Title: City Velyki Mosty. Status: The city of district level in Sokal district of Lviv region. Location: The city is located in the northern part of the Lviv region, on the river Rata, 50 km from Lviv. Area: 0.791 sq. km. Population: about 6,000 inhabitants. River: Rata. Year of foundation: 1472, city status was obtained in 1549. Historical note: In the annals of 16th century a small settlement Mistky was mentioned, which was on the right bank of the river Rata between Zhovkva and Belz. People have settled in this area in the Bronze Age (late 15 - early 9 cc. BC.). On July 23, 1549 Polish King Sigismund August signed a decree under which the village granted city status and the Magdeburg Rights. As a token of gratitude residents decided to name the new town in honor of the King, - Avgustiv. In the city a weekly auction was introduced - on Wednesday, and two annual fairs. Burghers of the new city were liberated from all feudal taxes and duties, as well as from the works near the castle. Only works on repairing roads and mills remained. To revive the trade the king allowed the Jews to settle in Avgustiv. Subsequently, burgers procured the right to build a bridge across the Rata. Thanks to it city became not only stronger financially, but eventually got a new name. In 1662 the city was attacked and almost completely destroyed by Crimean Tatars. There were three bridges owned by the city at that time: two big ones - across the river Rata, and one small - across the river Bolotnia. Thanks to the fees, which city treasury received for the use of bridges, the city was quickly rebuilt. Because of this, since 1770, the name "Avgustiv" was slowly disappearing from use. Instead, it has a new name - "Velyki Mosty (Great Bridges)". Since 19 c. the main type of industry in the city was the production of turpentine and a variety of pitches (by-products of pine resin, which was purveyed in the surrounding woods). The city Velyki Mosty was also known throughout Poland due National Police School located in the city. In 2001 the city was entered in the list of the historical inhabited places of Ukraine. Source of information: http://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/Великие_Мосты