Elbląg

Elbląg, city, Warmińsko-Mazurskie województwo (province), north-central Poland. It lies along the Elbląg River near the Nogat River, which is the eastern mouth of the Vistula River.

Founded in 1237 by the Teutonic Knights, the castle and settlement were granted town rights in 1246 and joined the Hanseatic League in the late 13th century. By 1580 the town had become the chief East Prussian port for trade with England. When silting obstructed Vistula Lagoon, Elbląg was reduced to an inland port. The city was occupied by the Germans during World War II, and a great deal of Elbląg was destroyed in 1945 when it was taken by the Soviets. Elbląg was subsequently rebuilt, although work on reconstructing the Old Town portion of the city began much later, in 1991.

Elbląg is a rail junction and port. Its economy depends upon metallurgy, heavy-machinery manufacture (including turbines), sawmilling, brewing, and agriculture. The 99-mile- (159-km-) long Elbląg Canal, completed in 1872, connects Elbląg with the inland port of Ostróda to the south. There is a state college that specializes in technical and vocational training. Pop. (2011) 124,668.