Archipelago with an area of 300 sq km. The smallest countries in the world by area

Work on the World Islands began in 2003 at the initiative of the Emir of Dubai, Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, who is also known for other ambitious projects (for example, the famous Parus Hotel). The idea to create an artificial archipelago appeared after it became clear that coastline The Persian Gulf is not enough for everyone who wants to buy a piece of land near the water. The first sign was Palm Jumeirah - the same “palm tree”, which today is one of the symbols. Almost after her, 4 kilometers from the coast, the Nakheel company began to build The World(World).

Unlike Palm Jumeirah, the World Islands do not have a land connection with the mainland, so all building materials were delivered here only by water and air. Sand to create islands ranging from 14 to 83 thousand m 2 was taken from the bottom of the Persian Gulf, and so that it would not erode, a system of breakwaters was built around.

Material for the construction of the islands was taken from the bottom of the Persian Gulf Photo of the period of construction of one of the islands

Initially, it was planned to create 7 "continents", but since few people could afford such large areas of land, they decided to divide them into dozens of islands that private individuals could also acquire. The very first appeared already in 2004, it was called "Dubai". By 2006, the Mir archipelago was almost ready, and two years later, about 70% of the territories were bought up by private investors.

However, the construction boom on the islands of The World did not last long. In 2008, a large-scale financial crisis began, the consequences of which are still noticeable. Construction sites were frozen, and projects to create hotels and luxury resorts partly realized only on the island "Lebanon". The situation only revived in 2018, when Kleindienst decided to modernize part of the archipelago by adding facilities with artificial snow and ice. But to what extent these plans will be realized, the future will show.

How to get to the Mir archipelago in Dubai

It is almost impossible to get to the World Islands without being the owner of one of them. Even boat trips are prohibited in this place, except for a transfer to Lebanon, where The Royal Island beach club is located. A boat departs every hour from Fishing Harbor 1 pier. For an excursion, you need to purchase a ticket that includes a boat trip and a visit to the club itself.

The exact address: boulevard La Rambla (La Rambla), building 19.

How to get from Dubai Airport:

Option 1

Metro: from the stop at terminal 3, take the red line to the Business Bay station for 27 minutes.

Bus: at the metro station, transfer to bus number 9 and go to Al Arouba Street 1, on the way 10 minutes.

On foot: walk 1 km.

Option 2

Bus: from the stop at terminal 1 take bus number 32С to Satwa Roundabout 1, the journey takes 28 minutes.

Bus: transfer to route number 88 and go to Suhail Bin Jumaa Masjid 23 minutes.

On foot: walk 1 km.

How to get from Al Maktoum Airport:

Option 1

Bus: take route No. F55 to the Ibn Battuta stop, 37 minutes on the way.

Metro: from Ibn Battuta station, drive to Business Bay in 25 minutes.

Bus: route number 9 to get to Al Arouba Street 1 in 10 minutes.

On foot: walk 1 km.

Option 2

Bus: take route number F55 to get to the Ibn Battuta stop in 37 minutes.

Bus: transfer to route number 8 and go to Rashid Al Hadees Masjid 2, on the way 1.5 hours.

Archipelago "Mir" in Dubai on the map

What to see

The world's largest archipelago of artificial origin "Mir" covers an area of about 55 km 2, on which some islands are collected in groups, while others are located at a distance from each other. It was originally planned that this place would become a "resort for the elite" - filled with luxury villas, hotels and beach clubs for the most famous and wealthy people in the world. Several companies, having bought out part of the islands, really tried to implement such projects.

5-star hotels and a whole group of luxurious villas were being built on the island of Aquitainia, and Isla Moda was planned to be devoted entirely to fashion. In addition to the resort infrastructure, they wanted to open boutiques of the most famous brands, a hotel designed by Karl Lagerfeld and several sites for fashion shows. On 19 islands of "Australia" and "New Zealand", Kuwaiti investors were going to launch huge complex"Ocean". As part of such a resort, the construction of residential buildings on the coast and on stilts, spa hotels with swimming pools and private villas began. However, all these projects "froze" at different stages of implementation.

