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Polotsk

Polotsk
Полацк (Belarusian)
Полоцк (Russian)

Połack (Belarusian Latin alphabet)
Połock (Polish)
Skyline of Polotsk
Flag of Polotsk
Flag
Coat of arms of Polotsk
Coat of arms
Location of Polotsk
Location of Polotsk
Polotsk is located in Belarus
Polotsk
Polotsk
Location of Polotsk
Coordinates: 55°29′N 28°48′E / 55.483°N 28.800°E / 55.483; 28.800
Country Belarus
Voblast Vitebsk Region
Raion Polatsk Raion
Founded 862
Government
 • Mayor Uladzimir S. Tachyla
Area
 • Total 40.77 km2 (15.74 sq mi)
Elevation 111 m (364 ft)
Population (2009)
 • Total 82,547
 • Density 2,000/km2 (5,200/sq mi)
Time zone EET (UTC+2)
 • Summer (DST) EEST (UTC+3)
Postal code 211291, 211400—211402, 211404—211415, 211422
Area code(s) +375 214
License plate 2
Website Official website

Polotsk or Polatsk (Belarusian: По́лацк, Połack, Russian: По́лоцк, Polotsk, Polish: Połock) is a historical city in Belarus, situated on the Dvina River. It is the center of the Polatsk Raion in Vitebsk Voblast. Its population is more than 80,000 people. It is served by Polotsk Airport and during the Cold War was home to Borovitsy air base.

The Old East Slavic name, Polotesk, derives from the Polota River, that flows into the Western Dvina nearby. The Vikings rendered that name as Palteskja.

Paluota (luotas means dugout canoe in Lith. and pa- means "by/beside") is a Lithuanian name of ethnic Lithuanian river from which a Lithuanian name for today's Belorussian city Polotsk originates.

Polotsk is one of the most ancient cities of the Eastern Slavs. The Primary Chronicle (a history of Kievan Rus' from about 850 to 1110, compiled in Kiev about 1113) listed Polotsk in 862 (as Полотескъ, /poloteskŭ/), together with Murom and Beloozero. However, an archaeological expedition from the Institute of History of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus suggests that Polotsk did exist in the first half of the 9th century.


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