Klaipėda

Klaipėda
—  City municipality  —
Coat of arms
Nickname(s): Uostamiestis (port city)
Location of Klaipėda
Coordinates: 55°42′N 21°08′E / 55.7°N 21.133°E / 55.7; 21.133Coordinates: 55°42′N 21°08′E / 55.7°N 21.133°E / 55.7; 21.133
Country	Lithuania
Ethnographic region	Lithuania minor
County	Klaipėda County
Municipality	Klaipėda city municipality
Capital of	Klaipėda County Klaipėda city municipality
First mentioned	1252
Granted city rights	1254
Elderships	Melnragė and Giruliai
Area
- Total	98 km2 (37.8 sq mi)
Population (2008)
- Total	238 000
Time zone	EET (UTC+2)
- Summer (DST)	EEST (UTC+3)
Website	http://www.klaipeda.lt

Klaipėda ( pronunciation (help·info), pronounced /ˈklaɪpɛdə/; German: Memel) is a city in Lithuania situated at the mouth of the Curonian Lagoon where it flows into the Baltic Sea. As Lithuania's only seaport, it has ferry terminal connections to Sweden and Germany. Some of its older buildings have picturesque half-timbered construction, similar to that found in Germany, France, England, Denmark and southern Sweden.

The population shrank from 207,100 in 1992 to 187,442 in 2005. Popular seaside resorts found close to Klaipėda are Nida to the south on the Curonian Spit, and Palanga to the north.

Names

Map of Old Town of Klaipėda

The Teutonic Knights built a castle in the *Pilsāts Land of the Curonians and named it Memelburg; later the name was shortened to Memel. From 1252-1923 and from 1939–1945, the town and city was officially named Memel. Due to political changes between 1923 and 1939, both names were in the official use; since 1945 the Lithuanian name of Klaipėda is used.

The names Memelburg and Memel are found in most written sources from the 13th century onwards, while Klaipėda is found in Lithuania-related sources since the 15th century. The first time the city was mentioned as Caloypede in the letter of Vytautas in 1413,^[1] for the second time in the negotiation documents of 1420 as Klawppeda,^[2] and for the third time in the Treaty of Melno of 1422 as Cleupeda. According to Samogitian folk etymology, the name Klaipėda refers to the boggy terrain of the town (klaidyti=obstruct and pėda=foot). Most likely the name is of Curonian origin and means "even ground": „klais/ klait“ (flat, open, free) und „ped“ (sole of the foot, ground).

The lower reaches of the Neman River were named either *Mēmele or *Mēmela by local Curonian inhabitants and probably by Scalovians as well; this name was adopted by speakers of German and also chosen for the new city founded further away at the lagoon.

History

Coat of Arms

The coat of arms of Klaipėda is also used as coat of arms of Klaipėda city municipality. The modern version was created by the designer Kęstutis Mickevičius. The modern coat of arms was created by restoring old seals of the Memel city (analogous with those used in the years 1446, 1605 and 1618). It was affirmed on July 1, 1992.

Klaipėda city seal, 1446 (diameter 75 mm). From the secret archive of National Prussian Cultural Heritage, Berlin.

Demographics

As of 2007^[update], the population was 185,936. The population by age was: 0-14 14.0%, 15-59 67.1%, 60+ 18.9% There were 85,493 men and 100,443 women in the city. The ethnic composition in 2003 was:

• Lithuanians 63%
• Russians 28.2%
• Poles 4.8%
• Belarusians 0.5%
• Other 3.5%

Of the city's area of 98 square kilometres, 38 % was used for buildings, 1.4% for roads, 8.45% for farming, 14.08% was water, and the remaining 38% was "other uses". Klaipėda contained 17 post offices, a railroad station, a bus station, a harbour, 26 hotels, 4 Catholic chapels,a synagogue, 10 museums, 4 theaters, and 15 sport centers.

City municipality

Klaipėda city municipality council is the governing body of the Klaipėda city municipality. It is responsible for municipality laws. The council is composed of 31 member elected for four-year terms.

The council is the member of the Association of Local Authorities in Lithuania.

