Solovetsky Islands, Russia

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

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

On the Big Solovetsky Island stands the Savior-Transfiguration Solovetsky Monastery - a northern sanctuary with a complex, tragic fate.

The Solovetsky archipelago, as well as the five-kilometer water area of the White Sea, are included in a specially protected territory - the Federal State Institution “Solovetsky State Historical-Architectural and Natural Museum-Reserve”. On the Big Solovetsky Island there is a strictly protected zone. The main attraction and spiritual center of the islands is the Solovetsky Stauropegial Male Monastery.

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

The archipelago is separated from the White Sea’s Summer Coast by the Eastern Solovetsky Salma strait (about 40 km), and from the Karelian coast by the Western Solovetsky Salma strait (about 60 km). The islands are 165 km away from the Arctic Circle. The islands’ time zone 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 by the surrounding 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 noticeable; for summer, frequent incursions of Arctic air masses bringing sunny but cold weather are typical. Thanks to the moderating influence of the White Sea, Solovki have comparatively favorable temperature conditions: Solovki have a mild winter and a cool summer. The absolute minimum temperature was recorded in 1893, at −36.5 °C, and 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 northeast winds predominate over the archipelago, and from September to February - southwest winds. There are no easterly winds on Solovki. The wind is felt on the shore, while the middle of the islands is sheltered by forest, so winds are not felt there.

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

The water temperature of the White Sea near the coast in summer can reach 18-20 °C. The 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 sea water temperature at a depth of up to 8.4 m is between +3.4 and +4.75°, in mid-August - 8.4-8.9°, and in the last ten days of August, the sea water temperature at the surface of the sea (and near its shores) is 8°.