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When in the 14th and 15th centuries Riga became one of the most important trade centers of
the Hanseatic League, thecity was granted special rights to transport goods along the Daugava
further to the East.
Nowadays, Riga is also an important transport junction. The main elements that make the city as
a transit center are the harbor of Riga, the Riga international airport and developed railway and
road networks. The historically developed transportation infrastructure has facilitated Riga's
evolution as the major industrial and business center in the Baltic region. The city is well known
for its architectural and cultural values, skilful labor and developed infrastructure.
Riga is located along the Baltic Sea at the southern coast of the Gulf of Riga, on the Rigava coastal
plain. The historical core of Riga is situated on the right bank of the Daugava River, about 10 kilometers
from where the Daugava flows into the Gulf of Riga. The natural terrain of this area is a flat and sandy
plain, about 1 to 10 meters above the sea level.
Climate in Riga is influenced by its proximity to the sea; therefore it is moderately warm and humid.
Summers are comparatively cool and cloudy (average temperature in July +16.9 C; average precipitation
(rainfall) 85 mm). Winters are comparatively warm with frequent thaws (average temperature in
January 4,7 C, thaw days are about 10 days a month). Snow cover forms in the middle of December
and remain through the middle of March. About 40% of the days in a year are cloudy (overcast),
average precipitation 700-720 mm a year. | 
