How to get there and away

Air

There is twice daily service to/from Moscow’s Sheremetievo, daily to/from St. Petersburg’s Pulkovo, five times weekly to/from Murmansk airports.

Train

The direct train goes daily to/from Moscow’s Yaroslavl Station. Indirect trains may be taken through Vologda.

Car

From Moscow, take the M8 north through Vologda.

Why to go

Russian North is remarkable for its majestic scenery and unique architecture. The ancient Archangelsk played the leading role in the history of Russian architecture. Nowadays tourists can see the monuments that remind of the ancient epoch.

Due to its strategic location, the region has a rather grim history since for quite a long time the region was home to many prison and exile camps. The main attraction of the region is however the untamed northern wilderness, the open museum at Malye Korely or the Solovetskye Islands.

The Solovetskye Islands (Solovki) have always been used for exile and retreat: here was one of the most famous monasteries of the Russian Empire, a tsarist –era penal colony and a Soviet prison camp. It is still a place one can hardly live in. For travelers unphased by remote locations and complications in getting there, the islands offer unparalleled beauty, with frequent reminders of their troubled history. The region is known for its wooden architecture similar to that of fabulous Kizhi and pleasant scenery around the natural reserve. Malye Korely, a small town 25 km east of Archangelsk, houses a prominent collection of the 19th century wooden buildings, windmills and watermills, bell towers and wooden churches, brought here from various places throughout the Archangelsk Region.

Especially wonderful are summer white nights-since the end of May till the end of June, the only time of the year when the sun never goes down. In winter you may observe marvelous soft white snows and northern lights. There are about 25 thousand lakes, including salt, mineral sources, that allowed to create famous resorts Solonicha and Solvychegodsk in the Archangelsk Region.

The Archangelsk Region attractive for foreigners since here is history, art, traditions and business.

Geographical Position and Climate

Arkhangelsk Region is located in northern European Russia. The region covers an area of 587,400 square kilometers and comprises the territory of Yamal-Nenets Autonomous Okrug, 20 administrative regions and 14 towns. The administrative center of the Region is Archangelsk.

Arkhangelsk Region borders with Kirov and Vologda Region, Republics of Karelia and Komi, and is washed by three Arctic seas: the White, the Barents and the Kara Seas. The coastline stretches up to 3000 km.

Thanks to its huge territory Archangelsk Region comprises different climatic zones, with arctic and sub-arctic climate represented on the north-eastern territories and with temperate climate prevailing in the center and on the south of the region. Winters are usually long and cold with strong winds and summers are moderate-warm. Average temperatures range from -9°С for January to 17°С for July.

Arkhangelsk Region is often called a “land of the white nights”. From the middle of May till the end of July days are very long and in the southern lands of the region nights resemble rather dusks. In the winter it is just vice versa: days last for some 5 hours and for the rest of the time it is dark.

37% of the territory is covered with forest, very often coniferous, 19% of the Region’s area is represented by islands (including archipelagos of Franz Josef Land and New land). Arkhangelsk Region is proud of numerous rivers. The largest among them are the Northern Dvina, the Pechora, the Onega, and the Mezen’ Rivers. The region is also rich with natural resources such as bauxite, oil, and gas. Besides, here a prominent center of timber industry is situated, which plays an important role in the region’s economy.

Population

Arkhangelsk Region has a population of about 1,443,300 people (2001 estimate). The population density is 2,5 persons per sq km. Some 74% of inhabitants live in towns. The largest cities are the following: Archangelsk – 361,800 (2000 estimate) people; Severodvinsk – 229,300 people; Kotlas – 66,200 people; Novodvinsk – 49,000 people.

Ethnic composition is comparatively homogeneous with 92 % represented by Russians. Among other nationalities are Ukrainians, Byelorussians, Nenets, Komi, Tatars, etc. The average age is 36.