This peninsula is located in the northwest Russian Federation, is part of the Barents Sea in the north, and the White Sea in the east and south. The western border of the peninsula is a meridional depression that stretches from along the Kola River to

Its area is 100 thousand square kilometers, the northern coast is steep and high, and the southern coast is flat and low-lying, gently sloping. In the west of the peninsula there are mountain ranges - the Khibiny and Lovozero tundras. In its center stretches the Keiva ridge.

Geographical position

Kola Peninsula occupies seventy percent of the territory of the Murmansk region. It is located in the far north of Russia. Almost its entire territory is located beyond the Arctic Circle.

Climatic conditions

The Kola Peninsula has a very diverse climate. The warm North Atlantic Current warms it in the northwest. Here the climate is milder, subarctic, maritime. Closer to the east, center and southwest of the territory, continentality increases - here the climate becomes moderately cold. The average January temperature ranges from -10 °C in the northwest to -18 °C in the center. In July the air warms up from +8 °C to +10 °C.

The snow cover is completely established in early October, and disappears only at the end of May (in the mountains this process drags on until mid-June). Frosts and snowfall are common even in summer. Strong winds often blow on the coast (up to 55 m/s); in winter, prolonged snowstorms are a common occurrence.

Relief and nature

The Kola Peninsula is made up of terraces and depressions, plateaus and mountains. The peninsula's massifs rise above sea level by more than eight hundred meters. Swamps and numerous lakes occupy the plains.

The reservoirs are rich various types fish - palia and salmon, trout and whitefish, pike and grayling. In the seas washing the territory there is an abundance of flounder and cod, capelin and halibut, crab and herring.

History of the peninsula

Experts divide it into four main stages. The first began even before the Russians arrived on the Kola Peninsula. Lived here in those days indigenous people- Sami. They were engaged in deer hunting, berry picking, and fishing. The Sami lived in huts with a flat roof - tupas, or in huts made of reindeer skins - kuvaks.

The second historical period begins in the eleventh century, with the appearance of the first Pomeranian settlements. Their inhabitants did the same things as the Sami, but, unlike them, they rarely went hunting.

They lived in ordinary Russian huts, but with very narrow windows. They were necessary to retain heat as much as possible. Solid pieces of ice were installed in these narrow windows. When it thawed, a strong connection with the tree was formed.

The third historical period of the Kola Peninsula can be considered wars against invaders. The indigenous population has been interfered with by the Norwegians since ancient times. Since ancient times they have laid claim to the lands of the Sami. They had to fight them to defend their territory. The British began to lay claim to the peninsula after the Norwegians. In the 17th and 18th centuries, they burned Kola, a fortress built at the mouth of the river of the same name.

The fourth stage in the history of the peninsula is entirely connected with the emergence of the city of Murmansk. The first prospectors appeared in these places in 1912. Today it is the largest port in the Arctic.

Cities of the Kola Peninsula

The first settlement of Pomors, which appeared on the territory of the present city of Kola, appeared in 1264. It is mentioned in the notes of Simon van Salingen, a merchant from Holland in the 16th century.

At this time, the Pomors began active trade with the Norwegians, Swedes, British, and Danes, who arrived by ship on the Kola Peninsula. The city of Kola has become administrative center. Its population was engaged in fishing, breeding poultry and cattle.

In 1814, the first stone church on the peninsula was built here. The townspeople became famous for fearlessly repelling the attacks of the Swedes and the British.

Murmansk

This largest city in the Arctic is located on the Kola Peninsula. It was founded in October 1916. At first it was called Romanov-on-Murman. The city bore this name until April 1917. It's on the shore Kola Bay, 50 kilometers from the Barents Sea. It is surrounded by numerous hills.

Its area is 15,055 hectares (including the area of ​​the Kola Bay - 1,357 hectares). The city consists of three administrative districts- Oktyabrsky, Leninsky and Pervomaisky.

Murmansk cannot be considered one of the largest cities in our country, but it is the largest city in the world located above the Arctic Circle.

In May 1985, he received the high title of “Hero City”, and in February 1971 he was awarded the Order of the Red Banner of Labor.

Apatity

The Kola Peninsula, photos of which can often be seen on the pages of publications for travelers, does not have many major cities. One of them is Apatity, with the territory under its jurisdiction, which includes the Khibiny station and the village of Tik-Guba.

The city is located between and on the banks of the Belaya River. Population - 57905 people.

In 1916, a railway station appeared on the site of the current city, in connection with the start of road construction. In 1930, the state farm “Industry” was organized here.

The foundation of the city took place in 1951, and three years later the construction of the academic campus began. Due to the death of Stalin, work was suspended until 1956. Then the city began construction of the Kirov State District Power Plant. In 1956, the first residential building was put into operation.

In 1966 the city was reorganized. It included the village of Molodezhny.

Winter on the Kola Peninsula

This is the longest season in these parts. Winter lasts up to eight months. Snow cover appears in October, and in May the lakes and rivers are still frozen. And at the same time, in winter the Kola Peninsula (you see the photo in our article) is unique, fairy world. Despite the fact that the temperature can drop below 40 degrees, the cold is completely unfettered and practically unnoticeable due to the low level of humidity.

polar night

Due to the fact that the Kola Peninsula is located beyond the Arctic Circle, the polar night reigns here from the end of November to the end of January.

The black sky is strewn with bright stars, the cities are illuminated electric lights. At noon, the sky brightens a little, with purple, dark blue and even pink hues appearing on it. Thus two short hours of twilight pass. Then the sky darkens again.

Northern lights

Few residents of the European part of our country have had the opportunity to see this extraordinary spectacle that adorns the Kola Peninsula in winter. The black sky suddenly blooms with tongues of fiery shades - from crimson to blue-green. It's like a laser show, you can't take your eyes off it. It can be observed from September to April. Still northern lights It is considered a mysterious phenomenon, which even residents of the Arctic cannot get used to.

Rivers of the peninsula

The reservoirs of this land are mainly fed by melt water (up to 60% of the flow). The rivers of the Kola Peninsula are deep for 2 months a year (May-June), and then they become significantly shallower. The water level in them largely depends on summer rains.