At the same time, part of the territory of the Mir archipelago remained non-commercial. For example, Ethiopia was bought by Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie while they were still married, Antarctica is owned by Michael Schumacher, and Great Britain is owned by billionaire Richard Branson. Most of the Rossiya group was bought by Russian businessmen, with the exception of St. Petersburg, which is owned by the Kleindienst Group.

But the high cost of building on the islands, which communicate with the mainland only by air and water, led to the fact that only "Lebanon" was opened to the general public. The Royal Island beach club operates here, which includes:

Huge swimming pool;
Volleyball court;
Two beaches with panoramic views;
Bar for parties and discos;
Mediterranean restaurant.

There are also rooms for relaxation, but they are available only during the day - during the work of the beach club. Therefore, only one-day excursions are conducted to the islet, during which you can sunbathe, swim in the pool or go on a short boat trip around the surroundings. Of the advantages of such excursions, a small number of people can be noted; on some days, club visitors can be easily counted on the fingers of one hand.

Opening hours and ticket prices

The Royal Island beach club on the island of Lebanon operates:

Daily from 11:00 to 18:00.

Ticket price including boat ride:

For adults - 300 AED ( ~6 393 rub. );
For children under 10 years old - 150 AED ( ~3,197 rubles ).

The largest artificial archipelago was planned to be made even bigger - with the help of new islands, they wanted to turn it into the "Universe" (The Universe project).
You can buy one of the islands directly from the developer company only by personal invitation, which are sent out by the most famous people peace.
During construction Coral reefs have been moved to new locations. It is planned that they will gradually be populated by aquatic inhabitants, so that in a few years this formation will look completely natural.
In order to avoid stagnant water in the straits, there is a forced circulation system - special blades on the breakwaters form artificial currents.
On the island of "Sweden" is currently under active construction ski resort. There are already completed objects in which closed presentations were held.

Do you know how many times the largest island in Russia is smaller than the big island peace? Read the post and find out.

No. 10. Ellesmere (Canada) - 196,236 km2

Ellesmere is the most north island Canada is one of the ten largest islands in terms of area in the world. Due to the harsh climate, the population of the island is about 150 people.

The remains of prehistoric animals have been repeatedly found on the territory of Ellesmere. The first settlers were nomads from Siberia. In 1250, the Thule people, the ancestors of the Eskimos, settled on the territory. But by the middle of the 18th century, the island became deserted.

The island was discovered in 1616 by the English navigator William Baffin.

No. 9. Victoria (Canada) - 217,291 km2

In ninth place in terms of area is Victoria Island (Canada). The island was discovered in 1838 during the expedition of the British explorer Thomas Simpson.

In the 50s of the 20th century, there were several settlements on the island in which meteorologists lived. By the end of the 20th century, the population increased to detect the Eskimo settlers who took up fishing activities here.

No. 8. Honshu (Japan) - 227,970 km2

Honshu is the largest island in the Japanese archipelago and is the 8th largest island in the world. The island of Honshu is home to the largest Japanese cities: Tokyo, Yokohama, Osaka, Nagoya, Kyoto, Hiroshima, etc.

The island is covered with many volcanoes, some of them active. The population of the island is over 103 million people.

No. 7. United Kingdom (UK) - 229,848 km2

Great Britain ranks 7th in the list of the largest islands in the world and is the most big island in the British Isles and in Europe as a whole.

The beginning of the history of Great Britain is considered the period of the Roman conquest in 43 BC, but the island had an earlier history.

Great Britain was inhabited by the Noto people several hundred thousand years ago. Modern man arrived at British Isles before the beginning of the last ice age, but retreated to southern Europe due to the glaciers that cover the territory of the island. According to archaeological finds, after 12,000 BC. e. The British Isles were repopulated. Around 4000 BC e. the island was inhabited by people of the Neolithic culture.

To date, the population of the island of Great Britain is more than 61 million people, which makes it the most densely populated area in Europe.

