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South Kurzeme Municipality ( lv, Dienvidkurzemes novads) is one of the 35
South Kurzeme is Latvia's largest municipality, covering an area of . It is located in the southwestern part of the
municipalities
A municipality is usually a single administrative division having corporate status and powers of self-government or jurisdiction as granted by national and regional laws to which it is subordinate.
The term ''municipality'' may also mean the go ...
established in Latvia
Latvia ( or ; lv, Latvija ; ltg, Latveja; liv, Leţmō), officially the Republic of Latvia ( lv, Latvijas Republika, links=no, ltg, Latvejas Republika, links=no, liv, Leţmō Vabāmō, links=no), is a country in the Baltic region of ...
in 2021. It surrounds Liepāja
Liepāja (; liv, Līepõ; see #Names and toponymy, other names) is a state city in western Latvia, located on the Baltic Sea. It is the largest-city in the Kurzeme Planning Region, Kurzeme Region and the third-largest city in the country after R ...
, Latvia's third largest city. Its first elected municipal council will take office on 1 July 2021. Its seat is at Grobiņa
Grobiņa (; german: Grobin) is a town in South Kurzeme Municipality in the Courland region of Latvia, eleven kilometers east of Liepāja. It was founded by the Teutonic Knights in the 13th century. Some ruins of their Grobina castle are still ...
.
Geography
South Kurzeme is Latvia's largest municipality, covering an area of . It is located in the southwestern part of the Courland
Courland (; lv, Kurzeme; liv, Kurāmō; German and Scandinavian languages: ''Kurland''; la, Curonia/; russian: Курляндия; Estonian: ''Kuramaa''; lt, Kuršas; pl, Kurlandia) is one of the Historical Latvian Lands in western Latvia. ...
region in western Latvia, on the coast of the Baltic Sea. It borders Ventspils Municipality
Ventspils Municipality ( lv, Ventspils novads) is a municipality in Courland, Latvia. The municipality was formed in 2009 by merging Piltene town, Ance Parish, Jūrkalne Parish, Piltene rural community (from 2010 Piltene Parish), Pope Parish, P ...
to the north, Kuldīga Municipality
Kuldīga Municipality ( lv, Kuldīgas novads) is a municipality in Courland, Latvia. The municipality was formed in 2009 by merging Ēdole parish, Gudenieki parish, Īvande parish, Kabile parish, Kurmāle parish, Laidi parish, Padure parish, ...
to the northeast, and Saldus Municipality
Saldus (; german: Frauenburg) is a Latvian town located in Courland ( lv, Kurzeme) and is the main town, and the central location in Saldus Municipality. The name Saldus has been noted in historical sources as far back as the mid-13th century, but ...
to the east. It surrounds the port city of Liepāja in the west. It also borders the Lithuania
Lithuania (; lt, Lietuva ), officially the Republic of Lithuania ( lt, Lietuvos Respublika, links=no ), is a country in the Baltic region of Europe. It is one of three Baltic states and lies on the eastern shore of the Baltic Sea. Lithuania ...
n counties
A county is a geographic region of a country used for administrative or other purposesChambers Dictionary, L. Brookes (ed.), 2005, Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd, Edinburgh in certain modern nations. The term is derived from the Old French ...
of Klaipėda
Klaipėda (; ; german: Memel; pl, Kłajpeda; russian: Клайпеда; sgs, Klaipieda) is a city in Lithuania on the Baltic Sea coast. The capital of the eponymous county, it is the third largest city and the only major seaport in Lithuan ...
and Telšiai
Telšiai (; Samogitian: ''Telšē'') is a city in Lithuania with about 21,499 inhabitants. It is the capital of Telšiai County and Samogitia region, and it is located on the shores of Lake Mastis.
Telšiai is one of the oldest cities in Lithua ...
to the south and southeast respectively. The westernmost point of Latvia is located at Cape Bernāti
A cape is a clothing accessory or a sleeveless outer garment which drapes the wearer's back, arms, and chest, and connects at the neck.
