thumb|Map of Lithuanian regions showing "Greater" Dzūkija ([[Fuchsia (color)|fuchsia).]]

Dzūkija () or Dainava is one of five ethnographic regions of Lithuania. Dzūkija is a cultural region defined by traditional lifestyles and dialects of the local Lithuanian population (mostly rural farmers) and has never been defined as a political or administrative unit.

Geography

thumb|Infertile land and large forests meant that farmers had to supplement their harvest with mushrooms and wild berries, which are still important for the local economy

Dzūkija is situated in southeastern Lithuania, and consists of Alytus County and southern Vilnius County. Historically, it extended into what is now northeastern Poland (Podlaskie Voivodeship) and northwestern Belarus (Grodno Region).

Large parts of Dzūkija have light sandy soil, unsuited for agriculture. Therefore, the region is densely covered with pine forests, one of which is Dainava Forest, the largest in Lithuania. The Čepkeliai Marsh, the largest swamp in Lithuania, is situated in the region, near the border with Belarus. Dzūkija is also the most sparsely populated region in Lithuania, with average population density dropping below 15 people per square kilometer in Varėna district municipality. Due to lower harvests in infertile soil, the region was relatively poorer than the rest of Lithuania. Farmers had to supplement their yields with edible mushrooms and berries collected in the forests. Mushroom hunting remains an important part of the local economy.

Two of the five national parks in Lithuania are to be found in Dzūkija: Dzūkija National Park east of Varėna (established there in 1991), and Trakai National Historic Park near Trakai (1992).

Subdivisions

{| class="wikitable"

! Subdivision

! Note

|-

| Alytus County || entire county

|-

| Trakai District Municipality || entire municipality

|-

| Elektrėnai Municipality || entire municipality

|-

| Šalčininkai District Municipality || entire municipality

|-

| Birštonas Municipality || entire municipality

|-

| Vilnius City Municipality || entire municipality

|-

| Vilnius District Municipality || excluding Paberžė Eldership

|-

| Prienai District Municipality || Jieznas Eldership and Stakliškės Eldership

|-

| Švenčionys District Municipality || Magūnai Eldership, Pabradė Eldership, Sariai Eldership, Cirkliškis Eldership and Strūnaitis Eldership

|-

|}

Demographics

The largest settlements (by population) are:

  • Vilnius - 602,430
  • Alytus – 51,353
  • Druskininkai – 12,978
  • Elektrėnai – 12,536
  • Varėna – 7,866
  • Šalčininkai – 6,825
  • Trakai – 5,720
  • Pabradė – 4,636
  • Nemenčinė – 4,495

Language

People in Dzūkija traditionally speak the Dzūkian dialect (also known as South Aukštaitian), which is a sub-dialect of the Aukštaitian dialect. As elsewhere in Lithuania, local dialects such as these are dying out in bigger as people adopt the standard Lithuanian through schools and mass media, but still used by older generation in smaller villages like Marcinkonys, Zervynos and others.

The very first Lithuanian handwritten texts from the early 16th century show traits of the Dzūkian dialect.

Coat of arms

thumb|Grand coat of arms of Dzūkija

The coat of arms of Dzūkija pictures a white armored warrior with a pollaxe in a blue shield. The blue color symbolizes loyalty and strength.