Verkhnyadzvinsk

Werchnjadswinsk (White Russian Верхнядзвінск; Russian Верхнедвинск ) is a city in the Wizebskaja Woblasz in Belarus. It lies on the right bank of the Daugava River and is the administrative center of the homonymous Rajons. The town has 7900 inhabitants ( 2004).

History

The city was first mentioned in 1386 as Drissa. In the Middle Ages it belonged to the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. Later Drissa came to the Russian Empire and in 1801 the administrative center of the governorate Ujesds Vitebsk.

1924 Drissa center of a Rajons. In 1962 it was renamed by the city and raion in Werchnjadswinsk. The old name corresponded to that of in the city from the right opening into the Daugava river, the current is in the White Russian as in Russian for about Upper Dünastadt.