Journey to the Kola Peninsula.

In the northwestern part of European Russia, on the Kola Peninsula, the Murmansk region is located, which also includes 11 islands: Bolshoi and Maly Ainov, Veliky, Kildin, as well as the 7 islands that make up the group Bolshoi and Maly Zelentsy, Veshnyak, Kharlov, Kuvshin, Bolshoi and Maly Litsky. Washing in the north and east by the waters of the Barents and White Sea, borders with the Republic of Karelia, as well as Finland and Norway. The region occupies the northeast of the Baltic Shield, which determined its relief. Northern part The territory is a region of permafrost, the subarctic climate of which is softened by the warm current of the Gulf Stream, which creates suitable conditions for the tundra that reigns here. West Side The region is represented by the Khibiny mountain ranges and the Lovozero tundra, the central one is 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 temperate maritime.

Map Murmansk region satellite online

Once the entire territory of the peninsula was a glacier, which, retreating, left ditches on the ground, which became riverbeds and lakes. Large rivers, the longest of which is Ponoy, are Varguza, Niva, Umba, Tuloma, etc. Largest lakes- Imandra, Vyalozero, Enozero, Lovozero, Kolvitskoye, Umbozero.

Maps of the cities of the Murmansk region from the satellite:

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

The Kola Peninsula (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 fish are called by the Mari, Finns, Karelians, etc.
The area is about 100 thousand km².
In the western part are located (height up to 1200 m) and Lovozero tundra (height up to 1120 m). In the north - tundra vegetation, south of the forest-tundra and taiga.

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

The Kola Peninsula occupies a little less than 70% of the area of ​​the Murmansk region. The western border of the Kola Peninsula is defined by the meridional depression, which runs from the Kola Bay along the Kola River, Lake Imandra, the Niva River to the Kandalaksha Bay.

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

Geographical position
The Kola Peninsula is located in the far north of Russia. Almost the entire territory is located beyond the Arctic Circle.
In the north it is washed by the waters of the Barents Sea, in the south and east by the waters of the White Sea. The western boundary of the Kola Peninsula is the meridional depression, which runs from the Kola Bay along the valley of the Kola River, Lake Imandra and the Niva River to the 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 January-February temperatures range from minus 8 °C in the northwest of the peninsula to minus 14 °C in the center; July, respectively, from 8 °C to 14 °C. Snow falls in October and completely disappears only by mid-late May (in mountainous areas early to mid June). Frosts and snowfall are possible in summer period. Frequent on the coast strong winds(up to 45-55 m / s), in winter - prolonged snowstorms.

Hydrology
There are many rivers flowing along the Kola Peninsula: Ponoy (the most long river on the peninsula), Tuloma (the most full-flowing river of 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 relief, the territory reaches greatest heights. There are separate mountain ranges with flat tops, separated by depressions: Monchetundra, Khibiny and Lovozero tundra. Their heights reach 900-1000 m. The eastern half of the Kola Peninsula is characterized by a calmer undulating relief with prevailing heights of 150–250 m. Among the undulating plain rises the Keiva ridge (397 m), consisting of separate chains stretched from northwest to southeast along the central part of the peninsula.
The Kola Peninsula occupies eastern part Baltic crystalline shield, in the geological structure of which thick strata of the Archean and Proterozoic take part. The Archaean is represented by highly metamorphosed and intensely dislocated gneisses and granites, in places cut through by pegmatite bodies. Proterozoic deposits are more diverse in composition—quartzites, crystalline schists, sandstones, marbles, and partly gneisses interbedded with greenstone rocks.

Minerals
In terms of the variety of mineral species, the Kola Peninsula has no analogues in the world. About 1000 minerals have been 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, construction and jewelry and ornamental stones (amazonite, amethyst, chrysolite, garnet, jasper, iolite, etc.), ceramic pegmatites, mica (muscovite, phlogopite and vermiculite - the world's largest reserves).
In 1970, the Kola super-deep well was laid 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 mountain ranges of the peninsula rise above sea level by more than 800 meters. 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 char, whitefish, trout, grayling, pike, etc. In the seas washing the peninsula, cod, flounder, halibut, capelin, herring, crab, and sea kale abound.

on the Kola Peninsula. The geological age is about 350 million years. The peaks are plateau-like, the slopes are steep with individual snowfields. At the same time, not a single glacier was found in the Khibiny. 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