History
Capes were common in medieval Europe, especially when combined with a hood in the chaperon. Th ...
in Nīca Parish south of Liepāja.
The coastline of South Kurzeme Municipality is over long. Erosion of the coast north of Liepāja has been accelerated because breakwaters at Liepāja's seaport intercept sand drifting northward along the coast. The coast south of Liepāja features sandy beaches and dunes, behind which are lagoons and marshy plains. The largest of the lagoons are Lake Liepāja
Lake Liepāja ( lv, Liepājas ezers, formerly Lake Libava, lv, Libavas ezers) is the fifth-largest lake in Latvia, located near Liepāja in the Liepāja District. The total area of the lake is 37.15 km2, and it has a length of 16.2 km ...
and on the municipality's border with Liepāja, and Lake Pape
Lake Pape ( lv, Papes ezers) is a lake in Latvia about south of Liepaja. It is surrounded by the Pape Nature Reserve
Pape Nature Reserve is a Nature Reserve in Latvia about 15 km south of Liepaja. It stretches over 5700 ha and consis ...
near the Lithuanian border. The rises east of the coastal lowlands, its highest point being at in Embūte Parish
Embūte Parish ( lv, Embūtes pagasts) is an administrative unit of South Kurzeme Municipality in the Courland region of Latvia. The parish has a population of 414 (as of 1/07/2010) and covers an area of 117.6 km2.
Villages of Embūte p ...
.
Rivers in the municipality include the Bārta
Bārta (in Latvian), also named Bartuva (in Lithuanian), is a river in western Lithuania and Latvia. It originates in the Plungė district, 3 km to north of Lake Plateliai. The Bārta flows in a northwesterly direction, passing through t ...
which flows from its headwaters in Lithuania into Lake Liepāja; and the and Tebra, which join to form the at the village of the same name. The Saka drains into the Baltic Sea at Pāvilosta.
Pape Nature Reserve
Pape Nature Reserve is a Nature Reserve in Latvia about 15 km south of Liepaja. It stretches over 5700 ha and consists mainly of bogs, carr forests and dunes around Lake Pape. It is an important site for migrating birds. Every autumn abo ...
covers and protects Lake Pape and the surrounding land areas. It forms the terrestrial component of the Pape Wetland Complex
Pape or PAPE may refer to:
* Pape (given name)
* Pape (surname)
* Pape (TTC), a subway station in Toronto, Canada
* Pape, Montenegro, a village in northern Montenegro
* Pape, Missouri, a community in the United States
* ''Le Pape'', a political tr ...
Ramsar site
A Ramsar site is a wetland site designated to be of international importance under the Ramsar Convention,8 ha (O)
*** Permanent 8 ha (P)
*** Seasonal Intermittent < 8 ha(Ts)
**
Grīņu Nature Reserve is located in the northern part of the municipality.
History
South Kurzeme Municipality corresponds in extent to the formerLiepāja District
Liepāja District ( lv, Liepājas rajons) was an administrative division of Latvia, located in the Courland
Courland (; lv, Kurzeme; liv, Kurāmō; German and Scandinavian languages: ''Kurland''; la, Curonia/; russian: Курляндия; ...
as it existed from 1991 to 2009. In the 2009 territorial reforms, Liepāja District was divided into the municipalities of Aizpute
Aizpute (german: Hasenpoth) is a town in western Latvia's South Kurzeme Municipality in the valley of the Tebra River, northeast of Liepāja.
History
The territory of modern Aizpute was inhabited by ancient Curonians since the 9th century. St. ...
, Durbe
Durbe (; german: Durben, lt, Durbė, pl, Dorbiany, russian: Дурбе ''Durbe''/Дурбен ''Durben'') is a town in Latvia. Durbe was first noted in 1260, when the Battle of Durbe occurred near Lake Durbe. As of 2020, the population was 49 ...
, Grobiņa
Grobiņa (; german: Grobin) is a town in South Kurzeme Municipality in the Courland region of Latvia, eleven kilometers east of Liepāja. It was founded by the Teutonic Knights in the 13th century. Some ruins of their Grobina castle are still ...
