Murmansk is an administrative center of the Murmansk region

Founded in October 4, 1916.
Initially, the city was declared as "Romanov-on-Murman", and only in April 1917 was assigned its present name "Murmansk".
Along with the administrative functions of the recognized capital of the Russian Polar region, Murmansk takes leading positions in the economy of the region, as its financial, business, demographic and cultural center.

The city is located beyond the Polar circle, among the endless hills on the shore of the non-freezing Kola Bay, 56 km from the Barents sea gate. Geographic coordinates: latitude 68°58' N and longitude 33°03' E.

The total area of the city is 154,4 sq.km, including part of the Kola Bay area of 13.5 sq.km, and stretching along the coastline of more than 10 km.
Murmansk is the largest city of the world beyond the Polar circle, with population of about 300 thousand people.
The city is located in the international Moscow Time Zone (MSK). UTC +3:00 (MSK).

Murmansk is located 1967 km North from Moscow and 1448 km from St. Petersburg.

It is possible to get to Murmansk either by plane or by train or car. Airport "Murmansk" serves both domestic and international flights. There are daily trains from Murmansk to Moscow, St. Petersburg, Vologda, Minsk, and many other destinations, and in summer by train you can reach southern cities of the country (Anapa, Adler and others). Murmansk is located on Federal highway "Kola" (M18), which offers easy access to every corner of the region and, of course, to St. Petersburg and Moscow. Murmansk is also the starting point of the road "A138" to Norway and “P12” to Finland.
In different years of prosperity Murmansk was awarded the highest state awards.

"Order of the Red Banner of Labor” in 1971 for success "achieved by the workers of the city in the performance of tasks for the development of industrial production".
"Order of the Greate Patriotic War I Degree" - 1982, for the courage and resilience shown by the people in the struggle against the German invaders and the progress in economic and cultural construction, in the years of the great Patriotic war.

1985 - for outstanding achievements in the years of the great Patriotic War, Murmansk was awarded by the title "Hero City" with "The Order of Lenin" and "Golden Star Medal" awards.
Murmansk is one of the centers of the Barents Euro-Arctic region.

Friendly relations established with the cities of Groningen (the Netherlands), Tromsø, Vardø (Norway), Szczecin (Poland), Jacksonville (USA), Rovaniemi (Finland), Luleå (Sweden), Akureyri (Iceland).
The capital of the region actively cooperates with many other cities in Scandinavia and Europe.
According to its climatic conditions Murmansk is equal to the territories of the Far North. But, thanks to the warm Gulf stream, it is significantly warmer in Murmansk than in the center of the Kola Peninsula.

Every year, from December 2 to January 11 for 40 days at the latitude of Murmansk the polar night sets. On the first day after the polar night, the sun rises above the city for just 19 minutes.
In winter you can see the Northern lights - an amazing natural phenomenon. Therefore, the Northern lights are depicted on the emblem of the city.
In summer the polar day comes to Murmansk, its length is 62 days. Since May 20 for two months the sun stays above the horizon, and, starting from July 24, for about a week it barely touches the horizon and then rises again. Throughout this period - to the middle of August each year nights in Murmansk are light. Therefore Murmansk is the city of white nights.
Weather in Murmansk differs from most cities located beyond the Polar circle: it is abnormally often and abruptly changes during the day. Brief thaw in winter or stormy snow in summer are not uncommon. That is why talks about the weather are so popular among Murmansk citizens.

The official symbol of the city - its emblem

gerb murmansk The city emblem is a rectangular heraldic shield with a ratio of its base and height as eight to nine, with rounded lower corners, pointed at the tip, and corresponds to the following heraldic description - in an azure field at the top there is waving truncated pennon, repeatedly dissected with gold and in color of the field, at the bottom there is a transport (without sails) vessel; at the golden tip there is an azure fish with golden eyes and gills.

Accepted colors on the shield represent: azure and gold in the upper part are the polar night and polar day; the golden color of the lower part is the wealth of the seas, where Murmansk fishermen work.

Silhouette of the fish symbolizes the main industry of the city - fishery, golden eyes and gills of the fish - the power of nature, silhouette of the transport vessel - the city of Murmansk as a major seaport. Waving truncated pennon symbolizes the Polar lights, and emphasizes the geographical position of the city of Murmansk beyond the Arctic Circle.

Murmansk – the Outpost of Russia in the Arctic

Murmansk is the center of the fishing industry in the Barents region, with a unique bio-resources, it is historically the most important ice-free port of Russia, the center of Russian icebreaking fleet, home to the world's first nuclear-powered icebreaker and the world's largest sailing ship. And only in Murmansk one can fully see the unique northern effects: polar days and nights, Polar lights, low trees, northern berries. That is why many tourists in Murmansk are amazed by the combination of incompatible - the harsh northern conditions, the strength of spirit and warmth of the soul, the beauty of nature.

In 2013 Murmansk has begun to develop its own identity. And according to the results of the developments the key idea of the city was selected and became the basis for further activities related to the promotion of the brand of the city.

The key idea of the brand of the city: “MURMANSK IS THE OUTPOST OF RUSSIA IN THE ARCTIC”. The idea of the brand was the basis of the slogan: "At the leading edge."
The result of the development of the city brand has become the logo:

4 8f64aThe logo reflects the brand colors of Murmansk - unusual warm and bright shade of green, symbolizing the aurora borealis; yellow - the sun that doesn`t set during the polar day; blue - the color of the sea and sky; and pinkish red - the color of the fish.

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"Shoulder to Shoulder" is the motto of the whole concept of the logo, which expresses the unity of the citizens who keep shoulder to shoulder in our harsh northern climate, but at the same time live a full bright colorful life.

The mission of the city

Murmansk people cherish the achievements of the past and look to the future with confidence. All together they do everything to ensure that life in the city of Murmansk become better, more interesting and comfortable.

Every Murmansk citizen does their best to make our city attract more and more people from all the corners of the country and from abroad, and so that everyone who visits Murmansk didn`t want to leave it or tried to return for new experiences.

And that is why the mission of the city of Murmansk is:

"Murmansk is the city of the high quality of life, with the comfortable urban living environment, the Russian Centre of Arctic exploration with the development priorities in the areas of fisheries and transport"

Murmansk is always glad to meet old and new friends!
The weather doesn`t pettle us often, but not everyone likes when it`s hot!
Once you visit Murmansk, believe us, you`ll certainly come here again and again!