The town of Naryan-Mar was founded inside the Arctic Circle in 1929. During World War II, it housed a military airfield that was part of the 772nd airbase of the Belomorsk military flotilla.
The town of Naryan-Mar was founded inside the Arctic Circle in 1929. During World War II, it housed a military airfield that was part of the 772nd airbase of the Belomorsk military flotilla.
Naryan-Mar translates from the Nenets languages spoken in northern Russia as “Red City.” Yoshkar-Ola, the name of the capital of Russia’s Mari El republic, means the same thing in the Mari language.
The climate in Naryan-Mar is subarctic, with a long winter and a short, cool summer. The town lies in a permafrost area.
Despite its location on the sea, Naryan-Mar is mostly accessed by air, since the navigation season there is short due to the harsh climate.
Since the beginning of this century, when oil production increased in the Nenets Autonomous Area, development in Naryan-Mar – the regional capital – has gained momentum. During the first decade of the century, dozens of modern monolith and brick buildings have appeared, roads and utility systems have been constructed and restored, dilapidated buildings have been knocked down and residents have been resettled into new apartments.
The Epiphany church, a wooden steepled edifice that stands on a stone foundation, is the main attraction of the town.
Due to Naryan-Mar’s location inside the Arctic Circle, from December 14 to December 30, the region has polar nights. From May 30 to July 15, the town has polar days, when it doesn’t get dark at all, while the entire period from April through August sees White Nights, when the sun barely sets.
Winter in Naryan-Mar is comparatively mild for the Arctic because of the town’s proximity to the Barents Sea. Spring and autumn, however, are long and cold, and summer is cool.
The monument to Yakovlev Yak-7B fighter planes in Naryan-Mar was unveiled on May 8, 2010 in the town center to commemorate those who defended the home front during World War II.
The backyard of a house in Naryan-Mar.
