Snezhnogorsk, Work settlement in Norilsk Urban Okrug, Russia
Snezhnogorsk is a work settlement in Krasnoyarsk Krai situated at approximately 68 degrees north latitude, where the sun never fully sets during summer months and disappears entirely in winter. The settlement consists mainly of residential buildings and industrial facilities that reflect the harsh Arctic climate of the region.
The settlement was founded in 1963 to house workers building the Ust-Khantaika hydroelectric plant and gained urban status the following year. This development was part of the Soviet push to exploit Arctic resources and populate remote territories during the Cold War era.
The settlement maintains connections with local indigenous communities while supporting a population primarily focused on industrial and energy production activities.
Access is primarily by helicopter with regular connections to nearby Norilsk, as road accessibility is limited throughout the year. Visitors should prepare for extreme cold and prolonged darkness in winter when exploring this remote settlement.
The settlement's name originates from a striking event during early construction when the first building became completely buried under snow. This encounter with extreme snowfall left such an impression that it became the defining characteristic of the place's identity.
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