Mazsalaca, Latvia

Capital City

With a population of just 1,092, Mazsalaca is a sleepy backwater that offers little more than a bridge over the Salaca River. The town's origins date back to 5000 BC, but its modern development only began in 1864 with the construction of that bridge. During World War II, Mazsalaca was occupied by the Germans, and even today the bureaucracy seems to be a persistent headache, with a hoax meteorite crater marketing scheme playing out here in 2009. Unless you're drawn to the area's history or simply seeking extreme isolation, Mazsalaca is not the place for most would-be expats.