Braslav district lies in the north-west of Vitebsk region and borders on Latvia and Lithuania. The stretch of border with the 2 Baltic states is 176 km. The distance from Braslav, the centre of the District, to Vitebsk is 238 km, and to Minsk – 220 km. The area of the District is 2.3 thousand square kilometers. The District was formed in 1940. Its population is 23.6 thousand people residing in 635 localities. District's government consists of 13 villages’ and 2 towns' Councils of Deputies. The basis of the District’s economy is agriculture and industrial enterprises processing agricultural products. In the agro-industrial sector there are 16 agricultural enterprises and 10 farms that specialize in milk and meat production, flax growing and seed farming. In accordance with the state program of Rural Revival and Development, 17 agro-towns will be created in the District by 2010; last year, the village of Opsa became an agro-town. District’s 7 industrial enterprises manufacture peat products, flax fiber, etc. The land of Braslav district is famous for its landscapes formed by chaotically scattered Ice Age hills, domed hills, oses, and hollows that later became lakes. There are about 300 lakes in the District that take up about 10% of its territory. In 1995, to preserve the unique natural landscapes, lakes, vegetation, and wildlife of this area, a national park “Braslavskije Ozeora” was created. The park has a developed infrastructure for the tourists. Also, there are old parks, mansions, churches, and houses preserved as historical, architecture, and cultural monuments. There are burial mounds, ancient settlements, and castle sites along the banks of the lakes. |