- Aukštaitija
Aukštaitija (literary: "Highlands"; pronEng|oʊkʃteɪtɪˈjʌ) is the name of one of five ethnographic
regions of Lithuania . The name comes from the fact that the region is relatively elevated, particularly in its eastern parts.Geography
Aukštaitija is in the northeast part of Lithuania and also encompasses a small part of
Latvia andBelarus . Largest city and, despite of lack of its political meaning, considered capital of the region isPanevėžys , which has over 100,000 inhabittants. Largest cities (by population; those over 20,000 inhabitants) are:
*Panevėžys - 119,749 (considered to be capital)
*Jonava - 34,954
*Utena - 33,860
*Kėdainiai - 32,048
*Visaginas - 29,554 (note - this city was built by Soviets and is mainly inhabited by Russians and other Soviet nationalities, therefore it is part of this ethnographic region only geographically)
*Ukmergė - 28,759
*Radviliškis - 20,339The region is full of lakes, mainly in the eastern side.
History
Historically Aukštaitija had been correspondent to the
Duchy of Lithuania up to the 13th century. Its initial capital most likely wasKernavė . In the treaty ofGediminas of 1322, Aukštaitija is named "terra Eustoythen" ('land of Aukštaitijans'). Aukštaitija was mentioned as "Austechia" in "Chronicon terrae Prussiae " written around 1326. Politically, since the end of the 13th century, it comprised the Duchy of Vilnius/Lithuania and Duchy ofTrakai , and perhaps was employed to refer to them both taken together. Since the 15th century, correspondingTrakai Voivodeship andVilnius Voivodeship made up Aukštaitija, as a political and ethnically based unit, also known as "Lithuania Propria ".Demographics
The people mostly speak the
Aukštaitian dialect of Lithuanian. Under the new classification of dialects Lithuanian is divided into just two dialects, Aukštaitian andSamogitian with all previous dialects being classified as subdialects. TheSudovian andDzukian dialects are also considered subdialects of Aukštaitian now, therefore the specific subdialect spoken in Aukštaitija is known asEast Aukštaitian .The region has Russian and Belarusian minorities in the east, dialects there therefore use more loan words from those languages. However the usage of dialects as in Lithuania in general, is decreasing.
ymbols
The designs by R. Rinkunas of Aukstaitija flag and coat of arms was introduced to public in March 2007.
See also
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Aukštaitija National Park References
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