The formation of the modern appearance of the Khibiny, composed mainly of alkaline rocks and granitoids of the Precambrian age, one of the oldest on the territory of Russia - about 2 billion years old, took place mainly in the very recent past under the influence of glaciers. During the Ice Age, the entire surrounding space was covered with an ice shell, in some places rocks towered above it. As the glacier advanced, leaving furrows in the rock, and melted, carrying away debris, and then returned again, a kind of glacial landscape was formed, which is characteristic of the entire Kola Peninsula. The glaciers on the Khibiny reached their maximum size about 20 thousand years ago.
The uplift of the ridge began after the end of the glaciation: the ice began to melt down here about 10 thousand years ago, freeing the surface of the colossal burden. The Khibiny continues to grow, and since the descent of the bulk of the glaciers, their height has increased by about 20 m.In general, the process of formation of the ridge is characterized by unevenness, which affects the structure of the mountains: their structure is concentric, this is manifested in the arcuate arrangement of various layers of rocks. In addition, a decrease in the age of the rocks from the edges to the center is noted. The stratification is due to the fact that magma got into the crevices.
One of the pioneers of the Khibiny was the Russian and Finnish geologist Wilhelm Ramsay, who studied both this mountain range and the entire Kola Peninsula as a whole.
The result of the scientist's painstaking work, in particular, was the Khibiny map.
The first Soviet expedition to the Khibiny started on August 25, 1920. It included the mineralogist Alexander Fersman, President of the Academy of Sciences Alexander Karpinsky, and geologist of the Geological Committee Alexander Gerasimov. The main task facing the specialists was the search for apatites, which are also used in ferrous and non-ferrous metallurgy. This expedition marked the beginning of the study of the Khibiny for the needs of industry.
In 1929, the Apatit mining and processing plant was opened in the Khibiny. During the Great Patriotic War, it produced mines, grenades and other types of explosives, but already in 1944 the enterprise returned to normal operation.
By 1960, the extraction of apatite and nepheline ore was put on stream in the Khibiny region, as a result, new cities began to appear for workers to live. Back in 1931, the city of Kirovsk was rebuilt here, in 1966 a New City grew up next to it, which was later renamed Apatity. Subsequently, other villages also appeared nearby, which were named after the innumerable values of the Khibiny, including Titan, Nepheline sands.
Ski resort among minerals
Khibiny is located in the central part of the Kola Peninsula. These are mainly plateaus, separated by gorges, with numerous passes and cliffs. The central region of the ridge is occupied by the Kukisvumchorr and Chasnachorr plateaus. At the foot of the Khibiny there are the cities of Apatity and Kirovsk.Currently, many deposits are being developed in the Khibiny Mountains, and about five hundred minerals have been explored here.
The Khibiny Mountains to this day retain a huge potential for the development of the mining industry. There are many not only underground, but also discovered deposits. In particular, in the Khibiny region, deposits of vermiculite and phlogopite mica have been explored, deposits of precious stones (including blue sapphire) and ceramic pegmatites are being developed. In general, about 500 different minerals have been identified in the Khibiny Mountains, 110 of which are not found anywhere else.
In addition to minerals, the Khibiny Mountains also store invaluable underground water reserves, and thermal springs were also discovered at a depth of more than 1.5 km.
The large scale of mining in the Khibiny region inevitably affects the environment. Problems are associated with the large volume of associated rock extracted from the ground, and with the need to cut down forests to start work on new fields. That is why ecologists are currently advocating the idea of creating a national park in the Khibiny mountains.
Work on the study and preservation of local nature began in the first half of the 20th century. In particular, the Polar-Alpine Botanical Garden was created on Vudyavrchorr Mountain. It gradually presents the vegetation characteristic of the local tundra, spruce-birch and alpine tundra, as well as the Arctic desert. In general, more than 400 plant species grow on the territory of the botanical garden.
The fauna of the Khibiny Mountains is represented mainly by birds, there are less than 30 species of mammals. However, a small number of species of the latter are characteristic of the entire Kola Peninsula.
After the end of the Ice Age, the ice did not recede from the Khibiny Mountains for a long time. However, now there are practically no traces of the glacial formations, except for the characteristic relief. At the moment, there are only four glaciers on the Khibiny, which occupy an area of about 0.1 km 2.
Seismic activity continues in the Khibiny region. The first recorded earthquake occurred back in 1758, and the last one was recorded in 1988, with an epicenter near the city of Kirovsk.
