Plesetsky District

Plesetsky District Плесецкий район (Russian)
Location of Plesetsky District in Arkhangelsk Oblast
Coordinates: 62°42′N 40°17′E / 62.700°N 40.283°E / 62.700; 40.283Coordinates: 62°42′N 40°17′E / 62.700°N 40.283°E / 62.700; 40.283
A rural view in Plesetsky District
Coat of arms	Flag
Location
Country	Russia
Federal subject	Arkhangelsk Oblast[1]
Administrative structure (as of February 2013)
Administrative center	urban-type settlement of Plesetsk[2]
Administrative divisions:
Urban-type settlements with jurisdictional territory	4
Selsoviets	11
Inhabited localities:
Urban-type settlements[3]	4
Rural localities	235
Municipal structure (as of February 2013)
Municipally incorporated as	Plesetsky Municipal District[4]
Municipal divisions:[4]
Urban settlements	4
Rural settlements	13
Statistics
Area	27,500 km2 (10,600 sq mi)[5]
Population (2010 Census)	49,077 inhabitants[6]
• Urban	68.2%
• Rural	31.8%
Density	1.78/km2 (4.6/sq mi)[7]
Time zone	MSK (UTC+03:00)[8]
Established	July 15, 1929[9]
Plesetsky District on WikiCommons

Plesetsky District (Russian: Плесе́цкий райо́н) is an administrative district (raion) one of the twenty-one in Arkhangelsk Oblast, Russia.^[1] As a municipal division, it is incorporated as Plesetsky Municipal District.^[4] It is located in the west of the oblast and borders with Primorsky District in the north, Kholmogorsky District in the northeast, the territories of the town of oblast significance of Mirny and Vinogradovsky District in the east, Shenkursky District in the southeast, Nyandomsky and Kargopolsky Districts in the south, Pudozhsky District of the Republic of Karelia in the west, and with Onezhsky District in the northwest. The area of the district is 27,500 square kilometers (10,600 sq mi).^[5] Its administrative center is the urban locality (a work settlement) of Plesetsk.^[2] Population: 49,077 (2010 Census);^[6] 58,257 (2002 Census);^[10] 83,357 (1989 Census).^[11] The population of Plesetsk accounts for 22.5% of the district's total population.^[6]

The Plesetsk Cosmodrome is located on the territory of the district but is administered by the federal government of Russia.

Geography

The western part of the district belongs to the basin of the Onega River, which is the biggest river in the district. The Onega crosses the district from south to north, splitting it into two parts of roughly equal areas. The biggest tributaries of the Onega within the district are the Kena and the Mosha. The northeastern part of the district mostly belongs to the basin of the Yemtsa River, which is a major tributary of the Northern Dvina. Minor areas in the west of the district lie in the basin of the Vodla River across the border with the Republic of Karelia.

There are many lakes in the district, especially in the west. Two of the biggest lakes of Arkhangelsk Oblast, Lake Kenozero and Lake Undozero, both in the basin of the Kena River, are located within the district.

A major part of the district is covered by coniferous forests (taiga).

The southwestern part of the district, including Lake Kenozero, is included into Kenozersky National Park (which is split between Kargopolsky and Plesetsky Districts).

History

The area was originally populated by the Finno-Ugric peoples and then colonized by the Novgorod Republic. It was located 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 St. Petersburg and Arkhangelsk, which still exists and passes Kargopol and Plesetsk.

In the course of the administrative reform carried out in 1708 by Peter the Great, the area was divided between Ingermanland Governorate (known from 1710 as Saint Petersburg Governorate) and Archangelgorod Governorate. In the course of the consequent administrative reforms, some parts of the district were included into Kargopolsky and Pudozhsky Uyezds and were transferred in 1727 to Novgorod Governorate, ending up by 1801 in Olonets Governorate. Archangelgorod Governorate was abolished and transformed into Vologda Viceroyalty, and in 1796, Arkhangelsk Governorate was established, including Onezhsky and Arkhangelsky Uyezds. In particular, when in 1897 the railroad between Vologda and Arkhangelsk was built, Plesetskaya railway station was located in Arkhangelsky Uyezd.^[12]

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.^[9]

In the following years, the first-level administrative division of Russia kept changing. In 1930, the okrug was abolished, and the district was subordinated 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. Plesetsky District remained in Arkhangelsk Oblast ever since.

Between July 15, 1929 and January 1, 1963, Priozyorny District with the administrative center in the selo of Konyovo existed and was a part of Northern Krai, Northern Oblast, and then Arkhangelsk Oblast. In 1963, it was merged with Plesetsky District.^[13] In 1966, Mirny, at the time a work settlement, was transferred from Plesetsky District to the oblast administration.^[12]

Between July 15, 1929 and July 31, 1931, Chekuyevsky District with the administrative center in the selo of Chekuyevo existed and was a part of Northern Krai. In 1931, the district was abolished, and its area divided between Plesetsky and Onezhsky Districts.^[13]

Divisions

Administrative divisions

Within the framework of administrative divisions, the district is divided into eleven selsoviets and four urban-type settlements with jurisdictional territory (Obozersky, Plesetsk, Savinsky, and Severoonezhsk). The following selsoviets have been established (the administrative centers are given in parentheses):^[2]

• Fedovsky (Fedovo)
• Kenoretsky (Karyakino)
• Kenozersky (Vershinino)
• Kholmogorsky (Lomovoye)
• Konyovsky (Konyovo)
• Krasnovsky (Kokovka)
• Pochezersky (Nizhneye Ustye)
• Sosnovsky (Letneozersky)
• Tarasovsky (Podvolochye)
• Undozersky (Undozero)
• Yarnemsky (Ulitino)

Municipal divisions

As a municipal division, the district is divided into four urban settlements and thirteen rural settlements:^[4]

Economy

Industry

Bauxite extraction (close to Severoonezhsk) is a developed industry in the district. The bauxites were discovered in the area in 1949, and the extraction began in 1978.^[14] A big cement plant is located in Savinsky. Timber industry is also an important branch.

