Kandalaksha is situated on the White Sea shore, on Kandalaksha Bay.
The population of the town is approximately 46.000 people. The historical heart of the town is the
former village of Kandalaksha, located near the mouth of the Niva River, which is located to west of the modern centre.
There are a lot of species of fish and many other sea animals, including seals in the sea. All this attracts tourists,
divers, and those who are fond of various kinds of sailing.
The settlement was first mentioned in chronicles in the 11th century. There was a monastery in the 16-17th centuries.
At the beginning of the 20th century Kandalaksha played an important role in the development of Murmansk territory.
It became one of the major centres of the construction of the Murmansk railway. Today, Kandalaksha is still an important
industrial centre in Murmansk Region.
The key industrial object is the Kandalaksha aluminun plant.
The Kandalaksha State Natural Reserve is made up of 376 islands scattered in the Kandalaksha Bay of
the White Sea and along the northen coast of the Kola. Its area is about 61,000 hectares (including water-marshy
grounds of international importance).
It was created in 1932 for the protection of unique natural environment and birds' nesting-places
(eider, guillemot, ember-goose) on the islands of the White and the Barents Seas. There are also elk,
brown bear, marten, etc., inhabiting the area.
The birds form colonies in several places in the Reserve. 35 species of the flora and fauna, found in the Reserve, have been enlisted in
the Red Book of Endangered Species of Russia (including 11 kinds of plants, 10 kinds of birds and 14 mammals).
The present goal of the Reserve is the presentation of all natural complexes on its territory.
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