Rest in khibiny. Khibiny mountains: information, photos, where they are on the map, the height of the mountains What are the Khibiny

Khibiny - the name of this mountain range caresses the ears of travelers. Stunning snowy peaks, tundras with dwarf birches, powerful waterfalls and quiet clear lakes appear before your eyes. The combination of mountains and swampy massifs of the Khibiny looks unusual: it is worth seeing it at least once in a lifetime. 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 khibiny

Khibiny can be reached by car, train and plane. If you prefer the first option, go towards Murmansk along the P21 highway. Then exit onto E105. Continue driving until 1230 kilometers - 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 on any Murmansk. They depart from Moscow, St. Petersburg, Vologda, Minsk. In summer, resort routes from Novorossiysk, Adler, Astrakhan are added. The cost of a reserved seat depends on the station at which you stepped into the car. If this is Moscow, you will have to pay 3,000 rubles. The train follows the route within 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 modes of transport run infrequently. The best option get to Kirovsk by taxi and get out at the Pirozhkovaya stop. So you will spend 100 rubles against 600 for delivery to the city center. Many Kirov minibuses depart from Pirozhkovskaya.

What are Khibiny

The Khibiny are considered the oldest 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 time of year. The height of the mountains is 800-900 meters, the highest point is Mount Yudychvumchorr - 1200 meters.

Khibiny from space is a fascinating sight. They look like a stone flower, opening its petals towards the northern sun. In clear weather, the mountains are especially clearly visible - the sharp peaks of the rocks cut the blue sky and inspire fear in travelers. Local residents are afraid to approach the Khibiny in winter - they understand how much danger the icy slopes pose.

The name of the mountain was 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 locals they changed it to Khibiny.

Attractions Khibiny

Visitors to the Khibiny are advised to explore the numerous hiking trails and walk to the Gorge of the Blue Lakes and the Pyrrhotite Gorge. On the way you will come across a 1950 adit. An interesting hike is ahead if you have chosen the Molybdenum Mine as the Khibiny attraction. To get there you need to go out on the road laid in 1930. In turn, the ford of the river leads to it. The mine offers an excellent view of Maly Vudyavr and Mount Poachvumchorr.

Takhtarvumchorr plateau - landscapes for lovers of surrealism. The pictures that open to travelers are similar to Martian ones. Unusual minerals are scattered on the ground. Along 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 Lappish blood fell, eudialyte, a reddish mineral, grew. Not far from the gorge there is a waterfall and a clean, bright lake.

The Kukisvumchorr plateau is another attraction of the Khibiny, famous for its Academic Lake. It is sky-emerald in color, the water is clear and very cold. A delightful route goes along the banks of the seething river Risjok, through the South Rischorr pass. On the way there is a grouchy waterfall and slopes of incredible beauty.

The sights of Apatit are interesting for both adults and children. There is a research center for experiments, the Museum of Mineralogy. The exposition is represented by hundreds of unique minerals. Some of them are not found anywhere in the world.

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 International cultural center and art gallery "M". 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 "Ark".

If you are lucky enough to visit Apatity in February, visit the annual Stone Flower exhibition. Hundreds of craftsmen offer to purchase stone products: jewelry, household items and kitchen utensils. It is impossible to imagine this magnificence: you just need to see it.

In the summer in Apatity, Akademgorodok and the square near the Polyarny cinema are noteworthy. Roses, wild roses, lilacs and other beautiful flowers grow in the square. Everything is fragrant. Nearby is a monument to the heroes of the Great Patriotic War.

Tourism in Khibiny starts from Kirovsk. It is located next to the Bolshoy Vudyavr lake. The Temple of the Savior of the Image of Jesus Christ is considered a significant attraction. The sanctuary is decorated with nine bronze bells. Especially for Kirovsk they were made by the Ural masters. The decoration of the temple is rich: many icons, some of which are myrrh-streaming.

Visit local history and mining and geological museums. Go to the Museum of Literature. It is designed in the thoughtful and philosophical spirit of the writer Erofeev. Admirers of his work will feel in their native element.

Obligatory attraction of Kirovsk is the Polar-Alpine Botanical Garden-Institute. ON. Avrorin. This is a protected area with hundreds of plants. Many are unique. The administration of the garden offers excursions to the nursery and the greenhouse. It definitely won't be boring.

