Origin of lake basins of the Kola Peninsula. The rivers and lakes of the Kola Peninsula are becoming a disaster zone. Lake Bolshoy Vudyavr

Kola Peninsula

In the Murmansk region. to the bass. The White Sea belongs to the southeastern,
southern and southwestern part of the hilly plateau of the Kola Peninsula (Atlas
Murmansk region, 1971) (Fig. 1.1), limited from the east by the Lum-
Bovsky Bay, and from the west - the Niva River.

Rice. 1.1. Salmonidae
rivers of the Bely basin
and Barents Seas on
Kola Peninsula
Almost all rivers, in relation to the eye watershed, have a transverse
direction, differ in insignificant length (100-
250 km). Only the river flows in the latitudinal direction. Ponoy, having
the greatest length is 426 km.

The longitudinal profiles of rivers have a stepped character. Rapids
areas alternate with reaches and flowing lakes. The origins of many
rivers are lakes. Floodplain terraces are represented by narrow strips
pebbles and sandy alluvium. Most rivers are fed by melted snow
snow, swamp and summer-autumn rainwater (Baranov, (Burkov, 1966).
The duration of freeze-up on rivers reaches 6 months. Opening up of rivers
happens in May. The height of the spring flood is 3-4 m. During
During the summer low water period, the waters of these rivers are characterized by low mineralization -
13-124 mg/l and low content of nutrients and organic substances (Resources
surface waters of the USSR..., 1974).
List of large rivers of the White Sea basin flowing along the Kola
peninsula, includes the following rivers: Ponoi (length 426 km / catchment area
15500 km2), Varzuga (254 km / 9840 km2), Strelna (213 km / 2770 km2), Umba
(123 km / 6250 km2), Niva (36 km / 12830 km2) (Atlas of the Murmansk region, 1971)
The full list consists of 40 salmon rivers (from west to east): Niva,
Luvenga, Ryazanka, Porya, Kovitsa, Saw, Umba, Torma, Chernaya (I), Kuzreka,
Bread, Venison, Salnitsa, Boat Creek, Varzuga, Indera, Chavanga,
Kamenka (II), Strelna, Yugina, Chapoma, Shlitsa, Ust-Pyalka, Bolshaya Kum-
Zhovaya, Pulonga, Likhodeevka, Babya, Glubokaya (II), Sosnovka, Snezhnitsa,
Glubokaya (I), Danilovka, Ponoy, Orlovka, Kachkovka, Peschanka, Kamenka (I),
Lumbovka, Chernaya (I), Western (Kuzmin, 1984; Kazakov, Veselov, 1998; Ka-
Lyuzhin, 2003) (see Fig. 1.1). To the most productive salmon rivers
The Tersky coast of the Kola Peninsula includes (from west to southeast): Umba,
Varzuga, Kipa, Indera, Chavanga, Strelna, Chapoma, Hoop, Pulonga, Likhodeevka
and Babya and Ponoy. On the rivers Umba, Varzuga, Kitsa, Strelna and Ponoi
commercial or licensed salmon fishing is carried out.
Umba River. One of the five most productive rivers of the Kola region
Peninsula The length of the river is 125 km. The catchment area is
6248.5 km2. There are 599 rivers of various sizes in the basin. Total
water area of ​​all lakes in the river basin Umba is equal to 807.3 km2. Coefficient
lake content 12.9%.
The total area of ​​the Umba NVU is 450 hectares, the population density
parr population ranges from 6 to 140 ind./100 m." Potential production
Smoltov R. Umba can reach 700,000 fish, and the potential
number of producers with a return rate of 5% -
9
35,000 producers (Kuzmin et al., 1989). In 1998-1999 in the river Umba
less than 7,000 migrants entered (Biological justification..., 1998).
NVU r. Umba in tributaries of the first and second order - looking for, Rodvinga,
Nizma, Bolshoi Krivets, Vyala, Muna, Inga, Lyamuksa, is 4,477,800 m2,
There are 1,909,700 m of spawning grounds and 2,568,100 m2 of nursery areas. Actually
in the river Umba NVU reach 2677270 m2, incl. spawning grounds - 1041950 m2. On
boulder grung rapids, current speed 0.6-1.0 m/s, depths up to 1 m.
riffles - pebbles, current speed 0.6-0.8 m/s.
Productivity p. The umba of the downstream juveniles is 2.78 g/i2. According to the method
G. Power (Power, 1973) the potential production of smolts may
amount to 691,600 copies, and the potential number of producers
(return coefficient 0.05) - 34580 copies. Parr dispersal studies
in 1994-2000 showed that the highest densities are in the middle and lower
flow of the river (0.21-2.0 specimens/m2). The indicator varied from 0.41 specimens/m2 to
1996 to 0.88 specimens/m2 in 1999
The Varzuga River is one of the most productive semi-plain salmonids
rivers of the world. Length - 254 km, drainage area 9836 km2,
lake content 3%, forest cover 45% and swampiness 50%. Main tributaries:
Pana (114 km), Polisarka (42 km), Serga (38 km), Indel (23 km).
The area of ​​the salmon NVU in the river basin. Varzuga is 12486400 m2, in
incl. 3141700 m2 of spawning grounds and 9344700 m2 of nursery areas. Calculated
river productivity is 3,100,000 smolts or (with a 5% return) - 155 thousand.
manufacturers. In 1998-1999 in the river Varzuga visited annually around
70,000 spawning migrants (Biological justification..., 1998,1999).
Studies of population densities of juvenile salmon in 1995-2000.
show that the densities in the river are quite high and stable: in
1997, 1998 and 1999 - 114, 151 and 167 specimens/SO m2 (Kaliuzhin et al. 1999).
According to 2000 data, the settlement densities of parr on the Varzuga NVU were
0.06-0.93 ind./m2, on average - 0.34 ind./m2. In the tributary of Pan -
0.59-1.46 specimens/m2, on average 1.00 specimens/m2.
The Kida River is one of the most valuable salmon rivers of the Tersky coast, located
in the river basin Varzuga. The length of the river is 52 km, the catchment area is
1646 km2, lake content (6%). The main spawning tributary is Yulshda (50 km).
The area of ​​the NVU in the Kitsa basin is about 817,000 m. Estimated productivity
rivers - 76,000 smolts, or (with a 5% return) - 3,800 producers.
The main NVU begin 9.5 km from the source, the current speed
stackmute 0.4-0.5 m/s, depths from 0.2 to 1.5 m. The soils are represented by boulders and
pebble, rapids and rifts alternate with calm stretches.
Current speeds reach 0.9 m/s, on average - 0.4-0.5 m/s.
10
Indera River. Length 34 km, drainage area 284 km2, total lake content
3.6%. The area of ​​the NVU is 50 thousand m. Estimated productivity
rivers - 4500 smolts, or (with a 5% return) - 200 producers.
Salmon IDPs are located throughout the river, alternating with
reaches every 400-500 m. Current speed is 0.5-1.3 m/s. Soils on rapids
rocky (blocks, boulders, pebbles), on reaches - sandy.
Strelna River. Length - 213 km, drainage area 2774 km3,
average annual water flow - 303 m3/sec, lake content - 1%, swampiness
- 50%, forest cover - 35%. Area NVU r. Strelna is 2,900,000 m2.
The potential total productivity of NVU reaches 20 thousand smolts,
or with a 5% return - about 10 thousand manufacturers. Area of ​​development
The NVU is 2,800,000 m2. Average parr density in 1992-1996.
was 0.22-0.35 exUm2. About 6,000 spawners enter the river.
Chapoma River. The length of the river is 115 km, the width is about 25 m, the catchment area
1106 km2, average annual water flow - 12.9 m3/sec, lake content - 1.8%, swampiness
- 20%, forest cover - 40%. The area of ​​the existing DDPs is
200,000 m." Of this, 35,000 m2 are located in the canyon and are not used by salmon.
Potential total productivity of the NVU of the Chapoma River -
15,200 smolts, or with a 5% return - about 760 producers. All active
The NVUs are located in the area from the mouth to 9.5 km (to the waterfall). Density
distribution of juveniles in 1994-1996. amounted to 0.47-1.8 specimens/m2.
Chavanga River. The length of the river is 51 km, width is 15-30 m and up to 150 m in reaches,
catchment area 1212.1 km, lake content - 10%, swampiness - 62.4%,
forest cover - 17.1%. The area of ​​the NVU is 450,000 m2. Potential total
NVU productivity reaches 41,300 smolts, or with a 5% return - about
2050 manufacturers. All existing 11 NVUs, with an area of ​​95,250 m2, are located
in the area from the mouth to 17 km (waterfall). Quality potential
NVU (150,000 m2) are located 30-40 km from the mouth.
Average density of juveniles in 1994-1996. was 0.2-0.3 copies. /m2.
Pulonga River. Length 78 km, drainage area 733 km2, lake content
1.9%. After 45 km the river takes on the character of a turbulent mountain stream. IN
Where the river crosses the rocks there are paduns. Second
The waterfall, located 9.5 km from the mouth, is impassable for salmon.
The area of ​​the NVU is 120,000 m2, the spawning grounds are 81,300 m2. Potentially
possible number of manufacturers - up to 1.8 thousand depths per
NVU from 0.2 to 0.8 m, current speed 0.56 m/s. Soils are presented
small boulder, large and medium pebbles with small content
sand. The quality of spawning grounds is high. In 1995-1996 average density
The distribution of juvenile salmon was 1.74 and 1.35 specimens/m2.
Pyalitsa River. The length of the river is 92 km, the catchment area is 946 km2,
total lake content - 1.2%, swampiness - 20%, forest cover - 30%.
The channel from the source of the river for 17 km is characterized by alternation
short (2-5 m) rifts with reaches (100-300 m). In the bottom
The current (up to 60 km from the mouth) is dominated by rapids. Main spawning
tributary - Ust-Pyalka (length 58 km, drainage area - 261 km2).
Distribution of shogi in the river. Pyalitsa up to 44 km. Salmon in the Ust-Pyalka tributary
rises up to 30 km. The area of ​​the NVU in the Pyalitsa basin is
420000 m2. The river productivity is 36,000 smolts, or (at 5%
return) - 1.8 thousand manufacturers. The total area of ​​the DDP is
65650 m2. The depths there are about 0.1-0.8 m. The current speed is 0.5 m/s.
The soils are represented by boulders, pebbles with a small content
sand. Density of parr settlement in 1995-1996. - 0.2 copies/m2.
The Ponoy River is the largest river of the Kola Peninsula, length 426 km, area
watershed 15467 km", lake content 2.1%, forest cover of the basin 27%,
swampiness - 34%. Flows through flat or hilly terrain,
mostly in the tundra zone. Lower part of the river with features
mountain stream. Salmon IDPs are located mainly in 13 tributaries,
length 27-137 km.
Potentially in the river. A herd of up to 300 thousand can now be reproduced.
manufacturers (Grinyuk, PINRO reports). According to O.G. Kuzmina
the average number of producers is 25 thousand (90s
XX century). The area of ​​the NVU is most significant in large tributaries:
Purnach (1780 thousand m2), Acher-yok (1550 thousand m2), on the riverbed section
between these tributaries - 2800 thousand m2.

see also

Lovno is a lake in the west of the Murmansk region, on the Kola Peninsula. The Launjoki River flowing from it connects the lake with the Barents Sea. The height above sea level is just over 130 meters, the length of the lake is 14 kilometers, and the total area is about 10 square kilometers.

