New detailed satellite map of the Kola Peninsula. Detailed map of the Murmansk region

The Kola Peninsula (mouths of Murman, Kola, Ter) is a peninsula in the north-west of the European part of Russia, in the Murmansk region. It is washed by the Barents and White Seas.
The name comes from the common Finno-Ugric word KOL - fish, as the Mari, Finns, Karelians, etc. call fish.
The area is about 100 thousand km².
In the western part there are (height up to 1200 m) the Lovozero tundra (height up to 1120 m). In the north there is tundra vegetation, to the south there is forest-tundra and taiga.

view of the Kola Peninsula (in the distance) from Kishkin Island

The Kola Peninsula occupies just under 70% of the area of ​​the Murmansk region. The western border of the Kola Peninsula is determined by the meridional depression, which runs from the Kola Bay along the Kola River, Lake Imandra, and the Niva River to Kandalaksha Bay.

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

Geographical position
The Kola Peninsula is located on far north Russia. Almost the entire territory is located beyond the Arctic Circle.
In the north it is washed by the waters of the Barents Sea, in the south and east - by the waters White Sea. The western border of the Kola Peninsula is a meridional depression running from the Kola Bay along the valley of the Kola River, Lake Imandra and the Niva River to Kandalaksha Bay. The area is about 100 thousand km².



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

Hydrology
There are many rivers flowing along the Kola Peninsula: Ponoi (the most long river on the peninsula), Tuloma (the deepest river on the peninsula), Varzuga, Kola, Yokanga, Teriberka, Voronya, Umba, etc.

There are a large number of lakes, the largest -
Imandra, Umbozero, Lovozero.

white nights on the White Sea Kola Peninsula

Geological structure
In the western part of the Kola Peninsula, which has a dissected topography, the territory reaches its greatest heights. There are separate mountain ranges with flat tops, separated by depressions: Monchetundra, Khibiny and Lovozero tundras. Their heights reach 900-1000 m. The eastern half of the Kola Peninsula is characterized by a calmer undulating topography with prevailing heights of 150-250 m. Among the undulating plains rises the Keiva ridge (397 m), consisting of separate chains stretching from northwest to southeast along the central part of the peninsula.
The Kola Peninsula occupies the eastern part of the Baltic crystalline shield, in geological structure which involves thick strata of the Archean and Proterozoic. The Archean is represented by highly metamorphosed and intensely dislocated gneisses and granites, in places intruded by pegmatite bodies. Proterozoic deposits are more diverse in composition - quartzites, crystalline schists, sandstones, marbles, partially gneisses interbedded with greenstones.

Minerals
In terms of diversity of mineral species, the Kola Peninsula has no analogues in the world. About 1000 minerals were discovered on its territory - almost 1/3 of all known on Earth. About 150 minerals are found nowhere else. Deposits of apatite-nepheline ores (Khibiny), iron, nickel, platinum metals, rare earth metals, lithium, titanium, beryllium, building and jewelry stones (amazonite, amethyst, chrysolite, garnet, jasper, iolite, etc.), ceramic pegmatites , mica (muscovite, phlogopite and vermiculite are the world's largest reserves).
In 1970, the Kola superdeep well was drilled here. In 1994, its depth was a record 12,262 meters.

waterfall flowing into the Barents Sea

Relief and nature
The relief of the Kola Peninsula consists of depressions, terraces, mountains, and plateaus. The peninsula's mountain ranges rise more than 800 meters above sea level. The plains of the Kola Peninsula are occupied by swamps and numerous lakes. The peninsula is washed by the White and Barents Seas. The reservoirs of the peninsula and the seas washing it are rich in various fish.
The reservoirs are rich in fish: salmon and palia, whitefish, trout, grayling, pike, etc. In the seas washing the peninsula there is an abundance of cod, flounder, halibut, capelin, herring, crab, and seaweed.

On the Kola Peninsula. Geological age is about 350 million years. The peaks are plateau-shaped, the slopes are steep with isolated snowfields. However, not a single glacier was discovered in the Khibiny Mountains. Highest point— Mount Yudychvumchorr (1200.6 m above sea level). In the center are the Kukisvumchorr and Chasnachorr plateaus.
At the foot are the cities of Apatity and Kirovsk. At the foot of Mount Vudyavrchorr - Polar-Alpine Botanical Garden-institute

Kola Peninsula on the border with Norway

LOVOZERSK TUNDRA
Lovozero tundra - mountain range on the Kola Peninsula in the Murmansk region of Russia.
Located between Lovozero and Umbozero. The peaks are flat, rocky, up to 1120 meters high on Mount Angwundaschorr. There is no forest vegetation on the peaks. The slopes are steep, covered in the lower part with coniferous forests. Composed of nepheline syenites.
In the area of ​​the mountain range there is the Lovozero deposit of rare earth metals, which has large reserves of tantalum, niobium, cesium, cerium and other metals, as well as zirconium raw materials (eudialyte). Numerous rare, sometimes unique, collectible minerals have been discovered within the massif.
In the center of the massif is Seydozero, which, together with the adjacent gorges and mountain slopes, forms the Seydyavr (Seydyavr) reserve. Outside the reserve are the Raslaka cirques - two geological formations that are round bowls of glacial origin with a diameter of several kilometers with walls up to 250 meters high.
Since ancient times, the Lovozero tundra mountain range has been considered the “place of power” of the ancient Sami (Lapps). The ancient Sami seids found in these places have high cultural and ethnographic value. Due to their unusual appearance, the circuses of Raslak have also been the subject of Sami tales and legends since ancient times, among them the legend that they are the remains of temples built many centuries ago by giants. A new phase of legends began in the second half of the 20th century, when, in the wake of the passion for ufology, the opinion arose that these circuses could be landing pads for alien spaceships.

