Novgorod Oblast (russian: Новгоро́дская о́бласть, ''Novgorodskaya oblast'') is a
federal subject
The federal subjects of Russia, also referred to as the subjects of the Russian Federation (russian: субъекты Российской Федерации, subyekty Rossiyskoy Federatsii) or simply as the subjects of the federation (russian ...
of
Russia
Russia (, , ), or the Russian Federation, is a transcontinental country spanning Eastern Europe and Northern Asia. It is the largest country in the world, with its internationally recognised territory covering , and encompassing one-eig ...
(an
oblast
An oblast (; ; Cyrillic (in most languages, including Russian and Ukrainian): , Bulgarian: ) is a type of administrative division of Belarus, Bulgaria, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, and Ukraine, as well as the Soviet Union and the Kingdo ...
). Its
administrative center
An administrative center is a seat of regional administration or local government, or a county town, or the place where the central administration of a commune is located.
In countries with French as administrative language (such as Belgium, Lu ...
is the
city
A city is a human settlement of notable size.Goodall, B. (1987) ''The Penguin Dictionary of Human Geography''. London: Penguin.Kuper, A. and Kuper, J., eds (1996) ''The Social Science Encyclopedia''. 2nd edition. London: Routledge. It can be def ...
of
Veliky Novgorod
Veliky Novgorod ( rus, links=no, Великий Новгород, t=Great Newtown, p=vʲɪˈlʲikʲɪj ˈnovɡərət), also known as just Novgorod (), is the largest city and administrative centre of Novgorod Oblast, Russia. It is one of the ...
. Some of the oldest Russian cities, including Veliky Novgorod and
Staraya Russa
Staraya Russa ( rus, Старая Русса, p=ˈstarəjə ˈrusːə) is a town in Novgorod Oblast, Russia, located on the Polist River, south of Veliky Novgorod, the administrative center of the oblast. Its population has steadily decreased o ...
, are located in the oblast. The
historic monuments of Veliky Novgorod and surroundings have been declared a
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations (UN) aimed at promoting world peace and security through international cooperation in education, arts, sciences and culture. It ...
World Heritage Site
A World Heritage Site is a landmark or area with legal protection by an international convention administered by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). World Heritage Sites are designated by UNESCO for h ...
. Population: 634,111 (
2010 Census).
Geography
![LakePeretno01](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f6/LakePeretno01.JPG)
Novgorod Oblast borders with
Leningrad Oblast
Leningrad Oblast ( rus, Ленинградская область, Leningradskaya oblast’, lʲɪnʲɪnˈgratskəjə ˈobləsʲtʲ, , ) is a federal subject of Russia (an oblast). It was established on 1 August 1927, although it was not until 194 ...
in the north and in the northwest,
Vologda Oblast
Vologda Oblast ( rus, Вологодская область, p=vəlɐˈɡotskəjə ˈobləsʲtʲ, r=Vologodskaya oblast, ) is a federal subject of Russia (an oblast). Its administrative center is Vologda. The Oblast has a population of 1,202,44 ...
in the east,
Tver Oblast
Tver Oblast (russian: Тверска́я о́бласть, ''Tverskaya oblast'', ), from 1935 to 1990 known as Kalinin Oblast (), is a federal subjects of Russia, federal subject of Russia (an oblast). Its administrative center is the types of inh ...
in the southeast and in the south, and
Pskov Oblast in the southwest.
The western part is a lowland around
Lake Ilmen, while the eastern part is a highland (northern spurs of the
Valdai Hills
The Valdai Hills (russian: Валда́йская возвы́шенность, Valdáyskaya vozvýshennost'), sometimes referred to as just Valdai (russian: Валда́й, Valdáy), are an upland region in the north-west of central European Ru ...
).
The highest point is
Mount Ryzhokha
Mount is often used as part of the name of specific mountains, e.g. Mount Everest.
Mount or Mounts may also refer to:
Places
* Mount, Cornwall, a village in Warleggan parish, England
* Mount, Perranzabuloe, a hamlet in Perranzabuloe parish, C ...
in the Valdai Hills (). In the center of the oblast is
Lake Ilmen, one of the largest lakes in Central Russia. The major tributaries of Lake Ilmen are the
Msta
The Msta () is a river in Tver and Novgorod Oblasts of northwestern Russia, a tributary of Lake Ilmen. It is long, and the area of its basin . The principal tributaries of the Msta are the Berezayka (left), the Uver (right), the Peretna (left), ...
, which originates in the east of the Valdai Hills and collects the rivers in the east of the oblast, the
Lovat, the
Pola Pola or POLA may refer to:
People
* House of Pola, an Italian noble family
* Pola Alonso (1923–2004), Argentine actress
* Pola Brändle (born 1980), German artist and photographer
* Pola Gauguin (1883–1961), Danish painter
* Pola Gojawiczyńsk ...
, and the
Polist, which all flow to the lake from the south, and the
Shelon
The Shelon (russian: Шелонь) is a river in the northwest part of European Russia, in Dedovichsky, Porkhovsky, and Dnovsky Districts of Pskov Oblast and Soletsky and Shimsky Districts of Novgorod Oblast. The Shelon is one of the princip ...
, flowing from the southwest. The only outflow of the lake is the
Volkhov
Volkhov (russian: Во́лхов) is an industrial town and the administrative center of Volkhovsky District in Leningrad Oblast, Russia, located on the river Volkhov east of St. Petersburg. Population:
It was previously known as ''Zvan ...
