The Russian Orthodox Solovestsky Monastery

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Terrain: Formed of granite, most of the Solovetsky Islands are covered with Scots Pine and Norway Spruce forests, which are partially swampy

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Bleak: After the October Revolution, the islands attained notoriety as the site of the first Soviet prison camp, or gulag

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Preserved: In 1974, the Solovetsky Islands were designated a historical and architectural museum and a natural reserve of the Soviet Union and in 1992 joined the World Heritage List

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Frosty morning: These frozen bells show just how cold it can get for those living on the remote islands in the White Sea

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Enterprise: There are numerous lakes, which were joined by monks so as to form a network of canals

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Silent prayer: Monks have been living at the monastery since the 15th century

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High praise: The islands have been described as 'an outstanding example of a monastic settlement in the inhospitable environment of northern Europe'