Varėna District Municipality

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Varėna district municipality

Varėnos rajono savivaldybė
Municipality
Nemunas River nearby Merkinė
Nemunas River nearby Merkinė
Coat of arms of Varėna district municipality
Coat of arms
Location in Lithuania
Location in Lithuania
Map of Varėna district municipality
Map of Varėna district municipality
Coordinates: 54°13′N 24°34′E / 54.217°N 24.567°E / 54.217; 24.567Coordinates: 54°13′N 24°34′E / 54.217°N 24.567°E / 54.217; 24.567
Country Lithuania
Ethnographic regionDzūkija
CountyAlytus County
CapitalVarėna
Elderships8
Area
 • Total2,218 km2 (856 sq mi)
Area rank1st
Population
 (2020 estimation[1])
 • Total20,840
 • Rank41st
 • Density9.4/km2 (24/sq mi)
 • Density rank60th
Time zoneUTC+2 (EET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+3 (EEST)
Telephone code310
Major settlementsVarėna (pop. 10,845)
Websitewww.varena.lt/en

Varėna District Municipality (Lithuanian: Varėnos rajono savivaldybė) is a municipality in Alytus County in southern Lithuania.

History[]

Along with Vilnius region, a large part of Varėna District Municipality was on the Polish side of not-mutually recognized border during the interwar period. This was mainly due to the strategic Warsaw – Saint Petersburg Railway. Unlike in neighboring regions, where the number of Poles is high, the territories now comprising the municipality always had a Lithuanian majority. The , as it was then called, was formed during the Soviet Union, with the small town of Varėna chosen as the capital. Varėna was chosen over the then much larger Senoji Varėna (literally "Old Varėna") as the capital, due to its proximity to a railroad. It only became the center of region in the 1970s when it underwent industrialization under Soviet leadership. During a municipality reform the territory was renamed to Varėna District Municipality and the westernmost parts of it ceded to Druskininkai Municipality.

Geography[]

Most of the municipality is covered by forests and swamps, it is the largest and least densely populated municipality of Lithuania. It borders Druskininkai Municipality to the west, Alytus District Municipality to the northwest, Trakai District Municipality to the northeast, and Šalčininkai District Municipality also to the west. To the south it shares a border with Belarus.

The district is in the Nemunas Basin. The Nemunas itself passes by its western edge while the Merkys (with its tributaries Ūla, , Varėnė) is the main watercourse. There is the largest march in Lithuania the which is declared as a strict natural reserve. There are more than 100 lakes. Most of them are small, endorhetic, while some, like , , , , are larger.

68.9 % of the district's territory is occupied by forests, mostly, by the Dainava Forest (ancient Hrodna Wood), the largest in the country. There are cerca 40 nature monuments - old pine trees used for beekeeping, some outcrops, unique geological landforms.

The main part of the district is in the . North-western side is covered by the , while eastern side is in the where is the highest point of Varėna District Municipality - the Riliškiai Hill (193 m).[1]

Economics[]

Tourism is on rise, as Dzūkija National Park is located in the region. Also, forestry, construction materials, textile, food (milk) industry is being developed.[1]

Council[]

Varėna district municipality council currently has 25 seats. The last elections took place in December 2002, and the term limit is 4 years.
The results of the 2002 elections:

  • - 18
  • - 2
  • Social Democratic Party of Lithuania - 2
  • New Union Social Liberals - 2
  • Liberal democrat party - 1

Transportation[]

The road network is sparse, but a railway connects the district with Vilnius. There are stations in Valkininkai, Matuizos, Varėna, Marcinkonys, and stops in Kalviai, Pamerkiai, Zervynos, Darželiai, Margionys, Kabeliai, Senovė (the last three recently closed after the train route to Hrodna was discontinued).

Seniūnijos (Elderships or Wards)[]

The Varėna municipality contains 8 seniūnijos (in English: elderships or wards);[2] the main town or village is listed for each.

  1.  [lt] – Jakėnai
  2.  [lt] – Kaniava
  3. Marcinkonys Eldership – Marcinkonys
  4.  [lt] – Matuizos
  5.  [lt] – Merkinė
  6.  [lt] – Valkininkai
  7.  [lt] – Varėna
  8.  [lt] – Vydeniai

Population[]

Demography[]

Urbanization:

  • Urban - 10845 (34,83%)
  • Rural - 20292 (75,27%)

Sexual makeup:

  • Men - 14947 (48,00%)
  • Women - 16190 (52,00%)

Religious makeup:

  • Catholics - 28651 (94,75%)
  • Atheists - 1146 (3,79%)
  • Eastern Orthodox - 349 (1,15%)
  • Others less than 0,5% each

Ethnic makeup (2011 census):[3]

  • Lithuanians - 22967 (90,5%)
  • Poles - 1612 (6,35%)
  • Russians - 307 (1,02%)
  • Belarusians - 237 (0,93%)
  • Others less than 0,5% each

Largest settlements[]

