Astrawez district
The Astrawez district ( Belarusian Астравецкі раён , Russian Островецкий район ) is a district in the north of the Hrodsenskaja Woblasz in Belarus with the city of Astrawez (Ostrowez) as the administrative center.
history
On January 15, 1940, the Astrawez district was founded as part of the Vilejskaja Woblasz . Astrawez did not have the status of a city, but was considered an urban settlement. The Rajon was dominated by agriculture, the industry was poorly developed.
The German-Soviet War began on June 22, 1941 . The German air force bombed the Mihalyshki airfield. On June 27, the Astrawez region was occupied by German troops. On July 3, 1944, the partisans liberated the city. On July 6th the Red Army came up; the area of the Rajon was completely liberated on July 7th.
On September 9, 1944, the Rajon part of the Maladcheschanskaja Woblasz , from January 20, 1960 part of the Hrodsenskaja Woblasz. Several new schools, an industrial complex and a sawmill were built in the 1960s.
Since August 25, 1991 the Rajon belongs to the independent Belarus. Construction of a nuclear power plant began in 2011 and is scheduled to go into operation in 2021. On March 27, 2012, Astrawez was granted city status.
population
In 2018, the population of the Rajon is 24,554 people. The majority of the population are Belarusians (86%). Poles (5%), Russians (3%) and Lithuanians (2%) also live in the Rajon. The population speaks Belarusian and Russian.
geography
The Janow reservoir with a small hydroelectric power station is located in the Rajon.