Daugavpils

Daugavpils
City
City from different views
Flag Coat of arms
Location of Daugavpils within Latvia
Coordinates: 55°52′30″N 26°32′8″E / 55.87500°N 26.53556°E / 55.87500; 26.53556Coordinates: 55°52′30″N 26°32′8″E / 55.87500°N 26.53556°E / 55.87500; 26.53556
Country	Latvia
Established	1275
Town rights	1582
Government
• Chairman of the City Council	Jānis Lāčplēsis
• Number of city council members	15
Area
• Total	72.48 km2 (27.98 sq mi)
• Water	9.75 km2 (3.76 sq mi)
Highest elevation	139 m (456 ft)
Lowest elevation	86 m (282 ft)
Population (1 January 2017)
• Total	94,196
• Rank	2
• Density	1,300/km2 (3,400/sq mi)
Time zone	EET (UTC+2)
• Summer (DST)	EEST (UTC+3)
Postal code	LV-54(01–65)
Calling code	(+371) 654
Website	www.daugavpils.lv

Daugavpils (Latvian pronunciation: [ˈdaʊɡaʊpils]; Latgalian: Daugpiļs [ˈdaʊkʲpʲilʲsʲ]; Russian: Даугавпилс [ˈdaʊɡəfpʲɪls]; see other names) is a city in southeastern Latvia, located on the banks of the Daugava River, from which the city gets its name. Daugavpils literally means "Daugava Castle". It is the second largest city in the country after the capital Riga, which is located some 230 kilometres (143 miles) to its north-west. Daugavpils is located relatively close to Belarus and Lithuania (distances of 33 km (21 mi) and 25 km (16 mi) respectively), and some 120 km (75 mi) from the Latvian border with Russia. Daugavpils is a major railway junction and industrial centre and lies approximately midway between Riga and Minsk.

The city is surrounded by many lakes and nature parks. It is also known for its overwhelmingly Russian-speaking population.

Historically, several names in various languages have identified Daugavpils. Some are still in use today.

Here is a chronology of name changes:

The city has a moderate continental climate.

As of 1 January 2012, the city had a population of 101,057.

In Daugavpils 85% of the voters supported the proposal to make Russian the second state language in the 2012 referendum.