LOVOZERA 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 Angvundaschorr. 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 region 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, collection minerals have been discovered within the massif.
In the center of the massif is Seidozero, which, together with the adjacent gorges and mountain slopes, forms the Seidyavvr (Seydyavr) reserve. Not on the territory of the reserve are Raslak cirques - two geological formations, which are round bowls of glacial origin several kilometers in diameter with walls up to 250 meters high.
The mountain range of the Lovozero tundra has long been considered the "place of power" of the ancient Sami (Lapps). The ancient Saami seids found in these places have a high cultural and ethnographic value. Due to its unusual appearance Raslak's circuses have also been the subject of Sami tales and legends since ancient times, among them is the legend that these 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 ufology craze, the opinion arose that these circuses could be landing sites for alien spaceships.

Kola Bay, city of Murmansk

KOLA BAY
The Kola Bay is a narrow bay-fjord 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 features of the geomorphological structure, is divided into three parts (tribes): northern, middle, and southern. The first leg stretched from the mouth to Shurupov Island and the Srednaya Bay, the second leg stretched from the Srednaya Bay to Capes Mishukov and Pinagoria (the narrowest point of the lip is located at Cape Velikiy), the third leg goes south for 9 miles and has a width of 400 to 800 sazhens (the narrowest place in this knee is at Abram-Pakhta).

The western coast is rocky steep, the eastern one is relatively gentle. Two major rivers Kola Peninsula: Tuloma and Kola. The tides are semi-diurnal, up to 4 meters high. On the eastern shore of the bay there are ice-free ports of Murmansk and Severomorsk, on the western coast - the port of Polyarny. In 2005, a road bridge was opened across the bay.

KANDALAKSHSKAYA GAY
Kandalaksha Bay (Kandalaksky Bay, Karelian Kandalakši, Kandalahti - lit. "Bay of the Kanda River") - one of the four largest bays the White Sea, along with the Dvina Bay, the Onega Bay and the Mezen Bay. Located in the Murmansk region and the Republic of Karelia in the northwest of Russia. washes South coast Kola Peninsula.
There are hundreds of small skerry-type islands in the bay. The depth at the western tip 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 of diving ducks and mergansers and stopping of migratory birds. The Kandalaksha nature reserve is located in the water area of ​​the bay.
The city of Kandalaksha is located at the northwestern end of the bay on the shore of the Lupchi Bay.
The largest islands of the bay are Ryashkov, Oleniy, Volei, Veliky, Sidorov, Keret and Pezhostrov.

Lake Pai-Kunyavr Kola Peninsula

TOURIST OBJECTS OF THE KOLA PENINSULA
BOLSHAYA AND KOLVITSA, rivers in the Murmansk region. The large river (about 100 km long) flows out of B. Saigozero and flows into Lake Kolvitskoe. (area 121 sq. km), from which the Kolvitsa originates (length 12 km), which flows into the Kandalaksha Hall. Bely m. Wed. water consumption in Kolvitsa in summer is 25-40 m3/s. Along the banks of the rivers there are pine and mixed forests. At the mouth of the Kolvitsa - the village. Kolvitsa.
Both rivers are available for rafting from the middle of 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 the Kandalaksha Bay to the town of Kandalaksha (30 km). In the riverbed Large - stretch, rapids dl. 1-1.5 km (difficult to overcome by wiring in dry years), shallow rapids (below Lake Verkhnee). On the lake Kolvitskoye has many small rocky islands. In the channel of Kolvitsa - rapids, two waterfalls high. 3 and 6 m. Rafting on kayaks, along the river. Big - 2 COP, along the river. Kolvitsa - 4 KS.

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

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

Lake Imandra Kola Peninsula

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

"KINERIM", shelter of TG "Tuloma" in the Murmansk region, 32 km from the village. Tuloma. House for 30 people, kitchen. Accommodation of tourists of 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 the Khibiny, on Lake. B. Woodyavr; railroad Art. 43.5 thousand inhabitants The history of K. is associated with the name of Acad. A.E. Fersman, under the leadership and with the participation of whom in the 1920s. in Khibiny, apatite-nepheline deposits were discovered. In modern K .: extraction and enrichment of apatite-nepheline ores (PA "Apatit"). House-Museum of Kirov (in the house where in 1929, under his leadership, a plan was developed for the development of the apatite deposit). Mineralogical and 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 many others. hiking and skiing routes in the Khibiny and Lovozero Tundras. (p. 294)

