Elva, Estonia
Encyclopedia
Elva is a town
and a municipality
in Tartu County
, Estonia
. It has a population of 5,762 (as of 1 January 2010) and an area of 9.92k m².
Elva has two larger lakes. Lake Verevi
has a sandy and well-developed beach area that is very popular in the summer and is host to many outdoor events. Lake Arbi
has wet reed grown shores. Elva's largest employer (and in all of southern Estonia) is Enics Eesti AS, subsidiary of Enics Group, providing electronics manufacturing services in industrial electronics. Elva has one school, Elva Gümnaasium, offering education from 1st grade to high school graduation.
The dominant element in Elva is the train station which today is the visitors information center and which used to be an important trade route in the past centuries.
Detailed information on hikes on foot or by bicycle can be obtained from visitors information center. Canooer’s favorite is the river of Elva with old water mill sites and rapid banks. In winter skiing fans can participate in the Tartu Cross-Country Marathon, belonging to the Worldloppet series. Its 60 km track from Otepää to Elva can be cycled through on mountain bikes in summer.
-Valga train route that was built from 1886 to 1889. Elva was first mentioned in an Estonian newspaper in 1889.
Elva is named after the Elva river that has been mentioned in books already in the 17th century.
In 1913 a two grade school was opened.
On 1 May 1938 Elva became a town.
The town center was heavily damaged in the Second World War
. In July 1941 Elva was liberated by the Forest Brothers
. In August 1944 surroundings of Elva became a bloody battlefield between Hyazinth von Strachwitz
's panzer brigade and the Red Army
.
From 1950 to 1962 Elva was District Central of Elva district. Elva's town rights were restored in 1965.
with: Kempele
, Finland Kristinehamn
, Sweden Salo
, Finland
Populated places in Estonia
Populated places in Estonia are settlements or territorial units within a municipality. Populated places have no administrative functions. A group of populated places form a rural municipality with local administration...
and a municipality
Municipalities of Estonia
A Municipality is the smallest administrative subdivision of Estonia. Each municipality is a unit of self-government with its representative and executive bodies. The municipalities in Estonia cover the entire territory of the country....
in Tartu County
Tartu County
Tartu County , or Tartumaa , is one of 15 counties of Estonia.It is located in eastern Estonia bordering Põlva County, Valga County, Viljandi County and Jõgeva County....
, Estonia
Estonia
Estonia , officially the Republic of Estonia , is a state in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by the Gulf of Finland, to the west by the Baltic Sea, to the south by Latvia , and to the east by Lake Peipsi and the Russian Federation . Across the Baltic Sea lies...
. It has a population of 5,762 (as of 1 January 2010) and an area of 9.92k m².
Elva has two larger lakes. Lake Verevi
Lake Verevi
Lake Verevi is a lake located on the western side of the town of Elva in southern Estonia.There is one main dock, that has two slides , side-by-side. The big dock has an enclosed area used specifically for swimming. There is a smaller dock about 40 ft. out, that has two diving boards...
has a sandy and well-developed beach area that is very popular in the summer and is host to many outdoor events. Lake Arbi
Lake Arbi
Lake Arbi is a lake in the middle of the town of Elva in southern Estonia. The lake is above sea-level....
has wet reed grown shores. Elva's largest employer (and in all of southern Estonia) is Enics Eesti AS, subsidiary of Enics Group, providing electronics manufacturing services in industrial electronics. Elva has one school, Elva Gümnaasium, offering education from 1st grade to high school graduation.
The dominant element in Elva is the train station which today is the visitors information center and which used to be an important trade route in the past centuries.
Detailed information on hikes on foot or by bicycle can be obtained from visitors information center. Canooer’s favorite is the river of Elva with old water mill sites and rapid banks. In winter skiing fans can participate in the Tartu Cross-Country Marathon, belonging to the Worldloppet series. Its 60 km track from Otepää to Elva can be cycled through on mountain bikes in summer.
History of Elva
Elva was founded soon after the completion of TartuTartu
Tartu is the second largest city of Estonia. In contrast to Estonia's political and financial capital Tallinn, Tartu is often considered the intellectual and cultural hub, especially since it is home to Estonia's oldest and most renowned university. Situated 186 km southeast of Tallinn, the...
-Valga train route that was built from 1886 to 1889. Elva was first mentioned in an Estonian newspaper in 1889.
Elva is named after the Elva river that has been mentioned in books already in the 17th century.
In 1913 a two grade school was opened.
On 1 May 1938 Elva became a town.
The town center was heavily damaged in the Second World War
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. In July 1941 Elva was liberated by the Forest Brothers
Forest Brothers
The Forest Brothers were Estonian, Latvian, and Lithuanian partisans who waged a guerrilla war against Soviet rule during the Soviet invasion and occupation of the three Baltic states during, and after, World War II...
. In August 1944 surroundings of Elva became a bloody battlefield between Hyazinth von Strachwitz
Hyazinth Graf Strachwitz von Gross-Zauche und Camminetz
Hyazinth Graf Strachwitz von Groß-Zauche und Camminetz was a German Army officer. Strachwitz saw action in World War I, but rose to fame for his command of armored forces in World War II.-Early life:...
's panzer brigade and the Red Army
Red Army
The Workers' and Peasants' Red Army started out as the Soviet Union's revolutionary communist combat groups during the Russian Civil War of 1918-1922. It grew into the national army of the Soviet Union. By the 1930s the Red Army was among the largest armies in history.The "Red Army" name refers to...
.
From 1950 to 1962 Elva was District Central of Elva district. Elva's town rights were restored in 1965.
Notable people
- Ain Kaalep, writer
- Kerli KõivKerli KõivKerli Kõiv , better known mononymously as Kerli, is an Estonian recording artist.She was signed to Island Def Jam Music Group in 2006 by LA Reid and in 2008, she released her debut album, Love Is Dead which charted at 126 on the Billboard 200 in July 2008 and at 2 on the Billboard Heatseekers...
, singer/songwriter - Luisa VärkLuisa VärkLuisa Värk is an Estonian singer.Värk was a runner-up of on the first season of Estonian Pop Idol . She was also a runner-up on Tantsud tähtedega, Estonia's version of Dancing with the Stars...
, singer/songwriter
Twin towns — Sister cities
Elva is twinnedTown twinning
Twin towns and sister cities are two of many terms used to describe the cooperative agreements between towns, cities, and even counties in geographically and politically distinct areas to promote cultural and commercial ties.- Terminology :...
with: Kempele
Kempele
Kempele is a municipality in the province of Oulu, in Finland. The municipality is located in Northern Finland just south of city of Oulu. The population of Kempele is and the municipality covers an area of of which is inland water . The population density is...
, Finland Kristinehamn
Kristinehamn Municipality
Kristinehamn Municipality is a municipality in Värmland County in west central Sweden. Its seat is located in the city of Kristinehamn....
, Sweden Salo
Salo, Finland
Salo is a town and municipality of Finland.It is located in the province of Western Finland and is part of the Finland Proper region. The municipality has a population of and covers an area of of which is water. The population density is ....
, Finland