valka

Valka is a town in northern Latvia, serving as the administrative center of Valka Municipality in the historical region of Vidzeme. It lies near the border with Estonia and forms a cross-border link with the Estonian town of Valga; a bridge connects the two towns and facilitates cross-border movement and trade. The town functions as a local center for services, light industry, and commerce.

Valka developed in the medieval period and received town rights in the late Middle Ages. Its historic core features architecture from the 18th and 19th centuries. The population is approximately 7,000 residents. In recent decades, Valka has participated in cross-border cooperation programs within the European Union and has emphasized regional development, tourism, and the integration of border economies.

Valka also refers to a fictional character in the How to Train Your Dragon franchise. Valka is the wife of Stoick the Vast and the mother of Hiccup. She is depicted as a dragon rider who lived away from the village for many years and later returns to help foster dragon-human coexistence. The character is voiced by Cate Blanchett in the feature films.