Põlva County ( or ''Põlvamaa'') is one of 15

counties of Estonia The counties of Estonia () are the state administrative subdivisions of Estonia. Estonian territory is composed of 15 counties, including 13 on the mainland and 2 on islands. County governments () were abolished at the end of 2017, with their ...

. It is situated in south-eastern part of the country and borders

Tartu Tartu is the second largest city in Estonia after Tallinn. Tartu has a population of 97,759 (as of 2024). It is southeast of Tallinn and 245 kilometres (152 miles) northeast of Riga, Latvia. Tartu lies on the Emajõgi river, which connects the ...

, Valga and Võru counties. 23,989 people live in Põlva County – constituting 1.8% of the total population in Estonia (as of 2022).

Government

The County Government (Estonian: ''Maavalitsus'') is led by the

Governor A governor is an politician, administrative leader and head of a polity or Region#Political regions, political region, in some cases, such as governor-general, governors-general, as the head of a state's official representative. Depending on the ...

(Estonian: ''maavanem''), who is appointed by the Government of Estonia for a term of five years. Since 2007, the Governor position is held by Priit Sibul.

Municipalities

The county is subdivided into

municipalities A municipality is usually a single administrative division having municipal corporation, corporate status and powers of self-government or jurisdiction as granted by national and regional laws to which it is subordinate. The term ''municipality' ...

. There are 3 rural municipalities ( – parishes) in Põlva County.

Demographics

27,028 people live in Põlva County – constituting 2.1% of the total population in Estonia (as of January 2013).

Culture

1951–2019, the county had its newspaper: ''Koit''. The last chief editor (since 2000) was Kauno Kõima.

Religion

The

Lutheran Lutheranism is a major branch of Protestantism that emerged under the work of Martin Luther, the 16th-century German friar and Protestant Reformers, reformer whose efforts to reform the theology and practices of the Catholic Church launched ...

congregations in the county are under Võru Deanery of the

Estonian Evangelical Lutheran Church The Estonian Evangelical Lutheran Church (EELC; Estonian: ''Eesti Evangeelne Luterlik Kirik'', abbreviated EELK) is a Lutheran church in Estonia. The EELC is member of the Lutheran World Federation and belongs to the Community of Protestant Ch ...

Eastern Orthodoxy Eastern Orthodoxy, otherwise known as Eastern Orthodox Christianity or Byzantine Christianity, is one of the three main Branches of Christianity, branches of Chalcedonian Christianity, alongside Catholic Church, Catholicism and Protestantism ...

congregations in the county are under the jurisdiction of the Estonian Apostolic Orthodox Church. The independent Estonian Charismatic Church of Fellowship also operates in the county. Other Christian congregations such as Baptists, Methodists, Jehovah's Witnesses, and others operate in the county. There is also a congregation of the Estonian Neopagan religion operating in the county.

Gallery

Ahja tiik 2.jpg, Ahja Pikajärve mõisa aitkuivati *.jpg, Pikajärve manor granary Aalupi järv 2013 08.jpg, Lake Aalupi Pikajärve mõisa peahoone2.jpg, Pikajärve manor Räpina mõisa peahoone1.jpg, Räpina manor Räpina Miikaeli kirik.jpg, St. Michael's church in Räpina Kärsa kirik.jpg, Kärsa orthodox church Lakekover.JPG, Lake Kõvverjärv Kiidjärve vesiveski 01.jpg, Kiidjärve watermill

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Polva County Counties of Estonia