Smiltene

Town

Flag

Coat of arms

Smiltene

Location in Latvia

Coordinates: 57°26′N 25°54′E / 57.433°N 25.900°ECoordinates: 57°26′N 25°54′E / 57.433°N 25.900°E

Country

Latvia

Municipality

Smiltene

Town rights

1920

Government

• Mayor

Gints Kukainis

Area

• Total

7.8 km² (3.0 sq mi)

Elevation

153 m (502 ft)

Population

• Total

9,653

• Density

710/km² (1,800/sq mi)

Time zone

EET (UTC+2)

• Summer (DST)

EEST (UTC+3)

Postal code

LV-4729

Calling code

+371 647

Number of city council members

Smiltene ( pronunciation ) is a town in the Vidzeme region of in northern Latvia, 132 km northeast of the capital Riga, and the administrative centre of Smiltene Municipality. It has a population of 5,536 (2015).

Its original name was Smiltesele (the ending probably came from the Russian "selo" - village), later it was called Smilten in German before adding the Latvian ending and thus becoming Smiltene.

Smiltene is located in the Northern part of the Vidzeme Highland on the shores of the river Abuls. There are three artificial lakes on the river in Smiltene, the biggest natural lake - Klievezers is in the Southern part of Smiltene. The town centre is 106 above the sea level, the highest spot is on Klievu street - 145.14 metres above the sea level. There are three possible meteorite craters in Smiltene.

The area around Smiltene was a part of the Latgalian lands of Tālava. After Crusaders had taken over most of the modern day Latvia, the area was part of the lands of the bishop of Riga. In 1359 on the steep hill near the river Abuls was built a castle. The tradesmen and craftsmen village around it - Smiltestele - first is mentioned in historical documents in 1427, since 1523 it was called a town. During the Livonian war the castle and the town were brought to ruin by the army of Ivan the Terrible. Under Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth Smiltene and the area surrounding it were controlled by the starosta Kaspar Mlodecki.

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Wikipedia