Velikoustyugsky District
Encyclopedia
Velikoustyugsky District is an administrative district (raion
), one of the twenty-six
in Vologda Oblast
, Russia
. Municipally, it is incorporated as Velikoustyugsky Municipal District. It is located in the northeast of the oblast
and borders with Kotlassky District of Arkhangelsk Oblast
in the north, Luzsky District
of Kirov Oblast
in the east, Podosinovsky District
of Kirov Oblast in the southeast, Kichmengsko-Gorodetsky District
in the south, Nyuksensky District
in the west, and Ustyansky District
of Arkhangelsk Oblast in the northwest. The area of the district is 7700 square kilometres (2,973 sq mi). Its administrative center is the town of Veliky Ustyug
. District's population: 22,210 (2002 Census
);
The town of oblast significance
, Veliky Ustyug
is located within the limits of the district but does not belong to the district. The town of Krasavino
and the urban-type settlement of Kuzino
, also located in the limits of the district, are administratively subordinated to the town of Veliky Ustyug. Municipally, Veliky Ustyug, Krasavino, and Kuzino are incorporated as urban settlements which are part of Velikoustyugsky Municipal District.
and then was colonized by Vladimir-Suzdal Principality (in contrast to the surrounding areas, which belonged to Novgorod
). Veliky Ustyug is one of the oldest settlements in the Russian North and was first mentioned by chronicles in 1207. The Novgorod merchants used the Sukhona River
as one of the main waterways leading to the White Sea
and the Pechora
, and Veliky Ustyug was the only point on this waterway not belonging to Novgorod. In 14th century, the area became a part of the Grand Duchy of Moscow
.
In the course of the administrative reform carried out in 1708 by Peter the Great the area was included into Archangelgorod Governorate
. Veliky Ustyug was explicitly mentioned as one of the twenty towns included into the governorate. From 1719, it was the center of Ustyug Province, one of the four provinces of Archangelgorod Governorate. In 1780, the governorate was abolished, and transformed into Vologda Viceroyalty
. The latter was abolished in 1796, and Veliky Ustyug became the center of Velikoustyugsky Uyezd of Vologda Governorate
. In 1918, the area was transferred to the newly established Northern Dvina Governorate
with the administrative center located in Veliky Ustyug. In 1924 the uyezds were abolished in favor of the new divisions, the districts (raions).
On June 19, 1924 Velikoustyugsky District was established. At the same time, Ust-Alexeyevsky District with the center of Ust-Alexeyevo was established. On February 27, 1928 Ust-Alexeevsky District was merged into Velikoustyugsky District. In 1929, Northern Dvina Governorate was merged into Northern Krai
. The krai consisted of five okrugs, one of which, Northern Dvina Okrug, had an administrative center is Veliky Ustyug. In July 1930, the okrugs were abolished, and the districts became directly subordinate to Northern Krai. On January 25, 1935 Ust-Alexeyevsky District was re-established.
In 1936, Northern Krai was transformed into Northern Oblast, and in 1937, Northern Oblast was split into Arkhangelsk Oblast and Vologda Oblast. Velikoustyugsky District remained in Vologda Oblast ever since. In 1959, Ust-Alexeyevsky District was merged back into Velikoustyugsky District.
and the Yug River
form the Northern Dvina, one of the biggest European rivers. Upstream from the town of Kotlas
, in particular, in the limits of the district, the Northern Dvina is sometimes referred to as the Little Northern Dvina. The Sukhona, the Yug, and the Northern Dvina split the districts into three roughly equal areas. The biggest tributary of the Yug within the district is the Luza River
. Minor areas in the west of the district drain into the Kizema River in the river basin of the Vaga
. Some areas in the north of the district drain into the Ustya River
, a tributary of the Vaga. The whole district belongs to the river basin of the Northern Dvina.
