Historical Geography of Industry in the Cherepovets Country

The Cherepovets country has historically benefited from a favorable transport geography on the divide between major drainage basins. While the White Sea trade through Arkhangel'sk flourished, the region was situated at the intersection of south-north routes between Moscow and the White Sea and west-east routes between Novgorod and Vologda. After the rise of St. Petersburg, the economic-geographic situation of the region was reoriented toward the Baltic Sea. Industrial development in the region was fostered by the construction of the Tikhvin, Mariinsk and North Dvina waterways in the early 19th century. Metalworks and flour mills, based largely on long-haul raw materials, flourished in the first half of the 19th century. These industries declined when the construction of railroads deprived the region of its favorable transport situation on waterways, and lumbering, sawmills and paper and board production became the principal economic activities. Other industries that developed in the second half of the 19th century on a local raw-material base were glass works. In recent years the regional economy has been dominated by the huge modern iron and steel complex at Cherepovets.