, a major tributary of
Lake Ladoga. Almost all of the oblast belongs to the river basin of the Volkhov. The exceptions are the northwest, which belongs to the river basin of the
Luga, a tributary of the
Baltic Sea
The Baltic Sea is an arm of the Atlantic Ocean that is enclosed by Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Russia, Sweden and the North and Central European Plain.
The sea stretches from 53°N to 66°N latitude and ...
, the north, belonging to the basin of the
Syas, another tributary of Lake Ladoga, the east, which belongs to the basin of the
Mologa
Mologa (russian: Моло́га) was a town in Yaroslavl Oblast, Russia, formerly situated at the confluence of the rivers Mologa and Volga, but now submerged under the waters of the Rybinsk Reservoir.
Mologa existed at least since the 12th cen ...
, a tributary of the
Volga
The Volga (; russian: Во́лга, a=Ru-Волга.ogg, p=ˈvoɫɡə) is the longest river in Europe. Situated in Russia, it flows through Central Russia to Southern Russia and into the Caspian Sea. The Volga has a length of , and a catchm ...
, and the south, belonging to basins of various tributaries of the upper Volga River. Sorted by the discharge, the biggest rivers of the oblast are the Volkhov, the Mologa, the Msta, the Lovat, the Syas, and the Shelon.
The south and the southeast of the oblast contain one of the largest lake districts in European Russia. The biggest lake in the area,
Lake Seliger
Seliger ( rus, Селиге́р, p=sʲɪlʲɪˈgʲɛr) is a lake in Ostashkovsky District of Tver Oblast and, in the extreme northern part, in Demyansky District of Novgorod Oblast of Russia, in the northwest of the Valdai Hills, a part of the ...
, is divided between Novgorod and Tver Oblasts. Other big lakes in the area include
Lake Valdayskoye
Lake Valdayskoye, or Lake Valdai (russian: Валдайское озеро, озеро Валдай, translit = ozero Valdai) is a freshwater lake located in the center of Valdaysky District of Novgorod Oblast in Russia in the middle of the Val ...
,
Lake Shlino,
Lake Velyo
A lake is an area filled with water, localized in a basin, surrounded by land, and distinct from any river or other outlet that serves to feed or drain the lake. Lakes lie on land and are not part of the ocean, although, like the much larger ...
,
Lake Piros
A lake is an area filled with water, localized in a basin, surrounded by land, and distinct from any river or other outlet that serves to feed or drain the lake. Lakes lie on land and are not part of the ocean, although, like the much larger ...
, and
Lake Meglino.
Two areas in Novgorod Oblast have been designated as protected natural areas of federal significance. These are
Valdaysky National Park
Valdaysky National Park (russian: Валдайский национальный парк, Valdayskiy natsional'nyy park) is a national park in the north of Russia, located in Valdaysky, Okulovsky, and Demyansky Districts of Novgorod Oblast. It w ...
in the southeast of the oblast, protecting the lake district and related ecosystems and cultural landscapes, and
Rdeysky Nature Reserve in the southwest of the oblast, which protects the
Polist-Lovat Swamp System and is adjacent to
Polistovsky Nature Reserve in
Pskov Oblast.
History
![Usobica](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/52/Usobica.JPG)
Novgorod is one of the oldest centers of Russian civilization. It lay on the historical
trade route from the Varangians to the Greeks
The trade route from the Varangians to the Greeks was a medieval trade route that connected Scandinavia, Kievan Rus' and the Eastern Roman Empire. The route allowed merchants along its length to establish a direct prosperous trade with the Empir ...
, which followed the Volkhov upstream to Lake Ilmen and then followed the course of the Lovat before eventually reaching the
Dnieper River
}
The Dnieper () or Dnipro (); , ; . is one of the major transboundary rivers of Europe, rising in the Valdai Hills near Smolensk, Russia, before flowing through Belarus and Ukraine to the Black Sea. It is the longest river of Ukraine an ...
. Novgorod is indicated in the chronicles as the site where
Rurik settled and founded the
Rurik Dynasty
The Rurik dynasty ( be, Ру́рыкавічы, Rúrykavichy; russian: Рю́риковичи, Ryúrikovichi, ; uk, Рю́риковичі, Riúrykovychi, ; literally "sons/scions of Rurik"), also known as the Rurikid dynasty or Rurikids, was ...
in 862. Subsequently, Rurik's successor,
Oleg
Oleg (russian: Олег), Oleh ( uk, Олег), or Aleh ( be, Алег) is an East Slavic given name. The name is very common in Russia, Ukraine and Belаrus. It derives from the Old Norse ''Helgi'' ( Helge), meaning "holy", "sacred", or "bless ...
, moved the capital to
Kiev, but Novgorod continued to play an important role until the 15th century. In 1136, Novgorod evicted the prince and became the center of the
Novgorod Republic
The Novgorod Republic was a medieval state that existed from the 12th to 15th centuries, stretching from the Gulf of Finland in the west to the northern Ural Mountains in the east, including the city of Novgorod and the Lake Ladoga regions of mod ...
, which included the major part of what is currently northwestern Russia. It was an example of a medieval republic, in which decisions were taken by
veche
Veche ( rus, вече, véče, ˈvʲet͡ɕe; pl, wiec; uk, ві́че, víče, ; be, ве́ча, viéča, ; cu, вѣще, věšte) was a popular assembly in medieval Slavic countries.
