Plesetsk
Encyclopedia
Plesetsk is an urban locality (a work settlement
and the administrative center of Plesetsky District, Arkhangelsk Oblast
, Russia
, situated about 800 kilometres (497.1 mi) northeast of Moscow
and 180 kilometres (111.8 mi) south of Arkhangelsk
. Municipally, it is the administrative center of Plesetskoye Urban Settlement, one of eight urban settlements in the district. Population:
The vast Plesetsk Cosmodrome
territory is located nearby with the administrative center in the town of Mirny
which is 9 kilometres (5.6 mi) away from Plesetsk. The territory also includes Plestsy Airport
.
and then colonized by the Novgorod Republic
. It belonged at the trading routes connecting central and northern Russia: first, from Moscow to the White Sea along the Onega River, and then, after 1765, along the newly built road between Saint-Petersburg and Arkhangelsk, which still exists and passes Kargopol
and Plesetsk. However, the Plesetsk area until the 1890s was underpopulated since it was located at some distance from the main rivers of the region. From 1796, it belonged to Arkhangelsky Uyezd of Arkhangelsk Governorate
. In 1894—1897, Plesetskaya railway station was built during the construction of the railroad between Vologda and Arkhangelsk. Eventually, the volost
center was moved from the selo of Navolok to Plesetskaya.
During the Russian Civil War
in 1918, battles were fought between the Red Army and the British troops in Plesetsk and around.
On July 15, 1929, the uyezds were abolished, the governorates merged into Northern Krai
, and Plesetsky District was established among others. It became a part of Arkhangelsk Okrug of Northern Krai. In 1930, the okrug was abolished, and the district became subordinate to the central administration of Northern Krai. In 1936, the krai itself was transformed into Northern Oblast. In 1937, Northern Oblast was split into Arkhangelsk Oblast and Vologda Oblast, and Plesetsk remains the center of Plesetsky District of Arkhangelsk Oblast.
between Moscow and Arkhangelsk (the highways meet in the village of Brin-Navolok). This is the historic trading route which connected Kargopol with Arkhangelsk before the railroad was built, and long stretches of this road are still unpaved. The stretch between Kargopol and Plesetsk was paved in 2011.
Plesetsk (Plesetskaya railway station) is located on the railway line between Moscow
and Arkhangelsk
(built in the south-north direction). From Plesetsk, a railway line to the west, connecting to Severoonezhsk
, Undozero and Yangory is one of the biggest railways in Russia which does not belong to the Russian Railways
. The owner of the railway is the State Department of Corrections. Plans to extend this line to Medvezhyegorsk
have not been realized.
Plesetsk also serves as a transport hub to Plesetsk cosmodrome
, located in the nearby town of Mirny. Plesetskaya railway station is a terminus to cosmodrome's railway system.
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...
and the administrative center of Plesetsky District, 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...
, situated about 800 kilometres (497.1 mi) northeast of Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
and 180 kilometres (111.8 mi) south of 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...
. Municipally, it is the administrative center of Plesetskoye Urban Settlement, one of eight urban settlements in the district. Population:
The vast Plesetsk Cosmodrome
Plesetsk Cosmodrome
Plesetsk Cosmodrome is a Russian spaceport, located in Arkhangelsk Oblast, about 800 km north of Moscow and approximately 200 km south of Arkhangelsk.-Overview:...
territory is located nearby with the administrative center in the town of Mirny
Mirny, Arkhangelsk Oblast
Mirny is a closed town in the west of Arkhangelsk Oblast, Russia, serving the Plesetsk Cosmodrome. Administratively, it is incorporated as a town of oblast significance, while municipally, it is incorporated as Mirny Urban Okrug of Arkhangelsk Oblast...
which is 9 kilometres (5.6 mi) away from Plesetsk. The territory also includes Plestsy Airport
Plestsy Airport
Plestsy Airport , also Pero , is an airport in Russia located 10 km east of Plesetsk. It is a logistical base for the Plesetsk Cosmodrome launch facility....
.
Etymology
The name is derived from the word "" (plyos) which means "river reach". Plestsy is the name for a small lake which Plesetsk adjoins.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...
