Tartu [antikvár]

Introduction Tartu with its one hundred thousand inhabitants is the second largest town in Estonia after Tallinn— the capital. During its centuries-long history the town has borne different names: Tarbatum and its derivations occur in the Chronicle of Henricus de Lettis. Most probably ancient Estonians called their stronghold Tarbatu after the Estonian word tarvas (aurochs). It gave the German form Dorpat and the Russian Derpt. Prince Yaroslav the Wis« of Kiev called the place Yuryev after his Christian name. The town takes up an area of 39 square kilometres. It lies in the valley of the River Emajogi stretching out to the slopes and the level land on both sides of the valley. Tartu has an unrivalled charm of its own. It is a town of grave scientists, gay students, industrious workers. It is a university town and is known as such in many countries. Each autumn about one and a half thousand young people become students of Tartu State University and the Estonian Academy of Agriculture, and for several years they remain rightful citizens of the town. Each spring about the same number of young specialists leave Tartu, ready to devote their knowledge and energy to advancing our economy and culture. Tartu develops rapidly and the past decade shows a marked growth in the town's prosperity which has been achieved by the good work of the townspeople under the leadership of the Tartu Town Committee of the Communist Party of Estonia and the Executive Committee of Tartu Town Soviet of People's Deputies. This booklet will present a survey of the past and present of Tartu, and its plans for future.