Nord Kamal Mosque

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Nord Kamal Mosque
Nurd Kamal Mosque.jpg
Basic information
Location Norilsk, Krasnoyarsk Krai, Russia
Affiliation Islam
Architect(s) Josef Muire

Nord Kamal Mosque is the largest mosque in the city of Norilsk, the northernmost mosque in Russia, and one of the northernmost mosques in the world. It was built by Mukhtad Bekmeyev, an ethnic Tatar native of Norilsk, who named it after his father. 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.

Noorda Kamal Mosque is one of the most beautiful sites in the Arctic city of Norilsk. It is listed in the Guinness Book of Records as the most northerly-situated mosque in the world. 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. The mosque was built by the businessman Mithada Bikmeyeva, an ethnic Tatar, who was born in Norilsk. The mosque was named Noorda Kamal, in honor of his father Nuritdin and mother Gaynikamal.


Coordinates: 69°34′01″N 88°20′01″E﻿ / ﻿69.5669°N 88.3335°E﻿ / 69.5669; 88.3335