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First of all, Khibiny Mountains is one of the two main mountain ranges of the Kola Peninsula (Murmansk Region). It is the highest mountain range in Russia, which is situated beyond the Polar circle. Moreover, Khibiny is the oldest mountain range in Russia, that’s why they are not very high. They are about one milliard years old. They exist like mountains all this time. The massif has oval shape and occupies about 1,300 square kilometers. It is situated in the central part of the peninsula at a relative elevation of 900-1000 meters above the surrounding plain. The highest point is called Mount Yudychvumchorr; it is 1191mt. The peaks are of plateau type, with steep slopes, with glaciers, ice fields and snowfields in some places. The peaks look like plateau because of the respectable age of the mountains. The overall terrain is alpine tundra. The massif of Khibiny is still seismically active, despite the age.
The nearest big cities of Apatity and Kirovsk are situated at the foot of the Khibiny massif. These cities would be the first point of your Khibiny journey, if you decide to visit this place. The climate in Khibiny is rather severe: the polar night begins in the end of December till the end of January, but the polar lights are to be observed from September till the middle of April. The air is thin like in the highland, because of the polar latitudes. The weather changes very rapidly and radically (from the sunny weather to the snow shower and back), so the tourists should be ready for such surprises.
Khibiny are attractive for the tourism both in winter and in summer. Spending the New Year in Khibiny is becoming popular last time. Winter in Khibiny supposes skiing, reindeer safari, observing the polar lights and even ethno tours with accommodation in the reindeer skin tent.
Khibiny is a place of various possibilities of spending holidays. In the summer you can try skiing or snowboarding, take the sun, bathe in the tarn on the same day.
The main means of transport in Khibiny are snowmobiles and off-roaders, because the mountains are slightly sloping. By the way, this feature makes Khibiny attractive for the beginners in the Alpine skiing and snowboarding. You can also get a skill in driving the snowmobile, some tours include it.
What about the accommodation, there are many hostels and tourist camps different price and level, some tours suppose accommodation in the reindeer skin tents. That is not everybody's cup of tea, only the ecotourism fans’, because the reindeer’s hair. It would follow you long after the trip, appearing on everything your clothes were in the contact with.
You can get to this strange place by different ways. We can provide you Russian visa support, train tickets, if you would go to Apatity by train, renting a flat and guided excursions in St. Petersburg, if you decide to begin or finish your journey with this city.
Yulia Buzykina
Sources:
wikipedia
www.team51.ru
