Arkhangelsk (population 350,000 in 2018) is a regional center in Northwestern Russia, located on both banks of Northern Dvina river near its mouth on the White Sea, about 1250 km by road to the north of Moscow and about
Arkhangelsk (population 350,000 in 2018) is a regional center in Northwestern Russia, located on both banks of Northern Dvina river near its mouth on the White Sea, about 1250 km by road to the north of Moscow and about 1100 km northeast of Saint Petersburg. It is part of the Silver Ring of cultural and historical centers of Northwestern Russia.
The city was founded in 1584 and became the first Russian port playing the major role in trade with Western Europe until the foundation of Saint Petersburg in 1703. Since then, Arkhangelsk has been developing as a provincial city. The second negative impact on its importance arose with the foundation of Murmansk, a trans-polar non-frozen seaport at Barents Sea, in the beginning of the 20th century. However, honour came to the city during the years of World War II, when Arkhangelsk was the key destination point for Allied sea convoys that helped the Soviet Union confront German aggression.
Arkhangelsk claims to be the capital of Russian North. This is a bit pretentious, but reasonable at least in the matter of cultural life, which is very active compared to most cities of the same size in Russia.
The economy of Arkhangelsk is based on timber trade and the paper industry. The city has a large commercial and fishing port.
Located off the beaten path of major tourist flow, Arkhangelsk can be a transit point during a trip to Solovki, but is also worth a separate visit.
City in Arkhangelsk Oblast, Russia City in Arkhangelsk Oblast, RussiaArkhangelsk АрхангельскCityTop-down, left-to-right: View along the Northern Dvina river; Port of Arkhangelsk; Church of the Dormition and sea beach; view to the skyscraper Vysotka FlagCoat of armsInteractive map of ArkhangelskArkhangelskLocation of ArkhangelskShow map of Arkhangelsk OblastArkhangelskArkhangelsk (European Russia)Show map of European RussiaArkhangelskArkhangelsk (Russia)Show map of RussiaArkhangelskArkhangelsk (Europe)Show map of EuropeCoordinates: 64°32′35″N 40°32′15″E / 64.5431°N 40.5375°E / 64.5431; 40.5375CountryRussiaFederal subjectArkhangelsk OblastNovo-Kholmogory1584City status since1584Government • BodyCity Duma • HeadDmitry MorevArea • Total294.42 km2 (113.68 sq mi)Elevation3 m (9.8 ft)Population (2010 Census) • Total348,783 • Estimate (2025)350,985 (+0.6%) • Rank50th in 2010 • Density1,185/km2 (3,070/sq mi)Administrative status • Subordinated tocity of oblast significance of Arkhangelsk • Capital ofArkhangelsk Oblast, city of oblast significance of ArkhangelskMunicipal status • Urban okrugArkhangelsk Urban Okrug • Capital ofArkhangelsk Urban Okrug, Primorsky Municipal DistrictTime zoneUTC+3 (MSK )Postal code163000-163071Dialing code+7 8182OKTMO ID11701000001City DayLast Sunday of JuneWebsitewww.arhcity.ru Arkhangelsk (Russian: Архангельск, pronounced [ɐrˈxanɡʲɪlʲsk]), historically called in English Archangel and later Archangelsk, is a city and the administrative center of Arkhangelsk Oblast, Russia. It lies on both banks of the Northern Dvina River, near its mouth into the White Sea. The city spreads for over 40 kilometres (25 mi) along the banks of the river and numerous islands of its delta. Arkhangelsk was the chief seaport of medieval and early modern Russia until 1703, when it was replaced by the newly founded Saint Petersburg. A 1,133-kilometer-long (704 mi) railway runs from Arkhangelsk to Moscow via Vologda and Yaroslavl, and air travel is served by the Talagi Airport and the smaller Vaskovo Airport. As of the 2021 Census, the city's population was 301,199.
The most comfortable time to see Arkhangelsk is summer. During May, June, and July the sun seems to stay 24/7 in the sky. This is actually not the case: Arkhangelsk is 300 km south of the Arctic Circle, so it doesn't have polar days or polar nights. But prepare to be awakened by sun peering through your window at 02:00 in the summer. The other side of this is 2-4 hours of light per day in the winter.
Spring is late (snowfalls in May are quite usual), summer is relatively warm (+20 to 25°C); the first snow comes in October or November and winter is harsh (-10 to -20°C and windy). From November to May, the Northern Dvina and White Sea are covered with ice, and ship navigation is possible only with icebreakers.
