Velsky District
Encyclopedia
Velsky District is an administrative district (raion
), one of the twenty-one
in Arkhangelsk Oblast
, Russia
. Municipally, it is incorporated as Velsky Municipal District. It is located in the south of the oblast
and borders with Shenkursky District
in the north, Ustyansky District
in the east, Verkhovazhsky District
of Vologda Oblast
in the south, Konoshsky District in the west, and Nyandomsky District
in the northwest. Its administrative center is the town of Velsk. District's population: Population of Velsk accounts for 43.6% of the district's population.
and then colonized by the Novgorod Republic
. After the fall of Novgorod, the area became a part of the Grand Duchy of Moscow
. Historically, it was a part of Vazhsky Uyezd, a vast area including almost all of the river basin of the Vaga
. Velsk has been first mentioned in the chronicles in 1137, and got the status of a posad
in 1550. In the course of the administrative reform carried out in 1708 by Peter the Great the area was included into Archangelgorod Governorate
, In 1780, the governorate was abolished and transformed into Vologda Viceroyalty
. Vazhsky Uyezd was split, and the area of the current Velsky District became a part of the newly established Velsky Uyezd. In 1796, Velsky Uyezd was transferred to Vologda Governorate
and remained there until 1929, when several governorates were merged into Northern Krai
. On July 15, 1929, the uyezds were abolished, and Velsky Uyezd was split into Velsky, Verkhovazhsky
, and Ustyansky District
s. Velsky District became a part of Nyandoma Okrug of Northern Krai.
In the following years, the first-level administrative division of Russia kept changing. In 1930, the okrug was abolished, and the district became subordinate to the central administration of Northern Krai. In 1931, Verkhovazhsky District was merged into Velsky District, and in 1935, it was reestablished. In 1936, the krai was transformed into Northern Oblast. In 1937, Northern Oblast was split into Arkhangelsk Oblast and Vologda Oblast. Velsky District remained in Arkhangelsk Oblast ever since.
From 1929 to 1959 (with a brief break between 1931 and 1935), Rovdinsky District existed, with its administrative center located in Rovdino. It was initially formed as a part of the Nyandoma Okrug on July 15, 1929, when Shenkursky Uyezd was split into Shenkursky
and Rovdinsky Districts. On September 11, 1959 the district was abolished and split between Shenkursky
and Velsky Districts; the district center Rovdino became a part of Shenkursky District.
, a major left tributary of the Northern Dvina. It is split by Vaga and its major tributaries, Ustya River
(right, with the left tributary, the Kokshenga River
), Kuloy River
(right), Puya River
(left), Vel River
(left), and Pezhma River
(left). The minor parts of the district in the north-west belong to the river basin of the Mosha River
, a right tributary of the Onega River
(not in the basin of the Northern Dvina).
The major part of the district is covered by coniferous forests (taiga
).
(Kuloy
), and twenty selsoviet
s. The selsoviets include (the administrative centers are given in parentheses):
until 1990s. Food production is also present.
connecting Moscow and Arkhangelsk. A number of secondary roads branch off in the district limits, including the road from Velsk east to Oktyabrsky
, from Velsk west to Konosha
, and from Dolmatovo west to Nyandoma and Kargopol
.
A section of the railroad connecting Konosha
and Kotlas
which eventually continues to Vorkuta
lies in the district. The principal stations in the limits of the district are Velsk and Kuloy.
The railroad line from Yura to Tyogrozero, entirely within the district, was demolished in 2010.
Velsk Airport was active for passenger service till 1990s, then not used for 20 years. In 2011, after a long break, a helicopter was tanked in Velsk. There are plans to use it for the forest patrol aviation.
The five objects protected at the federal level are
The only museum in the District is Velsky 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 Velsky Municipal District. It is located in the south 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 Shenkursky District
Shenkursky District
Shenkursky District is an administrative district , one of the twenty-one in Arkhangelsk Oblast, Russia. Municipally, it is incorporated as Shenkursky Municipal District...
in the north, 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...
in the east, Verkhovazhsky District
Verkhovazhsky District
Verkhovazhsky District is an administrative district , one of the twenty-six in Vologda Oblast, Russia. Municipally, it is incorporated as Verkhovazhsky Municipal District...
of 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...
in the south, Konoshsky District in the west, and Nyandomsky District
Nyandomsky District
Nyandomsky District is an administrative district , one of the twenty-one in Arkhangelsk Oblast, Russia. Municipally, it is incorporated as Nyandomsky Municipal District...
in the northwest. Its administrative center is the town of Velsk. District's population: Population of Velsk accounts for 43.6% of the district's population.
History
The area was originally populated by 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....
. Historically, it was a part of Vazhsky Uyezd, a vast area including almost all of 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...
