The Khibiny mountain range is the largest on the Kola Peninsula. The highest point of the massif is Mount Yudychvumchorr, 1200 meters high. In the center of the formation there are two plateaus Chasnachorr and Kukisvumchorr.
Tourists from all over Russia fell in love with this pearl of the Kola North. The Khibiny peaks are located almost in the center of the peninsula and from here open up a very beautiful views... Visit local ski resorts all year round and recent times the popularity of this place is only growing. A variety of tracks have already been built here, suitable for all skill levels of skiers and snowboarders.
The shape of this mountain range resembles two horseshoes, which are located one inside the other. The local valleys are rich in lakes and have become a popular picnic spot. For lovers hiking and active recreation several dozen tourist routes have been developed. The beauty of the Khibiny attracts travelers throughout the year and the flow of tourists is stable. Every year tourism in the Khibiny develops more and more, and we advise everyone to visit these amazing places.
Weather
Winter in the Khibiny region is relatively warm, with an average temperature of about -11 ° C. But in the mountains themselves, and especially on the peaks, it can be colder by 10-15 degrees. Rarely there are frosts below -35 ° C.
In summer, the area is not particularly hot, with an average temperature of around + 12 ° C. On the shores of the White and Barents Seas, it is cooler by several degrees. There are thunderstorms and heat here, when the thermometer can exceed + 30-35 ° C.
How to get to Khibiny
It's always more convenient to get to Kola Peninsula by train, on Oktyabrskaya railroad... By train you will reach Apatit or Khibiny station. During the trip you can already enjoy the beauty of Karelia and its diversity. It should be noted that the northern and southern nature the region is quite different.
For those who like to travel by car, you can get to the Khibiny quite quickly, using modern roads. Do not forget that this is a northern region, so you need to be prepared for any whims of the weather, not only in winter, but also in summer. In winter, you should "shoe" the car in studded tires, because ice is a frequent occurrence here. There are severe frosts at night, so it is not recommended to travel by car at this time of day. In summer, the climate can also be very variable. A warm summer day can quickly turn into a cold, late autumn. Don't forget to bring warm clothes with you even in summer.
Traveling through the Khibiny Mountains is an exciting adventure for all lovers wildlife and a new sensation for those who rarely leave their apartments and offices.
For those who have never been to Kirovsk, we have collected information about the weather, season, prices and local infrastructure. We hope it will be useful :) Information updated on 10.22.2016.
Where are the Khibiny mountains and what are these mountains?
Khibiny - mountain range in the central part of the Kola Peninsula, territorially belongs to the Murmansk region. The cities of Kirovsk and Apatity are closely adjacent to the Khibiny. The average height of the mountains is 800-1100 m above sea level. The highest point is 1201 m. Many peaks are flat, plateau-like. The relief is diverse, many slopes outside the ski resorts are potentially avalanche-prone, despite the low altitude of the mountains.
Ski resorts are located around Kirovsk and within the city. The city of Apatity is located 17 kilometers from Kirovsk; it is in Apatity that the nearest railway is located. railway station and airport "Khibiny".
What are the weather features in Kirovsk?
Kirovsk is located beyond the Arctic Circle. It is here that you can often personally observe the phenomenon of the northern lights. This requires clear weather, geomagnetic fluctuations according to the forecast and some distance from the city lights. The radiance can be seen from August to April.
photo: Valentin Zhiganov. Shining over Kukisvumchorr.
We must not forget that there is a period of polar night in the Arctic. In Kirovsk and Apatity it lasts from 15 to 28 December. At this time, the sun does not rise above the horizon. Daylight hours, or rather bright twilight - on average from 11 to 15 hours during this period. After December 28, daylight hours will begin to increase. On ski resort "Kukisvumchorr" has sufficient lighting for comfortable riding. In the 2016 season, the number of light sources on the slope is planned to be increased.
For the Khibiny, strong winds and storms are not uncommon. When the wind speed is more than 15 m / s cable cars usually stop. Fortunately, this does not happen very often, but the storm can drag on for 2-3 days. Fogs are not uncommon for the Khibiny.