Arkhangelsk has two airports: Talagi for interregional flights and Vaskovo for flights within Arkhangelsk region.
1 Talagi Airport (ARH IATA). It is the hub for Nordavia. There are several daily flights from Moscow (from Sheremetyevo Intl. Airport served by Nordavia, and Vnukovo Intl. Airport served by UTair), and Saint Petersburg (from Pulkovo Intl. Airport served by Nordavia and Rossiya Airlines). One-way domestic flights usually range between 4000-6000 руб. Apart from seasonal flights from a few holiday destinations in the Mediterranean and Black Sea, international flights are limited to services from Tromsø in Norway.
Talagi airport is about a 25-min drive from the city centre. The going rate for a taxi to the airport is about 200 руб but in the opposite direction, enterprising cab drivers ask for around 400 руб. Buses 12 and 12к get you from Talagi to city centre for a mere 28 руб but takes almost an hour and the timetable is not optimal.
A slightly more adventurous traveler will probably opt for the train, which from Moscow's Yaroslavsky Vokzal takes about 23 hours with one to two trains per day. A train journey from Saint Petersburg clocks in at around 27 hours with up to three services per week, other cities with direct trains to Arkhangelsk includes Kotlas and Murmansk. Also, there is one international train service from Minsk, the capital of Belarus, once a week taking three nights. As in most northern Russian cities extra trains to and from the Black Sea usually appears during the summer months, catering to domestic tourists but open for anyone to use. Schedules change from year to year so check beforehand.
2 Arkhangelsk railway station (Архангельск-Город), at Prospekt Dzerzhinskogo 2 (on the eastern edge of town). Buses and taxis are available and will whisk you to the city centre in a just few minutes. (updated Mar 2019)
1200 km by M8 road from Moscow via Yaroslavl and Vologda, and you are in Arkhangelsk (couple of hundreds km more if you drive from St Petersburg). The road is paved, but its quality could be much better.
Archangelsk is a significant commercial and fishing port acting as well as a gateway to Northern Sea Path (Северный морской путь). But there are no any regular ship connections with Arkhangelsk excluding river commuter ships.
Arkhangelsk is spread for 42 km via Northern Dvina river and has even several islands with no bridge connection included into its metropolitan zone. So getting around certain districts can be complicated. But all main attractions are located in the center and can be explored by foot.
Public transportation is represented with buses and marshrutki (shared minibuses). It is difficult to use without knowing Russian.
River transport is active during the summer season to connect river island vicinities with the city center.
Commuter trains service connects several suburbs with the city, but is interesting mainly for locals keeping their dachas. Each destination usually have one train in the morning and one in the evening.
Getting around by car or taxi is probably the best way to explore Arkhangelsk. Taxis are inexpensive and could be found near most attractions. Car rental service is represented by local providers only.
All means of transport including taxis reduce their activity significantly after evening rush-hours. This can be especially sensitive in winter, so do not allow yourself to stay half an hour on a -30 °C frost. Order a taxi by phone.
Arkhangelsk had been founded in 1584, but until the 20th century nearly all buildings were wooden. That is why there are not so many examples of old architecture here. Outside of the centre, buildings become very typical, but the core part of the city has some diversity.
Orientation is easy from Lenin Square, where Arkhangelsk's only skyscraper is built. This 24-floor administrative building is seen from many parts of the city and can act as a lighthouse for a traveller. Streets called ulitsa (улица) are positioned perpendicularly to the river, those are called prospekt (проспект) are parallel to the river. The area of interest is limited by Dvina's embankment (Naberezhnaya) in the west, Kuznechevsky Bridge in the north, Obvodny Kanal prospekt in the east, and the Sea and River Station (Морской и Речной Вокзал) in the south. Most of the attractions, e.g. views, buildings, museums, restaurants, theatres, etc., are within this area.
1 Northern Dvina's embankment and around (Severnoy Dviny embarkment). Arkhangelsk is the theme of the Russian 500-ruble banknote, and walking through the embankment you can find all the sites printed on it. For example, the monument of Peter The Great (photo below). Other monuments are generally belong to Soviet period, including the canonical Lenin's monument at the relevant square. There is also a couple of interesting churches around Naberezhnaya, including the former German Kirche (now used as city concert hall). River views and ships also compensate Arkhangelsk's architectural scarcity. Most of Arkhangelsk's street events are organized at Naberezhnaya, in summer the embankment is the favorite place of walking for locals. To find places for eating and drinking go to Troitsky prospekt. Natural history museum and the gallery of arts are in Lenin Square.
