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| Geographical Position of Latvia
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The nature of Latvia is determined by its geographical location in the western part of the East-European plain and on the eastern coast of the Baltic Sea, between 55° 40’ - 58° 05’ N latitude and 20° 58’ - 28° 14’ E longitude. The surface area is 64 589 km². Latvia belongs to a temperate zone, mixed forest subzone (boreonemoral province).
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In large areas of Latvia, species and biotopes have remained which are rare or have
even disappeared in other European countries. Coastal wetlands and wet forests, large and
nearly untouched high bogs, as well as natural and semi-natural meadows, are recognised to
be of national and international importance.
The landscape in Latvia has formed as a mosaic, in parallel with the development of
natural conditions, land management and society. Traditional land-use patterns and methods
of agriculture, forestry and fishery have slowly changed and enriched landscape elements
over the centuries.
Among the main environmental protection goals in Latvia are to preclude the depletion of
biodiversity and degradation of landscape.
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| Copyright © 2000 Latvian Environment Data Centre |
