Latvia is situated on the Baltic coast and borders Estonia in
the north, Lithuania in the south, the Russian Federation in
the east and Belarus in the southeast. The coastal plain is mostly
flat but, inland to the east, the land is hilly with forests
and lakes. There are about 12,000 rivers in Latvia , the largest
being the River Daugava. The ports of Riga , Liepaja and Ventspils
often freeze over during the winter where temperatures reach
sub-zero levels.
Travel Insurance for Latvia:
Area: Europe *
Know Before You Go:
FCO Country Advice for Latvia
Weather
Latvia has a temperate climate but with considerable temperature
variations. Summer is warm with relatively mild weather in
spring and autumn. Winter can be very cold. Rainfall is distributed
throughout the year with the heaviest rainfall in August. Snowfall
in Latvia is common in the winter months.
Driving
in Latvia
Drive on the right side of the road. In towns the roads are full
of potholes, while secondary roads are usually surfaced with
gravel or sand. Main roads generally are in good condition. At
night, the locals often drive on sidelights only and goods fallen
from vehicles often lay in the road! Seat-belts must be used
in the front of the vehicle. Unless you are in extreme danger,
horns must not be used in towns or villages. You will have to
pay for parking in the main towns. It is advisable to use the
guarded parking facilities, and be careful – wheel clamping
is a legitimate deterrent. Do not park on tram lines. Speed limits
are fairly strict: highways 90km/h; within city limits 56km/h.
On some roads the limit is raised to 100km/h. On-the-spot fines
are not applied, but fines are levied for relatively minor excesses
of these limits. All fines should be paid at a bank. Almost every
petrol station is open 24 hours and they accept the major credit
cards. Unleaded fuel is dispensed from green pumps and/or an “E” in
the price sign. When visiting the country in winter, you will
be able to purchase a special blend of diesel which does not
congeal in cold weather. Do NOT drink and drive. |
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