Description & Facts: Jelgava is a city in central Latvia about 41 km southwest of Riga with 66,087 inhabitants (2006). It is the largest town in Semigallia. Jelgava is known as the former capital of the Duchy of Courland, and was the capital of the Courland region until 1919. Jelgava is situated on a fertile plain rising only 3.5 m above sea level on the right bank of the river Lielupe. At high water the plain and sometimes the town as well can be inundated. Jelgava is surrounded by a canal known as Jacob's Channel (initiated by Jacob Kettler) occupying the locations of former fortifications. It is a railway center and an important market for grain and timber. It is also host to Jelgava air base. Its importance as a railway centre can be proven by the fact that it lies at the junction of over 6 railway lines connecting Riga to Lithuania, eastern and western Latvia, and Lithuania to the Baltic sea.