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57-464: The city of Arkhangelsk , with a population of 301,199 as of the 2021 Census, is the administrative center of the oblast. The second largest city is the nearby Severodvinsk , home to Sevmash , a major shipyard for the Russian Navy . Among the oldest populated places of the oblast are Kholmogory , Kargopol , and Solvychegodsk ; there are a number of Russian Orthodox monasteries, including

114-796: A genetically distinct population of polar bears associated with the Barents Sea area. Almost all of the area of the Oblast belongs to the basin of the Arctic Ocean , with the major rivers being the (from west to east) Onega River , the Northern Dvina (with the major tributaries the Vychegda , the Vaga , and the Pinega ), Kuloy River , Mezen River , and Pechora Rivers . A minor area in

171-693: A number of smaller islands, are located in Onega Bay. Onega Bay and the Dvina Bay are separated by the Onega Peninsula . The Mezen Bay is separated from the main body of the White Sea by Morzhovets Island . Other major islands in the oblast include Shogly, Zhizgin, Yagry, Lyasomin, Layda, Nikolskiy, and Mudyugskiy islands. Almost all of the oblast is covered by taiga , the coniferous forest dominated by pine , spruce , and larch . Large areas in

228-464: Is forested, hilly landscape. The north-eastern part belongs to the Timan Ridge , a highland mostly situated east from the oblast. The Nenets Autonomous Okrug is essentially a flat tundra ( Bolshezemelskaya Tundra ) with several hill chains like Pay-Khoy Ridge . The Arctic islands including Novaya Zemlya and Franz Joseph Land are mountainous with glaciers and eternally snow-covered. This region has

285-456: Is stone labyrinths and other stone settings, especially the Stone labyrinths of Bolshoi Zayatsky Island . Such labyrinths were typical for Northern Europe , but most have perished and now Solovetsky Islands have some of the best remaining examples. Historically the islands have been the setting of the famous Russian Orthodox Solovetsky Monastery complex. It was founded in the second quarter of

342-508: Is the Onega Peninsula . The shores of the islands are very indented. They are formed of granites and gneiss . The relief of the islands is hilly (the highest point is 107 m). Most of the Solovetsky Islands are covered with Scots Pine and Norway Spruce forests, which are partially swampy . There are numerous lakes, which were joined by monks so as to form a network of canals. One interesting feature of these islands

399-531: The 2010 Census , the district had a population of 861 inhabitants. The Solovetsky Monastery (founded in 1436), in 1923 became the site of the first Gulag establishment, the Solovki prison camp . The archipelago has a total area of 347 square kilometers (134 sq mi) and consists of six islands: The islands separate the Onega Bay from the main volume of the White Sea . The closest mainland

456-979: The Antoniev Siysky Monastery and the World Heritage Site of the Solovetsky Islands in the White Sea . Plesetsk Cosmodrome is one of three spaceports in Russia (the other two are Kapustin Yar in Astrakhan Oblast and Yasny in Orenburg Oblast ). Arkhangelsk Oblast, which includes the Nenets Autonomous Okrug , borders Kirov Oblast , Vologda Oblast , the Republic of Karelia ,

513-657: The Arctic Ocean and in Barents Sea , Morzhovets Island , and most of the White Sea coast in Mezensky District. In particular, the area includes the town of Mezen and the urban type settlement of Kamenka . In order to visit the zone, a permit issued by the local FSB department is required. Arkhangelsk Oblast is one of the industrial regions of Russia. The region has a developed fishery , forestry, woodworking, cellulose , and paper industry. There are large reserves of natural resources: Lumber , oil , bauxite , titanium , gold , manganese , and basalt . In 2011,

570-659: The Crimean War (19th century), and the Russian Civil War (20th century). In 1974, the Solovetsky Islands were designated a historical and architectural museum and a natural reserve of the Soviet Union . In 1992, they were inscribed on the World Heritage List "as an outstanding example of a monastic settlement in the inhospitable environment of northern Europe which admirably illustrates

627-582: The Great Duchy of Moscow . Until 1703, the Northern Dvina served as the main export trading route of Muscovy . The local centers were Veliky Ustyug and Kholmogory ; however, during the 17th century, Kholmogory lost its significance, and its role was gradually replaced by Arkhangelsk . In 1708, when the governorates were established by Tsar Peter the Great , Arkhangelsk became the seat of one of