2 Wooden Arkhangelsk. Wooden buildings are being gradually moved out of the city, but still Arkhangelsk contains many sections of such 1- to 2-floor houses. Some of them look beautiful, others are more like slums, but anyway wooden Arkhangelsk is a certain point of interest and worth a walking visit. Even some sidewalks are still made of wood, crunching under feet. Most beautiful and well-maintained wooden buildings are concentrated at Chumbarova-Luchinskogo street (улица Чумбарова-Лучинского) which is planned as a "museum street" by the city authorities.
3 Solombala Island (Соломбала). Northern Dvina's delta is full of flat islands, several of them form parts of Arkhangelsk, and Solombala is the most known of such parts. Traditional port district, it's filled with the mixture of old wooden houses and modern blocks, unkempt, but colourful. Arkhangelsk competes with Veliky Ustyug to be called the home of Ded Moroz (Farther Frost, Russian version of Santa), and in Solombala you can find "Ded Moroz's village": a kind of entertainment area with Russian traditional facilities for family leisure (like winter snow coasts for kids).
4 Malye Korely (Малые Корелы). Tu-Su 10:00-17:00. An open-air museum of Russian North's wooden architecture. The museum area is situated on the high bank of a small picturesque river and is filled with impressive wooden houses, churches etc. Malye Korely is claimed to be the European-largest open-air architectural museum. Located in a village just outside the city, it's an easy target for a day or a half-day trip. You can also stay there for a night or two in a hotel complex performed in traditional Russian style. Winter gives the opportunity of skiing and sledging in Malye Korely (rent of equipment is possible). Easiest way to reach Malye Karely is to catch a taxi, but you can also try to go by a local bus No. 104 from Sea and River Station (Морской и Речной Вокзал). Admission: 250 руб.
Walk through Northern Dvina embankment, see kilometers of water and feel strong wind in any season.
Have something to drink in city cafes.
Visit one of the city festivals (summer: street theatres from all Europe, winter: ice sculpture festivals)
Arkhangelsk is called to be cultural capital of Russian North, so plunge into local culture: pay attention to the natural history museum and the gallery of arts, spend an evening at a classical organ concert in a music hall inside a former church.
Try Northern Dvina's beach in summer (bathing is not recommended due to environmental reasons, but still allowed and possible).
Spend a couple of hours on a skating-rink or take a skiing day-off in winter.
Get out to see severe Northern nature, rural settlements, and wooden temples.
Shopping infrastructure in Arkhangelsk is being developed, but yet hasn't achieved the level of a regional center. Most of goods are brought from Moscow or St. Petersburg, so they are more expensive than in these cities. There are some local tourist goods to buy:
Local wooden souvenirs made of birchbark
Northern sweets named kozuli (козули)
Picked berries (cranberries, blackberries etc.) and mushrooms. Check local markets in autumn.
1 Biblio-cafe (Кофейня "Высотка"), Lenin Square. A nice caffeterie in the heart of the city. Shared with a library and performed with old books and writers' portraits on walls. Lovely place for a cup of coffee.
2 Treskoed (Трескоед), prospekt Chumbarova-Luchinskogo, 8, ☏ +7 8182 44-03-02. An authentic restaurant of traditional Arctic fish cuisine. Menu includes Russian and Norwegian dishes, the prices are reasonable, and all information is accessible in English and Norwegian.
Most tourists visit Arkhangelsk as a transit point to Solovetsky Islands, so the sleeping infrastructure there is quite scarce and oriented mostly on business visitors.
Budget:
1 Belomorskaya Hotel (Беломорская), Ulitsa Timme, 3, ☏ +7 818 264-30-60. Built for budget tourists during Soviet times, still offers typical Soviet way of service. Located between city centre and the railway station. Cheapest rooms have shared bathrooms. from 990 руб per night.
2 Hotel Meridian. Located between city centre and Solombala, with shared bathrooms in cheapest rooms. from 1040 руб per night.
Midrange:
3 Hotel Dvina, ☏ +7 8182 28-70-98, rd@hoteldvina.ru. A Soviet-era 12-floor building has been renovated, and is the best location right in the centre. It still lacks in service and comfort. 3 stars. From 2300 руб per night.
