Vileyka

Vileyka
Вілейка (Belarusian)
Вилейка (Russian)

Vialejka Church of Rev. Mary of Egypt

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Vileyka
Coordinates: 54°29′50″N 26°54′40″E / 54.49722°N 26.91111°E / 54.49722; 26.91111
Country  Belarus
Voblast Minsk Region
Raion Vileyka Raion
Elevation 183 m (600 ft)
Population (2010)
  Total 26,736
Time zone EET (UTC+2)
  Summer (DST) EEST (UTC+3)
Postal code 222410
Area code(s) +375 1771
License plate 5
Website Official website

Vileyka (Belarusian: Вiлейка [vʲiˈlʲɛjka], also Вялейка; Russian: Вилейка; Polish: Wilejka; Lithuanian: Vileika) is a town in Belarus and the administrative center of the Vileyka Raion in the Minsk Region. It is located on the River Viliya, 100 km northwest of Minsk. The first documentary record dates from 16 November 1460.

Time zone: II (GMT +2 hours). Population of Vileyka district in 2009: 55 thousand people (Vileyka 28.5 thousand). International phone code: +375 1771 xxxxx. Postal index: 222410.

The 43rd Russian Navy's long-haul communications center is located near Vileyka (54°27′50″N 26°46′40″E / 54.46389°N 26.77778°E / 54.46389; 26.77778). It provides VLF communication between Russian Navy's headquarters and atomic submarines in the Atlantic, Indian and parts of the Pacific Ocean.

History

In the 10th–13th centuries, the territory was under the Principality of Polotsk, and in XIV-XVII under Grand Duchy of Lithuania as manor house Kurenets. The town was first mentioned in 1460 as a borough center of the Vileyka Starostwo of the Ashmyany county in Grand Duchy of Lithuania.

Geography

The modern town is located on the right bank of the river Viliya, in the northwest part of the Minsk region, 100 kilometers from Minsk. The town’s population numbers 30,000 people. There is a railway station of the Molodechno-Polotsk line in the town. The roads to Maladzechna, Smarhoń, Myadzel, Dokshytsy, Pleshchanitsy run through the town. The town’s industry is represented by the Zenit plant, wood processing enterprises (including a furniture factory), a motor repair plant, building materials plants, light and food enterprises. Vileyka also houses the Museum of Regional Studies.

The territory of the Vileyka district is 2400 km². Forests account for 41% of the territory. The main part of the district is situated within the borders of Narach-Vileyka lowland. In the year 1974, near the town of Vileyka Belarus's largest artificial reservoir was built Vileyka Reservoir with a total area of 63.3 km² and a volume of 238 million cubic meters.

Points of interests

International relations

Twin towns — Sister cities

Vileyka is twinned with:

Coordinates: 54°29′53″N 26°55′34″E / 54.498°N 26.926°E / 54.498; 26.926

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Vileyka.

References

  1. 1 2 Dr. Smilovitsky, Vileika (Polish: Wilejka) JewishGen, Yizkor Book Project. From materials of the Extraordinary Commission.
  2. Zenit-BelOMO, zenit-belomo.by
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