian National Opera
From top, left to right: the Freedom Monument, the Riga City Council building, the House of the Blackheads, Livonian Square, and the Latvian National Opera
Flag of Riga
Flag
 Coat of arms of Riga
Coat of arms
Riga is located in Latvia
Riga
Riga
Location in Latvia
Riga is located in Baltic states
Riga
Riga
Location in Baltic states
Riga is located in Europe
Riga
Riga
Location in Europe
Country  Latvia
Government
 • Type City council
Area
 (2002)
 • City 324 km2 (125 sq mi)
 • Land 275.5 km2 (106.4 sq mi)
 • Water 48.60 km2 (18.76 sq mi)  15.8%
 • Metro
7,292.8 km2 (2,815.8 sq mi)
Population
 (2018)
 • City 615,369
 • Density 1,899.3/km2 (4,919/sq mi)
 • Urban
939,325
 • Metro
1,070,000
 • Metro density 146.7/km2 (380/sq mi)
 • Demonym
Rīdzinieki
Ethnicity
 (2019)
 • Latvians 47.1%
 • Russians 36.4%
 • Belarusians 3.7%
 • Ukrainians 3.4%
 • Poles 1.8%
 • Lithuanians 0.8%
 • Romanies 0.1%
Time zone UTC+2 (EET)
 • Summer (DST) UTC+3 (EEST)
Calling codes 66 and 67
GDP(nominal) 2016
 - Total €13.5 billion($27 billion, PPP)
 - Per capita €21,000($42,500, PPP)
HDI (2017) 0.878 – very high
Website www.riga.lv
Historic Centre of Riga
UNESCO World Heritage Site
The Old Town of Riga
The old town of Riga
Criteria Cultural: i, ii
Inscription 1997 (21st Session)
Area 438.3 ha
Buffer zone 1,574.2 ha


Riga is the capital of Latvia and is home to 632,614 inhabitants (2019), which is a third of Latvia's population. Being significantly larger than other cities of Latvia, Riga is the country's primate city. It is also the largest city in the three Baltic states and is home to one tenth of the three Baltic states' combined population. The city lies on the Gulf of Riga at the mouth of the Daugava river where it meets the Baltic Sea. Riga's territory covers 307.17 km2 (118.60 sq mi) and lies 1–10 m (3 ft 3 in – 32 ft 10 in) above sea level, on a flat and sandy plain.

Riga was founded in 1201 and is a former Hanseatic League member. Riga's historical centre is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, noted for its Art Nouveau/Jugendstil architecture and 19th century wooden architecture. Riga was the European Capital of Culture during 2014, along with Umeå in Sweden. Riga hosted the 2006 NATO Summit, the Eurovision Song Contest 2003, the 2006 IIHF Men's World Ice Hockey Championships and the 2013 World Women's Curling Championship. It is home to the European Union's office of European Regulators for Electronic Communications (BEREC).

In 2016, Riga received over 1.4 million visitors. The city is served by Riga International Airport, the largest and busiest airport in the Baltic states. Riga is a member of Eurocities, the Union of the Baltic Cities (UBC) and Union of Capitals of the European Union (UCEU).

History

Riga was founded in 1201. Since 1918 Riga has been the capital city of Latvia.

People

Most of the people are Latvian (45%) and 40% are Russian.

Images for kids

  • Plaza del Ayuntamiento, Riga, Letonia, 2012-08-07, DD 10

    The building of the Brotherhood of Blackheads is one of the most iconic buildings of Old Riga (Vecrīga).

  • Panorama of Riga, 1572

    Riga in the 16th century

  • Riga 1650

    Riga in 1650. Drawing by Johann Christoph Brotze

  • German troops Riga 1917

    German troops entering Riga during World War I

  • Baltische Post 25 October 1908

    "Baltische Post" was a German language newspaper in Riga during the early 20th century.

  • Damaged buildings of the Riga Old Town and St. Peter's Church during the World War II, 1939-1945

    Damaged Riga Old Town and St. Peter's Church during the World War II

  • Ministru prezidents Valdis Dombrovskis noliek ziedus pie Brīvības pieminekļa (7141677177)

    Flower laying ceremony at the Freedom Monument in 2012

  • Opera Nacional, Riga, Letonia, 2012-08-07, DD 15

    The Latvian National Opera

  • Riga Castle seen across the river Daugava

    Riga Castle

  • Arēna Rīga

    Arena Riga, home to multiple sports clubs of Riga

  • Skonto Stadions

    Skonto Stadium

  • 16-08-31-Škoda 24Tr Irisbus Riga-RR2 4505

    One of the several trolleybus types in Riga

  • Riga tram 57201 2020-03

    A Škoda 15 T tram in Riga

  • יוסף מנדלביץ

    Yosef Mendelevich, 2011

  • KauffmannKruedener

    Baroness von Krüdener and her son Paul, painted in 1786

  • Ostapenko RG22 (4) (52144317609)

    Jeļena Ostapenko, 2022

  • Mikhail Tal 1962

    Mikhail Tal, 1962

  • Latvias Banka

    Bank of Latvia

  • Riga stock exchange

    Riga Stock Exchange early 20th century. Now The Art Museum Riga Bourse

  • Edificio modernista en Alberta iela 13, Riga, Letonia, 2012-08-07, DD 01

    Alberta iela 13

  • Edificio modernista en Alberta iela 2a, Riga, Letonia, 2012-08-07, DD 02

    Alberta iela 2a

  • Alberta ielā 12 20120728-05

    Staircase of Alberta ielā 12

  • A. Čaka iela 26 Rīga 03

    Aleksandra Čaka iela 26

  • La salle à manger (musée dart nouveau, Riga) (7562659988)

    Riga Art Nouveau Museum

  • Edificio modernista en Strelnieku Iela 4a, Riga, Letonia, 2012-08-07, DD 01

    Strēlnieku iela 4a

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Riga para niños

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