Narva

Narva linn

Flag Coat of Arms
County	Ida-Viru County
Mayor	Tarmo Tammiste
Area	84.54 kmē
Population (as of 2004)  - Density	67,355 796.7/kmē
Time zone  - Summer (DST)	EET (UTC+2) EEST (UTC+3)
Coordinates	59°23' N 28°12' E
Location of Narva

Narva (Russian Нарва) is an Estonian city located on the Russian border. The Narva River, which drains Lake Peipus, flows through the city. As of January 1 2004 it has a population of 67,355. The total area is 84.54 kmē which gives a Population density of 796.7 inhabitants per kmē. The famous Estonian chess player Paul Keres was born in the city.

The Russians captured this Livonian Order port in 1555, opening their first window to the Baltic there. About 95% of the current population of Narva are Russian-speakers, mostly either Soviet-era immigrants from parts of the former U.S.S.R. (mainly Russia) or their descendants. Much of the city was destroyed during World War II and for several years during the following reconstruction the Soviet authorities prohibited the return of any of Narva's pre-war residents (among whom ethnic Estonians had been the majority) thus radically altering the city's ethnic composition.

In the 16th century, Russian traders at Narva were soon ousted first by the Dutch, then by the Swedes, who took over Narva in 1581, during the Livonian War. The city was reconquered by Russia in 1704 and remained in the Russian Empire until Estonian independence in 1918. Across the Narva River there is a Russian fortress Ivangorod, founded by Great Duke Ivan III of Muscovy in 1492 and sometimes referred to as Counter-Narva. During the Soviet times Narva and Ivangorod were twin cities, despite belonging to different republics. Before World War II, Ivangorod (in Estonian known as Jaanilinn) was part of Narva.

See also:

• Battle of Narva (1700)
• Battle of Narva (1944)