In about a quarter of the territory of this ridge, there is a danger of avalanches. In addition, very difficult weather conditions are noted in the Khibiny region: sharp drops in atmospheric pressure and strong winds are characteristic. In particular, at the tops the wind speed can reach 50 m / s. In addition, the ascent angle gradually increases, and the path is blocked by numerous boulders. The extremely changeable weather also complicates the situation: conditions can change several times during the day.
However, the Khibiny remains invariably popular among climbers. Over the years of the development of this mountain range, well-trodden routes have appeared, among which there are options not only for experienced athletes, but also for beginners. In addition, there are ski slopes here, which are concentrated mainly in the Kirovsk region.
general information
Location: Kola Peninsula.Administrative affiliation: .
Largest cities: Apatity - 57 398 people. (2015), Kirovsk - 27,250 people. (2015).
Nearest airport: Apatity airport.
Numbers
Area: 1300 km 2.Highest point: Mount Yudychvumchorr (1200.6 m).
Major peaks: Chasnachorr (1188 m), Putelichorr (1111 m).
Climate and weather
Long and snowy winters, cold and short summers are typical.However, the proximity of the Gulf Stream causes a warmer climate compared to other polar regions of Russia.
The polar night lasts 42 days.
Average January temperature: -5 ° C.
Average temperature in July: + 14 ° C.
Average annual rainfall: from 600-700 mm in valleys to 1600 mm on mountain plateaus.
Economy
Industry: mining (apatite, nepheline, sphene, aegirine, feldspar, titanomagnetite).Scientific research.
Service sector: tourism.
sights
■ Natural: hills Lyavinskaya and Poutelle, Polar-Alpine Botanical Garden-Institute.■ Kirovsk: Museum and Exhibition Center JSC "Apatit", Museum of History and Local Lore, V. Erofeev's Literary Museum.
■ Apatity: museum-archive of the history of the study and development of the European North of Russia, the museum of geology and mineralogy of the Geological Institute of the KSC RAS, the open-air geological park, the museum-apartment of academician A.V. Sidorenko.
Curious facts
■ The Polar-Alpine Botanical Garden is the northernmost botanical garden in Russia and one of the three botanical gardens in the world located in the Arctic Circle.■ The Khibiny tundra was often called the “Skull of the Earth”. Thus, scientists have noted areas where ancient rocks come to the surface, the formation of which is associated with geological processes of billions of years ago. These formations are part of the Baltic Crystalline Shield.
■ The writer Mikhail Prishvin, during his long journey across the European and Russian North, also visited the Khibiny in 1907. One of the stories, "The Khibiny Mountains", is dedicated to them.
■ Most of the Khibiny peaks bear Sami names. There are not many speakers of the Sami language - the Sami, or Lapps - who live mainly in the north of the Scandinavian Peninsula and on the Kola Peninsula.
Khibiny - the name of this mountain range pleases the ear of travelers. Stunning snowy peaks, tundras with dwarf birches, powerful waterfalls and quiet clear lakes appear before your eyes. The combination of mountains and marshes of the Khibiny looks unusual: it is worth seeing it at least once in your life. Experienced tourists say that the Kola Peninsula does not let go just like that: its mysterious beauty attracts from year to year, and the inaccessibility of sharp rocks makes you come back again and again.
Where are the khibins
The Khibiny can be reached by car, train and plane. If you prefer the first option, head towards Murmansk along the P21 highway. Continue onto the E105. Continue driving until kilometer 1230 - there you will see a crossroads to the city of Apatity. There will be 28 kilometers to it: at the entrance there will be a sign to Kirovsk - turn left and drive another 17 kilometers.
You can get to Apatity in any Murmansk language. They depart from Moscow, St. Petersburg, Vologda, Minsk. Resort routes from Novorossiysk, Adler, Astrakhan are added in summer. The cost of a reserved seat berth depends on the station at which you stepped into the carriage. If this is Moscow, you will have to pay 3000 rubles. The train follows the route for 30-32 hours.
You can fly to Khibiny by plane from Moscow, St. Petersburg or Cherepovets. The aircraft arrives at the Khibiny airport - it is common for Apatity and Kirovsk. There is another option - a flight to Murmansk, and from there to Apatity. We have to overcome another 200 kilometers along the highway.