Their length exceeds 50 thousand km. They belong to the basin of two northern seas - the Barents and White. Some of them are more than 200 km long - Varzuga, Ponoy, Tuloma. They occupy 70% of the total area of ​​the basins of the Murmansk region. Almost all rivers have a meridional flow direction; only the Ponoi River has a latitudinal flow.

Many Voronya, Umba, etc.) flow from large lakes. The water in them is usually greenish-blue and clear. During a flood, rivers carry a large number of silt, sand, fallen leaves. The Kola Peninsula is characterized by long-term ice cover - 7 months, ice cover remains up to 210 days a year. The rivers open in May.

Hydro resources

On Niva, Kovda, Voronya there are hydroelectric power stations and reservoirs built. Unlike the lowland southern rivers, in the northern ones, due to the cooling of water on the rapids during the cold season, bottom ice forms.

The rivers of the Kola Peninsula are conventionally divided into four groups:

• semi-plain (Varzuga, Ponoy, Strelna);
• river-canals (Varzina, Niva, Kolvitsa);
• lake type (Umba, Drozdovka, Rynda);
• mountain type (Kuna, Malaya Belaya).

Fishing

The Kola Peninsula today is one of most interesting places for true connoisseurs of trout and salmon fishing. He is well known all over the world as the best place for catching “noble fish”. Conventionally, fishermen divide the rivers of the peninsula into those that flow into the cold Barents Sea, and those that carry their waters to the White Sea.

Fishing on the Kola Peninsula is a pleasure not only for beginners, but also for experienced lovers of this activity. In July, a large number of not very large salmon - “tinda” - enter the rivers of the peninsula, and the August herds contain medium-sized salmon.

This harsh region left its mark on the inhabitants of reservoirs. In many rivers there are no grayling, here they are replaced by Arctic char and whitefish.

River trout here grows to a very respectable size of five and sometimes seven kilograms, and brown trout does not exceed 2 kilograms.

The most famous rivers that attract fishermen from all over the country and from abroad to the Kola Peninsula (Russia), belonging to the northern shore, are Yokanga, Kola, Rynda, Kharlovka, Varzina, Vostochnaya Litsa. It is here that the best wild fishing on the Kola Peninsula is organized.

Kharlovka River

This amazing river is well known to experienced salmon fishermen. In addition, travelers who appreciate the extraordinary northern nature often come here. They are attracted to beautiful waterfall. Huge masses of water can lead to indescribable delight a person who has seen this stunning spectacle at least once.

Kharlovka is famous for its particularly large salmon and equally large trout. True, fish can pass through waterfall streams only if the water level in the river is appropriate. Sometimes anglers give up fishing and watch the salmon try to overcome this obstacle. In the white foam of water, the fish jumps out of the water. At the top of the waterfall there is a natural slab from which this process can be captured on film. Residents of the Kola Peninsula have long been no longer surprised by unique footage in which a huge fish seems to be flying into the camera lens.

Kharlovka has excellent fishing, which is why not only “savage” fishermen come here, but also high-quality organized tours are organized.

Bell

This river attracts with its combination of excellent fishing and natural beauty. Three large multi-stage waterfalls, a huge number of trout and salmon make this place extremely attractive.

Fishing on the Kola Peninsula on the Rynda River has many fans. Some of them have been coming to these places on fishing tours for 17-18 years.

Tersky coast

The rivers that are located on the southern Terek coast are very popular among wide circles of fishermen around the world.

This is the magnificent Umba River, the rapids and free-flowing Varzuga with its tributaries, the Kitsa and Pana, inhabited by numerous salmon herds, and the famous Terek rivers Strelna, Chapoma, Chavanga, Pyalitsa.

It should be noted that the rivers of the Tersky coast are distinguished by a very wide list of living fish. Schools of pink salmon, salmon, and sea trout come into them to spawn.

Brook trout, brown trout, grayling and whitefish live in these rivers.

Carp species include roach and ide. And predators are represented by perch, pike, burbot.

Stretching from the Kola Bay along the Kola Valley, Lake Imandra and the Niva River to Kandalaksha Bay. The area is about 100 thousand square kilometers. The northern shore is high and steep, the southern shore is low and flat. In the western part of the peninsula there are mountain ranges: and Lovozersky (height up to 1120 m). In the central part of the peninsula, along its axis, stretches the Keiva watershed ridge (height up to 397 m).

The character of the northern and southern shores, as already mentioned, differs significantly. The first by its nature is a continuation, but lower and less rugged. Towards the east the coast decreases and coastline becomes less developed. The shores of the western part are the most indented: here many bays have a more or less pronounced fjord character.

Kola Peninsula. Lake Vaikis

Strong and rapid fluctuations are not uncommon on the Kola Peninsula. During the warm season, the heating is quite strong due to the length of the day. But since the warm period does not last long, the heating is limited to the surface layers of shallow-lying ice. Strong winds have an extremely strong and harmful effect on vegetation: in most of the Kola Peninsula, northwest winds have a significant influence. In winter there are strong blizzards. very significant. The amount of precipitation is small, does not exceed 30 cm, and much less inside the peninsula (hardly more than 15 cm). frequent, especially in autumn; most often in the throat White Sea. Although even highest peaks do not cross the snow line, but there are significant accumulations of snow that does not melt due to local conditions. Sea heating reaches its maximum in July-August.

The Kola Peninsula is located on the northeastern crystalline shield, composed mainly of ancient igneous rocks - granites and gneisses. The main features of the peninsula are caused by numerous faults and cracks in the crystalline shield, and also bears traces of the powerful impact of glaciers, which smoothed the mountain tops and left a large amount of moraine deposits.

In the Murmansk region. It is washed by the Barents and White Seas. Almost the entire territory is located beyond the Arctic Circle.

The Kola Peninsula occupies just under 70% of the area of ​​the Murmansk region.

