Lensky District, Arkhangelsk Oblast
Encyclopedia
Lensky District is an administrative district (raion
), one of the twenty-one
in Arkhangelsk Oblast
, Russia
. Municipally, it is incorporated as Lensky Municipal District. It is located in the southeast of the oblast
and borders with Udorsky District of the Komi Republic
in the north, Syktyvdinsky
, Ust-Vymsky
, and Sysolsky District
s, also of the Komi Republic, in the east, Vilegodsky District
in the south, and Kotlassky and Krasnoborsky District
s in the west. Its administrative center is the rural locality (a selo) of Yarensk
. District's population: Population of Yarensk accounts for 25.4% of the district's population.
The name of the district originates from the selo of Lena, which at the formation of the district in 1924 was intended to be the administrative center. While the plans to move the district center to Lena had never been realized, the name remained unchanged.
and then colonized by the Novgorod Republic
. After the fall of Novgorod, the area became a part of the Grand Duchy of Moscow
. Yarensk is first mentioned in the chronicles (as Yerensky Gorodok) in 1374. In 1606, Yarensky Uyezd was formed, and Yarensk became one of the most important towns in the North of Russia.
In the course of the administrative reform carried out in 1708 by Peter the Great, the area was included into Siberia Governorate
, and in 1719 transferred to Archangelgorod Governorate
. In 1780, the governorate was abolished and transformed into Vologda Viceroyalty
. At the same time, Yarensk was granted town rights. In 1918, Yarensky Uyezd 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). Lensky District was formed on June 1, 1924. The idea was to move the administrative center of the district from Yarensk to the selo of Lena, but the logistics came out to be too difficult, and the center has never been moved.
In the following years, the district remained within the same borders, but the first-level administrative division of Russia kept changing. 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. Lensky District remained in Arkhangelsk Oblast ever since.
and belongs almost exclusively to the river basins of the Vychegda and its major tributaries. The main (right-hand) Nothern Dvina tributary which flows through the district is the Yarenga River
. The minor parts of the district belong to the basins of a tributary of the Northern Dvina, the Uftyuga River
(west), and the Vashka River
, a tributary of the Mezen River
(northwest). The source of the Pinega is in fact located in Krasnoborsky District. The whole area of the district drains into the White Sea
.
Almost the whole of the district is covered by coniferous forests (taiga
).
s and one urban-type settlement
(Urdoma
). The following selsoviets have been established (the administrative centers are given in parentheses):
).
There is a railway connecting Kotlas
and Vorkuta
which passes through the district, in particular, through Urdoma
, the only urban-type settlement in the district.
Urdoma
has an oil-pumping station in the Baltic Pipeline System
.
The only museum in the district is the Yarensk District Museum.
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-one
Administrative divisions of Arkhangelsk Oblast
Administratively, Arkhangelsk Oblast is divided into six cities and towns of oblast significance, twenty-one districts, and two island territories . Besides, Mirny is a town under the federal government management....
in 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....
, 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 Lensky Municipal District. It is located in the southeast 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 Udorsky District of 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...
in the north, Syktyvdinsky
Syktyvdinsky District
Syktyvdinsky District is an administrative district , one of the twelve in the Komi Republic, Russia. Municipally, it is incorporated as Syktyvdinsky Municipal District. Its administrative center is the rural locality of Vylgort. District's population: Population of Vylgort accounts for 42.1%...
, Ust-Vymsky
Ust-Vymsky District
Ust-Vymsky District is an administrative district , one of the twelve in the Komi Republic, Russia. Municipally, it is incorporated as Ust-Vymsky Municipal District. Its administrative center is the rural locality of Aykino. District's population: Population of Aykino accounts for 10.4% of the...
, and Sysolsky District
Sysolsky District
Sysolsky District is an administrative district , one of the twelve in the Komi Republic, Russia. Municipally, it is incorporated as Sysolsky Municipal District. Its administrative center is the rural locality of Vizinga. District's population: Population of Vizinga accounts for 42.3% of the...
s, also of the Komi Republic, in the east, Vilegodsky District
Vilegodsky District
Vilegodsky District is an administrative district , one of the twenty-one in Arkhangelsk Oblast, Russia. Municipally, it is incorporated as Vilegodsky Municipal District...
in the south, and Kotlassky and Krasnoborsky District
Krasnoborsky District
Krasnoborsky District is an administrative district , one of the twenty-one in Arkhangelsk Oblast, Russia. Municipally, it is incorporated as Krasnoborsky Municipal District...
s in the west. Its administrative center is the rural locality (a selo) of Yarensk
Yarensk
Yarensk is a selo of 4,100 people located on the bank of the Vychegda River near its confluence with the Yarenga. It is the center of Lensky District, Arkhangelsk Oblast....
. District's population: Population of Yarensk accounts for 25.4% of the district's population.
The name of the district originates from the selo of Lena, which at the formation of the district in 1924 was intended to be the administrative center. While the plans to move the district center to Lena had never been realized, the name remained unchanged.
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 colonized by the Novgorod Republic
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...
. After the fall of Novgorod, 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....
. Yarensk is first mentioned in the chronicles (as Yerensky Gorodok) in 1374. In 1606, Yarensky Uyezd was formed, and Yarensk became one of the most important towns in the North of Russia.
