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Novgorod Region
// GENERAL INFORMATION
Novgorod Region is conveniently located in northwest Russia between Pskov, Tver, Leningrad, and Vologda regions close to the borders of the Baltic States, Belarus, and Scandinavia. It occupies an area of 55 300 km2. Main highways, rail lines, and air and water routes pass through the region, connecting it with St. Petersburg (180 km to the south) and Moscow (606 km to the west). Novgorod Region is part of the Northwestern economic district.
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The region is divided into 21 districts, 10 cities, 22 towns, and 3843 rural communities. It is considered a multinational region, although 95% of the population of 739 000 is Russian. The population density is 13.5 people per km2; the average age is 38-39, and nearly half of the population has higher or secondary education.
Novgorod Region has a temperate continental climate influenced by maritime air masses from the Atlantic and characterized by high humidity, relatively mild winters, and cool summers. The average January temperature is -10 °C, and the average July temperature ranges from +16.5 °C to +18 °C. Average annual precipitation is 500-650 mm; spring, summer, and fall are rainy. As a result of low evaporation and the inflow of warm air masses, the region has 543 000 hectares of bogs and 361 500 hectares occupied by rivers.
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The region has high potential for the production of peat, refractory clay, building materials, and mineral pigments, but forests are its main natural resource. Nature preserves and national parks occupy 3.5% of the region. Plant and animal life is varied: 49 species of trees and 101 species of vascular plants grow in the forests, and 57 species of mammals and 178 species of birds are encountered here. More than 30 species of fish inhabit Lake Ilmen.
The natural conditions in Novgorod Region differ from those in other parts of Northwest Russia. The characteristic relief consists of low hilly plains with traces of glacier activity and a large number of lakes. The swampy Priilmenskaya Lowlands with Lake Ilmen in the center are located in the western part of the region. The lowlands are bounded on the east by the Valdai Hills, one of most beautiful parts of the East European Plain.
The regional center is Great (Veliky) Novgorod, founded in 859. For centuries, it was a major international trading center on the Baltic-Volga trade route connecting Northern Europe and Asia, as well as being the political center of large territories extending from the Baltic States and Finland to the Northern Urals. Today, Novgorod is the region's largest industrial, cultural, and tourist center. The city has a population of 241 000.
Great Novgorod is known around the world as a museum city with unique examples of architecture and icon painting, legendary frescoes, and archeological finds that are considered part of the world cultural heritage.
The city's leading economic sectors are the engineering and metalworking industries and tourism.
HISTORY
Novgorod-Origins of the Russian State
From ancient times, the lands around Lake Ilmen lay along international trade routes leading from the Baltic Sea to the Volga River, a fact that contributed to the formation of a center of political interaction between the local Finnish tribes and some Slavic tribes that had settled here in the 6th-8th centuries. In 862, the Scandinavian prince Rurik and his army were invited to carry out all legal and law-enforcement functions. He was the founder of a dynasty whose members would rule the Russian lands for over seven and a half centuries. In the early 10th century, the successful military campaigns of Prince Igor and his military commander (voevoda) Oleg south of Novgorod helped establish the famous trade route known as the route "from the Varangians [Scandinavians] to the Greeks". This sped up the unification of the Eastern Slavic tribes into a unified state known as Kievan Rus.
The name of the Veryazha River still retains the memory of those days [from "Variag", another name for the Varangians], and the birthplace of the Russian state-Rurik's Settlement (Gorodishche)-is now one of Novgorod's most memorable sights.
Novgorod-The Oldest Russian Center of Christianity
In 988-989, the famous Russian prince Vladimir Svyatoslavovich baptized Rus in accordance with the rules of the Eastern Orthodox Church. Pagan idols were thrown into rivers and lakes and ancient temples were replaced with Christian churches, which were also being constructed in larger administrative centers.
Novgorod played an important role in converting the Northwestern and Northern lands to Christianity. The contribution of the Novgorodian higher clergy to protecting and promoting Christianity in Russia was rewarded by their appointment to an archbishopric (12th century). These achievements made the Novgorod Holy See one of the most important religious establishments within the Russian Orthodox Church.
The victories of Alexander Nevsky's troops over the Swedes and the Teutonic knights in 1240 and 1242 shielded Rus, weakened by the Tatar-Mongol invasion, from Catholic aggression. A tight circle of monasteries was gradually formed around Novgorod, their monks often holding high positions in other parishes of Rus, including Moscow; the pious deeds of monastery founders, such as Anthony the Roman and Varlaamy of Khutyn, served as grounds for canonizing these "reverend" religious figures.
