Polyarny

Polyarny - a town in the Murmansk Region of Russia - is located on the coast of Ekaterina's Harbour of Kola Bay of Barents Sea, 33 km away from Murmansk.

The naval base of Northern Fleet is located in Polyarny. Its population counts 16037 persons (2010).

History

In 1894 Sergey Yulevich Vitte visited Ekaterina's Harbour and then suggested Emperor Nicholas II founding a commercial port there. Vitte's memoirs read: «Such a grand harbour I’ve never seen in my life». The commercial port Aleksandrovsk was established in summer of 1896, and 3 years later, on June, 24th, 1899, the settlement received the status of a town. At the same time it became the centre of Aleksandrovsk (earlier Kola) County of the Arkhangelsk Province, with the centre transferred from Kola. The town was named in honour of Emperor Alexander III. The town totaled 500 inhabitants. By the early 20th century the town had an orthodox church, a school and a port built; the city was well constructed and illuminated with electricity.

In 1926 it was transformed into a rural settlement, and a year later became the centre of Aleksandrovsk District, which had the status of the Finnish national area in the 1930s. In 1931Aleksandrovsk Settlement was renamed into Polarny, and in 1939 it became the town of Polarny. During World War II (1941-1945) Polarny harboured the major base of Northern Navy.

For some time the town was subordinated to the North Sea City Council. The town has enterprises of fishing industry service.