The district is located at the Ilmen Depression, southwest of Lake Ilmen. It belongs to the basin of Lake Ilmen, with the rivers in the north draining directly into the lake (the biggest such rivers are the Psizha, the Perekhoda, and the Chernets). The rivers in the southeastern part of the district drain into the Polist River, with the Snezha River being its biggest tributary within the district. The northern part of the district lies in the basin of the Shelon River. Lake Dolzhino in the south is the biggest lake in the district and belongs to the basin of the Perekhoda.
The landscape of the district is almost flat with hills separating river valleys. The elevation above sea level ranges between 60 and 103 meters (197 and 338ft).
Swamps cover up to 25% of the district's territory. Most of the swamps are located in the river valleys, and most of them in the south of the district. About half of the territory is covered by temperate broadleaf and mixed forest.
History
In the 19th century, the area was a part of Starorussky Uyezd of Novgorod Governorate. In August 1927, the governorates and uyezds were abolished. Volotovsky District, with the administrative center in the railway station of Volot, was established within Novgorod Okrug of Leningrad Oblast effective October1, 1927. It included parts of former Starorussky Uyezd. On July23, 1930, the okrugs were abolished, and the districts were directly subordinated to the oblast. On January1, 1932, Volotovsky District was abolished and split between Dedovichsky, Dnovsky, Soletsky, and Starorussky Districts. On February15, 1935, it was re-established. Between July28, 1941 and February24, 1944, Volotovsky District was occupied by German troops. An extended underground resistance organization was active in the district at the time of occupation. On July5, 1944, Volotovsky District was transferred to newly established Novgorod Oblast. On February1, 1963, the district was abolished in the course of the Nikita Khrushchev's administrative reform. On November3, 1965, Volotovsky District was re-established.
Economy
Industry
The industry of the district is represented by small enterprises, mainly of food industry.
Agriculture
As of 2012, three large-scale farms and nineteen mid-scale farms were operating in the district. The main agricultural specializations were meat and milk production, as well as crop growing.
Transportation
A railway which connects Bologoye and Pskov via Staraya Russa crosses the district from east to west. The main station within the district is Volot.
Volot is connected by roads with Staraya Russa and Soltsy. There are also local roads.
Culture and recreation
The district contains fifty-two objects classified as cultural and historical heritage of local significance. Many of those are archaeological sites.
12Общая информация. admvolot.net (in Russian). Администрация Волотовского муниципального района. 2012. Archived from the original on July 25, 2013. Retrieved June 22, 2012.
Новгородская областная Дума.Областной закон№559-ОЗот11 ноября 2005 г. «Об административно-территориальном устройстве Новгородской области», в ред. Областного закона №730-ОЗ от26 февраля 2015 г.«О внесении изменений в Областной закон "Об административно-территориальном устройстве Новгородской области"». Вступил в силу1января 2006г. Опубликован: "Новгородские ведомости", №75, 23 ноября 2005 г. (Novgorod Oblast Duma.Oblast Law#559-OZofNovember11, 2005 On the Administrative-Territorial Structure of Novgorod Oblast, as amended by the Oblast Law#730-OZ ofFebruary26, 2015 On Amending the Oblast Law "On the Administrative-Territorial Structure of Novgorod Oblast". Effective as ofJanuary1, 2006.).
Администрация Новгородской области.Постановление№121от8 апреля 2008 г. «Об реестре административно-территориального устройства области», в ред. Постановления №408 от4 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#121ofApril8, 2008 On the Registry of the Administrative-Territorial Structure of Novgorod Oblast, as amended by the Resolution#408 ofAugust4, 2014 On Amending the Registry of the Administrative-Territorial Structure of Novgorod Oblast. ).
Новгородская областная Дума.Областной закон№350-ОЗот2 декабря 2004 г. «Об установлении границ муниципальных образований, входящих в состав территории Волотовского муниципального района, наделении их статусом сельских поселений, определении административных центров и перечня населённых пунктов, входящих в состав территорий поселений», в ред. Областного закона №120-ОЗ от3 октября 2012 г.«О внесении изменений в некоторые Областные законы, содержащие перечни населённых пунктов, входящих в состав территорий поселений». Вступил в силусо дня, следующего за днём официального опубликования. Опубликован: "Новгородские ведомости", №82, 15 декабря 2004 г. (Novgorod Oblast Duma.Oblast Law#350-OZofDecember2, 2004 On Establishing the Borders of the Municipal Formations Within the Territory of Volotovsky 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#120-OZ ofOctober3, 2012 On Transforming Several Municipal Formations Within the Territory of Volotovsky Municipal District and on Amending Various Oblast Laws. Effective as ofthe day following the day of the official publication.).