Volkhovsky District Волховский район | |
|---|---|
.svg) Flag .png) Coat of arms | |
 Location of Volkhovsky District in Leningrad Oblast | |
| Coordinates:59°55′N32°21′E / 59.917°N 32.350°E /59.917; 32.350 | |
| Country | Russia |
| Federal subject | Leningrad Oblast[1] |
| Established | September 1927 |
| Administrative center | Volkhov[1] |
| Area | |
• Total | 5,124.4 km2 (1,978.5 sq mi) |
| Population | |
• Total | 48,000 |
| • Density | 9.4/km2 (24/sq mi) |
| • Urban | 47.0% |
| • Rural | 53.0% |
| Administrative structure | |
| • Administrative divisions | 12settlement municipal formation |
| • Inhabited localities[1] | 3cities/towns, 277rural localities |
| Municipal structure | |
| • Municipally incorporated as | Volkhovsky Municipal District[4] |
| • Municipal divisions[4] | 3 urban settlements, 12 rural settlements |
| Time zone | UTC+3 (MSK [5]) |
| OKTMO ID | 41609000 |
| Website | http://www.volkhov-raion.ru/ |
Volkhovsky District (Russian:Во́лховский райо́н) is an administrative[1] and municipal[4] district (raion), one of theseventeen inLeningrad Oblast,Russia. It is located in the central eastern part of theoblast and borders withLodeynopolsky District in the northeast,Tikhvinsky District in the southeast,Kirishsky District in the south, and withKirovsky District in the west. In the north, it is washed byLake Ladoga. The area of the district is 5,124.4 square kilometers (1,978.5 sq mi).[2] Itsadministrative center is thetown ofVolkhov.[1] Population (excluding the administrative center):48,000 (2010 Census);[3] 50,799 (2002 Census);[6]58,939 (1989 Soviet census).[7]
The whole area of the district belongs to thedrainage basin of Lake Ladoga. The main river in the western part of the district is theVolkhov, and the center of the district belongs to the river basin of theSyas. Both the Volkhov and the Syas are major tributaries of Lake Ladoga. The Volkhov is dammed by theVolkhov Hydroelectric Station, which became the first large-scale hydroelectric plant built in theSoviet Union. The northern part of the district belongs to the basin of thePasha, a left tributary of theSvir. The lower course of the Svir forms the border between Lodeynopolsky and Volkhovsky District.
Staraya Ladoga, currently aselo located in the district, was mentioned in 862, as one of five original Russian towns (the other beingBelozersk,Novgorod,Polotsk, andRostov). According to thePrimary Chronicle,Rurik established his residence in Ladoga before moving to Novgorod, and thus Staraya Ladoga is sometimes considered as the first historical capital of Russia. The Volkhov River served as a part of thetrade route from the Varangians to the Greeks.
After the capital was moved to Novgorod, the area remained a part of Novgorod Lands, subsequently of theNovgorod Republic. After the fall of the republic, it was, together will all Novgorod Lands, annexed by theGrand Duchy of Moscow. The area was included intoObozerskaya Pyatina, one of thepyatinas which Novgorod Lands were divided into.
In the course of theadministrative reform carried out in 1708 byPeter the Great, the area was included into Ingermanland Governorate (known since 1710 asSaint Petersburg Governorate) asLadozhsky Uyezd with the center in Staraya Ladoga. In 1727, separateNovgorod Governorate was split off, the uyezd was transformed intoNovoladozhsky Uyezd, and the administrative center was moved toNovaya Ladoga. In 1776, the area was transferred toNovgorod Viceroyalty, and in 1781, it was moved back into Saint Petersburg Governorate. On December 9, 1922 the administrative center of the uyezd was moved to theselo ofGostinopolye, which was renamed Volkhov and was granted town status. The uyezd was renamed Volkhovsky. In 1924 the changes were rolled back, the administrative center moved to Novaya Ladoga, and Volkhov was demoted to a selo (eventually renamed Gostinopolye). The name of the uyezd remained Volkhovsky.[8] Saint Petersburg Governorate was twice renamed, to Petrograd Governorate and subsequently to Leningrad Governorate.
