Location: the eastern part of the Vologda Oblast
Foundation: 1539 first mentioned
Total area: 8,200 sq km
Area - comparative: the oblast's third biggest district in terms of total area
Border regions: the Kostroma Oblast in the south, the districts of Mezhdurech'ye, Sokol, Syamzha, Verkhovazh'ye, Tarnoga, Nyuksenitsa, Gryazovets, Babushkino within the Vologda Oblast
Administrative divisions: 16 administrative areas
Distance from Vologda: 215 km by highway, 247 km by water transport, 195 km by air
Total population: 27,400 people
Population of Tot'ma: 10,500 people. The majority of the district's population lives in the neighbouring settlements.
Density of population: 3,34 inhabitants per square kilometre
Total area of housing: 665,000 sq m
The most common building style: timbering owing to the abundant nearby forests
Oil and gas delivery: four gas pipe lines and an oil pipe line pass through the territory of the district of Tot'ma
Inland waters: numerous rivers (all in all 120) and 6 lakes that are used for water supply, transport communication, fishing and tourism. The Sukhona is the longest water course known on the territory of the district of Tot'ma. It flows some 126 km (within the boundaries of the district).
Terrain: mostly wavy moraine plains pertaining to the north-western part of the Permian plateau.
Plant life: The district of Tot'ma is a vast wooded area with some 50-60 percent of its total land area covered by coniferous and deciduous forests. The plant life map looks quite mixed.
Fauna: mammals typical of the woodlands of the European part of Russia - bears, wolves, foxes, elks, wild boars, martens, lynxes and others; many species of fish - salmon, white-fish, bream, pike perch, perch, pike and others; species of birds - wood grouse, hazel grouse, loom, golden eagle, black grouse.
Climate: temperate continental with long winters (average temperature in January is -13.7°C), short warm summers (average temperature in July is +19.0°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.
The conference “Russian North” held on April 22-26 in Vologda and Tot’ma will gather over 70 students and postgraduates, university professors and school teachers, scientists, archivists and museum employees from Russia. The event will touch upon problems of study and preservation of historical and cultural heritage.
The histoty of the city begins with the salt deposits which the locals found in the 13th century on the bank of the Kovda river (it is 2 km off today's city location). As history annals say, the underground salt waters were extracted for the first time in the country's history. A new economic and administrative centre of the volost (small rural district) - the surburb of Usoliye - sprouted up near the salt mines. Later, outside its walls the new surburb of Tot'ma appeared. It was known as a major centre for salt production. Being situated on the major trading route from the Moscow State to Western Europe via the White Sea, the city grew and thrived.
The year 1990 saw the opening of the Kuskov Memorial Flat in Tot’ma, a small town even by the Vologda Region’s standards. The town once prided itself on its salt making and the seafaring merchants who traded in Siberia and America. It was a native of Totma, Ivan Kuskov, who founded Fort Ross in California.
The visit to Tot’ma District, the oblast's third biggest district in terms of total area, was arranged as part of a series of visits throughout the Vologda Oblast examining economic and social development of regions. Mr. Kuvshinnikov got acquainted with the industrial and agricultural enterprises of the municipality.
Totma's application for accreditation as an IFSS World Cup event in the season 2019-2020 was approved by the IFSS Accreditation Committee. The World Cup Race event in Totma was accredited as an IFSS World Cup event for the following classes: Sp4, Sp6, SM1, SW1, MD6, MD12, MDSW, MDSM and the corresponding RNB classes.
Totma's application for accreditation as an IFSS World Cup event in the season 2019-2020 was approved by the IFSS Accreditation Committee. The World Cup Race event in Totma was accredited as an IFSS World Cup event for the following classes: Sp4, Sp6, SM1, SW1, MD6, MD12, MDSW, MDSM and the corresponding RNB classes.
The Russian edition of Forbes magazine published information about seven most attractive small cities of our country, Tot’ma among them. The top seven of the rating includes such Russian most popular small cities as Khvalynsk (Saratov Oblast), Sviyazhsk (Tatarstan), Gubakha (Perm Krai), Zheleznogorsk (Kursk Oblast), Kyshtym (Chelyabinsk Oblast), Yuzha and Kholuy (Ivanovo Oblast).
Totma's application for accreditation as an IFSS World Cup event in the season 2019-2020 was approved by the IFSS Accreditation Committee. The World Cup Race event in Totma was accredited as an IFSS World Cup event for the following classes: Sp4, Sp6, SM1, SW1, MD6, MD12, MDSW, MDSM and the corresponding RNB classes.
On August 10-11 the major events of the celebration will be dedicated to the key moments of the Russian-American history of Totma lands. Russian America Day is an incredibly diverse event that reflects the rich history of Fort Ross fortress, once the southernmost outpost of the Russian empire in America. Here one can learn about the rich history of the Alaska Natives at Fort Ross and enjoy the joyful sound of ringing bells.
The international sled dog race “Russian North-2019” will attract participants from Russia, the Czech Republic, Belarus and Estonia. The participants will be able to enjoy the unique and unforgettable experience of a journey along the snowy forests on dogsleds and the majestic winter scenery.
The international sled dog race “Russian North-2018” attracted 30 participants from Russia and Belarus and 250 dogs. The participants were able to enjoy the unique and unforgettable experience of a journey along the snowy forests on dogsleds and the majestic winter scenery on the bank of the Sukhona River.
The history of Tot’ma is also the story of many outstanding people - seafarers, merchants, poets and artists. One of the oldest in Russia, it is known as a town of museums and seafarers. In the second half of the 18th century, 20 expeditions left from Totma. One of the most important led to the discovery of the Commander Islands and the Aleutian Islands off the coast of Alaska.
The event is timed to coincide with celebrations of 880th anniversary of Tot’ma City. On this day Tot’ma will celebrate Russian America Day at the same time as Fort Ross in northern California, once the southernmost outpost of the Russian empire on the coast of northern California and founded by Tot’ma native Ivan Kuskov in 1812.
A group of Native Americans led by Robin Joy, a curator of the Fort Ross National Park came to Tot’ma to make a tour of the city where Ivan Kuskov was born, to see the sights of it, to get acquainted with the Russian traditions, and to learn to make Russian souvenirs. In a local museum the American guests painted souvenir distaffs. They were treated to cloudberry jam and pies cooked according to old recipes.