No. 6. Sumatra (Indonesia) - 443,066 km2

Sumatra is the sixth largest island in the world. It is located in two hemispheres at once, since the Equator passes almost in the middle of the island. The island belongs to Indonesia and is part of the Malay Archipelago. It is located in a zone of frequent earthquakes and tsunamis.

To date, the population of the island of Sumatra is more than 50 million people. The main cities of Sumatra: Medan, Palembang, Padang. People of many nationalities live in Sumatra, about 90% profess Islam.

Approximately 73 thousand years ago, the Toba volcano exploded on the island of Sumatra. This event resulted in 1800 years of ice age and the reduction of the human population to 2000 people.

The name of the island comes from the Sanskrit word samudra - "ocean" or "sea".

No. 5. Baffin Island (Canada) - 507,451 km2

Baffin Island is the largest island in Canada and the fifth largest in the world. Due to the harsh climatic conditions of the island, the population is about 11 thousand people. largest locality islands - Iqaluit.

The first description of the island was made by William Baffin in 1616, and the island was named after him.

No. 4. Madagascar (Madagascar) - 587,713 km2

The fourth line of the ranking is occupied by the island of Madagascar. Is located in Indian Ocean off the east coast of Africa. The island is the state of Madagascar (the capital of Antananarivo). To date, the population of the island of Madagascar is more than 24 million people.

The locals call Madagascar the red island because of the color of the soil. More than half of the animals living in Madagascar cannot be found on the mainland, and 90% of the plants are endemic.

No. 3. Kalimantan (Indonesia, Malaysia and Brunei) - 748,168 km2

Kalimantan or Borneo is the third largest island in the world. It is divided between 3 states: Indonesia, Malaysia and Brunei. The island is located in the center of the Malay Archipelago.
Kalimantan in the local language means diamond river. It is named so due to its rich resources, in particular, a large number of diamonds.

The first people settled in Kalimantan about 40 thousand years ago. To date, the population of the island is about 20 million people. More than 300 ethnic groups live on the island.

№2. New Guinea(Indonesia, Papua New Guinea) - 785,753 km2

There are still places in New Guinea where no man has been. This place attracts researchers of flora and fauna, as they can meet the rarest species of animals and plants here. It is home to over 11,000 plant species, 600 unique bird species, over 400 amphibian species, 455 butterfly species, and about a hundred known mammal species.

New Guinea has been inhabited by humans since at least 45,000 BC. e. from Asia. More than a thousand Papuan-Melanesian tribes originated from the first settlers. The absence of large animals suitable for domestication on the island hindered the development of agriculture and made cattle breeding impossible. This contributed to the preservation of the primitive communal system in large areas of New Guinea up to the present day. The mountainous landscape contributed to the isolation of people from each other, as a result of which a huge variety of languages \u200b\u200bappeared on the island.

New Guinea was discovered by the Portuguese Don Jorge de Menezes, who landed on the island in 1526. According to legend, he gave the island the name "Papua", which translates as curly, this is due to the curly hair of the local natives.

To date, the population of the island of New Guinea is more than 9.5 million people.
On the territory of New Guinea, there is an ancient agricultural settlement of Cook, showing the isolated development of agriculture over 7-10 millennia and included in the List world heritage UNESCO.

No. 1. Greenland (Denmark) - 2,130,800 km2

The largest island in the world is Greenland. The Green Country, as this island is also called, belongs to Denmark. Due to ice cover (84% of the surface) and unfavorable climatic conditions most of the island is uninhabited. To date, the population of Greenland is more than 57 thousand people. The largest settlement of the island is Nuuk (Gothob).

Several thousand years before the arrival of Europeans, the Greenlandic Eskimos, who call themselves Inuit, lived on the island. The Inuit have adapted to the extreme conditions of the Arctic climate and feel quite comfortable. They have been fishing and hunting for centuries.

