The district is located on the Smolensk Upland and is divided between the drainage basins of the Dnieper and the Volga. The rivers in the southwestern part of the district drain into the Desna River, a major left tributary of the Dnieper. The Desna has its source within the area of the district, and the town of Yelnya is located on the banks of the Desna. The northern part of the district belongs to the drainage basin of the Uzha River, another left tributary of the Dnieper, which also has its source within the district. Minor areas in the western part of the district drain into the Sozh River, a major left tributary of the Dnieper. Another major river which has its source within the area of the district is the Ugra River, a left tributary of the Oka. The eastern part of the district belongs to the drainage basin of the Ugra. 14% of the area of the district is occupied by forest.[7]
On 12 July 1929, governorates and uyezds were abolished, and Yelninsky District with the administrative center in the town of Yelnya was established on the territories which previously belonged to Yelninsky and Durogobuzhsky Uyezds. The district belonged to Smolensk Okrug of Western Oblast. On August 1, 1930 the okrugs were abolished, and the districts were subordinated directly to the oblast. On 27 September 1937 Western Oblast was abolished and split between Oryol and Smolensk Oblasts. Yelninsky District was transferred to Smolensk Oblast. Between 1941 and 1943, during WWII, the district was occupied by German troops. In 1961, Glinkovsky District was merged into Yelninsky District, but in 1980 it was re-established.[10]
Economy
Industry
There are enterprises of food, construction, and timber industries in the district.[11]
Agriculture
The main agricultural specializations of the district are cattle breeding with meat and milk production, as well as crops, beans, and potato growing.[11]
Transportation
The railway connecting Smolensk and Sukhinichi via Spas-Demensk crosses the district from northwest to southeast. Yelnya is the largest railway station in the district. There is infrequent passenger navigation.
Yelnya is connected by roads with Safonovo (where it has access to the M1 highway connecting Moscow and Smolensk), with Pochinok, and with Roslavl.
Culture and recreation
There is a local museum in Yelnya. In the selo of Novospasskoye, in the estate where the composer Mikhail Glinka was born, there is a memorial museum.[12]
^"Туризм" (in Russian). Yelninsky District administration. Retrieved June 5, 2018.
Sources
Администрация Смоленской области. Постановление №261 от 30 апреля 2008 г. «Об утверждении реестра административно-территориальных единиц и территориальных единиц Смоленской области», в ред. Постановления №464 от 27 июня 2014 г. «О внесении изменений в реестр административно-территориальных единиц и территориальных единиц Смоленской области». Опубликован: База данных "Консультант-плюс". (Administration of Smolensk Oblast. Resolution #261 of April 30, 2008 On the Adoption of the Registry of the Administrative-Territorial Units and Territorial Units of Smolensk Oblast, as amended by the Resolution #464 of June 27, 2014 On Amending the Registry of the Administrative-Territorial Units and Territorial Units of Smolensk Oblast. ).
Смоленская областная Дума. Закон №108-з от 20 декабря 2004 г. «О наделении статусом муниципального района муниципального образования "Ельнинский район" Смоленской области, об установлении границ муниципальных образований, территории которых входят в его состав, и наделении их соответствующим статусом», в ред. Закона №108-з от 23 ноября 2011 г. «О внесении изменений в областной Закон "О наделении статусом муниципального района муниципального образования "Ельнинский район" Смоленской области, об установлении границ муниципальных образований, территории которых входят в его состав, и наделении их соответствующим статусом"». Вступил в силу со дня официального опубликования. Опубликован: "Вестник Смоленской областной Думы и Администрации Смоленской области", №13, часть II, стр. 144, 22 декабря 2004 г. (Smolensk Oblast Duma. Law #108-z of December 20, 2004 On Granting the Status of the Municipal District to the Municipal Formation of "Yelninsky District" of Smolensk Oblast, on Establishing the Borders of the Municipal Formations the Territories of Which It Comprises, and on Granting Them Appropriate Status, as amended by the Law #108-z of November 23, 2011 On Amending the Oblast Law "On Granting the Status of the Municipal District to the Municipal Formation of "Yelninsky District" of Smolensk Oblast, on Establishing the Borders of the Municipal Formations the Territories of Which It Comprises, and on Granting Them Appropriate Status". Effective as of the official publication date.).