In winter, not far from the botanical garden, there is an area called the "Snow Village". As soon as the first snow falls, dozens of ice and snow figures. They are life-sized characters 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. It is in the center of the city, so you can easily get to the main sights and train stations. Nearby there is a restaurant where you can have a tasty and inexpensive dinner. The rooms are comfortable and new furniture, private bathrooms.

On Victory Street, 29a there is a hotel Izovella, which in Sami means "Light breath of wind." The peculiarity of the hotel is its location - half a kilometer from the city, among the thicket. In the evening you will be provided with wonderful walks and fresh air. Another representation of the hotel is the recreation center Apatit "Rus". From its windows a beautiful view of the lake Imandra opens. There is a hall, billiards, a gym. There is a banquet hall for celebrations.

The Sheri Hotel on Gladysheva Street, 6a is popular. It has only five rooms, but each is furnished in a homely and tasteful way. There is a TV, a wardrobe and a seating area. Linen is provided free of charge. Catches WI-FI.

In Guba Kislaya there is a secluded recreation center Apatit - Berloga. Beautiful log cabins, Sami milestones and a birch-wood sauna - what else does a weary 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 snowmobiles and turntables.

Hotels in Kirovsk

There are expensive hotels in Kirovsk. This is due to the availability of routes along the Khibiny beauties. 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 relax. At the same time, prices are not too high: a tourist with a modest budget can stay here, paying 1,500 rubles for a room. Expensive room costs 7000. Aikuayvenchorr ski slopes are nearby.

Hotel Ekkos 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. Families with children are offered rooms with a kitchen.

You can comfortably spend your holidays 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. The rooms are freshly furnished and have free WI-FI.

The Khibiny mountains have a unique climate. It is formed by arctic and Atlantic winds, changeable even in warm weather. There is a polar night, which has a significant impact on the formation of weather conditions. Very humid: it rains often, but the evaporation is weak. Coupled with sharp gusts of wind, ordinary rains turn into mountain thunderstorms.

There is no concept of "season" on the Kola Peninsula. All the 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 at the end of 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 sets in.

Summer holidays in the Khibiny will appeal primarily to climbers. However, if you are not active tourist, dont be upset. The mountains offer plenty of easy hiking trails allowing you to enjoy the stunning nature of the north. Visit Lake Maly Vudyavr: it is located between dense forest and mountains. A great place for a picnic and outdoor games.

Another unusual place worth visiting on a summer vacation is the Ganeshina 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 reach Mount Kukisvumchorr. A fast river Yuksporryok flows there - it will lead to the Schel 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 to the south - there you will see apatite ore quarries and the Tulyok River.

Not far from the Umbozersky pass there is a beautiful waterfall. It fully justifies 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 photographs will cause aching boredom in the heart for many years to come.

Winter holidays in Khibiny is represented by ski resorts and exciting excursions on snowmobiles. Famous trails run along the slopes of the mountains Aikuavenchorr and Kukisvumchorr. There are three complexes on the top of Aikuavenchorr - Aikuay, Colasportland and Big Woodyavr. The length of the trails is more than 30 kilometers. Here you can find something for every taste - go skiing, snowboarding or go down the hill on a colored bun.

Stopped in Apatity? Then go to Sparrow Hill. It is perfect if you are a beginner or teaching children. In addition, the slope is protected from the wind, so skiing here is comfortable and warm.

Khibiny is a magical land where phones and tablets are not needed. Nature penetrates the soul, disturbing the most intimate memories. It is easy to fall in love or, conversely, to forget. Unbridled joy is not alien to the Khibiny - hiking in a big company will become a vivid life impression.

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 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. Khibiny remain snow-covered most of the year - you can ski from November to June. The rarefied arctic air brings the local climate closer to the highlands. Thanks to stable weather, good snow cover and long daylight hours, this place in April is considered one of the best places in Europe to close the ski season.