Almost the whole of the district is covered by coniferous forests (taiga
). The exception are the meadows in the floodplain
s.
and further to Kotlas
. The one to the south runs to Nikolsk
and further to Manturovo
, where it connects to the road to Kostroma
. The road to the southwest connects Veliky Ustyug with Vologda
via Totma
. All these roads are paved. An unpaved road, originating from Kuzino
(which is connected with Veliky Ustyug by a ferry crossing) runs to Luza
and continues to Lalsk and further to the Komi Republic
.
The railroad connects Veliky Ustyug with Yadrikha railway station on the railroad connecting Konosha
and Kotlas. The passenger service to Veliky Ustyug has been discontinued in 2005. Two more railroads cross peripheral parts of the district: the railway connecting Konosha and Kotlas in the north (west of Yadrikha) and the railway connecting Kirov
and Kotlas in the northeast.
The Sukhona, the Yug, and the Northern Dvina are all navigable in the limits of the district, but there is no passenger navigation except for a number of ferry crossings.
Veliky Ustyug is served by Veliky Ustyug Airport. There are no scheduled passenger flights.
The only object protected at the federal level is the archaeological monument "Palemsky Gorodok".
Troitse-Gledensky Monastery
in the village of Morozovitsa, close to the confluence of the Sukhona and the Yug, is located in the district.
Since 1990s, Veliky Ustyug was marketed as the residence of Ded Moroz
, a fictitional character somewhat similar to Santa Claus
. The residence, which is a major tourist attraction, is actually located outside of the town, on the premises of Velikoustyugsky District.
Raion
A raion is a type of administrative unit of several post-Soviet countries. The term, which is from French rayon 'honeycomb, department,' describes both a type of a subnational entity and a division of a city, and is commonly translated in English as "district"...
), one of the twenty-six
Administrative divisions of Vologda Oblast
Administratively, Vologda Oblast is divided into four cities and towns of oblast significance and twenty-six districts.In terms of the area, the biggest administrative district is Vytegorsky District ....
in Vologda Oblast
Vologda Oblast
Vologda Oblast is a federal subject of Russia . Its administrative center is Vologda. The largest city is Cherepovets.Vologda Oblast is rich in historic monuments, such as the magnificent Kirillo-Belozersky Monastery, Ferapontov Convent , medieval towns of Velikiy Ustyug and Belozersk, baroque...
, Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
. Municipally, it is incorporated as Velikoustyugsky Municipal District. It is located in the northeast of the oblast
Oblast
Oblast is a type of administrative division in Slavic countries, including some countries of the former Soviet Union. The word "oblast" is a loanword in English, but it is nevertheless often translated as "area", "zone", "province", or "region"...
and borders with Kotlassky District of Arkhangelsk Oblast
Arkhangelsk Oblast
Arkhangelsk Oblast is a federal subject of Russia . It includes the Arctic archipelagos of Franz Josef Land and Novaya Zemlya, as well as the Solovetsky Islands in the White Sea....
in the north, Luzsky District
Luzsky District
Luzsky District is an administrative district , one of the 39 in Kirov Oblast, Russia....
of Kirov Oblast
Kirov Oblast
Kirov Oblast is a federal subject of Russia . Its administrative center is the city of Kirov. Population: -History:In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Vyatka remained a place of exile for opponents of the tsarist regime, including many prominent revolutionary figures.In 1920, a number of...
in the east, Podosinovsky District
Podosinovsky District
Podosinovsky District is an administrative district , one of the 39 in Kirov Oblast, Russia....
of Kirov Oblast in the southeast, Kichmengsko-Gorodetsky District
Kichmengsko-Gorodetsky District
Kichmengsko-Gorodetsky District is an administrative district , one of the twenty-six in Vologda Oblast, Russia. Municipally, it is incorporated as Kichmengsko-Gorodetsky Municipal District...
in the south, Nyuksensky District
Nyuksensky District
Nyuksensky District is an administrative district , one of the twenty-six in Vologda Oblast, Russia. Municipally, it is incorporated as Nyuksensky Municipal District...
