Riga County
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Riga county (Latvian: Rīgas rajons) is located in the very centre of Latvia, around the Riga metropolis. This region borders with the Gulf of Riga in the north and, anticlockwise, Tukums, Jelgava, Bauska, Ogre, Cēsis and Limbaži counties and the cities of Riga and Jūrmala, that are administratively independent parts of this region. The area of this county is 3,474 km² (including Riga City – 307 km² and Jūrmala City – 100 km²) and the population is 1,044,440 (including Riga – 839,670 and Jūrmala - 59,250) that is about one half of the total Latvia’s population.
Riga county is one of the largest regions of Latvia, it is strategically important and also has the most economic power and developed infrastructure. It is a cross-point of 10 major motorways and a junction of 6 important railroad lines.
Nature
The larger part of this region lies in sand-soil plain of Riga that are covered with pinewoods, low links, marshlands and level countryside that is typical for littoral lowlands. In the Northern part, there are ridges of links and many lakes have formed in hollows between them. There are 132 lakes in Riga Region and the biggest of them are Babītes ezers, Lielais Baltezers, Mazais Baltezers, Dūņu ezers and Lilastes ezers. Riga region is also crossed by the three major rivers in Latvia – Daugava, Lielupe and Gauja Rivers. North-eastern part of region is covered with the biggest deciduous forests in Latvia.
The south-western part of Gauja National Nature Park (more that 1,000 kinds of herbs, 48 species of animals, 130 species of birds and 28 species of fish) is also located on the territory of Riga Region.
History
One of the first ancient settlement places in this region is dated from the 9th millennium BC. In the time of many centuries localities of Riga City were having their upsurges and downgrades caused by wars. These lands were strode by German crusaders, Swedish, Polish, Prussian, German and Russian armies. More than 300 monuments of cultural and historical significance that are on the list of culture heritage protection tell us about the most important events of local history. The reasons for the rpid development of the Riga Region can be found in geographic position, human and nature resources, and rich heritage of culture and history. By the same reasons, this region is suitable for the tourism and recreation needs, also in combination with business travel.
Cities
Apart from Riga and Jūrmala which have separate articles devoted to them, the largest towns in Riga county are: Salaspils (population about 17,200), a town next to Riga which houses many research institutes, Olaine (population about 12,100), a chemical industry center, and Sigulda (population about 10,100), a major tourist attraction with a historic 13th century castle and beautiful scenery.
There are 8 towns in Riga county:
- Baldone
- Baloži
- Jūrmala
- Olaine
- Salaspils
- Saulkrasti
- Sigulda
- Vangaži
The Riga county is further divided in 17 districts (Latvian pagasti):
- Ādaži
- Allaži
- Babīte
- Carnikava
- Daugmale
- Garkalne
- Inčukalns
- Krimulda
- Ķekava
- Mālpils
- Mārupe
- Olaine
- Ropaži
- Salas
- Sigulda
- Stopiņu