In Novgorod and in Pskov, where the veche acquired gr ...
—a meeting of the city population—and the prince was elected. (The only other Russian city with a similar organization was
Pskov.) Novgorod linked the river routes of Baltic, Byzantium, Central Asian regions, and all parts of European Russia and flourished as one of the most important trading centres of eastern and northern Europe. It was part of the
Hanseatic League which connected it to Central and Northern Europe. Novgorod was one of the few areas of Rus not affected by the
Mongol invasions
The Mongol invasions and conquests took place during the 13th and 14th centuries, creating history's largest contiguous empire: the Mongol Empire ( 1206-1368), which by 1300 covered large parts of Eurasia. Historians regard the Mongol devastatio ...
. It was also an important cultural center, and the majority of monuments preserved in Russia from the 11th through the 14th century are those standing in Veliky Novgorod.
![Jewellery Novgorod Slovenes GIM](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/7f/Jewellery_Novgorod_Slovenes_GIM.jpg)
Towards the end of the 15th century Novgorod was defeated by the army of
Ivan III
Ivan III Vasilyevich (russian: Иван III Васильевич; 22 January 1440 – 27 October 1505), also known as Ivan the Great, was a Grand Prince of Moscow and Grand Prince of all Rus'. Ivan served as the co-ruler and regent for his bl ...
, the prince of Moscow, and was included into the
Grand Duchy of Moscow. In 1560,
Ivan the Terrible, fearing treason, sent his army to sack the city. This event, known as the
Massacre of Novgorod, had catastrophic consequences for the city, which lost the majority of its population and never recovered. Additionally, in the beginning of the 17th century, during the
Time of Troubles
The Time of Troubles (russian: Смутное время, ), or Smuta (russian: Смута), was a period of political crisis during the Tsardom of Russia which began in 1598 with the death of Fyodor I (Fyodor Ivanovich, the last of the Rurik dy ...
, Novgorod was plundered by the Swedish army.
, 1708
Tsar
Tsar ( or ), also spelled ''czar'', ''tzar'', or ''csar'', is a title used by East and South Slavic monarchs. The term is derived from the Latin word ''caesar'', which was intended to mean "emperor" in the European medieval sense of the ter ...
Peter the Great issued an
edict
An edict is a decree or announcement of a law, often associated with monarchism, but it can be under any official authority. Synonyms include "dictum" and "pronouncement".
''Edict'' derives from the Latin edictum.
Notable edicts
* Telepinu Pro ...
which established seven governorates.
[Указ об учреждении губерний и о росписании к ним городов](_blank)
The present area of Novgorod oblast was a part of Ingermanland Governorate, which was renamed
Saint Petersburg Governorate
Saint Petersburg Governorate (russian: Санкт-Петербу́ргская губе́рния, ''Sankt-Peterburgskaya guberniya''), or Government of Saint Petersburg, was an administrative division (a '' guberniya'') of the Tsardom of Russia ...
in 1710. In 1727, a separate
Novgorod Governorate
Novgorod Governorate (Pre-reformed rus, Новгоро́дская губе́рнія, r=Novgorodskaya guberniya, p=ˈnofɡərətskəjə ɡʊˈbʲernʲɪjə, t=Government of Novgorod), was an administrative division (a '' guberniya'') of the Ru ...
was established. It was subdivided into five provinces, and the current area of Novgorod Oblast was split between two of them—
Novgorod and
Velikiye Luki Province Veliky, or similar, may refer to:
*Veliky (rural locality) (''Velikaya'', ''Velikoye''), name of several rural localities in Russia
*Veliky (surname)
*Velikaya, a river in Pskov Oblast, Russia
*Velikaya (Chukotka), a river in Chukotka, Russia
See ...
s. In 1772, Velikiye Luki Province was transferred to newly established
Pskov Governorate
Pskov Governorate (russian: link=no, Псковская губерния, ''Pskovskaya guberniya'') was an administrative division (a '' guberniya'') of the Russian Empire and Russian SFSR, which existed from 1772 until 1777 and from 1796 until ...
. In 1775, Novgorod Governorate was transformed to
Novgorod Viceroyalty
Novgorod Viceroyalty (russian: Новгоро́дское наме́стничество) was an administrative division (a '' namestnichestvo'') of the Russian Empire, which existed in 1776–1796. The seat of the Viceroyalty was located in Novg ...
, and in 1777, Pskov Governorate was transformed to
Pskov Viceroyalty
Pskov Viceroyalty (russian: Псковское наме́стничество) was an administrative division (a '' namestnichestvo'') of the Russian Empire, which existed in 1777–1796. The seat of the Viceroyalty was located in Pskov. Both the ...
. In 1796, both governorates were re-established. By the 1920s, most of the area of current Novgorod Oblast belonged to Novgorod Governorate.
Before the 19th century, the areas around Novgorod were considerably better developed than the areas which are currently located in the center and the east of the oblast. In 1851,
Moscow – Saint Petersburg Railway
Moscow ( , US chiefly ; rus, links=no, Москва, r=Moskva, p=mɐskˈva, a=Москва.ogg) is the capital and largest city of Russia. The city stands on the Moskva River in Central Russia, with a population estimated at 13.0 million r ...