in the west, and Ustyansky District
Ustyansky District
Ustyansky District is an administrative district , one of the twenty-one in Arkhangelsk Oblast, Russia. Municipally, it is incorporated as Ustyansky Municipal District...
of Arkhangelsk Oblast in the northwest. The area of the district is 7700 square kilometres (2,973 sq mi). Its administrative center is the town of Veliky Ustyug
Veliky Ustyug
Veliky Ustyug is a town in the northeast of Vologda Oblast, Russia, located at the confluence of the Sukhona and Yug Rivers. Administratively, it is incorporated as a town of oblast significance . It also serves as the administrative center of Velikoustyugsky District, by which it is completely...
. District's population: 22,210 (2002 Census
Russian Census (2002)
Russian Census of 2002 was the first census of the Russian Federation carried out on October 9 through October 16, 2002. It was carried out by the Russian Federal Service of State Statistics .-Resident population:...
);
The town of oblast significance
City of federal subject significance
City of federal subject significance is an umbrella term used to refer to a type of an administrative division of a federal subject of Russia which is equal in status to a district but is organized around a large city; occasionally with surrounding rural territories.According to the 1993...
, Veliky Ustyug
Veliky Ustyug
Veliky Ustyug is a town in the northeast of Vologda Oblast, Russia, located at the confluence of the Sukhona and Yug Rivers. Administratively, it is incorporated as a town of oblast significance . It also serves as the administrative center of Velikoustyugsky District, by which it is completely...
is located within the limits of the district but does not belong to the district. The town of Krasavino
Krasavino
Krasavino is a town in the northeast of Vologda Oblast, Russia, located on the left bank of the Northern Dvina River northeast of Vologda and north of Veliky Ustyug, to which it is administratively subordinated. Municipally, it is incorporated as urban settlement of Velikoustyugsky Municipal...
and the urban-type settlement of Kuzino
Kuzino
Kuzino is an urban locality under the administrative jurisdiction of Veliky Ustyug Town of Oblast Significance, Vologda Oblast, Russia, located on the right bank of the Northern Dvina River at the confluence of the Sukhona and the Yug, opposite to Veliky Ustyug...
, also located in the limits of the district, are administratively subordinated to the town of Veliky Ustyug. Municipally, Veliky Ustyug, Krasavino, and Kuzino are incorporated as urban settlements which are part of Velikoustyugsky Municipal District.
History
The area was originally populated by the Finno-Ugric peoplesFinno-Ugric peoples
The Finno-Ugric peoples are any of several peoples of Europe who speak languages of the proposed Finno-Ugric language family, such as the Finns, Estonians, Mordvins, and Hungarians...
and then was colonized by Vladimir-Suzdal Principality (in contrast to the surrounding areas, which belonged to Novgorod
Novgorod Republic
The Novgorod Republic was a large medieval Russian state which stretched from the Baltic Sea to the Ural Mountains between the 12th and 15th centuries, centred on the city of Novgorod...
). Veliky Ustyug is one of the oldest settlements in the Russian North and was first mentioned by chronicles in 1207. The Novgorod merchants used the Sukhona River
Sukhona River
The Sukhona is a river in the European pert of Russia, a tributary of the Northern Dvina River. The course of the Sukhona lies in Ust-Kubinsky, Sokolsky, Mezhdurechensky, Totemsky, Tarnogsky, Nyuksensky, and Velikoustyugsky Districts of Vologda Oblast in Russia. It is long, and the area of its...
as one of the main waterways leading to the White Sea
White Sea
The White Sea is a southern inlet of the Barents Sea located on the northwest coast of Russia. It is surrounded by Karelia to the west, the Kola Peninsula to the north, and the Kanin Peninsula to the northeast. The whole of the White Sea is under Russian sovereignty and considered to be part of...
and the Pechora
Pechora River
The Pechora River is a river in northwest Russia which flows north into the Arctic Ocean on the west side of the Ural Mountains. It lies mostly in the Komi Republic but the northernmost part crosses the Nenets Autonomous Okrug. It is 1,809 km long and its basin is 322,000 square kilometers...
