Solovetsky Islands, Historic monastery archipelago in White Sea, Russia.

The Solovetsky Islands are an archipelago of six main islands and over 100 islets in the White Sea, with a total area of 347 km². On Bolshoy Solovetsky Island, the monastery's fortress wall of rough grey, brown and rust-orange stone carries two tall pyramidal wooden roofs with spires; behind it rise pale green and grey onion domes with crosses and a white tent-roofed tower. The shores are formed of granites and gneiss, and the land is covered with Scots pine and Norway spruce.

Monks founded the monastery in the 15th century and built a fortified compound of stone over decades. Later, Soviet authorities turned the grounds into a labor camp, until the church returned after the collapse of the USSR.

The archipelago's name comes from the Sami word Suollek, meaning "islands"; Russians call them Solovki. The monastery, founded in 1436, is a stavropegic male monastery, and its churches hold Orthodox services that pilgrims attend. Monks dug canals between the lakes, and the herring fishery, up to 80% of the catch, dates to the monastery's founding in the 14th century.

Visitors reach the archipelago by plane or ferry, depending on season and weather conditions in the White Sea. Warm clothing and sturdy footwear are helpful, as wind and cool temperatures can occur even in summer months.

One of the smaller islands holds stone labyrinths from prehistoric times, whose purpose scholars still cannot fully explain. Hikers find these spiral patterns near the shore, far from the religious buildings.