Kotlas
Encyclopedia
Kotlas is a town in the southeast of Arkhangelsk Oblast
, Russia
, situated at the confluence
of the Northern Dvina and Vychegda River
s. Administratively, it is incorporated as a town of oblast significance
(one of the six in Arkhangelsk Oblast). It also serves as the administrative center of Kotlassky District, by which it is completely surrounded but is not administratively a part of. Municipally, it is incorporated as Kotlas Urban Okrug and also includes the work settlement
of Vychegodsky
and the villages of Svininskaya and Sluda. It also serves as the administrative center of Cheryomushskoye Rural Settlement but is not a part of it. Population:
Kotlas is the third largest town of Arkhangelsk Oblast in terms of population (behind Arkhangelsk
and Severodvinsk
) and has an important significance as a transport hub.
of Russia on June 16, 1917, when it was a part of Vologda Governorate
. In 1918, the area was transferred to the newly formed Northern Dvina Governorate
, and in 1924 the uyezd
s were abolished in favor of the new divisions, the districts (raions). Kotlassky District was formed on June 25, 1924. In 1929, Northern Dvina Governorate was merged into Northern Krai
, which in 1936 was transformed into Northern Oblast. In 1937, Northern Oblast was split into Arkhangelsk Oblast and Vologda Oblast. Kotlassky District remained in Arkhangelsk Oblast ever since.
. Later, it hosted all possible categories of people repressed
during the Stalin
era. A significant population of Poles
existed in the area, with whole Polish villages resettled here in 1920s and 1930s.
Labor camp
s existed within the territory of the city until 1953. Besides logging
and paper industry, the occupation of inmates were plant, housing, bridge, and railroad construction. Most of camps were unguarded barrack settlements. In addition, Kotlas was a major transit point for deportees transferred further to the north and east, since it was a railroad terminus. There is a Kotlas branch of the Sovest (Conscience) organization, which seeks to preserve the memory of those times and seek compensation for victims.
), which was heavily used for the cargo transport of goods to and from the Northern Dvina River. In 1940, the construction of the railroad connecting Konosha
(on the railway stretch between Moscow and Arkhangelsk) to Vorkuta
started. The railroad was needed to transport coal, timber, and later oil from the Komi Republic
. The headquarters of this railroad were opened in Kotlas. In the same year, Kotlas became a separate administrative unit. In December 1941, the road was completed, and from 1942, the regular service started. Kotlas thus became an important transport hub. The headquarters of the Pechora Railway were located in Kotlas until 1959, when the railway was merged into the Northern Railway
.
).
The Northern Dvina and the Vychegda Rivers are navigable; there is regular passenger navigation on the Vychegda. Roads connect Kotlas with Veliky Ustyug
(and eventually Vologda
and Kostroma
) to the South, Syktyvkar
to the East, and Krasnoborsk
(eventually Arkhangelsk
) to the North. There is regular passenger bus traffic originating from Kotlas.
Kotlas is an important railway hub, where the railway to Kirov branches off south-east from the main railway, connecting Konosha
and Vorkuta
.
Kotlas is served by Kotlas Airport
and is home to Savatiya
air base.
with: Bağçasaray, Ukraine
Tarnów
, Poland
Waterville
, Maine
, United States
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....
, 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...
, situated at the confluence
Confluence
Confluence, in geography, describes the meeting of two or more bodies of water.Confluence may also refer to:* Confluence , a property of term rewriting systems...
of the Northern Dvina and Vychegda River
Vychegda River
Vychegda is a river in the European part of Russia, tributary to the Northern Dvina. Its length is about . Its source is approximately west of the northern Ural Mountains. It flows roughly in western direction, through Komi Republic and Arkhangelsk Oblast. The largest city along the Vychegda is...
s. Administratively, it is incorporated as a 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...
(one of the six in Arkhangelsk Oblast). It also serves as the administrative center of Kotlassky District, by which it is completely surrounded but is not administratively a part of. Municipally, it is incorporated as Kotlas Urban Okrug and also includes the work settlement
Urban-type settlement
Urban-type settlement ; , selyshche mis'koho typu ) is an official designation for a type of locality used in some of the countries of the former Soviet Union...
of Vychegodsky
Vychegodsky
Vychegodsky is an urban locality under the administrative jurisdiction of Kotlas Town of Oblast Significance, Arkhangelsk Oblast, Russia. It is located in the southeastern part of the oblast on the left-hand bank of the Vychegda River, east of Kotlas. Population: Vychegodsky was founded in 1942...