Of the Europeans, the Norman Gunbjorn was the first to enter the island in 875. In 982, Erik Raudi settled on the island with several comrades, expelled from Iceland for the crimes he had committed. Later they were joined by the Norwegian Vikings. In 983, the first Norman colony was founded in Greenland.

After the settlement of Greenland by Europeans, the island was repeatedly passed from hand to hand. Until 1536, the island belonged to Norway, then became part of Denmark, in accordance with the union between Denmark and Norway. In 1721, a Danish colony called Gotthob was officially established on the island. In 1814, after the dissolution of the union between Norway and Denmark, Greenland became wholly the possession of Denmark.

The main activity of the people of Greenland is fishing. But at the end of the 20th century, reindeer and sheep breeding and oil production appeared. Tourism and air transport play an important role. More than 20,000 tourists visit Greenland every year.

The largest island in Russia (Sakhalin) is 27 times smaller than the largest island in the world (Greenland).

The largest islands of Russia:
Sakhalin - 76600 km2
Northern - 48904 km2
Southern - 33275 km2
Boiler house - 23200 km2
October Revolution - 13708 km2

10

Square: 316 km 2
Population: 429,344 people
Density: 1432 people/km2
Motto:"Valor and perseverance"
Form of government: parliamentary republic, democracy
Capital: Valletta

Republic of Malta - Island state in the Mediterranean. The name comes from the ancient Phoenician malat ("harbour", "refuge").

In 1964, Malta gained independence from Great Britain, and since 1974 a republic has been proclaimed, but until 1979, when the last British naval base was liquidated in Malta, the British Queen was still considered the head of state.

The territory of Malta is represented by the Maltese archipelago, consisting mainly of the island of Malta and Gozo. It also includes uninhabited islands St. Paul and Filfla, the sparsely populated island of Comino, and tiny Cominotto and Filfoletta. The length of Malta is 27 km, the width is 15 km (less than the diameter of the Moscow Ring Road). highway). Gozo is half the size, while Comino is only 2 km long. Malta is the only country in Europe without permanent rivers and natural lakes.

9

Square: 300 km 2
Population: 341,256 people
Density: 1,359 people/km2
Form of government: Presidential republic
Capital: Male

The Republic of Maldives belongs to the states of South Asia and is located on a group of atolls, consisting of 1192 coral islands, in the Indian Ocean to the south of India.

The islets do not rise much above the ocean level: the highest point of the archipelago is on southern atoll Addu (Siena) - 2.4 m. Thanks to this, the Maldives is known as the lowest located state.

The total area is 90 thousand km², the land area is 298 km 2. The capital of Male - the only city and port of the archipelago - is located on the atoll of the same name.

As for tourism, it is worth noting that all the main beauties of the Maldives are located below sea level, but there are no special sights on land. There is the little-remarkable capital of Male, a lot of uninhabited islands similar to each other, where they like to have picnics, as well as a kind of "action" - a fishing excursion. Perhaps the only notable surface excursion is the Photo Flight, a seaplane flight over the islands. Other popular excursions are a yacht cruise or a submarine dive. The most common pastime among tourists in the Maldives is diving, since there are coral reefs near each island. In addition, windsurfing, catamaran, water skiing, snorkeling, beach volleyball, tennis, billiards, squash and darts are popular.

8

Square: 261 km 2
Population: 51,538 people
Density: 164 people/km2
Motto:"The state is above personal interests"
Form of government: parliamentary monarchy
Capital: Buster

Island nation in the Caribbean. Includes 2 islands - St. Christopher, aka St. Kitts (Saint Kitts, St. Kitts), and Nevis (Nevis), from the ridge of the Lesser Antilles. Both islands are of volcanic origin, mountainous. The total length of the coastline is 135 km.

Saint Kitts and Nevis is the smallest country in the Western Hemisphere, both in terms of area and population.

It is a member of the British Commonwealth, headed by the Queen of Great Britain.

