The term 'Latvians' refers to the people of Latvia, a country located in Northern Europe on the Baltic Sea. The term 'Letts' is an alternate name for Latvians, and is derived from the Latvian language. Latvians are the native inhabitants of Latvia, and their culture has been shaped by centuries of foreign rule, including German, Swedish, and Russian. Latvians are predominantly Christian, and the official language is Latvian.