Mayors

• 1990–1992 – Povilas Vasiliauskas
• 1992–1994 – Benediktas Petrauskas
• 1994–1995 – Jurgis Aušra
• 1995–1997 – Silverijus Šukys
• 1997–2000 and 2000–2001 – Eugenijus Gentvilas
• 2001–2003, 2003 and since 2007 – Rimantas Taraškevičius

Geography

Climate

Klaipėda's climate is under the influence of the Baltic sea

Klaipeda has a temperate climate. Winters are cold to mild, and summers are warm. In July and August, the warmest season, high temperatures average 20 °C (68 °F), and low temperatures average 14 °C (57 °F). In January and February, the coldest season, high temperatures average 0 °C (32 °F) with low temperatures averaging −5 °C (23 °F). It is not uncommon to have temperatures of 30 C (86 °F) in July or −18 C (0 °F) in January. Extremes range from 34 °C (93 °F) to −33 °C (−27 °F). The wettest month is November with a mean total precipitation 90 mm. Not only November, but also August, September and October are wet months because of the warmth of the Baltic sea in relation to the continent and the westerly winds. The driest month is February averaging 31 mm of total precipitation. Spring is not particularly wet.

Klaipėda is a windy city with many stormy days per year. In autumn and winter, gales are not unusual. Sea breezes are common from April to September. Snow can fall from October to April and a phenomenon resembling lake-effect snow is frequent. Severe snowstorms can paralyze the city in winter.

Klaipeda has unsettled weather all year round. Winter can be cold and snowy, similar to that in Moscow, while another one can be mild, windy, and rainy, similar to the weather in Scotland. August 2005 was very rainy, while August 2002, barely had any precipitation at all.

Neighborhoods

Residential building on Baltijos street

Klaipėda has 31 neighborhoods:

Port of Klaipėda

The port of Klaipėda handled almost 22 million tons of cargo in 2005

The Port of Klaipėda is the principal ice-free port on the eastern coast of the Baltic Sea. It is the most important Lithuanian transportation hub, connecting sea, land and railway routes from East to West. Klaipėda is a multipurpose, universal, deep-water port. 19 big stevedoring companies, ship-repair and shipbuilding yards operate within the port and all marine business and cargo handling services are being rendered.

The annual port cargo handling capacity is up to 40 Mt. The port operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week, all-year round.

Infrastructure

Notable buildings

Pilsotas building

The tallest building in Klaipėda is 34-story Pilsotas. A 40-story commercial building is scheduled to be built in 2010, which would become the tallest building in Klaipėda.

Transportation

Passenger ferry Kintai

Klaipėda's public transport is very logical and comfortable for travelling because of its geographical peculiarity the city has expanded along the coast, from north to south. In the beginning of year 2007 a new electronic monthly ticket system was introduced. It is possible to buy an electronic card in shops and newspaper stands and fill it with an appropriate amount of money.

The principal public transport routes in Klaipėda are:

• 3 - From Žvejybos uostas to Klaipėda's southwest;
• 6 - From south citys microdistrict to Melnragė;
• 8 - From south citys microdistrict to Klaipeda's Railroad Station;
• The special routes 1, 1A, 12, and 19 carry workers to the biggest harbour enterprises.

Klaipėda is being serviced by Klaipėda Airport. Domestic and international commercial scheduled airline services are provided by Palanga International Airport.

Attractions and points of interest

One of Klaipėda's most recognizable symbols - sailing boat Meridianas

Public sculpture at the city's Old Town

Historical

Klaipėda's main attractions are the historic buildings in the city's centre, dating from the 13th to 18th centuries. Other places of interest include:

• The remnants of the Memelburg Castle, built in the 13th century by the Teutonic Order. It had a massive bulk and a quadrangular tower, surrounded by the ramparts and brick bastions. It lost importance after the Russian occupation from 1756 to 1762, and thenceforth started to decay.
• The Žardė ancient settlement, situated on the right bank of the Smiltelė River. It is dated to the late Iron Age (10th century), and was inhabited until the 16th century.
• The remnants of the so-called 'Dutch' defence system around the entire town from the 17th-18th centuries.
• The maritime museum in Fort Wilhelm, built at the end of the 19th century at the spike of the Curonian Spit.

Cinemas

• Cinamon

Theatres

• Klaipėdos Muzikinis Teatras
• Klaipėdos Dramos Teatras

Museums

• Pilies muziejus
• Mažosios Lietuvos istorijos muziejus
• Kalvystės muziejus
• Lietuvos jūrų muziejus ir delfinariumas
• Laikrodžių muziejus
• Kuršių nerijos nacionalinio parko Gamtos muziejus
• Klaipėdos Vytauto Didžiojo gimnazijos gamtos apsaugos muziejus

Shopping centers

Shopping area in Klaipeda

• Akropolis opened in late 2005. The 2-storey Klaipėdos Akropolis encompasses 76,700 square metres of retail. It is the biggest shopping mall in the city.
• BIG, opened in 2004
• Arena, opened in 2005. The third largest shopping centre in Klaipėda.
• Studlendas, opened in late 2006. The first in the north of the city. The building shares space with Klaipėda University.
• Banginis, opened in 2008
• Big 2, opened in 2008

