Verkhovazhsky Destrict

**Verkhovazhsky Destrict** () is a admeenistrative an municipal destrict (raion), ane o the twinty-sax in Vologda Oblast, Roushie. It is locatit in the north o the oblast an borders wi Velsky Destrict o Arkhangelsk Oblast in the north, Ustyansky Destrict o Arkhangelsk Oblast in the northeast, Tarnogsky Destrict in the east, Totemsky Destrict in the sooth, Syamzhensky Destrict in the soothwast, Vozhegodsky Destrict in the wast, an wi Konoshsky Destrict o Arkhangelsk Oblast in the northwast. The aurie o the destrict is . Its admeenistrative centre is the landwart locality (a *[[veelage#Roushie|selo]]*) o Verkhovazhye. Destrict's population:  16,346 (2002 Census);  The population o Verkhovazhye accoonts for 36.2% o the destrict's total population.

## Geografie
The aurie o the destrict is slichtly elongatit frae wast tae east. It is crossed frae sooth tae north bi the Vaga River (the name o the destrict's admeenistrative centre, Verkhovazhye, means leeterally "on the Upper Vaga") an its tributars, the lairgest o which are the Kuloy in the east an the Pezhma in the wast. Auries in the wast an in the soothwast o the destrict belang tae the basins o the tributars o the Kubena, in the basin o the Sukhona River. The whole aurie o the destrict belangs tae the basin o the Northren Dvina River.

Thare are mony swamps in the destrict, maist o which are locatit in the glens o the Vaga an the Kuloy. The basins o the Vaga an Kuloy Rivers are separatit bi the chain o hills which runs throu the destrict frae north tae sooth.

Forests cover 85% o the destrict's territory. In pairticular, spruce occupees 44% o aw forestit auries, birch occupees 22%, pine–25%, an aspen–3% o aw forestit auries.

Thare are three natural monuments o local significance in the destrict protectin various landscapes,
*Listvennichny Bor Landscape Zakaznik  (*larch firth*)  sooth o Verkhovazhye; protects a staund o Siberian larch
*Verkhovazhsky Les Landscape Zakaznik, in the glen o the Vaga close tae Verkhovazhye; protects the landscapes o the Vaga glen
*Ivoninsky Bor Landscape Zakaznik, in the glen o the Kuloy at the border wi Arkhangelsk Oblast; tae protect glacial lake landscapes

In addeetion, the Chugly Park creatit bi Illarion Dudorov  frae Verkhovazhye, is protectit as a natural monument syne 2002.

## History
The aurie o Verkhovazhye an the upper course o the Vaga wur awready populatit in the 13t century. Due tae its location on ane o the main watterweys connectin central Roushie an the White Sea (it was controlled first bi Novgorodians, an efter the faw o Novgorod wis transferred tae the Grand Duchy o Moscow), an the later construction o the surface road connectin Moscow an Arkhangelsk, bi the 17t century Verkhovazhye became a major tradin dounset. In the 18t century, industrie wis introducit, which includit a distillery, an iron wirks, an a paper production plant. In the 18t century, Verkhovazhsky Posad (currently Verkhovazhye) wis ane o the main tradin touns in the Roushie North, hauldin twa annual fairs.

In the course o the admeenistrative reform carriet oot in 1708 bi Peter the Great, the aurie wis includit intae Archangelgorod Govrenorate. In 1780, the govrenorate wis abolisht an transformit intae Vologda Viceryalty. The latter wis abolisht in 1796, an the pairt o it which includit Verkhovazhye became Vologda Govrenorate. Syne 1780, the upper Vaga launds wur pairt o Velsky Uyezd wi the seat in the toun o Velsk.

In 1929, several govrenorates, includin Vologda Govrenorate, wur mergit intae Northren Krai. On 15 Julie 1929, the uyezds wur abolisht, an Velsky Uyezd wis split intae Velsky, Verkhovazhsky, an Ustyansky Destricts. Verkhovazhsky Destrict became a pairt o Nyandoma Okrug o Northren Krai.

In 1930, the okrug wis abolisht, an the destrict wis subordinatit tae the central admeenistration o Northren Krai. On 30 Julie 1931, Verkhovazhsky Destrict wis mergit intae Velsky Destrict (wi the exception o Zhikhovsky Selsoviet, which wis transferred tae Totemsky Destrict), an on 25 Januar 1935, it wis re-establisht. In 1936, the krai wis transformit intae Northren Oblast, which, in turn, wis split intae Arkhangelsk Oblast an Vologda Oblast in 1937. Verkhovazhsky Destrict remained in Vologda Oblast iver syne.

## Economie
### Industrie
The economie o the destrict is based on timber industrie, which is, housomeivver, declinin steadily. Thare is fuid industrie an aw, mainly bread bakkin.

### Agricultur
In 2010, three collective ferms, eleiven privately awned mid-scale ferms, an ane private smaw-scale ferms operatit in the destrict. The main agricultural specializations wur cattle breedin an flax growin. The flax growin, which wis a tradeetional occupation o the peasants in the aurie, is considered tae be a priority.

### Transportation
Ane o the principal heich-gates in Roushie, M8, which connects Moscow an Arkhangelsk, crosses the destrict frae sooth tae north, bipassin Verkhovazhye. Thare are local roads an aw, wi the bus traffic oreeginatin frae Verkhovazhye.

Nane o the rivers are navigable athin the limits o the destrict.

## Cultur an recreation
The destrict contains 174&nbsp;objects classifee'd as cultural an historical heritage o local significance. Maist o these are firthen ferms an kirks built prior tae 1917.

The anerlie state museum in the destrict is the Historical Museum o Verkhovazhsky Destrict, locatit in the *selo* o Verkhovazhye.

## References
### Notes

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