Kola Bay, Murmansk city

KOLA BAY
Kola Bay is a narrow fjord bay of the Barents Sea on the Murmansk coast of the Kola Peninsula.
Length - 57 km, width - up to 7 km, depth at the entrance - 200-300 meters. The water area of ​​the Kola Bay, in accordance with the peculiarities of the geomorphological structure, is divided into three parts (tribes): northern, middle and southern. The first bend extended from the mouth to Shurupov Island and the Srednyaya Bay, the second bend - from the Srednyaya Bay to the Mishukov and Pinagoria capes (near Cape Velikiy is the most bottleneck lips), the third knee goes south for 9 miles and has a width from 400 to 800 fathoms (the narrowest place in this knee is at Abram-Pakhta).

The western shore is steep and rocky, the eastern shore is relatively flat. The two largest rivers of the Kola Peninsula flow into the corner of the bay: Tuloma and Kola. Semi-diurnal tides up to 4 meters. On east coast The gulf has ice-free ports of Murmansk and Severomorsk, and on the western side is the port of Polyarny. In 2005, a road bridge was opened across the bay.

KANDALAKSHA BAY
Kandalaksha Bay (Kandalaksky Bay, Karelian Kandalakši, Kandalahti - lit. “bay of the Kanda River”) is one of the four largest bays of the White Sea, along with Dvina Bay, Onega Bay and Mezen Bay. Located in the Murmansk region and the Republic of Karelia in northwestern Russia. Washes South coast Kola Peninsula.
There are hundreds of small skerry-type islands in the bay. The depth at the western end reaches 300 m, the inner part is shallow. A place of mass nesting of the common eider of the White Sea population, other waterfowl and coastal birds, molting of drakes, diving ducks and mergansers, and a stopover for migratory birds. The Kandalaksha nature reserve is located in the waters of the bay.
At the northwestern tip of the bay, on the shore of Lupcha Bay, the city of Kandalaksha is located.
The largest islands of the bay are Ryashkov, Oleniy, Volei, Velikiy, Sidorov, Keret and Pezhostrov.

Lake Pai-Kunyavr Kola Peninsula

TOURIST SITES OF THE KOLA PENINSULA
BOLSHAYA AND KOLVITSA, rivers in the Murmansk region. Bolshaya (length approx. 100 km) flows from Bolshaya Saygozero and flows into Lake Kolvitskoe. (area 121 sq. km), from which the Kolvitsa (length 12 km) originates, flowing into the Kandalaksha Bay. White m. Sr. water flow in Kolvitsa in summer is 25-40 cubic meters per second. Along the banks of the rivers there are pine and mixed forests. At the mouth of Kolvitsa - village. Kolvitsa.
Both rivers are available for rafting from mid-June to the end of August from the source of the Bolshaya to the mouth of the Kolvitsa. The length of the rafting section (including according to B. Saygozer) is approx. 127 km, rafting duration 8-10 days. It is possible to extend the route along Kandalaksha Bay to the town of Kandalaksha (30 km). In the riverbed Large - reach, rapids areas long. 1-1.5 km (in low-water years it is difficult to overcome by wiring), small rapids (below Lake Verkhnee). On the lake Kolvitskoye has many small rocky islands. In the Kolvitsa riverbed there are rapids and two high waterfalls. 3 and 6 m. Kayaking, along the river. Bolshaya - 2 CS, along the river. Kolvitsa - 4 KS.

"VIRMA", tour. hotel (IV) in the Murmansk region, in the village. Lovozero. Created in 1987. Building for 75 places (rooms for 4 people); tour. office, rental office. Serving tourists on water, hiking and ski routes; excursions to the museum of Sami life, to the reindeer herder. x-va. (p. 201)

"WOLF TUNDRA", shelter of the TG "Khibiny" in the Murmansk region. ( Kirovsky district). Located in the foothills of the Khibiny mountains. Building for 60 seats. Accommodation for tourists on hiking and ski routes. (p. 212)

Lake Imandra Kola Peninsula

IMANDRA, lake on the Kola Peninsula, Murmansk region. Pl. 876 sq. km. Deep up to 67 m. East. the coast is weakly dissected, the western coast has many bays (lips). St. 140 islands. It consists of 3 parts: northern - Bolshaya I., central - Iokostravskaya I., western - Babinskaya I. Flows approx. 20 tributaries; river flows out Niva. With the creation in 1936 on the river. Niva GES-1 lake turned into a reservoir. To the north-west shore - the city of Monchegorsk, from which tourists make hiking and water (on rowing vessels - boats and whaleboats) trips along the Igor and its shores. (p. 261)

"KINERIM", shelter of TG "Tuloma" in the Murmansk region, 32 km from the village. Tuloma. House for 30 people, kitchen. Accommodation for tourists on the ski route. (p. 291)

KIROVSK (until 1934 Khibinogorsk, renamed in honor of S.M. Kirov), a city (since 1931) in the Murmansk region, in the spurs of Khibiny, on lake. B. Woodyavr; railway Art. 43.5 thousand inhabitants K.'s history is connected with the name of academician. A.E. Fersman, under the leadership and with whose participation in the 1920s. Apatite nepheline deposits were discovered in the Khibiny Mountains. In modern K.: mining and enrichment of apatite nepheline ores (PA "Apatit"). Kirov House Museum (in the house where in 1929, under his leadership, a plan for the development of the apatite deposit was developed). Mineralogical-petrographic. museum. The world's northernmost Polar-Alpine botanist. garden (on Mount Vudyavrchorr). TG "Khibiny", tour. club. K. is the starting and ending point of the plural. hiking and skiing routes in the Khibiny Mountains and Lovozero Tundra. (p. 294)

