Visaginas
Template:Infobox Lithuanian city
Visaginas is a town situated in the eastern part of the Republic of Lithuania near the country's biggest lake, Drūkšiai. The town covers an area of 8,96 km². Its administrative boundaries are in the process of being defined. The Vilnius-Daugavpils railway runs alongside the town, providing convenient communication with Vilnius and Daugavpils. Motorways connect the town with all other cities in the Republic.
The town grew up in a pine forest by Lake Visaginas. Tourism is currently an area of great potential.
History
In the distant past, the surroundings of Visaginas were once inhabited by the Seliai tribe. Historical annals first mention the location in 1526, when it was presented by the nobleman Vaitiekus Gostautas to the Naujasis (New) Daugeliskis parish. In the 14th-19th centuries the region was invaded by Crusaders, Swedish, Russian and French troops.
The settlement was founded in 1975 as Sniečkus, a town for workers in the Ignalina atomic power plant on the shores of Lake Visaginas. It was founded in place of four villages, which were demolished, and the largest of those villages was known as Visaginas. Antanas Sniečkus was the first secretary of the Lithuanian Communist Party. In 1977 it was granted the status of a town, and received city rights in 1994. It is governed by a town council, which elects the mayor. In 1996, the city's coat of arms was confirmed by a decree of the President of the Republic.
The settlement was developed in complexes, with construction designed to create an infrastructure for the cultural and everyday life of the residents. All effort was made to preserve the natural surroundings as much as possible.
Population
In 1996, the population was 33,100 of which 55,68% are Russians, 15,88% Lithuanians, 10,29% Belarusians, 9,13% Poles, 5,69% Ukrainians and 0,95% Tatars. Orthodox Christians represented 40,42% of total population, Roman Catholics 27,29%, Atheists 27,29%, Old Believers 2,89% and Muslims 0,46%. This creates a distinctive cultural ambiance in the town.
Industry
Power is the main branch of industry: the country's only Ignalina nuclear power plant, one of the world's largest, is situated near Visaginas. Over 5000 specialists work in the plant. There are opportunities for developing the construction industry in order to utilize the present industrial potential (concrete, ferroconcrete and wood), and also the electronics industry, polish and paint and clothing. There are over 1100 companies in the town active in light industry, trade and services.
Education, culture and sports
The town has a polytechnic school, 6 secondary schools, an elementary school, 8 nursery schools, music and acrobatics colleges, a sports centre and other institutions engaged in organizing educational and leisure-time activities, including 11 sports clubs with more than 1600 members. Professional training is available in soccer, Greco-Roman wrestling and skiing.