The two traditional branches of the economy of St. Kitts and Nevis are Agriculture and tourism. The main agricultural crop is sugarcane (a third of cultivated land). Cotton, coconut palm, pineapples are grown on the island of Nevis. The coffee tree, bananas, peanuts, yams, and rice are also cultivated. Animal husbandry is developed - goats and sheep are bred. Fishing is also a traditional occupation. However, agricultural production provides no more than half of domestic food needs.

7

Square: 181 km 2
Population: 53,158 people
Density: 293.7 people/km2
Motto:"Achievement through common effort, marshall"
Form of government: Republic
Capital: Majuro

The Micronesian state of the Marshall Islands is a cluster of atolls and islands located in the Pacific Ocean just north of the equator.

The Marshall Islands are named after the British captain John Marshall (also known as William Marshall), who, along with fellow captain Thomas Gilbert, are named after neighboring islands Gilbert, explored the archipelago in 1788 while transporting prisoners to New South Wales.

The land area of the Marshall Islands is only 181.3 km 2, while the area of the territory occupied by lagoons is 11,673 km 2. The country is located on 29 atolls and 5 outlying islands, which are divided into two groups: 18 islands in the Ralik chain (translated from the Marshallese language "sunset") and 16 islands in the Ratak chain (or Radak; translated from the Marshallese language "sunrise") . Both chains are about 250 km apart and stretch from northwest to southeast for about 1200 km. The most important islands are the atolls of Kwajalein and Majuro. largest island Republic Marshall Islands, Kwajalein, is also an atoll with the largest lagoon in the world.

6

Square: 160 km 2
Population: 37,313 people
Density: 229.56 people/km2
Motto:"For God, Prince and Fatherland"
Form of government: nominally constitutional monarchy
Capital: Vaduz

The Principality of Liechtenstein is a dwarf state in Central Europe. Liechtenstein borders on Austria in the east and Switzerland in the west, its territory is completely surrounded by the territories of these states.

The Principality is located in the spurs of the Alps, the highest point is Mount Grauspitz (2599 m). One of the largest rivers Western Europe- Rein.

The Principality of Liechtenstein is a constitutional monarchy. The head of state is the prince. Legislative power belongs to the prince and the landtag (parliament), executive power is vested in the government, which is elected by the landtag for its term of office and approved by the prince. The majority of the population speaks Alemannic German.

This beautiful fairyland, despite its very small size, is famous for its ancient history and rich cultural heritage. Picturesque natural landscapes, magnificent medieval architecture and, of course, fashionable ski resort famous all over the world.

The heart of Liechtenstein and its "pearl" is the capital Vaduz. It is here that most of the sights of the country are concentrated. calling card not only the city, but the whole state is the magnificent princely castle of Vaduz. Beautiful architectural structure rises on a hill and can be seen from anywhere in the city.

5

Square: 61 km 2
Population: 32,742 people
Density: 520 people/km2
Motto:"Freedom"
Form of government: parliamentary republic
Capital:

San Marino is located in Southern Europe, surrounded on all sides by the territory of Italy. Within its current borders, San Marino is the oldest state in Europe. The country is located on the southwestern slope of the three-headed mountain range Monte Titano (738 m above sea level), rising above the hilly plain of the foothills of the Apennines.

The legendary foundation of San Marino dates back to the beginning of the 4th century. According to legend, in 301, a member of one of the first Christian communities from the island of Rab in the Adriatic Sea (the territory of modern Croatia), the stonemason Marino and his friends found refuge in the Apennines, on the top of Mount Titano. He opened quarries in the mountain, and then, seeking solitude, he built himself a small cell on its top and retired from the world. The glory of his holy life attracted crowds of pilgrims to him, and soon a small monastery was formed near his cell. This monastery, named after its founder, St. Marin, undoubtedly existed already at the end of the 6th century and lived an independent life, not politically dependent on any of the neighbors.

San Marino has a republican form of government. The heads of state are two captain-regents appointed by the Great General Council.

Inbound tourism plays a significant role in the country's economy, up to 2 million people are involved in the tourism industry on the territory of the state annually, and more than 3 million tourists visit the country every year.