What is the duration ski season in the Khibiny?
It all depends on the amount of snow that fell. Usually from late November to mid-May. The best time for skiing is March, April, first days of May. February is undeservedly ignored - a very snowy season. In February there can be problems with visibility, but if you are lucky with snowfall, this is the best snow of the season.
What to take with you when going to Kirovsk?
If you are going to visit Kirovsk in December-January, then insulated, windproof suits and masks will not hurt you. It's not a bad second SIM card to have mobile Internet on your phone, since wi-fi is not so ubiquitous.
Before the trip, be sure to enter the number of the rescue service of the Ministry of Emergencies 8 (815-31) 5-88-95 in the phone book! And the number of any Kirov taxi. Be sure to take a camera - shoot northern Lights:)
How to get to Kirovsk?
From St. Petersburg to Apatity station trains are running: 016 "Arctic", 022CH. The cost of railway tickets varies from 5500 per compartment in branded train up to 1300 in the reserved seat of a high-speed train.
From Moscow to Apatity station can be reached by trains: 016 "Arktika, 092A. The cost of railway tickets varies from 6500 for a compartment in a corporate train to 1700 for a reserved seat.
To the airport "Khibiny", located near the city of Apatity, you can fly from St. Petersburg, Moscow and Cherepovets. Schedule on the airport website - http://www.airkirovsk.ru/
From Moscow you can fly to Apatity for about 7000-9000 rubles, from St. Petersburg for about 4500-7000 rubles. Airfare varies significantly with early booking.
From Apatity you can get to Kirovsk by taxi or by intercity buses and minibuses No. 102, 135, 128. From the station it is easier to take a taxi than wait for the bus.
Only buses №128 and №135 go \u200b\u200bto Kukisvumchorr from Apatity through Kirovsk, buses and minibuses №1 and №12, №128, №135 also go from Kirovsk to Kukisvumchorr.
There are more options to order a minibus:
1) Transfer of "Khibiny" guests by comfortable minibuses from airports and railways. railway stations. Tel +7 921 27 87 652, Oleg.
The cost of living in rented apartments in the 2016-2017 season ranges from 2,000 to 6,000 rubles per day per apartment.
Brief price characteristics for accommodation in Kirovsk hotels:
Lift pass for 2 hours - 500 rubles
Lift pass for 4 hours - 800 rubles
Lift pass for 1 day - 1200 rubles
Lift pass for 5 days - 4500 rubles.
GC "Big Woodyavr"
Lift pass for 2 hours - 600 rubles.
Lift pass for 4 hours - 900 rubles.
Lift pass for 1 day - 1400 rubles.
Lift pass for 5 days - 4700 rubles.
How much does it cost to travel public transport and a taxi around the city?
The cost of travel by buses and minibuses in Kirovsk is 25 rubles.
Average taxi price: 90-100 rubles in the city, 150-160 rubles to the Kukisvumchorr microdistrict (25 km).
Taxi numbers and bus timetables can be found in the "How to get there" section.
Where can you eat in Kirovsk?
There is not too much choice of cafes in Kirovsk, but still our rating is as follows:
Cafe "At ease" - Kirovsk, Mira street, 10A. Sun, Mon-Thu from 12:00 to 01:00
Sushi wok: 8 921-514-61-25. Sun-Thu from 11.00 to 23.00, Fri-Sat from 11.00 to 03.00
Where can you go to relax?
The following objects will help you to diversify the cultural program of your stay in Kirovsk.
From taiga and birch forests in sheltered and deep valleys (up to 400 meters above sea level) to forest tundra (no higher than 500 meters):
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And to the tundra (no higher than 800 meters above sea level).
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And to the almost arctic desert on domed peaks.
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On the slopes, taiga-birch forests are quickly replaced by forests (and then forest-tundra) of low-growing birches.
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For a half-hour walk you can see half of the Russian Plain.
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And communications coming from the south and from above to the Rasvumchorr mine.
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Closer to the top of the mountain - almost entirely stone rubble:
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Khibiny animals - tundra partridge, apparently:
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The ski resort Bolshoy Vudyavr, descending from the southwestern spur of Aikuayvenchorr, has been reconstructed in recent years.