If you are in Apatity, a minibus or buses No. 131 and 8 will take you to Kirovsk. Both types of transport are infrequent. The best option is to get to Kirovsk by taxi and get off at the Pirozhkovaya stop. So you will spend 100 rubles versus 600 for delivery to the city center. Many Kirov minibuses leave from Pirozhkovskaya.
What are the Khibiny
The Khibiny are considered the most ancient mountains in Russia. Their age is 350 million years. The mountains are located beyond the Arctic Circle at the 67th parallel. This greatly affects their nature: there is no vegetation on the slopes, here and there you can see bald patches of snow regardless of the season. The height of the mountains is 800-900 meters, the highest point is Mount Yudichvumchorr - 1200 meters.
Khibiny from space is a fascinating sight. They look like a stone flower that has opened its petals towards the northern sun. In clear weather, the mountains are especially visible - the sharp peaks of the rocks cut the blue sky and terrify travelers. Local residents are afraid to approach the Khibiny mountains in winter - they understand how much danger the icy slopes pose.
The mountain got its name due to the peculiarities of the local dialect. Previously, the Sami called them Umptek, and later they began to call them Hiben, which means plateau. Over time, the name stuck and remained, and the locals changed it to the Khibiny.
Attractions Khibiny
Visitors to the Khibiny are advised to explore the numerous hiking trails and walk to the Blue Lakes Gorge and Pyrrhotite Gorge. On the way, you will come across a 1950 adit. An interesting hike is to come if you have chosen the Molybdenum Mine as a sightseeing in the Khibiny. To get there, you need to go to the road that was laid in 1930. In turn, a river ford leads to it. The mine offers an excellent view of Maly Vudyavr and Poachvumchorr Mountain.
Takhtarvumchorr plateau - landscapes for surrealism lovers. The pictures that open to travelers are similar to those of Mars. Unusual minerals are scattered across the ground. On the way, you can find abandoned miners' tools.
Aku-Aku gorge is considered a romantic place. According to Sami legends, there was a fierce struggle between the Sami and the invaders. Where the Lapp blood fell, eudialyte grew - a reddish mineral. Not far from the gorge there is a waterfall and a clear, bright lake.
The Kukisvumchorr plateau is another attraction of the Khibiny, famous for the Akademicheskoe lake. It is heavenly emerald in color, the water is clear and very cold. The delightful route goes along the banks of the seething Risyok River, across the South Rischorr Pass. On the way there is a grumpy waterfall and slopes of incredible beauty.
Sightseeing Apatit is interesting for both adults and children. There is a research center for conducting experiments, the Museum of Mineralogy. The exposition is represented by hundreds of unique minerals. Some of them are not found in any corner of the planet.
There are many other museums in Apatity: the museum-archive of the history of the study and development of the European North, the Museum of the International Cultural Center and the M picture gallery. Tickets to these places cost several hundred rubles and are available to everyone. For young parents with children, it will be interesting to visit the children's art gallery "Kovcheg".
If you are lucky enough to visit Apatity in February, visit the annual exhibition "Stone Flower". Hundreds of craftsmen offer to purchase stone products: jewelry, household items and kitchen utensils. It is impossible to imagine this splendor: you just need to see it.
In summer, the Akademgorodok and the park near the Polyarny cinema are notable in Apatity. Roses, rose hips, lilacs and other beautiful flowers grow in the park. Everything is fragrant. Nearby there is a monument to the heroes of the Great Patriotic War.
Tourism in the Khibiny starts from Kirovsk. It is located next to Lake Bolshoy Vudyavr. The Temple of the Savior of the Image of Jesus Christ not made by hands is considered a significant attraction. The sanctuary is decorated with nine bronze bells. Ural craftsmen made them especially for Kirovsk. The decoration of the temple is rich: many icons, some streaming myrrh.
Visit the local history and mining and geological museums. Go to the Literature Museum. It is designed in the thoughtful and philosophical spirit of the writer Erofeev. Fans of his work will feel at home.
A must-see attraction in Kirovsk is the Polar-Alpine Botanical Garden-Institute named after V.I. ON THE. Avrorina. It is a conservation area with hundreds of plants. Many are unique. The administration of the garden offers excursions to the nursery and the greenhouse. It will definitely not be boring.
In winter, not far from the botanical garden, there is an area called "Snow Village". As soon as the first snow falls, dozens of ice and snow figures are erected on its territory. They are made in full size of the character and look magical. A visit to the village will be a real treat for children and adults.