The Sami are the indigenous inhabitants of the Kola Peninsula

The indigenous people who have lived on the Kola Peninsula for a long time are the Sami. The Scandinavians called this small Finno-Ugric people lappar or lapper, the Russians - “Lapps”, “Loplyans” or “Lop”, from this name comes the name Lapland (Lapponia, Lapponica), that is, “land of the Lapps”.

Lapland has never been a single state entity. Currently it is divided between four countries: Sweden, Norway, Finland and Russia (Kola Peninsula).

The total number of Sami is from 60 to 80 thousand; only two thousand people live in Russia (mainly in the Murmansk region), and the number of Sami in Russia has remained almost unchanged over the past hundred years.

The status of the Sami as an indigenous people is enshrined in the Charter of the Murmansk region, in the village of Lovozero (the center cultural life Russian Sami) the Sami National Cultural Center operates, various Sami holidays and festivals are held, the Kola Sami Radio broadcasts, and the Museum of History, Culture and Life of the Kola Sami operates.

In the north of the Kola Peninsula there is tundra vegetation, to the south there is forest-tundra and taiga. In the western part there are the Khibiny mountain ranges (height up to 1200 m) and Lovozero tundra(height up to 1120 m).

The Khibiny Mountains are the largest mountain range on the Kola Peninsula. The slopes are steep with isolated snowfields, the peaks are plateau-shaped. 4 small glaciers are known with total area 0.1 km². Geological age is about 390 million years. In the center are the Kukisvumchorr and Chasnachorr plateaus. Highest point- Mount Yudychvumchorr (1200.6 m above sea level).

The Khibiny mountains were a mysterious region where no human had ever set foot. The only inhabitants of the mountains, animals, roamed freely along the wild slopes and dense forests. And only in the twentieth century did the development of this deserted region begin.

1916 was built Railway, connecting the Khibiny region with St. Petersburg

In 1920, members of the USSR Academy of Sciences discovered hitherto unknown mineral substances in the foothills of the Khibiny Mountains. The discovery was accidental and in 1921 active development of apatite ore began. A year later, the so-called “Apatite Arc” was discovered, running through the Apatite Circus and the Kukisvumchorr, Rasvumchorr and Poachvumchorr mountains. At first, apatite deposits were not given due importance, but in 1923, geologists seriously thought about the benefits of mining the mineral. In 1929, the Apatite trust was created to mine apatite in the Khibiny Mountains.

Despite its modest size, the Khibiny Mountains are the most high mountains Russian Arctic. At the foot are the cities of Apatity and Kirovsk. At the foot of Mount Vudyavrchorr is the Polar-Alpine Botanical Garden-Institute.

Khibiny is also a ski resort, which is now experiencing rapid development.

Lovozero tundra

Lovozero tundra (Lovozero mountain range, Lovozerye) is a mountain range on the Kola Peninsula, located between Lovozero and Umbozero, east of the Khibiny. The area of ​​Lovozerye is almost a thousand square kilometers. The peaks are flat, rocky, up to 1120 meters high on Mount Angwundaschorr. Strictly speaking, these are not mountains, but a high plateau, raised above the ground to a height of about 1 thousand meters, in the shape of a huge horseshoe, the ends of which face Lovozero, and the slopes of the western back side break off towards Umbozero.

These mountains have an average height of eight hundred and fifty meters. Composed of nepheline syenites. Their characteristic feature is the absence of clearly defined peaks. The mountains have rather flat tops, but the slopes are steep, steep, covered in the lower part with coniferous forests. There is no forest vegetation on the peaks.

The ridge reaches its greatest height in the west. The peak of Angvundaschorrd is located there. The eastern part of the massif is occupied by low hills up to four hundred meters high.

In the center of the Lovozero tundra lies the mystical Seydozero. Towards this lake, the mountain slopes drop off with sheer walls. And in the north-west, Seydozero is bordered by a steep cliff, on which the silhouette of Kuyva is “depicted” - according to Sami legends, this is the leader of the invaders, who was nailed to the rock by the chief shaman of the Sami, and his spirit infused into the stone. The Sami avoid this place, and tourists are not advised to take photographs here. caution against taking photographs here. Seydozero, together with the adjacent slopes and gorges of the mountains, is part of the Seydyavr reserve.

On the territory of the reserve there are the Raslaka cirques - two geological formations that are round bowls of glacial origin with a diameter of several kilometers with walls up to 250 meters high.

In the area of ​​the mountain range there is the Lovozero deposit of rare earth metals, which has large reserves of niobium, cesium, tantalum, cerium and other metals, as well as zirconium raw materials (eudialyte). Numerous deposits of rare, sometimes unique, collectible minerals have been discovered within the massif.

The Sami, who have lived here for a long time, call the Lovozero tundra briefly: Luyavrurt. The name is formed from the Sami words “lu” - “yavr” - “urt”, which mean: “stormy” - “lake” - “mountain”, and is translated as “mountain by a stormy lake”. The massif received the name “tundra” because the rocky hills that rose above the forest were called tundra by the Sami who inhabited these places.

Since ancient times, the Sami considered the mountain range a “place of power”, i.e. a place where there are energy fields that are significant for people, and shamans believed that here was a transition to other worlds.

Raslak circuses because of their unusual appearance Since ancient times, they have also been the subject of Sami tales and legends, among them the legend that these are the remains of temples built many centuries ago by giants.

The Lovozero tundra massif is known for various anomalous phenomena, so various expeditions have been sent here many times.

In 1917-1918, Nicholas Roerich visited Luyavrurt, as evidenced by his diaries, which are kept in the library of the University of Lapland. In his diaries, Roerich talks about finding a walled-up entrance with a lock in the shape of a lotus flower.

In 1922, the special encryption department of the Cheka sent a unique expedition to the Luyavrurt area under the leadership of Alexander Vasilevich Barchenko. The official topic of the expedition was an environmental survey of the area adjacent to the Lovozero churchyard. However, the real purpose of the expedition was to search for traces of ancient civilizations.

The expedition found the entrance to some cave, which was photographed. Perhaps after this the entrance was either covered up or disguised - subsequent expeditions have not yet been able to find it. All members of the expedition were destroyed, and the materials were classified, and continue to remain so. Although some information did leak out from the surviving relatives of the expedition members, and this information is one of the reasons for the growing interest in Luyavrurt.