"LAPLAND", tour. hotel (II) in the Murmansk region, in the city of Monchegorsk. Created in 1972. 9-storey building for 333 people (rooms for 2 and 3 people); tour. office, rental. Servicing tourists of linear and radial routes; hiking in the Khibiny, water - on the lake. Imandra, skiing(there are lifts); city ​​tours, to Kirovsk. Shelter "Khibiny tundra". (p. 322)

LOVOZERO, a lake on the Kola Peninsula, in the 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 cut; OK. 140 wooded islands. Fall rr. Sergevan, Kurga, Afanasia, Tsaga, Sarah. River flows out. Voronya, flowing into the Barents m.; With the construction of the Serebryanskaya hydroelectric power station on it in 1970, L. was turned into a reservoir. Connected river. Seydiok with Seydozer, having preim. rocky shores. On L. - s. Lovozero.
The most favorable time for water T. 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 system of Lenyavr lakes, from where it is dragged (9-12 km) to the Porosozer or Kelmozer system: then you can raft along the rapids river. Iokanga (200 km), which flows into the Barents Sea (14-16 days, 4 KS).

2) Up the river. Athanasius (40 km), then dragged dl. 6 km to the river. Koyniyok and rafting along it and the river. Ponoi (200 km), flowing into the Barents Cape. The last 100 km of Ponoi are rapids (18-20 days, 3 CS). 3) Up the river. Tsaga (45 km), then dragging dl. 4 km to the river. Pan and rafting along it and the river. Varzuga (180 km), which flows into the Beloye m. (14-16 days, 2 KS). For the tourist are interesting: waterfall vys. 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 they dragged dl. 4 km to Punchozero, from which a winding and rocky river flows. Puncha (12 km), flowing into Umbozero. In the riverbed Sarah has some difficult climbing rapids (5-7 days, 2 CS).

Barencevo sea

MURMANSK (until 1917 Romanov-on-Murman), a city, the center of the Murmansk region, an ice-free port on the Kola Bay. Barents m.; railroad Art. 468 thousand inhabitants Main in 1916 in connection with the construction of the Murmansk railway. and the creation of a port. In 1918-20 it was occupied by the troops of the Entente and the 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 Fatherland. During the 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. The base of the trawl herring and receiving-transp. fleets. M. - the starting point of the North. sea way. 2 universities. 3 theatres. Local History. and Voen.-mor. museum of Sev. 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, soldiers-builders, Severomorians, port workers, etc.

"ROSSOMAHA", shelter of TG "Tuloma" in the Murmansk region, 14 km from the shelter "Viim" and 29 km from the village. Tuloma. House for 30 people. Accommodation of tourists of 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 people (rooms for 2-5 people); tour. office, rental. Servicing 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 Length 123 km, avg. water discharge at the mouth is 78.2 cubic meters per second (twice as much in July). It flows out of the Umbozero, flows through the Cabbage Lakes, Kanozero, flows into the Beloye m. Along the banks of the U. and Umbozero there are coniferous and mixed forests; in the bottom flow - population. points Pogost, Umba, Lesnoy.
Available for rafting from the middle of June to the end of August from the source to the village. Graveyard. The length of the rafting section is approx. 108 km, rafting duration 57 days. There are many rapids in the channel, the most difficult are "Padun" and "Kanozersky" (carry-over). Rafting on kayaks (3 COP). 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 sowing parts of Umbozero fall from st. Kuna along channels and lakes with partial portages. Possible portage dl. 7 km from the upper river. Kitsa, which flows into the south. part of Umbozero, up to the river. Pan and further rafting along it and the river. Varzuga.