"LAPLAND", tour. hotel (II) in the Murmansk region, in the city of Monchegorsk. Created in 1972. 9-storey building with 333 beds (rooms for 2 and 3 people); tour. office, rental office. Serving tourists on linear and radial routes; hiking to Khibiny, water - along the lake. Imandra, skiing(lifts available); excursions around the city, to Kirovsk. Shelter "Khibiny Tundra". (p. 322)

LOVOSERO, lake on the Kola Peninsula, Murmansk region. Located east of the Lovozero Tundra mountain range. Pl. St. 200 sq. km, length 45 km, max. lat. 9 km, deep. up to 35 m. Coastline heavily indented; OK. 140 forested islands. The river flows. Sergevan, Kurga, Afanasia, Tsaga, Sarah. The river flows out. Voronya, flowing into the Barentsev Sea; With the creation of the Serebryanskaya hydroelectric power station in 1970, Latvia was turned into a reservoir. Connected by the river Seydiok with Seydozer, who has the advantage. rocky shores. On L. - p. Lovozero.
The most favorable time for water kayaking is from mid-June to the end of August. The most popular routes: 1) up the river. Kurga (40 km) to Efimozero, further along the river. Lenyavr (15 km) to the Lenyavr lake system, from where by portage (9-12 km) to the Porosozer or Kelmozer system: then you can raft along the rapids river. Iokanga (200 km), flowing into the Barents Sea (14-16 days, 4 KS).

2) Up the river. Afanasia (40 km), then the portage length. 6 km to the river Koiniyok and rafting along it and the river. Ponoya (200 km), which flows into the Barentsevo Cape. The last 100 km of Ponoya are rapids (18-20 days, 3 KS). 3) Up the river. Tsaga (45 km), then the portage length. 4 km to the river Pana and rafting along it and the river. Varzuga (180 km), flowing into the Beloye Cape (14-16 days, 2 KS). Interesting for tourists: high waterfall. 10 m on the river Arenga, the right tributary of the river. Varzuga; With. Varzuga, founded in the 12th century. 4) Up the river. Sara (20 km) to Saranchozero, from where the portage continues. 4 km to Punchozero, from which a winding and rocky river flows. Puncha (12 km), flowing into Umbozero. In the riverbed Sarah has several difficult rapids to climb (5-7 days, 2 KS).

Barencevo sea

MURMANSK (until 1917 Romanov-on-Murman), city, center of the Murmansk region, ice-free port on the Kola Bay. Barentseva m.; railway Art. 468 thousand inhabitants Basic in 1916 in connection with the construction of the Murmansk railway. and the creation of a port. In 1918-20 it was occupied by Entente troops and White Guards. Since 1921 the center of the Murmansk province, since 1927 - the Murmansk district of the Leningrad region, since 1938 the region. center. During the Great Patriotic War. war, the port of Murmansk played an important role in supplying the country and the army. In modern M.: fish and fish processing, ship repair, building materials industry. Herring trawl and reception and transport base. fleets. M. - starting point North. mor. ways. 2 universities. 3 theaters. Local history specialist and Navy Museum of the North Fleet. Monuments: to the victims of the intervention of 1918-20, to the defenders of the Arctic (1974); Hero of the Owls Union A.F. Bredov; in honor of the 6th Guards Battery, construction soldiers, North Sea residents, port workers, etc.

"ROSSOMAKHA", shelter TG "Tuloma" in the Murmansk region, 14 km from the shelter "Viym" and 29 km from the village. Tuloma. House for 30 people. Accommodation for tourists on the ski route. (p. 417)

"TULOMA", tour. base (III, IV) in the Murmansk region, in the village. Verkhnetulomsky, 80 km from Murmansk (bus service). Created in 1973. Building and cottages for 106 places (rooms for 2-5 people); tour. office, rental office. Serving tourists on local routes; water, ski trips; excursions to the Verkhnetulomskaya hydroelectric power station and natural history. Shelters "Viim", "Kinerim", "Shelter 350", "Wolverine". (p. 475)

Kolvitskaya Bay Kola Peninsula

UMBA, a river in the Murmansk region. Dl. 123 km, avg. water flow at the mouth is 78.2 cubic meters per second (twice as much in July). It flows out of Umbozero, flows through the Cabbage Lakes, Kanozero, and flows into the Beloye Cape. Along the banks of the Umbozero and Umbozero there are coniferous and mixed forests; in the lower flow - population. points Pogost, Umba, Lesnoy.
Available for rafting from mid-June to the end of August from the source to the village. Pogost. The length of the rafting section is approx. 108 km, rafting duration 57 days. There are many rapids in the riverbed, the most difficult ones being “Padun” and “Kanozersky” (overflow). Kayaking (3 KS). Interesting water route along the banks of Umbozero (length 50 km, maximum width 13 km) with radial exits to the Khibiny and Lovozero Tundras; to the north parts of Umbozer come from the station. Kuna along channels and lakes with partial portages. Draw length possible. 7 km from the upper river. Kitsa, flowing into the south. part of Umbozero, up to the river. Pana and further rafting along it and the river. Varzuga.