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The modern cable car is adjacent to the Soviet one:
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But even those that have completely served their time are not removed - in the best Arctic traditions:
76. On east coast - Uksporryok mining cargo station:
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Behind it is the Yuksporryok-1 microdistrict with an industrial zone, a settling tank, the Khibinogorsk monastery and the base of the Faculty of Geography of Moscow State University; I haven’t been there, despite my many years of belonging to this faculty.
Beyond Yuksporryok, along the valley of the Yuksporryok river, there are the Rasvumchorr plateau and the Tsentralny mine, where I have not been either, which is probably even more offensive than in the previous case.
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And from the northeast of Bolshoy Vudyavr, across the lake from the city center, there is the Kirov mine and the Kukisvumchorr microdistrict (aka a village of 25 kilometers) with a museum named after I. Kirov; And I also did not visit this peripheral part of Kirovsk, which, probably, turned out to be my biggest omission in this city. But I saw from the side:
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And to the north of the lake is the famous Polar Botanical Garden, which belongs to the Kola Peninsula located mainly in Apatity. scientific center RAS.
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And I did not manage to get there - it seems as if only with an excursion and warning in advance.
I can only say from hearsay that in this botanical garden, among other things, experiments are being carried out to cultivate and acclimatize in the Khibiny any plants unusual for these high latitudes.
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This is already real Khibiny, a hiking country.
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Still, this compact mountain range is surprisingly suitable for light (and not very light) mountain tourism: the ascents are not too steep, not too long, and mountains in any direction can be crossed in a few days.
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In the following parts - the Khibiny remains behind, the movement further south.
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Khibiny is mountain systemthat has attracted researchers and nature lovers since ancient times. They are not as difficult to access as other areas. You can get to the mountains by road transport... Or another option is to get to Murmansk by plane or train.
Location and relief
The Khibiny mountains are located between and Umbozero. They are an array of plateau-like peaks. The highest point is 1201 m. This is Mount Yudichvumchorr, which is part of the Khibiny massif. The average height of the mountains is 1000 meters.
There are many traces of ancient glacial activity. Circus and punishment talk about it. And also troughs - valleys plowed by glaciers, similar to troughs.
There are results of permafrost activity - kurums, the so-called stone rivers. And on the plateau there are whole stone seas.
Geological structure
The Khibiny mountains are a crystalline structure - an intrusion. It is a solid geological body composed of igneous rocks. There are only 8 such intrusions in the world. This is a horseshoe-shaped massif mostly composed of rocks - nepheline syenites. In ancient times, there were huge volcanoes that cooled down and the magma underwent crystallization. Therefore, about 800 different minerals were found here. Some of them are specific only for this territory.
Modern names settlements correspond to the minerals found here: Nepheline sands, Apatity, Titan. After the heavy glacial shell descended from these mountains, this area experienced a tectonic uplift. It was uneven, as evidenced by the nature of the geological structures. They look like funnels, the edges of which are composed of older rocks than the center. For about 20 million years, the Khibiny rose 500 meters above the surrounding plains. Then there was a long break of 15 million years. Then the mountains began to grow again, this time their height doubled.
Climate
The Khibiny mountains have climatic conditions depending on the geographic location. On the map of the Northwest in the European part of Russia, you can see that most of the peninsula is located above the Arctic Circle. Despite this fact, the climate here is much warmer than in others. The severity of the local weather is smoothed out by the close location of the Barents Sea, since the North Cape warm current enters this part of the ocean. Therefore, the climate here is quite mild, and severe frosts are relatively rare.
Due to the location of the Khibiny in the Arctic, twilight reigns here for six months. In winter, daylight hours are very small and lasts 2-3 hours. The polar night lasts about four months - a period when the sun does not rise over the horizon. And because of the proximity to the magnetic pole of the planet, you can observe a very impressive phenomenon - the northern lights.