"69th PARALLEL" tour. hotel (II) in Murmansk. Created in 1973. 5-storey building for 246 people (rooms for 2 and 3 people); tour. office, chairlift. Servicing tourists of linear and radial routes and foreigners. tourists; Hiking, ski trips, skiing, city tours, to Kola, Monchegorsk. Shelter "Zapolyarny". (p. 524)

HYPERBOREA - 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 often went in a chariot drawn by swans. The inhabitants of the country - the Hyperboreans, as well as the Ethiopians, feaks, lotophages, were among the peoples close to the gods and loved by them. Usually Hyperborea is associated with the northern country - Russia, and Hyperborea - with the Slavs and Russians. Although the description of a society ideal in all respects allows us to say that, perhaps, in the legends about Hyperborea we are talking about some now unknown country or even about a forgotten area or mainland, which makes these legends related to the stories about Belovodye and Arctida (see).
Due to the uncertainty of the "status" of Hyperborea, it is very difficult to talk about its even approximate location. Various researchers are engaged in theoretical research in this area, and searches on the spot are mainly carried out by the Hyperborea expedition led by V.N. Demin, who is assisted by various groups, including those belonging to the Kosmopoisk association.

Rybachy Peninsula

NORTH LABYRINTHS (Babylons) - ancient artificial structures made of stones laid out in the form of concentric spiral paths along the shores of the Barents, White and Baltic Seas. Their total number in Russia reaches about 500 pieces, their diameter is from 5 to 30 m. The locals call labyrinths "Babylons". Labyrinths are located, as a rule, on islands, peninsulas or in the mouths of rivers, they are found singly or in groups (as on the Solovetsky Islands). Sometimes heaps of stones or walls of boulders are located next to the labyrinths.
Some labyrinths found parking ancient man dated to the end of the first millennium BC. Labyrinths were built, apparently, not only by the Sami, but also by some earlier tribal groups (as in the area of ​​​​the village of Keret on the Krasnaya Luda peninsula).
Who and why built the labyrinths is unknown. The Saami believed that the 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 not come to a consensus on the purpose of the labyrinths. Several hypotheses have been put forward:
1) "A place of entertainment and cult round dances." It is really convenient to walk along the stone walls, but it is not clear how the long round dance should move when the first one 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 allegedly could predict the exact number of days in the current year, the date of the onset of spring, eclipse, etc. One way or another, but the 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 the labyrinths with the fishing structures of the "venter" or "hidden" type, which were used in the middle of the 20th century, some scientists suggested that the labyrinths served for magical rites to provide marine fisheries.
5) "Traps for fish". It has been suggested that at low tides, bottom fish did not have time to find a way out of the labyrinths and remained lying on stony 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 the 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 of the versions is true - there are still disputes among local historians and historians about this. By analogy with the ancient labyrinths, similar structures are sometimes built in our time (one of the remake labyrinths is on Arkaim, the second is on the Medveditskaya ridge). One way or another, but for tourists traveling to the northern Russian regions, labyrinths are one of their favorite places.

lake in the Kunijoka river valley

ICE NORTHERN DAM

MEGALITHES - presumably places of worship from huge unprocessed or semi-processed stone blocks, installed and stacked in a special order and geographically located mainly in the Caucasus and in Western Europe as well as in the Mediterranean. They are divided into dolmens, cromlechs and menhirs (see "Mengirs"). The mystery of the origin of megaliths has long been of concern to mankind.

LAKE SVETLOE (Kola) - a body of water in the center of the Kola Peninsula, according to local residents, the alleged residence of snow people. real facts"for" not so much. Among the latest cases is the real find of Pavel Yuryevich 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 Bigfoot. The hair was submitted for examination.