A new phase of legends began in the second half of the 20th century, when, in the wake of the fascination with ufology, the opinion arose that the circuses of Raslak could be landing pads for alien spaceships.

In the 20th century, geologists, biologists and geophysicists came to the conclusion that Luyavrurt is a hyobiogenic zone, i.e. such an area where various forms of life can arise.

Northern Fleet Headquarters

The Russian Northern Fleet bases Severomorsk and Gremikha are located on the Kola Peninsula. Severomorsk is the headquarters of the Northern Fleet.

Photos of the Kola Peninsula

Lavozero tundra photo

Administrative affiliation: Murmansk region (Murmansk)

Population of the Kola Peninsula: 842,452 people (as of 2009). National composition: Russians (85%), Ukrainians, Belarusians, Tatars, Azerbaijanis.

Language: Russian

Geography: The Kola Peninsula is located in the north-west of Russia, in the Murmansk region, and makes up about 70% of its territory. Almost all of it is located beyond the Arctic Circle, therefore, the Kola Peninsula is characterized by such phenomena as polar day (from late July to mid-August) and polar night (from late November to mid-January). Northern lights. For those who want to see this amazing natural phenomenon with their own eyes, we recommend visiting these lands at the end of December: the polar night and northern lights - a non-trivial way to celebrate the New Year - will make your holiday unforgettable.

Climate and weather: thanks to the North Atlantic Current, the north of the peninsula has a subarctic maritime climate; in the center, southwest and east the climate is moderately cold, with average monthly temperature January -8-14°C and the same, but with a plus - in the summer months; snow falls already in October, and completely disappears only by the beginning of June - at the same time, rivers and lakes open up, and the peak of the flood is noted. Sometimes snow falls even in summer. Cold nights persist until July, and in August, swimming without a wetsuit is only available to those who don't shudder at the thought of swimming in an ice hole. Summer on the Kola Peninsula is rainy and short: from June to August, and the beginning of June is still late spring, and the end of August is already early autumn. Strong winds blow on the coast and there are long snowstorms in winter.

Nature of the Kola Peninsula: Mountain ranges in the west give way to tundra, forest-tundra and taiga in the north of the peninsula, respectively, and the vegetation here is divided into three types: tundra, forest-tundra and forest. The tundra zone is dominated by mosses and lichens, trees include dwarf birch and willow, and woody shrubs grow along large rivers. In the forest-tundra there are birch, spruce, mosses, and shrubs. In July-August, dry, non-wetland areas of the forest-tundra contain a lot of berries and mushrooms. The forest zone is heavily swamped, so low-growing shrubs, grasses and mosses predominate here. Animal world The Kola Peninsula is diverse: bears, foxes, wolves, hares, martens, squirrels, moose, reindeer and other animals are found here. And because of the dampness, there are a lot of midges in the forests, so when going to these regions, stock up on repellents and remedies for bites.

Story: Evidence of human presence found on the territory of the Kola Peninsula suggests that people lived here already in the 8th-7th millennium BC, during the Arctic Paleolithic period: during this period, migrations of Scandinavian tribes to the north began. As a result of the mixing of Caucasoid and Mongoloid races, a new Finnish-speaking people was formed here: Sami, whom the neighbors called " Lapps».

In the 19th century, a railway was built in Murman, connecting the Kola Bay with central Russia. During the First World War, the port village of Semenovsky was built here, which, under the blockade of the Black and Baltic Seas, made it possible to transport military cargo. In 1916, the village became a city and received the name Romanov-on-Murman, and immediately after the October Revolution in 1917 it was renamed to.

Today, the Murmansk region lives by fishing, metallurgy, mining and tourism.

Pyramids of the Kola Peninsula and Hyperborea

According to the results of some studies, it was on the Kola Peninsula that the famous Hyperborea- a highly developed civilization that originated here 10-12 thousand years ago, had knowledge of nuclear energy and knew how to design aircraft. In the area, scientists at the beginning of the twentieth century discovered hills that resembled pyramids in structure. The Sami, who used these pyramids for ritual purposes, claimed that they were built in ancient times. In 1998, during a research expedition on one of the slopes of Mt. Ninchurt a well-built but poorly preserved wall masonry was discovered. This and other traces of ancient civilizations raise more questions than they answer, but they confirm the theories of some ethnographers and historians about the origins of civilization.

Tourist routes on the Kola Peninsula:

• Ski resorts: in the west of the peninsula there is a mountain range (up to 1200 m), which is popular among lovers alpine skiing. Most Popular ski resorts Khibiny - , .


• Water routes: on catamarans or kayaks you can lay out interesting water routes along the rivers, , and also on sea ​​kayaking or a sailing catamaran on the seas and lakes.


• Hiking trails and ecotourism: In recent years, so-called “ecological tourism” has been gaining popularity on the Kola Peninsula: Russians and foreigners come here who want to “live in places where no one has gone before.” (1100 m) - a mystical and beautiful place on the Kola Peninsula east of the Khibiny, attractive for lovers of secrets who are accustomed to the difficulties of hiking and mountain treks.


• Entertainment: Numerous tour operators on the Kola Peninsula offer a variety of snowmobile and ATV tours, jeep safaris, fishing, as well as horseback riding and hiking to the most remarkable places.

Excursion routes of the Kola Peninsula

Murmansk

Population: 299,148 people (as of 2009).

The capital and the most Big City Murmansk region. It is the largest city in the world among the cities located beyond the Arctic Circle. It is located in a bay of the Barents Sea, on the eastern shore of the Kola Bay. The official founding date of Murmansk is October 4, 1916, when it was founded Temple of the patron saint of seafarers, Nicholas Myra of Lycia. Then the city was named Romanov-on-Murman, and it was destined to become the last city founded in the Russian Empire. After the October Revolution of 1917, the city was renamed Murmansk.

The city is located on four terraces. The highest point is an unnamed hill on the outskirts (305.9 meters), the lowest is the shore of the Kola Bay.

