Murmansk Region and the Kola Peninsula
The Murmansk Region occupies the whole area of the Kola Peninsula, approximately 145 thousand square km with the
population about 1,020,000 inhabitants. There are hills and mountains in the central part of the region
(Hibini Mountains-1191 m. above the sea level) and flat-country territories next to the seaside.
The longest rivers are Tuloma, Ponoi, Voronjya, Varzuga; lakes - Lovozero, Imandra and Umbozero, respectively.
The northern part of the Kola Peninsula is a land of arctic and subarctic tundra (20% of the territory).
Forest (pine-tree, fir, birch, aspen) occupies 30% of the area and appr. 40% is a waterlogged territory.
The climate is cold but with a mild influence of the warm Nordkap sea current. The southwestern part of
the Barents Sea is a never freezing one. The average temperature of the Peninsula is -10C in January
and +11C in July. The polar day period stretches from May, the 27-th till June, the 18-th, polar night - from December,
the 10-th till January, the 8-th.
Russian Pomor people (coast dwellers) reached this territory in the 12th century. Permanent settlements occurred in the
13-14 centuries. The whole area of the Kola Peninsula became part of Russia only in the 17th century.
Kola Peninsula is a land of tundra and reindeers, mountains and minerals, Saami tribes and Russian Pomor people,
northern lights, waterfalls and salmon rivers.
Murmansk
Murmansk is a relatively young city, founded in 1916. Nowadays, it is the biggest
city in the world situated beyond the polar circle.
Khibiny Mountains
Khibiny Mountains are the highest ones on the Kola Peninsula.
The mountains are very old and therefore, not high, but there you can
find picturesque valleys, untouched arctic and glacial landscapes remained
from the Neolithic period, and the highest waterfall in the north.
Lovozero
This beautiful area is situated in the central and north-eastern part of the Peninsula. The coasts of the Lovozero
are washed by the waters of the Barents Sea and the White Sea. Lovozero is the oldest Lapp village.
In its neighborhood, the spaces of the compact residence Lapp people, aborigines of the Kola
Peninsula, are located.
Kandalaksha
Kandalaksha is situated on the White Sea shore, on Kandalaksha Bay. Kandalaksha Nature Reserve
is located on the shore of the Kandalaksha Bay of the White sea,
its area is about 61,000 hectares (including water-marshy grounds of international importance).
Salmon Rivers
Mild climate of the south Kola Peninsula seaside and rivers abound with salmon make
the area the world's best place to fish Atlantic salmon.
