Leshukonsky District
Encyclopedia
Leshukonsky District is an administrative district (raion
), one of the twenty-one
in Arkhangelsk Oblast
, Russia
. Municipally, it is incorporated as Leshukonsky Municipal District. It is located in the northeast of the oblast
and borders with Mezensky District
in the north, Ust-Tsilemsky District
of the Komi Republic
in the east, Udorsky District of the Komi Republic in the south, and Pinezhsky District
in the west. Its administrative center is the rural locality (a selo) of Leshukonskoye
. District's population: Population of Leshukonskoye accounts for 46.7% 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
. First Russian settlements on the Mezen River
were mentioned in the 16th century: Yuroma (1513) and Koynas (1554). The middle course of the Mezen, the current area of the district, was where Russian and Komi
cultures mixed the most.
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
. In 1796, the area was transferred to Arkhangelsk Governorate
. The current territory of the district was included into Mezensky Uyezd. On December 28, 1917, a new Ust-Vashsky Uyezd with the administrative center in Ust-Vashka (currently Leshukonskoye) was established; however, in 1925 it was merged back into Mezensky Uyezd.
In 1929, several governorates were merged into Northern Krai
. On July 15, 1929 the uyezds were abolished, and Leshukonsky District was established. It became a part of Arkhangelsk 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 1936, the krai itself was transformed into Northern Oblast. In 1937, Northern Oblast was split into Arkhangelsk Oblast and Vologda Oblast. Leshukonsky District remained in Arkhangelsk Oblast ever since.
, which crosses the district from southeast to northwest, and of its major tributaries, the Mezenskaya Pizhma River
, the Sula River
, the Kyma River
, the Vashka River
, the Kimzha River
, and, in the northern part, the Pyoza River
. Minor areas in the west of the district drain into the Yezhuga River
, a tributary of the Pinega River
, and into the Nemnyuga River
, a tributary of the Kuloy River
; some areas in the east of the district drain into major tributaries of the Pechora River
, the Tsilma
and the Pizhma
. In particular, the source of the Tsilma River is located in the district. The divide between the White Sea
(the Mezen) and the Barents Sea
(the Pechora) runs thus through the eastern part of the district.
The northern part of the Timan Ridge
lies in the district, creating the hilly landscape. Almost the whole of the district is covered by coniferous forests (taiga
). There are many glacial lakes across the district.
s. The following selsoviets have been established (the administrative centers are given in parentheses):
and the Vashka River
are both navigable within the district limits; however, there is no passenger navigation in Leshukonsky District except for the ferry crossing between Leshukonskoye and the village of Smolenets. The ferry connects to the all-seasonal road to Arkhangelsk
. Until 2008, there were no all-seasonal roads in the district. During winter, temporary roads (zimnik
s) are built in snow; in summer, the air transport is the only means for passenger connections to Arkhangelsk and the rest of the world.
There is an airport
in Leshukonskoye, with several weekly flights to Arkhangelsk. There are also three minor airports in Koynas, Olema, and Vozhgora.
. The unemployment rate in October 2010 was 5.4%.
open air museum close to Arkhangelsk
. The cross is also located in the same museum.
The only state museum in the district is the Leshukonsky Museum, located in the selo of Leshukonskoye.
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 Leshukonsky Municipal District. It is located in the northeast 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 Mezensky District
Mezensky District
Mezensky District is an administrative district , one of the twenty-one in Arkhangelsk Oblast, Russia. Municipally, it is incorporated as Mezensky Municipal District...
in the north, Ust-Tsilemsky District
Ust-Tsilemsky District
Ust-Tsilemsky District is an administrative district , one of the twelve in the Komi Republic, Russia. Municipally, it is incorporated as Ust-Tsilemsky Municipal District. Its administrative center is the rural locality of Ust-Tsilma...
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 east, Udorsky District of the Komi Republic in the south, and Pinezhsky District
Pinezhsky District
Pinezhsky District is an administrative district , one of the twenty-one in Arkhangelsk Oblast, Russia. Municipally, it is incorporated as Pinezhsky Municipal District...
in the west. Its administrative center is the rural locality (a selo) of Leshukonskoye
Leshukonskoye
Leshukonskoye is a rural locality and the administrative center of Leshukonsky District, Arkhangelsk Oblast, Russia, located on the left bank of the Vashka River. It also serves as the administrative center of Leshukonsky Selsoviet, one of the thirteen selsoviets into which the district is...
. District's population: Population of Leshukonskoye accounts for 46.7% of the district's population.
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....
