(Source: https://pixabay.com/ru/photos/баренцево-море-териберка-россия-3720041)

The Murmansk region is unusual in many ways. Despite the fact that it occupies one peninsula, the variety of landscapes in its various parts is just stunning. 

The Arctic is one of the most wonderful regions of our country, and its nature is unique. There are three nature reserves in the region, and 48 objects are declared natural monuments. There is an opportunity for people tired of the hustle and bustle of the city to go in for ecological tourism and relax in natural parks here.    

Teriberka

This is one of the most picturesque places in the North and the most accessible for tourists who want to admire the beauty of the Arctic Ocean and the Barents Sea and take beautiful pictures. The village is located 130 kilometers from the regional center, but you can get here by a regular bus from the Murmansk bus station.

The history of Teriberka began in the distant 16th century, but the historical buildings in the village have not survived, all the buildings belong to the Soviet era, and they are in a deplorable state.   

Waterfall on the Chapoma river

This waterfall is the pride of the Murmansk land. It is the largest on the Kola Peninsula both in length and in the height of the fall of water. This unusual waterfall is located 8 kilometers north of the mouth of the Chapoma River, where rocks rise above the river banks, forming a small but very beautiful canyon. This is a state hydrogeological natural monument of the Kola Peninsula.   

Kuzomenskie sands

The unique Northern Desert, as the Kuzomen Sands are sometimes called, is located near the Pomor village Kuzomen. They are also called red because of the fragments of the rocks of which they are composed, and singing, because sometimes they really sing. People come here to participate in ATV races, and  in the hope of seeing wild horses not afraid of people.    

Kandalaksha seids

On the territory of the Kandalaksha region, there are huge stone boulders installed on three smaller stones - seids. The Sami endowed them with magical powers, performed ceremonies, witchcraft rituals and sacrifices. In total, more than two hundred seids have been discovered in the Volosyan Sopka area, and scientists still argue about their purpose.   

Polar-Alpine Botanical Garden-Institute

This unique botanical garden is one of the three botanical gardens in the world located in the Arctic Circle. It was founded in Kirovsk in 1931 by a young botanist and geographer N.A.Avrorin who came to the Murmansk region from Leningrad. The garden occupies 1670 hectares of territory in the Umptek valley on the slopes of the Vudyavrchorr and Takhtarvumchorr mountains, it includes a park with nurseries, greenhouses and various exhibitions. There is a unique collection of plants from various geographic regions of the globe, a greenhouse with a collection of tropical and subtropical plants, a museum and even a living corner. Walking enthusiasts will be interested in the ecological path that runs along the mountainside through all the vegetation belts of this zone.

The Lapland State Natural Biosphere Reserve

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.

Lake Seydozero

The heart of the Kola Peninsula includes the sacred Lake Seydozero, called Seydyavr in Saami language, which means “the lake of mountain spirits”. It is located in the heart of the Kola Peninsula, in the area traditionally known as Russian Lapland. Seydozero is surrounded by mountains on three sides.

The Khibiny Mountains

The Khibiny Mountains on the Kola Peninsula are relatively young, they are “only” 350 million years old. And they are relatively low - no higher than 1,200 meters (the top is Yudychvumchorr), although they still grow by several millimeters each year. The history of the reclamation of Khibiny looks more like a history of struggle against them - the mountains are very stubborn. Saami, the indigenous people of the Kola Peninsula, came here only in summer. According to the Saami legend, the evil spirit of Khibiny punished those who invaded his possessions. Thus Saami poetize the dangerous mountain avalanches which are not tamed until today.

The Kola Peninsula  

The Kola Peninsula has long possessed a stable reputation of an interesting tourist area. The map of the peninsula has virtually no blank spaces. Travelers cross the peninsula in all directions, the routes of many groups have passed the areas that were previously considered inaccessible. Perhaps, it isn’t possible to find such a variety of natural conditions anywhere. The proximity of the tundra, forest-tundra and forest zone makes it possible to get acquainted with the flora and fauna of two or three natural zones during one trip. You can go hiking in the mountain areas and across vast plains, as well as reach the coast of the most northerly ocean, visit the utmost point of the earth, lay a ski track through snow-covered passes in winter, and go kayaking through turbulent rapids in summer season.