A trip to the lake will allow you to relax and have some good fishing. The nature here is incredibly beautiful, and the lake itself is rich in fish - brown trout, perch. However, fishing on Lovno is allowed only with a paid license issued by the Kola Fishing RPU. Here you can see swans, which let you get quite close.

There is a residential building on the lake. Rumor has it that it was built by customs officers who came here on vacation. There is also an abandoned geologists’ camp where you can spend the night. Finns love to go to the lake and kayak on it. There are fears that after the discovery of rocks such as nickel, uranium and copper at Lovno and the construction of the plant, the ecological condition of the lake will worsen. Murmansk residents go to the lake in winter on snowmobiles for fishing.

There are many swamps on the banks, so getting to the lake is not so easy. There are not very many people taking risks to come here. Cars are slipping. The only thing that can save you is an ATV, and in winter, a snowmobile.

Permusozero

Permusozero, or as it is also called Lake Permus, is located in the very center of the Murmansk region, in the Olenegorsk urban district. A little further south lies Lake Imandra. Along the western shore lies the highway and railway Murmansk-St. Petersburg.

The lake is connected by the Kurenga River flowing from it with the water system of the White Sea, namely Lake Imandra. The shape is elongated, slightly more than 12 kilometers long. The area is about 24 square kilometers, which makes the lake the 30th largest on the peninsula.

There are a lot of swamps on the northern shores, so no one lives here. In some places the hills rise up to 200 meters high. The southern coast, on the contrary, is wooded and drier. In the northeast, a small channel connects Permusozero with Lake Bolshoye Okunye. The largest island is Vysokovoltny, 630 meters long.

On the southern shores of the lake there are settlements - the village of Vysoky and the city of Olenegorsk.

The latter, in turn, uses the waters of Permusozero as drinking water. The ecological state of the lake is by no means ideal. Water samples showed an excess of the permissible level of manganese content by 5 times, and copper by 3 times.

Permusozero is polluted by wastewater from the Olenegorsk plant, which enters the lake through Komariny Stream.

Munozero

Munozero is located on the territory of the Tersky district, in the southwest of the Murmansk region.

It is part of the complex water system of the White Sea, connected to it by the Lyamuksa and Muna rivers. The relief of the coast is gentle, its western and northern parts are very swampy.

In the east there are pine forests, and in the south there are small hills up to 150 meters high. The shape is elongated, expanding to the south. The area is 21 square kilometers. Length - about 7 kilometers.

There are many small nameless islands scattered throughout the basin. In the northwest, the Muna River originates from the lake, connecting it with Kanozero, and in the northeast, the Shchuchya River flows into it. In addition, picturesque, nameless, rocky streams flow into the lake from the local mountains. The largest of them is the Travnikov stream.

Munozero freezes in early November, and ice drift begins in early June.

The shores are quite deserted, only in the southeast there are few residents of the semi-abandoned village of Vostochnoye Munozero. The southern coast is crossed by a winter road. To the west of the lake lies the Kanozersky Nature Reserve.

Lake Ahkioyarvi

Ahkioyarvi is a small lake in the south of the Murmansk region of Russia, with a total area of ​​just over 1 square kilometer and a length of 2 kilometers. The lake is located at an altitude of 157 meters above sea level between two hills. The Akhkiooya River flows into it, connecting the lake with the Kovda basin.

In the northeast, not far from the lake, there is a small urban-type settlement of Alakurtti, the name of which comes from the ancient settlement of the Finnish Sami.

On the northwestern coast there is a highway and the Russian-Finnish border.

The lake is abundant with fish, including trout, grayling and whitefish. Ahkioyarvi is connected to Lake Kutujarvi (as is typical for the entire water system of the Murman Peninsula) by the Kutujoki and Ahkiooya rivers.

Water birds are common on the lake - ducks, swans, geese, gulls, guillemots. If you're lucky, you can watch how birds of prey - ospreys and white-tailed eagles - hunt for fish.

Lake Mogilnoye

Lake Mogilnoye lies on the Kola Peninsula, between Cape Mogilny and the village of Vostochny Kildin, Murmansk region. This is a water, protected natural monument and meromictic reservoir located on the shore of the Kildinsky Strait. The lake is small, only 560 meters long and 90 thousand square meters in area.

Presumably the lake is about a thousand years old. However, some scientists believe that it was formed here three and a half thousand years ago as a result of the movement of the coastline. The lake has one unique feature - it consists of several water layers, each of which has a different degree of salinity. On the surface the water is almost fresh, but at the very bottom it is salty. In addition, the salinity of the lake increases every year.

The uniqueness of the lake has its own reasons. Sea water (from the White Sea) seeps through the shaft in the south, filling the naturally fresh lake with salt water. As a result, the lake is home to both marine and freshwater organisms.

Lake Mogilnoye is the only reservoir with mixed water in Russia. No wonder it is called a relic of the Kola Peninsula and a miracle of nature. The top 3 layers are inhabited by crustaceans and fish. The rare Kilda cod, listed in the Red Book, is found here. A little lower, in the 4th layer, starfish, polar jellyfish, sponges, sea anemones and other marine organisms live.

The lake was discovered in 1594 as a result of the Dutch expedition of Barents. In 1985 it was given monument status.

Lake Nyalyavr

Nyalyavr is a freshwater lake in the north of the Murmansk region, located west of the Kola Bay. The Murmansk-Pechenga highway and the Kola-Pechenga railway stretch along its shore.

The lake is connected to the Barents Sea by the Ura River. The height above sea level is just over 141 meters.

The banks are hilly and wooded. Nearby hills reach 310 meters in height. The largest of them are Mount Salzhvyd (310 meters) and Maly Meluayvish (270 meters). The shore of Lake Nyaljavr is covered with dense birch forest. The southwest is dominated by swampy areas. The northern and southern shores are decorated with sandbanks, and streams flow into the lake from nearby mountains. On the northern shore there is the village of Pervomaisky. Here the lake is crossed by a reinforced concrete bridge.

The name translated from Sami means “Arctic Fox Lake”. Nyalyavr (17 square kilometers) ranks 40th in area among the lakes of the Murmansk region. The shape of the lake is uneven, elongated, expanding to the south. The basin is filled with small, unnamed islands. This is a very picturesque place.

The lake is easily accessible, so there are many anglers here. Whitefish and other lake fish live in local waters.

During World War II, the front line ran along the coast, where fierce battles were fought. In memory of the fallen soldiers, a mass grave was created near Pervomaisky.

Lovozero

Lovozero or Luyavvr is the fourth largest lake in the Murmansk region, lying in the very center of the Kola Peninsula. The western shore of the lake, tectonic in origin, is limited by the mountains of the Lovozero tundra. The lake belongs to the Barents Sea basin and is connected to it by the outflowing Voronya River. It has a heavily indented coastline. Translated from the Sami language, Lovozero means “catching lake.” In addition, it is often called the center of Russian Lapland.

The most interesting and picturesque southern part of the lake is the deep Motka Bay and wooded islands. Lovozero is rich in bays, capes and islands (about 140). Conventionally, it can be divided into several parts connected by narrow straits. In 1970, the Serebryanskaya hydroelectric power station was built on the Voronya River, which originates in Lovozero. Since then, the lake has been considered a reservoir.

Lovozero freezes, as a rule, in early November, and ice drift begins in early May.

Tourists are also attracted by the rivers flowing into Lovozero - Tsaga, Kurga and Afanasia. The nearby village of Lovozero, founded in 1574, is home to the indigenous population of the peninsula, the Sami.

Notozero

Notozero is one of the many lakes of the Kola Peninsula, located in the north-west of the Murmansk region. It belongs to the Barents Sea basin and is connected to it by the Tuloma River.

The lake is usually fed by precipitation - snow and rain. The total area is about 79 square kilometers. The depth in some places reaches 15 meters.

The Tuloma River originates from the lake, and the Lotta and Nota rivers flow into it. Since 1965, the lake has been used as a support for the Verkhnetulomskoye reservoir. As a result, its area increased tens of times - up to 745 square kilometers. On the eastern shore of the lake there is a picturesque view of the Tuadash Tundra mountain ranges.

Kolozero

Kolozero is a freshwater lake in the very center of the Kola Peninsula, stretching 4 kilometers from Olenegorsk along the St. Petersburg-Murmansk railway. The nearby area is wooded and swampy in places. There are mountainous areas with elevations up to 250 meters high. The lake is connected by the Kola River flowing in the northeast with the Barents Sea.

In the north, the Vezhe River flows into Kolozero. In addition, many nameless streams flow into it from the local mountains. Small channels connect the lake with Sukhoi, Shchuchye, Kakhozero, Medvezhye and Sukhoi lakes.

Kolozero ranks 12th in area in the Murmansk region (66 square kilometers). The shape is elongated, uneven. Many bays and capes. A significant part of the Kolozero basin is occupied by the Kolozerskaya Bay, a large bay in the southwest. The largest islands are up to a kilometer long.

The lake was first mentioned at the beginning of the 17th century, when there was a Sami fishing cemetery here.

At a distance of about a kilometer are the villages of Pulozero and Lapland.

The ecological state of the lake leaves much to be desired. It belongs to category 1 in terms of pollution level. Research in 1999 showed that the manganese content was 20 times higher than the norm.

The lake is polluted by wastewater from Olenegorsk, on whose territory there is a mining and processing plant.

Lake Kontiojärvi

Kontiojärvi (Norwegian name Björnvatn) is a picturesque lake on the Russian-Norwegian border, lying in the valley of the Pasvik River. In territorial and administrative terms, it belongs to the Norwegian commune of Sør-Varanger and the Murmansk region.

Of the 17 square kilometers, only a small part is included in Russia - just over 5 square kilometers. The height of the lake above sea level is about 21 meters. Kontiojärvi is connected by the Pasvik River flowing from it to the Barents Sea.

The coast is flat, covered with forests, only in the west does Mount Brattberget (about 105 meters) jut out. The large island of Sture Grenseholmen is located in the place where the Pasvik River flows from the lake. The latter, in turn, connects Kontiojärvi with lakes Salmijärvi and Klistervatn.

Norwegian villages are scattered along the banks - Fjell, Trondsvangen, Nordgård, etc. There are no Russian settlements here.

The Norwegian highway runs parallel to the west coast.

Umbozero

Umbozero is the second largest lake in the Murmansk region, lying between the Khibiny and Lovozero Tundras. The territory of the lake includes several islands, the largest of which are Bolshoy Island, Elovy Island, Moroshkin Island and Sarvanovsky Island. There are not many islands here, so the wind on the lake is strong. The water freezes in December and opens at the end of June.

Umbozero is one of the deepest lakes in Russia and the deepest on the entire Kola Peninsula. Its depth in some places reaches 115 meters! The Umba River originates in the southern part of the lake, the Sura and Chuda rivers flow into it in the north, and the Kitsa in the east. Umbozero can be reached by car.

The nature here is incredibly beautiful. The large and picturesque Umbozero is ideal for a tourist trip. You can take a hike to the Lovozero and Khibiny tundras, to Mount Angvundaschorr, to the plains of the southern coast, or go down along the coast in kayaks under sail.

Lake Raiyavr

Lake Raiyavr (from the ancient Sami "raiyavr" - "dark lake") is located in the Lovozero tundra, on the Kola Peninsula at the foot of Mount Engporr. The Lovozero tundra massif and Lake Raiyavr itself have been famous since ancient times for their mysterious, mystical properties. Here was the “place of power” of the ancient Sami.

The ancient Sami seids - sacred objects located on the banks - are of cultural and historical value.

The lake lies in the basin of the Lovozero massif, which makes it inaccessible.