, Nīca
Nīca (german: Niederbartau) is a village
A village is a clustered human settlement or community, larger than a hamlet but smaller than a town (although the word is often used to describe both hamlets and smaller towns), with a po ...
, Pāvilosta, Priekule, Rucava
Rucava ( lt, Rukiava, german: Rutzau) is a village in South Kurzeme Municipality, Latvia
Latvia ( or ; lv, Latvija ; ltg, Latveja; liv, Leţmō), officially the Republic of Latvia ( lv, Latvijas Republika, links=no, ltg, Latvejas R ...
, and Vaiņode. In 2020, the Saeima
The Saeima () is the parliament of the Latvia, Republic of Latvia. It is a unicameral parliament consisting of 100 members who are elected by proportional representation, with seats allocated to political parties which gain at least 5% of the po ...
approved reducing the number of administrative divisions at the municipal level from 119 to 42, including rejoining the aforementioned municipalities to form South Kurzeme Municipality. Elections for Latvia's new municipal councils were held on 5 June 2021, and the new municipalities including South Kurzeme will go into effect on 1 July 2021.
Administration
The municipal council of South Kurzeme currently comprises 19 councillors. The municipality is to form joint authorities with the city of Liepāja for the administration of civil protection, education, and waste management. The municipality is subdivided into five towns and 26 parishes: ;Towns *Aizpute
Aizpute (german: Hasenpoth) is a town in western Latvia's South Kurzeme Municipality in the valley of the Tebra River, northeast of Liepāja.
History
The territory of modern Aizpute was inhabited by ancient Curonians since the 9th century. St. ...
*Durbe
Durbe (; german: Durben, lt, Durbė, pl, Dorbiany, russian: Дурбе ''Durbe''/Дурбен ''Durben'') is a town in Latvia. Durbe was first noted in 1260, when the Battle of Durbe occurred near Lake Durbe. As of 2020, the population was 49 ...
*Grobiņa
Grobiņa (; german: Grobin) is a town in South Kurzeme Municipality in the Courland region of Latvia, eleven kilometers east of Liepāja. It was founded by the Teutonic Knights in the 13th century. Some ruins of their Grobina castle are still ...
* Pāvilosta
* Priekule
;Parishes
* Aizpute Parish
*Bārta Parish
Bārta (in Latvian), also named Bartuva (in Lithuanian), is a river in western Lithuania and Latvia. It originates in the Plungė district, 3 km to north of Lake Plateliai. The Bārta flows in a northwesterly direction, passing through th ...
*Bunka Parish
Bunka Parish ( lv, Bunkas pagasts) is an administrative unit of South Kurzeme Municipality in the Courland region of Latvia
Latvia ( or ; lv, Latvija ; ltg, Latveja; liv, Leţmō), officially the Republic of Latvia ( lv, Latvijas Re ...
* Cīrava Parish
*Dunalka Parish
Dunalka Parish ( lv, Dunalkas pagasts) is one of the administrative territories of South Kurzeme Municipality, in Latvia
Latvia ( or ; lv, Latvija ; ltg, Latveja; liv, Leţmō), officially the Republic of Latvia ( lv, Latvijas Rep ...
* Dunika Parish
*Durbe Parish
Durbe Parish ( lv, Durbes pagasts) is an administrative unit of South Kurzeme Municipality, Latvia
Latvia ( or ; lv, Latvija ; ltg, Latveja; liv, Leţmō), officially the Republic of Latvia ( lv, Latvijas Republika, links=no, ltg, ...
*Embūte Parish
Embūte Parish ( lv, Embūtes pagasts) is an administrative unit of South Kurzeme Municipality in the Courland region of Latvia. The parish has a population of 414 (as of 1/07/2010) and covers an area of 117.6 km2.
Villages of Embūte p ...
*Gavieze Parish
Gavieze Parish ( lv, Gaviezes pagasts) is an administrative unit of South Kurzeme Municipality in the Courland region of Latvia
Latvia ( or ; lv, Latvija ; ltg, Latveja; liv, Leţmō), officially the Republic of Latvia ( lv, Latvijas ...