. Velsk has been first mentioned in the chronicles in 1137, and got the status of a posad
Posad
A posad was a settlement, often surrounded by ramparts and a moat, adjoining a town or a kremlin, but outside of it, or adjoining a monastery in the 10th to 15th centuries. Usually it was inhabited by craftsmen and merchants, known as posadskiye lyudi .In the Russian Empire a posad was a small...
in 1550. 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...
, 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...
. Vazhsky Uyezd was split, and the area of the current Velsky District became a part of the newly established Velsky Uyezd. In 1796, Velsky Uyezd was transferred to 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...
and remained there until 1929, when several governorates were 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...
. On July 15, 1929, the uyezds were abolished, and Velsky Uyezd was split into Velsky, Verkhovazhsky
Verkhovazhsky District
Verkhovazhsky District is an administrative district , one of the twenty-six in Vologda Oblast, Russia. Municipally, it is incorporated as Verkhovazhsky Municipal District...
, 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...
s. Velsky District became a part of Nyandoma Okrug of Northern Krai.
In the following years, the first-level administrative division of Russia kept changing. In 1930, the okrug was abolished, and the district became subordinate to the central administration of Northern Krai. In 1931, Verkhovazhsky District was merged into Velsky District, and in 1935, it was reestablished. In 1936, the krai was transformed into Northern Oblast. In 1937, Northern Oblast was split into Arkhangelsk Oblast and Vologda Oblast. Velsky District remained in Arkhangelsk Oblast ever since.
From 1929 to 1959 (with a brief break between 1931 and 1935), Rovdinsky District existed, with its administrative center located in Rovdino. It was initially formed as a part of the Nyandoma Okrug on July 15, 1929, when Shenkursky Uyezd was split into Shenkursky
Shenkursky District
Shenkursky District is an administrative district , one of the twenty-one in Arkhangelsk Oblast, Russia. Municipally, it is incorporated as Shenkursky Municipal District...
and Rovdinsky Districts. On September 11, 1959 the district was abolished and split between Shenkursky
Shenkursky District
Shenkursky District is an administrative district , one of the twenty-one in Arkhangelsk Oblast, Russia. Municipally, it is incorporated as Shenkursky Municipal District...
and Velsky Districts; the district center Rovdino became a part of Shenkursky District.
Location and geography
The district is located in the valley of the Vaga RiverVaga 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...
, a major left tributary of the Northern Dvina. It is split by Vaga and its major tributaries, 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...
(right, with the left tributary, the Kokshenga River
Kokshenga River
The Kokshenga is a river in Tarnogsky District of Vologda Oblast and Ustyansky and Velsky Districts of Arkhangelsk Oblast in Russia. It is a left tributary of the Ustya River and thus belongs to the Northern Dvina river basin. The length of the river is . The area of its basin...
), Kuloy River
Kuloy River (Vaga)
The Kuloy is a river in Totemsky and Verkhovazhsky Districts of Vologda Oblast and Velsky Districts of Arkhangelsk Oblast in Russia. It is a right tributary of the Vaga River. The length of the river is . The area of its basin...
(right), Puya River
Puya River
The Puya is a river in Velsky and Shenkursky Districts of Arkhangelsk Oblast in Russia. It is a left tributary of the Vaga River. The length of the river is . The area of its basin . The major tributary is the Sulanda ....
(left), Vel River
Vel River (Arkhangelsk Oblast)
The Vel is a river in Konoshsky and Velsky Districts of Arkhangelsk Oblast in Russia. It is a left tributary of the Vaga River. It is long, and the area of its basin . Its average discharge is...
(left), and Pezhma River
Pezhma River
The Pezhma is a river in Vozhegodsky and Verkhovazhsky Districts of Vologda Oblast and in Konoshsky and Velsky Districts of Arkhangelsk Oblast in Russia. It is a left tributary of the Vaga River. It is long, and the area of its basin . Its main tributary is the Semzhenga .The source of the Pezhma...
(left). The minor parts of the district in the north-west belong to the river basin of the Mosha River
Mosha River
The Mosha is a river in Plesetsky and Nyandomsky Districts of Arkhangelsk Oblast in Russia. It is a right tributary of the Onega River. It is long, and the area of its basin . The main tributaries of the Mosha are Iksa River , Lim River , Lepsha River , and Lelma River...
, a right tributary of the Onega River
Onega River
The Onega is a river in Kargopolsky, Plesetsky, and Onezhsky Districts of Arkhangelsk Oblast in Russia. The Onega connects Lake Lacha with the Onega Bay in the White Sea southwest of Arkhangelsk, flowing in the northern direction. The discharge at the source is and at the mouth is . The river is ...
(not in the basin of the Northern Dvina).
The major part 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 one town (Velsk), one urban-type settlementUrban-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...
(Kuloy
Kuloy
Kuloy is an urban locality in Velsky District of Arkhangelsk Oblast, Russia, located on the Kuloy River, from Arkhangelsk and from Velsk, the administrative center of the district. Area: ~. Population: -History:...
