Varėna District Municipality

History

Along with Vilnius region, a large part of Varėna District Municipality was on the Polish side of not-mutually recognized border during the interwar period. This was mainly due the strategic Warsaw – Saint Petersburg Railway. Unlike in neighboring regions, where the number of Poles is high, the territories now comprising the municipality always had a Lithuanian majority. The Varėna District, as it was then called, was formed during the Soviet Union, with the small town of Varėna chosen as the capital. Varėna was chosen over the then much larger Senoji Varėna (literally "Old Varėna") as the capital, due to its proximity to a railroad. It only became the center of region in the 1970s when it underwent industrialization under Soviet leadership. During a municipality reform the territory was renamed to Varėna District Municipality and the westernmost parts of it ceded to Druskininkai Municipality.

Geography

Most of the municipality is covered by forests and swamps, it is the largest and least densely populated municipality of Lithuania. The river Merkys passes through its territory, there are over 100 lakes, and the Dainava Forest. It borders Druskininkai Municipality to the west, Alytus District Municipality to the northwest, Trakai District Municipality to the northeast, and Šalčininkai District Municipality also to the west. To the south it shares a border with Belarus.

Economics

Tourism is on rise, as Dzūkija National Park is located in the region.

Demography

Urbanization:

Sexual makeup:

Religious makeup:

Ethnic makeup (2011 census):

Council

Varėna district municipality council currently has 25 seats. The last elections took place in December 2002, and the term limit is 4 years.
The results of the 2002 elections:

Transportation

The road network is sparse, but a railway connects the district with Vilnius. There are stations in Valkininkai, Matuizos, Varėna, Marcinkonys, and stops in Kalviai, Pamerkiai, Zervynos, Darželiai, Morgionys, Kabeliai, Senovė (the last three recently closed after the train route to Gardinas was discontinued).

Seniūnijos (Elderships or Wards)

The Varėna municipality contains 8 seniūnijos (in English: elderships or wards); the main town or village is listed for each.

1. Jakėnų eldership – Jakėnai
2. Kaniavos eldership – Kaniava
3. Marcinkonių eldership – Marcinkonys
4. Matuizų eldership – Matuizos
5. Merkinės eldership – Merkinė
6. Valkininkų eldership – Valkininkai
7. Varėnos eldership – Varėna
8. Vydenių eldership – Vydeniai

Population by locality