18th November: Latvia Independence Day

Today is Latvia Independence Day. Here are ten things you might not know about Latvia.

1. The capital and largest city is Riga (pictured), which is also the largest city in the Baltic states, and has the busiest airport in the region.
2. Latvia has one of the oldest Flags in the world. Although officially adopted in 1922, it was adapted from a banner which was flown as early as the 13th century. It is red with a white stripe across the middle. Some say the red represents the fact that the Latvian people are willing to shed Blood for their country if necessary. Others say it represents a Latvian leader who was mortally wounded in battle and wrapped in a white sheet, which became stained with his blood.
3. Latvia's highest point is Gaiziņkalns, 311.6 m (1,022 ft). Most of Latvia's territory is less than 100 m (330 ft) above sea level.
4. Latvia has over 12,500 rivers, which stretch for 38,000 km (24,000 mi). The longest river in Latvia is the Gauja, 452 km (281 mi). The longest river flowing through Latvia is the Daugava, which has a total length of 1,005 km (624 mi), of which 352 km (219 mi) is in Latvia.
5. The white wagtail is the national bird of Latvia. Oak and linden are Latvia's national trees; the Daisy is its national flower. Its national insect is the two-spot ladybird.
6. Uljana Semjonova is a Basketball player who played for TTT Riga. She is notable for her height - six feet eleven inches (2.10m) and being the first woman from outside the US to be inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame. In international competition, she never lost a game. She is also known for having the largest feet ever in women's basketball, taking a men's size 21 shoe.
7. Latvia also has its own Crocodile Dundee. His name is Arvid Blumenthal and he was born in Dundaga, Latvia in 1925. He emigrated to Australia because he loved hunting and exploring. He poached crocodiles, studied the Aborigines and dug for opals and books were written about his adventures. He might even be the inspiration for the character of Crocodile Dundee.
8. Latvian scientists and inventors gave us citric acid, mass production of fertilizer, contributions to rocket science from Friedrich Zander, who is credited for the design of the first liquid-fuelled rocket to be launched in the Soviet Union; and finally, Jacob Davis, who emigrated to the USA from Latvia in 1868, and became a tent maker. A woman asked him to make some trousers for her husband who was very large. He used Copper rivets to reinforce the trousers and later approached Levi Strauss to share the patent on this method - so a Latvian man is responsible for Blue jeans.
9. A popular Latvian drink is Riga Black Balsam. A pharmacist created it in the 18th century when he mixed twenty-four different ingredients, including raspberry, nutmeg, birch bud and bilberry into oak barrels. A punch is made by combining one part black balsam with four parts blackcurrant juice, and a pinch of clove. This is mixed with vodka.
10. Latvia is one of only 3 countries in the world, along with Canada and Finland, where ice hockey is the most popular sport.