About the region

The Arkhangelsk region is located in Northwest of European part of Russia, between the Republics of Karelia (in the west) and Komi (in the east) It borders the Vologda region in the south and the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug in the east. The Arkhangelsk region also comprises the islands of Franz Josef Land and Novaya Zemlya. One third of its area lies north of the Arctic Circle. The Arctic Ocean (the White Sea and the Barents Sea) washes the Arkhangelsk region in the north.

Area
The total area of the Arkhangelsk region, including the Nenets Autonomous Okrug, is 587 000 km²

Climate
The area of the Arkhangelsk region belongs to the temperate continental zone. Frequent changes of air masses accompanied by strong winds are typical of the climate of the Arkhangelsk region. The influence of the Atlantic Ocean and the Barents Sea has a notable effect on the climate and explains the moderate temperatures in the winter. In the urbanised western mainland of the Arkhangelsk Oblast, the winter season lasts for 200-240 days, the average January temperature being -17^oC. The lowest recorded temperature is -48.6^oC. In the eastern tundra area, the climate is more severe. The average winter temperature is -20^oC, but it can fall as low as -55^oC. The arctic spring arrives in the southern districts in April, and in the northern ones as late as May. The average July temperature is +15.5^oC, and the recorded maximum +31.8^oC. Annual precipitation is 450-550 mm.

Natural resources
The Arkhangelsk region lies in three natural zones: the middle and northern taiga forests, the subarctic and arctic tundra area with permafrost, and the arctic deserts with glaciers and eternal ice.

The seas, rivers, lakes, tundra and taiga are inhabited by various kinds of fish (cod, turbot, plaice, herring, salmon), birds (hazel-hen, wood-grouse, ptarmigan) and mammals (seal, deer, elk, polar fox, hare, wolf, bear). In the autumn, many mushrooms, berries and herbs can be found in the taiga forests. Four major rivers - Northern Dvina, Pechora, Onega and Mezen flow through the Arkhangelsk region.

Among mineral resources there are oil and gas, diamonds, limestone, gypsum, dolomites and colourful sand-clay deposits. Forests cover significant part of the region's area - over 230 000 km²

People and Economy
The total population of the Arkhangelsk region is near 1 million 440 thousand people. The average population density makes up 2,6 inhabitants per km², however the population is not at all evenly spread along the area. Administrative center Arkhangelsk, as well as the biggest towns -  Severodvinsk, Novodvinsk, Kotlas and Koryazhma - where industrial development is especially high are naturally the most populated.  

Basis of the regional economy is made up by such industries as machine building, timber harvesting and processing (including deep mechanical and pulp and paper production), building materails production and cargo transportation (as Arkhangelsk is one of the biggest commercial ports of Russia). Industry of the region is mainly export oriented - major share in the total export volume belongs to wood and wood prducts, as well as products of fuel and energy complex.

Arkhangelsk is the largest educaional center of the Russian North - 3 branch universitites (pedagogical, medical and technical), a number of high-school and technical colleges educate skilled specialists for the local industries.  

The whole region of Arkhangelsk is full of tourist-attracting places - Solovki, Kargopol, Pinega, Kenozero and many others make the area a real Mecca for tourists from all over the world.

Enjoy the views of Ark