Varzuga river

KOLDUN ISLAND (Magic Island) is a small mysterious island on Lovozero on the Kola Peninsula, where a number of mysterious phenomena take place. The island has the shape of a crescent, and the coast in this sickle is covered with amazingly clean and high-quality sand. Observed several times on Koldun Bigfoot, a poltergeist is "registered" in one hut, other inexplicable events are observed. The island probably also contains an anomalous zone.
One of the eyewitnesses who encountered the inexplicable on the island was the doctor V. Strukov, who, after graduating from the academy in 1975, ended up serving in the air unit in Severomorsk. In the winter of 1976/77, he went fishing with friends and colleagues. 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 Koldun. We had to swim about 40 kilometers to the island. We went on 4 boats, but one motor broke down right away, and for some reason the mechanic specialist could not fix the breakdown. I eat a very drunk Lapp and his ancient motor. Since I performed the duties of a doctor, I sat next to our guide and very often, at his request (when the motor began to stall), poured pure alcohol for him. For this he told me the legend about this island and lake. According to him, the island serves everyone local residents shelter and saves from starvation: huge pine trees grow there, a lot of mushrooms, berries and fish (there is even trout). You won’t die of hunger and cold here - but you can’t take anything with you from there ...
We caught red fish there - brown trout, trout, whitefish, gathered mushrooms and berries and dined together. It was a pleasant, clear, warm evening. We got together on the way back. This is where it all started. A real hurricane has risen, not a single sight is visible. One motor stalled. They began to sink, the wave was already covering the board. They moved from a stalled boat, it turned out to be an overload - even worse. I have already decided that no one will survive. And then our Lapp ordered to throw everything caught and collected overboard. We carried out the order, but the hurricane was getting stronger. We tried to bail out water with an empty container, but it was practically useless: the wave was too high. There was no point in rowing either - nothing could be seen two meters away ... Then the Lapp says that not everything, they say, was thrown away - look. One colonel found in his pocket a pebble the size of a pigeon's egg, transparent, beautiful, even - he picked it up on the shore, put it in his pocket and forgot it. Immediately, this pebble was thrown overboard. We all expected a miracle from this stone - and literally in 10-15 seconds everything calmed down, an absolute calm set in, the sky shone, and we sat wet to the skin in half-flooded boats and were afraid to look into each other's eyes "... [" Science and Religion ", 1998, No. 8, p. 39].
How to get to Koldun:
by train (direction "Moscow - Murmansk") to Olenegorsk; further by bus and by motorboat along Lovozero. Only with a local guide and an escort 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 - carved on a vertical or horizontal surface of coastal rocks smoothed by a glacier, images of animals, birds, fish, boats, people, fantastic and incomprehensible signs. Behind every drawing or behind every detail of a drawing lies a deep meaning, these symbols, before appearing on the rocks, should have appeared 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 of the deep drawings, the entire surface of the silhouette is carefully smoothed. 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 arranged in a very beautiful places and, as it were, on the border of three worlds: water, air and earth. Drawing drawings and communicating with them was an integral part of some important religious rites and ceremonies. Probably, rock carvings are a kind of iconostasis, in which the understanding of the world is captured in mythological form. primitive people. It is possible that magical actions, spells and sacrifices were performed on the rock carvings or next to them.

waterfall on the Arenga river

NORTHERN DISSOLVE - a hypothetical supergiant meteorite crater. Exploring the shapes and sizes of two opposite geological formations on the globe (the Arctic Ocean and Antarctica), scientists found that their contours are almost identical, and it was assumed that the Arctic Ocean is a giant meteorite crater. Perhaps the asteroid, crashing into the North Pole, and pushed through the earth's crust.

SEID - ritual man-made tours-idols, made of stones or less often - of wood. The cult of seids was common to all Lapland, one of the main features of the Lappish religion. Seid (seide, seyte, saivo) in Sami means a sacred stone. The Lopar word "seid" means "deity"; so they called natural "things" that became the object of worship, they say that seids by their nature, so to speak, are evil, so they need to be appeased. According to some beliefs of the Saami, the souls of the dead moved into man-made seids, and these souls do not like it when someone disturbs their peace.
The seids are set on gentle rocky slopes, from which the sea and places of fishing and hunting are clearly visible. The seid could be a natural boulder or rock, or artificial structure from several stones.

