Arkhangelsk, Russia

Capital City

With a population of just 294,914, Arkhangelsk is a small, isolated city clinging to the White Sea coast. The long, frigid winters and heavy bureaucracy are persistent headaches, but the city's strategic importance as a naval base and timber hub has kept it afloat through the centuries. Despite its storied past as a trading hub, Arkhangelsk today remains a gritty industrial center, with limited cultural attractions beyond its fortress-like architecture. This bleak northern outpost is best suited for those drawn to Russia's rugged frontier spirit.