Luga
Encyclopedia
Luga is a town and the administrative center of Luzhsky District
of Leningrad Oblast
, Russia
, located on the Luga River
140 kilometres (87 mi) south of St. Petersburg
. Population:
The World War II
German advance on Leningrad was temporarily halted by seven regular, militia and irregular divisions in the Luga area and this delayed the commencement of the Siege of Leningrad
by over a month. In recognition of this feat, the town was awarded the title of "Hero City" and listed as one of the World War II Cities of Military Glory by Vladimir Putin on his last working day as president. German occupation of Luga lasted from 24 August 1941 to 12 February 1944.
The town is the main center of transport, industry, agriculture, and commerce south of St. Petersburg. It has a University (KGU Kirilla and Mefodia), three Institutes of Technical Education, and six schools. There are road and rail links with the neighbouring cities of Saint Petersburg, Pskov
, and Novgorod.
on August 3, 1777. Locals divide the town's development into six stages:
Luzhsky District
Luzhsky District is an administrative district , one of the 17 in Leningrad Oblast, Russia....
of Leningrad Oblast
Leningrad Oblast
Leningrad Oblast is a federal subject of Russia . It was established on August 1, 1927, although it was not until 1946 that the oblast's borders had been mostly settled in their present position...
, Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
, located on the Luga River
Luga River
The Luga River -See also:* Shum Gora, an archaeological site near the banks of the river...
140 kilometres (87 mi) south of St. Petersburg
Saint Petersburg
Saint Petersburg is a city and a federal subject of Russia located on the Neva River at the head of the Gulf of Finland on the Baltic Sea...
. Population:
The World War II
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...
German advance on Leningrad was temporarily halted by seven regular, militia and irregular divisions in the Luga area and this delayed the commencement of the Siege of Leningrad
Siege of Leningrad
The Siege of Leningrad, also known as the Leningrad Blockade was a prolonged military operation resulting from the failure of the German Army Group North to capture Leningrad, now known as Saint Petersburg, in the Eastern Front theatre of World War II. It started on 8 September 1941, when the last...
by over a month. In recognition of this feat, the town was awarded the title of "Hero City" and listed as one of the World War II Cities of Military Glory by Vladimir Putin on his last working day as president. German occupation of Luga lasted from 24 August 1941 to 12 February 1944.
The town is the main center of transport, industry, agriculture, and commerce south of St. Petersburg. It has a University (KGU Kirilla and Mefodia), three Institutes of Technical Education, and six schools. There are road and rail links with the neighbouring cities of Saint Petersburg, Pskov
Pskov
Pskov is an ancient city and the administrative center of Pskov Oblast, Russia, located in the northwest of Russia about east from the Estonian border, on the Velikaya River. Population: -Early history:...
, and Novgorod.
History
Luga was founded on the banks of the river of that name by order of the Catherine the GreatCatherine II of Russia
Catherine II, also known as Catherine the Great , Empress of Russia, was born in Stettin, Pomerania, Prussia on as Sophie Friederike Auguste von Anhalt-Zerbst-Dornburg...
on August 3, 1777. Locals divide the town's development into six stages:
- Initial construction (1777–c. 1800)
- Early growth to population of 3,000 (c. 1810–c. 1860)
- Intense social and urban development (c. 1870–1910)
- Soviet development according to the typical plan for smaller towns (1926–c. 1950)
- Reconstruction of the historical town structure (c. 1960–c. 1995)
- Transition to free market agro-industrial town (c. 1995–2005).