| Obal | |
| Native Name: | |
| Settlement Type: | Urban-type settlement |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Name: | Belarus |
| Subdivision Type1: | Region |
| Subdivision Name1: | Vitebsk Region |
| Subdivision Type2: | District |
| Subdivision Name2: | Shumilina District |
| Established Title: | Founded |
| Population As Of: | 2024 |
| Population Footnotes: | [1] |
| Population Total: | 2,114 |
| Population Density Km2: | auto |
| Timezone: | MSK |
| Utc Offset: | +3 |
| Pushpin Map: | Belarus |
| Coordinates: | 55.3511°N 29.2961°W |
| Elevation M: | 150 |
| Postal Code Type: | Postal code |
| Postal Code: | 222379 |
| Area Code: | +375 2130 |
| Blank Name: | License plate |
| Blank Info: | 2 |
Obal or Obol (be|Обаль; ru|Оболь) is an urban-type settlement in Shumilina District, Vitebsk Region, Belarus.[1] [2] It is located southeast of Polotsk. In 2024, it had a population of 2,114.[1]
Obal was known since the 16th century as a village in Połock Voivodeship within the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth. In 1772, following the Partitions of Poland, it became part of the Russian Empire. In 1866, the construction of the Riga-Oryol railway contributed to its growth.
During the Second World War, the settlement was under German military occupation from 8 July 1941 until June 1944. Prior to the German invasion, it had a Jewish population of several dozen people. About 10 or 15 Jews remained there at the start of the occupation, and they were placed in a local ghetto in late 1941. Several Jews died during the existence of the ghetto, which consisted of one house, and on 2 June 1942, the ghetto was liquidated, with the remaining six Jews being shot.
In 1968, the status of Obol was raised from village to urban-type settlement.
Located in the center of Vitebsk Region, Obal lies between Vitebsk (southeast) and Polotsk (northwest), and is crossed by the Obal River. It is located from Shumilina, from Novopolotsk and from Minsk. The town is served by the P20 highway and by the Smolensk-Vitebsk-Daugavpils-Riga railway.
Ödeshög (Ödeshög Municipality, Sweden)[4]