Aizkraukle
Aizkraukle () is a town in Vidzeme region in Latvia, the administrative centre of Aizkraukle Municipality on the right bank of the Daugava River. The population in 2020 was 7,018. History. In the second half of the 14th century Livonian Order built the Aizkraukle Castle, a few kilometres downstream from the ancient hillfort of Livs. The ruins of the castle still remain today. Before World War I, the settlement that stood near the site of modern-day Aizkraukle was known by its German name of "Ascheraden". The modern town was established in 1961 as a settlement to house the builders  of the nearby hydroelectric power plant of Pļaviņas. It was originally called Stučka (or "", "Stuchka" and "", "imeni Petra Stuchki" in Russian), for Pēteris Stučka, a Latvian communist. Town status was granted to it in 1967, which is also when it became the administrative center of Stučkas District. In 1990, it was renamed Aizkraukle, after the nearest railway station. The name literally means "beyond the Kraukle River. Economy. General industries in the area include power generation, woodworking, printing, and agriculture. In 2004 Aizkraukle was awarded "The tidiest town in Latvia 2004" in its size group.