For tourism in the Khibiny, we recommend paying attention to the Amethyst hotel. It is located on Lenin Street, 3 in an eight-story building. This is the city center, so you can easily reach the main attractions and train stations. There is a restaurant nearby where you can have a tasty and inexpensive dinner. The rooms are comfortable and new furniture, private bathrooms.
Along Pobeda street, 29a there is a hotel Izovella, which in translation from Sami means "Light breath of the wind". The peculiarity of the hotel is its location - half a kilometer from the city, in the middle of the forest. In the evening you will be provided with wonderful walks and fresh air. Another representative office of the hotel is the Apatit Rus recreation center. Its windows offer a beautiful view of the Imandra Lake. There is a hall, billiards, gym. There is a banquet hall for celebrations.
The hotel "Sheri" on Gladysheva street, 6a is very popular. It has only five rooms, but each is furnished in a homely and tasteful way. There is a TV, wardrobe and seating area. Linen is provided free of charge. Catches WI-FI.
In Guba Kisloy there is a secluded recreation center Apatit - Berloga. Beautiful log cabins, Sami landmarks and a birch-wood sauna - what else does a tired traveler need after a long journey to the Khibiny? The houses are spacious, suitable for a company of 3-5 people. The recreation center rents out a snowmobile and turntables.
Hotels in Kirovsk
There are expensive hotels in Kirovsk. This is due to the availability of routes through the Khibiny beauty. If the price does not bother you, go to the city center to the Severnaya Hotel. It is in it that Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin likes to rest. At the same time, prices are not overpriced: a tourist with a modest budget can stay here by paying 1,500 rubles for a room. An expensive number is 7000. Near the ski slopes Aikuayvenchorr.
Ekkos Hotel has earned positive reviews from travelers. The fund is represented by 13 bright rooms with a total capacity of 40 people. Each room has a refrigerator, bath or shower, air conditioning. There is free internet. Couples with children are offered rooms with a kitchen.
You can comfortably spend your vacation in the Khibiny at the Parkovaya Hotel. It is located on the street of the same name and combines maximum comfort and a pleasant price. Rooms are furnished with fresh furniture, there is free WI-FI.
The Khibiny mountains have a unique climate. It is formed by the arctic and Atlantic winds and is variable even in warm weather. There is a polar night, which has a significant impact on the formation of weather conditions. Very humid: frequent rains, but little evaporation. Coupled with sharp gusts of wind, ordinary rains turn into mountain thunderstorms.
On the Kola Peninsula, there is no concept of “season”. All seasons are intermingled and last longer than expected. For example, winter is the longest - 7-8 months. All this time, frosts keep, the slopes are covered with snow. In the gorges, it does not melt all year round.
The ice melts in late spring, so from May 12 to July 19, the polar day begins, which is also summer. The weather is unstable, not warm. In September, frosts begin again, and winter comes.
Summer vacations in the Khibiny will primarily appeal to climbers. However, if you are not an active tourist, do not be discouraged. The mountains offer many easy hiking trails to enjoy the stunning nature of the north. Visit Maly Vudyavr Lake: it is located between dense forest and mountains. A great place for a picnic and outdoor games.
Another unusual area worth visiting on your summer vacation is the Ganeshin circus. It offers a gorgeous view of the granite rocks and Lake Maly Vudyavr. If you went on a hike for more than one day, choose the circus as a place to sleep - there are no mosquitoes and it is relatively warm.
Be sure to walk to Mount Kukisvumchorr. The fast river Yuksporryok flows there - it will lead to the Shchel pass. Overcome it to reach an untouched corner of the planet - you will be amazed at how clean and majestic the mountains and lakes look. Look south for apatite quarries and the Tul'yok River.
Not far from the Umbozero pass there is a beautiful waterfall. It fully lives up to its name and is considered one of the most wonderful places in Russia. Summer holidays in the Khibiny will be remembered for a long time, and the photographs will cause an aching boredom in the heart for more than one year.
Winter holidays in the Khibiny are represented by ski resorts and exciting excursions on snowmobiles. The famous trails run along the slopes of the Aikuavenchorr and Kukisvumchorr mountains. At the top of Aikuavenchorr there are three complexes - "Aikuay", "Kolasportland" and "Bolshoy Vudyavr". The length of the tracks is more than 30 kilometers. Here you can find something to do for every taste - go skiing, snowboarding or downhill on a colored bun.
Are you staying in Apatity? Then go to Vorobyinaya Gora. It is great if you are a beginner or teaching kids. In addition, the slope is protected from the wind, so it is comfortable and warm to ride here.
