Solovetsky Islands, Russia

Solovetsky Islands (Pomor. Solovki) - an archipelago in the White Sea at the entrance to the Onega Bay. Area - 347 km². It is the largest by area archipelago of the White Sea; it consists of six major and more than a hundred small islands. The largest and most famous is the Bolshoy Solovetsky Island. It was developed first, and it is here that the archipelago’s only settlement and the main attractions of the Solovetsky Islands are located.

Solovki in summer are white nights, the crystal-clear stillness of lakes, northern berries, and unforgettable sunsets. In winter - drifting ice in the White Sea, clear frosty nights, and a harsh sky illuminated by bursts of the Northern Lights.

On the Bolshoy Solovetsky Island there is the Solovetsky Spaso-Transfiguration Monastery - a northern abode with a complex, tragic history.

The Solovetsky archipelago, as well as the five-kilometer water area of the White Sea, are included in a specially protected area - the Federal State Institution “Solovetsky State Historical-Architectural and Natural Museum-Reserve”. On the Bolshoy Solovetsky Island there is a strict nature reserve zone. The main attraction and spiritual center of the islands is the Solovetsky stavropegial men’s monastery.

The Solovetsky Islands are located in the shallowest western part of the White Sea, at the entrance to the Onega Bay, forming the western (Western Solovetsky strait) and the eastern (Eastern Solovetsky strait) passages into it. The current in the area of the Solovetsky Islands depends on the outflow current of the waters of the Onega River and the Onega Bay, running from the mouth of the Onega to the north along the Summer Coast, then going around the Solovetsky Islands, turning east, around the northwestern part of the Summer Coast.

The archipelago is separated from the Summer Coast of the White Sea by the Eastern Solovetsky strait (about 40 km), and from the Karelian coast by the Western Solovetsky strait (about 60 km). The islands are 165 km away from the Arctic Circle. The time zone of the islands is UTC+4 (Moscow time).

The Solovetsky Islands belong to the regions of the Far North.

The climate on the islands is temperate. It is determined by the archipelago’s location in polar latitudes and its surrounding by sea. In June, daylight lasts up to 21.5 hours, and in December - about 4 hours.

In the archipelago area, the influence of cyclones is felt. For summer, frequent incursions of Arctic air masses are typical, bringing sunny but cold weather. Thanks to the moderating effect of the White Sea, Solovki have comparatively favorable temperature conditions: a mild winter and a cool summer. The absolute minimum temperature was recorded in 1893, at -36.5 °C, while the absolute maximum was noted in 1972, at +31.2 °C.

The average annual wind speed is 6.8 m/s. From March to August, cold north-easterly winds prevail over the archipelago, while from September to February - south-westerly winds. There are no easterly winds at Solovki. The wind is felt on the shore, while the middle of the islands is shielded by forest, so the winds there are not felt.

The average annual relative humidity is 82%; on average there are 37 foggy days per year. Statistically, the rainiest months are August - October (on average 5 days per month with heavy or prolonged rainfall), and the least rainy are May - June (2-3 days).

The temperature of the White Sea water near the shores in summer can reach 18-20 °C. The summer water temperature in the southern part of the White Sea is higher than in its northern part; in mid-autumn the water temperature in both parts of the sea is the same. In the second half of June, the temperature of seawater at a depth of up to 8.4 m lies between +3.4 and +4.75°, in mid-August - 8.4-8.9°, and in the last decade of August the temperature of seawater at the surface (and near its shores) is 8°.