Kalinkavichy

Kalinkavičy (more usually: Kalinkavichy; _be. Калінкавічы, _ru. Калинковичи) is a town in the Homiel Province of south-eastern Belarus. Kalinkavičy is located beside the Pripyat River, opposite the town of Mazyr, and is the site of one of country's most important railway junctions. It has a population of 37,876 (2004 estimate).

Archaeological excavations have found traces of human settlement dating back to 26,000-24,000 years ago, the oldest yet discoved in Belarus.

The earliest historical mention of the town of Kalinkavichy dates to 1560. The town grew to prominence at the end of the nineteenth century with the coming of the railways. Food processing (esp. pork products) is the largest industry. The extraction of peat (5.5 million tonnes of reserves) is also economically important.

The mean January temperature is -6.2°C; July +18.7°C. Precipitation totals 575 mm per annum.

Kalinkavichy is also known for the annual Avtyuki comedy festival, held every June.

In 1998 the town was united with the surrounding rural area to form a single administrative unit, Kalinkavichy Raion, covering 2,756 km², with a total population of 71,500. [www.kalinkovichi.jino-net.ru/viewpage.php?page_id=1]

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