Kandalaksha
Template:Short description Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox Russian inhabited locality
Kandalaksha (Template:Langx, Template:Langx / Template:Lang / Template:Lang, Template:Langx / Kannanlahti, Template:Langx) is a town in Kandalakshsky District of Murmansk Oblast, Russia, located at the head of Kandalaksha Gulf on the White Sea, north of the Arctic Circle. Population: Template:Ru-census2010 40,564 (2002 Census);<ref name="2002Census">Template:Ru-pop-ref</ref> Template:Su-census1989
Etymology
According to the most common version, the name of the town comes from its location on the shore of Kandalaksha Bay, where "laksha" means "bay" (in Karelian lakši — «bay»), Kanda — name of the river that traverses the town.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Template:Cite book</ref> According to other sources, the name of the bay may come from the Sámi names Kantlukht (kannҍt — hill, a dry place among a swamp, лӯххт — bay) or Kandaslukht (ка̄нҍтэсь — pack saddle, лӯххт — bay, which means: "the bay where horse packs were reloaded").<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Template:Historical populations
History
The settlement was possibly founded in the 11th century and it became part of the Novgorod Republic, which was later annexed in 1478 by the Grand Principality of Moscow, the new leading Russian state. Kandalaksha is first mentioned in documents in 1517.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> Russian chronicles mention that the Sámi were baptized there in 1526.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> Soon thereafter (in 1526) Kandalaksha (Kokuyev) male monastery was founded near the church.
In 1915, the construction of a seaport started, and in 1918 a railroad connecting Moscow to Murmansk running through Kandalaksha was opened. On August 29, 1927, Kandalaksha was made the administrative center of the newly established Kandalakshsky District,<ref name="ATSBook35">Administrative-Territorial Division of Murmansk Oblast, p. 35</ref> and on June 1, 1932, it was granted work settlement status.<ref name="ATSBook52">Administrative-Territorial Division of Murmansk Oblast, pp. 52–53</ref> Status of a town of district significance was granted to it on April 20, 1938.<ref name="ATSBook52" /> On February 9, 1940, Kandalaksha was administratively separated from the district and granted the status of a town of oblast significance.<ref name="ATSBook52" />
In July 1941, during World War II, the town was the primary target of an unsuccessful German-Finnish offensive which attempted to cut the strategic Kirov Railway.
By the Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the RSFSR of March 19, 1959, the Councils of Deputies of Kandalaksha and of Kandalakshsky District were merged into one Kandalaksha Town Council of Deputies.<ref name="ATSBook55">Administrative-Territorial Division of Murmansk Oblast, p. 55</ref> While the district was nominally retained as a separate administrative division, all its subdivisions were administratively subordinated to the town's Council of Deputies.<ref name="ATSBook55" />
Since 1995, Vitino oil port operates near Beloye More a few kilometers south of Kandalaksha.
Kandalaksha mayor Nina Varlamova was murdered in an attack in December 2008.<ref name=mt>Template:Cite news</ref>
In 2025, Yleisradio Oy reported that a military garrison was being built in the town.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
International relations
.jpg)
Twin towns and sister cities
Kandalaksha is twinned with:
Geography
The town is located at the head of Kandalaksha Gulf on the White Sea, north of the Arctic Circle. Kandalaksha Nature Reserve is one of World's oldest biosphere parks. It borders the town on the south side and includes numerous islands in Kandalaksha Bay.
Climate
Kandalaksha has a subarctic climate (Dfc) with mild, rainy summers, and cold, snowy winters.Template:Weather box