Short answers, pulled from the story.
The name Latvia derives from the ancient Latgalians, one of four Indo-European Baltic tribes that formed the ethnic core of modern Latvians. Henry of Latvia coined the Latinisations Lettigallia and Lethia in the 13th century to describe these lands.
The People's Council of Latvia proclaimed independence on the 18th of November 1918 breaking away from the Russian Empire after World War I. A freely elected constituent assembly convened on the 1st of May 1920 adopting the liberal constitution Satversme in February 1922.
Under occupation 30,000 Jews were shot in autumn 1941 while another 30,000 from the Riga ghetto died in the Rumbula Forest during November and December 1941. The Soviet Union incorporated Latvia as the Latvian Soviet Socialist Republic on the 5th of August 1940 prior to this period.
Vaira Vīķe-Freiberga served as president from 1999 to 2007 becoming first female head of state in former Soviet bloc countries. She led the nation following the restoration of full independence declared on the 21st of August 1991.
Forests cover 56 percent of total land area making Latvia fifth highest proportion among European Union members after Sweden Finland Estonia Slovenia. This extensive forestation contributes to the country's status regarding environmental protection within the region.