Liepāja

Liepāja
State city
Aerial View of Liepāja
St Nicholas Naval Cathedral
Town Hall
Great Amber Concert Hall
Karosta Water Tower
Anthem: Pilsētā, kurā piedzimst vējš
"The City where the Wind is Born"
Location of Liepāja in Latvia
Coordinates: 56°30′42″N 21°00′50″E / 56.51167°N 21.01389°E / 56.51167; 21.01389
Country Latvia
Town rights1625
Government
 • MayorGunārs Ansiņš (Liepāja Party)
Area
 • State city
68.02 km2 (26.26 sq mi)
 • Land51.33 km2 (19.82 sq mi)
 • Water16.69 km2 (6.44 sq mi)
Elevation
14 m (46 ft)
Population
 (2025)[2]
 • State city
67,398
 • Density990/km2 (2,600/sq mi)
 • Urban100,296
DemonymLiepājnieki (Latvian)
GDP
 • State city1,052,312,000 euro (2021)
 • Per capita15,565 euro (2021)
Time zoneUTC+2 (EET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+3 (EEST)
Postal code
LV-34(01-13); LV-3414; LV-34(16–17)
Calling code+371 634
Number of city council members15
ClimateCfb
Websitewww.liepaja.lv

Liepāja (pronounced [liepaːja] ) (formerly: Libau) is a state city in western Latvia, located on the Baltic Sea. It is the largest city in the Courland region and the third-largest in the country after Riga and Daugavpils. It is an important ice-free port.

In the 19th and early 20th century, it was a favourite place for sea-bathers and travellers, with the town boasting a fine park, many pretty gardens and a theatre.[5] Liepāja is however known throughout Latvia as the "City where the wind is born", likely because of the constant sea breeze. A song of the same name (Latvian: "Pilsētā, kurā piedzimst vējš") was composed by Imants Kalniņš and has become the anthem of the city. Its reputation as the windiest city in Latvia was strengthened with the construction of the largest wind farm in the nation (33 Enercon wind turbines) nearby.

Liepāja is chosen as the European Capital of Culture in 2027.[6]

  1. ^ "Reģionu, novadu, pilsētu un pagastu kopējā un sauszemes platība gada sākumā". Central Statistical Bureau of Latvia. Retrieved 7 January 2025.
  2. ^ "Iedzīvotāju skaits pēc tautības reģionos, pilsētās, novados, pagastos, apkaimēs un blīvi apdzīvotās teritorijās gada sākumā (pēc administratīvi teritoriālās reformas 2021. gadā)". Central Statistical Bureau of Latvia. Retrieved 22 August 2025.
  3. ^ "Eurostat". eurostat.ec.europa.eu.
  4. ^ "Iekšzemes kopprodukts un bruto pievienotā vērtība pa darbības veidiem reģionos un valstspilsētās faktiskajās cenās (pēc administratīvi teritoriālās reformas 2021. gadā)". Central Statistical Bureau of Latvia. Retrieved 22 August 2024.
  5. ^ Murray, John, Russia, Poland, and Finland, etc., Third Revised Edition, London, 1875, p.85.
  6. ^ "Liepāja wins the title of European Capital of Culture 2027". 10 May 2022. Retrieved 13 May 2021.