Riga is the capital of Latvia, a country made independent of Soviet rule in 1991. Located on the Baltic Sea Coast at the base of the Daugava River, Riga is the largest city of the Baltic States and is a major cultural and political center. Riga, called the “Paris of the North” is home to the annual Riga Opera Festival. In 2004 Riga celebrated its 800th anniversary. Riga has an approximate population of 740,000 residents.
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