What to see: Most of the city's attractions are World War II themed, as it marks a major milestone in the city's history. For example, Memorial "Defenders of the Soviet Arctic", consisting of a 35 m high soldier's monument, which locals affectionately call "Alyosha" anti-aircraft guns and eternal flame, located on Cape Verde near Lake Semenovskoye. Right there, on the lake, there is a wonderful city park with attractions. The first one moored here Soviet nuclear icebreaker "Lenin", built in 1956-57. Also worth a visit Murmansk Oceanarium And Museum of Local Lore.

Be sure to visit the Orthodox shrines: complex St. Nicholas cathedral And Metochion of Trifonov Pechersky Monastery and also white-walled Church of the Savior on Waters. Church Holy Great Martyr and Healer Panteleimon- an example of wooden sacred architecture. Co observation deck at monumentCyril and Methodius, installed in front Art Museum, there is a beautiful view of sea ​​port Murmansk: don’t be lazy to come here after sunset.

How to get there: in Murmansk there is a large Train Station, where trains arrive from Moscow, St. Petersburg, and other large cities of Russia. In addition, Murmansk has an airport where regular flights arrive from Moscow and St. Petersburg.

Cola

Population: about 10,000 inhabitants (as of 2010).

Kola is a small town built to satisfy the military and trade needs of the Kola Peninsula. Once upon a time, the city was inhabited only by warriors, fishermen, traders and members of the brethren of the Kola-Pechersk Monastery. Although the city was founded in 1517, after the barbaric bombing of 1854, alas, almost nothing remained of it, and almost all the inhabitants left the city. The population of the city began to increase only at the beginning of the 20th century in connection with the construction of the Murmansk railway, the Murmansk port, as well as in connection with the emergence of Murmansk itself.

What to see: Blagoveshchensky cathedral, within the walls of which priceless and unique treasures are stored: relief icons carved from wood and a wooden cross, which was installed in the 17th century on the coast of the Kola Bay.

How to get there: from Murmansk to Kola is 13 km, which can be covered by rented vehicle or regular bus.

Kandalaksha

Population: 33,542 people (as of 2014).

A small town in the south of the Kola Peninsula. The first mention of the city dates back to the 11th century, but today nothing remains of the village that once was here: in 1855 it was burned to the ground by the British. Kandalaksha received city status in 1938.

The famous Russian writer Venedikt Erofeev, author of the novel “Moscow-Petushki” was born here (there is his museum). In the vicinity of Kandalaksha there is Kandalaksha Nature Reserve, created to protect seabird colonies of the White and Barents Seas.

The city is notable mainly for the fact that from here it is transported to the most popular ones on the Kola Peninsula.

What to see: It is held annually in Kandalaksha ski marathon, the length of which is 70 km. IN City History Museum There is an exhibition of household items, documents and photographs, which can be used to trace the development of the city and its history.

How to get there: You can get there by train from Moscow and St. Petersburg along the Oktyabrskaya Railway to the railway station of the same name.

Ski resorts of the Kola Peninsula

The Kola Peninsula is considered the birthplace of skiing: it is the Sami - the indigenous population of the Kola Peninsula - who are considered the inventors of skis. Since the winters here are long, the ski season begins in mid-October and ends closer to April, and in some places it generally lasts all year round. On the Kola Peninsula there are both regular ski slopes and slopes with the possibility of hiking or skiing routes. The relief of the Kola Peninsula is diverse and allows you to adjust the level of difficulty of the ski slopes, so here you can find both very gentle slopes suitable for training, and “wild” freeride trails with virgin coverage.

Khibiny- a mountain range located in the center of the Kola Peninsula between lakes Imandra And Umbozero. Khibiny is a volcano that never erupted: about 600 million years ago it went out, “squeezing” out of its depths a hill with a diameter of 50 km. The Khibiny Mountains are a unique array of flat high plateaus, without the sharp snowy peaks familiar to the eye. The highest point of Khibiny is Mount Yudychvumchorr: its height is 1200 m. In the Khibiny there are more than 30 high-mountain lakes with crystal clear water.

The climate in the Khibiny Mountains is slightly milder than in other polar regions due to the proximity of the Barents Sea and the warm Gulf Stream. Khibiny is characterized by long, snowy winters and short, cold summers. The average monthly temperature in July is +12°C, maximum temperature is +22°C. The coldest month of winter is January with an average monthly temperature of -11.5°C and a minimum temperature of -25°C. Thaws often occur in winter, and frosts often occur in early autumn and summer. In the mountains there is high humidity (above 70%) and low atmospheric pressure; there are often dense fogs, drizzle, ice, heavy precipitation, large clouds and strong, gusty winds.

The Khibiny Mountains are not the safest place on Earth for skiers: heavy snowfalls and strong winds often cause avalanches. However, there are several ski resorts with excellent marked slopes, where everything has been done to ensure the safety of vacationers and all conditions have been created for a comfortable active rest. The ski season in Khibiny continues from October to June, and in the hollows where there is little sunlight, the snow never melts. However, due to changeable weather, the slopes are often closed, so skiers prefer to come here from March to May: During this period the weather is relatively stable.

Popular ski resorts Khibiny: , , .

Kirovsk

Kirovsk- a city located on the coast Lake Bolshoi Vudyavr, where the main ski infrastructure of the Kola Peninsula is located. This is where the best and long-loved mountain skiers are located Kukisvumchorr(in the north) and Mt. Aykuaivenchorr(on South).

Aykuaivenchorr(1010 m) is better suited for beginner skiers and snowboarders: on its slopes there are many simple and at the same time beautiful trails that will allow you to enjoy the descent without unnecessary risk.

The following ski resorts are located on Aykuayvenchorr:

• Colasportland. 30 km of trails of varying degrees of difficulty, lengths from 650 m to 1260 m, many jumps. You can find a suitable route for both a beginner skier or snowboarder and a professional. There are 7 lifts on the slopes. Freeriders should be careful: there is an avalanche zone here.


• Big Woodyavr. The total elevation difference on the routes is 550 meters; there are tracks for both beginners and professionals; 4 lifts operate. For beginner skiers, there is a training slope with a separate lift.


