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Hrodna voblast

Grodno Region
Гродзенская вобласць (Belarusian)
Гродненская область (Russian)

Hrodna Region
Flag of Grodno Region
Flag
Coat of arms of Grodno Region
Coat of arms
Location of Grodno Region
Administrative center Grodno
Largest cities Grodno - 332,300
Lida - 98,200
Slonim - 51,600
Districts 17
Cities: 12
Urban localities: 21
City districts 6
Government
 • Chairman Vladimir Kravtsov
Area
 • Total 25,118.07 km2 (9,698.14 sq mi)
Highest elevation 323 m (1,060 ft)
Lowest elevation 80 m (260 ft)
Population (2009 census)
 • Total 1,072,381
 • Density 43/km2 (110/sq mi)
Website www.region.grodno.by

Grodno/Hrodna Region (Belarusian: Гродзенская вобласць, Hrodzienskaja vobłasć; Lithuanian: Gardino sritis; Polish: Obwód grodzieński; Russian: Гродненская область, Grodnenskaya oblast) is one of the regions of Belarus. It is located in the northwestern part of the country.

The capital, Grodno, is the biggest city of the region. It lies on the Neman River. Grodno's existence is attested to from 1127. Two castles dating from the 14th - 18th centuries are located here on the steep right bank of the Nemen. Many consider this city one of the most beautiful in Belarus: one of its masterpieces survived through the centuries, Orthodox St Boris & St Gleb (Kalozhskaya) Church dating back to the 12th century, is the second oldest in Belarus.

This region was the westernmost "borderlands" of the Early East Slavs (tribal union Dregovichs?) on the lands of the Balts in the 6th-9th centuries. In the 12th-14th centuries it was part of the area sometimes known as Black Ruthenia, that was fully incorporated into the Grand Duchy of Lithuania (GDL) by the rulers of Lithuania in the 13th century.

In 1413, the area around Grodno, part of the Duchy of Trakai, was transformed into newly established Trakai Voivodeship. Grodno became the seat of Grodno County. In 1441, Magdeburg Law charter was granted to the capital by Casimir IV Jagiellon Grand Duke of Lithuania and future King of Poland. In 1444, Grodno received its Coat of Arms from Casimir's hands as well as substantial trade privileges.


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