District of Vytegra

Vytegra is a small town situated on the hilly bank of the Vytegra river, 16 km off the place where the river flows into the Onega. Finno-Ugric peoples inhabited the place in VIII-V B.C. And the names of the rivers, lakes and settlements of Finno-Ugric origin testify to this fact.

Vyanga pristan (pier), the first settlement on the banks of the Vytegra river, was mentioned in a chronicle of 1710. It served as a trans-shipment point on the water route from Rybinsk to St.Petersburg.

In the reign of Peter I, John Perry, the Scottish engineer, having prospected the watershed between the Onega and White Lake drew up projects for canal construction. In 1715 a shipbuilding yard was raised near Vyanga pier.

The town of Vytegra was founded under the decree of 1773. Its building plan was approved on August 23, 1776. It was an orderly-street plan.

The Mariinskaya water system that was put into action in 1810 gave boost to economic and cultural development of Vytegra at the beginning of the 19th century. Later, the department of water means of communication that was in charge of waterways in Olonets, St.Petersburg, Vologda and Arkhangelsk gubernias was established in Vytegra. Woodworking, flour-grinding, tallow candle and sailcloth industries were also on the rise. But as navy and railway routes were laid, the role of Vytegra gradually diminished.

In the late 19th century the Mariinskaya water system was reconstructed. It led to the rapid development of trade, construction and manufacture in the town. The Church of the Purification was raised on the left bank of the river. It merits special attention. But Vytegra still remained a provincial town with some 5000 inhabitants.

In the years of the Soviet power a woodworking and a fishing plants were built in the suburbs of Vytegra.

In the Great Patriotic War the Mariinsky canal was used for evacuation of people and material values from Karelia and the Leningrad Oblast, and transportation of ammunition, equipment and provisions for the army. Many residents of Vytegra died on the battle-fields defending the Motherland. A monument commemorating the national heroes was built in 1974.

Later, when the Volga-Baltic canal began functioning, the Mariinskaya water system lost its importance.

Today lots of tourists come to this ancient town of Vytegra because they cherish the history and culture of the country. The population of Vytegra is 12500 people.