, and Veliky Ustyug was the only point on this waterway not belonging to Novgorod. In 14th century, the area became a part of the Grand Duchy of Moscow
Grand Duchy of Moscow
The Grand Duchy of Moscow or Grand Principality of Moscow, also known in English simply as Muscovy , was a late medieval Rus' principality centered on Moscow, and the predecessor state of the early modern Tsardom of Russia....
.
In the course of the administrative reform carried out in 1708 by Peter the Great the area was included into Archangelgorod Governorate
Archangelgorod Governorate
Archangelgorod Governorate , or the Government of Archangelgorod, was an administrative division of the Russian Empire, which existed from 1708 until 1780. Its seat was in Archangel...
. Veliky Ustyug was explicitly mentioned as one of the twenty towns included into the governorate. From 1719, it was the center of Ustyug Province, one of the four provinces of Archangelgorod Governorate. In 1780, the governorate was abolished, and transformed into Vologda Viceroyalty
Vologda Viceroyalty
Vologda Viceroyalty was an administrative division of the Russian Empire, which existed in 1780–1796.The viceroyalty was established by a decree of Catherine II on , 1780...
. The latter was abolished in 1796, and Veliky Ustyug became the center of Velikoustyugsky Uyezd of Vologda Governorate
Vologda Governorate
The Vologda Governorate or Government of Vologda was a guberniya in the historical northern region of the European part of Russian Empire.In its size it was second right after the neighboring Archangelgorod Governorate...
. In 1918, the area was transferred to the newly established Northern Dvina Governorate
Northern Dvina Governorate
Northern Dvina Governorate was a governorate of the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic from 1918 to 1929. Its seat was in the city of Veliky Ustyug. The governorate was located in the North of European Russia, and its territory is currently divided between Arkhangelsk, Vologda,...
with the administrative center located in Veliky Ustyug. In 1924 the uyezds were abolished in favor of the new divisions, the districts (raions).
On June 19, 1924 Velikoustyugsky District was established. At the same time, Ust-Alexeyevsky District with the center of Ust-Alexeyevo was established. On February 27, 1928 Ust-Alexeevsky District was merged into Velikoustyugsky District. In 1929, Northern Dvina Governorate was merged into Northern Krai
Northern Krai
Northern Krai was a krai of the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic from 1929 to 1936. Its seat was in the city of Arkhangelsk...
. The krai consisted of five okrugs, one of which, Northern Dvina Okrug, had an administrative center is Veliky Ustyug. In July 1930, the okrugs were abolished, and the districts became directly subordinate to Northern Krai. On January 25, 1935 Ust-Alexeyevsky District was re-established.
In 1936, Northern Krai was transformed into Northern Oblast, and in 1937, Northern Oblast was split into Arkhangelsk Oblast and Vologda Oblast. Velikoustyugsky District remained in Vologda Oblast ever since. In 1959, Ust-Alexeyevsky District was merged back into Velikoustyugsky District.
Location and geography
In Veliky Ustyug, the Sukhona RiverSukhona River
The Sukhona is a river in the European pert of Russia, a tributary of the Northern Dvina River. The course of the Sukhona lies in Ust-Kubinsky, Sokolsky, Mezhdurechensky, Totemsky, Tarnogsky, Nyuksensky, and Velikoustyugsky Districts of Vologda Oblast in Russia. It is long, and the area of its...
and the Yug River
Yug River
The Yug is a river in Kichmengsko-Gorodetsky, Nikolsky, and Velikoustyugsky Districts of Vologda Oblast and in Podosinovsky District of Kirov Oblast in Russia. It is long, and the area of its basin...
form the Northern Dvina, one of the biggest European rivers. Upstream from the town of Kotlas
Kotlas
Kotlas is a town in the southeast of Arkhangelsk Oblast, Russia, situated at the confluence of the Northern Dvina and Vychegda Rivers. Administratively, it is incorporated as a town of oblast significance . It also serves as the administrative center of Kotlassky District, by which it is...
