Riga Latvia

Located in the Baltic region of Eastern Europe, Latvia is bordered by Estonia (339 kilometers; 211 miles), Russia (217 kilometres; 135 miles), Belarus (141 kilometres; 88 miles), Lithuania (453 kilometres; 281 miles), and the Baltic Sea (531 kilometres; 330 miles). Latvia has a total area of 64,589 square kilometres (40,136 square miles). Its capital, Riga, is centrally located and lies next to its namesake, the Gulf of Riga.

The local time of Riga is Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) +2 which is seven hours behind Cairns.

The climate of Riga is humid continental. The coldest months are January and February, when the average temperature is −5°C (23°F) but temperatures as low as −20°C (−4°F) to −25°C (−13°F) can be observed almost every year on the coldest days. The proximity of the sea causes frequent autumn rains and fogs. Continuous snow cover may last 80 days. The summers in Riga are humid with the average temperature of 18°C (64°F), while the temperature on the hottest days can exceed 30°C (86°F).

The population of Riga is approximately 630,000 (2019).

The first agreement with Riga was signed in 1990 and was replaced by a new proclamation made in 2013.

The 2013 proclamation reads

'Cairns Regional Council in Queensland, Australia and the Riga City Council in the Republic of Latvia, hereby signal our intent to strengthen our lasting and friendly relations by formally signing a Sister City Agreement.

We agree to promote economic, educational, cultural and tourism exchange to generate mutual understanding and goodwill leading to a better life for our citizens.'

• 2022 - Printmaking exhibition, The Healing Power of Industrial Ink & Magic involved fifteen printmakers in the Cairns region and fifteen in Riga. The exhibition was shown simultaneously at the Court House Gallery in Cairns and Riga’s VEF Culture Palace in September 2022.
• 2018 - The photographic exhibition, Song and Dance, in Tank 4 was a Sister Cities collaboration between Cairns and Riga, Latvia, to commemorate the one hundredth anniversary of Latvia’s independence. The exhibition of photographs and audio-visual material opened first in Latvia on August 31 and now comes to Cairns to celebrate something our two cities have in common – a love for song and dance.
• 2016 - Djarragun College student Antonia Epseg travels to Latvia in June at their invitation for an exchange experience.
• 2015   Official visit from Riga (27 Aug - 1 Sep). Exchange of official gifts to mark 25th Anniversary and musician from Riga performs at Festival Cairns
• 2015   On 10 July, a photo exhibition, “Cairns and Aalborg – the Charms” opened at the Riga City Hall to mark the 25-year anniversary of friendship with Cairns.
• 2014   Two students from Riga travel to Cairns as part of Youth Ambassadors Program
• 2013   Committee Members of Cairns Sister Cities, Alex Garsa and Ilze Bikins, attended the Song and Dance Festival in Riga
• 2011   Youth Ambassadors attend program in Cairns
• 2010   Riga participates in Fibres of Life textile exhibition displayed in cairns
• 2010   Mrs Lone White (member of the Cairns Regional Council Sister Cities Advisory Committee) visited Riga for the School Youth Song and Dance Celebration and the display of photographs from the "Face of a Sister City" exhibition.
• 2009    Riga participated in the Cairns "Face of a Sister City" photographic exhibition Face of a Sister City Photo Exhibition - Riga
• 2008    Riga participated in the Cairns "Earth Links" Sister Cities ceramics exhibition

More information

• Visit the Riga City official website (Latvian)