LEGENDS AND LEGENDS OF THE KOLA PENINSULA
251. Anika
In the Kola Bay, about fifty versts from Kola, there is a tiny island of Anikiev. Between them and mother salma, not too big. Tutotki is now a camp for people, nicknamed Ship's Lip.
Once upon a time there lived and was a hero Anika. This Anika had a boat, and on the ship Anika rode around the sea-okiyanu. Who knows - why he went there for the sake of it: go not for a good deed. In the winters, Anika went away somewhere, and in the summers he came to this island ... But he happens to be here, and he lived here. It would be something if Anika didn’t offend good people - otherwise, no: as spring falls and crafts begin, Anika is already right here on the island walking on it and waiting for the industrialists. You see, it was arranged with him that every industrial ship, if it goes from the sea with a load home or somewhere to the camp, it would turn to the island and give part of the fishing to Anika the hero - so, “live healthy”, no worries, nothing more. The Orthodox have been dishonored, but why are you going to do something with a villain? Don’t give back kindly, he’ll take it by force, and if anything, he won’t leave him alive. For a long time this custom was carried on and there was no trial or reprisal against Anika.
Once, at the usual time, the industrialists went to the tees to fish. In the hustle and bustle, they did not even notice how a young boy approached them. Well, he came up and bowed respectfully to the feeder and his comrades, bowed and then said:
- Take me, comrades, with you to fish, I, - he says, - will be your bait if you like.
The feeder looked at the guy, he sees that the guy is unfamiliar, then he says that they have bait, and a rower, and an angler for their tees, that it’s not worth taking an extra person, it’s crowded, you see, you’ll be. But the guy did not lag behind and ended up with the feeder.
- Well, if you are hungry, - says the feeder, - let's sit down, yes, blessing, and let's go.
Here comes the trio. God gave such a craft, which has not happened for a long time. We loaded a full tee with fish and drove back. They go, - and Anikiev Island is not enough. According to custom, it was necessary to stick to him to allocate a share to the hero Anika. Arriving at the island, the industrialists unloaded the fish ashore and began to make it, that is, cut off heads, gut, and so on. They entrusted this occupation to the taken guy. The case boiled in his hands to the surprise of all his comrades. Having dressed up with the fish, the guy took off his váchego and asked the oarsman to rinse them in the water. He soon returned and handed over the váchegi; but the lad, looking at them, told the rower that he did not squeeze the water out of them, and immediately, having said this, he twisted the waggons in his hands so that they burst. His comrades gasped in amazement at the sight of such a terrible force and thought to themselves that this was not for nothing, that their bait was not an ordinary person.
At that moment, the hero Anika appeared on the shore.
- Hey you, - he yelled, - give it here, what do you have there! ..
- Eco guy, you see what you want! cried a young comrade of industrialists, turning to Anika. - Not attacked such; leave well, or else ...
- And what? ha ha ha! Anika chuckled. - You're such a joker. However, I see you don't know me. Go away yourself, otherwise I'll thrash you so hard that you won't even pick up the bones.
But the young man, as if not hearing Anika's threats, approached him.
“Hey, brother,” the hero shouted, “yes, I see you are fierce: didn’t you plan to fight with me.
At that moment, the young guy attacked the hero. Clutching hand and hand, intertwining their legs, the two opponents began a strange struggle, rolling like a wheel, getting up on their heads and back on their feet. They disappeared from the eyes of the astonished industrialists, who were waiting for a denouement. Soon a mysterious young man came to them: calmness and importance were expressed on his face.
- 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. Now they show a bunch of stones on the island - this is the grave of a terrible hero.

253. "Master" camp
There was one like that on Murman, he came on his own line, and until he was hunted, he did not allow anyone to hunt. So it was a long time, until one baiter came to the fishery. And said:
- I won't give him a single fish!
The owner of his ship and the rest of the fishermen said:
- What you! He will kill us all.
“He won’t kill anyone, and I won’t give a single fish.
When he came, the baiter refused to give the fish. The one on him - the baiter returned him, overcame him so much that he asked:
Let me go alive, I'll never come again.
And so it was. Who was the baiter and where - is unknown. The same baiter that the owner had, he gave him the váchegi to pinch. The baiter asked:
- How to pinch, dry or wet?
The owner said drier. He tore the mittens in two and handed them over. The owner was on him, and he only slammed him on the head with a cookie, and he sat down. Since then, I didn’t force him to squeeze out any mittens, nothing.

settlement Kovda, White Sea

255. Foreign giant
A giant came to Pechenga from some countries, took away the first catch from the industrialists. And when he loads the ship with fish, his eyes are saturated with wealth, then he allows them to trade. And who, if he does not give a catch, then killed.
Once a small man came, he began to ask the workers to come to court:
- I don't need a salary, but only to feed.
I went around many ships, but no one wanted to take that vagrant person. Finally, they took one ship, and he turned out to be very understanding: no matter what work they show, you don’t need to show it another time.
Here the industrialists began to wait for the giant, they are afraid to catch one fish before him. So he came, and this man says to his master:
Let me fight him!
Everyone was horrified, but he told the giant not to wait for the fish this year, and invited him to fight. He lifted the giant and threw him on a stone, that he did not move his foot or hand anymore.
- That's all your monster!
Then he told his master that his whole family would live not in wealth, but in satiety, wished all the industrialists to live happily, went down from the ship and went to the Pechenga Bay.