4 Pur-Navolok Hotel. Probably the most comfortable and expat-friendly hotel in the city, located in the centre on the embankment of Northern Dvina. 4 stars. From 3000 руб per night.
5 Malye Karely, ☏ +7 (8182) 462472, hotel@karely.ru. Located near the Malye Korely museum, 24 km from city centre, this hotel offers room and cottage accommodation, and a handful of daily activities like skiing in winter. From 2100 руб per night..
Norway (Honorary Consulate), Pomorskaya Street, 16, ☏ +7 8182 43-20-03, +7 8182 65-10-43, +7 921 720-9077, arkhangelsk@barents.no. M 10:00-16:00, Th 13:00-17:00.
Solovetsky Islands are a group of islands in the White Sea, about 200 km northwest from Arkhangelsk, famous because of its monastery (Solovetsky Monastery). Its massive stone walls together with severe northern nature form stunning views. The site is included into UNESCO World Heritage List.
During the Stalin era, Solovetsky Monastery was used as a concentration camp and acted as a cornerstone of gulags.
Now the monastery role is back but you still need a permit to visit islands. Expect at least 4 days to spend there, and take a lot of anti-mosquito spray with you during summer.
There is a direct flight from Arkhangelsk's Vaskovo (Васьково) airport to Solovki (1-2 times a week). During the summer season there is also irregular ship connection. Ask local travel agents for more information.
Pinega (Пинега) is a river in Arkhangelsk region (say 300 km from the city), locally known for beautiful gypsum caves on its banks. Pinega is reachable by bus, extreme lovers can try local train No. 666 (the road to hell as it is), but most probably the best way is to organize the trip via local travel agents.
Siyskiy Monastery is about 200 km to the south from Arkhangelsk, accessible by car. Beautiful site inside taiga.
Severodvinsk, pop. 200,000, is the capital of Russian nuclear submarine production. The city is 35 km away from Arkhangelsk and is easily reachable by car or by bus. If you're not a Russian citizen, you probably need a permit to enter Severodvinsk. There is nothing exceptional in the city's typically Soviet view unless you have a governmental pass to see submarine wharf. White Sea coast is packed into an ugly embankment.
[edit] The arms of the city display the Archangel Michael in the act of defeating the Devil. Legend states that this victory took place near where the city stands, hence its name, and that Michael still stands watch over the city to prevent the Devil's return.
[edit] This section needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources in this section. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.Find sources: "Arkhangelsk" – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (February 2024) (Learn how and when to remove this message) Early history[edit] Vikings knew the area around Arkhangelsk as Bjarmaland. Ohthere of Hålogaland told circa 890 of his travels in an area by a river and the White Sea with many buildings. This was probably the place later known as Arkhangelsk. According to Snorri Sturluson, Vikings led by Thorir Hund raided this area in 1027.[citation needed] In 1989, an unusually impressive silver treasure was found by local farm workers by the mouth of Dvina, right next to present-day Arkhangelsk. Most of the findings comprised a total of 1.6 kilograms (3.5 lb) of silver, largely in the form of coins. Jewelry and pieces of jewelry come from Russia or neighboring areas. The majority of the coins were German, but the hoard also included a smaller number of Kufan, English, Bohemian, Hungarian, Danish, Swedish and Norwegian coins. It is hard to place this find historically until further research is completed. There are at least two possible interpretations. It may be a treasure belonging to the society outlined by the Norse source material. Generally such finds, whether from Scandinavia, the Baltic area, or Russia, are closely tied to well-established agricultural societies with considerable trade activity.[citation needed] Alternatively, like the Russian scientists who published the find in 1992, one may see it as evidence of a stronger case of Russian colonization than previously thought. Novgorodian arrival[edit] In the 12th century, the Novgorodians established a monastery dedicated to Archangel Michael in the estuary of the Northern Dvina. The main trade center of the area at that time was Kholmogory, located 75 kilometers (47 mi) southeast of Arkhangelsk, up the Dvina River, about 10 kilometers (6.2 mi) downstream from where the Pinega River flows into the Dvina. Written sources indicate that Kholmogory existed early in the 12th century, but there is no archeological material of this period. It is not known whether the origin of this settlement was Russian, or if it goes back to pre-Russian times. In the center of the small town (or Gorodok) that is there today is a large mound of building remains and river sand, but it has not been archeologically excavated. Norwegian–Russian conflict[edit] Location of Arkhangelsk in northwestern Russia The area of Arkhangelsk came to be important in the rivalry between Norwegian and Russian interests in the northern areas. From Novgorod, the spectrum of Russian interest was extended far north to the Kola Peninsula in the 12th century. However, here Norway enforced taxes and rights to the fur trade. A compromise agreement entered in 1251 which was soon broken.