, in particular, in the limits of the district, the Northern Dvina is sometimes referred to as the Little Northern Dvina. The Sukhona, the Yug, and the Northern Dvina split the districts into three roughly equal areas. The biggest tributary of the Yug within the district is the Luza River
Luza River
The Luza is a river in Oparinsky and Luzsky Districts of Kirov Oblast, Priluzsky District of the Komi Republic, and Velikoustyugsky District of Vologda Oblast in Russia. It is a right tributary of the Yug River. It is long, and the area of its basin . Its main tributaries are the Lopyu, the...
. Minor areas in the west of the district drain into the Kizema River in the river basin of the Vaga
Vaga River
The Vaga is a river in Totemsky, Syamzhensky, and Verkhovazhsky Districts of Vologda Oblast and in Velsky, Shenkursky, and Vinogradovsky Districts of Arkhangelsk Oblast in Russia. It is a left and the biggest tributary of the Northern Dvina River. The length of the river is . The area of its basin...
. Some areas in the north of the district drain into the Ustya River
Ustya River
The Ustya is a river in Kotlassky, Krasnoborsky, Ustyansky, and Velsky Districts of Arkhangelsk Oblast in Russia. A very short portion of the river also forms the boundary between Kotlassky District and Velikoustyuzhsky District of Vologda Oblast. It is a right tributary of the Vaga River. The...
, a tributary of the Vaga. The whole district belongs to the river basin of the Northern Dvina.
Almost the whole of the district is covered by coniferous forests (taiga
Taiga
Taiga , also known as the boreal forest, is a biome characterized by coniferous forests.Taiga is the world's largest terrestrial biome. In North America it covers most of inland Canada and Alaska as well as parts of the extreme northern continental United States and is known as the Northwoods...
). The exception are the meadows in the floodplain
Floodplain
A floodplain, or flood plain, is a flat or nearly flat land adjacent a stream or river that stretches from the banks of its channel to the base of the enclosing valley walls and experiences flooding during periods of high discharge...
s.
Economy
The economy of the district is placed on timber production. Food industry is present, and tourism plays an important role.Transport
A number of roads connect Veliky Ustyug with other towns. The road to the north runs to KrasavinoKrasavino
Krasavino is a town in the northeast of Vologda Oblast, Russia, located on the left bank of the Northern Dvina River northeast of Vologda and north of Veliky Ustyug, to which it is administratively subordinated. Municipally, it is incorporated as urban settlement of Velikoustyugsky Municipal...
and further to Kotlas
Kotlas
Kotlas is a town in the southeast of Arkhangelsk Oblast, Russia, situated at the confluence of the Northern Dvina and Vychegda Rivers. Administratively, it is incorporated as a town of oblast significance . It also serves as the administrative center of Kotlassky District, by which it is...
. The one to the south runs to Nikolsk
Nikolsk, Vologda Oblast
Nikolsk is a town and the administrative center of Nikolsky District of Vologda Oblast, Russia,, located on the right bank of the Yug River close to the point where it flows into the White Sea. Municipally, it is incorporated as Nikolskoye Urban Settlement in Nikolsky Municipal District...
and further to Manturovo
Manturovo
Manturovo is a town in Kostroma Oblast, Russia, located on the right bank of the Unzha River , northeast of Kostroma. Population: 22,000 .-Overview:...
, where it connects to the road to Kostroma
Kostroma
Kostroma is a historic city and the administrative center of Kostroma Oblast, Russia. A part of the Golden Ring of Russian towns, it is located at the confluence of the Volga and Kostroma Rivers...
