NARVA

German Narwa, city, Estonia. It lies along the Narva River 9 mi (14 km) above the latter's outfall into the Gulf of Finland. It was founded in the 13th century and quickly became a substantial commercial city. Occupied first by Russia (155881) and then by Sweden, it was important as the scene of Peter I the Great's defeat by the Swedes in 1700 and his subsequent victory, reconquering Narva for Russia, by means of a siege in 1704. Since the 1850s Narva has been a major cotton textile centre. It also manufactures jute and hemp products and furniture. It has a technical school and a historical museum. Pop. (1983 est.) 78,000.