You can often hear about a city like Norilsk. And it is not surprising, since this is a large settlement that deserves special attention. It occupies a fairly large area, there are many industrial and industrial facilities. It is worth getting to know this wonderful city better. Norilsk, which has a small population, has many interesting sights. The article will also talk about climate, nature, interesting facts related to this settlement.
Norilsk: general information about the city
The city is located in the Krasnoyarsk Territory, is the administrative center of the district. Interestingly, it ranks second in terms of the number of people living on its territory (Krasnoyarsk is in the first place).
The city is located in a rather harsh climate zone. Norilsk received the status of the northernmost city in whichpopulation of more than 150 thousand people.
However, his records don't stop there. The city of Norilsk is among the settlements with the worst environmental situation. This happened due to the fact that the main activities of the city are mining and metal production. This area has become a leader, since there are no industrial zones of this magnitude anywhere else in the world.
Interesting is the fact that the entrance to the city is closed to foreign citizens. To visit Norilsk, foreign tourists must go through the procedure for obtaining a special permit. These measures have been in place since 2001. Prior to that, since 1991, foreign citizens could freely visit Norilsk.
Which areas are included in the city?
Before, Norilsk was not such a large settlement. After joining the neighboring cities to it, it became much larger. Norilsk consists of several districts:
- Central.
- Talnakh.
- Kayerkan.
- Snezhnogorsk.
- Oganer.
They are all noticeably different from each other. Some districts, such as Central, were built earlier; Leningrad architects were invited to design them. Others belong to a later period of time. Basically, they are built up with houses created according to standard projects.
Norilsk: population and its characteristics
Now it is worth dwelling in more detail on the issue concerning the inhabitants of the city. To begin with, it should be noted thata strong increase in the population of Norilsk occurred after 2 more settlements were attached to it, which are named Talnakh and Kayerkan. Currently, they are districts of the city. In this regard, the population of Norilsk has increased markedly.
According to 2015, the number of local residents is 176,251 people. Recently, there has been a tendency for many people to leave Norilsk. The population has greatly decreased. A particularly severe decline was seen in 2014. In the previous year, 2013, the number of inhabitants was 177,738 people, in 2014 - already 176,559. In 2015, the decline in numbers continued.
If we turn to the rating of Russian cities by the number of inhabitants, then Norilsk ranks 105th, which is a fairly high figure. In total, the list includes about 1114 cities. So, we got acquainted in detail with the data on the population of the city, and now it’s worth moving on to considering its national composition.
Ethnic composition of the population
It is necessary to analyze in detail who lives in this region. The city of Norilsk boasts a rich ethnic composition. Since ancient times, several indigenous peoples lived here, among which were the Nenets, Nganasans, Dolgans, Enets. Now they can be found here quite rarely. As for the permanent population, now Norilsk is mostly dominated by Russians, Ukrainians, Azerbaijanis and other peoples. There are practically no indigenous people left here. The city is mostly inhabited by people whomoved here already in the middle and end of the 20th century, as well as their descendants.
A noticeable influx of people into this city was due to the extensive development of industry and other local enterprises. A large number of jobs have been created here, as well as infrastructure that has made life in this place more comfortable.
Features of living in the city
Separately, it is worth paying attention to the characteristic features of local life, of which there are quite a lot. These features were formed over a long period, taking into account the climatic, weather and geographical conditions in which Norilsk is located. The population of the city has a special attitude to the preparation of food and its reception. Among the inhabitants of the city there are a large number of fishermen and hunters. Due to this, shish kebab and suguday are a frequent dish. The second is worth a little more detail. Sugudai is a snack consisting of raw fish, to which vegetable oil, s alt, pepper, onion, grated apple, vinegar and various spices are added. As for other popular products, the city's residents often pick mushrooms, blueberries, lingonberries and cloudberries.
Prices in Norilsk are average, but for some seemingly ordinary products they are too high here. For example, bread can be bought for 60 rubles, a kilogram of chicken meat - for 132 rubles, a kilogram of rice - for 70 rubles, vegetable oil costs 89 rubles. Prices for buckwheat in Norilsk start at 160 rubles, apples are priced at 109 rubles, potatoes cost 53 rubles, and onions 70 rubles.
It is believed that Norilsk belongs to the Taimyr Peninsula. In thatThe region can be reached by two modes of transport: water or air. There is no land connection with the rest of Russia (the so-called mainland).
City climate
Natural and weather conditions in Norilsk are quite severe. The city is located in the Far North, and therefore the local climate will be very harsh for a person who is not used to it. The weather in Norilsk is usually cold. The climate here is subarctic.
The city is considered one of the coldest in the world. So, many are interested in what kind of weather happens in Norilsk most often? Winter here lasts a long time and is characterized by severe cold. In January, the average temperature is about -28 ⁰С. The characteristic weather for winter is frequent frosts with strong winds. The cold period here lasts about 280 days, it starts in mid-September and lasts until early May.
Summer is set only at the end of June and lasts until the end of August. It is usually cloudy and cool. The average temperature in July is about +10.7 C. If we talk about the average annual temperature, then it is -9.6 C.
Another interesting fact is that Norilsk is on the list of the five windiest cities in the world.
