Starorussky District

The whole area of Starorussky District lies in the basin of Lake Ilmen. The two biggest rivers are the Polist with the right tributary the Porusya, and the Lovat, with the left tributary the Redya. The Lovat and the Polist form a joint river delta with the Pola River. The western part of the delta lies within the district. The southern shore of Lake Ilmen is a part of Starorussky District as well. ==History==

The Lovat River was a part of the trade route from the Varangians to the Greeks, one of the oldest trading routes passing through Rus'. Staraya Russa was first mentioned in the 1167 chronicle as Rusa. The area belonged to the Novgorod Republic. After the fall of Novgorod in 1483, it was annexed by the Grand Duchy of Moscow. Between 1611 and 1615, during the Ingrian War, it was occupied by Swedish troops. In August 1927, the governorates and uyezds were abolished. Starorussky District, with the administrative center in the town of Staraya Russa, was established within Novgorod Okrug of Leningrad Oblast effective October 1, 1927. It included parts of former Starorussky Uyezd. On September 20, 1931, Podgoshchsky District was abolished and merged into Starorussky District. On January 1, 1932, a part of abolished Volotovsky District was merged into Starorussky District; this was reverted on February 15, 1935. On September 19, 1939, Staraya Russa was elevated in status to that of a town under oblast jurisdiction and thus ceased to be a part of the district. On February 1, 1963, the district was transformed into Starorussky Rural District in the course of the Nikita Khrushchev's abortive administrative reform. This was reverted on January 12, 1965. It included parts of Starorussky Uyezd. Between August 1941 and February 1943, Zaluchsky District was occupied by German troops. On July 5, 1944, Zaluchsky District was transferred to newly established Novgorod Oblast. On July 22, 1961, Zaluchsky District was abolished and split between Starorussky and Molvotitsky Districts. ==Administrative and municipal status==

Within the framework of administrative divisions, Starorussky District is one of the twenty-one in the oblast. As a municipal division, the district is incorporated as Starorussky Municipal District, with the town of oblast significance of Staraya Russa being incorporated within it as Staraya Russa Urban Settlement. ==Economy==

Industry Most industrial enterprises are concentrated in the town of Staraya Russa, which is administratively not a part of the district. In the district proper, there are several timber industry enterprises. Agriculture The district specializes in fishing in Lake Ilmen as well as cattle breeding with subsequent meat and milk production. Transportation A railway which connects Bologoye and Pskov via Staraya Russa runs through the district from east to west. Staraya Russa is connected by roads with Novgorod, Demyansk, and Bezhanitsy via Kholm. There are also local roads. Lake Ilmen is navigable; however, there is no passenger navigation. ==Culture and recreation==

, preserved as a monument of culture The district contains 8 cultural heritage monuments of federal significance and additionally 130 objects classified as cultural and historical heritage of local significance. The monuments under federal protection include: • Buregsky Monastery in the village of Buregi • Saint Nicholas Kosino Monastery in the village of Kosino • Remains of a fortress on the bank of the Lorinka River ==Notable residents ==

• Anatolijus Baranovas (born 1940 in Buregi), Olympic marathon runner • Nikolai Tomsky (1900 in Ramushevo – 1984), much-decorated Soviet sculptor ==References==