[citation needed] In 1411, Yakov Stepanovich from Novgorod went to attack northern Norway. This was the beginning of a series of clashes. In 1419, Norwegian ships with five hundred soldiers entered the White Sea. The "Murmaners", as the Norwegians were called (cf. Murmansk), plundered many Russian settlements along the coast, among them the Archangel Michael Monastery. Novgorod managed to drive the Norwegians back. However, in 1478 the area was taken over by Ivan III and passed to the Grand Duchy of Moscow with the rest of the Novgorod Republic. Trade with England, Scotland, and the Netherlands[edit] Three English ships, Bona Esperanza, Edward Bonaventure, and Bona Confidentia, set out to find the Northeast Passage to China in 1553; two disappeared, and one, the Edward Bonaventure, ended up in the White Sea at Nyonoksa, eventually coming across the area of Arkhangelsk at the mouth of the Dvina River where the St. Nicolas Monastery stood. Subsequently, the English gave the name "St. Nicolas Bay" to the sea now known as the White Sea. Ivan the Terrible found out about this, and brokered a trade agreement with the ship's captain, Richard Chancellor. Trade privileges were granted to English merchants in 1555, leading to the founding of the Company of Merchant Adventurers, which began sending ships annually into the estuary of the Northern Dvina. Dutch merchants also started bringing their ships into the White Sea from the 1560s. Scottish and English merchants also traded in the 16th century; however, by the 17th century it was mainly the Dutch that sailed to the White Sea area.[citation needed] Founding and further development[edit] Plan of New Dvina Fort in Arkhangelsk In 1584, Ivan ordered the founding of New Kholmogory (which would later be renamed after the nearby Archangel Michael Monastery). At the time access to the Baltic Sea was still mostly controlled by Sweden, so while Arkhangelsk was icebound in winter, it remained Moscow's almost sole link to the sea-trade. Local inhabitants, called Pomors, were the first to explore trade routes to Northern Siberia as far as the trans-Urals city of Mangazeya and beyond. In December 1613, during the Time of Troubles, Arkhangelsk was besieged by Polish-Lithuanian marauders commanded by Stanislaw Jasinski (Lisowczyks), who failed to capture the fortified town. In 1619, and again in 1637, fires broke out, and the entire city burned down.[citation needed] In 1693, Peter the Great ordered the creation of a state shipyard in Arkhangelsk. A year later the ships Svyatoye Prorochestvo (Holy Prophecy), Apostol Pavel (Apostle Paul), and the yacht Svyatoy Pyotr (Saint Peter) were sailing in the White Sea. However, he also realized that Arkhangelsk would always be limited as a port due to the five months of ice cover, and after a successful campaign against Swedish armies in the Baltic area, he founded Saint Petersburg in May 1703. Nonetheless, Arkhangelsk continued to be an important naval base and maritime centre in the Russian north. Icon of Archangel Michael, shown as protector of Arkhangelsk In 1722, Peter the Great decreed that Arkhangelsk should no longer accept goods that amounted to more than was sufficient for the town (for so-called domestic consumption). It was due to the Tsar's will to shift all international marine trade to Saint Petersburg. This factor greatly contributed to the deterioration of Arkhangelsk that continued up to 1762 when this decree was cancelled.[citation needed] Arkhangelsk declined in the 18th century as the Baltic trade became ever more important. Its economy revived at the end of the 19th century when a railway to Moscow was completed and timber became a major export. The city resisted Bolshevik rule from 1918 to 1920 and was a stronghold of the anti-Bolshevik White Army. The White Army was supported by an Allied intervention in which British, French, Italian, and American troops helped to defend against the Bolsheviks. The Allied forces, led by British Lieutenant General Frederick Poole, suffered numerous set-backs and eventually withdrew from Russia. Without Allied support, the poorly disciplined White Army quickly collapsed and the Bolsheviks entered Arkhangelsk on February 21, 1920. Arkhangelsk was also the scene of the Mudyug concentration camp. During both world wars, Arkhangelsk was a major port of entry for Allied aid. During World War II, the city became known in West Europe as one of the two main destinations (along with Murmansk) of the Arctic convoys bringing supplies in to assist the Soviet Union. During Operation Barbarossa, the German invasion of the Soviet Union in 1941, Arkhangelsk was one of two cities (the other being Astrakhan) selected to mark the envisioned eastern limit of German control. This military operation was to be halted at this A–A line, but never reached it, as the German armies failed to capture either of these two cities and also failed to capture Moscow. Arkhangelsk was also the site of Arkhangelsk ITL, or the Arkhangelsk Labour Camp, in the 1930s and 1940s. Today, Arkhangelsk remains a major seaport, now open year-round due to improvements in icebreakers. The city is primarily a center for the timber and fishing industries. On March 16, 2004, 58 people were killed in an explosion at a nine-storey apartment building in the city.