Extreme tourism is popular in the mountains and on the lake. By motor vehicle you can reach the Rayavr circus and the top of Mount Engpor.

The best months to travel to the lake are August, July, April and March.

Lake Salmijärvi

Salmijärvi is a lake located in the valley of the Pasvik River, on the Russian-Norwegian border. It is part of both the Murmansk region and the Norwegian commune of Sør-Varanger. Of the 32.5 square kilometers of area, more than half is located in Russia (23 square kilometers). The lake is used as a protection reservoir for the Skogfoss hydroelectric power station. The height above sea level is about 21 meters.

The lake is connected by the Pasvik River to the Barents Sea. The banks are elevated, covered with pine and birch forest. Mount Harjunvara juts out in the center. The largest island is Litle Skoge. The northwestern part of the lake is decorated with Svanvika Bay.

On the shores and nearby are the Norwegian settlements of Svanvik, Bjørnebükt, Björklunn, and Hovland. Of the Russians - only the village of Salmijärvi. A Russian highway runs along the eastern shore, and a Norwegian highway along the western shore. The Norwegian name – Svanevatn means “Swan Lake”.

Lake Suellavre

Suellavr is a picturesque freshwater lake in the northeast of the Kola Peninsula. Its name is rooted in the Sami language (“suel” - island). The lake is located 38.5 kilometers from the Barents Sea and 10 kilometers from the Serebryansky Reservoir, at an altitude of 240 meters above sea level.

Suellavr belongs to the Barents Sea basin and is connected to it by the outflowing Bolshaya Olenka River.

The lake is usually fed by precipitation. The shores are mountainous, slightly swampy. The nearby hills reach 365 meters in places. The largest of them are Mount Solntse (366 meters), Nevskaya (319 meters) and Suelyavrpakh (295 meters).

Suellavr is one of the 70 largest lakes in the Murmansk region. Its area is about 12 square kilometers, and the length of the coast is about 33 kilometers.

The lake was formed as a result of the collapse of a glacier, which caused its uneven shape with jagged edges. On the northern and southern shores, small peninsulas forming bays adjoin the lake.

There are not very many islands, and the largest of them do not have names. In addition, there are numerous surface rocks on the northern and southern coasts. Many small streams flow into Suellavre from the nearby hills.

Yonozero

Yonozero is one of the many lakes in the Murmansk region. It is located in the east of the Kola Peninsula. The picturesque lake is connected to the Barents Sea basin by the Varzina River flowing from it. Its total area is about 95 square kilometers (together with nearby islands - 100), and its catchment area is 982 square kilometers.

Yonozero consists of 2 parts, separated by a small strait (350 meters wide). The height above sea level is about 225 meters. The shores are uneven and rocky. The lake is usually fed by melted snow and rainwater.

Fishing is common here. Many fishing tourists flock here in the hope of catching the large trout fish. The wildlife here has become tame - partridges and lemmings are not afraid of people, and deer can be fed by hand.

Lake Klistervatn

Lake Klistervatn (Norwegian name Klistervatnet) lies on the Russian-Norwegian border, in the valley of the Pasvik River. In territorial and administrative terms, it is part of the Norwegian commune of Sør-Varanger and the Murmansk region. Of the 17 square kilometers of area, just over 12 are located in Norway. Russia accounts for a smaller share.

The lake is connected to the Barents Sea basin by the Pasvik River. It is usually fed by rain and snow. The greatest depth reaches 21 meters. The coastline is flat, sometimes mountainous (Mount Ioroffintunturi). The largest bays are Kuivalahti in the south (in Russia) and Neverskrukkbukta Bay in the west (in Norway).

The largest islands are Ellenholmen and Iso-Palosaari.

There are many Norwegian settlements on the lake, among which it is worth noting the villages of Solvik, Vestdal, Koparik and others. There are no Russian settlements here. The Kola highway stretches along the eastern shore. Not far from the lake, on the Pasvik River there is the picturesque Harefossen waterfall.

Vyalozero

Vyalozero is a lake in the south of the Kola Peninsula, in the Murmansk region, belonging to the White Sea basin and connected to it by the Vyala River. The lake was formed in a depression created by an ancient glacier. It feeds, as a rule, on atmospheric precipitation.

The lake becomes covered with ice in November, and ice drift begins at the end of May. Vyalozero is rich not only in fish (ide, roach, perch, cod, trout), but also in picturesque places. Two rivers flow into it - Sen and Oderruchey, and one flows out - Vyala.

The lake is located at an altitude of 121 meters below sea level. The total area is 98.6 square kilometers. The shores are rocky, there are many bays.

Lake Verkhneye Volchye

Upper Wolf Lake is one of the 70 largest lakes of the Kola Peninsula (18 km²).

A fresh lake located in the northern part of the Murmansk region, near Monchegorsk and Olenegorsk. It is adjacent to the Wolf Tundra ridges. The lake is located at an altitude of about 165 m above sea level.

It belongs to the White Sea basin and is connected to it by the Volchya River. Upper Volchye lies in a mountainous, dry area. Only in the central part are there small swamps. On the east coast there is a picturesque view of the slopes of the surrounding hills. The local Tuibola Mountain reaches 500 m in height.

In the west and south, the shores are bordered by the gently sloping forested hills of the Wolf Tundra. The highest peaks are Mount Yuksporr with a height of 957 m, Sainbasternchorr (910 m), Wolf Tundra (932 m), etc.

In the south of the lake, a winter road begins - a pass popular among extreme tourists between the two mountains Mochesnyunachorr and Kivayvynch. The depth of Verkhny Volchye reaches 51 m. In terms of area, the lake ranks 38th in the Murmansk region.

The shape is elongated, uneven to the south. The shores are rugged, there are many bays and capes. The east coast is lined with sandbanks. The southern part of the lake is divided into 2 parts by a large rocky peninsula.

Another large, forested peninsula is located in the northeast. Small, nameless islands are scattered throughout the Upper Volchiy basin. Numerous rapids streams flow into it from the nearby hills.

There are small unnamed lakes adjacent to the lake. The largest of them are Nizhneye Volchye, Kashkozero and Inkis.

The nearest settlements are located 20 km from the lake.

Lake Lupce

Lupche is a picturesque lake located on the Lupche-Savino River in the Murmansk region, Kandalaksha district, at an altitude of about 23 meters above sea level. There are several other lakes on the Lupche-Savino River. The river originates from Lake Bolshoye Savino, and, like Lake Lupche itself, belongs to the water system of the White Sea.

Not far from the lake, right on the river, there is an urban-type military settlement called Lupche-Savino. And the Kola highway stretches along its shore. The shores of the lake are wooded, swampy in places, covered with spruce and pine forests. The nearby large city is Kandalaksha.

Lake Skogvatn

Lake Skogvatn - the Norwegian name Skogvatn - lies at an altitude of 31 meters above sea level on the Russian-Norwegian border, in the valley of the Pasvik River. In territorial and administrative terms, it belongs to both the Murmansk region of Russia and the Norwegian commune of Sør-Varanger. The lake is connected by the Pasvik River flowing from it with the water system of the Barents Sea. As a rule, it feeds on atmospheric precipitation.

The coastline is marshy and low-lying. There are also forests, birch and pine.

The lake is used as a backup for the nearby Melkefoss hydroelectric power station.

Its northern part is decorated with the picturesque large Fuglebukta Bay. In addition, there are many small and large islands scattered throughout the basin (Grasholmen, Nivasaari, Skolteholmen).

The Norwegian villages of Skogstad, Fossalun, Fosheim, and Björklund are located on the lake. There are no Russian settlements here. The Norwegian Highway runs along the west coast.

Lake Onkamojärvi

Onkamojärvi is a lake in the Murmansk region of Russia on the Russian-Finnish border. It is located north of the Arctic Circle in the eastern part of the province of Lapland (Finland). Russia accounts for only a small part of it. The area of ​​the lake is 18 square kilometers. The height above sea level is about 290 meters.

On the banks there are settlements - Anttila, Korpela and Onkamo. The banks are heavily indented and swampy. Cape Kärpäniemi juts out to the west and Cape Niliniemi to the east. The northern part of the lake is decorated with the bays of Kallunkilahti and Kirilahti.

Many rivers and streams flow into the lake, the most significant of which are Liinasoja and Koirankurenoja. Only one river flows out - Onkamojoki, connecting the lake with the Kovda basin and the White Sea.

The water surface of the lake is decorated with 22 islands, the largest of which are Vitsinsari, Kallunkisari, Paltsarsari and Nilisari.

In 1944, during the Great Patriotic War, the 19th Army held defenses on the border, as evidenced by the ruins of military fortifications.

Lake Kanozero

Kanozero is a fairly large lake, stretching 32 kilometers along the southwest of the Kola Peninsula, in the Murmansk region. It belongs to the White Sea basin and is connected to it by the Umba River. The area of ​​Kanozero is about 84 square kilometers.

The lake is located on the Umba River, i.e. the river flows into it and flows out at the same time. In addition, the Muna and Kana rivers flow into it. The lake is usually fed by snow. Freeze-up begins at the end of October, ice drift - at the beginning of June.

The branches of the Umba River - Kitsa and Rodvinga - are famous for their rapids (Padun and Kanozersky). The lake is also popular thanks to the Kanozero petroglyphs - ancient images carved on stones.

Lake Grensevatn

Grensevatn is a lake located in the Pasvik River basin on the Russian-Norwegian border. In territorial and administrative terms, it belongs to the commune of Sør-Varanger (Norway) and the Murmansk region of Russia. The lake is located at an altitude of just over 70 meters above sea level. It is connected to the Barents Sea basin by the Pasvik River.

The lake is usually fed by precipitation. The terrain is low, swampy in places.

The large capes of Grenseneset and Gelsomio stand out. The banks are covered with birch and pine forests. The basin is full of islands, the largest of which are Korkeasaari, Aittasaari and Balgisholmen.

The rivers Heteoja, Nautsjoki and Edevasselva flow into the lake.

The Pasvik River connects it with Lake Inari and the Hevoskos reservoir. There are no Norwegian settlements here. On the shore is the lonely Russian village of Rajakoski.

Lake Bossojavrre

Bossojavre is a fairly large lake located on the Russian-Norway border, in the Pasvik River basin. In territorial and administrative terms, the lake belongs to both the Murmansk region and the Norwegian commune of Sør-Varanger.

The area is 16.4 square kilometers, of which about 8 are located in Russia.

Height above sea level - 52 meters. The lake is used as a support for the Skogfoss hydroelectric power station.

Bossojavre belongs to the Barents Sea basin and is connected to it by the Pasvik River.

It feeds, as a rule, on atmospheric precipitation. The coastline is mostly flat, with Mount Purrivara jutting out only to the north. The coast is covered with forests, pine and birch.

Several small islands are scattered throughout the lake basin.

In its northern part is the Norwegian peninsula of Kobbfoskes. There are many Norwegian settlements on the shores: Sulos, Leyte, Skogmu, Løvhaug and many others. However, there are no Russian settlements here.

A Russian highway runs parallel to the southeastern coast. And in the north-west - Norwegian.

Babozero

Babozero is a small lake (44 square kilometers), located in the southeast of the Kola Peninsula, in the Murmansk region, Tersky district, near the mouth of the Varzuga River. The lake belongs to the White Sea basin and is connected to it by the Kitsa River.

Babozero has an elongated shape (about 23 kilometers long and 90 meters to 3.5 kilometers wide). In the central part, a small cape juts into the lake, dividing the water space into 2 parts. The lake is fed mainly by precipitation.