Summer lasts two and a half months. The highest positive temperatures are +20 in July. The average month is +13 degrees. The coldest period lasts during January. The average temperature of the month is -11 degrees. And the Khibiny mountains have the most negative mark in winter -35 0 С. Photos of these places show that there are often fogs, high clouds. This indicates the impact of cyclones on the territory. Most of the precipitation falls as snow.
Flora
The vegetation cover consists of several belts. The zone of coniferous and mixed forests is located mainly at the foot of the mountains and in river valleys at low altitudes. This belt ends at an altitude of 470 meters and occupies a third of the massif. It is dominated by spruce and birch. In the forest you can find rowan, aspen and bird cherry.
Above, the zone of subalpine birch forests begins. It stretches in a narrow strip between the forest and tundra belts. A swimsuit, geraniums, thistles grow here.
Next comes the mountain tundra zone. It occupies about half of the entire area of \u200b\u200bthe Khibiny Mountains. Shrub vegetation is widespread below. The berry season continues in early August. Blueberries, blueberries, cloudberries ripen. At the beginning of autumn, the time for lingonberries comes. Above is the moss-lichen tundra. Mosses are dominated by green and sphagnum. Lichens cover large boulders of stone rivers. Many plants included in the Red Book grow here.
Toponymy of names
The Sami are considered the indigenous people in the Khibiny region. On the map of these mountains, names are entirely in the language of this people. Nevertheless, their meanings are different. Since there are several dialects on the Kola Peninsula.
One of the versions of the origin of the name of the mountains from the word "khiben" is a flat hill. The Sami conditionally divided the Khibiny mountains into two parts: Umbozero and Lavozero. The first in their language sounded like Umptek, the second - Luyavrurt.
The Sami first came up with the name of the river, and then the valley was named from it. And only then the ridges were designated. The first part of the word is a sign of an object (high, rocky). The second meant geographic feature (mountain, river, lake). For example, Lake Vudyavr. Wood is a bush-covered hill. The root of the jav is a lake. Thus, the Sami gave simple descriptions of objects. Among them is Vudyavr - a lake on a hill with bushes.
The Khibiny Mountains are a wonderful land, which you just want to visit. This is a unique place where mountains, tundra, many lakes with clear water and the northern lights are combined. The Khibiny is rightfully called a treasury of minerals.
Khibiny - low compact mountains on the Kola Peninsula with plateau-like peaks, soft relief and treeless slopes; highest point - 1200 m, elevation changes from 500 to 1000 m. This mountain range is interesting not only for its severe northern beauty, but also for its special opportunities for skiing. The Khibiny remains covered with snow for most of the year - you can ski from November to June. The thin arctic air brings the local climate closer to the alpine one. With stable weather, good snow cover and long daylight hours, this place is considered one of the best in Europe to close the ski season in April.
The ski capital of Khibiny, the city of Kirovsk, is located 200 km from Murmansk right at the foot of the mountains. The main ski resorts are located here - on the Aikuayvenchorr and Kukisvumchorr mountains. There are ski areas in the city of Apatity - just 12 km from Kirovsk. Equipped tracks of different difficulty levels of this oldest Russian ski resort attract all winter sports enthusiasts - both amateurs and professionals.
How to get there
The fastest way to get to the Khibiny is by plane. Regular flights connect the local airport Apatity with Moscow and St. Petersburg. Flight time is 2.5 hours. You can get from the airport to Kirovsk by taxi (travel time 40 minutes, cost 600-700 RUB) or by bus number 130, which is tied to flights and waits for planes in case of delay. The second option is to fly by plane to Murmansk, and then come to Kirovsk by intercity bus No. 209 (travel time 3 hours, cost 650 RUB). The prices on the page are for October 2018.
In the Khibiny, developed and rail link... Trains run through the Apatity 1 station to Moscow, St. Petersburg, Murmansk and Vologda. It will take more than a day to travel from Moscow to Khibiny by train, and the journey in a compartment will cost about 3000 RUB. You can get from the railway station to Kirovsk by bus number 131 or by taxi.
