Archangel

Archangel, the chief city in the Russian government of Archangel, is situated about 40 miles above the junction of the river Dwina with the White Sea. It is the seat of an archbishop, and owes its name to the monastery of St Michael. Archangel is the chief commercial city for the north of Russia and Siberia, and is visited by numerous vessels—especially British—from June to October, the port being clear of ice only during that period. The harbour is about a mile below the town, at the island of Solombaly; and 12 miles below there is a government dockyard and merchants' warehouses. The houses are built chiefly of wood. The finest edifices are the bazaar or mart (1668-84), and the marine hospital. Archangel has an ecclesiastical college, one Protestant and twelve Greek churches, schools for engineering and navigation, a gymnasium, a naval hospital, government bank, &c. The chief articles of traffic are fish, flax, oats, linseed, tar, pitch, rosin, train-oil, skins, furs, timber, wax, iron, tallow, bristles, caviare. The manufactures include cordage, canvas, linen, leather, beer, and sugar. It is connected by river and canal with a great part of European Russia. The town, which is the oldest seaport in the empire, dates its rise from a visit paid by the English seaman, Chancellor, in 1553; an English factory was soon afterwards erected, and a fort was built in 1584. When Peter the Great visited Archangel in 1693-94, the town was in the height of its prosperity, but his later policy after the founding of St Petersburg caused the town to decline. Since receiving the same privileges as the latter town, in 1762, Archangel has increased in prosperity. Pop. 17,231.—The government of Archangel has an area of 331,505 sq. m., and had in 1897 a population of 347,589. The population, formerly Finnish, is now chiefly Russian. The land lying within the arctic circle is desolate and sterile, and the people support themselves chiefly by the chase. Southward, immense forests constitute the chief wealth of the country. Gold, naphtha, and salt are found in various parts.