In the 15th century, the power of the higher Novgorodian clergy became even stronger, penetrating into practically all aspects of the city's life. At that time, the Archbishop was virtually the head of the boyar oligarchic republic. Novgorod of those days resembled the Vatican, where secular power is completely subordinate to religious power. But here the resemblance ends. Unlike the Vatican, the Novgorodian archbishops controlled a vast territory equal to the combined territories of modern France, Belgium, and Holland, or to the territory of the state of Texas. Only the victory of Moscow and Novgorod's annexation to the centralized state put an end to this extraordinary republic.
Novgorod-The Cradle of Russian Democracy
In the days of Yaroslav the Wise (978-1054), descendants of tribal leaders who had settled in Novgorod long ago received special rights and tax benefits; and at the end of the 11th century, they were even granted the right to autonomy. Thus the tradition of the ancient veche-a mass assembly of Novgorod citizens-was revived. The fact that the city mayor (posadnik) was not appointed but elected from the ranks of the boyars contributed to the further development of republican traditions. In 1136, the citizens of Novgorod for the first time implemented the principle of "free election of princes" they had declared earlier. In this case, the veche dismissed Prince Vsevolod Mstislavovich and ran him out of town. The city was dominated by numerous parties and groups that incessantly battled among themselves to elect "their" princes.
In 1169, Grand Prince Andrei Bogolyubsky from the city of Vladimir made an attempt to restore Novgorod to its old traditions but failed. According to legend, one of the reasons for the rout and capture of his troops was the holy icon "Virgin Oranta", which subsequently became the city's sacred relic. Republican rule was solidified by the 14th century. By that time, a few boyar families had seized power and controlled it through the veche. After the reform of 1416-1423 a new body of boyar power known as the Masters' Council (Sovet Gospod) was established and Novgorod was renamed Great Novgorod. Historians often compare its political system to that of Venice, where the Doge's Council controlled all aspects of the city's life.
The Novgorod oligarchic republic, which stood in the way of the formation of a unified Russian state with Moscow as its center, suffered a resounding defeat in 1471. In 1478, the Grand Prince of Moscow Ivan III made it a point to come to Novgorod and announce his newly formulated principles of autocratic power in the Vladychnaya Hall (Palata) of the Novgorod Kremlin.
Novgorod-A Major Medieval International Trade Center
The establishment of a permanent route "from the Varangians to the Greeks" encouraged the development of Novgorod as an important crossroads for transit trade. This is proven by finds of buried treasures containing coins of Western European and Eastern origin and a multitude of objects of European and Byzantine origin, e.g., nonferrous metals, bolts of precious fabrics, and vessels for wine and olive oil. At the same time, Novgorodian furs, honey, wax, flax, and hemp were well known in Europe, including England.
At the turn of the 11th and 12th, centuries private merchant corporations (Ivanskoye sto), as well as foreign trade operations like the Gothic yard (Goteborg), which belonged to inhabitants of Gotland Island, and the German yard (Peterhof)" were functioning in the city. The Novgorodians, in turn, operated a similar trade center in Visby (Gotland Island). The powerful Hanseatic League traced its roots back to trade operations conducted between Novgorod and Gotland.
Novgorod reached the peak of its prosperity in the 13th-15th centuries. By the standards of those days, it was a large city with a population of between 25 000 and 30 000 people, or comparable to Lubeck, Vienna, and Prague. The wax trade helped make Novgorod's merchants rich. Wax was important for candles, and a tiny profit was left behind in Novgorod every time a candle was burned in a church.
After Novgorod was annexed to Muscovite Rus, all foreign merchant yards were closed down. The Hanseatic League's activities revived only in the early 16th century, followed by opening of other foreign trade delegations.
Novgorod-A Center of Literacy and Education
Written language is the foundation of education. In 1951, archeologists found the first 10 birchbark letters in the cultural layer of Novgorod. Today these artifacts number approximately 1000. These scraps of bark present us with convincing proof of the mass literacy of the Novgorod population and their readiness to assimilate not only the oral, but the written word as well. It was Yaroslav the Wise who laid the foundation for the teaching of reading and writing by establishing a school at the archbishop's court. St. Sophia Cathedral, as well as large monasteries like the Yuriev Monastery, St. Anthony Monastery, and the Khutyn Monastery, became centers for chronicle writing and book collecting. One of the largest libraries of medieval Rus, containing more than 1500 books, was carefully assembled and preserved in St. Sophia Cathedral in Novgorod. The year 1706 marked the establishment of the city's first continually operating educational institution founded by the prominent Likhuda brothers (who were of Greek origin) in Vladychny Dvor. In 1740, the Novgorod Theological Seminary, established on the basis of this library, occupied premises in St. Anthony Monastery.