The ski capital of Khibiny, the city of Kirovsk, is located 200 km from Murmansk right at the foot of the mountains. Here are the main ski resorts - on the mountains Aykuayvenchorr and Kukisvumchorr. There are also ski areas in the city of Apatity - just 12 km from Kirovsk. Equipped slopes 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 Apatity airport with Moscow and St. Petersburg. Flight time 2.5 hours. You can get from the airport to Kirovsk by taxi (journey time 40 minutes, cost 600-700 RUB) or by bus number 130, which is tied to flights and waits for aircraft in case of delay. The second option is to fly to Murmansk by plane, and then arrive in Kirovsk by intercity bus number 209 (travel time 3 hours, cost 650 RUB). Prices on the page are for October 2018.

The Khibiny also has a well-developed railway connection. Through the station "Apatity 1" trains run to Moscow, St. Petersburg, Murmansk and Vologda. From Moscow to Khibiny by train, you will have to travel more than a day, and travel in a compartment will cost about 3000 RUB. From the railway station to Kirovsk can be reached by bus number 131 or by taxi.

Search for flights to the city of Kirovsk (nearest airport to 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. The average price for a taxi - in the city: 180 RUB, to the Kukisvumchorr microdistrict for 25 km: 250 RUB, to the South slope travel with skis: 350 RUB. In high season, from the final stop of bus number 102 on the street. The Olympic minibuses go to the Southern slope - travel: 85 RUB, and in the spring on weekends there is a special flight for skiers for 65 RUB. The fare from Kirovsk to Apatity - by bus: 65 RUB, by minibus: 50 RUB.

Alpine skiing in Khibiny

The main ski areas in Khibiny are concentrated around Kirovsk. The northern slope of Mount Aikuaivenchorr is within the city limits, where the ski complex "Kolasportland" is located. On the southern slope of the same mountain there is a ski complex "Big Woodyavr" or BigWood. 25 km from the city, in the Kukisvumchorr microdistrict, on the mountain of the same name, there is a ski resort with the same name. All ski areas have trails for both beginners and professionals. The Kukisvumchorr skiing area is distinguished by long descents ranging from 2000 to 2500 m. There are freeride zones everywhere.

In case of bad weather, there are two more options - "Snow Park" in Kirovsk itself, located between the street. Leningradskaya and st. Soviet Constitution, as well as the track on Sparrow Hill in the neighboring city of Apatity. These are illuminated, gentle and safe slopes.

In the Bolshoy Vudyavr ski complex, a ski pass for 2 hours will cost 700 RUB, for the whole day: 1550 RUB. A seasonal ski pass can be bought for 26,000 RUB. In the ski complex "Kolasportland" 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 the ascents depends on the number - from 500 times - 60 RUB. Baby lift rides - 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 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 Gornitsa Hotel offers its guests free WI-FI, 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 camp site for 25 km is prices around 150 RUB per person per day, and the most expensive is in the city center at the Severnaya Hotel, you can rent a presidential room there 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 lovers 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 geographical maps, amulets made of bone, slippers made of deer skins, Saami figurines made of leather, horns, wood and fur, as well as magnets, housekeepers and photo frames made of firewood - 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, pickled lingonberries, pickled mushrooms, and dried Murmansk ruff for those passing through Murmansk.

Cafes and restaurants Khibiny

You can warm up and have a delicious 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 pizza portion costs 40 RUB, and a banana-strawberry fresh juice costs 65 RUB. There is a place to leave boards and skis. The restaurant "Severny" at the hotel of the same name offers, in addition to dishes of European cuisine, a separate menu with northern delicacies and treats. It includes Arctic cuisine dishes - Lopar strudel, Lovozero venison, cod cheeks, arctic salmon soup. A 5-course business lunch is served daily from 12:00 to 15:00 at a price of RUB 300 per person. A business lunch at the same time, but for 250 RUB, takes place in the Nikafe cafe, there is also a bar with a full range of alcoholic drinks. In the entertainment center "Big Woodyavr" there is not only a bar-restaurant, but also a bowling alley and a disco.

There are cafe-bars at all major ski points, but the choice there is small and 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 just rent a wooden house in the wilderness and take a break from the bustle of the city, enjoying the pristine beauty of this region.

So, for example, you can go on a snowmobile tour in the central part Kola Peninsula to get acquainted with the life and life of the Kola reindeer herders, feel the atmosphere of the tundra, try local cuisine and stock up on many unforgettable experiences.

In order to purchase any program or excursion, please contact the tour operators of Kirovsk. Apart from ski slopes there is also a flat, 14-kilometer ski track where you can ride snowmobiles. You can also rent a helicopter and take a tour over the peaks of the massif. In general, entertainment - abound.