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684-801: The Komi Republic , and the White, Pechora , Barents and Kara seas. Cape Fligely in Franz Josef Land (the northernmost point of Russia, Europe and Eurasia ) and Cape Zhelaniya in Novaya Zemlya (the easternmost point of Europe) are both located within Arkhangelsk Oblast. Mount Kruzenshtern is the highest point of the oblast. Arkhangelsk Oblast is located on the East European Plain , and most of it

741-452: The Onega Peninsula , and the north of the oblast. The exceptions with functioning airports are Mezen , Leshukonskoye , and Onega . The oil transport system, Baltic Pipeline System , runs through the oblast, with two oil-pumping station located at Urdoma and Privodino . The Kudemskaya narrow-gauge railway in 2010 has appeared in Forbes ranking, of 10 most beautiful railway routes of

798-797: The Pomors , who reside along the White Sea coast and in the valleys of major rivers, speak Pomor dialects and are in fact the descendants of the Novgorod population who colonized the Russian North in 12th–13th centuries. In 2002 Census, approximately 6,500 residents of Arkhangelsk Oblast indicated their ethnicity as Pomors. Classification of inhabited localities in Russia The classification system of inhabited localities in Russia and some other post-Soviet states has certain peculiarities compared with those in other countries. During

855-595: The Red Army entered Arkhangelsk, by which time all allied troops had already been evacuated. In the 1930s, the Soviets carried out the same experiments in economics as elsewhere in Soviet Union. The peasants and fishermen were forcibly organized into collective farms . These were heavily subsidized, which eventually brought the agriculture to the collapse in the 1990s, when the subsidies stopped. Arkhangelsk Oblast

912-825: The Sheksna , along the Slavyanka River into Lake Nikolskoye, then the boats were taken by land to Lake Blagoveshchenskoye, from there downstream along the Porozovitsa River into Lake Kubenskoye and further to the Sukhona and the Northern Dvina. Portages from the Northern Dvina Basin led further to the Mezen and the Pechora . After the fall of Novgorod in 1478, all these lands became a part of

969-644: The Soviet time, each of the republics of the Soviet Union , including the Russian SFSR , had its own legislative documents dealing with classification of inhabited localities. After the Dissolution of the Soviet Union , the task of developing and maintaining such classification in Russia was delegated to the federal subjects . While currently there are certain peculiarities to classifications used in many federal subjects, they are all still largely based on

1026-589: The 15th century by two monks from the Kirillo-Belozersky Monastery . By the end of the 16th century, the abbey had emerged as one of the wealthiest landowners and most influential religious centres in Russia. The existing stronghold and its major churches were erected in stone during the early reign of Ivan the Terrible at the behest of St. Philip of Moscow . At the onset of the Schism of

1083-482: The 1970s and 1980s the aviation was active, with all district centers connected to Arkhangelsk with regular flights, Kotlas being the second important hub. Currently, it has almost disappeared. There are two airports in Arkhangelsk, but regular local flights are only carried out to the destinations which do not have rail or road connections, such as Novaya Zemlya , Solovetsky Islands, the Nenets Autonomous Okrug ,

1140-879: The Nenets Autonomous Okrug also contains a number of bigger lakes. The river basin of the Pinega is characteristic of the karst , with a number of caves in the region. The White Sea coast within the Oblast is split into the Onega Bay (where the Onega is the major tributary), the Dvina Bay (the Northern Dvina), and the Mezen Bay (comprising the Mezen and the Kuloy). The Solovetsky Islands , as well as

1197-419: The Oblast administration, and eventually the governor was appointed/elected alongside elected regional parliament . The Charter of Arkhangelsk Oblast is the fundamental law of the region. The Legislative Assembly of Arkhangelsk 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

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1254-400: The Onega downstream from Severoonezhsk, and very few roads on the right bank of the Northern Dvina. Many rivers can be crossed only by ferry boats, which means they cannot be crossed during the ice melting period. There is regular bus service on the main roads. The principal railway line in the oblast is the railroad connecting Moscow and Arkhangelsk. The piece between Vologda and Arkhangelsk

1311-611: The Russian Church , the monks staunchly stuck to the faith of their fathers and expelled the tsar's representatives from the Solovki, precipitating the eight-year-long siege of the islands by the forces of Tsar Alexis . Throughout the imperial period of Russian history, the monastery was renowned as a strong fortress which repelled foreign attacks during the Livonian War (16th century), Time of Troubles (17th century),

