CHEREPOVETZ, a town and province in the Leningrad area (q.v.) of the Russian Socialist Federal Soviet Republic. The area of the province is 47,623sq.km., and the population (1926) 607,735, mainly rural. The soil is mainly of the podzolized bog type favourable to tree growth (see RUSSIA, Soils) and 76% of the province is forested. The climate is dry and cold, and the waterways are frozen six months in the year; of the average rain fall of 20 to 25in., most falls in July and August. The summer temperature averages 65° F. Much timber is exported in a raw state to Leningrad and Moscow or to foreign countries : there is little manufacture of furniture or other wooden goods. The timber is floated down the waterways on rafts when the spring thaws begin. During the World War and the Intervention (1914-21), saw-milling and timber works fell off, partly through the block ade of foreign markets and partly through the cessation of build ing operations. By 1924 it had reached only 50% of the 1913 level. Koustar (peasant) industries in charcoal burning and the production of pitch and tar are carried on in all the forest areas. Hunting is a profitable occupation, mainly for export. Squirrel, fox, marten and pole-cat fur have the widest sale ; other animals hunted are otter and marsh otter, white hare, ermine, lynx, wolf and brown bear. During the war and civil war 1914-21, hunting practically ceased, and wolves and bears became so numerous that they attacked the villagers, and it has been necessary to offer rewards for their heads. In 1925 the export of furs from the area reached two-thirds of the pre-war level. In the sown area, the chief crops are rye, oats, barley, wheat and buckwheat, which together form 83.5% of the crops. Potatoes, flax and hay are also produced. In the famine year 1921-22, Cherepovetz had a good harvest, since it is largely under the influence of the western cyclonic system and was unaffected by the eastern drought condi tions. Cattle, horses, sheep and pigs are reared and a co-operative system of dairy artels is developed for the supply of Moscow and Leningrad. Of industries other than timber working, only the production of matches and leather goods reached pre-war level. Printing, the making of small metal goods and work on electric stations are slightly developed, the respective percentages being 1.6, 2.1 and .9. Roads are poor and in many areas do not exist at all, the only railway is the east to west line which links Leningrad with Vologda, and freightage is mainly by the waterways, especially that linking with the famous Marii network to Lenin grad.
The town of Cherepovetz, lat. 59° 8' N., long. 37° 55' E., pop. (1926) 18,640, is the administrative centre. It is situated at the junction of the Yagorba and Sheksna rivers, which drain into the Volga, and during the spring thaws the banks of these streams are submerged. The Voskresensk monastery, of ancient founda tion, certainly prior to the 15th century, led to a settlement of peasants near it, and this settlement was raised to town rank in I780 and given the name of Cherepovetz. Its situation on the rail way and waterways makes it a centre for the products of the province. Agricultural implements and boots and shoes are made in the town, and there are a brandy distillery and a timber mill.