. First Russian settlements on 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...
were mentioned in the 16th century: Yuroma (1513) and Koynas (1554). The middle course of the Mezen, the current area of the district, was where Russian and Komi
Komi peoples
The Komi people is an ethnic group whose homeland is in the north-east of European Russia around the basins of the Vychegda, Pechora and Kama rivers. They mostly live in the Komi Republic, Perm Krai, Murmansk Oblast, Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug, and Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug in the Russian...
cultures mixed the most.
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...
. In 1796, the area was transferred to 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...
. The current territory of the district was included into Mezensky Uyezd. On December 28, 1917, a new Ust-Vashsky Uyezd with the administrative center in Ust-Vashka (currently Leshukonskoye) was established; however, in 1925 it was merged back into Mezensky Uyezd.
In 1929, 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 Leshukonsky District was established. It became a part of Arkhangelsk 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 1936, the krai itself was transformed into Northern Oblast. In 1937, Northern Oblast was split into Arkhangelsk Oblast and Vologda Oblast. Leshukonsky District remained in Arkhangelsk Oblast ever since.
Location and geography
The district lies almost entirely in the basin of the Mezen RiverMezen 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...
, which crosses the district from southeast to northwest, and of its major tributaries, the Mezenskaya Pizhma River
Mezenskaya Pizhma River
The Mezenskaya Pizhma is a river in Ust-Tsilemsky District of the Komi Republic and in Leshukonsky District of Arkhangelsk Oblast in Russia. It is a right tributary of the Mezen River. It is long, and the area of its basin...
, the Sula River
Sula River (Mezen)
The Sula is a river in Leshukonsky District of Arkhangelsk Oblast in Russia. It is a right tributary of the Mezen River. It is long, and the area of its basin . The major tributaries of the Mezenskaya Pizhma are the Pyshega River and the Omza River .The Sula starts on the Kozminsky Kamen Plateau,...
, the Kyma River
Kyma River
The Kyma is a river in Leshukonsky District of Arkhangelsk Oblast in Russia. It is a right tributary of the Mezen River. It is long, and the area of its basin...
, 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...
, the Kimzha River
Kimzha River
The Kimzha is a river in Leshukonsky and Mezensky Districts of Arkhangelsk Oblast in Russia. It is a left tributary of the Mezen River. It is long, and the area of its basin . The main tributary is the Tyafsora ....
, and, in the northern part, the Pyoza River
Pyoza River
The Pyoza is a river in Mezensky District of Arkhangelsk Oblast in Russia. It is a right tributary of the Mezen River. It is long, and the area of its basin...
. Minor areas in the west of the district drain into the Yezhuga River
Yezhuga River
The Yezhuga is a river in Udorsky District of the Komi Republic and in Pinezhsky District of Arkhangelsk Oblast in Russia. It is a right tributary of the Pinega River. It is long, and the area of its basin . The principal tributary is the Yeyuga...
, a tributary of the Pinega River
Pinega River
The Pinega is a river in Verkhnetoyemsky, Pinezhsky, and Kholmogorsky Districts of Arkhangelsk Oblast in Russia. It is a right tributary of the Northern Dvina River. It is long, and the area of its basin...
, and into the Nemnyuga River
Nemnyuga River
The Nemnyuga is a river in Leshukonsky, Pinezhsky, and Mezensky Districts of Arkhangelsk Oblast in Russia. It is a right tributary of the Kuloy River. It is long, and the area of its basin...
, a tributary of the Kuloy River
Kuloy River (White Sea)
The Kuloy is a river in Pinezhsky and Mezensky Districts of Arkhangelsk Oblast in Russia. Its mouth is located in the Mezen Bay of the White Sea. It is long, and the area of its basin . The principal tributaries of the Kuloy are the Kyolda , the Nemnyuga , and the Soyana...
; some areas in the east of the district drain into major tributaries of the Pechora River
Pechora River
The Pechora River is a river in northwest Russia which flows north into the Arctic Ocean on the west side of the Ural Mountains. It lies mostly in the Komi Republic but the northernmost part crosses the Nenets Autonomous Okrug. It is 1,809 km long and its basin is 322,000 square kilometers...
, the Tsilma
Tsilma River
The Tsilma is a river in Leshukonsky District of Arkhangelsk Oblast and Ust-Tsilemsky District of the Komi Republic in Russia. It is a left and one of the main tributaries of the Pechora River. It is long, and the area of its basin...
and the Pizhma
Pizhma River (Komi Republic)
Pizhma River is a river in Komi Republic in Russia, an arm of the Pechora River. The length of the river is 389 km and the area of its basin is 5,470 km². The Pizhma flows southeast out of the Yamozero Lake, turns east and then north and joins the Pechora River at Ust-Tsilma where the Tsilma River...
. In particular, the source of the Tsilma River is located in the district. The divide between 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...