, the first long-distance railway in Russia, opened. It bypassed Novgorod as it was built on a straight line between Moscow and Saint Petersburg. The railway construction lead to the development of the adjacent areas and eventually to creation of new towns such as
Malaya Vishera
Malaya Vishera (russian: Ма́лая Ви́шера) is a town and the administrative center of Malovishersky District in Novgorod Oblast, Russia. Population:
History
The name of the town originates from the Malaya Vishera River, a tributary ...
,
Okulovka, and
Chudovo
Chudovo (russian: Чудово) is the name of several inhabited localities in Russia.
;Urban localities
*Chudovo, Chudovsky District, Novgorod Oblast, a town of district significance in Chudovsky District of Novgorod Oblast
;Rural localities
* ...
. Later on, the railroads between
Sonkovo
Sonkovo (russian: Сонко́во) is an urban locality (an urban-type settlement) and the administrative center of Sonkovsky District of Tver Oblast, Russia. Population:
History
Founded by the Russian Greek Orthodox Inkeriköt ( Izhorians) i ...
and Saint Petersburg, as well as between
Bologoye Bologoye () is the name of several inhabited localities in Russia.
;Urban localities
*Bologoye, Tver Oblast, a town in Bologovsky District of Tver Oblast
;Rural localities
* Bologoye, Omsk Oblast, a '' selo'' in Rozovsky Rural Okrug of Russko-P ...
and
Pskov, and a number of connecting lines, were constructed.
On August 1, 1927 the governorates were abolished, and merged into newly established
Leningrad Oblast
Leningrad Oblast ( rus, Ленинградская область, Leningradskaya oblast’, lʲɪnʲɪnˈgratskəjə ˈobləsʲtʲ, , ) is a federal subject of Russia (an oblast). It was established on 1 August 1927, although it was not until 194 ...
.
Between autumn of 1941 and spring of 1944, during
World War II
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposing ...
, western parts of the current area of Novgorod Oblast, including the city of Novgorod, were occupied by German troops. Novgorod Oblast was an area of long and fierce battles, such as, for example, the
Demyansk Pocket
The Demyansk Pocket (german: Kessel von Demjansk; russian: Демя́нский котёл) was the name given to the pocket of German troops encircled by the Red Army around Demyansk, south of Leningrad, during World War II's Eastern Front. Th ...
, or the
Leningrad–Novgorod Offensive in 1944, when the Soviet troops crossed the Volkhov River. After the liberation, on July 5, 1944, Novgorod Oblast with the center in the city of Novgorod was established.
In 1999, the city of Novgorod was renamed Veliky Novgorod.
Politics
![Novgorod - Oblast Duma and Administration](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/1d/Novgorod_-_Oblast_Duma_and_Administration.jpg)
During the
Soviet
The Soviet Union,. officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. (USSR),. was a transcontinental country that spanned much of Eurasia from 1922 to 1991. A flagship communist state, it was nominally a federal union of fifteen nation ...
period, the high authority in the oblast was shared between three persons: The first secretary of the Novgorod CPSU Committee (who in reality had the biggest authority), the chairman of the oblast Soviet (legislative power), and the Chairman of the oblast Executive Committee (executive power). Since 1991, CPSU lost all the power, and the head of the Oblast administration, and eventually the governor was appointed/elected alongside elected
regional parliament.
The Charter of Novgorod Oblast is the fundamental law of the region. The Legislative Assembly of Novgorod Oblast is the province's standing legislative (representative) body. The Legislative Assembly exercises its authority by passing laws, resolutions, and other legal acts and by supervising the implementation and observance of the laws and other legal acts passed by it. The highest executive body is the Oblast Government, which includes territorial executive bodies such as district administrations, committees, and commissions that facilitate development and run the day to day matters of the province. The Oblast administration supports the activities of the Governor who is the highest official and acts as guarantor of the observance of the oblast Charter in accordance with the
Constitution of Russia
The Constitution of the Russian Federation () was adopted by national referendum on 12 December 1993. Russia's constitution came into force on 25 December 1993, at the moment of its official publication, and abolished the Soviet system of gov ...
.
First secretaries of the Novgorod Oblast CPSU Committee
In the period when they were the most important authority in the oblast (1944 to 1991), the following first secretaries were appointed:
*1944–1948
Grigory Kharitonovich Bumagin
*1948–1951 Mikhail Nikolayevich Tupitsyn
*1951–1954 Alexander Grigoryevich Fyodorov
*1954–1956
Terenty Fomich Shtykov
*1956–1958 Tikhon Ivanovich Sokolov
*1958–1961 Vasily Andreyevich Prokofyev
*1961–1972 Vladimir Nikolayevich Bazovsky
*1972–1986 Nikolay Afanasyevich Antonov
*1986–1991 Ivan Ivanovich Nikulin
Governors
Since 1991, governors were sometimes appointed, and sometimes elected:
*1991–2007
Mikhail Mikhaylovich Prusak, head of the administration, appointed; then governor, elected
*2007–2017
Sergey Gerasimovich Mitin
Sergey Gerasimovich Mitin (russian: Серге́й Гера́симович Ми́тин; born June 14, 1951 Gorky, Soviet Union) is a Russian politician serving as a Senator from the executive authority of Novgorod Oblast since 2017. Previ ...
