Jelgava

Jelgava (pronounced [jælɡava] ( listen)) is a toun in central Latvie aboot 41 km soothwast o Riga wi 61,623 indwallers (2016). It is the lairgest toun in Semigallia. Jelgava is kent as the umwhile caipital o the Duchy o Courland, an wis the caipital o the Courland Govrenorate till 1919.

Jelgava is situatit on a fertile plain risin anerlie 3.5 metres (11.48 ft) abuin sea level on the richt bank o the river Lielupe. At heich watter the plain an whiles the toun as well can be inundatit. Jelgava is surroondit bi a canal kent as Jacob's Channel (initiatit bi Jacob Kettler) occupyin the site o umwhile fortifications. It is a railwey centre an an important mercat for grain an timmer. It is an aa host tae Jelgava air base. Its importance as a railwey centre can be proven bi the fact that it lies at the junction o ower 6 railwey lines connectin Riga tae Lithuanie, eastren an wastren Latvie, an Lithuanie tae the Baltic sea.

Etymology

The name Jelgava is believed tae be derived frae the Livonian wird jelgab, meanin "toun on the river." The oreegin o the German name Mitau is unclear, awtho it is suggestit that it came frae the Latvian wirds mīt or mainīt, meanin "tae exchynge" or "tae trade," sicweys makin it "the place whaur tradin takes place." An alternate explanation is that Mitau came frae Mitte in der Aue, German for "the middle o the Aa", referrin tae the Lielupe River, umwhile kent as the Courland Aa (Kurländische Aa in German).

Twin touns — Sister ceeties

Relatit page: Leet o twin touns an sister ceeties in Latvie

Jelgava is twinned wi:

• Pärnu, Estonie, syne 1957
• Šiauliai, Lithuanie, syne 1960
• Vejle, Denmark, syne 1992
• Xinying, Taiwan, syne 2000
• Alcamo, Italy, syne 2002
• Baranovichi, Belaroushie, syne 2003
• Berlin, Germany, syne 2003
• Hällefors, Swaden, syne 2004
• Moscow Soothren Admeenistrative Zone, Roushie, syne 2003
• Ivano-Frankivsk, Ukraine
• Nacka, Swaden, syne 2004
• Rueil-Malmaison, Fraunce, syne 2006
• Magadan, Roushie
• Białystok, Poland