and the villages of Svininskaya and Sluda. It also serves as the administrative center of Cheryomushskoye Rural Settlement but is not a part of it. Population:
Kotlas is the third largest town of Arkhangelsk Oblast in terms of population (behind Arkhangelsk
Arkhangelsk
Arkhangelsk , formerly known as Archangel in English, is a city and the administrative center of Arkhangelsk Oblast, Russia. It lies on both banks of the Northern Dvina River near its exit into the White Sea in the north of European Russia. The city spreads for over along the banks of the river...
and Severodvinsk
Severodvinsk
Severodvinsk is a city in the north of Arkhangelsk Oblast, Russia, located in the delta of the Northern Dvina River, west of Arkhangelsk. Administratively, it is incorporated as a town of oblast significance . Municipally, it is incorporated as Severodvinsk Urban Okrug. The city was founded as...
) and has an important significance as a transport hub.
History
The place was probably inhabited from ancient times, but was only granted official town status by the Provisional GovernmentRussian Provisional Government
The Russian Provisional Government was the short-lived administrative body which sought to govern Russia immediately following the abdication of Tsar Nicholas II . On September 14, the State Duma of the Russian Empire was officially dissolved by the newly created Directorate, and the country was...
of Russia on June 16, 1917, when it was a part 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 formed 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,...
, and in 1924 the uyezd
Uyezd
Uyezd or uezd was an administrative subdivision of Rus', Muscovy, Russian Empire, and the early Russian SFSR which was in use from the 13th century. Uyezds for most of the history in Russia were a secondary-level of administrative division...
s were abolished in favor of the new divisions, the districts (raions). Kotlassky District was formed on June 25, 1924. 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...
, which in 1936 was transformed into Northern Oblast. In 1937, Northern Oblast was split into Arkhangelsk Oblast and Vologda Oblast. Kotlassky District remained in Arkhangelsk Oblast ever since.
Gulag
During the 1930s, Kotlas became a place to which kulaks were deported and made to work in the forestry industry. It was managed by the Kotlaslag division of GulagGulag
The Gulag was the government agency that administered the main Soviet forced labor camp systems. While the camps housed a wide range of convicts, from petty criminals to political prisoners, large numbers were convicted by simplified procedures, such as NKVD troikas and other instruments of...
. Later, it hosted all possible categories of people repressed
Population transfer in the Soviet Union
Population transfer in the Soviet Union may be classified into the following broad categories: deportations of "anti-Soviet" categories of population, often classified as "enemies of workers," deportations of entire nationalities, labor force transfer, and organized migrations in opposite...
during the Stalin
Joseph Stalin
Joseph Vissarionovich Stalin was the Premier of the Soviet Union from 6 May 1941 to 5 March 1953. He was among the Bolshevik revolutionaries who brought about the October Revolution and had held the position of first General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union's Central Committee...
era. A significant population of Poles
Poles
thumb|right|180px|The state flag of [[Poland]] as used by Polish government and diplomatic authoritiesThe Polish people, or Poles , are a nation indigenous to Poland. They are united by the Polish language, which belongs to the historical Lechitic subgroup of West Slavic languages of Central Europe...
existed in the area, with whole Polish villages resettled here in 1920s and 1930s.
Labor camp
Labor camp
A labor camp is a simplified detention facility where inmates are forced to engage in penal labor. Labor camps have many common aspects with slavery and with prisons...
s existed within the territory of the city until 1953. Besides logging
Logging
Logging is the cutting, skidding, on-site processing, and loading of trees or logs onto trucks.In forestry, the term logging is sometimes used in a narrow sense concerning the logistics of moving wood from the stump to somewhere outside the forest, usually a sawmill or a lumber yard...
and paper industry, the occupation of inmates were plant, housing, bridge, and railroad construction. Most of camps were unguarded barrack settlements. In addition, Kotlas was a major transit point for deportees transferred further to the north and east, since it was a railroad terminus. There is a Kotlas branch of the Sovest (Conscience) organization, which seeks to preserve the memory of those times and seek compensation for victims.
Pechora railway
The further development of Kotlas is due to the construction of Pechora Railway. Already from 1899 Kotlas was connected by a railway line with Vyatka (currently KirovKirov, 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:...
), which was heavily used for the cargo transport of goods to and from the Northern Dvina River. In 1940, the construction of 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...
