Administrative division

Sheksna is an urban-type settlement and the administrative center of Sheksna District of Vologda Oblast, located along the left bank of the Sheksna River, 83 kilometers (52 mi) from Vologda. There is one urban settlement and eight rural settlements in the district.

Geographical location

The district is located in the South of the Vologda Oblast.

The district shares borders with the district of Kirillov in the north, the district of Cherepovets to the west and the south, the district of Vologda to the east.

The waters of the Sheksna and Rybinsk reservoirs (Volga-Baltic Waterway) flow through its territory from north to south. It shares boaders with the District of Kirillov in the north, the District of Cherepovets to the west and the south, the District of Vologda to the east. It is situated in the vicinity of consumption markets of Moscow and St.Petersburg, Eastern Europe and Scandinavia. The centre of the district is the settlement of Sheksna. Thanks to its advantageous location the district of Sheksna is an investor magnet in the spheres ranging from industry to agriculture to food industry to tourism.

Transport

The district of Sheksna is situated at the intersection of the main Russian transportation lines:

• Highways - road of federal importance Vologda - Novaya Ladoga;
• Waterways (the Sheksna River) - Volga-Baltic Waterway;
• Railways - Northern railway.

A114 highway, connecting Vologda to Cherepovets and Saint Petersburg, passes Sheksna.

Economy

In the branch structure of industry, forest and woodworking industries take a dominating position. A range of products manufactured on the territory of the Sheksna District includes fibreboards, chipboards, merchantable wood, MDF boards, sawnwood, flax fibre, dairy products, confectionery, flour and mixed fodder.

Agriculture (dairy farming, cultivation of grain crops and fodder, cultivation of flax) also takes a dominating position.

Attractions and tourism

Protected areas: protected sites of rivers, lakes and brooks, riversides, marshes rich in cranberry, wood-grouses' mating places, wells with drinking water, forests, archaeological monuments and a monument of architecture (country estate of landowner Sychyov in the village of Pogorelka).

Sheksna hosts the Historical and Cultural Center. It displays collections on local history, as well as temporary exhibitions.

Thanks to its advantageous location the district of Sheksna is a magnet in such sphere as tourism.

In immediate proximity to the Volgo-Baltic Waterway there are vacant sites that make it possible to turn the district into a centre for tourism with the focus on rural tourism, hunting, fishing, family rest, etc.

Tourism opportunities in the district:

• Summer and winter rest in the village of Irma;
• History of Russian culture, traditions of Russian Orthodoxy in Sizma;
• Water itineraries in Sheksna.

Irma

During navigation period more than 40 ships moor in the village of Irma, thus serving about 6000 passengers.

Sizma

Another point of interest is Sizma, an ancient Russian village, which attracts the ever-increasing number of tourists. Russian traditions and customs, local handicrafts (weaving, straw wicker-work and knitting) are preserved and developed in the village. Every day about 200-300 pilgrims flock there. The place was visited by travellers from Switzerland, Holland, the USA, Canada, Georgia and other countries.

History

The selo of Nikolskoye was known since 1590.

In 1954 the Nikolskoye obtained the status of urban-type settlement and was renaimed into Sheksna.