Solovetsky, Arkhangelsk Oblast
Encyclopedia
Solovetsky is a rural locality and the administrative center of Solovetsky District
Solovetsky Islands
The Solovetsky Islands , or Solovki , are an archipelago located in the Onega Bay of the White Sea, Russia. The islands are served by the Solovki Airport. Area: ....

, Arkhangelsk Oblast
Arkhangelsk Oblast
Arkhangelsk Oblast is a federal subject of Russia . It includes the Arctic archipelagos of Franz Josef Land and Novaya Zemlya, as well as the Solovetsky Islands in the White Sea....

, Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...

, located on the west coast of Bolshoy Solovetsky Island
Bolshoy Solovetsky Island
Bolshoy Solovetsky Island , or simply Solovetsky Island is the biggest island of the Solovetsky Islands archipelago in the White Sea, northern Russia. The island is home to Solovetsky Monastery, a medieval monastery and a fortress included in the World Heritage list.-Location and geography:The...

 in the White Sea
White Sea
The White Sea is a southern inlet of the Barents Sea located on the northwest coast of Russia. It is surrounded by Karelia to the west, the Kola Peninsula to the north, and the Kanin Peninsula to the northeast. The whole of the White Sea is under Russian sovereignty and considered to be part of...

. Municipally, it is the administrative center of Solovetskoye Rural Settlement
Solovetsky Islands
The Solovetsky Islands , or Solovki , are an archipelago located in the Onega Bay of the White Sea, Russia. The islands are served by the Solovki Airport. Area: ....

 of Primorsky District
Primorsky District, Arkhangelsk Oblast
Primorsky District is an administrative district , one of the twenty-one in Arkhangelsk Oblast, Russia. Municipally, it is incorporated as Primorsky Municipal District...

. Population: Almost all of the population of Solovetsky Islands
Solovetsky Islands
The Solovetsky Islands , or Solovki , are an archipelago located in the Onega Bay of the White Sea, Russia. The islands are served by the Solovki Airport. Area: ....

 lives in the settlement of Solovetsky: For instance, in 2002 the population of the islands was .

History

The settlement was founded in 1965. From 1435, when Solovetsky Monastery
Solovetsky Monastery
Solovetsky Monastery was the greatest citadel of Christianity in the Russian North before being turned into a special Soviet prison and labor camp , which served as a prototype for the GULag system. Situated on the Solovetsky Islands in the White Sea, the monastery braved many changes of fortune...

 was founded, and until 1920, when it was abolished, the islands were the property of the monastery, and the economy was run by the monks. In 1920, the Solovki prison camp was established in the former monastery buildings, and again there was no access to the islands, except for the prisoners and the correction department officers. In 1939, the prison camp was closed due to the imminent war with Finland. The navy cadet corps was deployed in the monastery buildings, one of the notable cadets was the future author Valentin Pikul
Valentin Pikul
Valentin Savvich Pikul was a popular and prolific Soviet historical novelist of Ukrainian-Russian heritage. He lived and worked in Riga....

. In 1965, the islands were transferred to the museum to be open, and for the first time were open for public. The Solovki Museum was officially established in 1967. The settlement was needed for civil population, mostly engaged in the museum activities. In 1992, the monastery was reopened, and some of the properties were transferred to the monastery, but some still belong to the museum. In the same year, the monastery was included in the World Heritage list.

Economy

Solovetsky is essentially a village around the Solovetsky Monastery
Solovetsky Monastery
Solovetsky Monastery was the greatest citadel of Christianity in the Russian North before being turned into a special Soviet prison and labor camp , which served as a prototype for the GULag system. Situated on the Solovetsky Islands in the White Sea, the monastery braved many changes of fortune...

. The economy of the settlement heavily depends on the tourism.

Solovetsky is served by the Solovki Airport
Solovki Airport
Solovki Airport is an airport in Russia on the Solovetsky Islands. It is believed to have had a minor Russian Navy presence but primarily serves as an airport for the island....

, the only airport on the archipelago. There is regular air service to Arkhangelsk
Arkhangelsk
Arkhangelsk , formerly known as Archangel in English, is a city and the administrative center of Arkhangelsk Oblast, Russia. It lies on both banks of the Northern Dvina River near its exit into the White Sea in the north of European Russia. The city spreads for over along the banks of the river...

, as well as regular passenger sea connections (only in summer) to Arkhangelsk, Kem, and Belomorsk
Belomorsk
Belomorsk is a town and the administrative center of Belomorsky District of the Republic of Karelia, Russia, located on the Onega Bay on the shore of the White Sea. Population:...

.
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