Veliky Ustyug
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Veliky Ustyug (Russian: Вели́кий У́стюг) is a town in Vologda Oblast, Russia. It is located at the confluence of the Sukhona and Yug Rivers. Population: 33,419 (2002 Census); 36,202 (1989 Census); 36,000 (1970). It is served by Velikiy Ustyug Airport.
Origin of the town's name: the first recorded settlement here, the monastic settlement at Gleden (Гледен), was created near the point where the Yug River (South River) flows into the Sukhona River. Downstream from this confluence the two rivers form a single waterway known as the Northern Dvina). In Russian mouth of a river is ust'e (устье), south is yug (юг), together is Ustyug (Устюг). By the late fifteenth century the community had acquired the title Great - Veliky (Великий).
The town of Veliky Ustyug was first mentioned in a chronicle in 1207. It was a part of the Vladimir-Suzdal Principality. Located at the junction of important trade routes, the city turned into a significant commercial and industrial centre in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. Veliky Ustyug lost its key role as a river port with the diminishing importance of the Sukhona river route for trade between China and western Europe. This was particularly exacerbated by the opening of the Suez Canal in 1869. The city is known for its remarkable handicrafts, such as silver filigree, birch bark fretwork, decorative copper binding, and niello.
Veliky Ustyug is also the birthplace of Semyon Dezhnev, Yerofey Khabarov, and Vladimir Atlasov.
In the forest near Veliky Ustyug is the official residence, called Votchina (Russian: Вотчина), of Ded Moroz.
[edit] Views of Veliky Ustyug
 View to cathedral complex in Veliky Ustyug from village Dymkovo (photo 2001). |
 Spaso-Preobrazhenskij cathedral on Krasnaya street in Veliky Ustyug (photo 2001). |
 View to Sukhona River from bell tower of Uspenskij cathedral in Veliky Ustyug (photo 2001). |
 Portal of church of Dmitrij Solunsky in village Dymkovo near Veliky Ustyug (photo 2001). |
 City river port of Veliky Ustyug (photo 2001). |
 Embankment in Veliky Ustyug (photo 1913). |
 Embankment in Veliky Ustyug (photo beginning of twentieth century). |
 Sunset on Sukhona River near Veliky Ustyug (photo 2001). |
 Northern Dvina starts as the confluence of Yug River (on left) and Sukhona River (on top) near Velikiy Ustyug (photo 2001). |
[edit] Further reading
Useful English language articles on Veliky Ustyug:
- Brumfield, W (Undated) Veliky Ustyug: A view through the lens of an American scholar-photographer. Full text available at www.pomorsu.ru/Brumfield/velikii_ustiug.htm
- Gardner, N (2005) Article in hidden europe magazine, 5 (Nov 2005), pp.22-26. Full text available (html and pdf versions) at hidden europe website
[edit] External links
- City webportal
- Museum compelex of Veliky Ustyug
- Satellite picture by Google Maps
- Veliky Ustyug in old and modern photos
| Russian North |
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| Historical locations: Arkhangelsk | Belozersk | Berezovo | Kargopol | Kem' | Kholmogory | Kizhi | Kola | Kondopoga | Mangazeya | Pustozyorsk | Shenkursk | Solvychegodsk | Totma | Veliky Ustyug |
| Monasteries: Antonievo-Siysky Monastery | Ferapontov Monastery | Kamenny Monastery | Kirillo-Belozersky Monastery | Kiy Island Monastery | Nikolo-Korelsky Monastery | Pechenga Monastery | Solovetsky Monastery |
 |
Cities and towns in Vologda Oblast |  |
| Administrative center: Vologda Babayevo | Belozersk | Cherepovets | Gryazovets | Kadnikov | Kharovsk | Kirillov | Krasavino | Nikolsk | Sokol | Totma | Ustyuzhna | Veliky Ustyug | Vytegra |
