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Zarasai District Municipality

Zarasai District Municipality
Zarasų rajono savivaldybė
Municipality
Coat of arms of Zarasai District Municipality
Coat of arms
Location of Zarasai district municipality within Lithuania
Location of Zarasai district municipality within Lithuania
Country  Lithuania
Ethnographic region Aukštaitija
County Utena County COA.png Utena County
Capital Zarasai
Elderships 10
Area
 • Total 1,334 km2 (515 sq mi)
Area rank 24th
Population (2001 census)
 • Total 22,900
 • Rank 52nd
 • Density 17/km2 (44/sq mi)
 • Density rank 58th
Time zone EET (UTC+2)
 • Summer (DST) EEST (UTC+3)
Telephone code 385
Major settlements
Website www.zarasai.lt

Zarasai District Municipality is one of 60 municipalities in Lithuania. It borders with Latvia and Belarus.

The district has the following localities:

30% of the territory is covered by forests (about 65% of those are pine forests), about 10% by lakes. The district has about 300 lakes. The most famous lake is Lake Sartai for its winter horse races. Part of the biggest lake in Lithuania, Lake Drūkšiai, is also in the district. Other three lakes are among the ten largest lakes in Lithuania. There are 20 artificial lakes, the biggest one is Antalieptė Lagoon (Lithuanian: Antalieptės marios). It is a unique artificial lake in Lithuania. It was formed when a dam on Šventoji River was built and 27 different lakes joined to form one lagoon. It has about 50 islands. There are 8 rivers, the longest is Šventoji River (almost 45 km in the district). The district has two regional parks, Sartai and Gražutė.

The district is rich in beautiful nature and could become a tourist destination. However, the geographic location is very inconvenient. Zarasai district municipality is away from major highways. Also, it is quite far away from the capital, Vilnius. Vilnians would rather choose numerous lakes in Molėtai district municipality or Aukštaitija National Park for recreation.

The district has many hill forts built in the 9-12th centuries. They were used for defence against Livonian Order attacking from Daugavpils.

The oldest tree in Lithuania Stelmužė Oak grows in the district.

Smalvas

Stelmužė Oak

Landscape near Turmantas


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