The shores are covered with lowlands, forests and swamps. In the southeast there is a picturesque view of the Babozersky Caves - hills up to 200 meters high. Hills rise on the northern and central banks.

In the southwest, the Kitsa River originates from the lake. In the north, the rivers Kuevara, Trufyanikha, Tulombalka, as well as many small rivers and streams flow into it. The largest of the nearby islands, Kagachev, lies in the very center of the lake.

Babozero is popular among fishermen, as evidenced by the numerous fishing huts on the shores and islands.

Lake Fossevatn

Lake Fossevatn has some pretty interesting feeding habits. The fact is that the lake uses snow and rain recharge. As for the relief of the coast, it can be classified as more elevated in the western part. The lake itself has a very, very attractive, so-called environment. Anyone who once managed to visit the territory of the lake will never be able to forget these forest areas, which are located along the lake. Speaking about this a little more specifically, we could highlight pine and birch trees.

The western part of Lake Fossevatn is notable for the fact that mountains such as Midtassfjell and also Korsmurfjell stand out there. But the key point of the lake’s location can be called its support for the Borisoglebskaya hydroelectric station.

Do not be afraid of the fact that the territory of the lake itself is absolutely uninhabited. The fact is that there are absolutely no settlements near Fassevatn. This means that in such a place you will not be able to meet anyone, but you will be able to have a good rest and enjoy solitude with nature.

Lake Bolshoy Vudyavr

Bolshoi Vudyavr is the largest lake in the Khibiny (Khibiny tundra). It is located in the Murmansk region, in the center of the Kola Peninsula and is a dam-type lake.

Lake Bolshoi Vudyavr has a round shape and an area of ​​about 4 square kilometers.

It is usually fed by rain and snow. The shores are rugged and rocky. In the south, the Belaya River flows out of the lake, connecting it with Lake Imandra. There are settlements on the shore: in the south - the city of Kirovsk, in the east - the village of Yuksporyok. To the north of the lake there is a botanical garden.

Lake Bolshoy Vudyavr offers a picturesque view of the mountains. In the west, Mount Vudyavrchorr, the highest peak of the Khibiny, adjoins the lake. The lake supplies Kirovsk and nearby settlements with drinking water. Plus there are a lot of fish here.

Since 2006, when a lot of garbage and spilled oil products were discovered in the lake, the authorities began to monitor its environmental condition.

Lake Tolvand

Tolvand is a freshwater lake located on the Kola Peninsula, near the border with Karelia.

The height of the lake above sea level is about 98 meters. The total area is about 53 square kilometers. The following rivers flow into the lake: Nizhny Verman and Voyta. A river of the same name flows out of it, connecting Tolvand with the White Sea basin.

The lake lies on a hilly, marshy area. The largest nearby hills reach 500 meters in height (Tyurtoiva, Kulistundra, South Tolvand). Huge pine and spruce trees (up to 18 meters high) rise on the slopes.

Lake Tolvand is surrounded by numerous small lakes - Nizhny Verman, Keti, Swan Pleso, Tovand. It is part of the Job Reservoir, formed in 1960. To increase hydroelectric power output, Towanda and Tolvanda effluents were transferred to the reservoir.

The lake has a narrow, elongated shape with a coastline of 30 kilometers. Width – from 150 meters to 6 kilometers. The shores are uneven and rocky. The lake has many bays, capes and islands. On one of the largest islands there is Mount Tolvand, approximately 115 meters high. Small streams flow from the surrounding hills into the lake. There are no settlements on the banks. However, a highway runs along the eastern shore (Kandalaksha-Zarechensk). In addition, there are many winter roads in the lake area.

Lake Alla-Akkajärvi

Alla-Akkayarvi (from Finnish - Lower Akkayarvi) is one of the many picturesque lakes in the Murmansk region, located in the Pechenga region. Its area is about 19 square kilometers. The village of Prirechny is adjacent to the lake.

This place is rich in fish and rare bird species listed in the Red Book. Thus, the nature of Lake Alla-Akkajärvi and nearby lakes and swamps with an area of ​​more than 6 thousand hectares is under protection. The banks are high and wooded in places.

The waters of Lake Alla-Akkayarvi are used for domestic and drinking water supply to the village of Prirechny. You can go hiking, have an outdoor picnic, hunt or fish on the lake.

Lake Imandra

Imandra is one of the largest lakes of the Kola Peninsula, located in its southwestern part, in a glacial-tectonic basin. The total area is 876 km² (together with the Nivsky hydroelectric power station cascade). The depth in some places reaches 67 meters.

The lake is adjacent to more than 140 islands, the largest of which is Erm. The Niva River flows out of the lake, and 20 tributaries flow into it. Narrow straits divide the lake into three parts - the Bolshaya or Khibiny Imandra, the largest part - the Ekostrovskaya Imandra and the Babinskaya.

The settlements located here are Imandra, Khibiny, Zasheyek, and the city of Monchegorsk. To the west of the lake is the Lapland Nature Reserve. Imandra freezes in early November and opens in June-July.

In 1951, hydraulic structures were built here, a number of reservoirs were created - the Niva cascade of hydroelectric power stations.

The lake has a complex shape with many bays protruding deep into the land. Only in the northern part are the banks straight, high and wooded.

Imandra feeds on precipitation, so the water here is clean, transparent and very fast.

The local pine forests are home to a lot of game - bowstring and mountain partridges. Fishing is common here, as the lake is rich in fish - perch, brown trout, pike, salmon and vendace.

Lake Kuetsjärvi

Kuetsjärvi is a freshwater lake in the north-west of the Murmansk region in the Pechenga region, lying at an altitude of more than 20 meters above sea level east of the Russian-Norwegian border. Kuetsjärvi is connected to the Barents Sea by a small channel (through Lake Salmijärvi).

The banks are hilly, covered with pine and birch forest, and swampy in places. The surrounding hills reach 340 meters in height. The largest hills are Orshoaivi (342 meters) and Hingaslahdenvari (284 meters).

The area of ​​the lake is 17 square kilometers, making it the 40th largest in the Murmansk region. The shape is elongated, 15 kilometers long. In the north, the lake narrows, forming Pitkäluokko, a bay approximately 5 kilometers long.

The banks are uneven and flat. There are many nameless capes, only the largest of them has a name - Hapaniemi. The southern coast is decorated with sandbanks and small gently sloping islands. The largest island, Hautasari, lies in the south of the lake. On the banks there is the town of Nikel and the village of Salmijärvi.

The lake hosts sailing regattas in the summer and ice racing competitions in the winter. The ecological state of the lake made ecologists think. Research in 2007 showed excess levels of nickel and copper in the waters, presumably caused by wastewater from a local plant.

Komsozero

Komsozero is a small lake in the west of the Kola Peninsula, located east of the city of Kovdor at the foot of the high Komsavara mountain (about 490 meters). The shape of the lake is elongated, uneven, a little more than a kilometer long. Komsozero is fed by precipitation and belongs to the water system of the Barents Sea. A small stream connects it with the river of the same name and Lake Girvas.

The lake was formed as a result of the filling of the depression between the hills with spring water.

Its area is less than one square kilometer. But the depth is quite large - in some places up to 28 meters.

The lake is famous for its crystal clear water, so clear that the bottom is visible even at great depths.

In 1983, Komsozer was given the status of a natural monument. Both the lake itself and its coastline are protected. Industrial activity and tree cutting are prohibited here. Tourism is also not allowed to avoid contamination of the monument.

The shores are covered with taiga forests, pine, birch and spruce. Rare plant species grow here, including the real slipper, as well as special Antrodia mushrooms, which are a sign of ancient forests.

The lake is home to brown trout and red-listed salmon from the salmon family. There are several theories about the origin of the name. Some researchers believe that it comes from the Norwegian “kosmo” - “big boat”.

Lake Kildinskoye

Lake Kildinskoe lies in the north of the Kola Peninsula, in the Murmansk region. It is connected to the Barents Sea basin by the Kola River. The lake is fed by precipitation. The coast is rocky, there are numerous islands. A small channel divides the lake into 2 parts.

Kildinskoye Lake is located just 5 kilometers from Murmansk, so it is a very popular holiday destination, both among local residents and tourists. There are two tourist bases on the shore: “Parus” and “MKTI”.

Every year the Festival of the North and competitions in winter fishing and winter windsurfing are held here. And in the summer there are traditional exciting sailing regattas (rowing or sailing competitions).

Lake Vouvatusjarvi

Vouvatusjärvi (Norwegian name Vaggatem) is another picturesque lake located on the Russian-Norwegian border, in the Pasvik River basin. Administratively, the lake belongs to the Norwegian commune of Sør-Varanger and the Murmansk region.

The total area is just over 34 km², of which only 5 are located in Russia.

The height above sea level is almost 52 meters. The lake is connected by the Pasvik River to the Barents Sea.

It feeds, as a rule, on atmospheric precipitation. The relief of the banks is flat and wooded.

The largest bay, Noordvestbukta, is located entirely on Norwegian territory.

There are several islands in the lake basin, the largest of which are: Björnholmen, Krukholmen, Chevessuolo, Skolteholmen.

The Hjerringneset peninsula juts out into the lake in the south, and Langnesset in the north. There are no Russian settlements nearby. Norwegian villages are located here - Murud, Skugli, Emanuelbekken.

A Russian highway runs parallel to the eastern shore, and a Norwegian highway runs parallel to the west.

Kolvitskoe Lake

Lake Kolvitskoe is located in the Murmansk region, in the southwest of the Kola Peninsula. It belongs to the White Sea basin and is connected to it by the flowing Kolvitsa River. The total area of ​​the lake is 121 square kilometers. Depth – in some places up to 20 meters. The lake is fed mainly by snow. It freezes in October-November, but ice drift begins in early June.

In the west the shores are steep and rocky, while in the east and south they are low-lying. The Bolshaya River flows into Lake Kolvitskoe. The waves on the lake during strong winds are simply huge. Therefore, many locals are afraid of the lake, as many people have drowned here.

The lake is vast, filled with small wooded islands. The bottom is sandy. There are mountains around, gentle hills and dense pine forests, sandy beaches, the water surface of the lake - mesmerizing beauty!

This is a very picturesque place. However, there is also a lot of garbage here. There are several fishing huts on the islands.

Lyavozero

Lyavozero is a fresh lake of glacial origin, located in the central part of the Murmansk region in the Lovozero region, near the shore of the Barents Sea. The height above sea level is almost 217 meters. The length of the lake is about 17 kilometers, and the area is just over 38 square kilometers, which makes it the 18th largest in the Murmansk region.

The lake belongs to the water system of the Barents Sea and is connected to it by the outflowing Kharlovka River.

The shape is elongated, uneven. There are many small peninsulas, gently sloping islands and bays scattered throughout the lake. The western and northern shores are swampy. The eastern shore opposite is very dry, covered with birch forest.

In the east, the surrounding hills have a height of no more than 250 meters (mountains Chumasaykaint and Etkepahn). The western and eastern coasts are rich in gold deposits. Large picturesque streams flowing into the lake flow from the local mountains - the Mitrey-Yakov River, the Kitkovasvuay stream and the Izya stream.

However, there are no settlements here. Only until the 20th century did the Sami live on the shores. The northern shore is notable for its historical monument - the Chapel of the Nativity. This is a wooden church, long abandoned. Neither its builders nor the date of construction are known.

Semenovskoye Lake

Semenovskoye Lake lies in the north of the Murmansk region, in the Leninsky district. There is a legend about the origin of the name of the lake from the name of the fisherman Semyon, who lived on the shores of Cape Verde (Kola Bay). The area of ​​the lake is 19 hectares. Freeze-up begins in November, ice drift - in May.

