The western part of the district lies in the basin of the Msta River, with its main tributary within the limits of the district being the Uver. The eastern part belongs to the basin of the Mologa. The principal river in the basin of the Mologa on the territory of the district is the Kobozha. Since the Msta belongs to the basins of the Volkhov River and the Baltic Sea, whereas the Mologa drains to the Volga and the Caspian Sea, the divide between the Caspian Sea and the Atlantic Ocean crosses the district from north to south.
There are many lakes in the district. The biggest ones are Lake Meglino, which is shared with Pestovsky District and drains into the Mologa, Lake Velikoye, the source of the Kobozha, and Lake Korobozha, the source of the Uver.
Most of the area of the district is covered by forests.
History
The area was originally populated by Balto-Finnic peoples; Krivich Slavs arrived later. By the 16th century, the area belonged to Bezhetskaya pyatina of the Grand Duchy of Moscow. The selo of Moshenskoye was first mentioned in 1545. During the Time of Troubles, the area supported the cause of Minin and Pozharsky. In 1613, there was a battle with Swedish troops, which the Swedish lost.[10]
In August 1927, the governorates and uyezds were abolished. Moshenskoy District, with the administrative center in the selo of Moshenskoye,[12] was established within Borovichi Okrug of Leningrad Oblast effective October 1, 1927.[2] It included parts of former Borovichsky Uyezd.[12] On July 23, 1930, the okrugs were abolished, and the districts were directly subordinated to the oblast.[13] On September 20, 1931, Orekhovsky and Opechensky Districts were abolished and merged into Moshenskoy District.[14] On January 1, 1932, a part of abolished Konchansky District was merged into Moshenskoy District.[15] On August 3, 1939, Opechensky District, merged into Moshenskoy District in 1931, was restored.[14] On July 5, 1944, Moshenskoy District was transferred to newly established Novgorod Oblast,[12] where it remained ever since with a brief interruption between 1963 and 1965. On February 1, 1963, the district was abolished in the course of the abortive Nikita Khrushchev's administrative reform and merged into Borovichsky Rural District.[16] On January 12, 1965, Moshenskoy District was re-established.[16]
Abolished districts
In 1927, Orekhovsky District with the administrative center in the selo of Klimkovo[17] and Konchansky District with the administrative center in the selo of Konchanskoye[18] were also established, both as a part of Borovichi Okrug of Leningrad Oblast. On September 20, 1931, Orekhovsky District was abolished and merged into Moshenskoy District.[14] On January 1, 1932, Konchansky District was abolished and split between Borovichsky, Moshenskoy, and Khvoyninsky Districts.[15]
Effective October 1, 1927,[2]Opechensky District with the administrative center in the selo of Opechensky Posad was established as well, as a part of Borovichi Okrug of Leningrad Oblast. On September 20, 1931, Opechensky District was abolished and merged into Borovichsky District, but on August 3, 1939, it was restored.[14] On July 5, 1944, the district was transferred to Novgorod Oblast.[14] On November 17, 1960, Opechensky District was abolished, and its area was split between Borovichsky and Moshenskoy Districts.[19]
Economy
Industry
In the district, there are small-scale enterprises of timber industry and food industry.[3]
Agriculture
As of 2012, the total area for use in agriculture was 331 square kilometers (128 sq mi). The main agricultural specializations in the district were cattle breeding (with meat and milk production) and growing of potato and crops.[3]
Transportation
A paved road connecting Pestovo and Borovichi crosses the district from east to west. It is connected to the selo of Moshenskoye by a local road. There are also other local roads, as well as local bus traffic.
The district contains two cultural heritage monuments of federal significance and additionally ninety-three objects classified as cultural and historical heritage of local significance.[20] Most of these are archaeological sites.
Alexey Maksheyev, an author and historian, as well as a military officer, was born in Olekhovo,[clarification needed] which was his family estate and is currently located within the limits of the district. He spent long periods in the estate and was buried there.[10]
The family of the author Vitaly Bianki lived in the village in Mikheyevo[clarification needed] between 1935 and 1942, and the author visited the village on several occasions. Currently, the village holds an annual conference devoted to Bianki.[10]
^Ореховский (авг. 1927 – сент. 1931) (in Russian). Система классификаторов исполнительных органов государственной власти Санкт-Петербурга. Archived from the original on April 7, 2014. Retrieved June 11, 2012.
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. Закон №370-ОЗ от 22 декабря 2004 г. «Об установлении границ муниципальных образований, входящих в состав территории Мошенского муниципального района, наделении их статусом сельских поселений, определении административных центров и перечня населённых пунктов, входящих в состав территорий поселений», в ред. Закона №199-ОЗ от 28 декабря 2012 г. «О внесении изменения в статью 3-1 областного Закона "Об установлении границ муниципальных образований, входящих в состав территории Мошенского муниципального района, наделении их статусом сельских поселений, определении административных центров и перечня населённых пунктов, входящих в состав территорий поселений"». Вступил в силу со дня, следующего за днём официального опубликования. Опубликован: "Новгородские ведомости", №2, 12 января 2005 г. (Novgorod Oblast Duma. Law #370-OZ of December 22, 2004 On Establishing the Borders of the Municipal Formations Within the Territory of Moshenskoy Municipal District, on Granting Them Rural Settlement Status, on Establishing Their Administrative Centers, and on Compiling the Lists of Inhabited Localities Within the Settlement Territories, as amended by the Law #199-OZ of December 28, 2012 On Amending Article 3-1 of the Oblast Law "On Establishing the Borders of the Municipal Formations Within the Territory of Moshenskoy Municipal District, on Granting Them Rural Settlement Status, on Establishing Their Administrative Centers, and on Compiling the Lists of Inhabited Localities Within the Settlement Territories". Effective as of the day following the day of the official publication.).