Novgorod-A Prominent Center of Medieval Culture
Novgorod's extensive connections, its central position in a vast territory, and the unique combination of princely and democratic traditions in its social life all contributed to the creation of a unique phenomenon we now call "the artistic culture of medieval Novgorod". All attributes of medieval Christian culture-stone architecture, fresco and easel painting, and applied arts and jewelry-were developed with magnificent results. Moreover, Novgorod is one of the few cities where various styles exist side by side: Byzantine-style Kievan architecture (St. Sophia Cathedral, Nikola-Dvorischinsky Cathedral, St.-George's Cathedral) and monuments in the Roman and German styles. One of these, the magnificent Magdeburg Gates (12th century) have adorned the western entrance to the city's main cathedral since the 15th century, while the archbishop's residence featured a reception hall (palata) adorned with ribbed vaults designed by a German architect.
Having managed to avoid devastation during the days of the Mongol invasion, Novgorod preserved the greatest spiritual and artistic values of Russian culture during the period of its new rise in 14th-and 15th centuries. The most ancient Russian icons date back to these days, including such icons as "Apostles Peter and Paul" (11th century), "Our Savior on the Throne" (11th century), and "St. George the Warrior" (11th century); there are also silver zions and craters [a zion is a closed vessel used in the liturgy for carrying the consecrated bread] from St. Sophia Cathedral, as well as rare examples of gold needlework and embroidery. The golden age of Novgorod's cultural life, when the city ran its own building associations, icon-painting guilds, and gold needlework and jewelry workshops, reached its pinnacle during the 14thand 15th centuries.
Novgorod during the Second World War
One glimpse at the picture by the three Soviet artists known as the "Koukryniksy artists" (Michael Kupriyanov, Porfiry Krylov, and Nikolai Sokolov) entitled "Flight of Fascist Troops from Novgorod" should be enough for any viewer to see what the city had to endure during the period from August 1941 to January 1944, while it remained on the front line. The city was left in ruins, with carcasses of buildings and immense burnt holes where magnificent cathedrals had been. It seemed that the ancient city's history had finally come to an end, and its former inhabitants could only leave the ruins to settle anew in some other place.
But fate gave Novgorod one more chance: immediately after the war people began restoring and reconstructing their city as both the citizens and the monuments slowly came back to life. Novgorod was included in the list of Russia's most valuable historical sites. On the recommendation of the State Committee, which consisted of prominent scientists and architects, specialized restoration workshops were set up in order to raise the ancient city from its modern ashes. On November 7, 1944, while the war was still going on, the monument "Millennium of Russia", dismantled by the Germans, was reassembled and unveiled within the walls of the Kremlin.
Novgorod Today
Modern Novgorod is a stunning combination of old and new. After the Second World War, the historical part of the city was built up in such a way as to avoid confining ancient churches within the narrow well-like yards of high-rise apartment buildings. Nowadays, Novgorod, located on the highway connecting Moscow and St. Petersburg, enjoys stable economic and cultural links with both capitals, the Republic of Karelia, and the Baltic States and also attracts foreign investors. Novgorod is also on the list of Russian cities that have joined the New Hanseatic League. The city uses modern communication facilities, has art galleries, an art school, two theaters, a philharmonic society, a ballet troupe, music and dance ensembles, casinos, and discotheques. Several newspapers function in the city, which also has its own television and radio stations.
Novgorod is a university town. Yaroslav the Wise University (http://www.novsu.ac.ru/e-index.php3) one of the largest scientific centers in Northwest Russia. The city trains professional athletes in such sports as gymnastics, rowing, swimming, and boxing. Modern Novgorod is also a center of Russian domestic and international tourism.
RESOURCES
The surface of the Russian Plain within the region's boundaries is gently rolling. The lowest points are in the Priilmenskaya Lowlands (from 18 to 50 m above sea level), and the highest points are located in the Valdai Hills (about 300 m above sea level). Among the glacial moraines, kames [steep-sided sand and gravel mounds deposited by glaciers], and eskers of the Valdai Hills are numerous depressions, some of them occupied by lakes (e.g., Seliger, Velye, and Valdai lakes). These lakes have picturesque jagged shorelines with points and bays. There are also many long, narrow lakes occupying ancient preglacial hollows. The region's largest lake is Lake Ilmen, which in ancient times was known as the Slovenian Sea.
Valdai National Park, the most beautiful forest park of the East European Plain, is one of Novgorod Region's natural attractions. The boundary between the southern taiga and mixed forest zones runs through the park, which accounts for the diversity of its plant and animal life. The park's main adornments are Valdai and Seliger lakes, traditionally known as the pearls of Russian nature.