"69TH PARALLEL" tour. hotel (II) in Murmansk. Created in 1973. 5-storey building with 246 beds (rooms for 2 and 3 people); tour. office, chairlift. Serving tourists on linear and radial routes and foreign. tourists; hiking, skiing, skiing, city tours, to Kola, Monchegorsk. Shelter "Zapolyarny". (p. 524)

HYPERBOREA is a legendary area, an ideal country in its structure, located, according to Greek myths, in the far north, “beyond Boreas.” Hyperborea was especially loved by Apollo, where he went more than once in a chariot drawn by swans. The inhabitants of the country - the Hyperboreans, as well as the Ethiopians, Phaeacians, and lotophages - were among the peoples close to the gods and loved by them. Usually Hyperborea is associated with the northern country - Russia, and Hyperboreans - with the Slavs and Russians. Although the description of a society that is ideal in all respects allows us to say that perhaps the legends about Hyperborea are talking about some now unknown country or even about a forgotten area or continent, which makes these legends similar to the stories about Belovodye and Arctida (see) .
Due to the uncertainty of the “status” of Hyperborea, it is very difficult to talk about even its approximate location. Various researchers are engaged in theoretical research in this area, and on-site searches are carried out mainly by the Hyperborea expedition led by V.N. Demina, who is assisted by various groups, including those included in the Kosmopoisk association.

Rybachy Peninsula

NORTHERN LABYRINTHS (Babylons) - ancient artificial structures made of stones laid out in the form of concentric spiral paths along the banks of the Barents, White and Baltic seas. Their total number in Russia reaches approximately 500 pieces, their diameter is from 5 to 30 m. Local residents call the labyrinths “Babylons”. Labyrinths are located, as a rule, on islands, peninsulas or at river mouths, found singly or in groups (as on Solovetsky Islands). Sometimes there are piles of stones or walls of boulders next to the labyrinths.
Sites have been found near some labyrinths ancient man, dated to the end of the first millennium BC. Apparently, labyrinths were built not only by the Sami, but also by some earlier clan groups (as in the area of ​​the village of Keret on the Krasnaya Luda Peninsula).
Who and why built the labyrinths is unknown. The Sami believed that labyrinths were built in honor of seids - deities, associating them with idols, attributing their construction to historical or mythical figures (giants or dwarfs).
Neither Russian nor Norwegian scientists, who are also studying their own labyrinths, have come to a consensus on the purpose of the labyrinths. Several hypotheses have been put forward:
1) "A place of entertainment and religious round dances." It’s really convenient to walk along the stone walls, but it’s not clear how a long round dance should move when the first in the line reaches the center of the spiral, i.e. to a dead end.
2) "Magic calendar or computer." Moving, according to special rules, along the walls of the labyrinth, the shaman supposedly could predict the exact number of days in the current year, the date of spring, eclipses, etc. One way or another, knowledge of some knowledge encrypted in the stone could not only contribute to the work of the shaman, but also give him even greater authority in the eyes of ignorant spectators.
3) "Protective networks". They were intended to confuse the souls of the dead so that they could not return to the living.
4) "Magic fishing nets." Comparing the designs of labyrinths with fishing structures of the “venter” or “cache” type, which were used back in the middle of the 20th century, some scientists suggested that the labyrinths served to conduct magical rituals to ensure marine fisheries.
5) "Fish traps." It was suggested that during low tides, bottom fish did not have time to find a way out of the labyrinths and remained lying on the rocky soil - to the delight of local fishermen. Since the labyrinths are connected not just with the sea coast, but with the places richest in fish, the version about the commercial and fishing nature of the labyrinths sounds most convincing. There is also a counter-argument - some of the labyrinths are built too far from the water and are not flooded during high tides.
Which version is true - there is still debate on this issue among local historians and historians. By analogy with ancient labyrinths, similar structures are sometimes built in our time (one of the new labyrinths is on Arkaim, the second on the Medveditskaya ridge). One way or another, labyrinths are one of the favorite places for tourists traveling to the northern Russian regions.

lake in the Kunijoka river valley

ICE NORTHERN DAM

MEGALITHS - presumably religious structures made of huge unprocessed or semi-processed stone blocks, installed and stacked in a special order and geographically located mainly in the Caucasus and Western Europe, as well as in the Mediterranean. They are divided into dolmens, cromlechs and menhirs (see "Menhirs"). The mystery of the origin of megaliths has long worried humanity.

LAKE SVETLOYE (Kola) is a body of water in the center of the Kola Peninsula, according to local residents, the alleged residence of Bigfoot people. There are not many real facts in favor. Among the latest cases is the real discovery of Pavel Yurievich TIKHONKIKH, who at the end of June 1999, during an independent raid in the mountains of the center of the Kola Peninsula, 10-15 km east of Lake Svetloe, picked up gray hair from a tree, presumably belonging to a snowman. The hair was sent for examination.

