The district is split between several drainage basins. The rivers in the northwestern part drain into the Pchyozhva and Oskuya Rivers, left tributaries of the Volkhov. The north of the district lies in the basins of the Syas River and its right tributary, the Volozhba. The center and the south belong to the basin of the Msta River, which crosses the southern part of the district. The principal tributary of the Msta within the district is the Mda, which crosses the whole district from south to north, makes a U-turn near Nebolchi, flows south, and joins the Msta from the right. The rivers in the eastern areas of the district drain into the Pes River. Since the Pes belongs to the basin of the Volga, and the Syas, the Pchyovzha, and the Msta all belong to the basin of the Neva, the district is crossed by the divide between the basins of the Atlantic Ocean and the Caspian Sea.
There are many lakes in the eastern part of the district, the biggest of which are Lakes Nikulinskoye, Ostrovito, and Omsha. These lakes are of the karst origin. Part of the area is protected as the Karst Lakes Zakaznik.[11]
Much of the area of the district represents the hilly landscape crossed by deep ravines. The northern part of the district belongs to the Tikhvin Ridge, which runs from west to east along the borders of Novgorod and Leningrad Oblasts.[11]
History
The Msta River was an important waterway connecting Novgorod to the lands in the north, at least from the 9th century. Chronicles mention that Olga of Kiev traveled up the Msta River in 947 and founded a pogost which is believed to have been located close to the current location of Lyubytino. The area eventually fell under the control of the Novgorod Republic, and in the 15th century, after the fall of Novgorod, it was annexed by the Grand Duchy of Moscow. In the 16th and the 17th centuries, the region was attractive to monks looking for solitude. In particular, the Ryokonsky Monastery was founded in 1680.[12]
In August 1927, the governorates and uyezds were abolished. Belsky District, with the administrative center in the selo of Beloye,[13] was established within Borovichi Okrug of Leningrad Oblast effective October 1, 1927.[2] It included a part of former Borovichsky Uyezd and a minor part of former Malovishersky Uyezd.[13] On July 23, 1930, the okrugs were abolished, and the districts were directly subordinated to the oblast.[14] On March 11, 1931, the administrative center of the district was renamed Lyubytino and the district itself was renamed Lyubytinsky.[13] On July 5, 1944, Lyubytinsky District was transferred to newly established Novgorod Oblast,[13] where it remained ever since, with a brief interruption in 1963–1964. On February 1, 1963, the district was abolished in the course of the Nikita Khrushchev's administrative reform and split between Borovichsky District and the territory of the town of Borovichi.[15] On February 14, 1964, Lyubytinsky Rural District was established from parts of Borovichsky and Pestovsky Rural Districts. On January 12, 1965, Lyubytinsky Rural District was transformed into a regular district.[15]
Abolished districts
Effective October 1, 1927, Zhukovsky District with the administrative center in the selo of Zhukovo was established, as a part of Leningrad Okrug of Leningrad Oblast. It incorporated lands which formerly belonged to Tikhvinsky Uyezd of Cherepovets Governorate. On March 11, 1931, Zhukovsky District was renamed Dregelsky and Zhukovo was renamed Degli. On June 20, 1933, the administrative center of the district was transferred to Nebolchi. Dregelsky District was partially occupied by German forces between October 31 and December 8, 1941. In 1944, the district was transferred to Novgorod Oblast.[16] On February 1, 1963, Dregelsky District was abolished and merged into Pestovsky Rural District.[17] After a number of reforms, on February 14, 1964 the territory of former Dregelsky District (then a part of Pestovsky Rural District) was included into Lyubytinsky District.[18]
The economy of the district is based on timber industry and food industry. In Lyubytino, there is a factory producing paint.[21]
Agrisulture
The main agricultural specialization in the district is cattle breeding. It experiences a deep crisis.[22]
Transportation
The railroad connecting Sonkovo and Mga crosses the district. The principal railway station is Nebolchi. In Nebolchi, another railway branches off south. It connects Nebolchi with Okulovka, which lies on the main line connecting Moscow and St. Petersburg. Lyubytino has a railway station on the line connecting Nebolchi and Okulovka.
None of the rivers are navigable within the limits of the district.
Culture and recreation
The district contains 7 cultural heritage monuments of federal significance and additionally 153 objects classified as cultural and historical heritage of local significance.[23] Six of the seven federal monuments are archaeological sites, and the seventh one is a house in the settlement of Lyubytino.
^The count of urban-type settlements may include the work settlements, the resort settlements, the suburban (dacha) settlements, as well as urban-type settlements proper.
^ ab"Любытино". vnovgorod.info. 2012. Retrieved January 14, 2012.
Sources
Новгородская областная Дума. Областной закон №559-ОЗ от 11 ноября 2005 г. «Об административно-территориальном устройстве Новгородской области», в ред. Областного закона №730-ОЗ от 26 февраля 2015 г. «О внесении изменений в Областной закон "Об административно-территориальном устройстве Новгородской области"». Вступил в силу 1 января 2006 г. Опубликован: "Новгородские ведомости", №75, 23 ноября 2005 г. (Novgorod Oblast Duma. Oblast Law #559-OZ of November 11, 2005 On the Administrative-Territorial Structure of Novgorod Oblast, as amended by the Oblast Law #730-OZ of February 26, 2015 On Amending the Oblast Law "On the Administrative-Territorial Structure of Novgorod Oblast". Effective as of January 1, 2006.).
Администрация Новгородской области. Постановление №121 от 8 апреля 2008 г. «Об реестре административно-территориального устройства области», в ред. Постановления №408 от 4 августа 2014 г. «О внесении изменений в реестр административно-территориального устройства области». Опубликован: "Новгородские ведомости", №49–50, 16 апреля 2008 г. (Administration of Novgorod Oblast. Resolution #121 of April 8, 2008 On the Registry of the Administrative-Territorial Structure of Novgorod Oblast, as amended by the Resolution #408 of August 4, 2014 On Amending the Registry of the Administrative-Territorial Structure of Novgorod Oblast. ).
Новгородская областная Дума. Областной закон №357-ОЗ от 2 декабря 2004 г. «Об установлении границ муниципальных образований, входящих в состав территории Любытинского муниципального района, наделении их статусом сельских поселений, определении административных центров и перечня населённых пунктов, входящих в состав территорий поселений», в ред. Областного закона №216-ОЗ от 1 марта 2013 г. «О внесении изменений в некоторые Областные законы, содержащие перечни населённых пунктов, входящих в состав территорий поселений». Вступил в силу со дня, следующего за днём официального опубликования. Опубликован: "Новгородские ведомости", №82, 15 декабря 2004 г. (Novgorod Oblast Duma. Oblast Law #357-OZ of December 2, 2004 On Establishing the Borders of the Municipal Formations Within the Territory of Lyubytinsky Municipal District, on Granting Them the Status of Rural Settlements, on Establishing Their Administrative Centers, and on Compiling the Lists of Inhabited Localities Within the Settlement Territories, as amended by the Oblast Law #216-OZ of March 1, 2013 On Amending Various Oblast Laws Containing the Lists of Inhabited Localities Within the Settlement Territories. Effective as of the day following the day of the official publication.).