The Northeast Passage

Tromsoe, the home of the famous Northern Lights, is situated a mere 2000 km from the North Pole, on the same latitude as Northern Siberia and Alaska. Most visitors are surprised by the prominence and sophistication of this fascinating port. On offer are high-quality theatre, arts and music, which contrast with the boundless and vast wilderness surrounding the city. The city centre contains the largest number of wooden houses in northern Norway as well as the oldest house. Read more about Tromsoe, Norway

Murmansk is a port that remains ice-free year round, located in the extreme NW of Russia, not far from its borders with Norway and Finland. It is the largest city north of the Arctic Circle. You won’t miss the massive 35.5 m statue Alyosha, depicting a Russian WWII soldier, on a 7 m foundation overlooking the city harbour. You must also visit the snow-white church of the Saviour-on-the-Waters, built to commemorate the 85th anniversary of the city's founding, as well as the world’s northernmost Jewish synagogue. Read more about Murmansk, Russian Federation

The archipelago of Franz Josef Land is 1000 km from the Geographic North Pole in the Arctic Sea. The 191 ice-covered islands are part of Russia, and its few island settlements are based on harvesting walrus and seal meat. Franz Josef Land is accessible for a few weeks in summer, and parts may well year-round be covered in pack ice. Though claimed by Russia in 1929, the names of the islands reflect their exploratory history - German, British, American, Italian and Norwegian. Read more about Franz Josef Land, Russian Federation

The archipelago of Franz Josef Land is 1000 km from the Geographic North Pole in the Arctic Sea. The 191 ice-covered islands are part of Russia, and its few island settlements are based on harvesting walrus and seal meat. Franz Josef Land is accessible for a few weeks in summer, and parts may well year-round be covered in pack ice. Though claimed by Russia in 1929, the names of the islands reflect their exploratory history - German, British, American, Italian and Norwegian. Read more about Franz Josef Land, Russian Federation

The archipelago of Franz Josef Land is 1000 km from the Geographic North Pole in the Arctic Sea. The 191 ice-covered islands are part of Russia, and its few island settlements are based on harvesting walrus and seal meat. Franz Josef Land is accessible for a few weeks in summer, and parts may well year-round be covered in pack ice. Though claimed by Russia in 1929, the names of the islands reflect their exploratory history - German, British, American, Italian and Norwegian. Read more about Franz Josef Land, Russian Federation

Novaya Zemlya (“New Land”, aka Novaja Zemlja, Nova Zembla) is an archipelago in the Arctic Ocean north of Russia, with a population of 2,700. It consists of two major islands forming a straight line of 820 km, just 1,500 km south of the North Pole. Geographically the islands are a northern extension of the Ural Mountain range. The northern island is permanently covered by glaciers and ice, and the southern part is low-lying tundra and swamp. Read more about Novaya Zemlya, Russian Federation

Kotka (population 55,000) is a city on the north coast of the Gulf of Finland, at the delta of Kymi River, 130 km east of Helsinki and 290 km west of St Petersburg. The city boasts two centres, Kotkansaari on the Isle of Kotka, and Karhula on the mainland to the north. Most of the city’s area is in fact water. It is a major Finnish port, the second largest export port and the biggest transit port in Finland. Read more about Kotka, Finland

The 2,900-square-mile Wrangel Island lies on the 180 deg. meridian, in the Arctic Ocean, and 4 degrees inside the Arctic Circle. The Russian mainland is only 140 kilometres south. Inhabited by rangers, scientists, and two fishing settlements, it lies in a protected marine region. Read more about Wrangel Island, Russian Federation

The 2,900-square-mile Wrangel Island lies on the 180 deg. meridian, in the Arctic Ocean, and 4 degrees inside the Arctic Circle. The Russian mainland is only 140 kilometres south. Inhabited by rangers, scientists, and two fishing settlements, it lies in a protected marine region. Read more about Wrangel Island, Russian Federation

The 2,900-square-mile Wrangel Island lies on the 180 deg. meridian, in the Arctic Ocean, and 4 degrees inside the Arctic Circle. The Russian mainland is only 140 kilometres south. Inhabited by rangers, scientists, and two fishing settlements, it lies in a protected marine region. Read more about Wrangel Island, Russian Federation

Kotka (population 55,000) is a city on the north coast of the Gulf of Finland, at the delta of Kymi River, 130 km east of Helsinki and 290 km west of St Petersburg. The city boasts two centres, Kotkansaari on the Isle of Kotka, and Karhula on the mainland to the north. Most of the city’s area is in fact water. It is a major Finnish port, the second largest export port and the biggest transit port in Finland. Read more about Kotka, Finland

Kotka (population 55,000) is a city on the north coast of the Gulf of Finland, at the delta of Kymi River, 130 km east of Helsinki and 290 km west of St Petersburg. The city boasts two centres, Kotkansaari on the Isle of Kotka, and Karhula on the mainland to the north. Most of the city’s area is in fact water. It is a major Finnish port, the second largest export port and the biggest transit port in Finland. Read more about Kotka, Finland

Kotka (population 55,000) is a city on the north coast of the Gulf of Finland, at the delta of Kymi River, 130 km east of Helsinki and 290 km west of St Petersburg. The city boasts two centres, Kotkansaari on the Isle of Kotka, and Karhula on the mainland to the north. Most of the city’s area is in fact water. It is a major Finnish port, the second largest export port and the biggest transit port in Finland. Read more about Kotka, Finland

Nome is a seaport used by freighters and cruise ships, located on the southern side of the Seward Peninsula in Norton Sound, Alaska, just 250km across from Siberian Russia. It was a small Inupiat Eskimo settlement until the discovery of gold in 1898 brought over 20,000 fortune seekers, but most left after 10 years, and today there are approximately 4000 residents with half being Native Americans. Interestingly, Nome is the finish line of the annual Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race covering over 1680km across the wilderness from Anchorage. The race begins on the first Saturday in March, and is the most popular sporting event in Alaska. Read more about Nome, USA