Varzuga River

ISLAND KOLDUN (Magic Island) is a small-sized mysterious island on Lovozero on the Kola Peninsula, on which a whole series of events take place mysterious phenomena. The island is crescent-shaped, and the shore in this crescent is covered with surprisingly clean and high-quality sand. Bigfoot was observed several times on the Sorcerer, a poltergeist was “registered” in one hut, and other inexplicable events were observed. There is probably also an anomalous zone on the island.
One of the eyewitnesses who encountered the inexplicable on the island was doctor V. Strukov, who, after graduating from the academy in 1975, went to serve in the air unit in Severomorsk. In the winter of 1976/77, he and his friends and colleagues went fishing. This is how he describes the story that happened: “I had to witness very strange, almost tragic events on Lovozero, on the sacred island of the Sorcerer. It was necessary to swim about 40 kilometers to the island. We went on 4 boats, but one engine immediately broke down, and for some reason the specialist mechanic was unable to fix the breakdown. We replaced the motor with a new one, but after 5-10 kilometers another one breaks down... I had to go back. They say - take a local Lapp and his motor with you. We take a very drunk Lapp and his ancient engine. Since I performed the duties of a doctor, I sat next to our guide and very often, at his request (when the engine began to stall), poured him pure alcohol. For this he told me the legend about this island and lake. According to him, the island serves everyone local residents shelter and saves you from starvation: huge pine trees grow there, a lot of mushrooms, berries and fish (there is even trout). Here you won’t die of hunger and cold - but you can’t take anything with you from there...
We caught red fish there - brown trout, trout, whitefish, picked mushrooms and berries and had a friendly dinner. It was a pleasant, clear, warm evening. We got ready to head back. This is where it all started. A real hurricane has arisen, you can’t see a thing. One engine stalled. They began to sink, the wave was already covering the side. We moved from a stalled boat, it turned out to be overloaded - even worse. I had already decided that no one would survive. And then our Lapp ordered everything caught and collected to be thrown overboard. We carried out the order, but the hurricane kept getting stronger. We tried to scoop out water with empty containers, but it was practically useless: it was too high wave. There was no point in rowing either - you can’t see anything two meters away... Here the Lapp says that not everything was thrown away, so look. One colonel found in his pocket a pebble the size of a pigeon's egg, transparent, beautiful, smooth - he picked it up on the shore, put it in his pocket and forgot. This pebble was immediately thrown overboard. We all expected a miracle from this stone - and literally after 10-15 seconds everything became quiet, absolute calm set in, the sky began to shine, and we sat wet to the skin in half-submerged boats and were afraid to look each other in the eyes... ["Science and Religion" ", 1998, No. 8, p. 39].
Directions to Koldun:
by train (direction "Moscow - Murmansk") to Olenegorsk; then by bus and motor boat according to Lovozero. Only with a local guide and an accompanying person from Kosmopoisk! There is a map of the area in Cosmopoisk.

PETROGLYPHS (from the Greek petros - “stone”, glyphe - “carving”, “Drawing on a stone”) - rock carvings, most often images of animals, birds, fish, boats, people carved on a vertical or horizontal glacier-smoothed surface of coastal rocks , fantastic and incomprehensible signs. Behind every drawing or every detail of a drawing lies a deep meaning; these symbols, before appearing on the rocks, had to appear in the minds of people.
The figures on the surface of the rock are carved in different ways: some are deep (to a depth of 2-3 mm) and roughly, their edges are uneven, with numerous notches. Others are carved with strong, but less frequent blows, so that areas with an untouched surface remain. In some deep drawings, the entire surface of the silhouette is carefully smoothed. The images are most often static, but in some cases there are attempts to convey movement. The sizes are most often 20-50 cm, but sometimes up to 3 m.
The drawings are located in very beautiful places and as if on the border of three worlds: water, air and earth. Drawing and communicating with them was an integral part of some important religious rites and ceremonies. Probably, rock paintings are a kind of iconostasis, in which the understanding of the world by primitive people is captured in mythological form. Perhaps on rock paintings or near them magical actions, spells and sacrifices were performed.

waterfall on the Arenga river

NORTH FAILURE - a hypothetical supergiant meteorite crater. By examining the shapes and sizes of two geological formations that are opposite on the globe (the Arctic Ocean and Antarctica), scientists discovered that their contours are almost identical, and it was suggested that the Arctic Ocean is a giant meteorite crater. Perhaps the asteroid, having crashed near the North Pole, pushed through the earth's crust.

SEYDS are ritual man-made tours-idols, made of stones or, less commonly, of wood. The Seid cult was common to all of Lapland, one of the main features of the Lapp religion. Seid (seyde, sow, sayvo) means sacred stone in Sami. The Lapp word "seid" means "deity"; this is what they called natural “things” that became objects of worship; they claim that seids by nature, so to speak, are evil, so they must be appeased. According to some Sami beliefs, man-made seids were inhabited by the souls of the dead, and these souls do not like it when anyone disturbs their peace.
Seids are installed on gentle rocky slopes, from which the sea and fishing and trapping areas are clearly visible. The seid could be a natural boulder or rock, or an artificial structure made of several stones.

TRADES AND LEGENDS OF THE KOLA PENINSULA
251. Anika
In the Kola Bay, about fifty miles from Kola, there is a tiny island called Anikiev. Between them and the mother, the salma is not too great. Tutotki is now a camp for people nicknamed Korabelnaya Guba.
Once upon a time there lived a hero named Anika. This Anika had a boat, and on the ship Anika traveled around the ocean. Who knows - why did he go there: it was probably not for a good deed. In the winters Anika went away somewhere, and in the summers he came to this island... And sometimes, he lived here. It wouldn’t be anything if Anika didn’t offend good people - otherwise, no: as soon as spring falls and fishing begins, Anika will be right here on the island, eating and waiting for the industrialists. See, he had it instituted that every industrial vessel, if it went home from the sea with cargo or somewhere in the camp, would turn to the island and give Anika the hero part of the fishery - so, “live well,” for no reason, no matter what. The Orthodox were disgraced, but what are you going to do with a villain? If you don’t give something good, he’ll take it by force, and if you give something, he won’t leave you alive. This custom continued for a long time and there was no trial or reprisal against Anika.
Once, at the usual time, industrialists went to the tees to fish. In the bustle and hassle, they did not even notice how a young boy approached them. Well, he came up and bowed respectfully to the helmsman and his comrades, bowed and then said:
“Take me with you to fish, comrades,” he says, “if you like, I’ll be your bait.”
The feedman looked at the guy, saw that the guy was unfamiliar, and then he said that they had a bait fish, a fun fisherman, and an angler fish for their tees, and that there was no point in taking an extra person, it would be crowded, you see. But the guy did not lag behind and rushed to the feeder.
“Well, if you’re hungry,” says the feedman, “let’s sit down, and with your blessing, we’ll go.”
So the tee left. God gave such a providence as has not happened for a long time. We loaded the plump tee with fish and went back. They are coming, and Anikiev Island is few and far between. According to custom, it was necessary to pester him to allocate a share to the hero Anika. Arriving at the island, the industrialists unloaded the fish ashore and began to process it, that is, cut off the heads, gut it, and so on. They entrusted this task to the hired guy. The matter was in full swing in his hands, to the surprise of all his comrades. After finishing with the fish, the guy took off his bags and asked the merrymaker to rinse them in the water. He soon returned and gave the bags; but the guy, looking at them, told the merrymaker that he had not squeezed enough water out of them, and immediately, having said this, he twisted the bags in his hands so that they burst. His comrades gasped in amazement at the sight of such terrible power and thought to themselves that this was no wonder, that their baiter was no ordinary person.
At that moment the hero Anika came ashore.
“Hey you,” he yelled, “bring over here what you have!”
- Eco guy, look what you wanted! - cried a young comrade of industrialists, turning to Anika. - I didn’t attack those people; go away kindly, or else...
- And what? ha ha ha! - Anika cackled. - You're such a joker. However, I see you don't know me. Go away yourself, otherwise I’ll crush you so hard that you won’t even be able to pick up any bones.
But the young man, as if not hearing Anika’s threats, approached him.
“Hey, brother,” shouted the hero, “yes, I see, you’re fresh: maybe you’re planning to fight with me.”
At that moment the young guy attacked the hero. Clutching hand with hand, intertwining their legs, the two opponents began a strange struggle, rolling like a wheel, rising from their feet to their heads and back to their feet again. They disappeared from the eyes of the astonished industrialists who were awaiting the outcome. Soon a mysterious young man came to them: his face expressed calm and importance.
- Thank God! - he said, turn to the industrialists. - Now your villain no longer exists; from now on, no one will dare to appropriate your crafts. God with you! Sorry.
Having said this, the young man disappeared. They now show a pile of stones on the island - this is the grave of a terrible hero.

