Mazsalaca (; , , ) is a

town A town is a type of a human settlement, generally larger than a village but smaller than a city. The criteria for distinguishing a town vary globally, often depending on factors such as population size, economic character, administrative stat ...

Valmiera Municipality Valmiera Municipality () is one of the 35 Municipalities of Latvia, municipalities established in Latvia in 2021, located approximately west of the national capital Riga. Its first elected municipal council took office on 1 July 2021. Its seat i ...

in the

Vidzeme Vidzeme (; Old Latvian orthography: ''Widda-semme'', ) is one of the Historical Latvian Lands. The capital of Latvia, Riga, is situated in the southwestern part of the region. Literally meaning "the Middle Land", it is situated in north-centra ...

region of

Latvia Latvia, officially the Republic of Latvia, is a country in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is one of the three Baltic states, along with Estonia to the north and Lithuania to the south. It borders Russia to the east and Belarus to t ...

. It has 1269 inhabitants.

History

The area includes the largest known

Stone Age The Stone Age was a broad prehistory, prehistoric period during which Rock (geology), stone was widely used to make stone tools with an edge, a point, or a percussion surface. The period lasted for roughly 3.4 million years and ended b ...

burial site in

Northern Europe The northern region of Europe has several definitions. A restrictive definition may describe northern Europe as being roughly north of the southern coast of the Baltic Sea, which is about 54th parallel north, 54°N, or may be based on other ge ...

and was first settled ca. 5000 BC. The present town began to develop in 1864, when a bridge over the

Salaca The Salaca () is a river in northern Latvia. It flows from Lake Burtnieks in Vidzeme, 90 km, to the Gulf of Riga. The river flows through three towns, Mazsalaca, Staicele and Salacgrīva. The riverbanks feature Devonian red sandstone cli ...

river was constructed. During

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

, Mazsalaca was under

German German(s) may refer to: * Germany, the country of the Germans and German things **Germania (Roman era) * Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language ** For citizenship in Germany, see also Ge ...

occupation from 4 July 1941 until 25 September 1944. It was administered as a part of the

Generalbezirk Lettland ''Generalbezirk Lettland'' (German language, German for "General District Latvia"; ) was an Administrative division, administrative subdivision of the ''Reichskommissariat Ostland'' of Nazi Germany that covered Latvia from 1941 to 1944. It se ...

Reichskommissariat Ostland The (RKO; ) was an Administrative division, administrative entity of the Reich Ministry for the Occupied Eastern Territories of Nazi Germany from 1941 to 1945. It served as the German Civil authority, civilian occupation regime in Lithuania, La ...

. In October 2009 a

meteorite A meteorite is a rock (geology), rock that originated in outer space and has fallen to the surface of a planet or Natural satellite, moon. When the original object enters the atmosphere, various factors such as friction, pressure, and chemical ...

crater was found near the town, which later turned out to be hoax as part of marketing campaign of telecommunication company

Tele2 Tele2 AB is a provider of mobile and fixed connectivity, telephony, data network services, TV, streaming and global Internet of things services, amongst others, to consumers and enterprises. It is headquartered in Kista Science City, Stockholm, ...

People

People who were born, lived in Mazsalaca: *

Gustavs Ērenpreis Gustavs Ērenpreis (5 September 1891 – 19 May 1956) was a Latvian manufacturer of bicycles best known as the recipient of the Order of the Three Stars and Cross of Recognition, and as a founder and director of Gustavs Ērenpreis Bicycle Fact ...

s (1891–1956) – manufacturer of bicycles *

Augusts Kirhenšteins Augusts Kirhenšteins, formerly spelt Kirchenšteins (18 September 1872 – 3 November 1963), was a Latvian and Soviet microbiologist, politician and educator. He was the ''de facto'' prime minister of Latvia from 20 June 1940 to 25 August 1940 ...

(1876–1963) – microbiologist and educator * Valters Hirte (1913–1983) – craftsman * Ansis Epners (1937–2003) – film director *

Oskars Perro Oskars Perro (September 26, 1918 – May 2, 2003) was a Latvian soldier and writer. He was the first Latvian to be awarded the German Iron Cross in the Second World War. Biography Oskars Perro was born in Mazsalaca, Latvia on 26 September 1 ...

(1918–2003) – soldier and writer

References

External links

*
Mazsalaca Municipality portal
Cities and towns in Vidzeme 1928 establishments in Latvia Populated places established in 1928 Populated places in Valmiera Municipality Valmiera county {{Vidzeme-geo-stub

History

People

See also

References

External links