1368-634: The allies were Shenkursk and Verkhnyaya Toyma . The allies were hoping that the Aleksandr Kolchak 's forces would move in the direction of Kotlas , however, the White Army was unable to advance in this direction. In January 1919, after the Battle of Shenkursk , the allied forces were driven out of the Shenkursk area. Battles around the station of Plesetskaya followed. On 20 February 1920

1425-586: The chairman of the oblast Executive Committee (executive power). In 1991 the CPSU lost all power. The head of the Oblast administration, and eventually the governor, came to be elected or appointed. The economic crisis of 1990s , after the fall of the Soviet Union , struck Arkhangelsk Oblast very badly. Although there remains a strong demand for timber, the basis of the oblast's economy, the population of Arkhangelsk Oblast has steadily declined, especially in rural areas. Many villages either have been deserted, or are on

1482-732: The cold climate. Ustyansky District is notable for bee-keeping. Two notable breeds originate from Arkhangelsk Oblast. The Kholmogory cattle , from Kholmogory and Arkhangelsk countryside, mostly black and white, was particularly stable against cold climate in Northern Russia and eventually spread well beyond the Arkhangelsk Region. The Mezen horses , bred in the Mezen River valley, are rather small but suitable for difficult work and easily survive cold winters. The area of current Arkhangelsk Oblast has always been located on

1539-575: The command of Vladimir Voronin , sailing from Arkhangelsk, crossed the Northern Sea Route in a single navigation. Arkhangelsk Oblast proper was established in 1937. Before 1991, the high authority in the oblast was shared between three persons: the first secretary of the Arkhangelsk Oblast CPSU Committee (who in reality had the biggest authority), the chairman of the oblast Soviet (legislative power), and

1596-674: The entire rail network belongs to the Northern Railway , which west of Onega connects to the Oktyabrskaya Railway . There is also a railway line from Severoonezhsk west to Yangory (an extension of the line from Puksa to Navolok), which belongs to the Department of Corrections. A big number of narrow gauge railways were built in the 1950s and 1960s to facilitate the transport of timber, but since then most of these became unprofitable and have been destroyed. In

1653-531: The faith, tenacity, and enterprise of later medieval religious communities". Today, the Solovki are seen as one of the major tourist magnets in the orbit of the Russian North . After the October Revolution , the islands attained notoriety as the site of the first Soviet prison camp ( gulag ). The camp was inaugurated in 1921, while Vladimir Lenin was still at the helm of Soviet Russia. It

1710-558: 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

1767-564: The islands are incorporated as Solovetsky District of Arkhangelsk Oblast , Russia . Within the framework of municipal divisions , they are incorporated as Solovetskoye Rural Settlement within Primorsky Municipal District . The administrative center of both divisions is the settlement of Solovetsky , located on Bolshoy Solovetsky Island. Almost all of the population of the islands lives in Solovetsky. As of

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1824-610: The main river valleys. The main historical areas of the Arkhangelsk region were Poonezhye ( Поонежье ) along the Onega , the Dvina Land along the Northern Dvina , Pinezhye ( Пинежье ) along the Pinega , Mezen Lands along the Mezen , and Pomorye ( Поморье ) on the White Sea coast. The main waterway was the Northern Dvina, and Novgorod merchants used the Volga and its tributary,

1881-542: The main trading harbour of the Russian Empire. However, in the early 20th century Arkhangelsk was an important starting point for Russian Arctic expeditions . For instance, in the 1830s Pyotr Pakhtusov sailed twice from Arkhangelsk to investigate and map Novaya Zemlya . In 1918 and 1919, Arkhangelsk Governorate became one of the most active battlegrounds of the Civil War in Russia . On 2 August 1918 Arkhangelsk

1938-426: The middle of taiga are devoid of trees and covered by swamps . In the floodplains of the rivers, there are meadows. A number of areas in Arkhangelsk Oblast have been designated as protected natural areas. These are subdivided into national parks , nature reserves ( zapovedniks ), and zakazniks of the federal level. The following protected areas have been designated, Kenozersky and Vodlozersky National Parks have

1995-531: The most remote Russian Orthodox monasteries. After the great schism in the Russian Orthodox Church in 1653, the area attracted many Old Believers , who were persecuted by the state. Most would later flee to even more remote locations such as Siberia . In 1703, with the construction of St. Petersburg, Arkhangelsk, which lacked St. Petersburg's geographical proximity to Europe and the non-freezing harbour of Murmansk , lost its significance as