Sports

Media

Radio

• Radijas 9 91.4 FM
• Laluna 94.9 FM
• Vox maris 99 FM
• Kelyje 99.8 FM
• Vakarų FM 100.4 FM
• Raduga 100.8 FM
• European Hit Radio 104.1 FM
• Power Hit Radio 96.7 FM
• Zip FM 92.5 FM

Television

• Balticum TV, Analog, Digital

Newspapers

• Vakarų ekspresas
• Klaipėda
• 15 Minučių

Notable residents

• Simon Dach (1605-1659), poet and writer of the Ännchen von Tharau song
• Matthäus Prätorius (1635–1704), Protestant pastor, historian, ethnographer
• Michael Wohlfahrt (1687-1741), religious leader in Pennsylvania
• Friedrich Wilhelm Argelander (1799-1875), astronomer
• Johann Georg Kant (1682–1746), Immanuel Kant's father
• Yisrael Salanter (1810-1883), founder of Musar movement within Judaism
• Isaac Rülf (1831-1902), editor-in-chief of Memeler Dampfboot, philosopher, activist
• David Wolffsohn (1856-1914), second president of World Zionist Organization
• Julius Kröhl (1820-1867), German-American submarine pioneer
• James Hobrecht (1825–1902), city planner
• Rudolf Reicke (1825–1905), philosopher
• Hedwig Andersen (1866–1957), logopedian
• Eduard Kado (1875–1946), artist
• Leon Zeitlin (1876–1967), economist
• George Adomeit (1879-1967), painter
• Charlotte Susa (1898–1976), actress
• Arno Esch (1928–1951) liberal politician in (SBZ) (Soviet Occupied Zone)
• Dietmar Willoweit (born 1936) president of the Bavarian Academy of Sciences
• Tomas Venclova (born 1937), poet and author
• Günter Willumeit (born 1941), comedian
• Lena Valaitis (born 1943), pop singer
• Hans Henning Atrott (born 1944), philosopher and pro-euthanasia activist
• Oleg Kvasha (born 1958), Russian musician and composer
• Leonidas Donskis (born 1962), philosopher and critic
• Tomas Danilevičius (born 1978), Lithuanian soccer player
• Eurelijus Žukauskas (born 1973), European basketball champion
• Saulius Štombergas (born 1973), European basketball champion
• Violeta "Sati" Jurkonienė (born 1976), Lithuanian singer
• Arvydas Macijauskas (born 1980), European basketball champion
• Tomas Vaitkus (born 1982), cycling champion
• Valdas Vasylius (born 1983), basketball player

Sister cities and areas

See also

• Ports of the Baltic Sea

References

• Baedeker, Karl. Northern Germany. London, 1904, p.178.
• Christiansen, Eric. The Northern Crusades. Penguin Books. London, 1997. pp. 107, 160, 248. ISBN 0-14-026653-4
• The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia (2006). "Klaipeda." Retrieved 11 April, 2006.
• Gathorne-Hardy, Geoffrey Malcolm. A Short History of International Affairs, 1920 to 1934. Oxford University Press, 3rd impression, May 1936, p.89/91.
• Encyclopædia Britannica 1938 Year Book.
• Kirby, David. The Baltic World, 1772-1993: Europe’s Northern Periphery in an Age of Change. Longman. London, 1999. p. 42, 133. ISBN 0-582-00408-X
• Kirby, David. Northern Europe in the Early Modern Period: The Baltic World, 1492-1772. Longman. London, 1990. p. 366 ISBN 0-582-00410-1
• Koch, Hannsjoachim Wolfgang. A History of Prussia. Barnes & Noble Books. New York, 1993. pp. 35, 54, 194. ISBN 0-88029-158-3
• Urban, William. The Teutonic Knights: A Military History. Greenhill Books. London, 2003, pp. 65, 121. ISBN 1-85367-535-0
• Woodward, E.L., Butler, Rohan, (editors). Documents on British Foreign Policy 1919-1939 (1939), Third Series, volume IV. HMSO, London, 1951.

Notes

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Klaipėda

• Municipal website
• Klaipėda Tourism and Culture Information Center website
• Klaipeda tour overview
• Klaipėda In Your Pocket City Guide (also a downloadable PDF guide)
• Klaipėda State Seaport
• University of Klaipėda
• LCC International University
• Klaipėda on Google Maps
• History of Memel/Klaipėda by Richard Doody
• Memel and the Memelland by the Arbeitsgemeinschaft der Memellandkreise e.V. (German)
• Klaipeda for tourists

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