*Latvians going cinema crazy!
More than 2 million cinema seats were sold in Latvia during 2006. Despite the death of the small cinema theatre in Latvia there was actually a rise of around 22 per cent in cinema audiences last year.

*Report claims Latvian women overweight!
A European report has concluded that Latvian women are the fifth most overweight in the EU. Meanwhile, the UK is said to have the most overweight men and women in Europe. The report has raised a few eyebrows amongst many foreigners who claim to have never seen a single overweight Latvian woman in their lives!

*Not enough seats to Latvia!
Following British Airways’ decision to discontinue its operations in Latvia, rival company airBaltic is claiming that it doesn’t have enough seats to sell on its popular London-Riga route. Rumour has it that the airline wishes to increase the number of flights it operates to the UK, but it is yet to get approval for this from the British authorities.

*Sky-high rent!
The average monthly rental for property in Latvia rose by a whopping 59 per cent in 2006 as the inflationary monster continued to push up the price of…well, everything in Latvia.

*Latvia getting hotter!
Latvia recorded its warmest March since records began this year. The average monthly temperature was 4.4 degrees Celsius. Back in 1942 the average monthly temperature for March was –9.8 degrees Celsius!

*Riga Airport on target for 2 million passengers!
First quarter figures suggest that Riga International Airport will receive more than 2 million passengers in 2007. The airport saw a 20 per cent increase in passengers in the first quarter of this year compared to 2006.

LAST NEWS FROM THE BALTIC'S

Latvia has a 494 km long white, sandy Baltic Sea coastline.

 The widest waterfall in Europe is found in Kuldiga. It is 240 metres across.

In 2004 the Republic of Latvia became a member of NATO.

In 2004 the Republic of Latvia joined the European Union - a family of 25 nations.

 In 2002 Rundale Palace was internationally acknowledged as especially worthy of conservation as part of Europe's Cultural Heritage.

Riga's historic Old Centre with its Art Nouveau and timber buildings has been included in the UNESCO Cultural Heritage List.

The ancient trading route from Riga to Istambul was known as 'The Amber Route' and was used by the Greeks, Arabs and also Vikings.

 80% of the world's reserves of amber are found in the Baltic Sea region.

The first MINOX 'spy camera' was made in Riga.

The largest piece of amber ever found was discovered in Liepaja, in western Latvia. It was 123 cm long and weighed 60 kilograms.