Dzūkija

Dzūkija
Dainava
Motto: 
Ex gente bellicosissima populus laboriosus
Location of Dzūkija within Lithuania
CountryLithuania
Capital and largest cityAlytus
Area
  Total
12,114 km2 (4,677 sq mi)
Population
 (2021)
  Total
889,800
Demonyms
Time zoneUTC2 (CET (GMT +2))

Dzūkija (Lithuanian: [dzuːkʲˈjɐ]) 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. Traditionally, Alytus is regarded as the capital of the region and largest city. Although Vilnius is surrounded by Dzūkija, the city itself is not considered as a part of any ethnographic region in most cases.