During the Great Patriotic War there were fierce battles here. In memory of the fallen soldiers of the Soviet Arctic there is a memorial on the shore.

In addition, tourists are attracted by: the Lapland children's and youth creativity center, an aquarium, a children's playground and a walrus society. Not long ago, a fountain opened in the center of the lake.

And on the shore there is a boat station and an amusement park. This is simply an ideal place for a holiday with children. Adjacent to the lake is a geological natural monument - a ledge of exposed granites of Archean age.

Vadozero

Vadozero is located in the southwest of the Murmansk region, in the urban district of Polyarnye Zori.

It lies in a marshy, hilly area, southwest of Polyarnye Zori. The lake is surrounded by forested hills. The highest hill, up to 316 meters high, is Mount Saber.

Vadozero belongs to the White Sea basin and is connected to it by the Pasma River. On the southwestern coast, the Letnyaya River flows into the lake, and many streams flow into it from the surrounding hills.

Small channels connect Vadozero with nearby lakes.

The lake has an elongated, uneven shape. It consists of 2 parts - Vadozero itself and the narrow Vadguba Bay in the west. The area of ​​the basin is about 29 km², which makes it the 23rd largest lake on the peninsula.

There are no settlements nearby. Only a few fishing huts stand alone on the banks.

The nearest settlements are located at a distance of at least 20 km (Polyarnye Zori, Rikolatva and Kandalaksha).

The lake is of commercial value, as it is very rich in fish, including salmon. Fishing rules allow catching lake and river fish with nets only with paid one-time permits. Presumably the name Vadozer is associated with the surrounding hilly area and comes from the word “vatt” - “hill”.

Lake Heyhenjärvi

If you are interested in knowing a few facts about Heyhenjärvi, the first thing you should pay due attention to is that the lake originates in the Murmansk region, which is the northernmost region of Russia. Then the lake smoothly passes into a Norwegian commune called Sør-Varanger. This lake is also famous for the fact that it is located in the Pasvik River valley, which is also known not only for its enormous size, but also for its attractiveness, which is difficult to find on the territory of other states.

Heyhenjärvi belongs to the Barents Sea basin. As for the lake’s nutrition, in most cases it could be called not only rain, but also snow. This factor is connected with the geographical location of the attraction in the rich Murmansk region. When it comes to the shore of Heyhenjärvi, it can be characterized as both swampy and flat.

From the Russian Federation side, when you get to the shore of the lake, you will not be able to find any settlements. But, if you get there from Norway, towns such as Noatun and Lingmu will be presented to your attention.

Kovdozero

Kovdozero is a fairly large lake located in the south of the Murmansk region, connected to the White Sea basin by the Kovda River. Its area is about 295 square kilometers, and its depth reaches 56 meters.

Kovdozero is a cold-water reservoir; it opens only at the end of May, and freezes already in November. The lake is usually fed by rain and melt water. The coast is rocky and rugged.

There are a lot of islands here - more than 580. There are also numerous flowing rivers, the largest of which is Iova.

In 1955, the lake became deeper and wider due to its use as a water intake for the Kovdozersky reservoir.

The lake is rich in fish, so it is widely known among fishermen. Fishing will delight you with a catch of pike, perch, bream, and pike perch. In addition, this is a great place for a summer holiday.

The lake is often turbulent; in strong winds, going out into its waters on any vessels is very dangerous.

Lake Girvas

Freshwater Lake Girvas lies in the southwest of the Kola Peninsula, east of the Russian-Finnish border, at an altitude of more than one hundred meters above sea level. Girvas is part of the Barents Sea basin and is connected to it by the river of the same name.

The lake lies in a swampy, sometimes hilly area. Local hills reach 250 meters. height. One of the largest hills is Mount Kundas. The lake is adjacent to marshy areas and pine-birch forests, the height of trees reaching 17 meters.

The area of ​​Girvas is 17 km², which makes it the 39th largest lake in the Murmansk region.

The lake has an uneven shape, stretching from west to east. In its basin there are many nameless gently sloping peninsulas and islands, capes and bays, the largest of which are Fadeeva Bay and Medvezhya Bay, 800 meters long.

Picturesque rapids streams flow into the lake from nearby hills. There are many small lakes around Girvas - Saptozero, Lake Dolgoe, Verkhnee and Nizhneye, Vodozero.

Several barracks were built on the northern shores, from which a winter road runs to Mount Kundas.

The name of the lake comes from the Pomeranian word "khirvas" - male deer. The indigenous Sami have a whole legend about the origin of the name. The story tells how two hunters, contrary to their father's advice, killed the leader of a herd of deer. After death, the animal turned into a huge stone in the middle of the lake.

Ingozero

Ingozero is a freshwater lake in the southern part of the Kola Peninsula, in the Murmansk region. It is located southeast of the city of Kirovsk, between lakes Kanozero and Umbozero at an altitude of more than 111 meters above sea level. The lake belongs to the White Sea water system and is connected to it by the Inga River.

Ingozero lies in a marshy, wooded and hilly area. The surrounding hills reach 188 meters in height. The largest of them are Kokhtavuara (186 meters) and Kalancha (187 meters). The lake is surrounded by deep swamps (up to 2 meters) and pine, spruce and birch forest. Trees in some places are higher than 16 meters.

In the east the coastline is flat; in the south, north and west there are mountains. The sunset on Ingozero is incredibly beautiful. On the western bank you can see the ruins of the village of the same name. Ingozero (21 square kilometers) ranks 33rd in area among the lakes of the Murmansk region. It consists of 2 parts - the lake itself, of an uneven elongated shape, and a large bay - Zapadnaya Bay.

There are many small bays in the basin (Virmaguba, Eastern Guba, Matryonina and Epesh) and capes.

Small, gently sloping islands are scattered in the center. The largest of them is Bear Island.

The Virma River and many nameless rapids mountain streams flow into Ingozero.

On the western bank there is a highway. During the Soviet years, there were several settlements here, which were subsequently abandoned. The nearest settlement is located 20 kilometers away (Oktyabrsky village). To the east of the lake the winter road begins.

The name Ingozero is rooted in the Sami language (the word “ying” means “ice”, and Ingozero means “ice lake”).

Seydozero

Seydozero is a lake in the center of the Kola Peninsula, lying in the Lovozero tundra, at an altitude of just under 190 meters above sea level. The rapids Elmorayok River flows into it. From space, Seydozero looks like a pearl lying in the shell of the Lovozero tundra.

The name in Sami sounds like “Seidyavvr”, which means “sacred lake”.

Countless legends and beliefs are associated with Seydozer. Anomalous phenomena are also common here. It is not for nothing that the lake is one of the main “places of power” in Russia. At the seids located here, the Sami made sacrifices every year. And in a huge chum they collected jewelry and gold nuggets - a gift to the deities.

According to one legend, when the Sami were attacked by Norwegian warriors, the sanctuary was burned and the treasures were sunk into the lake by local residents. Science fiction writers and ufologists suggest the existence of a Hyperborean civilization here once, which contradicts the history of the lake.

The coast is famous for the rock with the image of Kuiva, a giant who lived in the tundra according to local legend.

The evil giant who attacked the settlements was punished by the gods and incinerated by lightning, and on the rock of Mount Angvundaschorr there remained an imprint similar to a human body 72 meters high.

Ponchozero

Ponchozero is connected to the water system of the White Sea by the Umba River flowing from it. It is located in the south of the Kola Peninsula, in the Murmansk region. The lake is usually fed by snow and rain. The coastline is rugged.

The Kitsa River flows into the 9-kilometer picturesque Ponchozero. A little further south, the Rodvinga (the left channel of the river of the same name) flows into it. At the confluence there are complex rapids - Ponchozersky and Podkrivets.

The shores of the lake are picturesque, rocky in places and covered with forests, mainly pine. The lake is located at an altitude of 45 meters above sea level. The total area is 20 square kilometers, and the length is only 3 kilometers.

Sights of Murmansk

The reservoirs of the Kola Peninsula have long been famous for their fish wealth. Its lakes and rivers are home to 24 species of fish belonging to 12 families. These are lamprey, salmon, grayling, smelt, pike, carp, eel, cod, stickleback, perch, goby and flounder.

Another 13 species and varieties of fish are associated with the Barents and White Seas, washing the Kola Peninsula. They are called brackish water because they use fresh water temporarily. These are sea lamprey, salmon, brown trout, char, nelma, whitefish, red salmon, smelt, eel, sculpin goby, White Sea flounder, northern river flounder and polar flounder.

Freshwater fish of the Kola Peninsula have a certain connection with the ichthyofauna of the Baltic basin. Once upon a time, there was a water connection with the Baltic between the reservoirs of the Murmansk region through the reservoirs of northern, middle and southern Karelia. Proof of this is the similarity and relatedness of the freshwater fish fauna of the Kola Peninsula with the fish of the Baltic basin. Thus, in Lake Imandra and many other lakes of the Kola Peninsula it lives vendace. Ichthyologists have found that it retains the characteristics of European and Baltic sea vendace.

Fish of rivers and lakes of the Kola Peninsula: 1 - perch, 2 - vendace, 3 - char, 4 - roach, 5 - brown trout, 6 - salmon, 7 - minnow, 8 - trout, 9 - grayling, 10 - whitefish, 11 - burbot

This is a small silver fish with a black back, up to 17 centimeters long and weighing up to 20 grams. The usual age of commercial vendace is 3-4 years. The vendace feeds on small aquatic organisms living in the water column: daphnia, cyclops, etc. The fertility of the vendace is low - several hundred eggs, but in the largest females this number reaches one and a half thousand. Vendace spawns in the fall in sandy areas, at a depth of no more than 1 meter.

One of the most common lake fish of the Kola Peninsula is whitefish. Whitefish live on the Kola Peninsula in several breeds, differing from each other in places and times of spawning, growth rate, feeding pattern, fatness and other characteristics.

Whitefish feed on bottom animals, mainly insect larvae, mollusks and aquatic crustaceans - gammarus. All these organisms live mainly on stones, or rather under stones, so as not to be washed by fast water.

Some types of whitefish are characterized by fast growth and good nutrition.

And now in many lakes, for example, Umba and Imandra, there are very large whitefish. So, in the fall of 1960, a 15-year-old whitefish measuring 67 centimeters long and weighing 6.2 kilograms was caught near Cloud Island in Lake Imandre.

Whitefish are more prolific than other salmon fish. Small females lay about 10 thousand eggs, and large ones - up to 200 thousand. Whitefish is a valuable commercial fish in the Murmansk region.

Grayling- lover of cold and fast water. Inhabits the Kola Peninsula in Lake Imandra, Umbozero, in the tributaries of Notozero, Pinozero, and in the rivers Tulome, Varzuga, Kitsa, Niva, Pan, Ponoe. The average weight of commercial grayling is 800 grams, the average length is 41 centimeters.

Grayling is caught on the Kola Peninsula mainly by amateur fishermen. It almost never forms large clusters.

In early spring, grayling gather near newly opened gullies, and then rise into rivers and streams to spawn.

Grayling is the most omnivorous of all Kola fish. It feeds on small aquatic organisms and grabs land insects that have fallen into the water. Large graylings also eat fish and swallow voles and lemmings. Thanks to such a good appetite, grayling finds food everywhere and quickly gets fat in the summer.

The fertility of grayling, depending on the size, ranges from 2 to 6 thousand eggs.

Grayling fry spend the first summer of their lives in the river. At this time, they do not at all resemble the color of adult fish - large dark spots appear on their sides. Later these spots disappear.