. It belonged at the trading routes connecting central and northern Russia: first, from Moscow to the White Sea along the Onega River, and then, after 1765, along the newly built road between Saint-Petersburg and Arkhangelsk, which still exists and passes Kargopol
Kargopol
-Culture and recreation:Today, Kargopol is a sleepy historical town adjoining the Kenozyorsky National Park. It is best known in Russia for Kargopol toys , which are small, simple clay figures painted in traditional style....
and Plesetsk. However, the Plesetsk area until the 1890s was underpopulated since it was located at some distance from the main rivers of the region. From 1796, it belonged to Arkhangelsky Uyezd of Arkhangelsk Governorate
Arkhangelsk Governorate
Archangelsk Governorate was an administrative division of the Russian Empire, which existed from 1796 until 1929. Its seat was in Arkhangelsk...
. In 1894—1897, Plesetskaya railway station was built during the construction of the railroad between Vologda and Arkhangelsk. Eventually, the volost
Volost
Volost was a traditional administrative subdivision in Eastern Europe.In earlier East Slavic history, volost was a name for the territory ruled by the knyaz, a principality; either as an absolute ruler or with varying degree of autonomy from the Velikiy Knyaz...
center was moved from the selo of Navolok to Plesetskaya.
During the Russian Civil War
Russian Civil War
The Russian Civil War was a multi-party war that occurred within the former Russian Empire after the Russian provisional government collapsed to the Soviets, under the domination of the Bolshevik party. Soviet forces first assumed power in Petrograd The Russian Civil War (1917–1923) was a...
in 1918, battles were fought between the Red Army and the British troops in Plesetsk and around.
On July 15, 1929, the uyezds were abolished, the governorates 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...
, and Plesetsky District was established among others. It became a part of Arkhangelsk Okrug of Northern Krai. In 1930, the okrug was abolished, and the district became subordinate to the central administration of Northern Krai. In 1936, the krai itself was transformed into Northern Oblast. In 1937, Northern Oblast was split into Arkhangelsk Oblast and Vologda Oblast, and Plesetsk remains the center of Plesetsky District of Arkhangelsk Oblast.
Transport
Plesetsk is located on the road connecting Kargopol with one of the principal highways in Russia, M8M8 highway (Russia)
The Russian route M8, also known as the Kholmogory Highway or Yaroslavl highway, is a major trunk road that links Moscow to the Russian North in general and the sea harbour of Arkhangelsk in particular...
between Moscow and Arkhangelsk (the highways meet in the village of Brin-Navolok). This is the historic trading route which connected Kargopol with Arkhangelsk before the railroad was built, and long stretches of this road are still unpaved. The stretch between Kargopol and Plesetsk was paved in 2011.
Plesetsk (Plesetskaya railway station) is located on the railway line between Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
and 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...
(built in the south-north direction). From Plesetsk, a railway line to the west, connecting to Severoonezhsk
Severoonezhsk
Severoonezhsk is an urban locality in Plesetsky District of Arkhangelsk Oblast, Russia, located west of the town of Mirny, on the left bank of the Onega River. Municipally, it is the administrative center of Severoonezhskoye Urban Settlement, one of the eight urban settlements in the district...
, Undozero and Yangory is one of the biggest railways in Russia which does not belong to the Russian Railways
Russian Railways
The Russian Railways , is the government owned national rail carrier of the Russian Federation, headquartered in Moscow. The Russian Railways operate over of common carrier routes as well as a few hundred kilometers of industrial routes, making it the second largest network in the world exceeded...
. The owner of the railway is the State Department of Corrections. Plans to extend this line to Medvezhyegorsk
Medvezhyegorsk
Medvezhyegorsk , formerly known as Medvezhya Gora and Karhumäki, is a town and the administrative center of Medvezhyegorsky District of the Republic of Karelia, Russia. Population: 15,800 ....
have not been realized.
Plesetsk also serves as a transport hub to Plesetsk cosmodrome
Plesetsk Cosmodrome
Plesetsk Cosmodrome is a Russian spaceport, located in Arkhangelsk Oblast, about 800 km north of Moscow and approximately 200 km south of Arkhangelsk.-Overview:...
, located in the nearby town of Mirny. Plesetskaya railway station is a terminus to cosmodrome's railway system.