, governor, appointed, then elected
*2017–present
Andrei Nikitin (acting), appointed in 2017, then elected
Economy
Industry
As of 2014, industry was responsible for about 40% of the GNP of the oblast. The main industrial enterprises in the oblast are four chemical plants, all located in Veliky Novgorod and specializing mostly in production of fertilizers, a metallurgical plant, also in Veliky Novgorod, producing copper, and a plant in Borovichi producing refractory materials.
Agriculture
The main specialization of agriculture in the oblast is cattle breeding with meat and milk production. In 2011, approximately 90% of the farms held cattle, and 79% of all agricultural production in the oblast were meat, milk, and eggs. A number of large-scale farms are keeping pigs and poultry. Bee-keeping, as well as cultivating of crops and potatoes, are also present.
Transportation
![Kotovitsy bridge](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/03/Kotovitsy_bridge.jpg)
Novgorod appeared as a site on one of the most important Middle-Age trade routes. The importance of waterways has considerably diminished since those days, but
Lake Ilmen, the
Volkhov River
The Volkhov (russian: Во́лхов) is a river in Novgorodsky and Chudovsky Districts of Novgorod Oblast and Kirishsky and Volkhovsky Districts of Leningrad Oblast in northwestern Russia. It connects Lake Ilmen and Lake Ladoga and forms pa ...
, and lower courses of main tributaries of lake Ilmen—the Lovat, the Msta, the Polist, and the Shelon, as well as
Lake Seliger
Seliger ( rus, Селиге́р, p=sʲɪlʲɪˈgʲɛr) is a lake in Ostashkovsky District of Tver Oblast and, in the extreme northern part, in Demyansky District of Novgorod Oblast of Russia, in the northwest of the Valdai Hills, a part of the ...
, remain navigable.
The
Saint Petersburg – Moscow Railway crosses the oblast from southeast to northwest. The major
train station
A train station, railway station, railroad station or depot is a railway facility where trains stop to load or unload passengers, freight or both. It generally consists of at least one platform, one track and a station building providing s ...
s are
Okulovka,
Malaya Vishera
Malaya Vishera (russian: Ма́лая Ви́шера) is a town and the administrative center of Malovishersky District in Novgorod Oblast, Russia. Population:
History
The name of the town originates from the Malaya Vishera River, a tributary ...
, and
Chudovo
Chudovo (russian: Чудово) is the name of several inhabited localities in Russia.
;Urban localities
*Chudovo, Chudovsky District, Novgorod Oblast, a town of district significance in Chudovsky District of Novgorod Oblast
;Rural localities
* ...
. In Chudovo, one railroad branches off south to Veliky Novgorod, and another one north to
Volkhov
Volkhov (russian: Во́лхов) is an industrial town and the administrative center of Volkhovsky District in Leningrad Oblast, Russia, located on the river Volkhov east of St. Petersburg. Population:
It was previously known as ''Zvan ...
stroy and eventually to
Murmansk
Murmansk (Russian: ''Мурманск'' lit. "Norwegian coast"; Finnish: ''Murmansk'', sometimes ''Muurmanski'', previously ''Muurmanni''; Norwegian: ''Norskekysten;'' Northern Sámi: ''Murmánska;'' Kildin Sámi: ''Мурман ланнҍ'') ...
. Another railway line, connecting
Sonkovo
Sonkovo (russian: Сонко́во) is an urban locality (an urban-type settlement) and the administrative center of Sonkovsky District of Tver Oblast, Russia. Population:
History
Founded by the Russian Greek Orthodox Inkeriköt ( Izhorians) i ...
and
Mga, runs parallel to the first one north of it. A line between Okulovka and
Nebolchi
Nebolchi (russian: Неболчи) is an urban locality (a work settlement) in Lyubytinsky District of Novgorod Oblast, Russia. Municipally, it serves as the administrative center of Nebolchskoye Urban Settlement, one of the two urban settlemen ...
makes a connection between the two. Additionally, Veliky Novgorod is connected by
railway
Rail transport (also known as train transport) is a means of transport that transfers passengers and goods on wheeled vehicles running on rails, which are incorporated in tracks. In contrast to road transport, where the vehicles run on a pre ...
to Saint Petersburg and
Luga. A railway crosses the south of the oblast as well, connecting
Bologoye Bologoye () is the name of several inhabited localities in Russia.
;Urban localities
*Bologoye, Tver Oblast, a town in Bologovsky District of Tver Oblast
;Rural localities
* Bologoye, Omsk Oblast, a '' selo'' in Rozovsky Rural Okrug of Russko-P ...
and
Pskov via
Parfino
Parfino (russian: Па́рфино) is an urban locality (a work settlement) and the administrative center of Parfinsky District of Novgorod Oblast, Russia, located along the Lovat River, east of Staraya Russa. Subdivisions of Russia#Municipa ...
and
Staraya Russa
Staraya Russa ( rus, Старая Русса, p=ˈstarəjə ˈrusːə) is a town in Novgorod Oblast, Russia, located on the Polist River, south of Veliky Novgorod, the administrative center of the oblast. Its population has steadily decreased o ...
.
The
Kushaverskoye peat narrow gauge railway for hauling
peat
Peat (), also known as turf (), is an accumulation of partially decayed vegetation or organic matter. It is unique to natural areas called peatlands, bogs, mires, moors, or muskegs. The peatland ecosystem covers and is the most efficient ...
operates in the
Khvoyninsky District
Khvoyninsky District (russian: Хвойнинский район) is an administrativeLaw #559-OZ and municipalLaw #396-OZ district (raion), one of the twenty-one in Novgorod Oblast, Russia. It is located in the northeast of the oblast and borders ...