Search for flights to Kirovsk (the nearest airport to the Khibiny)
Transport
Despite the fact that Kirovsk is a small town, it will not be easy to walk along its snow-covered roads on foot and even with skis. Minibuses and buses run around the city, fare: 28 RUB. Average price for a taxi - around the city: 180 RUB, to the Kukisvumchorr microdistrict at 25 km: 250 RUB, to the Southern slope travel with skis: 350 RUB. In high season with final stop bus number 102 on the street. Olimpiyskiy minibuses go to the South Slope - travel: 85 RUB, and in the spring on weekends there is a special flight for skiers at 65 RUB. The fare from Kirovsk to Apatity - by bus: 65 RUB, by minibus: 50 RUB.
Alpine skiing in the Khibiny
The main ski areas in the Khibiny are concentrated around Kirovsk. Within the city limits is the Northern slope of Mount Aikuyvenchorr, where the Colasportland ski complex is located. On the southern slope of the same mountain there is the Bolshoi Vudyavr or BigWood ski complex. 25 km from the city, in the Kukisvumchorr microdistrict, on the mountain of the same name, there is a ski complex with the same name. All ski areas have tracks for both beginners and professionals. The Kukisvumchorr ski area is distinguished by long slopes ranging from 2000 to 2500 m. There are areas for freeriding everywhere.
In case of bad weather, there are two more options - "Snow Park" in Kirovsk itself, located between st. Leningradskaya and st. Soviet Constitution, as well as the track on Vorobyinaya Gora in the neighboring town of Apatity. These are lighted, gentle and safe slopes.
In the ski resort "Bolshoy Vudyavr" a ski pass for 2 hours will cost 700 RUB, for the whole day: 1550 RUB. A seasonal ski pass can be purchased for 26,000 RUB. In the Kolasportland ski complex, a ski pass for 4 hours costs 1050 RUB, and for the whole day - 1550 RUB. In the ski complex "Kukisvumchorr" high season prices: 700 RUB for 3 hours of skiing and 1200 RUB for the whole day. The cost of tickets for ascents depends on the number - from 500 times - 60 RUB. Baby lifts - for 1 day: 300 RUB. Renting a plastic ski pass card will cost 200 RUB.
Khibiny Hotels
Kirovsk hotels all year round meet their guests. Hostel "Kukisvumchorr" at the foot of the complex of the same name offers tourists accommodation for 600 RUB per day. It is possible to rent a room with breakfast for 1000 RUB in the economy class hotel "Sport". In the sanatorium and health complex "Tirvas" you can not only stay for 2500 RUB per day, but also improve your health - there is water and mud therapy. The comfortable hotel "Gornitsa" offers its guests free WI-FI, the organization of transfers, meals in the cafe-bar and the use of the sauna: the cost standard room - about 4000 RUB. The cost of living in rented apartments depends on the season and ranges from 400 to 2000 RUB per day per person. The cheapest accommodation option at the Ryabinushka tourist center for 25 km - prices around 150 RUB per person per day, and the most expensive - in the city center at the Severnaya Hotel, a presidential suite there can be rented for 25,000 RUB per day.
For those planning to ride on the North Slope, it is better to rent an apartment on the street. Olympic, and fans of cross-country skiing will find accommodation in houses on the street. 50 years of October and in the sanatorium "Tirvas".
What to bring
Souvenir shops offer ceramic plates with views of the Khibiny, paintings with imitation of petroglyphs, original geographic Maps, amulets made of bone, slippers from reindeer skins, Saami figurines made of leather, horns, wood and fur, as well as magnets, key holders and photo frames made of driftwood - a tree raised from the bottom Of the White Sea and specially processed. In addition to souvenirs, you can buy local pickles - cloudberry or blueberry jam, soaked lingonberries, pickled mushrooms, and for those passing through Murmansk - dried Murmansk ruff.
