Bolshoy Zayatsky Island

Bolshoy Zayatsky Island is an island in the White Sea. It is one of six major islands comprising the Solovetsky archipelago. The island is famous for its history and nature. In prehistoric times, the island was used as a sanctuary by the indigenous coastal population. In the mid-16th century monks of the Solovetsky monastery organized a transit port on this island that later grew into the St. Andrew hermitage. Nowadays, the island is a protected territory with historical memorials of various periods. Since 1992 it has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site as a part of the Solovetsky monastery complex. ()