, and
Tyosovo peat narrow gauge railway for hauling
peat
Peat (), also known as turf (), is an accumulation of partially decayed vegetation or organic matter. It is unique to natural areas called peatlands, bogs, mires, moors, or muskegs. The peatland ecosystem covers and is the most efficient ...
operates in the
Novgorodsky District
Novgorodsky District (russian: Новгородский район) is an administrativeLaw #559-OZ and municipalLaw #400-OZ district (raion), one of the twenty-one in Novgorod Oblast, Russia. It is located in the southwest of the oblast and borde ...
.
The road network is well developed within the oblast, though only a small number of roads cross borders with Tver Oblast west of
Valday and Leningrad Oblast east of Lyubytino. One highway of federal significance,
M10, which connects Moscow and Saint Petersburg, crosses the oblast, running through Valday,
Kresttsy, and Veliky Novgorod (there is a bypass of Veliky Novgorod). Highways connect Veliky Novgorod with Pskov and with Velikiye Luki, among other destinations.
Novgorod Airport and
Krechevitsy Airport
Krechevitsy is a functioning civil airfield, formerly Russian Airforce base located 11 km northeast of Veliky Novgorod, Russia (near Krechevitsy). It contains 30 large revetments in a sprawling taxiway pattern, suitable for large transports. ...
are both located around Veliky Novgorod, however, there are no regular passenger flights. Novgorod Airport is basically abandoned.
Administrative divisions
The oblast is administratively divided into three
cities and towns under the oblast's jurisdiction (
Veliky Novgorod
Veliky Novgorod ( rus, links=no, Великий Новгород, t=Great Newtown, p=vʲɪˈlʲikʲɪj ˈnovɡərət), also known as just Novgorod (), is the largest city and administrative centre of Novgorod Oblast, Russia. It is one of the ...
,
Borovichi
Borovichi (russian: Боровичи́) is the second largest town in Novgorod Oblast, Russia, located on the Msta River in the northern spurs of the Valdai Hills, east of Veliky Novgorod, the administrative center of the oblast. As of the ...
, and
Staraya Russa
Staraya Russa ( rus, Старая Русса, p=ˈstarəjə ˈrusːə) is a town in Novgorod Oblast, Russia, located on the Polist River, south of Veliky Novgorod, the administrative center of the oblast. Its population has steadily decreased o ...
) and twenty-one districts. Another seven towns (
Chudovo
Chudovo (russian: Чудово) is the name of several inhabited localities in Russia.
;Urban localities
*Chudovo, Chudovsky District, Novgorod Oblast, a town of district significance in Chudovsky District of Novgorod Oblast
;Rural localities
* ...
,
Kholm,
Malaya Vishera
Malaya Vishera (russian: Ма́лая Ви́шера) is a town and the administrative center of Malovishersky District in Novgorod Oblast, Russia. Population:
History
The name of the town originates from the Malaya Vishera River, a tributary ...
,
Okulovka,
Pestovo,
Soltsy
Soltsy (russian: Сольцы́) is a town and the administrative center of Soletsky District in Novgorod Oblast, Russia, located on the left bank of the Shelon River, southwest of Veliky Novgorod, the administrative center of the oblast. Populat ...
, and
Valday) have the status of the towns of district significance.
Demographics
''Population'': 634,111 (
2010 Census),
down from 694,355 recorded by the
2002 Census,
and further down from about 753,054 recorded in the
1989 Census.
Novgorod Oblast has the lowest population for any oblast in the European part of Russia. One of the reasons for the relatively low population density, particularly the male population, is that the area suffered heavily during
World War II
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposing ...
. The population is 70.6% urban.
''Ethnic groups'': Novgorod Oblast is relatively homogenous, with only five recognized ethnic groups of more than two thousand persons each at the time of the 2010 Census. In the 2010 Census, the following ethnicities were most numerous: 560,280
Russians
, native_name_lang = ru
, image =
, caption =
, population =
, popplace =
118 million Russians in the Russian Federation (2002 '' Winkler Prins'' estimate)
, region1 =
, pop1 ...
(95.1%); 7,025
Ukrainians
Ukrainians ( uk, Українці, Ukraintsi, ) are an East Slavic ethnic group native to Ukraine. They are the seventh-largest nation in Europe. The native language of the Ukrainians is Ukrainian. The majority of Ukrainians are Eastern Ort ...
(1.2%); 3,438
Belarusians (0.6%); 3,598
Romani
Romani may refer to:
Ethnicities
* Romani people, an ethnic group of Northern Indian origin, living dispersed in Europe, the Americas and Asia
** Romani genocide, under Nazi rule
* Romani language, any of several Indo-Aryan languages of the Roma ...
(0.6%); 15,054 others.
Additionally, 44,716 people were registered from administrative databases, and could not declare an ethnicity. It is estimated that the proportion of ethnicities in this group is the same as that of the declared group.
