Europe: All about Latvia Trivia Quiz

Answer: Gaizinkalns Hill

Gaiziņkalns Hill is just over 1,000 feet high. It is situated in the north-east of Latvia, in the hilly Vidzeme Upland area. There are four major slopes overlooking miles of landscape, named "Ladies' Paradise", "The Western Slope", "The Lesser Golgotha", and "Golgotha".

The surrounding Gaiziņkalns Nature Park features several heritage sites, such as the ancient burial sites of Dzīsļi and Tropeļi.

Answer: Daugava

The Daugava, also known as the Western Dvina, is around 630 miles long. It flows through Russia, Belarus, then Latvia. From Latvia it flows into the Gulf of Riga, on the Baltic Sea.

Latvia's oldest hydropower plant, Kegums Hydroelectric Power Station, is located on the Daugava River, in the town of Ķegums. It is owned by Latvenergo, the state-owned electricity company that produces around 70% of Latvia's electricity.

Answer: Valmiera

Valmiera is situated on the Gauja River, around 65 miles north-east of Riga.

In October 1941, 209 Jews were murdered in the forests surrounding Valmiera.

Valmiera is a city that holds sport dear, having over 40 stadiums dedicated to various sports in its territory.

Answer: Liepaja

Liepāja is situated in the west of Latvia, an important sea port of the country. It features a monument to the sailors and fishermen lost at sea, built in 1977. It also features the largest wind farm of Latvia.

A German soldier documented the mass murder of the Jewish population of Liepāja in 1941. It is one of the rare surviving films of the early stages of the Holocaust.

Answer: Lithuania

Latvia's border with Lithuania is around 360 miles long. A large portion of the Latvia-Lithuania border follows the course of the Sventoji River.

Latvia's border with Belarus is its shortest at just over 100 miles long. Its border with Estonia is around 215 miles long, and its border with Russia is about 180 miles long.

Latvia also has around 310 miles of coastline.

Answer: House of the Blackheads

The original building of Riga's House of the Blackheads was constructed in the early 14th century. It was made for the Brotherhood of Blackheads: an association of unmarried male merchants, those in the ship industry and foreigners. It started out as a military organisation, then gradually turned into more of a social organisation.

Valērijs Kargins was founder and head of Latvia's Parex Bank, which was Latvia's second largest bank until the country's financial crash in 2018, when Parex Bank failed.

Answer: Jurmala

Jūrmala is a resort destination situated between the Gulf of Riga and the Lielupe river running through central Latvia. It posses a stretch of just over 20 miles of pristine, white sand beach.

Some Soviet politicians such as Nikita Khrushchev appreciated the beauty of Jūrmala when Latvia was part of the Soviet Union, and frequently took their holidays there.

Opening in 2003, Livu Akvaparks, one of the largest water parks in Northern Europe, is located in Jūrmala.

Answer: Lake Dridzis

Lake Drīdzis's maximum depth is just over 200 feet. It has an elongated shape and many bays as well as nine islands, the biggest of which is Bernātu sala.

Answer: Kuldiga

Kuldīga is situated in the west of Latvia. It is also the location of Kuldiga Castle, medieval castle ruins once used for the Livonian Order, a branch of the Teutonic Order.

Venta Rapid is around 820 feet wide, but can become as wide as 890 feet during the annual spring floods.

Answer: Gauja

The Gauja River is approximately 285 miles long. It flows through the oldest and largest national park in Latvia, the Gauja National Park, in Vidzeme, one of the Historical Latvian Lands.

The Gauja increases in depth and width, as it flows towards the border with Estonia. Lush forests and meadows can be seen especially on this part of the river. The Gauja has over 200 tributaries.