Murmansk[ˈmurmənsk]
Murmansk is a port city and the administrative center of Murmansk Oblast in the far northwest part of Russia. The town, founded in 1915 as a supply port in World War I, was a base for the British, French, and American expeditionary forces against the Bolsheviks in 1918. In World War II Murmansk served as the main port for Anglo-American convoys carrying war supplies to the U.S.S.R. through the Arctic Ocean. The town is now an important fishing port, and its fish-processing plant is one of the largest in Europe. Murmansk’s ice-free harbour makes it Russia’s only port with unrestricted access to the Atlantic and world sea routes.
As Russia’s Northernmost city and the largest city above the Arctic Circle, Murmansk has a unique and interesting history which is largely tied into its strategic importance as a military port for the Russian navy. Murmansk is primarily an industrial city, however growing interest in major tourist attractions and better transport links between St Petersburg as well as to Norway and Finland are making the city an up and coming tourist destination for those looking for something a bit different. Tourists that enjoy outdoor activities will find a great selection of walks, lakes and scenic spots to choose from and explorers can even venture north for a chance to see the natural phenomenon, Northern Lights, visit the unique Arctic Ocean coast, drive through the Arctic treeless tundra by snowmobiles.