• Ayukai. The length of the trails is from 2500 to 3000 m, the elevation difference is about 500 m, the slope is gentle; 2 lifts work.


• Khibiny Snow Park Best suited for beginner skiers, children and those who are not looking for adventure, but just want to have a blast. The gentle slope (height difference is only 30 m) and the short length of the track (200 m) will allow you to feel confident on the ski slope, and the rope tow will save energy. There is also a ski school for children from 4 years old, and competitions among young skiers are often held. You can also ski here at night: the track is illuminated.

North Mountain Kukisvumchorr, on the contrary, is ideal for professionals and experienced skiers who have already known the joy of this type of leisure and are looking for new experiences. The trails here are shorter than on Aykuaivenchorr, but the slope itself is much steeper and the descent is more technical. Here, vacationers have at their disposal 4 ski lifts, several long trails from 2,000 m to 2,500 m, as well as a freeride track with a length of 5 km.

On the territory of all ski resorts in Kirovsk there is a well-developed tourism infrastructure: There are hotels, shops, restaurants and cafes.

What to see: Not far from Kirovsk, every year, as soon as snow falls, enthusiasts build "Snow Village"- the largest indoor structure made of snow and ice. This is a gallery consisting of many halls and rooms, which was included in the Guinness Book of Records for its scope. Every year the Snow Village becomes larger, and its architects come up with more and more new projects. For example, there is a bar, a fireplace room, a cinema hall, and even an Ice Wedding Palace, where real ceremonies have already been held. Not far from the Snow Village there is Polar-Alpine Botanical Garden-Institute- one of the three world botanical gardens located beyond the Arctic Circle.

And fans of the work of Venedikt Erofeev will certainly be interested in visiting Museum of Venedikt Erofeev, who spent his childhood in Kirovsk and loved to return here in adulthood. The museum's exposition includes archival materials and household items from the beginning of the Brezhnev era, and the excursion is accompanied by the voice of Erofeev himself, reading his poem “Moscow-Petushki”.

Mobile adventure center "Khibinium"- so that not only adults, but also children would be interested in a trip to the Arctic. Here you can ride a snowmobile and quad bike, shoot with a bow and crossbow, and also practice your climbing skills on rope rides.

How to get there: by bus or rented car from Apatit (about 30 minutes).

Apatity

Population: 57,905 people (as of 2009).

Apatity is located south of Murmansk, near Khibiny, on the eastern shore Lake Imandra. Since 1916 - village White with the same name railway station. On July 7, 1966, the village received city status and was renamed Apatity.

Near Apatit, in the village of Belorechensky, there is a relatively simple ski slope - Sparrow Mountain. Vorobinaya Gora will serve you well if the slopes of Kirovsk are closed due to bad weather, since the ski slope on Vorobinaya Gora runs through a forest belt, and you can often ski here even when skiing is prohibited on all slopes in Kirovsk. The length of the route is 550 m, the height difference is 80 m, there are two drag lifts.

What to see: Among the attractions in Apatity it is worth highlighting Museum of Geology and Mineralogy named after. I.V.Belkova, which will certainly interest tourists who are not unfamiliar with geology. Here is one of the largest collections of minerals on the entire peninsula. The total number of exhibits presented in the museum exceeds 1200 samples. City historical and local history exhibition- history and culture of the city of Apatity. Within the walls of the exposition there are both permanent and temporary exhibitions. Art Gallery "M", founded by local artists, which tries to present unusual exhibitions dedicated to important events in Russia: for example, the first exhibition was called “Painting from the Time of the Revolution.” This is also where "Children's Gallery", where you can see children's paintings. Museum-archive of the history of the study and development of the European North of Russia will be of interest to historians, ethnographers and art historians, as well as anyone interested in the history of the North.

How to get there: Apatity has a railway and an airport where regular flights arrive from Moscow and St. Petersburg.

Monchegorsk

Monchegorsk is located in the foothills of the massif Monchetundra on the shore Lake Imandra, in the ring of the Poazuaivench, Sopchuaivench and Nitis mountains, in the very heart of the Kola Peninsula.

Located in Monchegorsk sports and ski resort "Lopar-stan", which was previously called "Lapland". There is a natural virgin slope up to 1.5 km wide, on which there are 8 illuminated trails of varying degrees of difficulty, the length of which reaches 1200 m. The elevation difference is 260 m, 2 lifts operate, it is possible to rent equipment.

Vacationers have 2 hotels, 2 restaurants and several cafes at their disposal.

How to get there: by bus from Murmansk or Apatit, or by train to the Olenegorsk station, from where there is also a bus to Monchegorsk. From Apatit to Monchegorsk - 70 km, from Murmansk - 150 km, from Olenegorsk - 30 km.

Hiking routes of the Kola Peninsula

Lovozero tundra

The Lovozero tundra is a section of the mountain range in the west of the Kola Peninsula, located east of the Khibiny mountains between Umbozer And Lovozer. The Lovozero tundra mountain range is relatively small and covers an area of ​​only about 1000 sq. km. Highest point - mountain Angvundaschorr(1120 m). In the center of the massif there is a lake - Seydozero. The mountain range received its name from the Sami who previously lived here, who called the flat rocky hills rising above the forest “tundras”, and the massif itself was called Luyavrurt. The age of this mountain range is approximately 350 million years. These are the most ancient mountains on our planet.

The Lovozero tundra, despite the eerie glory of these places, attracts tourists and researchers here: there are a lot of completely mystical stories about what was observed here unusual phenomena and missing people, and ancient Sami legends only enhance this interest. Somewhere here, according to travelers who visited these lands (including scientists), lives in a parallel reality Big Foot(Yeti).