2052-479: The observance of the oblast Charter in accordance with the Constitution of Russia . In the period when they were the most important authority in the oblast (1937 to 1991), the following first secretaries were appointed Since 1991, governors were sometimes appointed and sometimes elected, On 8 September 2013, regular elections of deputies to the legislative Arkhangelsk Oblast Assembly of Deputies were held in

2109-406: The one (paved) from Konosha southwards, and two (unpaved) from Kargopol to Pudozh and to Solza and Belozersk . Most of the local roads are unpaved. Until 2008, there were no all-season roads connecting the main road network with the north-east of the oblast, including the town of Mezen and the selo of Leshukonskoye, and there are still no roads into the Nenets Autonomous Okrug, on the left bank of

2166-516: The paper production and related industries were responsible for 55% of all industrial production of the Oblast, food production – 11%, timber processing (excluding paper production) and furniture production – 12%. The principal industrial enterprises in Arkhangelsk Oblast are shipyards in Arkhangelsk and Severodvinsk (including Sevmash ), pulp and paper mills in Koryazhma and Novodvinsk, and bauxite extraction plant in Severoonezhsk . Almost any town has some timber works. Fishery traditionally

2223-518: The parties of Russia, in the present convocation are: The oblast is administratively divided into six cities and towns under the oblast's jurisdiction ( Arkhangelsk , Koryazhma , Kotlas , Novodvinsk , Onega , and Severodvinsk ), one city under the federal jurisdiction ( Mirny ), twenty-one districts (one of which is Novaya Zemlya ), and two island territories ( Franz Josef Land and Victoria Island ). Another six towns ( Kargopol , Mezen , Nyandoma , Shenkursk , Solvychegodsk , and Velsk ) have

2280-417: The region. Election results by party: The Regional Assembly of Deputies of the sixth convocation began work on 25 September 2013. Viktor Novozhilov was elected Chairman of the Arkhangelsk Oblast Assembly of Deputies, elected from the Arkhangelsk regional branch of United Russia. Party factions formed: The deputies of the State Duma of Russia, as representatives of the Arkhangelsk Oblast and members of

2337-417: The seven governorates of the Russian Empire. At the same time, Arkhangelsk lands were one of the most remote areas in Russia. This fact was attractive for monks fleeing the crowds. In 1436, Solovetsky Monastery was founded, and it quickly became one of the richest and most influential Russian monasteries. Other monasteries followed. For instance, Kozheozersky Monastery , founded in 1552, still remains one of

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2394-425: The status of UNESCO Biosphere Reserve . In addition, there are two protected areas in the Nenets Autonomous Okrug, adjacent to each other: Nenetsky Nature Reserve and Nenetsky Zakaznik . The area of Arkhangelsk Oblast has been settled by Finno-Ugric peoples since prehistoric times, and most of the toponyms in the region are in fact Finno-Ugric. It was subsequently colonized by the Novgorod Republic . Kargopol

2451-472: The status of the towns of district significance. Nenets Autonomous Okrug , which is administratively subordinated to the oblast, is administratively divided into one district ( Zapolyarny District ) and one town of okrug significance ( Naryan-Mar ). Huge areas within the limits of the oblast are included in the border security zone , intended to protect the borders of the Russian Federation from unwanted activity. These restricted areas include all islands in

2508-434: The system used in the RSFSR. In all federal subjects, the inhabited localities are classified into two major categories: urban and rural. Further divisions of these categories vary slightly from one federal subject to another, but they all follow common trends described below. In 1957, the procedures for categorizing urban-type settlements were further refined. Multiple types of rural localities exist, some common through

2565-401: The trading routes connecting central Russia to the White Sea, and, in fact, in the 17th century the White Sea was the main sea export route for Russia. The whole course of the Northern Dvina is navigable, as well as the lower course of some of its tributaries, most notably the Vychegda, the Vaga, and the Pinega. The Mezen is also navigable in the lower course. The Onega is not navigable except for

2622-437: The two relatively short stretches because of the rapids . However, except for the lower course of the Vychegda and some parts of the Northern Dvina, there is currently very little or no regular passenger navigation on these rivers. They are used for cargo traffic though. In 1765, a road was built between Saint-Petersburg and Arkhangelsk, mainly for postal service. The road still exists and passes Kargopol and Plesetsk , and it

