Aizkraukle
Aizkraukle, plasterers to 1991 ( the German name Ascheraden is no longer used ), is a town of about 9000 inhabitants (2005 ) in Latvia. It is located on the right high bank of the Daugava river, opposite Creek Lauce.
The city is the eponymous center of its own county and is about 90 km southeast of Riga, located in the glacial valley of the Daugava.
Geography
The city is located in the immediate vicinity of the dam of the hydroelectric plant of Plavinas on the railway line Riga - Daugavpils. The surrounding area is predominantly covered by forest and lakes or rivers.
History
According to archaeological finds, the territory an old historic settlement of Liven Represents the northern bank of the Daugava was livländisches area, while the area of the Daugava river belonged to Semgallen left. Here the Commandery Ascheraden and later the parish Ascheraden had formerly its center. The name " Ascheraden " ( Low German: " Asscrade " ), which sounds in Latvian as " Ašķere " refers to the opening out here left river Daugava.
"Bear killer" According to a legend of the Livonian, the hunting rifle is said to have taken on his trip here, the beautiful witch Spidola, daughter of Aizkrauklis, guardian of the local rapids.
The current, north of the Daugava River town in Aizkraukle is in 1960 during the construction of the hydroelectric plant of Plavinas under the name plasterers - was established as a residential settlement for construction workers and water Kraftwerker - after Lenin's first People's Commissar for Justice and temporary president of Latvia Peteris plasterers. The architecture of Aizkraukle is therefore characteristic of the 1960s and 1970s. The former settlement on hydroelectric power plant received city rights in 1967 years. The city was renamed in 1991 after a nearby village in Aizkraukle. 2001 Aizkraukle was appointed administrative seat of the region.
Twinning
Aizkraukle has three sister cities:
- Eppstein ( Germany ), since 1998,
- Biržai (Lithuania ), since 2004
- Kiskunhalas (Hungary ), since 2005
Hydroelectric power station
The hydroelectric power plant of Pļaviņas is the largest in Latvia. It is 107 km from the mouth of the Daugava river in Riga, the bay behind the rapids of the Daugava. The construction period amounted to five years: 1961-1966 At a water level of up to 40 meters, the power plant has a capacity of 868 500 kW..