View source for Riga district

{{Redirect|Rigas|3=Rigas (surname)}}
{{Short description|District of Latvia}}
{{More citations needed|date=May 2013}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name               = Rīgas rajons
| settlement_type    = District
| image_map          = Latvia-Riga.png
| image_shield       = Rīgas rajona ģerbonis.svg
| shield_alt         = Coat of arms of Riga district
| subdivision_type   = Country
| subdivision_name   = [[Latvia]]
| unit_pref          = Metric
| area_total_km2     = 3058
| population_footnotes = <ref name="population">{{cite web |url=http://data.csb.gov.lv/Dialog/varval.asp?ma=04-05a&ti=4%2D5%2E+RESIDENT+POPULATION+BY+REGION%2C+CITY+AND+DISTRICT+AT+THE+BEGINNING+OF+THE+YEAR&path=../DATABASEEN/Iedzsoc/Annual%20statistical%20data/04.%20Population/&lang=1 |title=RESIDENT POPULATION BY REGION, CITY AND DISTRICT AT THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR |publisher=csb.gov.lv |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090901210751/http://data.csb.gov.lv/Dialog/varval.asp?ma=04-05a&ti=4-5.+RESIDENT+POPULATION+BY+REGION%2C+CITY+AND+DISTRICT+AT+THE+BEGINNING+OF+THE+YEAR&path=..%2FDATABASEEN%2FIedzsoc%2FAnnual%20statistical%20data%2F04.%20Population%2F&lang=1 |archive-date=2009-09-01 }}</ref>
| population_total   = 173,116
| population_density_km2 = auto
| website            = [http://www.rrp.lv/ www.rrp.lv]
| official_name      = Riga district
| established_date   = 1949
| established_title  = Formed
| extinct_title      = Dissolved
| extinct_date       = 2009
| seat               = [[Riga]]
}}
'''Riga district''' ({{langx|lv|Rīgas rajons}}) was an [[Districts of Latvia|administrative division]] of [[Latvia]], located in [[Semigallia]] and [[Vidzeme]] regions, in the centre of the country. It was the ''de facto'' successor of the historical [[Riga county]] since 1949. 

Beginning from the west and counterclockwise to the east, Riga district bordered the districts of [[Tukums district|Tukums]], [[Jelgava district|Jelgava]], [[Bauska district|Bauska]], [[Ogre district|Ogre]], [[Cēsis district|Cēsis]] and [[Limbaži district|Limbaži]]. The area of the district was 3,058&nbsp;km² with a population of 159,247 in January 2009. Riga district was one of the largest regions of Latvia, it was strategically important and also had some of the most developed infrastructure in Latvia. It was a cross-point of 10 major motorways and a junction of 6 important railroad lines.

Districts were eliminated during the {{ill|2009 administrative-territorial reform in Latvia|lt=administrative-territorial reform in 2009|lv|2009. gada administratīvi teritoriālā reforma}}.

==History==
{{Expand Latvian|section=yes}}
One of the first ancient settlements was situated in this district and dates from the 9th century [[Before Christ|BC]]. Across time localities of the Riga district had their resurgence and downturns caused by wars and unrest. This land been occupied by German [[Livonian Crusade|crusaders]] and [[Sweden|Swedish]], [[Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth|Polish–Lithuanian]], [[Electorate of Saxony|Saxonian]], [[Germany|German]] and [[Russia]]n armies. More than 300 monuments of cultural and historical significance that are on the list of cultural heritage protection tell us about the most important events of local history. The reasons for the rapid development of Riga district can be found in its geographic position, human and natural resources, and rich heritage of culture and history. For the same reasons this region is valuable for tourism, recreation and business travel.{{cn|date=December 2024}}

== Subdivisions (2008) ==

=== Cities/towns ===
* [[Riga]] (exterritorial center)
* [[Baldone]]
* [[Baloži]]
* [[Olaine]]
* [[Salaspils]] with [[Salaspils Parish|rural territory]]
* [[Saulkrasti]] with [[Saulkrasti Parish|rural territory]]
* [[Sigulda]]
* [[Vangaži]]
=== Municipalities (former parishes) ===
* [[Ādaži Municipality]]
* [[Baldone Municipality]]
** Baldone
** [[Baldone Parish]]
* [[Carnikava Municipality]]
* [[Garkalne Municipality]]
* [[Inčukalns Municipality]]
** Vangaži
** [[Inčukalns Parish]]
* [[Krimulda Municipality]]
** [[Krimulda Parish]]
** [[Lēdurga Parish]]
*[[Mārupe Municipality]]
*[[Ropaži Municipality]]
*[[Sēja Municipality]]
*[[Sigulda Municipality]]
**Sigulda
**[[Allaži Parish]]
**[[More Parish]]
**[[Sigulda Parish]]
*[[Stopiņi Municipality]]

=== Parishes ===

* [[Babīte Parish]]
* [[Daugmale Parish]]
* [[Ķekava Parish]]
* [[Mālpils Municipality|Mālpils Parish]]
* [[Olaine Parish]]
* [[Sala Parish, Mārupe Municipality|Sala Parish]]

==Nature==
[[Image:Riga Suisse 1890-1900.jpg|200px|thumb|left|Postcard view from Sigulda.]]
The larger part of the former region lies in the sand-soil plains of Riga that are covered by pinewoods, low links, marshlands and level countryside that is typical for [[littoral]] lowlands. In the northern part, there are ridges of links and many lakes have formed in hollows between them. There are 132 lakes in the Riga Region and the biggest of them is the Babīte Lake, Lielais Baltezers, Mazais Baltezers, Dūņu Lake and Lilaste Lake. The former district is also crossed by three major rivers in Latvia – [[Daugava River|Daugava]], [[Lielupe River|Lielupe]] and [[Gauja River]]s.

The north-eastern part of former Riga district is covered by the largest deciduous forests in Latvia. The [[Gauja National Park]] is part of these forests and has more than 900 kinds of [[plants]], 48 species of [[mammals]] and 149 species of [[birds]].<ref name="GNP">{{cite web |url=http://www.gnp.lv/eng/ |title=Gauja National Park |access-date=5 March 2008 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080220101146/http://www.gnp.lv/eng/ <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archive-date = 20 February 2008}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20090506004402/http://riga.in/ Photos of Riga and district]

{{list of former Latvian counties and districts}}
{{Coord|56.9489|N|24.1064|E|source:wikidata-and-enwiki-cat-tree_region:LV|display=title}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Districts of Latvia|Riga district]]