Forests are Novgorod Region's most important natural resource. The forest zone is divided into the taiga and mixed forest subregions, although the boundary between them is not sharply defined. Today, forests cover about 40% of the region's territory and consist of three types: coniferous, mixed, and softwood forests. Bogs, brush, and water cover about 20% of the region, and agricultural land occupies another 16%. The soils are predominantly highly acidic sod-podzolic soils with a low humus content and podzolic-boggy soils.
Novgorod Region has a variety of non-ore mineral resources, the most commercially important being the 83 explored deposits of refractory clay, limestone, quartz sand, and mineral pigments. In addition, there are 639 peat deposits with virtually unlimited potential for increasing production, 34 explored sapropel deposits, and 7 freshwater underground reservoirs.
The region also has an abundance of mineral and radium springs, as well as sources of therapeutic mud (the Staraya Russa resort, well known since the 19th century).
ECONOMY
Novgorod Region is noted for its science- and labor-intensive sectors, particularly the chemical and forest industries. The engineering and metalworking, electronics, chemical, forest, woodworking, and pulp and paper industries produce nearly half of the region's marketable commodities.
The chemical industry is Novgorod Region's leading economic sector, accounting for 31.4% of total industrial output. Products include fertilizers, general rubber goods, synthetic resins, plastics, paints, pharmaceuticals, and household chemicals. Fertilizer companies using both local and imported raw materials produce phosphate fertilizers (city of Volkhov) and nitrogen fertilizers (Novgorod Chemical Plant).
The engineering industry accounts for 11.2% of all industrial production. It is characterized by science- and labor-intensive production specializing in the output of sophisticated high-precision machines and equipment, electrical equipment, electronics and radioelectronics, instrument making, and shipbuilding, which developed as a result of the region's maritime location. Production of equipment for the chemical industry has also been established.
The forestry complex, which includes the forest, woodworking, and pulp and paper industries, produces 10.9% of the region's industrial goods. Lumber, plywood, and furniture are some of the products of the woodworking industry. Most of the materials for the wood processing industry are supplied from neighboring regions and republics of Northern district.
The development prospects of the forestry complex are tied to high-end timber processing, greater competitiveness of output products, forest regeneration, and improvements in the region's ecological situation.
Along with specialized sectors, there are others that supplement the economic complex, such as the power industry, which accounts for 16.5% of industrial output. The power industry is represented by low- and medium-power thermal and hydroelectric power plants, including a hydroelectric power plant on the Volkhov River. All the plants are integrated into the Northwestern unified energy system and connected with the unified energy system of European Russia. The metallurgical industry is another supplementary sector.
The shale oil industry is one of the sectors of the fuel industry.
Light industry is represented mainly by the textile, leather shoe, and ceramics industries.
The industrial construction complex has interregional significance. Companies in this sector are located in large and medium-sized cities with access to main highways. They produce reinforced concrete components and structures and other building materials. The glass industry is also well developed in Novgorod Region.
Novgorod Region's economic complex is a combination of companies of regional significance (forestry, power) and specialized companies (radio engineering and chemical industries). The largest industrial centers are Great Novgorod (specialized machine engineering, electrical and radio engineering, chemical industry, nitrogen fertilizer production, food industry, ship repair yard, and sawmill); Staraya Russa (instrument making and chemical engineering); and Vorovichi (ceramics and glass production).
INVESTMENT ATTRACTIVENESS
According to an expert evaluation of the World Bank, Novgorod Region ranks among the six Russian regions with the most favorable investment climate. Nearly 200 companies with foreign investment are located in the region.
The regional government's favorable economic policy, political stability, a skilled workforce, and modern communication facilities (the region ranks third in the country in telecommunication volumes and level of services) play a major role in attracting investments to the regional economy. Adding to the region's investment attractiveness are the existence of four preferential economic zones with the most favorable conditions for conducting business, large tax concessions for investors, and a low level of investment risk.
AUTHORITIES
The Novgorod Regional Duma headed by the Chairman and the Election Committee exercise legislative authority in the region.
City, district, and regional administrations exercise executive authority in the region. The Administration of Novgorod Region headed by the Governor is the region's highest executive body.
The Novgorod City Duma exercises legislative authority in the city of Novgorod, and the Administration of Great Novgorod exercises executive authority. The Mayor is the head of both the legislative and executive branches of the city government.
Official site of the Administration of Novgorod Region:
http://region.adm.nov.ru
Novgorod State United Museum:
http://eng.novgorod-museum.ru
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