RIGA REGION - Geography and history
Turbulent history
The territory of present day Riga region has been inhabited since the 3rd millennium BC. According to archaeological data, by the 2nd century AD there was already a merchant settlement at the western end of the Daugava trade route. Henrik`s Livonian chronicle mentions the fact that Riga was being built in 1201. During the next 4-5 centuries the territory was under the domination of German bishops and masters of the Livonian Order. For a short time at the end of the 16th century the region came under Polish rule.
In the 17th century, the territory of Riga region was under Swedish rule but in 1710 it became part of the Russian Empire.
Due to the rapid growth of industry in the early 20th century Riga became the third largest industrial centre of the Tsarist Empire after Moscow and St. Petersburg.
In 1918, Latvia was proclaimed an independent state and Riga became its capital. Today all central public administration bodies are situated in Riga as they were during the first period of independence.
After World War II, during the incorporation of Latvia into the USSR, Riga and its suburbs were subject to swift industrialisation and population growth from internal and external emigration resulting in a large-scale construction of dwellings. New towns such as Olaine, Salaspils and
Vangazi
were built.
The region of Riga has a favourable geographical position at the centre of Latvia and the Baltic countries. It is a region of contrasts, abounding in natural landscapes and strongly urbanised territories. It is located at the edge of the Gulf of Riga on the Baltic Sea.
Latvian as the official state language is used in the region although Russian is also very widely used, especially in Riga.
The region of Riga comprises Riga city, Jurmala city and Riga district and, according to Latvian legislation, each of them represents a separate administrative territorial unit. In addition, there are 7 towns in the region: Baldone, Balozi, Olaine, Salaspils, Saulkrasti, Sigulda and Vangazi.
UNESCO cultural treasure
As an ancient merchant town and a member of the Hanseatic League, Riga can boast of a unique cultural and historic heritage. The medieval town and the Jugendstil building complex are included in the UNESCO World List of Cultural Heritage, while the architecture of the wooden buildings in the city of Jurmala is similarly striking. Tourists are also attracted to the region by its beautiful scenery.
The most educated and professional segment of Latvia's labour force is concentrated in Riga. From ancient times Riga was characterised by its international community and business environment. Riga region also enjoys most of the new construction work and upgrading of the social infrastructure.
The region is easily accessible not only from the rest of Latvia but also from the other Baltic States. There is easy access to the resource and consumer markets of Russia, other CIS countries and to Western European partners and investors. Ferry traffic provides links with Sweden and Germany. The network of roads and railway lines, including international lines, is evenly spread out over the whole region and the motorway Via Baltica is an example of this. Local roads ensure access to the entire populated area. The only international airport of Latvia, providing for the needs of the whole country, is also located in the region.
Nevertheless, the domination of the city of Riga poses a threat to the quality of the environment and causes increasing problems in transportation. The housing stock is worn out and there is a growing need for dwellings, especially in the vicinity of the city. Riga is much larger than any other city in the region or the whole country. Jurmala, the second largest city in the region is 13 times smaller than Riga.
Impact of nearby Baltic Sea
The total area of the Riga region covers 3450.4 km2. It is situated on the sandy plains of the Coastal Lowlands with vast areas of bogs and marshland; ancient dunes now overgrown with pines, coastal lakes and moraine hillocks. The relief is for the most part flat and low. The unevenness of the relief is due to the ancient seacoast and riverbeds. There are numerous shallow overgrown lakes in the vicinity of Riga, which originated in the Baltic Sea. The Ice Age sediments cover sandstone, dolomite and limestone rocks that crop up at some places in the valleys of the rivers Now and then the poor drainage causes an abundance of wetland.
Temperate air masses from the Atlantic Ocean, associated with extensive cyclonic airflows, play an important role in Riga's climate formation. This activity explains the frequency of days with precipitation and without sunshine. Summers are comparatively cool. The period of frost usually begins in mid-December and lasts till the end of February. The period without frost varies from 140 days in the easternmost part of the Riga region to 170 days in the coastal area of the Gulf of Riga.The microclimate in the city of Riga is warmer than in its outskirts. In winter, this difference may reach even 8-10 C and more. The mean air temperature is 3-7 C in winter and around 17 C in summer; the average annual precipitation is 600-800 mm.
On the whole the region is well provided with the necessary raw materials for local building as well as with peat resources, mineral resources and medicinal mud.
The region is rich in surface water resources, with in total 75.4 km2 of lakes, including Lake Babite, the largest in the region. The lower reaches of the Daugava, Lielupe and Gauja are also in the territory of Riga region. Part of the forests is used for recreation and protection against the possible expansion of sand dunes toward the populated area.
Forests cover 48% of the territory of Riga region followed by agricultural land (23%) and civil and engineering buildings (19%). Water covers 5.8%, swamps 3.7% and roads 3.4%.
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