The northern part of the district, in the river basins of the Plyussa and the Zhelcha, is a depression of glacial origin.

Its southwestern part is swampy and is seasonally flooded by Lake Peipus; it is a plateau which sharply drops to the Zhelcha River valley.

The highest elevations in the district are found on this plateau and reach approximately 180 meters (590 ft) above sea level.

In the Middle Ages, the area belonged to Pskov and was always located at the western border of the Russian lands.

Thus, in 1242, Alexander Nevsky, at the time the prince of Novgorod, fought the Livonian Order on the ice of Lake Peipus.

The event, known as the Battle of the Ice, took place close to what is now the village of Kobylye Gorodishche and resulted in Novgorodian victory.

In 1614, in the course of the Ingrian War, Gdov was taken by the Swedes; however, in 1617, it was returned to Russia as a part of the Treaty of Stolbovo.

On May 15, 1919, the detachment under command of Stanislav Bulak-Balakhovich captured Gdov, and the whole uyezd thus came under control of the Yudenich's White Army troops.

[9] In 1920 Soviet Russia and Estonia agreed to the terms of the Yuriev (Tartu) Peace treaty, where the newly established border followed the frontline between the belligerents.

Thus the narrow strip of land east of Narova river and the eastern part of Porka (known also as Piirisaar, Mezha, Zhelachek) island were transferred from Gdovsky uyezd to Estonia.

On August 1, 1927, the uyezds were abolished, and Gdovsky District was established, with the administrative center in the town of Gdov.

The governorates were abolished as well, and the district became a part of Luga Okrug of Leningrad Oblast.

[11] On August 1, 1927, Polnovsky District was also established, with the administrative center in the selo of Polna.

In February 1944, the Kingisepp–Gdov Offensive, a military operation in which the Soviet Army advanced to the east bank of the Narva and of Lake Peipus, took place here.

In particular, the town of Gdov and the whole shore of Lake Peipus within the district are included into this restricted area.

In order to visit the zone, a permit issued by the local Federal Security Service department is required.

[18] A railway connection, now suspended due to lack of commercial traffic, existed between Gdov and Slantsy further reaching Saint Petersburg.

Between the 1950s and 1980s an unpaved airfield in Gdov was used for commuter air transit to the neighbouring town of Slantsy.

It was founded in 1919, destroyed during the German occupation of Gdov, and rebuilt after World War II.