Nature
Many wonder what natural zone Norilsk is located in? On the map, it is located practically on the Taimyr Peninsula, where the forest-tundra dominates. This type of landscape is characterized by some features. Basically, you can see light forest here, which is interspersed withshrub tundra.
Thus, it becomes clear in which natural zone Norilsk is located. You can also see on the map that a large number of rivers flow here.
Despite the harsh natural conditions, this area has a fairly diverse fauna. The fauna in the forest-tundra is mainly represented by lemmings, reindeer, shrews, arctic foxes. These places are popular with hunters.
From birds here you can often meet various species of partridges, snowy owl and others. This region is home to many migratory birds.
Timezone
We got acquainted in detail with the nature and climate in which Norilsk is located. Time here also deserves separate consideration. The settlement lies in the time zone called "Krasnoyarsk time". The difference with Moscow is 4 hours. Thus, when it is 12:00 in Moscow, it is already 16:00 in Norilsk. In Russia, this time zone is designated as MSK + 4. According to worldwide designations, the city is in the UTC + 7 zone. In addition to the Krasnoyarsk Territory, where Norilsk is located, this time is set on the territory of 5 more regions of Russia. Accordingly, we got acquainted with the time zone in which Norilsk lies. Time is not translated here, as in other regions of the country.
Sights and culture of Norilsk
It is worth talking about what objects of historical heritage exist in this wonderful city. There are several museums in Norilsk, for example, the Art Gallery, as well as a museum of the history of the development and development of thisregion. The gallery is widely known and enjoys great popularity. This is the second largest collection of art objects in the entire Krasnoyarsk Territory. She began her work in 1980.
Not only museums, but also theaters are open in Norilsk. The Drama Theater named after V. V. Mayakovsky, as well as the Youth Theater, operates here. In a word, the cultural life here is well developed and presented in various directions. You should definitely visit the listed establishments when you come to Norilsk. Reviews of museums and theaters are mostly positive. The gallery especially attracts visitors, as some unique works are stored here. There are also other attractions in Norilsk that are worth paying attention to.
Architectural sights of Norilsk and their features
Interestingly, some areas of Norilsk surprisingly resemble St. Petersburg. Many will ask: why do the two cities have such similarities? This is primarily due to the fact that many Leningrad architects were invited to Norilsk, who designed various buildings. Once here, you should definitely see the houses located on Leninsky Prospekt and Guards Square.
After some time, the architecture of the city changed somewhat, because in the 1960s, here, as in many other settlements in Russia, typical buildings gained popularity.
Construction and architecture of Norilsk has a lot of features. They are mainly related to the fact thatWhen constructing buildings on permafrost soils, specific factors must be taken into account. Here, the architects managed to gain a unique experience of building in harsh natural conditions. In the future, this knowledge was actively used in other cities with a similar climate.
Industry and economy of Norilsk
As you know, the city is a real center of metallurgy. The region produces a large number of non-ferrous metals, such as copper, cob alt, nickel, as well as precious metals: gold, silver, platinum, palladium. In addition, sulfur, metallic selenium, sulfuric acid, etc. are produced here. Of particular interest is the fact that about 96% of the nickel produced in Russia is produced in Norilsk. Thus, we can say that the city is a major producer and supplier of many materials not only in the Krasnoyarsk Territory, but throughout the country. According to some data, almost 60% of the income of the Krasnoyarsk Territory consists of revenues provided by Norilsk. Russia includes many similar regions, but this city is considered the largest industrial center of this type.
Communication in the city
It is worth talking separately about such an issue as communication. Phones of Norilsk consist of 6 digits. Cellular communication came here quite late compared to other Russian cities. This happened at the end of 2001. Now there are already 4 mobile operators operating here. Of particular interest is the fact that Norilsk is not connected to other cities by cable channels.connections. Communication with them is carried out through satellite communication channels.
You also need to know the important telephone numbers of Norilsk, where you can contact in case of emergency:
- Fire Department – (101) 01.
- Police – (102) 02.
- Ambulance – (103) 03.
- Norilsk Airport Information - 006.
- Weather information – 007.
- Staff traffic police on duty - 43-54-59, 43-54-58.
- The duty unit of the Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs - 47-24-01.
Transportation
Be sure to discuss the transport component of the city. As you know, air communication with other settlements is carried out, since there is an airport near the city. Norilsk has 1 air port, which is called Alykel. It is located 52 kilometers from the city.
Also, the city is connected by a transport network with Dudinka. Moving between them is carried out using buses. In summer, it is also possible to travel along the river routes through Dudinka to Krasnoyarsk. In winter, there is a transport connection with Arkhangelsk also through the specified settlement. However, the easiest way to get to the city is the airport. Norilsk is considered a rather inaccessible city.
The transport network in the city itself is well developed - you can get around Norilsk using buses and fixed-route taxis.
Environmental situation
It's no secret that the ecology has deteriorated greatly due to the large number of hazardous industries in the city. Various studies have been carried out, which have shown that Norilsk is a settlement withthe most polluted environment in Russia. Here, many harmful substances are emitted into the air, such as chlorine, sulfuric acid, hydrogen fluoride, selenium dioxide and many others. Currently, there is a continuous collection of statistical data on various types of pollution, as well as their analysis. The nature around the city is badly damaged, many environmentalists say that the threat of ecological disaster is very high in the region.