Lamprey found in many rivers of the Kola Peninsula up to Kandalaksha Bay. This fish is not a commercial fish for us.

Smelt and smelt in the Murmansk region they are rare and have no economic importance. These fish spawn in spring at the mouths of rivers in shallow areas. Smelt feeds on small planktonic crustaceans, smelt is a predator.

Pike, burbot, perch, roach and ide are common in almost all reservoirs of the peninsula, but compared to whitefish, the number of these fish is small.

The most common of them is pike. She prefers places where there is aquatic vegetation. Its food is any fish that it can swallow. Pike spawn in early spring in thawed shallow waters, among the grass, when the lake is mostly still under ice. The number of eggs, depending on the size of the fish, usually ranges from 10 to 150 thousand.

Perch sticks to relatively small areas of the lake with aquatic vegetation. In spring, when the water temperature reaches +8°, ​​ribbons of perch eggs appear in the grass. The fertility of perch is quite high - from 100 to 400 thousand eggs. Perch feeds mainly on bottom invertebrates, but on occasion it also eats small fish.

Burbot needs cold water. In terms of lifestyle, it is a bottom-dwelling fish. In summer it lives in the depths of pits, and in winter it comes out to relatively shallow places. Burbot is a predator, but unlike pike, it does not chase prey, since its body shape does not allow it to swim quickly. But if a burbot gets into a gap where there is vendace, it swallows dozens of them. In the Murmansk region, burbot spawn very early, already in March, under the ice. Its caviar is very small and the number of eggs reaches several hundred thousand. Burbot meat is lean, all the fat is concentrated in the liver, which is exceptionally tender and tasty.

It enters the rivers of the region from the Barents Sea sea ​​char. In the large deep lakes of the peninsula this fish has its own subspecies - palia. Palia live in Imandra, Lovozero, in the lakes of the Monche-tundra, in the lakes of the Tuloma River basin.

Char is a beautiful fish with a light green back, yellowish and pinkish belly, and pink spots on the sides. It feeds mainly on vendace. The char caviar is very large and yellow. Char does not enter rivers at all, and it does not have to fight against strong currents. Therefore, the tail of the char is much weaker, and it itself is less strong than other fish of the salmon family. It spawns in autumn in lakes on stones or snags.

Juvenile char hatch in the spring and live and develop in the lake.

The loach becomes sexually mature in the sixth or seventh year of life. Its fertility is low. A female weighing one and a half kilograms lays only 2.5-4 thousand eggs.

Of the other salmonids on the Kola Peninsula, the two most famous anadromous species are salmon and brown trout.

Salmon, being a representative of the Atlantic salmon, enters the rivers of the Kola Peninsula from the Barents and White Seas. This is the most delicious, most valuable commercial fish of the Kola Peninsula. Salmon spawn in the upper reaches of rivers, and after spawning, a significant part of the males die. The eggs, large, orange in color, are buried by the female in the pebbles. The young usually live in the river for 3-4 years, then migrate to the sea. Adult salmon feed in the sea mainly on fish. It hardly feeds in the river.

Currently, artificial salmon breeding is organized in special factories on the Kola Peninsula.

Trout on the Kola Peninsula is represented in three types: sea trout (anadromous), lake trout and brook trout.

Sea trout enters all the rivers of the peninsula from the Barents and White Seas. Lake trout (trout) lives in Imandra, Umbozero, Lovozero and other large lakes.

The lakes and rivers of the Kola Peninsula create very favorable conditions for the life and prosperity of trout. Our lakes are large and deep, have flow and developed river systems, the rivers are fast and rapids. This is the kind of environment that trout love.

Brown trout and trout are always provided with food, as they are not picky and eat everything, including smelt, minnow, smelt and other small fish. Brown trout have red meat, tasty and tender. This fast predator has a dense, torpedo-shaped body with a wide, strong tail, very sharp and slightly curved teeth.

A large trout caught on a spoon strongly resists (jumps high out of the water.

In autumn, brown trout enter rivers and streams and spawn on shallow riffles and on pebble bottoms. The female digs a hole at the bottom, spawns eggs, and then buries the hole so that a tubercle appears above it. After this, the fish roll back into the lake.

The eggs lie under a layer of pebbles until the spring of next year, when the fry hatch from them. Small brown trout stay in the river or stream where they were born for 2-3 years, and then swim into the lake, where they begin to eat better, grow faster and become adults.

Some juvenile trout do not leave streams for lakes and remain in them for their entire lives. This fish is called trout. In streams, trout become sexually mature and immediately spawn. They grow slowly and only a few of them reach a weight of 1 kilogram. These fish, like young trout that have not yet rolled into the lake, differ from adults in their appearance. They have a darker color, and there are 3 rows of red spots on the sides.

The fertility of brown trout is low - only about 3000 eggs. Brown trout become sexually mature late, in the seventh or eighth year of life, and do not spawn every year.

Experiments are currently being conducted on the acclimatization of Far Eastern pink salmon on the Kola Peninsula. If this fish takes root in the Kola waters, then the rich salmon family of the North will be replenished with another promising sister.

y, we have developed hikes along the huge lakes of the Kola Peninsula. These are combined walking and water routes.

We always make trips where we ourselves would like to go again and again! By improving and thinking through all the routes down to the smallest detail, we create real dream trips.

Prigbark inLet's go hiking in the most beautiful places on Earth!

Routes passon sea kayaks(fast, stable plastic kayaks) with an accompanying motor boat that transports things. We were the first to offer this format of trips, and so far our offers are the best. Unloaded kayaks save a lot of energy, which means we'll see more and a great mood is simply guaranteed!
Even if you have never sat in a kayakor kayak, you can do it! Our instructors will teach you the techniques of water tourism.

Lake Imandra is the largest lake in the Kola region. On its eastern shore there are the Khibiny Mountains, where we will climb lightly, on the northern shore there are the Chuna Tundra and the Lapland Nature Reserve, and on the western shore there are many small individual mountains and hills scattered. We will see rock walls, circuses and passes with perennial snowfields, and on the Yudychvumchorr plateau we will see the Khibiny “lunar” landscapes.

We will go to the very heart of the Kola Peninsula - Lake Umbozero, sandwiched between the Khibiny and Lovozero Tundras. Due to the flow of many mountain rivers into Umbozero, the water in it has a slightly turquoise color. We will go along the shore of Umbozero in kayaks, climb on foot to the Lovozero tundra, and then to the Khibiny Mountains. An incredible journey awaits us!

The route passes through the ancient settlements of the Sami, the indigenous inhabitants of the Kola Peninsula. Someone is looking here for traces of the ancient civilization of Hyperborea, mysterious seids, rock paintings, Kuiva or simply “places of power”. We will kayak along the wild shores of Lovozero, walk and climb the legendary Seydozero, where everyone will discover something new.

Every year we hold more than 150 water trips for more than 2000 people. Many years of experience in managing groups and creating all the conditions for a competent trip is our prerogative and unconditional skill, confirmed by live reviews and the constancy of friends of the KP Club!

Old secrets of Seydozero Author - V.I. Gorshkov (Obninsk) The road along which we walked from Motovsky Bay of Lovozero turned out to be extremely good; where it crosses the swamp, there is an old, but still preserved road made of logs. Somewhere nearby there is a rushing river. And a few kilometers to the left and right of the road, the slopes of the Ninchurt and Kuamdespahk mountains rest against low clouds, resembling a giant gate.

The taiga here is good, gorgeous, dense spruce trees with sparse birch undergrowth, which in some places is practically non-existent. We quite quickly crossed the narrow isthmus separating two bodies of water and found ourselves in front of the surface of a lake of extraordinary beauty. Here it is - Seydozero!

I have visited the water and hiking routes of the Kola Peninsula more than once. With friends from the university and his future wife Tanya, he walked through the low mountain range of the Lovozero tundra. This was after graduating from the geographical department of Kaluga University during the first trip to the peninsula. Then I discovered the amazing world of Lovozero Seydozero, surrounded by a horseshoe of low table mountains with steep cliffs, with which many legends, tales and mysterious stories are associated. And since then I dreamed of returning here again. And so, finally, having received a short vacation at the end of the summer, my wife and I escaped to Lapland, which we loved so much. Since ancient times, the indigenous inhabitants of the peninsula, the Sami or Lapps, have identified such secluded and closed reservoirs in a special way. Hundreds of years ago, they played a significant role in the pre-Christian pagan beliefs of the Sami. The name itself comes from the word “seid” - this is the name of the sacred stones in which, according to Sami beliefs, the spirits or souls of deceased noids, or shamans, live. As a rule, such stones were endowed with witchcraft powers, they were worshiped, sacrifices were made, and used in fortune telling. It should be noted here that it was not the stone itself that was endowed with magical power, but the spirit that lives in it. If there was insufficient veneration, the spirit could leave the stone and then it would remain empty forever. The largest seid in Lapland is the Flying Stone on the Ponoi River, known from the books of the ethnographer V.V. Charnolussky, who studied the pre-Christian beliefs of the Sami in the 20s and 30s of the last century. So the word “seid” can be translated as “holy”, “sacred” or even “sorcerer”. Therefore, Seydozero is “Holy Lake”. There are several of them on the Kola Peninsula. One is located in the vicinity of Nizhnekamensky Lake on Ponoye, where there used to be an old Lapp churchyard. There is another one somewhere in Monche-tundra. And, undoubtedly, the most famous Lovozero Seydozero.

The picturesque lake, hidden in the mountains, is so closely connected with the culture, history and beliefs of the Sami that it is time to create a Lapp reserve here, which, by the way, is what the residents of the village of Lovozero, near the mountain range of the same name, are talking about. The most famous legend of Seydozero is the tale of the death of Chude-Chuervya. We heard it during our first visit to Lovozero from local hunter and fisherman Ivan Shitov, who sheltered us in his fishing hut on the shore of Lovozero. During the day's march we were caught in a persistent rain; the weather was not kind to us then. On a bright polar night, we warmed ourselves and dried ourselves for a long time by the hot stove, and Vanya, seeing us as fresh interlocutors, endlessly told his hunting tales and various stories. Among them, I was especially interested in the legend about the attack of foreigners on the Lovozero Lapps. Wanting to clearly illustrate this story, Ivan ran his fingernail along our topographic map and, calling the strangers Norwegians, showed the places where the events took place.

Subsequently, while studying the literature about the pre-Christian beliefs of the indigenous population of the Kola Peninsula, I found a more complete presentation of it. For the first time, apparently, this legend was recorded by the famous Russian scientist V. Yu. Wiese from the words of Kuzma Danilov, Semyon Galkin and Philip Sorvanov (presumably residents of the Lovozero churchyard). I will quote it here in full.

“The Chud chief Chude-Chueriv came to Lovozero with his retinue, all of them were unbaptized, and began to rob the Lapps. The Lapps fled from them to one island on Lovozero, where there is an “Old Woman”, to whom they bring gifts when they go hunting. Chud noticed where the Lapps were running, she sat down on the carbass and went in pursuit of them. Then one Lapp began to beat the “korvi-kart” (tambourine - author’s note) and ask the “Old Woman” to make the weather heard him. and the weather became so bad that all the Chud, chasing the Lapps on the carbass, drowned in the lake. Only Chude-Chueriv and his cook remained alive. They managed to get to Motka-Guba, where the cook began to cook dinner. He cooks, stirs the pot with a spoon and says: “I wish I could shake the Lop heads like that.” At this time the Lapps came up and, seeing the Chud chief, wounded him in the leg with a crossbow in order to take him alive. The cook, when he saw this, took the treasury and, so that the Lapps would not get it, threw it into the water, then he himself threw himself into the lake and, like a pike, swam through Seydyavryok to Seydozero. Where Chivruay ("chivr" - rubble, "uai" - stream) flows into Seydozero, he crawled ashore, but here he turned to stone. That is why the mountain that stands in that place is called Pavratchorr. Chude-chueriv was forced to surrender. He accepted the baptized faith and, as a sign of this, put a kanga (Lapp shoe) on his left foot, which is still visible on him now. He lived among the Lapps for some time, and when he grew old, he went to the tundra, and there he remained a stone. It still stands in the same place, which is why the tundra is called Kuyvchorr." Philip Sorvanov conveyed the end of the legend a little differently. According to him, when the Lapps wounded the Chud chief, he did not give up, but fled to the tundra, where he was petrified. In the same place where he ran, a trail of blood is still visible.

