Population 5,635 (2015) | Ethnographic region Aukštaitija First mentioned 1810 Local time Friday 5:38 PM | |
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Eldership Ignalina town eldership Capital of Ignalina district municipalityIgnalina town eldershipIgnalina rural eldership Weather 3°C, Wind W at 5 km/h, 86% Humidity Municipality Ignalina District Municipality | ||
Ignalina ( pronunciation ) is a city in eastern Lithuania, famous for the Ignalina Nuclear Power Plant in nearby Visaginas. It is said that Ignalina name got its name from Ignas and Lina, two lovers with quite popular Lithuanian names. According to the 2011 census, it had 6,007 residents, to 2015 census - 5,635 residents
Contents
Map of Ignalina, Lithuania
History
Even though there is archeological evidence that people lived in Ignalina area in the Stone Age, Ignalina was mentioned only in 1810. It started to grow only after the Warsaw – Saint Petersburg Railway was built in 1866. It is regarded as one of the new industrial cities. However, nowadays it is known more as a tourist destination in the Aukštaitija National Park.
Before World War II Ignalino was part of Second Polish Republic and was situated in the Święciany County of the Wilno Voivodeship. From 1939 Ignalina was capital of Ignalina eldership. More than half of the population was Jewish, 1200 people before the Holocaust. During World War II, in 1941, Jews were imprisoned in a ghetto and exploited through forced labour. They are later murdered in mass executions.
In 1950 city become a capital of Ignalina District Municipality in Vilnius County. In 1995 Ignalina District Municipality become a part of Utena County.
Sports
Lithuanian Winter Sports Center is located in Ignalina near Šiekštys or Žaliasis (Green) Lake.
Ignalina used to be the main ski jumping venue in Lithuania until the 1970s when this sport was stopped in the country.