- Klaipeda
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1. a seaport in NW Lithuania, on the Baltic. 204,000.2. a former German territory including this seaport: now a part of Lithuania. 1092 sq. mi. (2828 sq. km). German, Memel.
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City (pop., 2001: 192,954) and port, Lithuania.It lies on the channel that connects the Neman River with the Baltic Sea. A fortress built on the site in the early 13th century was destroyed in 1252 by the Teutonic Order, who built a new fortress called Memelburg. It came under Prussian control in the 17th century, and the town (Memel) was settled by Germans. In 1923 Memel became part of Lithuania and was renamed Klaipeda. Seized by Germany in 1939, it passed to the Soviet Union in 1945. Klaipeda became part of the newly independent Lithuania in 1991. The modern city has major shipbuilding yards and is the base for a large deep-sea fishing fleet.* * *
city and port, Lithuania. It lies on the narrow channel by which the Curonian Lagoon and the Neman River connect with the Baltic Sea. Beside a small earlier settlement, the local population constructed a fortress in the early 13th century. In 1252 this fort was seized and destroyed by the Teutonic Knights, who built a new fortress called Memelburg. The town, later called Memel, and the adjacent territory were settled by Germans and formed part of the province of East Prussia. In 1923 Memel was given to Lithuania and renamed Klaipėda. The ice-free port expanded considerably and handled most of Lithuania's foreign trade. Ceded back to Germany in 1939, it passed to the U.S.S.R. from 1945 to 1991, at which time Lithuania became independent.Modern-day Klaipėda has major shipbuilding and repair yards specializing in trawlers and floating docks. It is the base of a large deep-sea fishing fleet and has a fish cannery. Other industries include cotton textiles, pulp and papermaking, timberworking, and the production of radio and telephone parts and amber jewelry. Pop. (2007 est.) 185,900.* * *
Universalium. 2010.