;Vital statistics for 2012
*Births: 7 480 (11.9 per 1000)
*Deaths: 11 226 (17.9 per 1000)
*Total fertility rate:
2009: 1.54 , 2010: 1.55 , 2011: 1.56 , 2012: 1.70 , 2013: 1.70 , 2014: 1.75 , 2015: 1.78 , 2016: 1.80(e)
Religion
According to a 2012 survey
46.8% of the population of Novgorod Oblast adheres to the
Russian Orthodox Church
, native_name_lang = ru
, image = Moscow July 2011-7a.jpg
, imagewidth =
, alt =
, caption = Cathedral of Christ the Saviour in Moscow, Russia
, abbreviation = ROC
, type ...
, 4% are
unaffiliated generic
Christians
Christians () are people who follow or adhere to Christianity, a monotheistic Abrahamic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. The words '' Christ'' and ''Christian'' derive from the Koine Greek title ''Christós'' (Χρ ...
, 1% are
Muslims. In addition, 34% of the population declares to be "
spiritual but not religious
"Spiritual but not religious" (SBNR), also known as "spiritual but not affiliated" (SBNA), is a popular phrase and initialism used to self-identify a life stance of spirituality that does not regard organized religion as the sole or most valuable ...
", 10% is
atheist, and 3.9% follows other religions or did not give an answer to the question.
Culture and recreation
Novgorod is one of the oldest Russian cities and was an important part of the
Old Rus. Like many Russian cities Novgorod preserved its own local characteristics of traditional
Russian culture
Russian culture (russian: Культура России, Kul'tura Rossii) has been formed by the nation's history, its geographical location and its vast expanse, religious and social traditions, and Western influence. Russian writers and ph ...
. Despite great damages, in particular, during World War II, a large amount of medieval monuments of art, archeology, and architecture survive. Many of those are included into the World Heritage site
Historic Monuments of Novgorod and Surroundings
Historic Monuments of Novgorod and Surroundings is a composite World Heritage Site which includes a number of medieval monuments in and around Veliky Novgorod, Russia. The site was inscribed in 1992.
History
Novgorod between the 9th and the 15th c ...
. The majority of them are operated by the
Novgorod Museum Reserve
Veliky Novgorod ( rus, links=no, Великий Новгород, t=Great Newtown, p=vʲɪˈlʲikʲɪj ˈnovɡərət), also known as just Novgorod (), is the largest city and administrative centre of Novgorod Oblast, Russia. It is one of the ol ...
. The
Saint Sophia Cathedral in Novgorod
The Cathedral of Holy Wisdom (the Holy Wisdom of God) in Veliky Novgorod is the cathedral church of the Metropolitan of Novgorod and the mother church of the Novgorodian Eparchy.
History
The 38-metre-high, five-domed, stone cathedral was built ...
is the oldest Christian church in Russia with the exception of the
Caucasus
The Caucasus () or Caucasia (), is a region between the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea, mainly comprising Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia (country), Georgia, and parts of Southern Russia. The Caucasus Mountains, including the Greater Caucasus range ...
area. Since Novgorod was not affected by the Mongol invasions, it keeps a fair share of
pre-Mongol buildings, most of which are concentrated in the city of Veliky Novgorod and its immediate surroundings. The only pre-Mongol building in Novgorod Oblast outside the Veliky Novgorod agglomeration is the Katholikon of the
Transfiguration Cathedral in Staraya Russa, built in the end of the 12th century. Novgorod has, furthermore, a large number of architectural monuments constructed in the 13th–14th centuries, of which the
Church of the Transfiguration on Ilyina Street
The Church of the Transfiguration of the Savior (russian: Церковь Спаса Преображения на Ильине улице) is a former Russian Orthodox Church that stands on Ilyina (Elijah) Street in Veliky Novgorod just east of the ...
is a representative example.
Novgorod developed a distinct school of
icon painting, which considerably affected not only the nearby Pskov and the Northern Russia which was dependent on Novgorod, but also in general the old Russian painting. The oldest survived Novgorod icons are dated by the 12th century.
Theophanes the Greek
Theophanes the Greek (sometimes "Feofan Grek" from the russian: Феофан Грек, Greek: Θεοφάνης; c. 1340 – c. 1410) was a Byzantine Greek artist and one of the greatest icon painters of Muscovite Russia, who influenced the 15t ...
, one of the most notable old Russian artists, spent a part of his life in Novgorod, creating, in particular, frescoes in the Church of the Transfiguration on Ilyina Street. The
East Slavic instrument
Gusli
''Gusli'' ( rus, гусли, p=ˈɡuslʲɪ) is the oldest East Slavic multi-string plucked instrument, belonging to the zither family, due to its strings being parallel to its resonance board. Its roots lie in Veliky Novgorod in Novgorodian Ru ...
was first recorded in the north Russian regions around the era of
Novgorodian Rus'. The oldest
Onion dome
An onion dome is a dome whose shape resembles an onion. Such domes are often larger in diameter than the tholobate upon which they sit, and their height usually exceeds their width. These bulbous structures taper smoothly to a point.
It is a typ ...
s which became a popular feature of
Russian culture
Russian culture (russian: Культура России, Kul'tura Rossii) has been formed by the nation's history, its geographical location and its vast expanse, religious and social traditions, and Western influence. Russian writers and ph ...
and
architecture
Architecture is the art and technique of designing and building, as distinguished from the skills associated with construction. It is both the process and the product of sketching, conceiving, planning, designing, and constructing building ...
originated among other regions also in
Veliky Novgorod
Veliky Novgorod ( rus, links=no, Великий Новгород, t=Great Newtown, p=vʲɪˈlʲikʲɪj ˈnovɡərət), also known as just Novgorod (), is the largest city and administrative centre of Novgorod Oblast, Russia. It is one of the ...
