Latvia is a country located in Northern Europe with a population of 2.2 million people. The capital and largest city of Latvia is Riga, which is home to nearly half of Latvia's population. Riga, founded in 1201, has been included in UNESCO's list of important cultural sites. Latvia has a largely forested landscape, with forests covering 44% of the country. Some notable natural features include over 2,000 lakes, 500 km of white sand beaches, and 12,000 rivers. The national sport of Latvia is ice hockey.