The beauty of the Arctic 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 to travel hiking July is considered, and the most beautiful month for one-day outings is September. In addition to long hiking there are also one-day routes available to everyone - on Blue Lakes, to the lake Maly Vudyavr, in the Shorokhov gorge, to the waterfall and Kupel lakes.

Polar Alpine Botanical Garden-Institute

Khibiny is the main attraction of the Murmansk region in itself. But even here there are many interesting places worth visiting. For example, the Polar Alpine Botanical Garden is the northernmost botanical garden, located on Mount Vudyavrchorr. 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 Khibiny - the northernmost botanical garden - is located on Mount Vudyavrchorr. In total, there are three botanical gardens around the world, located beyond the Arctic Circle.

Museum and Exhibition Center

In the remarkable 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 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 movie screenings.

Literary Museum of V. Erofeev

in the Central City Library. A.M. Gorky, an exposition dedicated to the talented fellow countryman of the Kirovites, Venedikt Erofeev, the author of the poem "Moscow-Petushki", was assembled. The exposition is distinguished by its original design: above the entrance door there is a map of the route Moscow - Petushki, the room takes the visitor to the beginning of the Brezhnev era, the tour is accompanied by the voice of the writer reading his satirical lines on Soviet reality.

snow village

A unique building called "Snow Village" is located in Kirovsk, near 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" in new year holidays, then be prepared that these days the tourist center attracts simply thousands of visitors who want to meet New Year almost in the real house of Santa Claus.

Weather

In general, it is warmer in the Khibiny than in other polar regions, thanks to the warm Gulf Stream and the proximity of the Barents Sea. But in general, the winter here is long and snowy, and the summer is cold and short, but without frost. On the outer slopes of the mountains, the climate is moderated by the surrounding plains, but in the central part of the massif it is more severe. From October to June there is snow in the mountains.

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 about a month, all this time the sun does not appear at all.

In the Khibiny, between the Poachvumchorr ridge and the Takhtarvumchorr massif, there is a gorge-pass of Ramsay. The name in 1920 was given by A.E. Fersman in honor of the leader of the Finnish expeditions, geologist Wilhelm Ramsay, who studied the geological structure of the Kola Peninsula in 1887-1914. Here in 1997 a memorial plaque was erected in honor of V. Ramsay.

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. Shirokshin 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 primitive icons show some mountains. The lake itself appeared on geographical maps in 1611, so that the Russian people who crossed the peninsula from south to north, already in those years simply could not help but see the mysterious Lapp tundras covered with “eternal snows”. Shortly before Ramsay, the Russian explorer N. Kudryavtsev and the Frenchmen C. Rabo and C. Velen visited the Khibiny.

However, A. Fersman, assessing the efforts of all his predecessors in the study of the Khibiny, highlighted the works of V. Ramsay: “…. The Finnish geologist V. Ramsay certainly deserves the honor of the first scientific coverage 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 of Ramsay's merits, A. Fersman not only renames one of the gorges, but also calls one of the new minerals ramzaite.

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, which was then part of the Russian Empire, a solid geographical expedition was equipped to study 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 the generalized name "Ramsay's expedition" was strengthened by itself.

It must be said that in 1887 it was Ramsay's detachment that first crossed the peninsula along the route Kola - Kildin - Voronye - Lovozero - Ponoi - St. Nose. Additional surveys made to the north and south of the main direction made it possible to compile the first geographical map of the peninsula without "white spots" in its center, to discover the previously unknown mountain range of the Lovozero Mountains, and to give the first information about the geological structure of the peninsula.

Viktor Gakman

Ramsay saw the Khibiny for the first time through the spacious expanse of Umbozero when he climbed the peaks of Luyavrurt, later better known as the Lovozero tundra. But only in 1891 and 1892. he managed to spend two field seasons here together with his constant companions - petrographer V. Gakman, astronomer and geodesist A. Petrelius, botanist A. Chilman.

Travelers worked in several directions at once. Petrelius began to map mountain peaks, rivers and lakes, the watersheds between them, to determine whether the hydrographic network belonged to the Imandra and Umbozero basins. Mountain, pass and river. Petrelius - this is how Fersman immortalized his name on the Khibiny map.

