The Solovetsky Islands

The Solovetsky Islands (Solovki) form an archipelago in the White Sea at the entrance to Onega Bay. This is the largest archipelago of the White Sea.  
The Solovetsky Islands consist of six major islands:

• Solovetsky (Bolshoi Solovetsky) island - 246 km ²
• Anzersky island or Anzer - 47 km ²
• Bolshaya Muksalma - 17 km ²
• Malaya Muksalma - 0.57 km ²
• Bolshoy Zayatsky - 1.25 km ²
• Maly Zayatsky - 1.02 km ²

The archipelago also includes over 100 small islands.
Solovetsky Archipelago, as well as the five-kilometer area of the White Sea, are included in the protected area - Federal State Institution "Solovki State Historical and Architectural Museum-Reserve." Solovetsky Island is a strict nature protection area.The main attraction and the spiritual center of the islands is the Solovetsky monastery.

The relief of the islands is uneven, hilly, while the southern and western parts are mountainous. Solovetsky Island has three main relief areas: the central part of the island has a hilly landscape and a developed network of lakes, the southern part, which is a hollow ringed by hills filled with peat bogs and lakes, and the coastal area.

Solovetsky Monastery   located on the isthmus between the Holy lake and Blagopoluchiya Bay on Solovetsky Island.The monastery is considered to have been founded in 1436, when Rev. Zosima first came to Solovki. Before the modern stone monastery was built, wooden buildings of the XV - early XVI century had existed. The architectural ensemble of the monastery includes the Solovetsky Transfiguration Cathedral, the Gate Church of the Annunciation, the monastic fortress, buildings of the monastic settlements and hermitages, a unique system of waterworks and some other buildings.

The monastery is surrounded by massive walls (8 to 11 meters high and 4 to 6 meters thick). It has 7 gates and 8 towers, built in the years 1584-1594 under the supervision of Architect Tryphon. The walls were built of huge stones up to 5 meters large. The monastery has religious buildings connected by covered walkways surrounded by residential and housekeeping premises.

Solovetsky monastery was closed by the Soviet authorities in 1920, and in its buildings was organized a Special Purpose Camp. On October 25, 1990, the monastery was officially revived.
On December 14, 1992 Solovetsky historical and cultural complex was made a UNESCO World Heritage Site.