According to the Administrative territorial reform of 2009, Aglona municipality was formed. Aglona municipality consists of Aglona civil parish of the former Preili district, and Kastulina, Graveri, Skeltova civil parishes of the former Kraslava district. Aglona municipality is situated in the southeastern part of Latvia, and it borders with Rezekne, Riebini, Preili, Daugavpils, Kraslava and Dagda municipalities. The area of Aglona municipality is 392,7 km?.

Distance from Aglona (municipality center) to Preili is 28 km, from Aglona to Daugavpils – 40 km, 47 km to Rezekne, 33 km to Kraslava, and 248 km to Riga.

The lands of Aglona municipality (16938,6 ha) are generally used in farming. A small part of acreages is used provide dwelling space (87,3 ha) and 4,1 hare meant for business activities.

Nature

The territory of the municipality is very rich in lakes. There are 63 water bodies in Aglona municipality; lakes occupy approximately 8% (3156,4 ha) of its total area. The largest lakes on the territory of Aglona municipality are Ilza Geranimova lake, Cirisu, Jazinkas, Uzunu and Berzgale lake. There are 13 rivers in Aglona municipality, the largest ones of them are Balda, Dubna and Tartaka.

There are 3 NATURA 2000 specially protected areas in Aglona municipality, 2 of them are nature parks – „Cirisa ezers” (“Cirisu Lake”), „Carmana ezers” (“Carmana Lake”), and nature reserve „Certoka ezers” (“Certoka lake” –Devil’s lake).

Inhabitants

The number of inhabitants is 4486, the population density per km? is 11,4 people. The population change from 2005 to the beginning of 2010 is -11,4%.

The demographic load is 566,3.

In 2009 15 marriages were contracted in Aglona municipality, and 6 marriages were annulled. 30 inhabitants of the municipality were born, and 109 died in 2009, the natural population growth was-79. In 2009 122 inhabitants moved in, and also 122 people left the municipality, therewith the balance of migration in Aglona municipality was 0.

In 2010, 26 children were born (12 girls and 14 boys), and 99 inhabitants of the municipality died.

The number of Aglona municipality resident children is 754, 73% of them are children of 7-18 years of age, and 27% are of 0-6 years of age.

12 marriages were contracted in 2010.

The national composition of the population of Aglona municipality in 2009 was the following: Latvians – 60%, Russians – 29%, Belorussians – 5%, Poles – 3%, other nationalities – 3%. 93% of Aglona municipality inhabitants are nationals, 6% are non-nationals; 1% – the rest of the inhabitants.

The number of inhabitants is going down in Aglona municipality like in the rest of the territory of Latvia. The reason for the negative rates is low birthrate and increasing migration of the inhabitants.

Tourism

Aglona municipality can be proud of its rich cultural-historical heritage, its almost untouched natural riches, and creative people who develop tourism as one of the most significant additional sources of income for the inhabitants.

There are more than 20 different places to stay, which are not only nights’ lodgings, they offer various possibilities for having a rest: sports activities by the water bodies, tasting the dishes of Latgalian culinary heritage, seeing natural and cultural-historical objects, enjoyment of health-improving procedures etc.

There is a possibility to obtain new knowledge in Aglona municipality by visiting the only Bread Museum in Latvia, Museum of World War II and Jaunaglona Local History Museum.

The most popular place of interest of Aglona municipality definitely is the Catholic gathering center – Aglona basilica which during the feast on August 15 gathers more than 300 000 believers from Latvia and all parts of the world.