II.

Land and Resources

Latvia consists for the most part of a low-lying plain with some moderate elevations in the east, the tallest of which is 311 m (1,020 ft). The landscape bears traces of glaciation and includes numerous lakes, streams, marshes, and peat bogs. The coastline (547 km/340 mi) is relatively unindented, with many sandy beaches.

A.

Rivers and Lakes

The principal river is the Daugava River, which originates in Russia. On it are the republic’s major hydroelectric power stations.

B.

Climate

The climate is dominated by marine influences, although more continental conditions, with greater climatic variation, exist in the eastern portion of the republic; in the west, summers are cooler and winters are milder. In Latvia snow covers the ground from two to more than four months of the year. Summers are frequently hot, with average daily temperatures exceeding 25° C (80° F).

C.

Plants and Animals

About one quarter of Latvia is forested, mainly with pine, spruce, birch, and aspen. Deer and wild boar are common, and a wide variety of birds, including the black stork, resides in the country.

D.

Environmental Concerns

Like most former republics of the USSR, Latvia suffers the negative environmental legacy of decades of ecological and environmental mismanagement by a government that never implemented emission-control technologies. Industrial pollution continues to be a problem due to the high cost of upgrading or replacing existing technologies and facilities. Industrial, agricultural, and municipal enterprises have produced dangerous levels of water pollution. Water pollution is especially severe in the Daugava River and the Gulf of Riga because of the outflow of untreated waste water at Riga and industrial discharge from factories along the Daugava and its tributaries. In addition, chemicals and petroleum products at military bases have contaminated soil and groundwater.

Air pollution in Latvia is particularly heavy during windless, cloudy weather. The main air pollutants are sulphur dioxide, ammonia, phenols, formaldehyde, and nitrogen oxides. Latvia suffers from high levels of acid rain, which has defoliated more than half the country's trees. In addition, the extraction of peat reserves continues to damage wildlife habitats. In 1995, 46.4 per cent of the country's total land area was forested. Environmental issues began to be discussed publicly in the late 1980s as part of Latvia's independence movement. The government has designated 12.5 per cent (1997) of the country protected and has ratified international environmental agreements pertaining to air pollution, biodiversity, climate change, endangered species, hazardous wastes, ozone layer protection, ship pollution, and wetlands.