* Gramzda Parish
*Grobiņa Parish
Grobiņa Parish ( lv, Grobiņas pagasts) is an administrative unit of South Kurzeme Municipality in the Courland region of Latvia. The parish has a population of 2,836 (as of 1/07/2010) and covers an area of .
Villages of Grobiņa parish
* Āl ...
* Kalēti Parish
* Kalvene Parish
*Kazdanga Parish
Kazdanga Parish ( lv, Kazdangas pagasts) is an administrative unit of South Kurzeme Municipality, Latvia
Latvia ( or ; lv, Latvija ; ltg, Latveja; liv, Leţmō), officially the Republic of Latvia ( lv, Latvijas Republika, links=no, ...
* Laža Parish
* Medze Parish
* Nīca Parish
* Otaņķi Parish
*Priekule Parish
Priekule Parish ( lv, Priekules pagasts) is an administrative unit of South Kurzeme Municipality in the Courland region of Latvia
Latvia ( or ; lv, Latvija ; ltg, Latveja; liv, Leţmō), officially the Republic of Latvia ( lv, Latvij ...
* Rucava Parish
* Saka Parish
* Tadaiķi Parish
* Vaiņode Parish
*Vecpils Parish
Vecpils Parish ( lv, Vecpils pagasts) is an administrative unit of South Kurzeme Municipality, Latvia
Latvia ( or ; lv, Latvija ; ltg, Latveja; liv, Leţmō), officially the Republic of Latvia ( lv, Latvijas Republika, links=no, ltg ...
* Vērgale Parish
*Virga Parish
Virga Parish ( lv, Virgas pagasts) is an administrative unit of South Kurzeme Municipality in the Courland region of Latvia
Latvia ( or ; lv, Latvija ; ltg, Latveja; liv, Leţmō), officially the Republic of Latvia ( lv, Latvijas Rep ...
Demographics
TheCentral Statistical Bureau of Latvia
Central is an adjective usually referring to being in the center of some place or (mathematical) object.
Central may also refer to:
Directions and generalised locations
* Central Africa, a region in the centre of Africa continent, also known as ...
estimated a population of 33,364 living in what is now South Kurzeme Municipality at the beginning of 2021. This represented a 28% decrease from an estimated population of 46,451 at the beginning of 2000, and a 13% decrease from an estimated population of 38,351 at the beginning of 2011.
The municipal seat of Grobiņa had an estimated population of 3522 at the beginning of 2021. The largest town in the district is Aizpute, with an estimated population of 4036 at the beginning of 2021.
Economy and infrastructure
Significant economic activities in South Kurzeme Municipality include tourism, agriculture, forestry and fishing. The municipality is served by national roads A9, which connects Liepāja to Riga, and A11, which runs from Liepāja to the Lithuanian border crossing nearRucava
Rucava ( lt, Rukiava, german: Rutzau) is a village in South Kurzeme Municipality, Latvia
Latvia ( or ; lv, Latvija ; ltg, Latveja; liv, Leţmō), officially the Republic of Latvia ( lv, Latvijas Republika, links=no, ltg, Latvejas R ...
. The Jelgava–Liepāja Railway runs east to west through the municipality. Liepāja International Airport
Liepāja International Airport is a regional airport in western Latvia which is certified for international air traffic. Along with Riga International Airport and Ventspils Airport, it is one of the two major airports in Latvia.
Overview
Liep ...
is located in South Kurzeme Municipality at Cimdenieki
Cimdenieki is a small suburban settlement in Grobiņa Parish, South Kurzeme Municipality in the Courland region of Latvia
Latvia ( or ; lv, Latvija ; ltg, Latveja; liv, Leţmō), officially the Republic of Latvia ( lv, Latvijas R ...
just east of Liepāja.
References
{{Kurzeme Region Municipalities of Latvia 2021 establishments in Latvia States and territories established in 2021