Kolvitsky lake, midnight, white nights

271. Sunken bells of Kokkov monastery
There was a rich monastery (Kokkov Monastery. - N.K.). The brethren counted more than three hundred people. Wealth - knows how much. The monks did not know how to count them. What are these utensils, what is gold, semi-precious stone, and you can’t count them! .. Cattle, land - well, like none of Solovki ...
There was this, there was a monastery - and suddenly there was a rumor that the Swede was going to her. The monks have now driven their cattle into the mountains, buried all their treasures, thrown the bells into the river and covered them with stones. And until now, at the bottom of the Niva River, in Kuyka, one can see the ears of a large bell ... Then they began to pray to God. Wait, wait... The enemy comes - the liturgy was going on in the monastery. The Swede didn't get it. He killed all the monks. The priest comes out with gifts - his horn, the deacon too. Only they forgot to strangle one elder, so the Lord gave him such strength that after that he alone buried all three hundred monks and himself numbered on the covered grave. The Swedes burned the monastery and went home ...
And it still seems to be different. On winter nights, you can hear exactly singing, such a consonant, but ancient. The old people say that there were different visions here, but the time is not like that now, the righteous are not ...
Because, you see, you have coffee on the table; and somehow it is shown to drink coffee ... There is one book, it describes very well about coffee, what a sin it is and what harm it is to the soul ... Well, there is also about tobacco ... Do you tail in the bathhouse? Do you tail with a broom? Oh, boy, don’t tail and go ahead, because fornication means a great sin before God - you please the flesh! Why not wash yourself, and the Mother of God washed herself out, there is this in the book ... it's not a sin, it's appropriate.

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, began to ruin the local coast. I came here, and they ran all over the village, and they left for ten kilometers, they left for Prilutsk Ruchey. Fyokla's father was just born, they went there to be baptized and left.
Well, the Englishwoman came, and everyone who had any kind of flintlock gun got it, and the peasants went to the shore. And they lined up, and they went in a boat from the steamer, and the peasants shot at them several times, otherwise they didn’t shoot: they didn’t kill so much as robbed, where the cow, what else. Well, the boat went, ours fired, they bowed their heads, lowered their oars and went back to the ship; they ruined so much here!
And they came further, to Strelna - a small village, but like fog, it seems to them that Big city, - they began to shoot, shoot. And there everyone ran away into the forests, - well, an Englishwoman came in, shivered, and so they all ran away. And they fired and fired. As the fog rolled in, they see - a small village. The Englishwoman says (and as if the woman was there, not the man): "Damn you, the town, burned all the powder!"
Well, then they went to Umba, there they began at the mouth. Formerly, steamboats also entered the mouth of the Umba. It burned there; men also gathered, who has a gun ...
Then she went to the Solovetsky Monastery. On the eve of Kazanskaya came and began to shoot.
(I myself was in the monastery, I was fired three times - so the cores there are the size of a human head; so the fences are there, and the cores are collected in heaps. And as far as the core fell, there is a black spot in the walls).
Well, how much she fired and fired, she could not break anything. And so many seagulls flew in, like a cloud; and this ship is ..... and completely, and they left the monastery.
And so 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 these times began, until this overturn; every year she carried Dutch coal on the steamer.
Somewhere, they said, she took some bulls and cows, but it was there, further, but here she could not do anything.

303. Rapid on the river Kovda and the Swedes
Long time ago<...>some people made their way along the Kovda River to plunder from Finland, must be Swedes<...>. These people had already come close to the village, but a man was found who saved his village from the looting that was coming to 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 a 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 the coastal rock, when it was rounding the above-mentioned arcuate shore. The enemies had not yet had time to recover from amazement and horror, as they were carried away to the threshold, where their inevitable death awaited.
<...>on the shore, immediately beyond the threshold, forty mittens were thrown ...


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SOURCE OF MATERIAL AND PHOTO:
Team Nomads
http://skazmurman.narod.ru/
Vasilyeva N. This is a circus! // Evening Murmansk: newspaper. - Murmansk, 2011. - No. October 21, 2011.
Pekov IV Lovozersky massif: history of research, pegmatites, minerals. - M., 2001. - S. 32.
http://www.lovozero.ru/
Mysteries of the Kola Peninsula
http://www.russiadiscovery.ru/
Wikipedia site
http://100chudes.rf/
http://www.photosight.ru/

In our world there are many corners where all the beauty and power of nature is most clearly revealed. One of them is the Kola Peninsula. This wonderful world snow-capped mountains and pristine lakes, fast rivers and wide stone plateaus. Nature here is harsh and ascetic, but the masterpieces created by it surprise even sophisticated travelers. Hundreds of tourists come here every year. Many are just discovering this majestic region, but most of them are not traveling for the first time. Once having been here, it is impossible to forget this place.

