General Information

Norilsk is one of the major northernmost cities of Russia and the world’s second largest city (after Murmansk) within the Arctic Circle. Norilsk is located on the Krasnoyarsk Territory, Nothern Siberia, Russia, close to Yenisei River and west of the Putorana Mountains. With the population of 175,000 people, it is a large mining town in the polar region of Western Siberia.

City telephone code: +7 3919

Time: Moscow time + 4 hours

Climate

The climate in Norisk is arctic and dry, with severe frosts and cold winds. Winters are almost year-long while summers are short and cold. The temperature in winter may fall below -40C. The average temperature in January is -28C, the average temperature in July is +10C.

History

The town of Norilsk was founded in 1935 as the settlement for explorers of local natural resources. During the Stalin era, forced labor camps (GULAG) were located in the area. Because of the harsh climate, the majority of workers were (and still are) seasonal. Despite the efforts of the Soviet government to improve living conditions in the town, there is much still to be done.

Economy

Norilsk is the center of a region where nickel, cobalt, platinum, and coal are mined. Norilsk is famous for it's nickel mines. These mines also produce vast amounts of copper as well as platinum group elements. The ores themselves are also differentiated. For example, common sulfidic ore minerals are pyrrhotine, pentlandite, chalcopyrite, cubanite, talnakhite, putoranite and mooihoekite.

A railroad links Norilsk with a port of Dudinka on Yenisei River, from where ores are shipped via the Northern Sea Route to European Russia.

Culture

Norilsk is quite a small northern city (it can be crossed by foot in 30 minutes), so there are a few places for sightseeing and entertainment. The local Museum of Settling and Development of Norilsk Industrial District housing exhibitions dedicated to the first expeditions and life of the settlers is located Leninsky prospect, 14. Phone: +7 3919 460 646, 461 326. There is also theatre-studio ‘Tolko My’ (Only We). Phone: +7 3919 421 642.

Hotels

There is the only hotel in the city called Norilsk hotel. Address: Talkhanskaya str., 39a.  Phone: +7 3919 349 930, 472 767, 349 930.

Evgeniya Stroganova