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Murmansk is not cold
Мurmansk — town with almost half a million population on the eastern coast of the Кola Inlet — the unique icefree harbour of the Russian North-West. Мurmansk — the biggest port in the world and a city beyond the Polar Circle. Some people often саll it"The Gates To The Arctic", others — "The Gates To The North-West Russia".
Мurmansk was founded in 1916 during the First World War as the port town. When the second world war broke out the british and american ships, uniting forces of the Antihitlerites Coalition in the struggle against Fascism came here.
The centre of Murmansk is situated on the 69 degree north and the 33 degree east. It is about 200 км to the boarder with Norway and Finland, about 500 км to Tromse — Scandinavian Gates to the Arctic, 1200 км by plane to Saint Petersburg, about 1400 км to Moscow, 2300 км to the North Pole.
Due to a warm current gulf stream Murmansk has a rather mild maritime climate. Today the average temperature in summer period of the unique polar day is + 7-10 degrees centigrade, but sometimes it could rise up to + 20-25 . Winter temperature is usually from 0 to — 8 degrees, though sometimes it could fall to 20-25 below zero . Winters 1998-1999 surprised with their recordingly low temperatures -40degrees below zero! But the Murmansk inhabitants say- it is not cold!
At the clear weather Murmansk is the best place for observation of the polar lights — beautiful phenomenon of nature of the subpolar regions of the north and the south semispheres of the earth.
You can reach Murmansk by many ways — by plane from Moscow (2-hour flight), from Saint-Petersburg (1.5-flight), from Archangelsk (1-hour flight), from Kiev, Sochi and other cities and capitals of the commonwelth independent states. In some routs there are several flights a day. Nowdays the Airport of Murmansk has become a really international one. There are direct flights from Norway Tromse (1,5 hour), from Kirkenes (1 hour), and also a flight Lulea (Sweden) — Rovaniemi (Finland) — Murmansk.
There is a regular bus communication Murmansk — Ivalo (Finland) and Murmansk — Kirkenes (Norway).
From Norway to Murmansk one can get by speedboat or by ship. A rail way connects Murmansk with Petrozavodsk, Archangelsk, Saint Petersburg and Moscow. The longest way takes 1,5 day. From Norway (Kirkines) and Finland (Ivalo, Rovaniemi). it takes 6 hous.
The unique location of Murmansk has determined the membership of the Murmansk Region in the Barents Region — the unique international co-operation of representatives of the northern territories of Russia, Norway, Sweden and Finland.
Ships from Murmansk carry out the fishing activities and deliver cargoes all over the seas and oceans, providing expeditions. The icebreakers reach even the North Pole. At present the exotic Arctic tourism became very popular.
In the Murmansk region, the city of Apatity, there is the Kola Science Centre of the Russian Academy of Sciences (KSC RAS). MSTU and KSC RAS cooperate closely in the spheres of improving educational process and research work of the students. Not far fom Apatity, in the very centre of the Khibinas mountains, in the city of Kirovsk (3 hours of driving or 4 hours by bus or train from Murmansk) there is a popular skiing centre , where in winter and in spring the russians like to spend their holidays.