District of Nikolsk

General Information

Location: the south-eastern part of the Vologda Oblast

Geographic coordinates: between 59° 00" N and 59° 40" N, between 44° 30" E and 46° 30" E

Total area: 7,500 sq km

Foundation date: July 15, 1929

Border regions: district of Babushkino in the west, district of Kichmengsky Gorodok in the north, and the Kostroma Oblast to the south

Administrative divisions: 17 administrative areas

Total population: 21,400 people

Distance from Moscow: 800 km (via Shar'ya), 950 km (via Vologda)

Distance from St.Petersburg: 1200 km

Distance from Vologda: 416 km

Terrain: wavy plain divided by the Northern Ridge into the northern and southern parts. The ridges serve as a watershed of two river basins - the Northern Dvina and the Volga.

Inland waters: numerous rivers (all in all 700) that are used for water supply, fishing and tourism. The Yug is the longest water course known on the territory of the district of Nikolsk.

Climate: temperate continental with long winters (average temperature in January is -13.6°C), short warm summers (average temperature in July is +16.9°C). The winter days are short, lasting only six hours or so. Summer days last about 19 hours. The summer, although short, is one of the most prized assets. On the whole the weather is rather changeable due to frequent cyclones and various air masses that permeate into the district.

Plant life: The district of Nikolsk is a vast wooded area with some 87 percent of its total land area covered by coniferous and deciduous forests. The plant life map looks quite mixed.

Fauna: mammals - wild boar, bear, elk, lynx, fox, true otter, marten, wolf, hair, beaver; species of birds - black grouse, wood grouse, hazel grouse; species of fish - pike, bream, eel-pot and others

Protected areas: six natural reserves and a geological preserve with a total area of 25,270 has, a game preserve (20,000 has), fishery zone (156,000 has), hunting ground (307,000 has), cranberry bogs (943 has)

The most common building style: timbering owing to the abundant nearby forests

Natural resources: loam, construction sand, marl, peat, dolomite and fresh groundwater

Industry: wood industry, food industry, textile industry, production of flax fibre

In the branch structure of industry, timber industry takes a dominating position.  19 enterprises make up the forest and woodworking industries. They employ 24,4% of all people working in the economic sector of the district.

Agriculture of the District of Nikolsk is represented by enterprises of various organizational and legal forms. By virtue of natural conditions and economic factors, the following branches are developed in the region: flax-growing, dairy farming and cattle-breeding.