Area comparison map:

slightly larger than West Virginia

Land boundaries:
total: 1,370 km
[see also: Land boundaries - total country ranks ]
border countries (4): Belarus 161 km, Estonia 333 km, Lithuania 544 km, Russia 332 km

Coastline:
498 km
[see also: Coastline country ranks ]

Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
[see also: Maritime claims - territorial sea country ranks ]
exclusive economic zone: limits as agreed to by Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Sweden, and Russia
[see also: Maritime claims - exclusive economic zone country ranks ]
continental shelf: 200 m depth or to the depth of exploitation
[see also: Maritime claims - continental shelf country ranks ]

Climate:
maritime; wet, moderate winters
More Climate Details

Terrain:
low plain

Elevation:
mean elevation: 87 m
[see also: Elevation - mean elevation country ranks ]
lowest point: Baltic Sea 0 m
highest point: Gaizina Kalns 312 m

Natural resources:
peat, limestone, dolomite, amber, hydropower, timber, arable land

Land use:
agricultural land: 29.2% (2011 est.)
[see also: Land use - agricultural land country ranks ]
arable land: 18.6% (2011 est.)
[see also: Land use - arable land country ranks ]
permanent crops: 0.1% (2011 est.)
[see also: Land use - permanent crops country ranks ]
permanent pasture: 10.5% (2011 est.)
[see also: Land use - permanent pasture country ranks ]
forest: 54.1% (2011 est.)
[see also: Land use - forest country ranks ]
other: 16.7% (2011 est.)
[see also: Land use country ranks ]

Irrigated land:
12 sq km (2012)
note: land in Latvia is often too wet and in need of drainage not irrigation; approximately 16,000 sq km or 85% of agricultural land has been improved by drainage
[see also: Irrigated land country ranks ]

Population distribution:
largest concentration of people is found in and around the port and capital city of Riga; small agglomerations are scattered throughout the country

Natural hazards:
large percentage of agricultural fields can become waterlogged and require drainage

Environment - current issues:
while land, water, and air pollution are evident, Latvia's environment has benefited from a shift to service industries after the country regained independence; improvements have occurred in drinking water quality, sewage treatment, household and hazardous waste management, as well as reduction of air pollution; concerns include nature protection and the management of water resources and the protection of the Baltic Sea

Environment - international agreements:
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:
most of the country is composed of fertile low-lying plains with some hills in the east