Narva (historical German name Narwa) is an Estonian city located on the Russian border. The Narva River, which drains Lake Peipus, flows through the city. As of January 1 2004 it has a population of 67,355. The total area is 84.54 km² which gives a population density of 796.7 inhabitants per km².

93.85% of the current population of Narva are Russian-speakers (86.41% are ethnic Russians), mostly either Soviet-era immigrants from parts of the former U.S.S.R. (mainly Russia) or their descendants. Much of the city was destroyed during World War II and for several years during the following reconstruction the Soviet authorities prohibited the return of any of Narva's pre-war residents (among whom ethnic Estonians had been the majority), thus radically altering the city's ethnic composition.



Founded during the Danish rule of northern Estonia in the 13th century, the castle and surrounding town of Narva became a possession of the Livonian Order after 1347. Captured briefly by Russians in 1555, Narva changed hands a few times, and after 1581 was controlled by Sweden. The city was reconquered by Russia in 1704 and remained in the Russian Empire until Estonian independence in 1918.
Across the Narva River there is a Russian Ivangorod fortress, founded by Great Duke Ivan III of Muscovy in 1492 and sometimes referred to as Counter-Narva. During the Soviet times Narva and Ivangorod were twin cities, despite belonging to different republics. Before World War II, Ivangorod (in Estonian known as Jaanilinn) was part of Narva.

The famous Estonian chess player Paul Keres was born in Narva.