 
Largest cities or towns in Varėna District Municipality
2011 Lithuanian Census
Rank Eldership Pop.
Varėna
Varėna
Merkinė
Merkinė 		1 Varėna 9240 Senoji Varėna
Senoji Varėna
Matuizos
Matuizos
2 Merkinė 1228
3 Senoji Varėna 1203
4 Matuizos 1201
5 Marcinkonys Marcinkonys Eldership 640
6 Perloja 586
7 Žilinai 392
8 Vydeniai 374
9 370
10 Kriviliai 358


Population by locality[]

2011 Census[2]
Locality Status  Total   Male  Female
Varėnos d. mun. 25,377 11,916 13,461
 [lt] (seniūnija) 1,202 586 616
Akmuo K 0 0 0
Aukštakalnis K 11 7 4
Barteliai K 18 8 10
K 15 9 6
K 12 7 5
K 12 8 4
K 15 8 7
K 0 0 0
Jakėnai K 10 6 4
K 17 10 7
Kaniūkai K 35 15 20
Kareivonys K 99 50 49
K 13 6 7
Kukliai K 33 19 14
K 0 0 0
K 22 12 10
K 0 0 0
K 2 1 1
K 0 0 0
Pabezninkai K 2 1 1
K 0 0 0
K 0 0 0
Paručiai K 12 5 7
K 0 0 0
K 0 0 0
Puodžiai K 322 150 172
Radžiūnai K 4 2 2
K 8 3 5
K 6 4 2
K 10 6 4
Vazgirdonys K 75 37 38
K 0 0 0
Vergakiemis K 34 18 16
K 3 1 2
K 0 0 0
Žilinai K 392 184 208
Žilinėliai K 20 9 11
 [lt] (seniūnija) 1,390 660 730
Bagočiai K 12 5 7
Balbutai K 39 15 24
K 9 4 5
K 16 6 10
K 26 14 12
K 11 5 6
Dubičiai K 291 146 145
K 7 4 3
K 0 0 0
Jasauskai K 60 27 33
Kalviai K 47 19 28
Kaniava K 23 9 14
Kaniavėlė K 14 8 6
Kaniūkai K 36 23 13
K 5 3 2
Katra K 19 8 11
K 6 2 4
K 15 8 7
Krokšlys K 50 21 29
K 30 18 12
Lynežeris K 24 9 15
K 16 5 11
K 3 2 1
K 30 15 15
K 4 1 3
Noškūnai K 41 19 22
Paąžuolė K 13 5 8
K 9 5 4
K 7 4 3
Panočiai K 284 136 148
K 20 7 13
K 4 3 1
K 3 0 3
K 5 3 2
K 114 53 61
Rudnia K 74 35 39
K 10 4 6
K 2 1 1
K 0 0 0
K 0 0 0
Ūta K 11 8 3
 [lt] (seniūnija) 1,389 671 718
Ašašninkai K 43 19 24
K 1 0 1
Darželiai K 63 25 38
Daržinėlės K 22 9 13
K 7 4 3
Dubininkas K 4 3 1
Grybaulia K 26 16 10
Kabeliai K 168 83 85
Kapiniškiai K 40 19 21
Kašėtos K 14 5 9
K 2 1 1
Mančiagirė K 15 10 5
Marcinkonys K 640 310 330
Mardasavas K 26 10 16
Margionys K 58 30 28
Musteika K 61 25 36
K 9 5 4
K 0 0 0
K 0 0 0
Puvočiai K 57 31 26
K 0 0 0
K 1 1 0
Senovė K 7 1 6
Šklėriai K 41 24 17
Trakiškiai K 7 2 5
K 4 2 2
Zervynos K 47 25 22
Žiūrai K 26 11 15
 [lt] (seniūnija) 2,229 1,084 1,145
VS 18 11 7
K 21 8 13
VS 0 0 0
Butvydonys K 50 23 27
Čebatoriai K 87 44 43
K 22 11 11
Giraitė K 61 31 30
K 17 8 9
Jurgiškės K 59 30 29
Krūminiai K 174 88 86
K 2 1 1
K 0 0 0
K 6 4 2
Matuizos K 1,201 561 640
Mielupiai K 11 6 5
K 7 2 5
K 10 6 4
Pamerkiai K 87 43 44
K 29 16 13
K 34 16 18
Paversekis K 41 25 16
VS 4 2 2
VS 2 2 0
Šarkiškės K 48 30 18
K 10 7 3
Urkionys K 125 59 66
Voriškės K 103 50 53
K 0 0 0
 [lt] (seniūnija) 3,222 1,514 1,708
K 7 3 4
K 7 5 2
Bingeliai K 10 4 6
K 7 2 5
Burokaraistis K 17 9 8
Česukai K 6 3 3
K 2 1 1
K 39 12 27
K 0 0 0
K 1 1 0
Geniai K 14 10 4
K 1 0 1
Gudakiemis K 123 63 60
K 0 0 0
Gudeliai K 10 6 4
Ilgininkai K 96 47 49
K 0 0 0
K 43 23 20
K 9 4 5
Jonionys K 48 24 24
K 3 2 1
K 3 1 2
K 0 0 0
K 19 9 10
Kasčiūnai K 7 4 3
Kibyšiai K 146 68 78
K 0 0 0
Kudrėnai K 18 9 9
Kurmiškė K 6 2 4
K 2 1 1
K 5 2 3
K 16 7 9
