**Why is a snowstorm in Norilsk called ‘black’?**
This expression appeared among the locals after the snow storm of 1957. The northern city was at the mercy of the elements for several days.
“A terrible snowstorm, the likes of which local old-timers have not remembered for many years, broke out over Norilsk on January 15 and on the night of January 16,” wrote a local newspaper in 1957. “Almost all mines were left without electricity… The wind tore roofs off some houses, smashed windows and destroyed small buildings.”
Because of the snowstorm and dense snow, it was impossible to see at arm's length – that's why it was called ‘black’.
Norilsk is on the 69th parallel. In winter, it can reach minus 45-50 degrees and, at the same time, it is considered one of the windiest cities in the world.Fortunately, there are no such strong snowstorms today as in 1957. But, the ‘black snowstorm’ covers the city on a regular basis.
📷 Denis Kozhevnikov / TASS, Vsevolod Tarasevich, Sigismund Kropivnitsky/MAMM/MDF/russiainphoto.ru
🤓
**Why is a snowstorm in Norilsk called ‘black’?**
This expression appeared among the locals after the snow storm of 1957. The northern city was at the mercy of the elements for several days.
“A terrible snowstorm, the likes of which local old-timers have not remembered for many years, broke out over Norilsk on January 15 and on the night of January 16,” wrote a local newspaper in 1957. “Almost all mines were left without electricity… The wind tore roofs off some houses, smashed windows and destroyed small buildings.”
Because of the snowstorm and dense snow, it was impossible to see at arm's length – that's why it was called ‘black’.
Norilsk is on the 69th parallel. In winter, it can reach minus 45-50 degrees and, at the same time, it is considered one of the windiest cities in the world.Fortunately, there are no such strong snowstorms today as in 1957. But, the ‘black snowstorm’ covers the city on a regular basis.
📷 Denis Kozhevnikov / TASS, Vsevolod Tarasevich, Sigismund Kropivnitsky/MAMM/MDF/russiainphoto.ru
🤓