Daugavpils

Daugavpils
—  City  —
A view of Daugavpils in 1912.

Flag
Coat of arms
Daugavpils is located in Latvia
Daugavpils
Location in Latvia
Coordinates:
Country  Latvia
Town rights 1275
Government
 - Mayor Jānis Lāčplēsis
Area
 - Total 72.48 km2 (28 sq mi)
 - Water 9.75 km2 (3.8 sq mi)
Population
 - Total 103 754
 - Density 1,446/km2 (3,745.1/sq mi)
Time zone EET (UTC+2)
 - Summer (DST) EEST (UTC+3)
Postal code LV-540(1–2); LV-540(4–5); LV-5410; LV-54(12–15); LV-54(17–20); LV-5422; LV-5465
Calling code +371 654
Number of city council members 15

Daugavpils (pronounced [ˈdaʊɡaʊpils]( listen)) is the second largest city in Latvia. It is located approximately 230 km south-east of the Latvian capital, Riga, on the banks of the Daugava River, from which the city gets its name. Daugavpils literally means "Castle on the Daugava." Daugavpils has a favorable geographical position as it borders Belarus and Lithuania (distances of 33 and 25 km respectively). It is located some 120 km from the Latvian border with Russia. Daugavpils is a big railway junction and industry centre.

The city is surrounded by many lakes and nature parks.

Contents

Names

Daugavpils has been referred to by several historical names in various languages. Some are still in use today.

Here is a chronology of name changes: Dinaburg (1275—1656) → Borisoglebsk (1656—1667) → Dinaburg (1667—1893) → Dvinsk (1893—1920) → Daugavpils (1920—today)

Climate

Climate of the city is moderate continental.

Climate data for Daugavpils
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Average high °C (°F) -3.6
(25.5)		 -2.6
(27.3)		 2.1
(35.8)		 10.3
(50.5)		 17.9
(64.2)		 21.5
(70.7)		 22.5
(72.5)		 21.6
(70.9)		 16.3
(61.3)		 9.8
(49.6)		 3.3
(37.9)		 -1
(30)		 9.8
(49.6)
Average low °C (°F) -9.7
(14.5)		 -9.9
(14.2)		 -6.5
(20.3)		 0.6
(33.1)		 6.1
(43)		 10.1
(50.2)		 11.8
(53.2)		 10.9
(51.6)		 7.2
(45)		 2.9
(37.2)		 -1.4
(29.5)		 -6.1
(21)		 1.3
(34.3)
Precipitation mm (inches) 37
(1.46)		 28
(1.1)		 32
(1.26)		 42
(1.65)		 52
(2.05)		 74
(2.91)		 79
(3.11)		 74
(2.91)		 69
(2.72)		 52
(2.05)		 51
(2.01)		 43
(1.69)		 633
(24.92)
Source: World Weather Information Service [1]

Demographics

Dynamics of the population of Daugavpils in 1772–2008

As of 1 January 2009, the city had a population of 104 857.

History

The town's history began in 1275 when Dünaburg castle was built by the Livonian Order 20 km up the Daugava river from where Daugavpils is now situated. In 1561 it became part of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth (see: Duchy of Livonia) and in 1566 became capital of the Inflanty Voivodeship, which existed until the First Partition of Poland. In 1577, Dünaburg castle was captured and destroyed by Russian tsar Ivan the Terrible. That same year, a new castle was built 20 km downriver. In 1582 Daugavpils was granted Magdeburg town rights. In the 17th century, during the Russo–Swedish War initiated by Alexis of Russia, the Russians captured Daugavpils, renamed the town Borisoglebsk and controlled the region for 11 years, between 1656 and 1667. Russia returned the area to Poland following the Treaty of Andrusovo.

Downtown Daugavpils (Dvinsk) at the beginning of the 20 century

From 1784 onwards, the city had a large and active Jewish population [2] among whom figured a number of prominent figures. According to the Russian census of 1897, out of a total population of 69,700, Jews numbered 32,400 (so around 44% percent).[3]

As part of the Russian Empire the city was called Dvinsk (1893–1920). The town was renamed Daugavpils in 1920 as part of an independent Latvia. The city was the site of the Battle of Daugavpils from 1919 to 1920. Daugavpils was part of the Soviet Union between 1940–41 and 1944–1991, and was occupied by the Nazis between 1941–44. The Nazis established the Daugavpils Ghetto where the town's Jews were forced to live. During the Cold War it was the site of the Lociki air base, 12 km northeast of the town itself. Political murders are rare in Daugavpils with one exception, the brutal murder of vice mayor Grigory Nemtsov who was shot dead on Friday, April 16, 2010 in the center of the city, during daylight.

Art, architecture, and culture

Ss Boris and Gleb Orthodox Cathedral – the biggest Orthodox church in Latvia

Daugavpils is an important cultural center in eastern Latvia. There are 22 primary and secondary schools, four vocational schools, and the Saules College of Art. More than 1,000 teachers and engineers graduate from Daugavpils Pedagogical University (now Daugavpils University) and the local branch of Riga Technical University annually.

The city theatre was restored a couple of years ago. There is also one cinema as well as other cultural institutions. The city exhibition center offers many cultural activities.

There are also several architectural, historical, and cultural monuments in Daugavpils. The most prominent is the Daugavpils fortress of the late 18th–19th centuries.

Airport

Daugavpils International Airport is located 12 km northeast of Daugavpils, near the village of Lociki. The airport is currently under development to allow both international and domestic passenger traffic, as well as international and domestic cargo transport and charter flights. It is expected to be operational by 2013.[4][5]

Sports

Daugavpils Multifunctional Sports Complex
See also: Speedway Grand Prix of Latvia

The football clubs Dinaburg FC and FC Daugava play at Celtnieks Stadium in Daugavpils. There is also a hockey team called DHK Latgale, which currently plays in Belarusian Extraliga. The Speedway Grand Prix of Latvia is hosted here and Lokomotiv Daugavpils is a motorcycle speedway team based in Daugavpils who currently race in Polish First League (2nd division). In 2008 the construction of the Daugavpils Multifunctional Sports Complex was started and was completed in October 2009.

Notable residents

Daugavpils University

International relations

Twin towns – Sister cities

Central pedestrian street Rīgas iela.

Daugavpils is twinned with:

References

  1. ↑ "Weather Information for Daugavpils". World Weather Information Service. http://www.worldweather.org/044/c00173.htm. Retrieved 2008-12-01. 
  2. ↑ "Jewish families of Dvinsk". jewishgen.org. http://www.jewishgen.org/databases/latvia/DvinskFamilies.htm. Retrieved 2008-07-12. 
  3. ↑ Joshua D. Zimmerman, Poles, Jews, and the politics of nationality, Univ of Wisconsin Press, 2004, ISBN 0299194647, Google Print, p.16
  4. ↑ http://www.daugavpils.lv/index.php?load=780&set_lang=en
  5. ↑ http://www.daugavpils.lv/?load=1&newsId=7858

External links

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