[edit] Arkhangelsk is the administrative center of the oblast and, within the framework of administrative divisions, it also serves as the administrative center of Primorsky District, even though it is not a part of it. As an administrative division, it is, together with five rural localities, incorporated separately as the city of oblast significance of Arkhangelsk—an administrative unit with the status equal to that of the districts. As a municipal division, the city of oblast significance of Arkhangelsk is incorporated as Arkhangelsk Urban Okrug. City divisions[edit] For administrative purposes, the city is divided into nine territorial okrugs: Isakogorsky Lomonosovsky Maymaksansky Mayskaya Gorka Oktyabrsky Severny Solombalsky Tsiglomensky Varavino-Faktoriya
[edit] Economy[edit] Transportation[edit] Arkhangelsk is the final destination of Northern Railway. In addition, the city is host to two airports, Vaskovo Airport and Talagi Airport where they host the 2nd Arkhangelsk United Aviation Division and Smartavia Airline, respectively. M8 highway provides a direct link to Moscow, Yaroslavl and Severodvinsk, the administrative center of the oblast. Local public transit is provided by buses and minibuses called marshrutkas. Until 2004 there were also trams, and until 2008, trolleybuses [ru]. Port of Arkhangelsk Port of Arkhangelsk Severodvinsky bridge over Northern Dvina Canal Arkhangelsk train station Talagi Airport Trolleybuses in Arkhangelsk
[edit] A monument to Peter the Great, a sailing ship, and the sea terminal in Arkhangelsk are depicted on a 500-ruble banknote Arkhangelsk was home to Pomorsky State University and Arkhangelsk State Technical University which merged with several other institutions of higher learning in 2010 to form the Northern (Arctic) Federal University. Arkhangelsk is home to the Northern State Medical University, Makarov state Maritime Academy, and a branch of the All-Russian Distance Institute of Finance and Economics.
[edit] This section needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources in this section. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.Find sources: "Arkhangelsk" – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (February 2024) (Learn how and when to remove this message) Arkhangelsk drama theatre Arkhangelsk regional museum of local lore laboratory building of RAS The Sutyagin House, claimed to be the world's tallest wooden single-family house Mir Cinema Mikhail Lomonosov came from a Pomor village near Kholmogory. A monument to him was installed to a design by Ivan Martos in 1829. A monument to Peter the Great was designed by Mark Antokolsky in 1872 and installed in 1914. After its historic churches were destroyed during Joseph Stalin's rule, the city's main extant landmarks are the fort-like Merchant Yards (1668–1684) and the New Dvina Fortress (1701–1705). The Assumption Church on the Dvina embankment (1742–1744) was rebuilt in 2004. In 2008, it was decided that the city's cathedral, dedicated to the Archangel Michael, which had been destroyed under the Soviets, would be rebuilt. The foundation stone was laid in November 2008 by the regional Bishop Tikhon. The cathedral, situated near the city's main bus station and river port, is expected to be completed and consecrated in 2019. Another remarkable structure is the Arkhangelsk TV Mast, a 151-meter (495 ft) tall guyed mast for FM-/TV-broadcasting built in 1964. This tubular steel mast has six crossbars equipped with gangways, which run in two levels from the central mast structure out to each of the three guys. On these crossbars there are also several antennas installed. An unusual example of local "vernacular architecture" was the so-called Sutyagin House. This thirteen-story, 