The islands lie only some 150 kilometers south of the Arctic Circle, but winters are not severe because of the warming influence of the Norwegian Current, a northern arm of the Gulf Stream. When the great winter does descend on Solovki, it brings an undeniable beauty to the place. For the islanders, though, when that long night draws in, there is not an awful lot to do. The only activity is that of winter fishing on one of the lakes. Solovetski has an area of 246 square kilometers, but there are around 500 lakes where winter fishing can be carried out.
Summer is easier to like.
And for those with a taste for the quiet, Solovki wouldn't disappoint. There are no cars on the island, only motorbikes, bicycles and a handful of delivery trucks. The relative absence of vehicles, though, has not stopped local officials from enthusiastically peppering all the roadways with traffic signs. With the summer, the locals are able to get about more, but even then do not travel too much except to neighboring islands. The ferry service that used to run between Arkhangelsk and Solovki had to stop when the islanders were no longer able to afford it.