Borovichi, Industrial town in Novgorod Oblast, Russia
Borovichi is an industrial town in Novgorod Oblast, 194 kilometers east of Veliky Novgorod, spread along the banks of the Msta River. The settlement runs alongside the river course in the northern Valdai Hills, surrounded by rolling terrain and pine forests that mark the landscape.
The settlement began in 1495 when river pilots established a base here to navigate ships through the Msta rapids. Catherine the Great granted town status in 1770, helping the community grow as a trade center between northern and southern regions.
The name recalls the river pilots who once guided boats through the rapids, a task passed down through generations before modern locks tamed the Msta. The stone bridge from the 19th century connects both banks and locals still use it daily, pausing sometimes to look down at the water moving beneath their feet.
The railway station connects to Uglovka, while roads run to Tikhvin, Okulovka, and Pestovo, linking the town to surrounding areas. A walk along the riverbank helps with orientation, and streets in the center are generally flat and easy to navigate on foot.
Fire brick production employs about half the workforce and shapes daily life, with the factories visible from many streets on the town edge. The Regional Museum keeps a section on brick manufacturing, showing how closely the industry ties to the place and its people.
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