2679-399: The verge of disappearing. During the Soviet period, the high authority in the oblast was shared between three persons: The first secretary of the Arkhangelsk CPSU Committee (who in reality had the highest 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

2736-454: The west of the Oblast, most notably the basin of the Ileksa River , drains into Lake Onega and eventually to the Baltic Sea . A very minor area in Kargopolsky District in the south-west of the Oblast drains into the Kema River which belongs to the basin of the Caspian Sea . The area in the Onega River basin containing the biggest lakes in the oblast, such as Lake Lacha , Lake Kenozero , Lake Undozero , and Lake Kozhozero . The tundra of

2793-427: The west, to Onega and further to Belomorsk , was built during World War II to secure the transport of goods from the harbour of Murmansk to central Russia. A piece of railroad between Arkhangelsk and Karpogory was also built in the 1970s and is expected to become part of the Belkomur project — a railway line connecting Arkhangelsk via the Komi Republic with the Perm Krai and the Ural Mountains . Almost

2850-430: The whole territory of Russia, some specific to certain federal subjects. The most common types include: Solovetsky Islands The Solovetsky Islands (Russian: Соловецкие острова , IPA: [səlɐˈvʲetskʲɪj ɐstrɐˈva] ), or Solovki (Russian: Соловки , IPA: [səlɐfˈkʲi] ), are an archipelago located in the Onega Bay of the White Sea , Russia . As an administrative division ,

2907-446: The world. Population : 978,873 ( 2021 Census ) ; 1,227,626 ( 2010 Census ) ; 1,336,539 ( 2002 Census ) ; 1,570,256 ( 1989 Soviet census ) . Vital statistics for 2022: Total fertility rate (2022): 1.49 children per woman Life expectancy (2021): Total — 69.60 years (male — 64.33, female — 75.08) Fertility rates of the region 2000–2018 A notable subgroup of Russian population are

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2964-426: Was and remains attractive as an area for exile, forcible resettlement, and prison camps. Actually, the first prison camp, Solovki prison camp , was created in 1920 on the premises of the former Solovetsky Monastery. Novaya Zemlya from the 1950s, when its population (mostly the Nenets ) was strongly recommended to leave, became the military ground for nuclear bomb testing. In 1932, the icebreaker Sibiryakov under

3021-471: Was constructed in 1890s and passed through previously uninhabited areas between the valleys of the Northern Dvina and the Onega. The railroad construction gave the momentum to the population and exploitation of these areas. A branch from Konosha eastwards to Kotlas and further to Vorkuta was constructed in the 1940s to facilitate the transport of coal from the Komi Republic . From Kotlas, another branch continues south to Kirov . A branch from Obozersky to

3078-408: Was first mentioned in the chronicles in 1146, Shenkursk was mentioned in 1315, and Solvychegodsk was founded in the 14th century. By the 13th century the Novgorodian merchants had already reached the White Sea , attracted to the area for fur trading . The Novgorodians penetrated the area using the waterways, and this is why most of the ancient (as well as the modern) settlements were located into

3135-428: Was occupied by British and American troops, allied with the White movement . Administratively, they established the Northern Oblast with the center in Arkhangelsk. This episode of the Civil War is known as the North Russia Intervention . The troops advanced to the south, occupied the station of Obozerskaya in September 1918, and moving along the Northern Dvina and the Vaga Rivers . The southernmost points occupied by

3192-458: Was paved in 2011. One of the principal highways in Russia, M8 , connects Moscow and Arkhangelsk, and passes Velsk . This highway is paved and heavily used. In general, the road network is grossly underdeveloped. Only several all-season highways, in addition to M8, cross the oblast boundaries: the one (partially unpaved) connecting Kotlas with Syktyvkar ; the one (paved) connecting Kotlas to Veliky Ustyug and eventually with Vologda and Nikolsk ,

3249-480: Was the main means of subsistence in the Pomor villages at the White Sea coast. During the Soviet times, the fishermen were organized into collective and state farms ( Sovkhoz 's) and the fishery was heavily subsidized. In the 1990s the subsidies were stopped, and the fishery went into a serious crisis, some of the villages were deserted. In the valleys of the main rivers, there is some cattle breeding and crop and potato growing, which is, however, difficult due to

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