253. "Owner" of the camp
There was one like this on Murman, he came in his own life, and as long as they didn’t profit from him, he didn’t allow anyone to profit. So it was a long time until one profiteer came to the fishery. And said:
- I won’t give him a single fish!
The owner of his ship and the other fishermen said:
- What you! He will kill us all.
- He won’t kill anyone, and I won’t give a single fish.
When he arrived, the profiteer refused to give him any fish. The profiteer returned him and fought him so hard that he asked:
- Let me down alive, I’ll never come again.
And so it was. Who the profiteer was and where he came from is unknown. The same profiteer who had the owner, he gave him some things to squeeze. The profiteer asked:
- How to squeeze, drier or wetter?
The owner said it was drier. He tore the mittens in two and handed them over. The owner was at him, but he just hit him on the head with a cookie, and he sat down. Since then, I haven’t forced him to squeeze out any mittens or anything.

village Kovda, Belomorye

255. Foreign giant
A giant came from some countries to Pechenga and took the first catch from the industrialists. And when he loads the ship with fish, his eyes are satisfied with wealth, then he allows them to hunt. And if someone doesn’t give him a catch, then he kills.
Once a small man came and began to ask to be a worker on a ship:
“I don’t need a salary, just food.”
I went around many ships, but no one wanted to take that wandering person. Finally, they hired him on one ship, and he turned out to be very understanding: whatever work they show, there is no need to show it another time.
Here the industrialists began to wait for the giant, afraid to catch one fish before him. So he came, and this man said to his master:
- Let me fight him!
Everyone was horrified, but he told the giant not to wait for fish this year and invited him to fight. He picked up the giant and threw him against a stone, so that he no longer moved either his leg or his arm.
- That's all your monster!
Then he told his master that his entire family would live not in wealth, but in satiety, wished all the industrialists a happy trade, got off the ship and went to Pechenga Bay.

Kolvice Lake, midnight, white nights

271. Sunken bells of the Kokkov Monastery
There was a rich monastery (Kokkov Monastery - N.K.). The brethren were thought to be more than three hundred people. Wealth - who knows how much. The monks did not know the count of them. What kind of utensils, what gold, semi-precious stones, and you can’t count them!.. Livestock, land - well, like Solovki...
The monastery stood there, and suddenly a rumor spread that the Swede was coming to attack it. The monks now drove the cattle into the mountains, buried all their treasures, threw the bells into the river and covered them with stones. And to this day, at the bottom of the Niva River, in Kuyk, the ears of a large bell can be seen... Then they began to pray to God. Wait and wait... The enemy comes - the liturgy was going on in the monastery. The Swede did not heed this. He killed all the monks. The priest comes out with gifts - his spear, the deacon too. Only they forgot to strangle one old man, so God gave him such strength that after that he alone buried all three hundred monks and himself on a filled-in grave. The Swedes burned the monastery and left...
And to this day, different things seem to happen here. On winter nights you can hear singing as if it were consonant and ancient. The old people say that there have been various visions here, but now is not the time, the righteous are not...
Because, you see, you have coffee on the table; But this is something that is shown in order to drink coffee... There is one book, it describes very well about coffee, what a sin it is and what a detriment it is for the soul... Well, there is also something about tobacco... Do you hang out in the bathhouse? ? Are you tailing yourself with a broom? Oh, boy, don’t give up and go ahead, because fornication also means a great sin before God - you please the flesh! Why not wash, and the Mother of God washed herself, this is in the book... it’s not sinful, it’s proper.

