Zapolyarny

NIKEL (Заполярный)

Federal subject : Murmansk Oblast
Rayon : Pechengsky Rayon

Official blazon

Origin/meaning

The arms were adopted on April 20, 2007 and slightly modified on September 25, 2008.

The first quarter shows the Northern Lights to indicate the Northern latitude of the town. The second quarter shows two atomic orbits, symbolising science and discovery, as well as the metals zinc and nickel, which are mined around the town. The fourth quarter also shows the letters Ni for Nickel.
The third quarters shows a rowan leaf, a typical plant for the area.

Before 2007 a variations of the arms was used, see image below, with similar elements.

In the 1990s (?) another design was proposed, showing a silver pale for the Kola Ultradeep borehole near the town as well as the Northern Lights. Behind the shield two pick axes symbolising the mining.