(the Mezen) and the Barents Sea
Barents Sea
The Barents Sea is a marginal sea of the Arctic Ocean, located north of Norway and Russia. Known in the Middle Ages as the Murman Sea, the sea takes its current name from the Dutch navigator Willem Barents...
(the Pechora) runs thus through the eastern part of the district.
The northern part of the Timan Ridge
Timan Ridge
The Timan Ridge is a highland in the far north of European Russia. Most of the Timan Ridge is situated in the Komi Republic, but the northernmost part is in Nenets Autonomous Okrug and Arkhangelsk Oblast. The highest point in the Timan Ridge is Chetlassky Kamen .The Timan Ridge is situated west of...
lies in the district, creating the hilly landscape. 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...
). There are many glacial lakes across the district.
Administrative divisions
Administratively, the district is divided into seven 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. The following selsoviets have been established (the administrative centers are given in parentheses):
- Leshukonsky (Leshukonskoye)
- Nisogorsky (Zaruchey)
- Olemsky (Olema)
- Suksky (Koynas)
- Tsenogorsky (Tsenogora)
- Vozhgorsky (Vozhgora)
- Yuromsky (Yuroma).
Municipal divisions
Municipally, the district is divided into six rural settlements (the administrative centers are given in parentheses):- Koynasskoye Rural Settlement (Koynas);
- Leshukonskoye Rural Settlement (LeshukonskoyeLeshukonskoyeLeshukonskoye is a rural locality and the administrative center of Leshukonsky District, Arkhangelsk Oblast, Russia, located on the left bank of the Vashka River. It also serves as the administrative center of Leshukonsky Selsoviet, one of the thirteen selsoviets into which the district is...
); - Olemskoye Rural Settlement (Olema);
- Tsenogorskoye Rural Settlement (Tsenogora);
- Vozhgorskoye Rural Settlement (Vozhgora);
- Yuromskoye Rural Settlement (Yuroma).
Industry
The backbone of the district's economy is the timber industry. However, although it has the best timber resources in the area, poor infrastructure impedes the expansion of this industry.Agriculture
The special breed of horses, Mezen horse, was bred in the Mezen River valley. The Mezen horses are rather small but suitable for difficult work and easily survive cold winters.Transport
The Mezen RiverMezen 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...
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...
are both navigable within the district limits; however, there is no passenger navigation in Leshukonsky District except for the ferry crossing between Leshukonskoye and the village of Smolenets. The ferry connects to the all-seasonal road to 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...
. Until 2008, there were no all-seasonal roads in the district. During winter, temporary roads (zimnik
Winter road
Winter roads are temporary highways carved out of snow and ice. They facilitate transportation to and from communities without permanent roads, and are commonly seen in isolated regions in Canada's north....
s) are built in snow; in summer, the air transport is the only means for passenger connections to Arkhangelsk and the rest of the world.
There is an airport
Leshukonskoye Airport
Leshukonskoye Airport is an airport in the selo of Leshukonskoye, Arkhangelsk Oblast, Russia. It is located approximately east of Arkhangelsk, to which it is connected by regular passenger service.-Accidents and incidents:...
in Leshukonskoye, with several weekly flights to Arkhangelsk. There are also three minor airports in Koynas, Olema, and Vozhgora.
Demographics
In terms of population, the largest inhabited localities are Vozhgora and LeshukonskoyeLeshukonskoye
Leshukonskoye is a rural locality and the administrative center of Leshukonsky District, Arkhangelsk Oblast, Russia, located on the left bank of the Vashka River. It also serves as the administrative center of Leshukonsky Selsoviet, one of the thirteen selsoviets into which the district is...
. The unemployment rate in October 2010 was 5.4%.
Politics
The local representative body is the Assembly of Deputies of Leshukonsky District. It has seventeen elected members. Its chairperson is Tatyana Stukalova. The head of the municipal administration is Alexander Martynov.Culture and recreation
The district contains three objects classified as cultural and historical heritage by the Russian Federal law, and additionally thirty-nine objects classified as cultural and historical heritage of local importance. Most of these are wooden churches and wooden rural houses built prior to 1917. The objects under federal protection are the St. Nicholas Church (1890), the Klokotov House (1879), and the wooden cross, all in the village of Zaozyorye (also known as Kelchemgora). The Klokotov House was moved in 2004 to the Malye KorelyMalye Korely
Malye Korely is a village in Primorsky District of Arkhangelsk Oblast, in the north of Russia. The main sight of the village is an open-air museum, featuring the traditional wooden architecture of Arkhangelsk area...
open air museum close to 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...
. The cross is also located in the same museum.
The only state museum in the district is the Leshukonsky Museum, located in the selo of Leshukonskoye.