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Gulbene

Coordinates:57°10′N26°45′E/ 57.167°N 26.750°E/57.167; 26.750
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Gulbene
Town
Flag of Gulbene
Coat of arms of Gulbene
Gulbene is located in Latvia
Gulbene
Gulbene
Location in Latvia
Coordinates:57°10′N26°45′E/ 57.167°N 26.750°E/57.167; 26.750
CountryLatvia
DistrictGulbene Municipality
Town rights1928
Government
• Chairman of the Municipality CouncilAndis Caunītis
Area
• Total11.91 km2(4.60 sq mi)
• Land11.53 km2(4.45 sq mi)
• Water0.38 km2(0.15 sq mi)
Population
(2024)[2]
• Total6,715
• Density560/km2(1,500/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+2(EET)
• Summer (DST)UTC+3(EEST)
Postal code
LV-4401
Calling code+371 644
Number of city council members11
ClimateDfb
Websitewww.gulbene.lv

Gulbene(pronunciation;German:Schwanenburg) is atownin northeasternLatvia.It is an administrative center ofGulbene Municipality.[3][4]

History

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Unveiling ceremony of the monument to the fallen heroes during theLatvian War of Independence
Latvian Armyparade in front of PresidentKārlis Ulmanisin Gulbene

Historical documents first mention the 1224 land division act between theOrder of the Sword Brothersand theArchbishop of Riga.[5]In the 14th century, the Archbishop built a stonecastlearound which a populated place was formed.

TheEvangelicalLutheranchurch (Brivības iela 13) was built on the ancientLatgaliancastle mound in place of the later Middle Age brick castle from 1838.–1843. The church is built in theclassical style.

Vecgulbene (Old Gulbene) estate complex was built in the middle and second half of the 19th century not far off the church. The most significant buildings are the White Palace (Brivības iela 12), the Red Palace (Parka iela 1) and the magazine granary (Brivības iela 9). Both palaces have been destroyed and rebuilt several times. Since 1924 the elementary school of the city occupies the Red Palace. Since 2004Stradu pagastapārvalde occupies part of the palace.

After the construction of theStukmanitoValkanarrow-gauge railway in 1903 and subsequent broad-gauge line construction duringWorld War I,Vecgulbene was established as an important railway junction, and in 1920 it was given the rights of a small village. During the first period of Latvian independence, besides those employed by the railways, small business, trades and crafts were the most important economic activities in the town. Gulbene was heavily damaged during the last years ofWorld War II.After the war, during the Soviet occupation, Gulbene initially became a district, and later, in 1950, a regional centre. In the 1960s and 1970s branches of several major industrial companies were established in the city. Local enterprise was mainly involved withwood processing.

The most architecturally significant building in the area is the passenger building at Gulbene railway station, built in 1926 by the well-known professor of architecturePeteris Feders(1868 – 1936). It is one of the largest and most magnificent railway station buildings in Latvia.

Geography

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There is one major town in the Gulbene municipality, and the region is separated into 13 smaller rural parishes. Gulbene is being developed as an environmentally-friendly territory.[citation needed]

Climate

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Gulbene has ahumid continental climate(KöppenDfb). Gulbene has a cold and long winter, a warm and short summer, and a fleeting spring and autumn. Winters are often below −25 °C (−13 °F). In the cold waves of 1940, 1956, 1978, 1985 and 1987, there were low temperatures below −35 °C (−31 °F), and even extremely cold weather approaching −40 °C (−40 °F). In mid-summer there will be warm weather exceeding 25 °C (77 °F), and sometimes there will be high temperatures exceeding 30 °C (86 °F). The monthly averages range from −6 °C (21 °F) to 18 °C (64 °F), whereas all-time extremes range from −39.0 °C (−38.2 °F) on 16 January 1940 to 33.8 °C (92.8 °F) on 11 August 1992.