Kuyva on Seydozero enjoys special honor from the Seydozero Lapps (in winter they live in the Lovozero churchyard). When driving past Kuyvchorr on carbass, Lapps are afraid to shout and swear loudly for fear that the “Old Man” will become angry. They approached us with a request that we also observe possible silence near Kuyva. Lapps avoid polluting the water in Seydozero, since the “Old Man” does not like it, and otherwise he will not give fish. When there is a need to fill a cauldron of water, the Lapp will never scoop up water with a smoked cauldron directly from the lake, as is usually the case, but will scoop it up with a clean ladle and then pour the water into the cauldron. If the weather is bad for a long time, the Lapps say: “The old man is not angry.” About Paurus (the cook - author's note), the Lapps only say that he is good for himself, does no harm, but he himself does not like to be disturbed. On Seydozero there is also a tundra called Nepeslogchorr. According to Lapp legend, three sorceresses, a mother and two daughters, were once petrified in this place." /Lopar seids. V. Wiese. News of the Arkhangelsk Society for the Study of the Russian North. 1912 No. 9 - 10/.

From the legend it becomes clear that the “Old Woman” is a seid standing on one of the Lovozero islands, apparently on the Sorcerer Island in the southern part of the lake. "Kuyva" is a dark silhouette on a steep cliff. The bloody trace of the Chud chief is a well-known ornamental mineral eudialyte, red in color. Many names of mountains and rivers can still be found on a topographic map. In general, it turns out that the legend about the death of Chude-Chuervya is well tied to the area. When planning my route before traveling to Lapland, I decided that it would be interesting to try to follow the “footsteps” of this legend, which perhaps conveys some real events. In the Middle Ages, there really were clashes between the Kola Lapps and invaders from Scandinavia. And the Lovozero tundra mountain range itself and, of course, Seydozero have long attracted me as a photographer with the amazing colors of the untouched nature of the North. And finally, the long-awaited vacation.

It took us three whole days to get to the mouth of Seydyavryok, a short but very stormy river that originates on Seydozero and flows into Lovozero. Stormy weather and high waves forced us to move along the rugged coastline and take shelter behind the occasional islands, but this did not always help. Many times on the open headlands of the lake, where it was difficult to stand even on your feet from the wind, you had to wait a long time for calm to continue your journey. The wind did not subside and did not change its direction during the short, still light nights, periodically bringing charges of light rain, and then everything around was hidden in a leaden haze. But above Motka, as the Sami called the isthmus between two bodies of water, there was constantly a clear blue sky, and a hurricane wind blew from the Seydozer basin, like from a giant chimney. High waves roamed the bays of Lovozero. Here and there the wind tore water dust from their foamy crests, twisting it into spiral vortices that rushed over the raging lake. It seemed that we had angered some evil spirits who did not want to let us into the sacred lake.

The way to the Sorcerer Island in such weather is closed. We will no longer be able to examine the seid that saved the Lapps from the invasion of foreigners. On Motka at the mouth of Seydyavryok we hid the boat and part of the food for the return journey. Then you need to walk.

Previously, at the end of the 19th - beginning of the 20th centuries, there was a Lapp churchyard on Motka, consisting of several vezhs. Lapps fished in the southern part of Lovozero and Seydozero. Already in pre-war times, the churchyard disappeared and until the early 80s there was only a telephone operator’s house serving the line running along the eastern part of the Lovozero tundra. All that was left of the house in a wide clearing, overgrown with tall grass and fireweed, was an overgrown foundation and telephone poles with rusty wire hanging from them. Along the road leading from the former churchyard across the isthmus, we reached Seydozero.

The mountains surrounding the ring did not shelter the lake from the wind; a large swell was moving along the water surface. The tops of the mountain ledges were hidden in low clouds, and the western side of the lake basin was barely visible in the haze of rain. The road led us to a small house and trailer next to the shore. Both the house and the trailer have long been used by rare tourists and local fishermen for overnight stays. In such inclement weather, it is pleasant to spend the night next to a low stove, feel the warmth spreading from it throughout the room, and listen to the sound of rain outside the window. At night the rain stopped, but the wind blew so hard that the whole hut shook under its blows, and in the morning it became cold even in a sleeping bag.

The old walls could not withstand the air pressure, and the wind blew through the room. The morning brought some improvement in the weather. The sun began to peek through the low clouds. After a short breakfast, taking our camera with us, we went to the nearest hill to explore the surroundings. At its top, local missionaries installed a two-meter Orthodox cross, apparently to drive out dark forces from the lake. There are plaques with prayers attached to both sides of the cross. On the eastern one it is written: “Let God rise again, and let His enemies be opened.” And on the west - “We worship your Cross, Master, we sing and glorify your holy Resurrection.” Subsequently, we learned that in 1998, an earthquake with a magnitude of about 4 occurred in the Lovozero tundra; this happened almost immediately after the installation of the cross on Seydozero. This is how you begin to believe in both the Holy Spirit and evil spirits. Around the cross, several aspen boletuses adorned the damp cushions of lush reindeer moss, and clusters of lingonberries bloomed red on the mossy hummocks. From the slopes of the hill covered with spruce forest there was a view of the western part of the lake, where the dark spot of Kuyva could be discerned on the massive rock guarding the entrance to the Elmarayok gorge.

Kuiva is an old man, a giant, a sorcerer. His figure has been preserved on Seydozero. It appears as a hundred-meter silhouette on the steep cliff of Mount Kuyvchorr. Now this is a place of pilgrimage for tourists, as well as various seekers of disappeared civilizations, who are inclined to see in Kuyva both the Atlantean giant, and the self-portrait of a Hyperborean, and the “Bigfoot”. In the pursuit of turning what they want into reality, many people mistake various natural and geological formations for man-made monuments of disappeared civilizations and even traces of aliens. Several publications on this topic began to attract a large number of tourists to the Lovozero tundra. Mountains of cans and bottles began to grow along the shores of the once protected lake. And the centuries-old silence guarded by Kuiva began to be increasingly disturbed by the sound of an ax and even the crack of a chainsaw. Tourists are different.

A few hours of walking along a path winding in the taiga along the northern shore of a beautiful lake - and we stand in front of a high rock. Shreds of clouds slide down from the gentle peak. From a steep wall several hundred meters high, an unmistakably human figure looks at us, easily discernible in the outlines of dark spots and stains of either rocks or lichen growths. It seems that she froze in a fit of some kind of dance or anger. Of course, it takes a little imagination to distinguish between a head, a right hand raised up, and a foot taking a step. You can even see on the left foot the “kanga” mentioned in the legend - traditional Sami shoes with the toes raised up. The height of the figure is about one hundred meters. Many believe in the artificial origin of Kuiva, but we, unfortunately, were disappointed in this, probably expecting to see something similar to giant images on the slopes of the Andes in the Nazca Valley.

The wall plumb is uneven. Weathering processes gradually destroy it, splitting it into pieces. At the foot of the cliff there is a huge scree of destruction products. We can say with a great deal of confidence that hundreds of years ago the wall with Kuiva looked different. In general, the fact that Kuiva has a natural origin has been known for a long time. In 1923, academician A.E. Fersman examined the image of Kuyva, and in his book “Memories of the Stone” he wrote about it: “As we were convinced during our expedition, the dark figure is formed by a combination of lichens, mosses and wet streaks on the rocks.” Moisture on steep cliffs most likely comes from melting snowfields above, seeping through crevices.

But when, remembering the old legend, you look up at the huge figure of Kuyva, feel the surrounding taiga silence, somewhere in the depths of your soul, faith awakens in the power of the giant sorcerer guarding the purity and tranquility of the mountain lake. We left in silence, talking almost in a whisper, paying tribute to old traditions, or secretly fearing to anger the giant.

During our excursion the wind died down a little. In the afternoon we were going to move to the southern shore of the lake, to the place where the Chivruay gorge opens into the Seydozer basin with a wide gate. After having a snack in the hut that sheltered us, we collected our backpacks and set off along the trail, now along the eastern shore of the lake. Here is a bay closed by a long spit overgrown with taiga. It is called Malaya Seyda and is connected to Seydozer (Big Seyda) by a short channel with a fast current. We walked around the bay and found ourselves at the source of the Seydyavryok River, mentioned in the legend. The cook Chude-Chuervya turned into a pike and fled from the Lapps along this river to Seydozero. The river at the source is about 15-20 meters wide; at this point, a suspension bridge on cables is thrown from one bank to the other. He found himself in very bad condition. The wooden flooring was partially preserved, and even then completely rotten. Someone supplemented it with a log from the right bank, but still crossing the bridge turned out to be quite a risky undertaking.

From the mouth of the river there was a good path along the entire southern shore of the lake. In some places it overlooked long rocky beaches. There was real surf here, waves shining with azure purity, rustling with fine gravel, rolled steadily onto the shore. The purity of the water of the mountain lake was amazing.

When we walked about two kilometers along the shore of the lake, we came across a stream flowing from the plateau along a steep canyon. We began to climb along its right bank. This was the northern slope of Mount Ninchurt. Five hundred meters from the mouth of the stream we came across another hut; we decided to spend the night here, since it was quite windy on the shore of the lake. It seemed that the taiga vegetation here was more lush than on the opposite shore of the lake. Blueberry thickets reach your knees, and along the banks of the river there are dense herbs. Apparently due to the northern exposure of the slopes it is more humid here.

The next day we examined the mouth of the Chivruay River. According to the Sami legend, there was supposed to be a seid here, into which the sorcerer cook Chude-Chuervya turned when he ran away from the Lapps who were pursuing him. But we never found any seid. Tourists often stopped at this place; on the shore there was a bathhouse made of large boulders. It is possible that the seid suffered the fate of being put into a sauna stove.

But, examining the surrounding mountain slopes with binoculars, I discovered at an altitude of about 400 meters several stone structures in the place where the steep rise smoothly turns into a plateau. Within an hour, having left our backpacks below, we were climbing the slope of Ninchurt. We only took a camera, a tripod and, just in case, a rope. From the mouth of the stream we began to climb up the gorge along a path winding among the trees. Blueberries and blueberries in the mountain crooked forests are so abundant that in some places the bushes were completely covered with large berries. It seemed that there were more berries than leaves.

The stream forms a canyon with low rock ledges, from which it flows in small waterfalls. Walking along the bottom of the gorge is harder and longer, so we began to climb straight up the mountainside, leaving the gorge with a stream to our left. They quickly passed the border of the forest and found themselves on a plateau, gently sloping towards the top of Ninchurt. The higher we rose, the wider the amazing view of the huge bowl of Seydozero, bordered by mountain ledges, opened up. The stream, in front of whose source we found ourselves, collects water from small wetlands on the gentle slope of the mountain. Apparently, there was a snow patch here for a long time, which provided the creek with its main nutrition, but in this hot summer it melted, exposing a couloir strewn with boulders and stone blocks, turning into a gorge with a stepwise discharge. On the vertical walls of the steps, I immediately noticed strange signs carved into the stone. At first glance, it seemed that someone was trying to chop monoliths into stone blocks at an altitude of 300 - 400 meters above lake level.

