- regained independence from the Soviet Union in 1991. - low-lying country with large forests that supply timber for construction and paper industries. The environment is rich in wildlife. - produces consumer goods, textiles and machine tools also. - attracts tourists from all over Europe. Ethnically, the population is 59% Latvian and 29% Russian, and more than a third live in the capital Riga. Founded in 1201, Riga is the largest city in the three Baltic states with a population of 7...