Aizkraukle

Latvian Cities
name=Aizkraukle
Coa=Aizkraukle gerb.png



Caption=
citysince=1967
location_

n1=56
n2=39
e1=25
e2=15
othernames=Ascheraden; Stučka;
Mayor=
nrofmembers=
District=Aizkraukle
area=11.7
Water=
Rural=
Elevation=
population=8962
popmetropolitan=
density=766
postcode=LV-510(1-3)
callcode=51
webpage=http://www.aizkraukle.lv

Aizkraukle, formerly known by its German name of Ascheraden, lies on the right bank of the Daugava River in Latvia.

The site was used by the German knights for the building of a castle in the Middle Ages, of which some ruins still remain.

The present city of Aizkraukle was built in the 1960s as a village for the builders of the nearby hydroelectric power plant of Pļaviņas. It became a city in 1967. It was initially named Stučka (after a Latvian communist) during the Soviet era. In 1991 it was renamed Aizkraukle, the historical local name.

General industries in the area are: power generation, woodworking, printing and agriculture.

In 2004 Aizkraukle was nominated "The tidiest town in Latvia 2004" in its size group.

ee also

List of cities in Latvia