LIVONIA

LIVONIA was a Russian Baltic province on the Gulf of Riga. This historic region is flat and marshy, and only moderately fertile; produces rye, barley, and potatoes. Its chief industries are distilling, brewing, and iron-founding, and fishing. Four-fifths of the population are Letts and Esthonians, only 5 per cent. are Russian. The original Finnic Livonians are almost extinct. Riga was its capital.

Riga Governorate existed during 1721–1796 and Governorate of Livonia during 1796–1918.

Baltic countries came into existence in 1990, and the historical land of Livonia has been split between Latvia and Estonia ever since.