6 Must Visit Largest Cities Within The Arctic Circle

There are 10 cities with a population of around 30,000 or more which are north of the Arctic Circle (latitude 66° 33′ 44″N) and therefore have at least one day per year when the sun never rises. All of these cities are in Russia (mostly the northwest) or Norway. In contrast, the largest city north of the Arctic Circle in North America is Barrow, Alaska, with only around 4,000 people. While the cities below are quite cold, most still have a milder climate than anyplace north of the Arctic Circle in North America.

# Murmansk, Russia

Murmansk is one of Russia's most important seaports and naval bases. It is located north of the Arctic Circle, on the Barents Sea and on the Kola Peninsula near Russia's borders with Finland and Norway. Murmansk is a strange city in many ways: it is above the polar circle, so it endures weeks of total darkness in the winter and enjoys weeks of 24 hour sunshine in the summer. It is above the tree line; the trees peter out a couple of hundred miles to the south. It is above the 10 degree isotherm; that is a line drawn around the arctic where the average June temperature is 10 degrees Celsius or less. And last but not least, despite cold winters, the sea doesn't freeze (because of the Gulf Stream). Go in winter, and you can have air temperatures of -16 degrees Celsius, with great clouds of steam coming off the water and hanging over the port area as fog.

# Norilsk, Russia

Norilsk is the northernmost city in Siberia and the world's second largest city (after Murmansk) north of the Arctic Circle. The area is home to nickel ore smelting, and produces 1% of the whole planet's sulphur dioxide emissions. There are no trees living within 48 km (30 mi) of one of the main smelters, due partly to toxic rain from the four million tons of metals and poisons released into the air every year. Norilsk has an extremely harsh climate. Average February temperature is about -35 °C (-31 °F), and July is only about +12 °C (54 °F).

# Vorkuta, Russia

Vorkuta is a coal-mining town in the Komi Republic, Russia, situated just north of the Arctic Circle in the Pechora coal basin at the Usa River. It had its origin in one of the more notorious forced labor camps of the Gulag which was established in 1932. Vorkuta has an arctic climate with short, cool summers accompanied by very cold and dry winters. Average January temperature is about -20 °C (-4 °F), and July is about +13 °C (55 °F).

# Tromsø, Norway

Tromsø is a city in the very northernmost part of Norway. Here you find art, history, sophistication, good food and an infamous nightlife in a bustling, tiny city. All of it, though, is surrounded by spectacular scenery that is visible from everywhere in town. It is almost 350 km (217 mi) north of the Arctic Circle and is one of the best places to view the spectacular Northern Lights in winter. The city is home to the world's northernmost university, as well as research institutes and satellite based industry. The population is therefore highly skilled, but retains the straightforwardness and sense of humour that the North is known for. Tromsø experiences a subarctic climate because winter temperatures are just cold enough to qualify and the summer season is short.

# Apatity, Russia

Located in the center of the Kola Peninsula, the city of Apatity lies between beautiful "Imandra", the largest lake in the Murmansk region, and the Khibiny mountains, whose highest peak, Yudychvumchorr, stands 1200 m (3.900 ft) above sea level. Apatity is the second largest city in the Murmansk region, with a population about 60,000. Founded in 1966, the city was named for one of its most abundant natural resources, apatite, the raw mineral used in the production of phosphorous mineral fertilizers.

# Severomorsk, Russia

Severomorsk is a closed town located along Kola Bay, not far from Murmansk. It’s the main base of the Russian Northern Fleet and home of many surface ships. Its residents are mostly officers, their families and sailors – people who are involved in it in one way or another. No strangers at all. That’s why there is virtually no criminality and one feels absolutely relaxed walking along its streets at night. People are very friendly, most of them are intelligent and polite.