V. Gakman, a brilliant specialist 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 that splits Mount Yukspor in two was given the name of Gakman on the Khibiny map, which Academician Fersman also took care of.

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, i.e. V. Ramsay did not find apatite deposits. But in the solid academic multi-volume book “Geological Exploration of the USSR” it is authoritatively stated that Fersman compiled his map of rocks and minerals, indicating the ring structure, on the basis of the Ramsay map. Without these fundamental generalizations, apatite would have remained hidden from human eyes for a long time. Fersman himself very precisely said about this: “The objectives of our study were set: against the background of the classical works of V. Ramsay, to give a complete geographical and geological survey of mountain ranges.”

In addition, during the time of Ramsay, it was precisely the theoretical interest in apatites that was natural. After all, neither the demands of the then agriculture, nor the technological capabilities of industry, nor geographical conditions - nothing allowed us to count 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 was ever 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 bearing the names of Kudryavtsev, Rabo and Middendorf.

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 the domed peaks.

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On the slopes, the taiga-birch forests are quickly replaced by forests (and then the forest-tundra) of low-growing birches.

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For a half-hour walk, you can get acquainted with 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 ruins:

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Khibiny living creatures - tundra partridge, apparently:

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Ski resort Big Woodyavr, descending from the southwestern spur of Aikuaivenchorr, 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 they don’t clean up what has completely served its time - in the best Arctic traditions:

76. On the east coast - cargo mine station Yuksporryok:

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Behind it is the Yuksporryok-1 microdistrict with an industrial zone, a sump, the Khibinogorsk monastery and the base of the Faculty of Geography of Moscow State University; I did not visit there, despite my many years of belonging to this faculty.
Behind Yuksporryok, along the valley of the river Yuksporryok, there is the Rasvumchorr plateau and the "Central" mine, where I also did not visit, which is probably even more offensive than in the previous case.

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And from the northeast of Bolshoi Vudyavr, across the lake from the city center - the Kirov mine and the Kukisvumchorr microdistrict (it is also a 25 kilometer village) with a museum named after. 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 Scientific Center of the Russian Academy of Sciences, located mainly in Apatity.

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And I didn’t manage to get there - it seems like only with a tour and warning in advance.
I can only say from other people's words that in this botanical garden, among other things, experiments are being carried out on the cultivation and acclimatization in the Khibiny of all sorts of plants unusual for these high latitudes.

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These are already real Khibiny, a marching country.

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Still, this compact mountain range is surprisingly suitable for light (and not very light) mountain tourism: the climbs 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 are left behind, moving further south.

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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 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 offer very beautiful views from here. Visited by local ski resorts throughout the year, and recently the popularity of this place is only growing. A variety of trails have already been built here, suitable for any level of training of skiers and snowboarders.

The shape of this mountain range resembles two horseshoes, which are located one inside the other. The local valleys here are rich in lakes, and they have become a favorite place for picnics. For lovers hiking and active recreation, several dozens of tourist routes have been developed. The beauty of the Khibiny attracts travelers throughout the year and the flow of tourists is stable here. 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, the average temperature is about -11 °C. But in the mountains themselves, and especially on the peaks, it can be 10-15 degrees colder. Frosts below -35 °C are rare.

In summer, this area is not particularly hot, the average temperature is around +12 °C. On the shores of the White and Barents Seas, it is several degrees cooler. There are thunderstorms and heat here, when the thermometer can exceed + 30-35 ° C.

How to get to Khibiny

It is always more convenient to get to the Kola Peninsula by train, along the Oktyabrskaya railway. By train you will get to Apatit or Khibiny station. During the trip, you will already be able to enjoy the beauty of Karelia and its diversity. It should be noted that the northern and southern nature of the region is quite different.

For those who like to travel by car, you can get to Khibiny quite quickly on modern roads. Do not forget that this is a northern region, so you need to be prepared for any vagaries of the weather, not only in winter, but also in summer. In winter, you should “shod” 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 the day. In summer, too, the climate can be very changeable. A warm summer day can quickly turn into a cold late autumn. Don't forget to bring warm clothes with you, even in summer.

Journey through Khibiny mountains is an exciting adventure for all lovers wildlife and a new sensation, for those who rarely leave their apartments and offices.