Kola Peninsula located in the north-west of Russia beyond the Arctic Circle. This is an area of ​​almost 145 square meters. km. From two 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 of 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 with a glacier, which determined the features of the local relief. Its central part was occupied by a large plateau. 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" form. They are distinguished by almost vertical slopes and flat, horizontal tops resembling a table.

In the tundra

Story

The first people in these territories appeared about ten thousand years ago. They 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 area called Lapland.

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

At the beginning of the last century, a large number of minerals were found on the territory of the peninsula. Was built Railway, connecting central Russia with the Kola Bay. At the same time, Murmansk, a unique non-freezing port on the Barents Sea, was laid down. After the revolution, the rapid development of the region begins.

During the years of 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 rebuilt.

What to see and do on the Kola Peninsula

The Khibiny tundra is one of the sights of the Kola. A trip to the Kola Peninsula is worth starting just for the sake of these places. Apart from natural beauties there are many unique corners. Among them is the Polar Alpine Botanical Garden. The world's northernmost garden of the three located above the Arctic Circle.

Khibiny ahead.

Khibiny is a paradise for lovers active rest. Alpine skiing, backcountry, snowboarding and ski mountaineering are far from full list developed in these parts tourist destinations. Another attractive mountain range for travelers is the Lovozero tundra. Seydozero is located in its center, which, together with the adjacent slopes and gorges of the mountains, forms the Seidyavr reserve. On the territory of the complex there are two unique natural formations - the circuses of Raslak. This place is very popular with tourists. In addition, the Lovozero tundra has long been considered a special “place of power” for the Saami.

Titovka river.

On the Kola Peninsula, water tourism is very common, which is understandable, because this is the land of rivers and lakes. The rivers here are of various types: mountain, lake, semi-plain and even canal rivers. They often have 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 small distance from each other. This makes it possible to climb one of them, and raft along the other and make exciting many-kilometer trips across almost the entire peninsula.

White Sea near Kandalaksha.

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

Ocean coast.

The ocean coast is completely different. Here you can clearly feel the breath of the Arctic. Around are hills and randomly scattered stones of the most bizarre sizes and shapes, brought here by a glacier. This legendary places, where several layers of the history of mankind were mixed: Paleolithic sites, ancient temples of the Sami, portages of Pomors and Vikings, ancient auctions. The traces of the Great Patriotic War are also visible here - trenches, fortified areas and pillboxes, which the tundra vegetation cannot hide in any way.

Special place - Rybachy Peninsula , real edge earth. From it to the very North Pole there is nothing more than 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: Kanozero, tundra Murmansk, Pasvik, Kandalaksha and others. There are about a dozen reserves here. The unique nature of the region has preserved many corners where the explorer's foot has hardly 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.

An unforgettable impression is left by the local fishing. On south coast Atlantic salmon is perfectly caught, as well as grayling, brown trout, char, whitefish and trout. Pike, bream, ide, whitefish and grayling are found in fresh lakes. Sea fishing will delight you with navaga, salmon, cod, flounder and herring.

Extreme lovers can go diving. Undersea world cold seas are attracted by sheer cliffs, unusual animals: seals, beluga whales, 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.

Specially designed for mineralogists of various levels exciting tours in the Lovozero and Khibiny alkaline massifs, on the Keivsky plateau and on the coast of the White Sea.

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

Most tourists come here in winter for skiing. Center skiing- the city of Kirovsk, located at the foot of the Khibiny. In its vicinity are famous resorts"North slope", "Kolasportland", "Kukisvumchorr", "Khibiny-Snow Park" and others.

Alpine skiing is not all winter entertainment. Outdoor enthusiasts can go on a dog or reindeer sledding trip, snowmobile safaris or mountain skiing. And some travel hundreds of kilometers to admire the fantastic northern lights. The black sky seems to bloom with flashes of cold flames, which whimsically shimmer from cobalt green to crimson and purple tones. Northern lights unpredictable. It can hang motionless in the night sky, stretching from horizon to horizon, or it can rapidly “rush” changing colors every second.