. The road to the southwest connects Veliky Ustyug with Vologda
Vologda
Vologda is a city and the administrative, cultural, and scientific center of Vologda Oblast, Russia, located on the Vologda River. The city is a major transport knot of the Northwest of Russia. Vologda is among the Russian cities possessing an especially valuable historical heritage...
via Totma
Totma
Totma is a town and the administrative center of Totemsky District of Vologda Oblast, Russia,, located on the left bank of the Sukhona River at the confluence with the Pesya Denga River. Municipally, it is incorporated as Totemskoe Urban Settlement in Totemsky Municipal District. Population:...
. All these roads are paved. An unpaved road, originating from Kuzino
Kuzino
Kuzino is an urban locality under the administrative jurisdiction of Veliky Ustyug Town of Oblast Significance, Vologda Oblast, Russia, located on the right bank of the Northern Dvina River at the confluence of the Sukhona and the Yug, opposite to Veliky Ustyug...
(which is connected with Veliky Ustyug by a ferry crossing) runs to Luza
Luza
Luza is a town and the administrative center of Luzsky District of Kirov Oblast, Russia, located on the Luza River , northwest of Kirov. Population:...
and continues to Lalsk and further to the Komi Republic
Komi Republic
The Komi Republic is a federal subject of Russia .-Geography:The republic is situated to the west of the Ural mountains, in the north-east of the East European Plain...
.
The railroad connects Veliky Ustyug with Yadrikha railway station on the railroad connecting Konosha
Konosha
Konosha is an urban locality Konosha is an urban locality Konosha is an urban locality (an urban-type settlement and the administrative center of Konoshsky District, Arkhangelsk Oblast, Russia, located on the Konosha River, south of Arkhangelsk. It also serves as the administrative center of...
and Kotlas. The passenger service to Veliky Ustyug has been discontinued in 2005. Two more railroads cross peripheral parts of the district: the railway connecting Konosha and Kotlas in the north (west of Yadrikha) and the railway connecting Kirov
Kirov, Kirov Oblast
Kirov , formerly known as Vyatka and Khlynov, is a city in northeastern European Russia, on the Vyatka River, and the administrative center of Kirov Oblast. Population: -History:...
and Kotlas in the northeast.
The Sukhona, the Yug, and the Northern Dvina are all navigable in the limits of the district, but there is no passenger navigation except for a number of ferry crossings.
Veliky Ustyug is served by Veliky Ustyug Airport. There are no scheduled passenger flights.
Culture and recreation
The district contains one object classified as cultural and historical heritage by the Russian Federal law, and additionally forty-one objects classified as cultural and historical heritage of local importance. Most of these are wooden farms and churches built prior to 1917. These numbers do not include the protected monuments in Veliky Ustyug.The only object protected at the federal level is the archaeological monument "Palemsky Gorodok".
Troitse-Gledensky Monastery
Troitse-Gledensky Monastery
Troitse-Gledensky Monastery is a former Russian Orthodox monastery founded in 12th century. The monastery is located in the village of Morozovitsa of Velikoustyugsky District in the north-east of Vologda Oblast, at the confluence of the Sukhona and the Yug Rivers, close to the town of Veliky Ustyug...
in the village of Morozovitsa, close to the confluence of the Sukhona and the Yug, is located in the district.
Since 1990s, Veliky Ustyug was marketed as the residence of Ded Moroz
Ded Moroz
Ded Moroz is a fictional character who in some Slavic cultures plays a role similar to that of Santa Claus. The literal translation of the name would be Grandfather Frost, although the name is often translated as Father Frost....
, a fictitional character somewhat similar to Santa Claus
Santa Claus
Santa Claus is a folklore figure in various cultures who distributes gifts to children, normally on Christmas Eve. Each name is a variation of Saint Nicholas, but refers to Santa Claus...
. The residence, which is a major tourist attraction, is actually located outside of the town, on the premises of Velikoustyugsky District.