Lake Umbozero

296. British attacks on Pomeranian villages and the Solovetsky Monastery
Here - well, let it be a little over a hundred years old - an Englishwoman came in and began to ravage the local shore. I came here, and they ran all over the village, and about ten kilometers away they went to Prilutsk Ruchey. Thekla’s father had just been born, went there to be baptized and left.
Well, an Englishwoman came, and everyone who had a flintlock gun took it out, and the men went to the shore. And they lined up, and they rode off the ship in a boat, and the men shot at them several times, or else they didn’t shoot: they didn’t kill so much as they robbed, where was the cow, whatnot. Well, the boat started moving, our people fired, they bowed their heads, lowered the oars and went back to the ship; That's how much they ruined here!
And they came further, to Strelna - a small village, but like fog, it seemed to them that Big city, - they started shooting and firing. And then everyone ran away into the forests - well, an Englishwoman came in, made a noise, and so they all ran away. And they fired and fired. As the fog lifted, they saw a small village. The Englishwoman says (as if there was a woman there, and not a man): “Damn you, town, you burned all the powder!”
Well, then we went to Umba, where they stopped at the mouth. Previously, steamships also entered Umba at the mouth. There was a fire there; The men also gathered, who has a gun...
Then she went to the Solovetsky Monastery. On the eve of Kazanskaya she came and started firing.
(I myself was in a monastery, I was married three times - so the cannonballs there are the size of a human head; so there are fences there, and the cannonballs are collected in heaps. And where the cannonball fell, there is a black spot on the walls).
Well, no matter how much she fired and fired, she couldn’t break anything. And so many seagulls flew in like a cloud; and this ship is completely gone, and they left the monastery.
And they began to believe in these seagulls in the monastery, and they did not allow any of the pilgrims to offend the seagulls.
And she, an Englishwoman, began to pay tribute every year, until this time began, until this revolution; Every year she carried Dutch coal by steamship.
Somewhere, they said, she took a number of bulls and cows, but that was there, further, and here she couldn’t do anything.

303. Threshold on the Kovda River and the Swedes
Once upon a time<...>some people, probably Swedes, were making their way along the Kovda River for robbery from Finland<...>. These people had already come close to the village, but there was a man who saved his village from the plunder that lay ahead of him.
To get to the village, the Swedes had to go down the threshold, and this man undertook to be their guide. Enemy children<...>They got into the boat and quickly rushed down the river, when suddenly, completely unexpectedly for them, they were left to their own devices a few fathoms from the threshold. The resourceful guide left them at the most critical moment, quickly jumping out of the boat onto a coastal rock as it rounded the arched shore mentioned above. Before the enemies had time to recover from amazement and horror, they were carried into the threshold, where their inevitable death awaited.
<...>Forty mittens were thrown onto the shore, immediately beyond the threshold...


__________________________________________________________________________________________

SOURCE OF MATERIAL AND PHOTO:
Team Nomads
http://skazmurman.narod.ru/
Vasilyeva N. What a circus! // Evening Murmansk: newspaper. - Murmansk, 2011. - No. dated October 21, 2011.
Pekov I.V. Lovozero massif: history of research, pegmatites, minerals. - M., 2001. - P. 32.
http://www.lovozero.ru/
Mysteries of the Kola Peninsula
http://www.russiadiscovery.ru/
Wikipedia website
http://100chudes.rf/
http://www.photosight.ru/

In the northwestern part European Russia, on the Kola Peninsula is the Murmansk region, which also includes 11 islands: Bolshoy and Maly Ainov, Velikiy, Kildin, as well as the group of 7 islands, Bolshoy and Maly Zelentsy, Veshnyak, Kharlov, Kuvshin, Bolshoy and Maly Litsky. Washed in the north and east by the waters of the Barents and White Seas, it borders on the Republic of Karelia, as well as Finland and Norway. The region occupies the northeast of the Baltic Shield, which determines its relief. The northern part of the territory is a permafrost region, the subarctic climate of which softens warm current The Gulf Stream that creates suitable conditions for the tundra that reigns here. The western part of the region is represented by the Khibiny mountain ranges and the Lovozero tundra, the central part by the Keiva watershed ridge, and only the south of the region is more favorable for vegetation; this is a zone of forest-steppe turning into taiga. The climate of this part is moderately maritime.

Satellite map of the Murmansk region online

Once upon a time, the entire territory of the peninsula was a glacier, which, having retreated, left ditches on the ground that became river beds and lakes. Large rivers, the longest of which is the Ponoi, are the Varguza, Niva, Umba, Tuloma, etc. Largest lakes– Imandra, Vyalozero, Enozero, Lovozero, Kolvitskoye, Umbozero.

Maps of cities in the Murmansk region from satellite:

The administrative center of the region is Murmansk, the largest in the world polar city. The city of Apatity, built in connection with the discovery of apatite ores, serves as one of the centers of industry. Severomorsk, which hosts the naval base of the Northern Fleet, owes its foundation to the Monchegorsk nickel deposit, the city of Kandalaksha, famous for its nature reserve and ski competitions, and Olenegorsk are the major cities of the region.
Feature of the area for the most part located beyond the Arctic Circle, is polar night in winter and polar day in summer.
And local historical attractions will seem interesting even to the most experienced tourist: ancient Babylonian labyrinths and a tented temple - the heritage of the Pomors, cult stones of the Sami and their household items.
Not to mention the nature of the region, which is protected by the Lapland, Kandalaksha and Pasvik nature reserves.

There are many corners in our world where all the beauty and power of nature is especially clearly revealed. One of them is the Kola Peninsula. This amazing world snowy mountains and cleanest lakes, fast rivers and wide stone plateaus. Nature here is harsh and ascetic, but the masterpieces it creates surprise even experienced travelers. Hundreds of tourists come here every year. Many are just discovering this majestic region, but most are not visiting for the first time. Once you have been here, it is impossible to forget this place.

Kola Peninsula located in northwestern Russia beyond the Arctic Circle. This is an area of ​​almost 145 square meters. km. On both sides it is washed by the waters of the White and Barents seas. This is the Russian Arctic, the territory of the Murmansk region.