Climate data for Gulbene (1991-2020 normals, extremes 1923–present)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 9.7
(49.5)
11.0
(51.8)
17.3
(63.1)
25.7
(78.3)
30.1
(86.2)
32.6
(90.7)
33.6
(92.5)
33.8
(92.8)
29.8
(85.6)
22.5
(72.5)
14.3
(57.7)
11.3
(52.3)
33.8
(92.8)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) −2.4
(27.7)
−1.8
(28.8)
3.2
(37.8)
11.2
(52.2)
17.3
(63.1)
20.8
(69.4)
23.1
(73.6)
21.7
(71.1)
16.1
(61.0)
8.9
(48.0)
2.6
(36.7)
−0.7
(30.7)
10.0
(50.0)
Daily mean °C (°F) −4.5
(23.9)
−4.6
(23.7)
−0.5
(31.1)
6.2
(43.2)
11.8
(53.2)
15.4
(59.7)
17.8
(64.0)
16.5
(61.7)
11.4
(52.5)
5.6
(42.1)
0.8
(33.4)
−2.6
(27.3)
6.1
(43.0)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) −7.3
(18.9)
−7.8
(18.0)
−4.2
(24.4)
1.2
(34.2)
5.8
(42.4)
9.9
(49.8)
12.5
(54.5)
11.3
(52.3)
7.1
(44.8)
2.5
(36.5)
−1.6
(29.1)
−4.8
(23.4)
2.1
(35.7)
Record low °C (°F) −39.0
(−38.2)
−37.6
(−35.7)
−26.5
(−15.7)
−15.4
(4.3)
−6.0
(21.2)
−1.0
(30.2)
3.6
(38.5)
0.5
(32.9)
−5.6
(21.9)
−13.5
(7.7)
−22.8
(−9.0)
−38.4
(−37.1)
−39.0
(−38.2)
Averageprecipitationmm (inches) 46.1
(1.81)
38.1
(1.50)
36.7
(1.44)
34.7
(1.37)
57.5
(2.26)
78.1
(3.07)
71.8
(2.83)
70.6
(2.78)
53.5
(2.11)
68.1
(2.68)
53.6
(2.11)
47.5
(1.87)
656.3
(25.83)
Average precipitation days(≥ 1 mm) 13 9 10 7 9 11 10 11 10 12 12 12 126
Source 1: LVĢMC[6][7]
Source 2: NOAA (precipitation days 1981–2010)[8]

Demographics

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Within existing limits, according to CSB data.[9]

Population changes

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Historical population
YearPop.±%
19353,819
19597,178+88.0%
19708,722+21.5%
19799,484+8.7%
YearPop.±%
198910,346+9.1%
20009,620−7.0%
20118,314−13.6%
20217,040−15.3%
Source:Latvian Geospatial Information Agency

Tourism

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The Gulbenes Regional History and Art Museum displays one of the most valuable relics of Latvian museums - a chair designed by Julius Madernieks (1870–1955) made in the 1920s. Julius Madernieks was the founder of Latvian professional applied art born in Vecgulbenes parish and being notable person in city Gulbene.

Sports

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The Gulbene municipality's biggest rivers (Gauja,TirzaandPededze) are currently popular locations for naturetourismand water-sports, but once these were famous places for harvesting river-pearls. Cycling is enjoyed on local country paths.

Gulbene has abasketballteam,Gulbenes Buki,playing in the higher division of the Latvian basketball league.

Media

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The Gulbene region is served by a newspaper,Dzirkstele.[10][11]

[edit]

Twin towns

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Notable people

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See also

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References

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  1. ^"Reģionu, novadu, pilsētu un pagastu kopējā un sauszemes platība gada sākumā".Central Statistical Bureau of Latvia.Retrieved18 January2023.
  2. ^"Iedzīvotāju skaits pēc tautības reģionos, pilsētās, novados, pagastos, apkaimēs un blīvi apdzīvotās teritorijās gada sākumā (pēc administratīvi teritoriālās reformas 2021. gadā)".Central Statistical Bureau of Latvia.Retrieved19 June2024.
  3. ^"Gulbenes novads - Gulbene Municipality".Gulbene.lv.Retrieved19 June2022.
  4. ^"Discover Gulbene! | Your tourist guide to Gulbene District!".VisitGulbene.lv.Retrieved19 June2022.
  5. ^"Gulbene".Vle.lt.Retrieved19 June2022.
  6. ^"Klimatisko normu dati".Latvian Environment, Geology and Meteorology Centre.Archived fromthe originalon January 13, 2023.RetrievedMarch 27,2023.
  7. ^"Gaisa temperatūras rekordi".Latvian Environment, Geology and Meteorology Centre.Archived fromthe originalon January 13, 2023.RetrievedMarch 27,2023.
  8. ^"World Meteorological Organization Climate Normals for 1981-2010".National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.RetrievedApril 5,2023.
  9. ^"Iedzīvotāji pēc dzimuma un vecuma grupām reģionos, novados, pilsētās, pagastos, ciemos (atbilstoši robežām 2023. gada sākumā), apkaimēs un blīvi apdzīvotās teritorijās (eksperimentālā statistika) 2000 - 2022".Central Statistical Bureau of Latvia.2023-03-27.Retrieved2023-03-27.
  10. ^"Gulbenes novads".Dzirkstele.lv(in Latvian).Retrieved19 June2022.
  11. ^"Laikraksts Dzirkstele".307.lv(in Latvian).Retrieved19 June2022.