Khibiny is a magical land where phones and tablets are not needed. Nature penetrates the soul, stirring up the most intimate memories. It is easy to fall in love here or, conversely, to forget. Unrestrained joy is also not alien to the Khibiny - hiking in a large company will become a vivid life experience.
Khibiny - low compact mountains on the Kola Peninsula with plateau-like peaks, soft relief and treeless slopes; the highest point is 1200 m, elevation changes are from 500 to 1000 m. This mountain range is interesting not only for its harsh 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 slopes of various difficulty levels in 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 a delay. The second option is to fly to Murmansk, and then come to Kirovsk by intercity bus No. 209 (travel time 3 hours, cost 650 RUB). Prices on the page are for October 2018.
In the Khibiny, railroad communication is also developed. 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 RUB 3,000. You can get from the railway station to Kirovsk by bus number 131 or by taxi.
Search for air tickets to the city of Kirovsk (the nearest airport to the Khibiny)
Transport
Despite the fact that Kirovsk is a small town, it will not be easy to move 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, from the last stop of the 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 the Aikuayvenchorr mountain, where the Kolasportland ski complex is located. On the southern slope of the same mountain there is a ski resort "Bolshoy Vudyavr" or BigWood. 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 ski area Kukisvumchorr 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 resort "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 welcome their guests all year round. Hostel "Kukisvumchorr" at the foot of the complex of the same name offers tourists accommodation for 600 RUB per day. In the economy class hotel "Sport" you can rent a room with breakfast for 1000 RUB. In the sanatorium and recreation 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 use of the sauna: the cost of a standard room is 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 who plan 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 Khibiny views, paintings with imitation petroglyphs, original geographical maps, bone charms, slippers made of reindeer skins, Saami figurines made of leather, horns, wood and fur, as well as magnets, key holders and frames for photographs made from snags - 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 serving 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 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. A 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 the entertainment center "Bolshoy Vudyavr" there is not only a bar-restaurant, but also a bowling alley and a disco.
All the main ski points have café-bars, 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, a ski tour, a jeep safari, an off-road expedition, take an ethnographic program, go ice fishing on the lakes, or simply rent a wooden house off the beaten track and take a break from the city bustle, enjoying the pristine beauty of this region.
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 the local cuisine and stock up on many unforgettable impressions.
In order to purchase any program or excursion, contact the tour operators of Kirovsk. In addition to the ski slopes, there is also a flat, 14-kilometer ski trail on which you can ride snowmobiles. 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 long hikes is July, and the most beautiful month for day trips is September. In addition to long hiking trips, there are one-day routes available to everyone - to the Blue Lakes, to the Maly Vudyavr lake, to the Shorokhov gorge, to the waterfall and Kupel lakes.
Polar-Alpine Botanical Garden-Institute
The Khibiny is in itself the main attraction of the Murmansk Territory. But even here there are many interesting places worth visiting. For example, the Polar-Alpine Botanical Garden is the northernmost botanical garden located on Vudyavrchorr Mountain. Throughout the 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 Ben", there is a modern world-class museum - eight exhibition halls, two exhibition halls and one gallery. It features interactive models 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 the botanical garden, and is a closed complex built of snow and ice. Here you will see amazing creations of human hands, using 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 the "Snow Village" on New Year's holidays, then be prepared that these days the tourist center attracts just thousands of visitors who want to celebrate the New Year almost in the real house of Santa Claus.
Weather
In general, the Khibiny is warmer than other polar regions, thanks to the warm current of the Gulf Stream and the proximity of the Barents Sea. But in general, winters are long and snowy here, and summers are cold and short, but free from frost. On the outer slopes of the mountains, the climate is softened by the surrounding plains, but in the central part of the massif it is more severe. Snow lies in the mountains from October to June.
If you come to Khibiny between September and April, you can admire the Northern Lights. The polar night begins at the end of December and lasts for about a month, during which time the sun is not shown at all.
In the Khibiny, between the Poachvumchorr ridge and the Takhtarvumchorr massif, there is the Ramsay gorge-pass. The name in 1920 was given to A.E. Fersman in honor of the head of the Finnish expeditions, geologist Wilhelm Ramsay, who studied the geological structure of the Kola Peninsula in 1887-1914. A memorial plaque in honor of V. Ramzai was installed here in 1997.
