Elektrėnai

Historically, two villages were located in the area; one of those was Perkūnkiemis (Lithuanian: ''Thunder's yard). Elektrėnai is one of the newest towns of Lithuania, having been established during the Soviet occupation in the early 1960s as the living space for workers of the nearby power plant. It was expanded in the 1980s and early 1990s as a residence for builders and workers at the nearby Kruonis Pumped Storage Plant. The name of the new town was derived from word elektra (English: electricity) – a borrowing to Lithuanian language from Greek. Gintarėnai (gintaras'' – Lithuanian word for amber) was another name considered, but was rejected before the start of the construction. Most of the buildings in Elektrėnai are large block housing projects built during the Soviet period, with no historical buildings. The town, however, is close to Elektrėnai Reservoir, an artificial lake that was created to cool the Elektrėnai Power Plant. The water is several degrees warmer than water at the other nearby lakes. ==Ice hockey==

Elektrėnai is well known for its ice hockey tradition. For a rather long period of time Elektrėnai was the only city in Lithuania with a well-equipped skating rink. Two National Hockey League players: Darius Kasparaitis and Dainius Zubrus were born in Elektrėnai. Its local ice hockey team is Energija. Inhabitants of Elektrėnai make up a considerable part of the national ice hockey team. ==Gallery==

File:Elektrėnai2018.jpg|Entrance to Elektrėnai from the motorway File:Elektrėnai, pakrantės tiltas.jpg|Elektrėnai Pier Bridge File:Elektrėnai Ice Palace in Elektrėnai, Lithuania by Augustas Didžgalvis.jpg|Elektrėnai Ice Palace File:Elektrėnai Swimming Pool.jpg|Swimming pool File:Church of St. Virgin Mary, Queen of Martyrs, in Elektrėnai, Lithuania by Augustas Didžgalvis.jpg|Church of St. Virgin Mary, Queen of Martyrs, in Elektrėnai File:Elektrėnai Power Plant in Elektrėnai, Lithuania by Augustas Didžgalvis.jpg|Elektrėnai Power Plant in 2023 File:Elektrenu marios 2 by Augustas Didzgalvis.jpg|Elektrėnai Reservoir and the Power Plant File:Elektrėnų tiltas.jpg|Elektrėnai Pier Bridge at night File:BurlentesElektrenuose1024.jpg|Windsurfing in Elektrėnai Reservoir ==References==