), and twenty selsoviet
Selsoviet
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. The selsoviets include (the administrative centers are given in parentheses):
- Argunovsky (Argunovsky);
- Blagoveshchensky (Blagoveshchenskoye);
- Khozminsky (Ispolinovka);
- Lipovsky (Malaya Lipovka);
- Muravyovsky (Voronovskaya);
- Nizovsky (Terebino);
- Pakshengsky (Efremkovskaya);
- Pezhemsky (Pezhma);
- Poponavolotsky (Pasva);
- Puysky (Dolmatovo);
- Rakulo-Kokshengsky (Kozlovskaya);
- Shadrengsky (Shunema);
- Shonoshsky (Ust-Shonosha);
- Solginsky (Solginsky);
- Sudromsky (Pogost);
- Tyogrinsky (Tyogrozero);
- Ust-Shonoshsky (Ust-Shonosha);
- Ust-Velsky (Dyukovskaya);
- Verkhneshonoshsky (Komsomolsky);
- Verkhneustkuloysky (Meledinskaya).
Municipal divisions
Municipally, the district is divided into two urban settlement and twenty rural settlements (the administrative centers are given in parentheses):- Velskoye Urban Settlement (Velsk);
- Kuloyskoye Urban Settlement (KuloyKuloyKuloy is an urban locality in Velsky District of Arkhangelsk Oblast, Russia, located on the Kuloy River, from Arkhangelsk and from Velsk, the administrative center of the district. Area: ~. Population: -History:...
); - Argunovskoye Rural Settlement (Argunovsky);
- Blagoveshchenskoye Rural Settlement (Blagoveshchenskoye);
- Khozminskoye Rural Settlement (Khozmino);
- Lipovskoye Rural Settlement (Malaya Lipovka);
- Muravyovskoye Rural Settlement (Voronovskaya);
- Nizovskoye Rural Settlement (Terebino);
- Pakshengskoye Rural Settlement (Efremkovskaya);
- Pezhemskoye Rural Settlement (Pezhma);
- Poponavolotskoye Rural Settlement (Pasva);
- Puyskoye Rural Settlement (Dovlatovo);
- Rakulo-Kokshengskoye Rural Settlement (Kozlovskaya);
- Shadrengskoye Rural Settlement (Shunema);
- Shonoshskoye Rural Settlement (Ust-Shonosha);
- Solginskoye Rural Settlement (Solginsky);
- Sudromskoye Rural Settlement (Pogost);
- Tyogrinskoye Rural Settlement (Tyogrozero);
- Ust-Shonoshskoye Rural Settlement (Ust-Shonosha);
- Ust-Velskoye Rural Settlement (Dyukovskaya);
- Verkhneshonoshskoye Rural Settlement (Komsomolsky);
- Verkhneustkuloyskoye Rural Settlement (Meledinskaya).
Industry
The basis of the economy of the district is timber industry. Vaga and Ustya Rivers was used for timber raftingTimber rafting
Timber rafting is a log transportation method in which logs are tied together into rafts and drifted or pulled across a water body or down a flatter river. It is arguably the second cheapest method of transportation of timber, next after log driving...
until 1990s. Food production is also present.
Transport
Velsk is located on 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...
connecting Moscow and Arkhangelsk. A number of secondary roads branch off in the district limits, including the road from Velsk east to Oktyabrsky
Oktyabrsky, Arkhangelsk Oblast
Oktyabrsky , is an urban locality and the administrative center of Ustyansky District of Arkhangelsk Oblast, Russia, located on the left bank of the Ustya River. Municipally, it is the administrative center of Oktyabrskoye Urban Settlement, the only urban settlement in the district...
, from Velsk west to 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 from Dolmatovo west to Nyandoma and 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....
.
A section 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...
and 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...
which eventually continues 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 :...
lies in the district. The principal stations in the limits of the district are Velsk and Kuloy.
The railroad line from Yura to Tyogrozero, entirely within the district, was demolished in 2010.
Velsk Airport was active for passenger service till 1990s, then not used for 20 years. In 2011, after a long break, a helicopter was tanked in Velsk. There are plans to use it for the forest patrol aviation.
Culture and recreation
The district contains 5 objects classified as cultural and historical heritage by Russian Federal law, and additionally 216 objects classified as cultural and historical heritage of local importance. Most of these are wooden rural houses built prior to 1917.The five objects protected at the federal level are
- Rostovsky Pogost which is the ensemble consisting of the Ascension Church (1805) and the wooden St. Iliya Church (1756), in the village of Vozgretsovskaya;
- The Resurrection Church in the village of Zaruchevskaya;
- The House of Alyoshkin in the village of Churkovskaya.
The only museum in the District is Velsky District Museum.