Transportation

Plesetsk is located on the road connecting Kargopol with one of the principal highways in Russia, M8 between Moscow and Arkhangelsk (the highways meet in the settlement 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.^[15]

Plesetsk (Plesetskaya station) is located on the railway line between Moscow and Arkhangelsk (built in the south-north direction). In Obozersky, the line to Onega and Belomorsk branches off to the west from the main railway. From Severoonezhsk, a railway line to the west, connecting to Undozero and Yangory (an extension of the line from Puksa to Navolok) is one of the biggest railways in Russia which does not belong to Russian Railways. The owner of the railway is the State Department of Corrections. Plans to extend this line to Medvezhyegorsk have not been realized.

The Onega is not navigable within the limits of the district because of the rapids.

Culture and recreation

The Intercession Chapel (18th century) in the selo of Konyovo

Plesetsky District has a very high concentration of historical, archaeological, and architectural monuments. The district contains 14 objects classified as cultural and historical heritage by Russian Federal law, and additionally 110 objects classified as cultural and historical heritage of local importance.^[16] Most of these are wooden churches, chapels, farms, and also monuments to the Red Army soldiers who died in the Russian Civil War. Some of the protected wooden buildings are located in Kenozersky National Park.

The monuments classified as historical and architectural heritage are the following:

• The Porzhensky Pogost, which is the ensemble of St. George church with the bell-tower (both from 18th century) surrounded by the wooden wall with gates and towers (1789). The villages adjacent to Porzhensky Pogost have been deserted, and there is no road heading to it, so that the Pogost is only accessible via a pedestrian trail.
• The Pochozersky Pogost in the village of Filippovskaya, on Lake Pochozero. This is a triple church ensemble which consists of the big summer (cold) church of the Origin of the Wood of the Cross (1783), smaller winter (warm) church of the Translation of the Head of John the Baptist (end of 18th century), and the bell-tower; additionally there is the Chapel of Cyric and Ulita (beginning of 19th century) in the same village.
• The St. Ilia Church (1622) in Zadnyaya Dubrova
• The St. Nicholas Church in the village of Berezhnaya Dubrova
• The Intercession Chapel (18th century) in the selo of Konyovo
• The St. Iliya Church (1855) in the village of Malye Ozerki

Some of the monuments have been protected as part of the Kenozersky National Park.

The district weekly newspaper, Kuryer Prionezhya (Курьер Прионежья) has been published since 1999. The editorial office is in the settlement of Severoonezhsk.^[17]

References

Notes

Sources

• Архангельское областное Собрание депутатов. Областной закон №65-5-ОЗ от 23 сентября 2009 г. «Об административно-территориальном устройстве Архангельской области», в ред. Областного закона №232-13-ОЗ от 16 декабря 2014 г. «О внесении изменений в отдельные Областные Законы в сфере осуществления местного самоуправления и взаимодействия с некоммерческими организациями». Вступил в силу через десять дней со дня официального опубликования. Опубликован: "Волна", №43, 6 октября 2009 г. (Arkhangelsk Oblast Council of Deputies. Oblast Law #65-5-OZ of September 23, 2009 On the Administrative-Territorial Structure of Arkhangelsk Oblast, as amended by the Oblast Law #232-13-OZ of December 16, 2014 On Amending Various Oblast Laws Dealing with the Process of Municipal Self-Government and Relations with Non-Profit Organizations. Effective as of the day which is ten days after the official publication.).
• Архангельское областное Собрание депутатов. Областной закон №258-внеоч.-ОЗ от 23 сентября 2004 г. «О статусе и границах территорий муниципальных образований в Архангельской области», в ред. Областного закона №224-13-ОЗ от 16 декабря 2014 г. «Об упразднении отдельных населённых пунктов Соловецкого района Архангельской области и о внесении изменения в статью 46 Областного закона "О статусе и границах территорий муниципальных образований в Архангельской области"». Вступил в силу со дня официального опубликования. Опубликован: "Волна", №38, 8 октября 2004 г. (Arkhangelsk Oblast Council of Deputies. Oblast Law #258-vneoch.-OZ of September 23, 2004 On the Status and Borders of the Territories of the Municipal Formations in Arkhangelsk Oblast, as amended by the Oblast Law #224-13-OZ of December 16, 2014 On Abolishing Several Inhabited Localities in Solovetsky District of Arkhangelsk Oblast and on Amending Article 46 of the Oblast Law "On the Status and Borders of the Territories of the Municipal Formations in Arkhangelsk Oblast". Effective as of the day of the official publication.).

Administrative divisions of Arkhangelsk Oblast
Administrative center: Arkhangelsk
Cities and towns	Arkhangelsk Kargopol Koryazhma Kotlas Mezen Mirny Naryan-Mar Novodvinsk Nyandoma Onega Severodvinsk Shenkursk Solvychegodsk Velsk
Administrative districts	Kargopolsky Kholmogorsky Konoshsky Kotlassky Krasnoborsky Lensky Leshukonsky Mezensky Novaya Zemlya Nyandomsky Onezhsky Pinezhsky Plesetsky Primorsky Shenkursky Solovetsky Ustyansky Velsky Verkhnetoyemsky Vilegodsky Vinogradovsky