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Valka

November 23, 2023

Valka (pronunciationⓘ; German: Walk) is a town and municipality in northern Latvia, on the border with Estonia along both banks of the river Pedele.

Valka
Town
Lugaži Lutheran Church in Valka.
Flag
Coat of arms
Motto(s): 
1 pilsēta, 2 valstis (1 city, 2 countries)
Valka
Location in Latvia
Coordinates: 57°46′N 26°0′E / 57.767°N 26.000°E / 57.767; 26.000
Country Latvia
MunicipalityValka Municipality
Town rights1584
Government
 • MayorVents Armands Krauklis
Area
[1]
 • Town14.26 km2 (5.51 sq mi)
 • Land13.98 km2 (5.40 sq mi)
 • Water0.28 km2 (0.11 sq mi)
Elevation
50 m (160 ft)
Population
 (2023)[2]
 • Town4,582
 • Density320/km2 (830/sq mi)
 • Metro
19,500 in Valga-Valka
Time zoneUTC+2 (EET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+3 (EEST)
Postal code
LV-470(1-2)
Calling code+371 647
Number of municipality council members15
Websitehttp://www.valka.lv

Valka and the Estonian town Valga are twins, separated by the Estonian/Latvian border but using the slogan "One Town, Two Countries". The border dividing the Livonian town of Walk was marked out in 1920 by an international jury headed by British Colonel Stephen George Tallents. With the expansion of the Schengen Agreement and abolition of the Estonian/Latvian border in 2007, it was announced that common public bus transport would be established between Valka and Valga.[3] Also, all border crossing-points were removed and roads and fences opened. In 2016 it was announced that due to better welfare and higher salaries in Estonia, many Valka inhabitants have registered themselves as inhabitants of Valga.[4]

History edit

The town of Walk (in German) was first mentioned in 1286 and from 1419 was the seat of the Landtag of the Livonian Confederation. City rights were granted by the Polish-Lithuanian king Stefan Batory in 1584. However, the town gained its importance only at the end of the 19th century when the Vidzeme teacher's seminary was operating here, and the important railway junction was developed. Furthermore, the first narrow-gauge railway line in the territory of modern Latvia was stretched from Valka to Estonian city of Pärnu.

On 15 November 1917 the decision of the Latvian Provisional National Council to proclaim the independent Republic of Latvia was made in Valka. The red-white-red flag of Latvia was raised here for the first time.[citation needed] The town was a subject of a dispute between the newly born Latvian and Estonian states; on 1 July 1920 the town was divided between the two states as a compromise.

Education edit

There is one primary school and a gymnasium in Valka. The Institute of Latvia-Estonia provides further education.

Notable people edit

  • Jānis Cimze (1814–1881), pedagogue, founder of Vidzeme teacher's seminary - first higher education institution in Latvia's territory
  • Aigars Fadejevs (born 1975), Olympic race-walker, winner of silver medal at Olympic Games of 2000 in Sydney
  • Vents Armands Krauklis (born 1964), musician, politician, former mayor of Valka city (2001–2006), member of Saeima (2006-2010), current mayor of Valka municipality
  • Roberts Ķīlis (born 1968), social anthropologist, former Minister of Education and Science (2011-2013)
  • Pavel Loskutov (born 1969), Estonian long-distance runner
  • Gatis Smukulis (born 1987), road bicycle racer
  • Andris Vilks (born 1963), former Minister of Finance (2009-2014)
  • Arturs Neikšāns (born 1983), Latvian chess player, commentator, and coach, multiple-time Latvian champion.

Twin towns — sister cities edit

See also: List of twin towns and sister cities in Latvia

Valka is twinned with:[5]

Gallery edit

  •  

    Semināra iela

  •  

    Rīgas iela (Riga Street) at the Estonian border.

  •  

    Apartment building from the Soviet era.

  •  

    Pedele River in Valka.

  •  

    Valka Primary school

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ "Reģionu, novadu, pilsētu un pagastu kopējā un sauszemes platība gada sākumā". Central Statistical Bureau of Latvia. Retrieved 18 January 2023.
  2. ^ "Iedzīvotāju skaits pēc tautības reģionos, pilsētās, novados, pagastos, apkaimēs un blīvi apdzīvotās teritorijās gada sākumā (pēc administratīvi teritoriālās reformas 2021. gadā) 2021 - 2022". Central Statistical Bureau of Latvia. Retrieved 3 October 2023.
  3. ^ "Establishment of common public bus transport" (PDF).[permanent dead link]
  4. ^ "Desmitā daļa Valkas novada iedzīvotāju reģistrējušies Igaunijā, vēsta raidījums".
  5. ^ "Intl. cooperation". valka.lv. Valka. Retrieved 2019-08-31.

External links edit

 
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Valka.
 
Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Valka.
  • Official website (in English)

November 23, 2023
valka, pronunciation, german, walk, town, municipality, northern, latvia, border, with, estonia, along, both, banks, river, pedele, townlugaži, lutheran, church, flagcoat, armsmotto, pilsēta, valstis, city, countries, location, latviacoordinates, 000country, l. Valka pronunciation German Walk is a town and municipality in northern Latvia on the border with Estonia along both banks of the river Pedele ValkaTownLugazi Lutheran Church in Valka FlagCoat of armsMotto s 1 pilseta 2 valstis 1 city 2 countries ValkaLocation in LatviaCoordinates 57 46 N 26 0 E 57 767 N 26 000 E 57 767 26 000Country LatviaMunicipalityValka MunicipalityTown rights1584Government MayorVents Armands KrauklisArea 1 Town14 26 km2 5 51 sq mi Land13 98 km2 5 40 sq mi Water0 28 km2 0 11 sq mi Elevation50 m 160 ft Population 2023 2 Town4 582 Density320 km2 830 sq mi Metro19 500 in Valga ValkaTime zoneUTC 2 EET Summer DST UTC 3 EEST Postal codeLV 470 1 2 Calling code 371 647Number of municipality council members15Websitehttp www valka lvValka and the Estonian town Valga are twins separated by the Estonian Latvian border but using the slogan One Town Two Countries The border dividing the Livonian town of Walk was marked out in 1920 by an international jury headed by British Colonel Stephen George Tallents With the expansion of the Schengen Agreement and abolition of the Estonian Latvian border in 2007 it was announced that common public bus transport would be established between Valka and Valga 3 Also all border crossing points were removed and roads and fences opened In 2016 it was announced that due to better welfare and higher salaries in Estonia many Valka inhabitants have registered themselves as inhabitants of Valga 4 Contents 1 History 2 Education 3 Notable people 4 Twin towns sister cities 5 Gallery 6 See also 7 References 8 External linksHistory editThe town of Walk in German was first mentioned in 1286 and from 1419 was the seat of the Landtag of the Livonian Confederation City rights were granted by the Polish Lithuanian king Stefan Batory in 1584 However the town gained its importance only at the end of the 19th century when the Vidzeme teacher s seminary was operating here and the important railway junction was developed Furthermore the first narrow gauge railway line in the territory of modern Latvia was stretched from Valka to Estonian city of Parnu On 15 November 1917 the decision of the Latvian Provisional National Council to proclaim the independent Republic of Latvia was made in Valka The red white red flag of Latvia was raised here for the first time citation needed The town was a subject of a dispute between the newly born Latvian and Estonian states on 1 July 1920 the town was divided between the two states as a compromise Education editThere is one primary school and a gymnasium in Valka The Institute of Latvia Estonia provides further education Notable people editJanis Cimze 1814 1881 pedagogue founder of Vidzeme teacher s seminary first higher education institution in Latvia s territory Aigars Fadejevs born 1975 Olympic race walker winner of silver medal at Olympic Games of 2000 in Sydney Vents Armands Krauklis born 1964 musician politician former mayor of Valka city 2001 2006 member of Saeima 2006 2010 current mayor of Valka municipality Roberts kilis born 1968 social anthropologist former Minister of Education and Science 2011 2013 Pavel Loskutov born 1969 Estonian long distance runner Gatis Smukulis born 1987 road bicycle racer Andris Vilks born 1963 former Minister of Finance 2009 2014 Arturs Neiksans born 1983 Latvian chess player commentator and coach multiple time Latvian champion Twin towns sister cities editSee also List of twin towns and sister cities in Latvia Valka is twinned with 5 nbsp Braslaw Belarus nbsp Camliyayla Turkey nbsp I billin Israel nbsp Kutaisi Georgia nbsp Marijampole Lithuania nbsp Novoye Devyatkino Russia nbsp Valga Estonia nbsp Valga SpainGallery edit nbsp Seminara iela nbsp Rigas iela Riga Street at the Estonian border nbsp Apartment building from the Soviet era nbsp Pedele River in Valka nbsp Valka Primary schoolSee also editValka Town Theatre Valga EstoniaReferences edit Regionu novadu pilsetu un pagastu kopeja un sauszemes platiba gada sakuma Central Statistical Bureau of Latvia Retrieved 18 January 2023 Iedzivotaju skaits pec tautibas regionos pilsetas novados pagastos apkaimes un blivi apdzivotas teritorijas gada sakuma pec administrativi teritorialas reformas 2021 gada 2021 2022 Central Statistical Bureau of Latvia Retrieved 3 October 2023 Establishment of common public bus transport PDF permanent dead link Desmita dala Valkas novada iedzivotaju registrejusies Igaunija vesta raidijums Intl cooperation valka lv Valka Retrieved 2019 08 31 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Valka nbsp Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Valka Official website in English Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Valka amp oldid 1182577132, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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