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Luga (, , Votic: Laugaz) is a town in Leningrad Oblast, Russia, lying 140 km to the south of St. Petersburg, on the Luga River. Population: 40,000 (2005 est.); 40,434 (2002 Census). The town played a pivotal role in World War II by delaying the German advance on Leningrad by over a month. This was recognised in 1977 by the award of the Order of World War II. The town is the administrative centre of Luzhsky District of Leningrad Oblast and the main centre of transport, industry, agriculture, and commerce south of St. Petersburg. It has a University (KGU Kirilla and Mefodia), three Institutes of Technical Education, and six schools. There a road and rail links with the neighbouring cities of Saint Petersburg, Pskov, and Novgorod.
History Luga was founded on the banks of the river of that name by order of the Catherine the Great on August 3, 1777. Locals divide the town's development into six stages: | ||||||||
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