44-metre (144 ft) tall residence of the local entrepreneur Nikolay Petrovich Sutyagin was reported to be the world's, or at least Russia's, tallest wooden house. Constructed by Sutyagin and his family over fifteen years (starting in 1992), without plans or a building permit, the structure deteriorated while Sutyagin spent a few years in prison on racketeering charges. In 2008, it was condemned by local authorities as a fire hazard, and the courts ordered it to be demolished by February 1, 2009. On December 26, 2008, the tower was pulled down, and the remainder of the building was dismantled manually by early February 2009. The promenade alongside River Dvina The cultural life of Arkhangelsk includes: The Arkhangelsk Lomonosov Drama Theater Arkhangelsk Philarmonia Arkhangelsk Youth Theater Arkhangelsk Oblast Museum Arkhangelsk Art Museum Stepan Pisakhov Museum An airstrip/dam/facility in Arkhangelsk was the fictional setting for a level in the 1997 hit videogame Goldeneye 007.[better source needed] Literature[edit] The Russian North, and, in particular, the area of Arkhangelsk, is notable for its folklore. Until the mid-20th century, fairy tales and bylinas were still performed on the daily basis by performers who became professionals. Starting from the 1890s, folkloric expeditions have been organized to the White Sea area and later to other areas of the Arkhangelsk Governorate in order to write down the tales and the bylinas, especially in Pomor dialects. [citation needed] In the 1920s, mostly due to the efforts of Anna Astakhova, these expeditions became systematic. By the 1960s, the performing art was basically extinct. These folkloric motives and fairy tales inspired the literary works of Stepan Pisakhov and Boris Shergin, who were both natives of Arkhangelsk.[citation needed]
[edit] Climate[edit] Arkhangelsk experiences a subarctic climate (Köppen climate classification Dfc), with long (November–March), very cold winters and short (June–August), mildly warm summers. More extreme climates at this high latitude – such as Fairbanks, Alaska or Oymyakon, Sakha Republic – have much colder winters than Arkhangelsk, indicating that there is still significant moderation from the Atlantic Ocean. Snowfall during winter is heavy, while summers are very rainy. Precipitation is very reliable year round. Climate data for Arkhangelsk (1991–2020, extremes 1881–present) Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year Record high °C (°F) 5.0(41.0) 5.2(41.4) 12.3(54.1) 25.3(77.5) 32.1(89.8) 33.0(91.4) 34.4(93.9) 33.4(92.1) 27.7(81.9) 18.3(64.9) 10.0(50.0) 5.8(42.4) 34.4(93.9) Mean daily maximum °C (°F) −8.4(16.9) −7.1(19.2) −1.1(30.0) 5.6(42.1) 13.1(55.6) 18.7(65.7) 22.1(71.8) 18.6(65.5) 12.8(55.0) 5.0(41.0) −1.9(28.6) −5.3(22.5) 6.0(42.8) Daily mean °C (°F) −11.6(11.1) −10.7(12.7) −5.5(22.1) 0.8(33.4) 7.5(45.5) 13.1(55.6) 16.5(61.7) 13.6(56.5) 8.8(47.8) 2.5(36.5) −4.2(24.4) −8.2(17.2) 1.9(35.4) Mean daily minimum °C (°F) −15.2(4.6) −14.4(6.1) −9.7(14.5) −3.4(25.9) 2.5(36.5) 7.7(45.9) 11.5(52.7) 9.3(48.7) 5.6(42.1) 0.4(32.7) −6.7(19.9) −11.3(11.7) −2.0(28.4) Record low °C (°F) −45.2(−49.4) −41.2(−42.2) −37.1(−34.8) −27.3(−17.1) −13.7(7.3) −3.9(25.0) −0.5(31.1) −4.1(24.6) −7.5(18.5) −21.1(−6.0) −36.1(−33.0) −43.2(−45.8) −45.2(−49.4) Average precipitation mm (inches) 42(1.7) 32(1.3) 31(1.2) 32(1.3) 48(1.9) 65(2.6) 75(3.0) 82(3.2) 62(2.4) 68(2.7) 51(2.0) 48(1.9) 636(25.0) Average extreme snow depth cm (inches) 36(14) 45(18) 48(19) 19(7.5) 1(0.4) 0(0) 0(0) 0(0) 0(0) 2(0.8) 11(4.3) 24(9.4) 48(19) Average rainy days 2 2 4 10 17 17 18 19 22 19 9 4 143 Average snowy days 27 26 23 13 6 0 0 0 2 13 25 28 163 Average relative humidity (%) 85 84 80 72 68 69 75 81 85 88 89 87 80 Mean monthly sunshine hours 14.2 50.6 129.3 189.1 252.8 291.0 298.0 200.9 111.3 50.3 14.9 1.8 1,604.2 Source 1: Pogoda.ru.net Source 2: NOAA