(on the railway stretch between Moscow and Arkhangelsk) to Vorkuta
Vorkuta
Vorkuta is a coal-mining town in the Komi Republic, Russia, situated just north of the Arctic Circle in the Pechora coal basin at the Usa River. Population: - Labor camp origins :...
started. The railroad was needed to transport coal, timber, and later oil from 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 headquarters of this railroad were opened in Kotlas. In the same year, Kotlas became a separate administrative unit. In December 1941, the road was completed, and from 1942, the regular service started. Kotlas thus became an important transport hub. The headquarters of the Pechora Railway were located in Kotlas until 1959, when the railway was merged into the Northern Railway
Northern Railway (Russia)
The Severnaya Railway is a railway network linking Moscow with Arkhangelsk on the coast of the Arctic Ocean. It runs through Arkhangelsk, Komi, Vologda, Kostroma, Yaroslavl, Ivanovo, and Vladimir regions of the Russian Federation.The Yaroslavl Railway, owned by Savva Mamontov, was one of the first...
.
Economy
Kotlas is a center of timber industry and an important river port and a railroad center (standing on the railroad connecting central Russia with the Komi RepublicKomi 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 Northern Dvina and the Vychegda Rivers are navigable; there is regular passenger navigation on the Vychegda. Roads connect Kotlas with 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...
(and eventually 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...
and 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...
) to the South, Syktyvkar
Syktyvkar
-Twin towns/sister cities:Syktyvkar is twinned with the following sister cities: Cullera, Spain Debrecen, Hungary Los Altos, United States Lovech, Bulgaria Taiyuan, China-External links:* * * *...
to the East, and Krasnoborsk
Krasnoborsk, Arkhangelsk Oblast
Krasnoborsk is a rural locality and the administrative center of Krasnoborsky District, Arkhangelsk Oblast, Russia, located on the left bank of the Northern Dvina River. It also serves as the administrative center of Alexeyevsky Selsoviet, one of the ten selsoviets into which the district is...
(eventually Arkhangelsk
Arkhangelsk
Arkhangelsk , formerly known as Archangel in English, is a city and the administrative center of Arkhangelsk Oblast, Russia. It lies on both banks of the Northern Dvina River near its exit into the White Sea in the north of European Russia. The city spreads for over along the banks of the river...
) to the North. There is regular passenger bus traffic originating from Kotlas.
Kotlas is an important railway hub, where the railway to Kirov branches off south-east from the main railway, 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 Vorkuta
Vorkuta
Vorkuta is a coal-mining town in the Komi Republic, Russia, situated just north of the Arctic Circle in the Pechora coal basin at the Usa River. Population: - Labor camp origins :...
.
Kotlas is served by Kotlas Airport
Kotlas Airport
Kotlas Airport is a small airport in Arkhangelsk Oblast, Russia located 4 km southeast of Kotlas. It primarily services general aviation and small turboprop aircraft.There is passenger service to Arkhangelsk three times per week....
and is home to Savatiya
Savatiya
Savatiya is an air base in Arkhangelsk Oblast, Russia located 36 km south of Kotlas. It is a small interceptor airfield. It was home to 445 IAP which received Tupolev Tu-128 aircraft in 1967, MiG-25 aircraft by the late 1970s, and MiG-31 by the 1990s...
air base.
Culture and recreation
The Church of St. Stephan of Perm was built in 1788, and the adjacent bell-tower was built in 1825. Both are protected at the local level as architecture monuments, as well as Narodny Dom, a wooden house built in the beginning of 20th century.Twin towns/sister cities
Kotlas is twinnedTown twinning
Twin towns and sister cities are two of many terms used to describe the cooperative agreements between towns, cities, and even counties in geographically and politically distinct areas to promote cultural and commercial ties.- Terminology :...
with: Bağçasaray, Ukraine
Ukraine
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...
Tarnów
Tarnów
Tarnów is a city in southeastern Poland with 115,341 inhabitants as of June 2009. The city has been situated in the Lesser Poland Voivodeship since 1999, but from 1975 to 1998 it was the capital of the Tarnów Voivodeship. It is a major rail junction, located on the strategic east-west connection...
, Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
Waterville
Waterville, Maine
Waterville is a city in Kennebec County, Maine, United States, on the west bank of the Kennebec River. The population was 15,722 at the 2010 census. Home to Colby College and Thomas College, Waterville is the regional commercial, medical and cultural center....
, Maine
Maine
Maine is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the east and south, New Hampshire to the west, and the Canadian provinces of Quebec to the northwest and New Brunswick to the northeast. Maine is both the northernmost and easternmost...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...