The capital of the district is Murmansk, big cities: Kandalaksha, Severomorsk, Apatity, Monchegorsk.

Nature

More recently, by geological standards, namely about 12 thousand years ago, the Kola Peninsula was completely covered by a glacier, which determined the features of the local topography. Its central part was occupied by a large plateau. The rivers, and here they are very deep, divided the territory into mountain ranges, which the locals call “tundra”.

An interesting feature of the mountains on the peninsula is their “table” shape. They are distinguished by almost vertical slopes and flat horizontal tops, reminiscent of a table.

In the tundra.

Story

The first people appeared in these territories about ten thousand years ago. These were the proto-Sami, the ancestors of the modern Sami. Their way of life and culture are so unusual that they contributed to the allocation of the lands inhabited by these people into a separate region called Lapland.

In the XIV century. The first Russian settlements of Kandalaksha, Umba and Varzuga appear on the peninsula. The old capital of the peninsula, Kola, played a special role in the development of the region.

At the beginning of the last century, a large number of minerals were found on the peninsula. Was built Railway, connecting central Russia with the Kola Bay. At the same time, Murmansk, a unique ice-free port on the Barents Sea, was founded. After the revolution, rapid development of the region began.

During the Great Patriotic War, there were fierce battles for the region, as a result of which it received significant destruction. After the war, industry and infrastructure were restored.

What to see and do on the Kola Peninsula

The Khibiny tundra is one of the attractions of the Kola region. A trip to the Kola Peninsula is worth undertaking just for these places. In addition to natural beauty, there are many unique corners. Among them is the Polar Alpine Botanical Garden. The world's northernmost garden of three located above the Arctic Circle.

Khibiny is ahead.

Khibiny - a paradise for lovers active rest. Alpine skiing, backcountry, snowboarding and ski mountaineering are not a complete list of those developed in these parts tourist destinations. Another mountain range attractive to travelers is the Lovozero tundra. In its center is Seydozero, which, together with the adjacent slopes and gorges of the mountains, forms the Seydyavr reserve. On the territory of the complex there are two unique natural formations– Raslak circuses. This place is very popular among tourists. In addition, the Lovozero tundra has been considered a special “place of power” for the Sami since ancient times.

Titovka River.

Water tourism is very common on the Kola Peninsula, which is understandable, since this is a land of rivers and lakes. The rivers here are of various types: mountain, lake, semi-plain and even canal rivers. There are often waterfalls and rapids formed by stones washed out of the glacier.

The peculiarity of local rivers is that their upper reaches are located at a short distance from each other. This makes it possible to climb one of them, and raft along the other and make exciting multi-kilometer journeys across almost the entire peninsula.

White Sea near Kandalaksha.

Travelers will be hospitably greeted by the ancient Pomeranian village of Varzuga, where the beautiful wooden Assumption Church has been preserved. Nearby is Cape Korabl, where four hundred years ago the monks of the Solovetsky Monastery discovered amethyst mining. Stone veins go straight to the surface, in sunny days The shore sparkles with crystals.

Ocean shore.

The ocean coast is completely different. The breath of the Arctic can be clearly felt here. All around are hills and chaotically scattered stones of the most bizarre sizes and shapes, brought here by the glacier. These are legendary places where several layers of human history are mixed: Paleolithic sites, ancient Sami temples, portages of Pomors and Vikings, ancient auctions. Traces of the Great Patriotic War are also visible here - trenches, fortified areas and bunkers, which the tundra vegetation cannot hide.

A special place is the Rybachy Peninsula, a real end of the earth. From here to the North Pole there is nothing else except the endless expanses of the Arctic Ocean.

Pillbox on Rybachy.

The Kola Peninsula is rich in nature reserves. There are a lot of them here: Kanozersky, tundra Murmansky, Pasvik, Kandalaksha and others. There are also about a dozen reserves here. Unique nature the edges have preserved many corners where almost no explorer has set foot. If you wish, you can see them with your own eyes - many travel companies offer trips to the reserves of the Kola Peninsula.

Local fishing leaves an unforgettable impression. On south coast Atlantic salmon is excellently caught, as well as grayling, brown trout, palia, whitefish and trout. Freshwater lakes are home to pike, bream, ide, whitefish and grayling. Sea fishing will delight you with navaga, salmon, cod, flounder and herring.

Extreme lovers can go diving. Undersea world cold seas are attracted by steep cliffs, unusual animals: seals, belugas, whales, northern dolphins, as well as “iron” left after the Second World War.

The water in the rivers and lakes of the Kola Peninsula is crystal clear.

Exciting tours to the Lovozero and Khibiny alkaline massifs, the Keivskoye Plateau and the White Sea coast have been created especially for mineralogists of various levels.

And those who want to see the North Pole can board the icebreaker and take a tour unforgettable cruise along the Arctic Ocean. The journey begins in Murmansk.

Most tourists come here in winter for alpine skiing. The center of alpine skiing is the city of Kirovsk, located at the foot of the Khibiny. In its vicinity there are the famous resorts “Northern Slope”, “Kolasportland”, “Kukisvumchorr”, “Khibiny-Snow Park” and others.

Alpine skiing is not everything winter activities. Fans of active recreation can go on a dog or reindeer sledding trip, a snowmobile safari or a mountain ski trip. And some travel hundreds of kilometers to admire the fantastic northern lights. Black sky as if it blooms with flashes of cold flame, which fancifully shimmer from cobalt green to crimson and violet tones. The Northern Lights are unpredictable. It can hang motionless in the night sky, stretching from horizon to horizon, or it can rapidly “rush” changing colors every second.