[edit] Historical populationYearPop.±%189720,400—    192675,474+270.0%1939284,570+277.0%1959256,309−9.9%1970342,590+33.7%1979385,028+12.4%1989415,921+8.0%2002356,051−14.4%2010348,783−2.0%2021301,199−13.6%Source: Census Data According to the 2021 Census, Arkhangelsk has a population of 301,199 people, which makes it the 68th largest city in Russia. In the 2010 Census, the following ethnic groups were listed: Ethnicity Population Percentage Russians 330,656 94.19% Ukrainians 4,404 1.25% Belarusians 1,581 0.45% Others 5,312 1.52%
[edit] Vodnik's home stadium Trud, the arena for the final of the 2011–2012 season Women in bridal dress celebrate the 450th anniversary of the founding of Arkhangelsk The tallest building in Arkhangelsk Bandy is the biggest sport in the city and is considered a national sport in Russia. Vodnik, the local team, plays in a 10,000 capacity home arena, and have won the Russian championships nine times (1996–2000 and 2002–2005). Arkhangelsk has hosted the Bandy World Championship twice, in 1999 and 2003. The 2011–2012 season Russian Bandy League final was played here on March 25, 2012. The 2016 Youth-17 Bandy World Championship was played in Arkhangelsk between January 28 and 31.
[edit] Mikhail Lomonosov (1711–1765), Russian polymath Piter Poel (1760–1837), Dutch diplomat and publisher Johann Abraham Nüske (1796–1865), German-British guitarist and composer Ilya Shumov (1819–1881), Russian chess master and officer in the Russian Navy Wilhelm Greiffenhagen (1821–1890), Baltic German journalist and politician Eduard Schensnovich (1852–1911), Polish admiral in the Imperial Russian Navy Stepan Pisakhov (1879–1960), Russian and Soviet writer Stepan Balmashov (1882–1902), Russian student and assassin Boris Shergin (1896–1973), Russian and Soviet writer Władysław Pobóg-Malinowski (1899–1962), Polish soldier and historian Monja Danischewsky (1911–1994) British film producer Boris Lukoshkov (1922–1989), Russian painter Timur Gaidar (1926–1999), Soviet and Russian admiral Mikhail Kalik (1927–2017), Soviet and Israeli film director and screenwriter Vladimir Tarasov (born 1939), Russian percussionist and constellation artist Boris Skrynnik (1948–2025), President in Federation of International Bandy and Russian Bandy Federation Slava Polunin (born 1950), Russian clown Vladimir Malaniuk (1957–2017), Ukrainian chess player (GM) Mikhail Pletnev (born 1957), Russian pianist and conductor Alexander Dobrunov (1959–2006), Russian judo fighter Victor Ferin (born 1969), Russian actor and filmmaker Alexander Kravchenko (born 1971), Russian poker player Anatoli Tebloyev (born 1974), Russian football player Yuliya Fomenko (born 1979), Russian athlete (middle-distance runner) Illya Haliuza (born 1979), Ukrainian football player Sergei Bykov (born 1983), Russian basketball player Nadezhda Kosintseva (born 1985), Russian chess player (GM) Andrei Pervyshin (born 1985), Russian ice hockey player Tatiana Kosintseva (born 1986), Russian chess player (GM) Alex Gilbert (born 1992), Russian-born New Zealand adoption advocate
[edit] See also: List of twin towns and sister cities in Russia This section needs to be updated. Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information. (February 2024) Arkhangelsk is twinned with: Sukhumi, Georgia (2011) Ashdod, Israel (2012) Jermuk, Armenia (2018) Former twin towns: Słupsk, Poland (1989–2022, terminated due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine) Tromsø, Norway (2011–2022) Oulu, Finland (1993–2022) Kiruna, Sweden (1999–2022) Emden, Germany (1989)(suspended) Portland, Maine, United States (1988)(discontinued) Vardø, Norway (1989)(suspended)