In the course of the administrative reform carried out in 1708 by Peter the Great, the area was included into Siberia Governorate
Siberia Governorate
Siberia Governorate was an administrative division of the Russian Empire, which existed from 1708 until 1782. Its seat was in Tobolsk . The governorate was located in the east of Russian Empire and bordered China in the south, Kazan Governorate in the south-west, and Archangelgorod Governorate in...
, and in 1719 transferred to 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...
. 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...
. At the same time, Yarensk was granted town rights. In 1918, Yarensky Uyezd 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). Lensky District was formed on June 1, 1924. The idea was to move the administrative center of the district from Yarensk to the selo of Lena, but the logistics came out to be too difficult, and the center has never been moved.
In the following years, the district remained within the same borders, but the first-level administrative division of Russia kept changing. 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. Lensky District remained in Arkhangelsk Oblast ever since.
Location and geography
The district is located at both banks of the Vychegda RiverVychegda 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...
and belongs almost exclusively to the river basins of the Vychegda and its major tributaries. The main (right-hand) Nothern Dvina tributary which flows through the district is the Yarenga River
Yarenga River
The Yarenga is a river in Ust-Vymsky District of Komi Republic and in Lensky District of Arkhangelsk Oblast in Russia. It is a right tributary of the Vychegda River. The length of the river is . The area of its basin . The principal tributaries are Vezhay River and Uktym River...
. The minor parts of the district belong to the basins of a tributary of the Northern Dvina, the Uftyuga River
Uftyuga River (Arkhangelsk Oblast)
The Uftyuga is a river in Krasnoborsky District of Arkhangelsk Oblast in Russia. It is a right tributary of the Northern Dvina River. The river is long. The area of its basin is . The Uftyuga River freezes in mid-October to early November and stays under the ice until mid-April to early May...
(west), and the Vashka River
Vashka River
The Vashka is a river in Udorsky District of the Komi Republic and Leshukonsky and Mezensky Districts of Arkhangelsk Oblast in Russia. It is a left and the biggest tributary of the Mezen River. It is long, and the area of its basin...
, a tributary of the Mezen River
Mezen River
The Mezen is a river in Udorsky District of the Komi Republic and in Leshukonsky and Mezensky Districts of Arkhangelsk Oblast in Russia. Its mouth is located in the Mezen Bay of the White Sea. Mezen is one of the biggest rivers of European Russia. It is long, and the area of its basin...
(northwest). The source of the Pinega is in fact located in Krasnoborsky District. The whole area of the district drains into 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...
.
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...
).
Administrative divisions
Administratively, the district is divided into nine selsovietSelsoviet
Selsoviet is a shortened name for a rural council. The full names for the term are, in , , . Selsoviets were the lowest level of administrative division in rural areas in the Soviet Union...
s and one urban-type 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...
(Urdoma
Urdoma
Urdoma is an urban locality in Lensky District of Arkhangelsk Oblast, Russia, located on the Verkhnyaya Lupya River, a tributary of the Vychegda. Municipally, it is the administrative center of Urdomskoye Urban Settlement, the only urban settlement in the district...
). The following selsoviets have been established (the administrative centers are given in parentheses):
- Irtovsky (Irta)
- Kozminsky (Kozmino)
- Lensky (Lena)
- Ryabovsky (Ustye)
- Safronovsky (Yarensk)
- Slobodchikovsky (Slobodchikovo)
- Soyginsky (Soyga)
- Sukhodolsky (Bor)
- Tokhtinsky (Lysimo)
Municipal divisions
Municipally, the district is divided into one urban settlements and three rural settlements (the administrative centers are given in parentheses):- Urdomskoye Urban Settlement (UrdomaUrdomaUrdoma is an urban locality in Lensky District of Arkhangelsk Oblast, Russia, located on the Verkhnyaya Lupya River, a tributary of the Vychegda. Municipally, it is the administrative center of Urdomskoye Urban Settlement, the only urban settlement in the district...
) - Kozminskoye Rural Settlement (Kozmino)
- Safronovskoye Rural Settlement (Yarensk)
- Soyginskoye Rural Settlement (Soyga)
Industry
The basis of the economy of the district is timber industry, which in 2007 was responsible for 85% of the total industrial production of the district.Transport
The Vychegda is navigable, and there is regular passenger navigation downstream from the selo of Soyga (connecting it to KotlasKotlas
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...
).
There is a railway connecting 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...
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 :...
which passes through the district, in particular, through Urdoma
Urdoma
Urdoma is an urban locality in Lensky District of Arkhangelsk Oblast, Russia, located on the Verkhnyaya Lupya River, a tributary of the Vychegda. Municipally, it is the administrative center of Urdomskoye Urban Settlement, the only urban settlement in the district...
, the only urban-type settlement in the district.
Urdoma
Urdoma
Urdoma is an urban locality in Lensky District of Arkhangelsk Oblast, Russia, located on the Verkhnyaya Lupya River, a tributary of the Vychegda. Municipally, it is the administrative center of Urdomskoye Urban Settlement, the only urban settlement in the district...
has an oil-pumping station in the Baltic Pipeline System
Baltic Pipeline System
The Baltic Pipeline System is a Russian oil transport system operated by the oil pipeline company Transneft. The BPS transports oil from the Timan-Pechora region, West Siberia and Urals-Volga regions to Primorsk oil terminal at the eastern part of the Gulf of Finland.-History:The project started...
.
Culture and recreation
The district contains fifteen objects classified as cultural and historical heritage. Most of these are churches and wooden rural houses built prior to 1917.The only museum in the district is the Yarensk District Museum.