Archangelsk is located on the shores of the Northern Dvina River. The city was founded in 1584 by order of Russian tsar Ivan IV. The city's convenient location and proximity to the White Sea made Archangelsk, a Russian first port city, an important trading center with Western Europe. Today Archangelsk is the largest lumber port in the world. The city is surrounded by abundant timber resources, which are aptly dubbed "green gold". Archangelsk is also a popular tourist destination. Historical and architectural landmarks, connected with life and work of famous Russians, poetic nature and beautiful landscapes, attract tourists from all over the world. Arkhangelsk is a home to two especially noteworthy tourist attractions: the Solovetskie islands, which are a unique archipelago in the White Sea, and the Malie Koroli, a wooden open-air museum famous for its unique architecture.