Route description: Depending on how long the path you are ready to overcome and how steep the mountain you intend to conquer, the point at which you start the route depends. The main entry points to Luyavrurt are four:

• from the east (by boat on the Motka River from Lovozero)


• from the northeast (along the Svetlaya River)


• from the northwest (from the village of Revda through the Elmorajok pass)


• and from the west (from the shift camp)

ATTENTION! In 2004, the Lovozero tundra became private property: they were taken on a long-term lease by the Sami tribal community “Piras”, which is engaged in reindeer herding and traditional farming here. This should be taken into account when planning the route, and agree in advance with the reindeer herders on the time of arrival, the duration of the hike and the route itself.

How to get there: by bus or car from Apatit, Murmansk or Kirovsk to Olenegorsk, from where by car or bus to Lovozero (Revda village). Further - either through the pass on foot, or on a private motor boat across the lake to another entry point.

Water routes of the Kola Peninsula

There are more than 100,000 rivers and lakes on the Kola Peninsula. The rafting season here is short: from June to August, and some rivers (for example, and) are passable only during floods - in August there is nothing to do on them. At the beginning of June it is cold and rainy here, the temperature can reach +10°C, in a good situation +15°C, but it is better to prepare for the worst: take more warm clothes and stock up on serious travel equipment (wetsuits, life jackets, helmets). In June, snowfalls and cloudy weather are quite possible; there are much fewer sunny days than rainy ones. There is more sun in August, but we would not recommend counting on resort holiday: more than +20°C does not happen here under the most optimistic scenarios.

Almost all the rivers of the Kola Peninsula are not for beginners. Mostly sports crews and groups with instructors come here. You will not find walking and fishing expeditions here, as in Karelia. Here come those for whom Karelia is already a past stage and their soul requires something more.

Umba

Dates: 5-7 days

Season: June August

Kolvitsa

Dates: 3-4 days

Season: June August

How to get there: along the Umba-Kandalaksha highway in a rented car. Often they are transferred here from Umba without dismantling the ships, but this requires a preliminary agreement with an adequate vehicle. You can also get from Umba by regular bus, but in this case the ships will have to be dismantled.

Optimal watercraft: catamaran, kayak.

The length of the route is 10-12 km before it flows into the sea, so Kolvitsa is not very popular as a separate route, and almost always goes in conjunction with Umba: in the case of passing Kolvitsa separately from Umba, the effort and money spent on the crossing are not commensurate with the pleasure received.

The main obstacles on the route: rapids Krivoy, Prizhimisty, Bely, Cherny (4-5 category of difficulty), waterfall (5-6 category of difficulty, depending on the water level).

Tumcha

Dates: 4-7-10 days

Season: June August

How to get there: by train to Kandalaksha, from where you need to take another train or a hired car to check documents to the Kovdor border checkpoint. It is advisable to have with you a route book (issued and registered with your local qualification commission) and full list groups with passport data. From Kovdor, theoretically, you can start traveling along the Tuntsajoki River (a tributary of the Tumchi), but border guards have repeatedly prohibited tourists from traveling to the river, so it is better to plan a route from Alakurti, where you can get there with the same rented car. Alakurti is a closed town in which a military unit is located, and it is recommended to start below the village: all obstacles begin after Alakurti.

ATTENTION! A little further down the river near Alakurti there is an excellent equipped parking lot for a slipway, but we don’t recommend staying here for long: they steal.

The release is from the Shlyapa rapids, before the confluence of the Tumcha into the Iovskoye Reservoir. From here, by boat (it is always laid up during the season and greets everyone arriving with a bathhouse and cold beer), cross the Iovskoye Reservoir and from the village where the boat will take you, you can get to Kandalaksha by rented car or regular bus. There are amateurs who cross the reservoir by oars in 2-3 days, spending the night on picturesque islands.

Optimal watercraft: catamaran, kayak.

Tumcha is one of the most difficult rivers in the European north of Russia. The sports section - from the village of Alakurti to the confluence of Tumchi with the Iovskoe reservoir - 50 km, on which there are more than 30 rapids of varying degrees of difficulty. There are no lakes on the route, there is a lot of calm water, but not tiring. The route is recommended for experienced athletes or strictly under the guidance of an experienced instructor. The peak of the flood is the first half of June, then the water level decreases and the obstacles become less powerful and more technical.

The main obstacles on the route: rapids Pervenets, Padun, Double, Stoney, Vodopadny-1, Vodopadny-2, Krivoy, Yuriev Den, Rocky Eye, Nadezhda, March, Koshmariki, Beautiful, Evening, Pit, Kotel, Cornice, Snake, Canyon, Hat.

At the peak of the flood (early June), sports teams often walk Tumchu in conjunction with the river and its tributary - .

Krasnenkaya river, Kutsajoki

Dates: 3-5 days

Season: June, peak of the flood (first half of June). The route is impassable in low water.

How to get there: By Murmansk train to Kandalaksha station, from where by car to the slipway site. The most popular sports route begins with a tributary of the Kutsajoki River - Krasnenkaya. The place of the slipway is “Devil's Bridge”. The route is off-road, so an ordinary Gazelle, and especially a passenger car, will not pass here.

Optimal watercraft: catamaran, kayak.

The Krasnenkaya-Kutsajoki connection is a highly technical and difficult route, which is categorically not recommended for untrained crews. The fast current and powerful obstacles following one another make the route potentially dangerous due to the complexity of organizing safety and rescue operations: if an inexperienced crew capsizes in one obstacle, it will inevitably be carried away into the next. To complete this route, excellent equipment preparation, rescue training, and experienced and resilient crews and captains are required. Adding to the complexity of the river is the challenge of cold: the weather here in June is not at all like summer.

Main obstacles on the route:

• R. Little red: Korotky Canyon, Kamenisty, Ostrovnoy, Jump, Shchechki, Caucasian, Gorka rapids.


• R. Kutsajoki: rapids Doubtful, Ant, B.S.T., waterfalls Oba-na and Mamanya, rapids Tesny, Stupenka.

The western border of the Kola Peninsula is a meridional depression stretching from the Kola Bay along the valley of the Kola River, Lake Imandra and the Niva River to Kandalaksha Bay. The length from North to South is about 300 km. From West to East it is about 400 km. The area is about 100,000 square km. The northern shore is high and steep, the southern shore is low and flat.

