Salaspils (population 21,106 in 2000 census, also known as Kircholm until 1917) is a town 18 km east of Riga in Latvia, on the western bank of Daugava river.

Salaspils is one of oldest settlements in Latvia. Excavations show that the area was populated 11 thousand years ago. From 10th to 15th century, there was a settlement of Livonian and Baltic tribes. In 1186, Meynard, the first bishop of Riga, built a Kircholm castle on Mārtiņsala island in Daugava river, near Salaspils. Mārtiņsala island is also the site of the oldest Catholic cemetery in Latvia, which dates back to 1197.

In 1605 the town was a site of the Battle of Kircholm in which forces of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth defeated much more numerous army of Sweden. It was also on the front line of World War I for two years, which lead to much destruction. After World War I, the rebuilt Salaspils was a rural area with population of just 306 in 1943. During World War II, the area became the site for Nazi concentration camp, with 53,700 people dying there.

In 1950s and 1960s, Salaspils became a major center for the production of electrical energy and scientific research. It is a site of hydro power station on Daugava river and a major thermo-electric power plant which supply a large part of Riga with electricity. Salaspils also houses 6 research institutes of Latvian Academy of Sciences and various universities.

The industrial development has lead to population of Salaspils growing to 21,000. As of 2000 census, 42% of population is Latvian, 42% is Russian and 16% belongs to other ethnic groups.

See also:

• Battle of Kircholm

External link:

• Salaspils website (http://www.salaspils.lv)