4

Square: 26 km 2
Population: 10,782 people
Density: 431.00 people/km2
Motto:"Tuvalu - for Almighty God"
Form of government: monarchy
Capital: funafuti

Tuvalu is a tiny state in Oceania with a population of about 11,000 people. Airplanes from Fiji arrive here 2 times a week and almost certainly, in 50 years, this state will be under water, and now there is a purposeful resettlement local residents to other states such as Fiji, New Zealand and Australia.

This Pacific state is located in Polynesia and until 1975 was called the Ellis Islands. The modern name translated from the Tuvalu language means "eight standing together" (meaning the eight traditionally inhabited islands of Tuvalu; the ninth - Niulakita - was settled relatively recently). The European discoverer of the islands, Alvaro Mendaña de Neira, named the archipelago the "Lagoon Islands", and in 1819 it received the name "Ellis Islands", which was used for almost the entire colonial era.

Tuvalu is a cluster of atolls and islands located in the Pacific Ocean just south of the equator. The land area of Tuvalu is only 26 km 2, while the area of the territory occupied by lagoons is more than 494 km 2. The country is located on 5 atolls (Nanumea, Nui, Nukulaelae, Nukufetau, Funafuti), 3 low-lying coral islands (Nanumanga, Niulakita, Niutao) and one atoll / reef island (Vaitupu), stretching from northwest to southeast for 595 km .

A significant part of the population of Tuvalu lives in the capital and the only city of the country, Funafuti - 47%.

3

Square: 21 km 2
Population: 9 488 people
Density: 473.43 people/km2
Motto:"God's will comes first"
Form of government: parliamentary republic
Capital: official capital No; unofficial - the city of Yaren.

The Republic of Nauru is a dwarf state on the coral island of the same name in the western part Pacific Ocean. The origin of the word "Nauru" is not exactly known. As now, the Nauruans in the distant past called the island "Naoero".

There is no official capital and cities on the island. The President's residence is located in Meneng District, while government offices and Parliament are located in Yaren District. The entire population of the island lives along the coast, as well as around Lake Buada.

2

Square: 2.02 km2
Population: 30,508 people
Density: 18 679 people/km2
Motto:"God willing"
Form of government: dualistic constitutional monarchy
Capital:

A dwarf state associated with France, located in southern Europe on the coast of the Ligurian Sea near the French Cote d'Azur 20 km northeast of Nice; on land borders with France. It is one of the smallest and most densely populated countries in the world. The Principality is widely known for its casinos in Monte Carlo and the Formula 1 Grand Prix of Monaco held here. The length of the coastline is 4.1 km, the length of land borders is 4.4 km. Over the past 20 years, the country's territory has increased by almost 40 hectares due to the drainage of marine areas.

The first people built their settlements on the territory of Monaco in the X century BC. e., they were the Phoenicians. Much later, the Greeks and Monoiki joined.

The history of modern Monaco begins in 1215 with the founding of a colony of the Republic of Genoa on the territory of the principality and the construction of a fortress.

According to 2014 data, the population of Monaco is 37,800 people, but it is worth noting that most of the full citizens of the state are Monegasques. They are exempt from taxes and have the right to settle in the area of the old city.

The economy of Monaco is developing mainly due to tourism, gambling, the construction of new residences, as well as through the media covering the life of the princely family.

1

Square: 0.44 km2
Population: 842 people
Density: 1900 people/km2
Form of government: absolute theocratic monarchy
Capital:

And, of course, the title of small state in the world belongs to the Vatican. The Vatican is a dwarf enclave state (the smallest officially recognized state in the world) inside the territory of Rome, associated with Italy. The status of the Vatican international law- auxiliary sovereign territory of the Holy See, the residence of the highest spiritual leadership of the Roman Catholic Church.

Foreign diplomatic missions are accredited to the Holy See, not to the Vatican City State. Foreign embassies and representations accredited to the Holy See, in view of the small territory of the Vatican, are located in Rome (including the embassy of Italy, which is thus located in its own capital.

