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The Republic of Latvia is a country in east Europe on the gulf of Finland. The climate is mild. Physically the country is wooded lowland, marshes and lakes. The language is Latvian. The religion is mainly Lutheran Protestant with some Roman Catholic.
The area now known as Latvia was previously two separate areas: Livonia and Kurland, and until 1561 was under Swedish and Lithuanian-Polish rule. In 1721 Peter The Great of Russia gained Livonia and made it a Russian province and in 1795 annexed Kurland. In 1917, following the Russian Revolution Latvia declared its independence but was made a Soviet Republic in 1940. In 1990 Latvia declared its independence. Western commentators give the impression that Latvia was formerly an independent country, in reality Latvia's history as an independent state was short-lived and comprised a few unofficial years between the Great War and the Second World War. In reality, Latvia had previously been a part of Russia since the 18th century.
 Research Latvia
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Abbreviations
Gazetteer