Most of the signs were straight, starting right at the top edge of the stone. Moreover, at the top they were slightly wider than at the bottom. We can say that they tapered slightly from top to bottom. Some of the lines below curved smoothly. We found some more complex signs. They did not start from the upper edge of the stone, but were located entirely on the wall, and asymmetrical, blindly ending branches were made from a straight vertical groove. The cross-section of the potholes is trapezoidal, the depth reaches 1.5 cm, the width is from 5 to 10 cm. They were probably made with a tool similar to a chisel or something like a flat core. In some places, it seems that traces left by the tool are even visible.

We looked at the strange signs for a long time, moving from one to another. Maybe geologists once made samples of minerals? But the difference in the shapes of the signs, their number and location somehow does not fit with possible geological research, at least this can be easily found out. Or maybe they were knocked out by shamans for ritual purposes? Already at home, looking at the pictures, I thought that these signs could also be runes that are found in the Scandinavian countries. Runes are known as a form of ancient writing of the northern peoples - expressive, separate signs - embossed or carved in wood, stone, and metal products. They were believed to have magical properties and were therefore highly valued for their ability to serve as amulets and as spells. Each rune has a name and its own symbolism, which goes beyond its phonetics and literal meaning.

This is what Anna Kaya writes in her book “Runes”. “From ancient times, each rune had its own name and specific meaning. In other words, certain objects or concepts were used to describe a separate runic sign. The opposite is also true: each rune itself represents a certain concept or property that manifests itself through certain specific processes. Here the dual nature of the runes is clearly visible: on the one hand, certain processes and concepts describe a given rune, on the other hand, with a deeper study of this rune, not only does the essence of these objects or processes become clearer, but they themselves are located or fall into a designated place in the general picture of existence. Thus, each rune embodies a certain aspect, property or manifestation of existence, or, as modern rune theory views it, one or another archetype of reality.

Each individual rune or combination of runic signs serves as a reflection of some internal structure of reality. Each rune is a symbolic repository of certain knowledge and concepts. Since the internal structure of reality is in constant motion, the runes reflecting this internal structure are also capable of changing, acquiring new content and being enriched with new meaning. The special connection of each rune with a specific object or property allows, by composing combinations of runic signs, to describe or explore each aspect of the universe. When composing such combinations, the rune acts as a tool of cognition, and if we consider it as a symbol, then it is an analogue of reality. That is, the combination of runes as analogues of reality is capable of reflecting the totality of any events." (Runes. Compiled by Anna Kaya, M.: Lokid, 1998).

If these are really runes, then their enormous size is surprising. And the signs themselves, except for the straightforward ones, I could not somehow compare with those that are found and deciphered in literature. A simple linear sign of the shape "I" can be interpreted as the Is rune - translated into Russian as "ice". The Old English rune poem says the following about this rune:

Frost and ice in winter will fall like sparkling fire on the roads of gods and people. You cannot hold back the icy stream that flows the wisdom of the ages. Remember, however, that Is only to delay May what is coming, not to dispel.

The Is rune symbolizes primordial ice and can be represented by the image of a glacier, embodying frozen movement. The very concept of ice contains the idea of ​​melting and its new transformation into water. On the other hand, a slowly advancing glacier acts as a force that is almost irresistible. Thus, this rune means stopping, “freezing” any process or movement. It is believed that through Is it is possible to suspend, but not completely eliminate, any negative processes or phenomena that in one way or another affect a person’s life. For example, you can stop the progression of the disease. By visualizing the graphic form of the Is rune, you can gain time in order to find a way out of the current situation. It is also believed that the Is rune can be used to complete the work started, to restore harmony in the world and for protection. Anna Kaya in her book “Runes” writes that the Is rune is associated with medieval legends of spiritual knightly orders, according to which it is in an ice cave, somewhere in the inaccessible mountains lying at the edge of the world, that there is a source of universal life force, “the elixir of immortality ". Is it not in this gorge that this source is born, and what did unknown authors try to preserve or “freeze” with such a combination of runes? I have never found any interpretation options for the “branched” runes. Most of all, these signs are similar to “ogham” - one of the most ancient types of writing. The basis of ogham is a vertical line - “druim”. All written signs are attached to it on one side or the other, or crossing the line itself. Ogham signs were written from top to bottom vertically, rarely horizontally. Only this type of writing was widespread in Ireland and the west of ancient Britain. In total, during a quick inspection, I counted seven linear signs, and three “branched” ones. Moreover, one was found going into the ground. Knowing how slowly soil cover forms in mountain tundra and desert conditions, we can tentatively say that they are not 10 years old. Tool marks and smooth edges of potholes could not have been preserved this way. Moreover, the rock is not so hard. Most likely, they are no older than the petroglyphs that we saw three years ago in the abandoned village of Chalmny-Varre on the Ponoy River, and their age is 4000 years. Of course, to accurately determine them, they need to be examined by a specialist. I wonder if these signs are in any way connected with the legend of the death of Chude-Chuervya? It is possible that indirectly - yes. The sorcerers who died in these mountains were aliens from Western countries. But to this day, in the vicinity of Lovozero there are rumors about rituals that have long been celebrated on the mountain lake by local shamans. It is surprising that archaeologists have not yet become interested in these signs. Having finished examining and photographing the signs, we walked along the mountainside in the direction of the Chivruay gorge. The steep ascent at an altitude of about four hundred meters above the lake level ended in a small flat valley, similar to a huge terrace, which then again went steeply upward to about 600 meters. Then the slope smoothly turned into a hilly plateau. At the edge of a gentle valley, from where a wonderful view of the western tip of Seydozero and Lovozero opens up, we found three seids - stone guria, human height, made of flat stones and spaced at a distance of about a kilometer from each other. When examining the surrounding slopes with binoculars, we discovered a similar houri on the other side of the Chivruay gorge, again in the place where the steep slope begins to turn into a gentle plateau plain. It seems that similar houris are installed around the entire Seydozero at approximately equal distances. Who and when installed them here? Is it not the same hands that have carved strange signs on mountain ledges? For what purpose were these silent monuments created? Having examined the seids, we continued to climb Ninchurt and an hour later we were already on the flat top of the mountain at the geodetic mark crowning it. From here you can take in all of Lovozero at a glance; the Panskie tundra and nearby spurs of Cave are clearly visible. Meanwhile, a strong and cold wind rose on the plateau, and we hurried down. We began to descend straight along the small gorge along which we had climbed. In the place where recently there had been a snowfield that gave rise to a stream, all the stones were covered with cushions of emerald-green moss. Water trickled among the stones, and below the gorge a small stream with waterfalls was already flowing. We passed through the stone gates of the gorge, a forest was already growing on the slopes here, and soon we found ourselves near the place where we left our things. We returned to the hut for the night. Soon the fire crackled in the cast-iron stove, we prepared dinner and laid out our sleeping bags on the plank bunks. Listening to the gusts of wind sweeping across the tops of the fir trees and the sound of the surf coming from Seydozero, it was surprisingly cozy and warm to fall asleep. We spent a few more days in the Lovozero tundra. Despite the windy and rainy weather, we climbed to the pass along the Chivruay gorge. We visited Lake Raiyavr, which lies in a beautiful “circus” with high rocky ledges. But the short vacation was coming to an end. And we decided to spend the last day before leaving on the shore of Lovozero. In the morning we were pleasantly surprised by the good change in weather. The sun shone brightly. The sky is clear. And the wind, this gusty wind, which never turned out to be favorable, which tormented us for almost two weeks, finally died down. It was calm. Only slight ripples in places disturbed the tranquility of the mirror-like surface of the lake, which now reflected both the clear blue sky and the shores with sharp tops of fir trees. Silence enveloped everything. It seemed as if my ears were stuffed with cotton, and even my own voice sounded somehow muffled. The sky remained cloudlessly clear throughout the day. Only in the evening, rare cirrocumulus clouds formed in the north and west. It was a beautiful sunset. The sky was painted in all shades of red, yellow, purple. When it was completely calm, the sky was reflected in the mirror-like surface of the bay, repeating the fantastic patterns of clouds painted in lilac and cream tones. The sun gradually dropped behind the jagged edge of the spruce forest. Every now and then I jumped ashore with a camera, and kept photographing and photographing the same landscape, with the sunset sky constantly changing its colors. When the sun finally disappeared and the bright colors began to gradually fade, giving way to the approaching twilight, for some reason I thought that after such a quiet day there should be northern lights, and jokingly told Tanya that today we would see them. Although at this time of year the lights are extremely rare.

We sat by the fire for a long time, drinking tea, constantly throwing dry spruce branches into the fire. Stars poured out in the cloudless sky. It got very cold. The crackling of the fire was the only sound in the silence that enveloped us. Before going to bed, I finally went out to the shore of the lake to look at the sky. In the west, a strange formation immediately attracted attention, resembling a large transparent cloud, even more like a silvery haze with a subtle greenish tint. It was located on the sunset side of the sky and at first it seemed that it was a cloud in the high layers of the atmosphere, which received light from the setting sun. But it gradually changed its outline and grew in an expanding ribbon higher and higher, rising to the zenith. Flashes began to run across it, and it became clear that these were the northern lights. I immediately called Tanya, and I began feverishly setting up a tripod with a camera on the sandy shore of the lake. Meanwhile, the ribbon of aurora, having reached its zenith, began to change its shape; in the northwestern part the light became brighter. Individual bright rays began to form from the ribbon, they quickly rose to the zenith, and after some time spread to the eastern part of the sky. After that, they blurred, turning into wide stripes, dimmed, and later became distinguishable only when flashes ran across them. Meanwhile, in the north, new rays appeared in the sky, from which a blurry air curtain formed, slowly shimmering with greenish-silver light. But these lights were no longer so intense. It seemed that some thin ether was spreading across the sky, running across the stars with a light silvery wind. I took several pictures, trying to capture the brightest auroras. When, already long after midnight, we climbed into our tent, rare flashes were still running across the sky. Wrapping myself up in a sleeping bag, I couldn’t fall asleep for a long time. The dark silhouette of Kuyva, a high seid on the mountainside, strange signs on the rocks, and flashes of the northern lights floated before my eyes. I thought how amazingly well this corner was preserved, surrounded by “civilization,” without having yet lost its pristine purity. A little more time will pass and a beautiful tourist center, built in the form of a fabulous wooden tower, will open in the regional center of the village of Lovozero. A fast boat will take tourists unburdened by financial problems to Motka-Guba in a couple of hours. Tour guides will take them along paved paths to the once reserved lake, where they can examine seids, Kuyva, and ancient writings like museum exhibits. Pleasure boats glide along the calm surface of the lake. And, of course, hunting and fishing. Oh, how delicious Seydozero trout is... Isn’t this what they are trying to stop, “freeze” the mysterious spells on the rocks of Seydozero? Isn’t this, like the irresistible force of a glacier, gradually approaching a mountain lake? Will the reserve created there preserve the Seydozero secrets? Tomorrow a long journey home awaited us, filled with a slight longing for the beautiful northern region. Someday we will return here with a burning desire to once again breathe in the cold freshness of the northern taiga, but will we be able to touch the secrets of the mountain lake once again? August 2001

Vitaly Gorshkov