.
The archaeological excavations in Novgorod and Staraya Russa unearthed over a thousand of
birch bark manuscript
Birch bark manuscripts are documents written on pieces of the inner layer of birch bark, which was commonly used for writing before the advent of mass production of paper. Evidence of birch bark for writing goes back many centuries and in various ...
s, used mostly to document various business issues. Currently, these manuscripts serve as the main source on the everyday life in the ancient Russia. Many medieval
chronicles originate from Novgorod, the first one being the
Novgorod First Chronicle
The Novgorod First Chronicle (russian: Новгородская первая летопись) or The Chronicle of Novgorod, 1016–1471 is the most ancient extant Old Russian chronicle of the Novgorodian Rus'. It reflects a tradition different ...
, which covers the period between 1016 and 1471. In 14th century the Slavic-Nordic pirates
Ushkuiniks
Ushkuyniks (russian: ушкуйники), also ushkuiniks were medieval Novgorodian pirates which operated along the Volga River, the eastern part of Scandinavia, and north of the Ural mountains in 12th-15th century. Some historians see them a ...
spread in the Russian north and later in many other regions of ancient Russia.
After Novgorod was subordinated to Moscow in the end of the 15th century, its cultural significance gradually diminished. However,
Valday Iversky Monastery, founded in the 17th century, served as a major cultural center, and in the 18th–19th centuries many important figures of Russian history owned estates in Novgorod Governorate. For example, generalissimo
Alexander Suvorov
Alexander Vasilyevich Suvorov (russian: Алекса́ндр Васи́льевич Суво́ров, Aleksándr Vasíl'yevich Suvórov; or 1730) was a Russian general in service of the Russian Empire. He was Count of Rymnik, Count of the Holy ...
, a Russian military commander notable for military operations against the
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman Empire, * ; is an archaic version. The definite article forms and were synonymous * and el, Оθωμανική Αυτοκρατορία, Othōmanikē Avtokratoria, label=none * info page on book at Martin Luther University) ...
and against the army of
Napoleon
Napoleon Bonaparte ; it, Napoleone Bonaparte, ; co, Napulione Buonaparte. (born Napoleone Buonaparte; 15 August 1769 – 5 May 1821), later known by his regnal name Napoleon I, was a French military commander and political leader who ...
in the late 18th century, owned the estate of
Konchansko-Suvorovskoye, currently in
Borovichsky District, and authors
Gleb Uspensky
Gleb Ivanovich Uspensky ( rus, Глеб Иванович Успенский; October 25, 1843 April 6, 1902), was a Russian Empire writer, and a prominent figure of the Narodnik movement.
Biography Early life
Gleb Uspensky was born in Tula, the ...
and
Nikolay Nekrasov
Nikolay Alexeyevich Nekrasov ( rus, Никола́й Алексе́евич Некра́сов, p=nʲɪkɐˈlaj ɐlʲɪkˈsʲejɪvʲɪtɕ nʲɪˈkrasəf, a=Ru-Nikolay_Alexeyevich_Nekrasov.ogg, – ) was a Russian poet, writer, critic and publi ...
owned summer houses in and near
Chudovo
Chudovo (russian: Чудово) is the name of several inhabited localities in Russia.
;Urban localities
*Chudovo, Chudovsky District, Novgorod Oblast, a town of district significance in Chudovsky District of Novgorod Oblast
;Rural localities
* ...
. In 1862, the
Millennium of Russia
The Millennium of Russia (russian: Тысячелетие России, Tysyacheletiye Rossii) is a bronze monument in the Novgorod Kremlin. It was erected in 1862 to celebrate the millennium of Rurik's arrival to Novgorod, an event tradition ...
monument was erected in Novgorod to commemorate the thousand years of
Rurik arrival to Novgorod.
File:Annunciation Ustyuzhskoe.jpg, Ustyug Annunciation, a Novgorod icon from the 12th century
File:ЦЕРКОВЬ СПАСА ПРЕОБРАЖЕНИЯ НА ИЛЬИНЕ УЛИЦЕ - Iglesia de la Transfiguración..jpg, Church of the Transfiguration on Ilyina Street, Veliky Novgorod
File:Gusli Гусли.jpg, The Gusli
''Gusli'' ( rus, гусли, p=ˈɡuslʲɪ) is the oldest East Slavic multi-string plucked instrument, belonging to the zither family, due to its strings being parallel to its resonance board. Its roots lie in Veliky Novgorod in Novgorodian Ru ...
instrument was first recorded in 12th century in Novgordian Rus'.
File:Saint Sophia Cathedral in Novgorod (cropped).jpg, The Saint Sophia Cathedral of Novgorod was one of the first churches which introduced Onion dome
An onion dome is a dome whose shape resembles an onion. Such domes are often larger in diameter than the tholobate upon which they sit, and their height usually exceeds their width. These bulbous structures taper smoothly to a point.
It is a typ ...
s
File:Birch bark document 210.jpg, The birch bark manuscript No. 202 written by Onfim, unearthed in Novgorod
References
Citations
General sources
*
*
External links
*
Information for tourists
Central Eurasian Information Resource: Images of Novgorod OblastUniversity of Washington Digital Collections
{{Authority control
States and territories established in 1944