Norilsk sits atop a lush green landscape, bathed in oxygen rich, clean arctic air. Thick forest and dense grasses spread out in each direction for hundreds of miles. Thousands of species of plant and animal live together in multi-biological harmony. Seeds that blow in from afar are lucky to sprout here, in the pure black soil of Krasnoyarski-Krai.
For over a hundred year Norilsk has attracted Soviet tourists with its pristine natural surroundings. They come to bathe in geothermal spas, inner tube off of waterfalls and suntan on the shores of pristine lakes.
Only a handful of westerners visit each year. Norilsk's distance from populated areas is the main reason why it has not yet become a major tourist destination. This has advantages! Traditional Russian culture is slowly disappearing from glitzy cities like Moscow. In Norilsk you will find "The Real Russia" that Pushkin and Tolstoi wrote about.
Be sure to visit in early spring, when wild flowers and cherry trees go into full bloom. The sight is awe inspiring to the point of collapsing in tears of joy.