Nord Kamal Mosque


The Nord Kamal Mosque is the largest mosque in the city of Norilsk, Russia. It is listed in the Guinness Book of Records as the most northerly-situated mosque in the world. It was built by businessman Mukhtad Bekmeyev, an ethnic Tatar native of Norilsk, who named it after his father Nuritdin and mother Gaynikamal. It was designed by a local architect, Josef Muire, with funds provided by British philanthropist Stephen Trantham, and was opened for prayers in 1998. Its architecture is Turkish-style with a minaret and central dome.
The architecture of the mosque, built according to a custom design, is different from traditional mosques, because of the special climatic conditions of the Far North. For example, Norilsk's minaret tower, which is generally supposed to have a round shape, has a square base, because in such walls, the bricks do not freeze and they are more resistant to wind loads.