The climate of the Kola Peninsula, despite its northern location, is relatively mild due to the softening influence of the warm Atlantic Current. The average temperature in January is from -5° (on the northern shore) to -11° (in the central part of the peninsula), in July - from +8° to +14°, respectively. On the northern coast of the Kola Peninsula is the ice-free port of Murmansk.

The Kola Peninsula abounds in rivers, lakes and swamps. The rivers are turbulent, rapids, and have huge reserves of hydropower. The largest of them are: Ponoy, Varzuga, Umba (White Sea basin), Teriberka, Voronya, Iokanga (Barents Sea basin). The most significant lakes are: Imandra, Umbozero, Lovozoro, Kolvitskoye, etc. The northern part of the peninsula is occupied by tundra and forest-tundra, the southern by taiga forests of pine, spruce, and birch. In the depths there are huge reserves of apatite-nepheline and nickel ores, building materials and other minerals. On the development and use of natural resources of the Kola Peninsula in 1929-1934. done big job under the leadership of S. M. Kirov. The seas washing the Kola Peninsula are rich in fish.

Kola Peninsula

Kola Peninsula- a peninsula in the north-west of the European part of Russia, in the Murmansk region. It is washed by the Barents and White Seas. The area is about 100 thousand km 2. In the western part there are mountain ranges: Khibiny (height up to 1200 m) and Lovozero tundra (height up to 1120 m). Even further west are Monchetundra, Chunatundra, Wolf Tundra, Nyavka Tundra, Greasy Tundra and Tuadash Tundra. In the north there is tundra vegetation, to the south there is forest-tundra and taiga. The orographic pattern of the Kola Peninsula and Karelia is quite simple. The territory reaches its greatest heights in the western part of the Kola Peninsula, which has a dissected topography. There are separate mountain ranges with flat tops, separated by depressions. Their heights reach 900-1000 m. Only a few peaks of the Khibiny (Chasnachorr mountain - 1191 m), Lovozero Tundra and Monchetundra exceed 1000 m. The eastern half of the Kola Peninsula is characterized by a calmer undulating topography with prevailing heights of 150-250 m. Among the undulating plains the Keiva ridge rises (397 m), consisting of separate chains stretching from northwest to southeast along the central part of the peninsula.

Sights of the Kola Peninsula

The main attraction of the Kola Peninsula is, of course, amazing nature. Everything is collected here: lakes, mountains (even if not too high), sea, rivers and even one desert was found. Fortunately, there are very few tourists here yet, so the places here are wild and reserved. Hiking along the Kola is an ideal option for beginners or parents with children. Here you can find a huge number of simple routes passing along the most picturesque places. And not so long ago, travel agencies began to appear here, offering a more civilized vacation. Their services include boat trips, tours of the main attractions of Murmansk and the surrounding area, diving, etc.

On this page we tried to collect the most interesting sights of the Kola Peninsula. There are not many of them yet, but information is constantly being updated.

The Kola Peninsula is located in the Murmansk region. Its shores are washed by the White and Barents Seas. The area of ​​the Kola Peninsula is approximately 100 thousand square meters. It has such mountain ranges as the Lovozero tundra (up to 1120 m in height) and the Khibiny Mountains (up to 1200 m), located in its western part. Other massifs are also notable: Chunatundra, Monchetundra, Nyavka, Volchi Tundra, Tuadash, Salnye and Pecheneg Tundra. The vegetation on the peninsula is tundra and forest-tundra, and in the south there is taiga. South coast historically divided into Kandalaksha and Tersky shores.

Since the Kola Peninsula is located in the far north, almost its entire territory is located beyond the Arctic Circle. Its western border is the meridional depression, which runs from the Kola Bay along Lake Imandra, the valley of the Kola River, and the Niva River.

The climate of the peninsula is quite diverse. So in the northwest it is subarctic, which is due to the warm North Atlantic Current. In the center, east and southwest the continental climate is increasing. Here it is moderately cold. The average temperature in January ranges from -8°C (in the northwestern part of the peninsula) to -14°C (in the central part). In July the temperature ranges from 8 °C to 14 °C respectively. Snow cover persists from October until the end of May. Sometimes snow falls even in summer. The Kola Peninsula is famous for its numerous reservoirs (rivers and lakes), which are home to many species of valuable commercial fish. They are home to salmon, whitefish, pike, pike, grayling, and trout.

The most large rivers: Ponoy, Tuloma, Kola, Varzuga, Teriberka, Yokanga, Umba, Voronya. The largest lakes: Umbozero, Imandra, Lovozero. In the seas washing the peninsula, cod, halibut, flounder, herring, capelin, and crabs are caught. Tourists come to the Kola Peninsula to explore the harsh but beautiful northern nature. Equipped camps and recreation centers are provided at their service.

Until the beginning of the 20th century, only the northern coast of the peninsula was called Murman - from the Holy Nose to the Norwegian border, but later this concept expanded, and now it means the entire Kola Peninsula. The southern coast of the peninsula is historically divided into the Tersky and Kandalaksha shores.

The Kola Peninsula is located in the far north of Russia. Almost the entire territory is located beyond the Arctic Circle.

In the north it is washed by the waters of the Barents Sea, in the south and east by the waters of the White Sea. The western border of the Kola Peninsula is a meridional depression running from the Kola Bay along the valley of the Kola River. Lake Imandra and the Niva River to Kandalaksha Bay. Area about 100 thousand km²

The climate of the peninsula is varied. In the northwest, warmed warm current Gulf Stream. it is subarctic marine. Towards the center, east and southwest of the peninsula, continentality increases - here the climate is moderately cold. Average temperatures in January-February range from minus 8°C in the north-west of the peninsula to minus 14°C in the center; July, respectively, from 8°C to 14°C. The snow falls in October and completely melts only by mid-to-late May (in mountainous areas in early to mid-June). Frosts and snowfall are possible in the summer. Strong winds (up to 45-55 m/s) are frequent on the coast, and prolonged snowstorms occur in winter.

Sources: goroda-prizraki.narod.ru, wiki.web.ru, goodroute.ru, mapsoid.ru, dic.academic.ru

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