Luga, Leningrad Oblast

Luga ( _ru. Лу́га; _fi. Laukaa; _vo. Laugaz) is a town in Leningrad Oblast, Russia, located on the Luga River km to mi|140 south of St. Petersburg. Population: 40,000 (2005 est.); 40,434 (2002 Census); 41,769 (1989 Census).

The town played a pivotal role in World War II by delaying the German advance on Leningrad by over a month. This was recognised in 1977 by the award of the Order of World War II.

The town is the administrative centre of Luzhsky District of Leningrad Oblast and the main centre of transport, industry, agriculture, and commerce south of St. Petersburg. It has a University (KGU Kirilla and Mefodia), three Institutes of Technical Education, and six schools. There are road and rail links with the neighbouring cities of Saint Petersburg, Pskov, and Novgorod.

History

Luga was founded on the banks of the river of that name by order of the Catherine the Great on August 3, 1777. Locals divide the town's development into six stages:
#Initial construction (1777–c. 1800)
#Early growth to population of 3,000 (c. 1810–c. 1860)
#Intense social and urban development (c. 1870–1910)
#Soviet development according to the typical plan for smaller towns (1926–c. 1950)
#Reconstruction of the historical town structure (c. 1960–c. 1995)
#Transition to free market agro-industrial town (c. 1995–2005).

External links

* [http://www.luga.ru Official website of Luga]
* [http://mobicom.iksnet.ru Z-Portal UnOfficial website of Luga ]