K 8 4 4
K 9 5 4
K 5 4 1
K 0 0 0
Liškiava K 57 29 28
Maksimai K 9 5 4
Maksimonys K 22 8 14
Mantvilai K 15 6 9
Mardasavas K 17 10 7
Masališkės K 37 17 20
Merkinė MST 1,228 559 669
VS 17 10 7
K 23 11 12
K 19 7 12
K 5 1 4
Navikai K 4 2 2
K 10 4 6
Noruliai K 28 14 14
Pagilšys K 6 2 4
K 11 6 5
K 213 107 106
Papiškės K 8 3 5
K 5 1 4
K 0 0 0
K 0 0 0
K 1 0 1
Pilvingiai K 172 90 82
K 2 1 1
K 5 3 2
Radyščius K 44 22 22
K 6 4 2
Roduka K 13 5 8
K 2 0 2
Rūsingė K 23 8 15
Samūniškės K 35 14 21
K 4 1 3
K 14 7 7
K 4 1 3
Subartonys K 45 20 25
K 27 13 14
K 17 8 9
K 11 7 4
Trasninkas K 4 3 1
K 2 1 1
K 5 2 3
VS 5 1 4
K 0 0 0
Vilkiautinis K 288 130 158
K 0 0 0
Zakavoliai K 11 6 5
Žeimiai K 61 30 31
 [lt] (seniūnija) 1,932 915 1,017
Čižiūnai K 129 65 64
Dargužiai K 252 129 123
Daržininkai K 40 18 22
Degsnės K 66 33 33
Kuršiai K 54 26 28
K 20 10 10
K 370 157 213
K 49 26 23
Paklėštarė K 150 69 81
Pirčiupiai K 75 32 43
K 51 25 26
Pūčkornės K 20 7 13
K 41 22 19
K 39 18 21
Užuperkasis K 343 178 165
K 4 1 3
Valkininkai MST 229 99 130
 [lt] (seniūnija) 12,628 5,817 6,811
K 1 0 1
Andriūnai K 18 11 7
K 1 0 1
Babriškės K 16 6 10
K 11 4 7
K 4 3 1
Druckūnai K 89 41 48
K 4 2 2
K 10 5 5
Ežeriekai K 13 5 8
Geidukonys K 39 19 20
Genionys K 20 7 13
K 6 3 3
Glūkas K 7 4 3
K 0 0 0
K 0 0 0
Gudžiai K 348 172 176
Karužai K 14 6 8
K 30 20 10
Kirklionys K 6 3 3
K 12 6 6
K 27 13 14
K 4 1 3
Mergežeris K 30 15 15
Meškučiai K 3 1 2
K 9 3 6
K 22 9 13
K 5 3 2
Nedzingė K 244 120 124
K 23 12 11
K 7 4 3
K 45 21 24
K 35 13 22
Pamusiai K 62 28 34
K 9 6 3
K 22 9 13
K 10 5 5
Pavarėnis K 3 0 3
Perloja K 586 277 309
K 3 1 2
K 18 10 8
K 11 5 6
Sarapiniškės K 160 76 84
Senoji Varėna K 1,203 571 632
Slabodka K 11 7 4
K 2 1 1
Tolkūnai K 158 80 78
K 14 7 7
K 10 7 3
Varėna M 9,240 4,192 5,048
K 2 2 0
K 0 0 0
K 1 1 0
K 0 0 0
 [lt] (seniūnija) 1,385 669 716
K 0 0 0
Aladiškės K 5 3 2
Barčiai K 148 70 78
K 4 1 3
K 9 5 4
Dainava K 66 33 33
K 4 2 2
K 16 6 10
K 0 0 0
K 8 3 5
K 0 0 0
K 5 3 2
K 37 19 18
Kijučiai K 165 84 81
K 18 11 7
Kriviliai K 358 177 181
K 3 1 2
K 0 0 0
K 6 1 5
Palkabalis K 16 6 10
K 39 20 19
K 0 0 0
K 1 1 0
K 0 0 0
K 0 0 0
K 0 0 0
K 25 15 10
K 25 15 10
K 0 0 0
K 50 28 22
K 3 1 2
K 0 0 0
Vydeniai K 374 164 210
K 0 0 0
  • Status: M, MST - city, town / K, GST - village / VS - steading

References[]

  1. ^ Jump up to: a b c "Varėnos rajono savivaldybė". Visuotinė lietuvių enciklopedija (in Lithuanian). 24. Vilnius: Mokslo ir enciklopedijų leidybos institutas. 2014. Retrieved 2021-04-24.
  2. ^ Jump up to: a b "Population by locality". 2011 Population and Housing Census. Statistics Lithuania. Archived from the original (XLS) on 22 September 2013. Retrieved 10 September 2013. ward (seniūnija) External link in |work= (help)
  3. ^ "Lithuania 2011 Census". Lietuvos statistikos departamentas. 2011. Archived from the original on 2012-01-11. Retrieved 2013-03-24.

External links[]

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