Khibiny cafes and restaurants
You can warm up and have a tasty meal after a successful skiing in the non-alcoholic cafe "Chocolate", which offers simple and hearty food - pizza, pancakes, a selection of hot dishes and salads. For visitors - milkshakes, various types of coffee and tea, cakes, pies and pastries. The prices are pleasant. For example, a portion of pizza costs 40 RUB, and a banana-strawberry fresh - 65 RUB. There is a place to leave your boards and skis. The Severny restaurant at the hotel of the same name offers, in addition to European cuisine, a separate menu with northern delicacies and treats. It includes dishes of Arctic cuisine - Lapp strudel, Lovozero venison, cod cheeks, and arctic salmon soup. A 5-course business lunch is served daily from 12:00 to 15:00 at the price of RUB 300 per person. Business lunch at the same time, but for 250 RUB, is held in the Nikafe cafe, there is also a bar with a full range of alcoholic beverages. IN entertainment center "Bolshoi Vudyavr" operates not only a bar-restaurant, but also a bowling alley and a disco.
There are cafes-bars at all the main ski points, but the choice there is small and the prices are one and a half to two times higher than in the city.
Entertainment and attractions
On the Kola Peninsula, tourists are offered a huge selection of various excursion programs all year round. You can go on a snowmobile safari, ski tour, jeep safari, off-road expedition, take an ethnographic program, go ice fishing on the lakes, or simply rent a wooden house off the beaten track and relax from the city bustle, enjoying the pristine beauty of this region.
So, for example, you can go on a snowmobile tour around the central part of the Kola Peninsula to get acquainted with the life and life of the Kola reindeer breeders, feel the atmosphere of the tundra, try local cuisine and stock up on a host of unforgettable experiences.
In order to purchase any program or excursion, contact the tour operators of Kirovsk. Besides ski slopes there is also a flat, 14-kilometer snowmobile trail. You can also rent a helicopter and take it on an excursion over the tops of the massif. In general, there is plenty of entertainment.
The beauty of the Arctic Circle attracts tourists not only in winter, but also in summer. At this time of the year, people come here to enjoy the silence of rocky gorges and see aquamarine lakes in rocky bowls. The best time for distant hiking July is considered, and the most beautiful month for one-day outings is September. In addition to long hiking tours there are also available for everyone one-day routes - on Blue Lakes, to Lake Maly Vudyavr, to the Shorokhov gorge, to the waterfall and Lake Kupel.
Polar-Alpine Botanical Garden-Institute
The Khibiny is in itself the main attraction of the Murmansk region. But even here there are many interesting placesworth visiting. For example, the Polar-Alpine Botanical Garden is the northernmost botanical garden located on Vudyavrchorr Mountain. Throughout the entire botanical garden, valley tundra, spruce-birch taiga, birch crooked forest, alpine tundra and arctic desert replace each other. More than 400 species of plants grow in the garden - shrubs, tundra species, tree species. More than 2 thousand people visit the garden every year.
The Polar-Alpine Botanical Garden in the Khibiny, the northernmost botanical garden, is located on Vudyavrchorr Mountain. In total, there are three botanical gardens around the world, located in the Arctic Circle.
Museum and Exhibition Center
In the notable building of Kirovsk, the local Big Bene, there is a modern world-class museum - eight exhibition halls, two exhibition halls and one gallery. It features interactive layouts of mines and mines with sound and light accompaniment, a huge collection of minerals and an exhibition of historical materials. The museum regularly hosts art exhibitions, "quests", meetings with interesting people and free screenings of films.
V. Erofeev Literary Museum
In the Central City Library named after A.M. Gorky has collected an exposition dedicated to the talented compatriot of Kirov, Venedikt Erofeev, the author of the poem "Moscow-Petushki". The exposition is distinguished by its original design: above the entrance door there is a map of the Moscow - Petushki route, the room takes the visitor to the beginning of the Brezhnev era, the tour is accompanied by the voice of a writer reading his satirical lines about Soviet reality.
Snow village
A unique structure called "Snow Village" is located in Kirovsk, in the area of \u200b\u200bthe botanical garden, and is a closed complex built of snow and ice. Here you will see amazing creations human handsusing the ability of water to change structure and shape: furniture, sculptures, slides, halls and rooms. On the territory of the "Snow Village" there is even a wedding hall - of course, also made of ice.
If you decide to visit " Snowy village" in new year holidaysthen get ready that these days tourist centre attracts just thousands of visitors who want to meet New Year almost in the real house of Santa Claus.
