Land boundaries:
total: 1,078 km
border countries: Belarus 141 km, Estonia 267 km, Lithuania 453 km,
Russia 217 km
Coastline: 531 km
Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
International disputes: the Abrene/Pytalovo section of border ceded by the Latvian Soviet Socialist Republic to Russia in 1944; the maritime borders with Lithuania and Estonia
Climate: maritime; wet, moderate winters
Terrain: low plain lowest point: Baltic Sea 0 m highest point: Gaizinkalns 312 m
Natural resources: minimal; amber, peat, limestone, dolomite
Land use:
arable land: 27%
permanent crops: 0%
meadows and pastures: 13%
forest and woodland: 39%
other: 21%
Irrigated land: 160 sq km (1990)
Environment:
current issues: air and water pollution because of a lack of waste
conversion equipment; Gulf of Riga and Daugava River heavily
polluted; contamination of soil and groundwater with chemicals and
petroleum products at military bases
natural hazards: NA
international agreements: party to - Air Pollution, Biodiversity,
Climate Change, Hazardous Wastes, Ship Pollution, Whaling; signed,
but not ratified - Ozone Layer Protection