Sights of Murmansk and the Region: A Journey to the Heart of the Arctic

Sights of Murmansk and the Region: A Journey to the Heart of the Arctic

мурманск и его окрестности

Murmansk and its environs are a unique corner of Russia, where nature, history and culture intertwine in amazing harmony. The city, located beyond the Arctic Circle, is the world’s largest Arctic settlement. Its attractions and the region’s natural resources attract tourists from all over the world. In this article, we will tell you about the most interesting places in Murmansk and its environs.

Contents:

Murmansk: a city where history and modernity meet

Semyonovskoye Lake

Lake Semenovskoye is one of the most picturesque places in Murmansk. It is located in the city center and is a favorite place for both locals and visitors. In summer, you can walk along the embankment, go boating, or simply enjoy the views of the water and surrounding hills. In winter, the lake turns into a skating rink, where the atmosphere of winter fun reigns. Next to the lake there is a park with monuments and sculptures telling the history of the city.

Art museums

The Murmansk Regional Art Museum is the cultural pearl of the city. Its permanent exhibition features works by classics of Russian painting: Ivan Aivazovsky (Seascapes), Ivan Shishkin (Forest Distances), Vasily Polenov, as well as contemporary artists of the North, such as V.N. Bubentsov and Aleksey Grishin. A separate hall is dedicated to Sami decorative and applied art — bone carving, beadwork and traditional ornaments.

Monument «Alyosha»

The Alyosha Monument, or the Monument to the Defenders of the Soviet Arctic, rises on the Zeleny Mys Hill. The 35.5-meter-high monument, erected in 1974, is visible from any point in the city. At its foot burns the Eternal Flame, and nearby is an alley with military equipment: tanks, anti-aircraft guns, and aircraft from the Great Patriotic War. This place is a symbol of the courage of the soldiers who stopped the fascists on the approaches to Murmansk.

Nuclear icebreaker «Lenin»

The world’s first nuclear icebreaker, Lenin, moored at the sea terminal, has now been turned into a museum. Visitors can see the crew cabins, engine room and captain’s bridge. A separate exhibition tells about the conquest of the Northern Sea Route and the role of the icebreaker in the development of the Arctic. Tours are held daily, but require prior registration.

Murmansk Region: Natural Treasures of the Arctic

Natural and Protected Areas

Lapland Nature Reserve (150 km from Murmansk). You can get there by car or bus to the village of Monchegorsk, then by taxi. The reserve, founded in 1930, protects untouched taiga forests and reindeer populations. The «mountain-circus» Ebruchorr, where bears spend the winter, is also located here.

мурманск кадалакшский заповедник

Kandalaksha Nature Reserve (200 km, by bus to Kandalaksha). The oldest reserve in Russia (1932) is famous for its bird colonies: thousands of guillemots, cormorants and seagulls nest on the steep cliffs of the White Sea islands.

Geological formations

Batareisky Waterfall (20 km from Murmansk). By car or taxi on the R-21 road. The 20-meter-high waterfall is surrounded by granite cliffs covered with pine trees. In the summer, you can have a picnic here, and in the winter, admire the ice pillars.

Lake Batareyskoe is located 1 km from the waterfall. It is known for its crystal clear water and abundance of grayling. The road to the lake is unpaved, an SUV is recommended.

Pictures with views of Murmansk nature and lakes

картины пейзажи батарейское озеро

On the website you can buy original landscapes in oil on canvas, with views of northern nature.
The artist Nadezhda Tsvetkova painted these pictures during the northern plein air, a trip to the Kola Peninsula.
In the photo are landscapes with Lake Batareyskoye and a waterfall flowing into it.
Nadezhda’s paintings are kept in many private collections in Russia and abroad.

Teriberka and the ship cemetery

мурманск кладбище кораблей

The village of Teriberka (120 km from Murmansk) became famous after the filming of the movie «Leviathan». The road is partially unpaved: in summer it is accessible by regular car, in winter — only by SUV. The main attraction is the ship graveyard on the shore of the Barents Sea. Rusty hulks of ships thrown out by storms create a surreal landscape. Nearby is a pebble beach, where in winter you can observe the northern lights.

Khibiny Mountains (200 km, bus to Kirovsk).

хибины фото

The highest massif of the Kola Peninsula (Yudychvumchorr Peak, 1200 m). Apatites are mined here, and tourists go skiing in the Bolshoy Vudyavr complex or visit the Museum and Exhibition Center of JSC Apatit with an exposition of minerals.

Features of northern nature

Polar night and day

From December 2 to January 11, the sun does not rise above the horizon, and from May 22 to July 22, it does not set. During the polar night, the sky is illuminated by the northern lights (the best time is from October to March).

Flora

ягель морошка вороника

Reindeer moss is the staple diet of reindeer. It grows 3-5 mm per year and is collected only by indigenous peoples under quotas.

Cloudberry is a golden berry that ripens in July. It is used in jams and liqueurs.

Crowberry is a black berry with a high vitamin C content.

Animals

The forests are home to fire foxes, wolverines and rare birds: gyrfalcons and white-tailed eagles. In the coastal waters there are ringed seals and beluga whales.

Tourist tips:

The best time to visit is from February to April (northern lights and winter activities) or from June to September (warm weather and berries).

Be sure to try local delicacies: muksun stroganina, cloudberry pies and tea made from arctic herbs.
And also delicious sea urchins.

Murmansk Oblast is a land where history, nature and culture merge, creating an unforgettable experience for every traveler.