Damba Na Ostrov B.muksalma, Arkhangelsk Oblast, Russia

Damba Na Ostrov B.muksalma, Arkhangelsk Oblast, Russia

Damba Na is one of the Solovetsky Islands. Bolshaya Muksalma is situated to the east of Bolshoy Solovetsky Island and is separated from it by two straits: Severnye Zheleznye Vorota and Yuzhnye Zheleznye Vorota translated as Northern and Southern Iron Gates. The Yuzhnye Zheleznye Vorota Strait is crossed by a dam which was built by the monks of Solovetsky Monastery between 1865 and 1871 and now connects the two islands.

The dam is several hundred meters long and 6.5 metres (21 ft) wide. Southeast of Bolshaya Muksalma, there is Malaya Muksalma Island, as well as a number of tiny islets. The area of Bolshaya Muksalma is 17 square kilometres (6.6 sq mi). In terms of the area, this is the third island of the archipelago behind Bolzhoy Solovetsky and Anzersky Islands.

There is archaeological evidence that the island was populated in the second millennium BC. In historical time, Bolshaya Muksalma was made the location of the farm serving Solovetsky Monastery, as keeping female animals in close proximity to the monastery was prohibited. In the 19th century, there was a small and secluded monastery (Sergeyev skete) on the island, which ran the monastery farm

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