| Kem (English) Кемь (Russian) |
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| — Inhabited locality — | |
 View of Kem in 1916 |
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.svg) Location of the Republic of Karelia on the map of Russia |
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  Location of Kem on the map of the Republic of Karelia
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| Coordinates: 64°57′N 34°36′E / 64.95°N 34.6°ECoordinates: 64°57′N 34°36′E / 64.95°N 34.6°E | |
_(1788).png) Coat of arms |
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| Administrative status | |
| Country | Russia |
| Federal subject | Republic of Karelia |
| In administrative jurisdiction of | Republic of Karelia[citation needed] |
| Administrative center of | Kem Okrug[citation needed] |
| Municipal status | |
| Municipal Status | Urban okrug |
| Statistics | |
| Population (2002 Census) | 13,504 inhabitants[1] |
| Time zone | MSK/MSD (UTC+3/+4) |
| Founded | 14th Century[citation needed] |
| Postal code(s) | 18661x[citation needed] |
| Dialing code(s) | +7 +7 81458[citation needed] |
| Official website | http://kem.onego.ru/kem/ |
Kem (Russian: Кемь, Finnish: Vienan Kemi) is a historic town in the Republic of Karelia, Russia, located on the railroad leading from Petrozavodsk to Murmansk. Population: 14,620 (2002 Census). The town is located on the shores of the White Sea, where the Kem River enters it.
Kem was first mentioned as a demesne of the Novgorod posadnik Marfa Boretskaya in 1450, when she donated it to the Solovetsky Monastery (situated in the White Sea several kilometers off shore). In 1657, a wooden fort was erected there.
Also wooden is the town's remarkable cathedral, built in 1711–1717. It is a fine example of the tented roof-construction so popular in old Russian architecture. The cathedral's iconostasis features precious 17th-century century icons from Novgorod.
On 10 April 1918 the town was reached by Finnish troops during the Viena expedition in a failed attempt to join White Sea Karelia to Finland.
Kem was used as departure place for boats headed to Solovki carrying political prisoners from 1926 to 1939. During the Cold War, the town has been the site of Poduzhemye air base, a key interceptor aircraft airfield covering Karelia.
See also
- Pomors—the local settlers.
- Solovki—a picturesque archipelago off shore from Kem.
- Kondopoga—site of another wooden church.
- Kizhi—museum of old Russian wooden archicture.
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Coordinates: 64°57′N 34°36′E / 64.95°N 34.6°E
References
- ^ Федеральная служба государственной статистики (Federal State Statistics Service) (2004-05-21). "Численность населения России, субъектов Российской Федерации в составе федеральных округов, районов, городских поселений, сельских населённых пунктов – районных центров и сельских населённых пунктов с населением 3 тысячи и более человек (Population of Russia, its federal districts, federal subjects, districts, urban localities, rural localities—administrative centers, and rural localities with population of over 3,000)" (in Russian). Всероссийская перепись населения 2002 года (All-Russia Population Census of 2002). Federal State Statistics Service. http://perepis2002.ru/ct/html/TOM_01_04_1.htm. Retrieved 2009-08-19.
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