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Murmansk (Му́рманск), Russia

Murmansk, RussiaMurmansk, Russia
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:%D0%9F%D0%B5%D1%80%D0%B2%D0%BE%D0%BC%D0%B0%D0%B9%D1%81%D0%BA%D0%B8%D0%B9_%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%B9%D0%BE%D0%BD.jpg
Author: Лобанов Вячеслав
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Murmansk (Russian: Му́рманск) is a city on the extreme northwest of Russia. This city is closer to Norway and Finland than it is to Moscow. It is on Kola Bay, which opens into the Barents Sea, on the northern shore of Kola Peninsula.

Murmansk Railway StationMurmansk Railway Station
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Murmansk_Train_station.jpg
Author: Antonio Bonanno
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Murmansk covers 150 sq km (58 sq mi) and has a population of 308,000 people (2011 estimate). It observes the Moscow Standard Time (UTC+4). Murmansk experiences a subarctic climate. The winters here are cold and long, without sun for long durations, while the summers are short, mild, and with days when the sun does not set.

Warmest month in Murmansk is July, when the average high temperature reaches 17.2°C (63°F). Coldest month is January, with average low temperature of -13.9°C (7°F). August is the wettest month with 68 mm (2.68 in) of precipitation. Snow can be expected from October to May. There are no sunshine days in December and January, while July receives 235 hours of sunshine.

Oblast Drama Theater, MurmanskOblast Drama Theater, Murmansk
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Oblastnoi_dramteatr_murmansk.jpg
Author: Azalaza
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Murmansk is the last city to be founded by the Russian Empire (before the Russian Revolution brought its collapse). It was established in 1915 to support construction needs during World War I, so that a railway line could be built linking the ice-free Murman coast to Petrozavodsk.

Murmansk was originally named Romanov-na-Murmane (Рома́нов-на-Му́рмане), after the royal Russian dynasty of Romanovs. After the February Revolution of 1917, the association with royalty was dropped, and the city got its present name.

Murmansk provided Russia with a vital window to the Western world during the Second World War, with supplies moving both ways between the Soviet Union and its Allies partners. As such it was the target of the Nazis, and the city suffered severe destruction during a 1941 offensive. However, fierce Soviet resistance, coupled with the harsh climate was to the Russian advantage, preventing the Germans from capturing the city and cutting of Russian's supply artery.

Downtown MurmanskDowntown Murmansk
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:%D0%A3%D0%BB._%D0%9A%D0%BD%D0%B8%D0%BF%D0%BE%D0%B2%D0%B8%D1%87%D0%B0.jpg
Author: Insider
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During the Cold War period, Murmansk was the base for Soviet submarines and icebreakers, until the eventual collapse of the Soviet Union, when it continued to serve as the base for the Russian Northern Fleet.

Visiting Murmansk

Murmansk Airport receives flights from Moscow, St Petersburg, Helsinki and Tromsø. The airport is about 40 km from downtown Murmansk. Although there is a public bus, taking it may be full of hassle. In any case, bus 106 takes you to Murmansk Railway Station. For more peace of mind on arrival, you should pre-book your taxi. That would cost you 600 rubles. Taking a taxi off the curb at the airport will cost 1000 rubles.

Sights & Attractions in Murmansk

  1. Alyosha Statue
    Colossal Soviet-era statue commemorating the Great Patriotic War, it stands 30 meters in height, on a hill top.

  2. Museum of the Northern Fleet
    Museum celebrating the history of the Russian navy.

  3. Regional History Museum
    Museum showcasing the regional history, from geology and natural history to oceanography.

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About this website



Hello and thanks for reading this page. My name is Timothy and my hobby is in describing places so that I can share the information with the general public. My website has become the go to site for a lot of people including students, teachers, journalists, etc. whenever they seek information on places, particularly those in Malaysia and Singapore. I have been doing this since 5 January 2003, for over twenty years already. You can read about me at Discover Timothy. By now I have compiled information on thousands of places, mostly in Peninsular Malaysia and Singapore, and I continue to add more almost every day. My goal is to describe every street in every town in Malaysia and Singapore.

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