It is generally accepted that the priority of the geographical discovery of the Khibiny is associated with the names of the captain of the Corps of Mining Engineers N. Shiroshin and the traveler Academician A. Middendorf, who visited the Khibiny in 1834 and 1840. In fact, this mountain range was known much earlier. On the map of the Academy of Sciences back in 1745 east of the lake. Imandra some mountains are shown with primitive icons. The lake itself appeared on geographical maps in 1611, so that the Russian people, crossing the peninsula from south to north, already in those years simply could not help but see the mysterious Lappish tundra covered with "eternal snow". Shortly before Ramsay, the Russian researcher N. Kudryavtsev and the French Sh. Rabo and Sh. Velen visited the Khibiny.
However, A. Fersman, assessing the efforts of all his predecessors to study the Khibiny, especially highlighted the works of V. Ramsay: “…. Finnish geologist V. Ramzai undoubtedly owes the honor of the first scientific illumination of the Khibiny and Lovozero tundras, the first maps of the region and the first study of their petrography, geology and, in part, mineralogy. " As a sign of appreciation for the merits of Ramsay, A. Fersman not only renames one of the gorges, but also calls one of the new minerals ramsaite.
Wilhelm Ramsay
What did Ramsay do so that Fersman himself would define his works as classical? How true is the title of the scientific discoverer of Khibiny?
In 1887, in Finland, then part of the Russian Empire, a solid geographical expedition was equipped to explore the interior regions of Lapland. This expedition marked the beginning of Ramsay's many years of research in the Kola North, which continued for 40 years until his death.
Although Ramsay was not formally the leader of the first expedition, he showed himself to be such a skillful traveler and gifted naturalist that later on by itself the general name of "Ramsay's expedition" became firmly established.
It must be said that in 1887 it was Ramsay's detachment that first crossed the peninsula along the route Kola - Kildin - Voronye - Lovozero - Ponoy - Sveti Nos. Additional surveys made to the north and south of the main direction made it possible to draw up the first geographical map of the peninsula without "white spots" in its center, discover the previously unknown mountain range of the Lovozero Mountains, and give the first information about the geological structure of the peninsula.
Victor Gackman
For the first time, Ramsay saw the Khibiny through the vast expanse of Umbozero, when he climbed the peaks of Luyavrurt, later better known as the Lovozero tundra. But only in 1891 and in 1892. he managed to spend two field seasons here together with his constant companions - petrographer V. Hackman, astronomer and geodesist A. Petrelius, botanist A. Chilman.
The travelers worked in several directions at once. Petrelius began to map mountain peaks, rivers and lakes, watersheds between them, to determine the belonging of the hydrographic network to the Imandra and Umbozero basins. Mountain, pass and r. Petrelius - this is how Fersman immortalized his name on the Khibiny map.
V. Hackman, a brilliant petrographer, having processed the collections of rocks and minerals collected with Ramsay at the University of Heidelberg (Germany), established the presence of completely new minerals: lovenite, eudialyte, sphene, astrophyllite, murmanite, loparite. The river, cutting the Yukspor mountain in two, received the name of Gakman on the map of the Khibiny, which was also taken care of by Academician Fersman.
The botanical and geographical discoveries of the third comrade Ramsay are also not forgotten. Fersman assigned his name to one of the peaks of the Western Khibiny, although, of course, Chilman most of all explored the eastern parts of the peninsula, where he discovered the Cave ridge, discovered permafrost on
It is believed that the most important thing, i.e. V. Ramsay did not find apatite deposits. But in the respectable academic multivolume "Geological Study of the USSR" it is authoritatively said that Fersman compiled his map of rocks and minerals with an indication of the ring structure on the basis of Ramsay's map. Without these fundamental generalizations, apatite would have remained hidden from human eyes for a long time. Fersman himself said very accurately about this: "The objectives of our research were: against the background of the classical works of V. Ramsay to give a complete geographical and geological survey of mountain ranges."
In addition, in the time of Ramsay, it was precisely the theoretical interest in the Apatites that was natural. After all, neither the demands of the then agriculture, nor the technological capabilities of the industry, nor the geographical conditions - nothing allowed counting on the practical use of this mineral. Ramsay summarized his research in several monographs and articles written mainly in German. None of his 18 published works on the Khibiny and the Kola Peninsula have ever been published in Russian.
As befits a true scientist, Ramsay paid tribute to those who began to study the Khibiny before him. That is why on today's map of this unique mountain range there are peaks named after Kudryavtsev, Rabo and Middendorf.