On August 1, 1927, the uyezds were abolished and Volkhovsky District, with the administrative center in the urban-type settlement of Zvanka, was established. The governorates were also abolished, and the district was a part ofLeningrad Okrug ofLeningrad Oblast. It included parts of former Volkhovsky Uyezd. On July 23, 1930, the okrugs were abolished as well, and the districts were directly subordinated to the oblast. On December 27, 1933 the urban-type settlement of Zvanka was granted town status and renamed Volkhovstroy. On September 19, 1939 Volkhovstroy was made a town of oblast significance, and on April 11, 1940, it was renamed Volkhov. Between October and December 1941, duringWorld War II, parts of the district were occupied byGerman troops.[9] In 2010, the administrative division of Leningrad Oblast was harmonized with the municipal division, and Volkhov was made the town of district significance.[10]
On March 20, 1946,Novoladozhsky District with the administrative center located in Novaya Ladoga was split off Volkhovsky District. On February 1, 1963 Novoladozhsky District was abolished and merged into Volkhovsky District.[9]
On August 1, 1927,Mginsky District, with the administrative center in the settlement ofMga, was established. It was a part ofLeningrad Okrug ofLeningrad Oblast. It included parts of former Volkhovsky andLeningradsky Uyezds. On September 20, 1930, the administrative center of the district was transferred to theselo ofPutilovo, and the district renamed Putilovsky. On September 20, 1931 the district center was moved back to Mga, and the district was renamed back Mginsky. Between September 1941 and January 1944, duringWorld War II, parts of the district were occupied byGerman troops. On December 9, 1960 Mginsky District was abolished and split between Volkhovsky and Tosnensky Districts.[11] On April 1, 1977 Kirovsky District, essentially in the limits of former Mginsky District, was established by splitting off Volkhovsky and Tosnensky Districts.[12]
On August 1, 1927,Pashsky District, with the administrative center in the village ofPashsky Perevoz, was established. It was a part ofLodeynoye Pole Okrug of Leningrad Oblast. It included parts of former Volkhovsky andLodeynopolsky Uyezds. On December 14, 1955 Pashsky District was abolished and merged into Novoladozhsky District.[13]
Big industrial enterprises in the district include theVolkhov Hydroelectric Station and an aluminum plant in Volkhov, and a pulp-and-paper mill inSyasstroy. There are also enterprises of timber and food industries.[14]
Agriculture in the district specializes on cattle breeding, with meat and milk production, and on fish farming.[15]
Volkhov (railway stationsVolkhovstroy I andVolkhovstroy II) is an important railway hub. One railway line connects in with Saint Petersburg (Moskovsky Rail Terminal), and Volkhovstroy I is the terminal station of suburban trains from Saint Petersburg. To the east, a railway line continues toVologda viaTikhvin andCherepovets. Another railway line passing through Volkhov connectsChudovo in the south andLodeynoye Pole,Petrozavodsk, and ultimatelyMurmansk in the north. In Chudovo, it connects to railway between Saint Petersburg and Moscow, so that all traffic between Moscow and Murmansk proceeds via Volkhovstroy.
TheM18 highway, connectingSaint Petersburg andMurmansk, crosses the northern part of the district. InKiselnya, a road branches off southeast and proceeds via Volkhov, Tikhvin, and Cherepovets to Vologda. Volkhov is also connected by a road withKirishi. There are also local roads, with bus traffic originating from Volkhov.
The Volkhov River is navigable within the district, however, there is no passenger navigation. In the beginning of the 19th century, a system of canals bypassing Lake Ladoga were built, which at the time were a part ofMariinsky Water System, connecting theNeva River and theVolga River. In particular, theSvir Canal connects the Svir and the Syas, and theSyas Canal connects the Syas and the Volkhov. TheNew Ladoga Canal connects the Volkhov and the Neva. It replaced theOld Ladoga Canal, built byPeter the Great, which thus became disused and decayed. The four canals collectively are known as theLadoga Canal.
The district contains 84 cultural heritage monuments of federal significance and additionally 164 objects classified as cultural and historical heritage of local significance.[16] The federal monuments include, among others, the Volkhov Hydroelectric station, the complex of theZelenets Trinity Monastery in the former selo ofZelenets, and the ensemble ofStaraya Ladoga.
Staraya Ladoga is one of the oldest settlements in Russia and contains two of several dozenssurvived pre-Mongol buildings in Russia. TheSt. George's Church is located in the Staraya Ladoga fortress, whereas a much biggerAssumption Cathedral is the katholikon of theAssumption Monastery. Both churches were constructed in the 12th century. Another monastery in Staraya Ladoga is theSaint Nicholas Monastery. Many of the old buildings in Staraya Ladoga, including the St. George's Cathedral, the fortress, and the woodenChurch of Saint Dimitry, belong to theStaraya Ladoga Museum Reserve.[17]
The Zelenets Trinity Monastery was founded in the 16th century, and most of its buildings form an architectural ensemble of the end of the 17th century.
Two more museums in the district are the Museum of History of the town of Volkhov[18] and the Novaya Ladoga Town Museum.[19]