Olonetsky District is an administrative district (raion), one of the fifteen in the Republic of Karelia, Russia. Its administrative center is the town of Olonets. Olonetsky district is equated to the districts of the far north. Refers to national areas.

Geography

About 90% of the district's territory is occupied by forests and swamps. There are 49 lakes and 11 rivers on the territory of the district. The nature of the relief is mainly flat. In the north and east of the district there are hills, the most significant is Mount Zheleznaya (97 m).

Climate

The climate is mild, moderately continental. The average temperature in January is -9.9 °C, in July — +16.5 °C. The average annual precipitation is 584 mm.

Mass media

Newspapers and magazines

History

The district was formed on August 29, 1927 as part of the Autonomous Karelian SSR. In 1930, the Vidlitsky district of the Autonomous Karelian SSR became part of the district. During the Soviet-Finnish War (1941-1944), the territory of the district was occupied. The territory of the district was liberated by Soviet troops in the summer of 1944 during the Svir-Petrozavodsk operation. On May 23, 1957, part of the territory of the abolished Pitkyarantsky district was annexed to the Olonetsky district.

Administrative and municipal status

Within the framework of administrative divisions, Olonetsky District is one of the fifteen in the Republic of Karelia and has administrative jurisdiction over one town (Olonets) and sixty-four rural localities. As a municipal division, the district is incorporated as Olonetsky Municipal District. The town of Olonets and eight rural localities are incorporated into an urban settlement, while the remaining fifty-six rural localities are incorporated into eight rural settlements within the municipal district. The town of Olonets serves as the administrative center of both the administrative and municipal district.

Economy

The basis of the district's economy is the forestry industry, timber processing and agriculture (crop production, meat and dairy farming, animal husbandry). Tourism activity is developing.

Transport

Automobile communication

The federal highway «Kola» passes through the district. The district is connected by regular bus routes with Petrozavodsk, St. Petersburg, Sortavala. Commuter flights from Olonets to Verkhny Olonets, Vidlitsa, Ilyinsky, Tuksy, Kovera, Megrega, Rypushkalitsa and Verkhovye.

Railway

Railway line Yanisjarvi — Lodeynoye Pole.

Attractions

More than 130 monuments of historical and cultural heritage have been preserved on the territory of the district.

Demographics

Olonetsky District is the only district in the republic where Karelians form a majority of the population (63.4% in 1989). Natural population growth rate was -12.02 per 1,000 in 1994.

Notable natives and residents

Artamonov Ivan Ilyich (1914-1985) — Hero of the Soviet Union, a native of the village of Stepannavolok. Vladimir Egorovich Brandoev (1931-1990) was a Karelian poet and translator, a native of Berezhnaya village. Mikhail Konstantinovich Kononov (1923-2005) was an economic and party leader, a native of the city of Olonets. Ivan Petrovich Kuzmin (1928-2002) — Honored School teacher of the RSFSR, a native of the village of Matchezero. Heroes of Socialist Labor worked in the district — I. V. Chaikin, S. V. Sablin, F. F. Koshkin.

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