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The Lapland State Natural Biosphere Reserve has been operating on the territory of the Murmansk Region since the last century. It is located on the shores of Lake Imandra, in the areas of the Monchetundra and Chunatundra mountain ranges. The watershed of the Barents and White Seas passes through the reserve. The boundaries of the Lapland Nature Reserve can be viewed on the website. 30% of the protected area is tundra, 55%  -  forests. The main value of the protected area is that it is untouched nature.  The territory of the Lapland Nature Reserve covers an area of 278.4 thousand hectares  (8.5 thousand -  water area).

Tourists can see the northern lights here from late August to April.

The buffer zone of the reserve is open for visiting. Since the terrain is very rugged, the journey will not be easy. On the territory of the Lapland Nature Reserve there are five independent mountain ranges, the heights of which vary from 600 to 1114 m. Forests cover more than half of the area of ​​the reserve, large areas also belong to rocks and mountain tundra (about 34%). There are very beautiful waterfalls here, for example, the 30-meter Maiden Braids waterfall, which got its name for the resemblance to the girl's loose hair. It flows down from the Karabashi glacier. Another attraction is the Ebr-Chorr waterfall,  beautiful at any time of the year.

Excursions in the Lapland nature reserve

You can visit the protected area only with a guide, as part of an excursion group. Ticket prices depend on the age of the visitors: adults - 450 rubles; children 3-18 years old - 400 rubles; free admission is provided to pensioners, participants of the Great Patriotic War, members of low-income families, children under 3 years old, groups from orphanages, homes for the disabled and pensioners.  Passing the route, tourists must follow the guide. Excursions are organized all year round.

The nature of the northern region beyond the Arctic Circle attracts many curious travelers.  In winter, meetings with Father Frost are especially popular in the Lapland Nature Reserve. They take place at the Chunozero estate, surrounded by a spruce forest.

Themed excursions are offered at different times of the year:
December - January: New Years celebration. In addition to walking along the ecological path, the program includes games around the fire, downhill skiing, visiting the chum and the palace of Father Frost and tea drinking.
February - March: Shrovetide. Guests participate in games and  creative master classes,  visit chums and museums.
April - May: waiting for summer. The program includes a walk along the eco-trail, a visit to the chum, quizzes, visits to museums and tea drinking.
June - October: sightseeing excursions to the Lapland nature reserve in the Murmansk region. Participants will be able to climb the mountain or walk along the trail, watch a film about the reserve, get acquainted with the exhibits of local museums, play and drink tea.
November: birthday of Father Frost.  In addition to participating in the standard program with a walk around the territory, downhill skiing, tea drinking and a visit to the chum, guests will visit the palace of Father Frost. 

Lapland animals

The protected area is inhabited by 31 species of mammals, including: reindeer, elk, wolf, fox, brown bear, European beaver, marten, weasel, wolverine, American mink, white hare, etc.  Birds in the Lapland Nature Reserve are represented by 206 species. These are:  black grouse, capercaillie, hazel grouse, partridges and others. Among them are not only those who constantly live and nest here, but also migratory species. For the winter, due to the harsh weather conditions, only 20 species remain.  The European beaver disappeared from the Kola Peninsula in the 19th century and was subsequently re-acclimatized in the reserve, it is listed in the Red Book of the Murmansk region.

Lapland  Plants

The local flora is rich in vascular species (625 species), mosses and bryophytes (461), lichens (628), fungi and myxomycetes (436). Some plants of the Lapland Nature Reserve are also listed in the Red Book of Russia - 7 species. It is important to know that picking flowers, berries and seeds on the territory is prohibited. The forests in the Lapland Biosphere Reserve are also interesting as they are old-growth and especially valuable. They appeared here about 10,000 years ago. Pine, spruce and birch are most often found on the territory.