The Republic of Latvia is one of the three Baltic states and located in the north of Europe. Latvia is located below Estonia and on top of Lithuania and shares a border with Russia in the east.
The Latvian territory was over the centuries under the control of different rulers, among them were Sweden, Poland, Russia and Germany. In 1991 Latvia became an independent republic and separated from Soviet Union rule. Today Latvia is a very highly developed democratic country.
The main dishes in the Latvian cuisine typically feature meat or fish, due to the proximity to the sea and are influenced by the other countries in the Baltic region. The traditional food culture is noticeable seasonal, because the availability of local ingredients is greatly influenced by the climate. Latvian dishes are not very spiced, but they can be fatty.
The most common surname in Latvia is Bērziņš.