In antiquity, the territory of the Vatican (Latin ager vaticanus) was not inhabited, since in Ancient Rome this place was considered holy. Emperor Claudius held circus games at this place. In 326, after the advent of Christianity, a basilica of Constantine was erected over the supposed tomb of St. Peter, and since then this place has been inhabited.

The Vatican is a theocratic state ruled by the Holy See. The Sovereign of the Holy See, in whose hands absolute legislative, executive and judicial power is concentrated, is the Pope, who is elected by the cardinals for life. After the death or abdication of the Pope and during the conclave until the enthronement of the new Pope, his duties (with significant restrictions) are performed by the Camerlengo.

The Vatican has a non-profit planned economy. Sources of income - primarily donations from Catholics around the world. Part of the funds is tourism (sale of postage stamps, Vatican euro coins, souvenirs, fees for visiting museums). Most of the workforce (museum attendants, gardeners, janitors, and so on) are Italian citizens.

The budget of the Vatican is 310 million US dollars.

The Vatican has its own bank, better known as the Institute of Religious Affairs.

Solovki is a canvas woven from spiritual strength and bodily weakness, human joy and universal grief, willpower and betrayal, beautiful lies and ugly truth, the hiss of the surf and unique sunsets, silvery fish and the rustle of wings. It is stitched with heather roots and the rays of the sun, covered with snow and illuminated northern lights flavored with blood, vodka and rain. The Solovki are rippling in the White Sea winds, shimmering with all the colors of life, and rustling their stories to everyone who wants to hear them.

The Solovetsky archipelago (Solovki) is located in the Onega Bay, 164 kilometers from the conditional line of the Arctic Circle. The archipelago consists of six large and about 260 small islands. The area of the Big Solovetsky Island is 221.8 km2, and the area of the entire archipelago exceeds 300 km2. Highest point- Mount Verbokolskaya (88.2 m) on.

photo: Kirill Ponomarev

The geographical location of the archipelago led to the emergence of its own microclimate: cherry blossoms (but does not bear fruit) on the islands, cedar pines, maples, and hazel grow. Most of the archipelago is covered with coniferous and deciduous forests, but some areas are tundra and forest tundra. The glacier played an important role in the formation of the archipelago. There are more than 600 freshwater lakes on Solovki, where perch, roach, pike, burbot, and trout are found. In the forests you can meet a white hare, a fox, a squirrel. In rare years, when the White Sea freezes, reindeer and elk come. Among marine animals - seals, white whales, bearded seals, harp seals. Catfish, lumpfish, flounder, cod, navaga and Solovetsky herring are found in the sea. The coastal strip of the archipelago is unusually rich in algae plantations - sea kale (kelp), fucus and ahnfeltia, from which agar-agar is extracted.

photo: Kirill Ponomarev

The history of the development of the Solovetsky archipelago has about 7000 years. Ancient settlements, mounds and seids were found here. The most mysterious monuments are the sanctuaries of the III-II millennium BC, which include the famous ones. The main historical and architectural monuments of the archipelago are connected with the history of the influential spiritual monastery and the northernmost medieval fortress in the world. , reflected in the waters of the Holy Lake or the Bay of Well-being - one of the most popular and favorite views among tourists. In Soviet times, the first special purpose camp in the USSR was located on the archipelago, which laid the foundation for the Stalinist Gulag. More than 1,000,000 prisoners passed through and their branches on the mainland.

Today the territory of the Solovetsky archipelago and the adjacent water area is a reserve. In 1992, the historical and architectural ensemble of the Solovetsky Monastery was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List, and in 1995 it was classified as a particularly valuable natural and historical heritage Russia.

text: based on materials from the guide "History of the Solovetsky Archipelago", author Oleg Kodola

photo in the upper block: Svetlana Ladkina, Anna Khazova, Igor Pavlov, Ludmila Gagarinova, Evgeny Kondratiev, Nikolai Kvartnikov, Kirill Ponomarev

photo: Natalia Bochkareva