The song of the war years “Farewell, Rocky Mountains” was heard by many, and some may even remember the words of this song, which mentions the Rybachy Peninsula, melting in the distant fog. But at the same time, few people thought: where is this land? It is located in the very north of the Kola Peninsula, beyond the Arctic Circle, 150 km from the regional center of Murmansk. And Cape German, located on the peninsula, is the northernmost geographical point of the mainland of the European territory.
History of the Peninsula
In this harsh but beautiful place, located on the shores of the Barents Sea and Motovsky Bay, people began to settle a long time ago. The name of the Rybachy Peninsula, according to surviving documents, was given back in the 16th century. And indeed, in the waters surrounding the peninsula, which do not freeze all year round thanks to the North Cape current, Pomors have been fishing since ancient times (herring, capelin, cod, etc.). The peninsula began to belong to the Russian Empire in 1826, when the state border with Norway was finally established. After the 1917 revolution, the western part of the islandwent to Finland, which was later annexed to the USSR after the Soviet-Finnish war.
During the Great Patriotic War, the Soviet Arctic became the scene of fierce battles between the Soviet troops and the Wehrmacht troops. The German command attached great importance to the capture of the Kola Peninsula, rich in nickel deposits, and planned to capture Murmansk, the main base of the Northern Fleet, as soon as possible, but these plans were not destined to come true. The Rybachy Peninsula stood in the way of the invaders, which is the most important strategic point from which the entrance to the Pechenga, Kola and Motovsky bays was controlled. Rybachy remained for them an unsinkable battleship that played a decisive role in protecting the northern borders of our Motherland.
At the end of the war, on the Rybachy Peninsula, located almost on the very border with Norway, which is part of the NATO bloc, there were Soviet military garrisons, and entry into its territory was limited. Currently, most of the garrisons are closed, and almost anyone can get there.
Peninsula today
The Rybachy Peninsula, whose map abounds in bays and bays, rivers and lakes, has become a place of pilgrimage for ecotourism lovers. Fans of off-road racing and fans of extreme diving come here not only from Russia, but also from other countries.
Also, many representatives of youth patriotic clubs arrive on the Rybachy Peninsula in the summer season to visit the places of bloody battles of World War II and supportmonuments to fallen soldiers in proper condition.
This is really the real End of the Earth - further only the boundless expanses of the Arctic Ocean, against which everyone arriving here is sure to take memorable photos. The Rybachy Peninsula and the Sredny Peninsula adjacent to it are also attractive because here you can most often observe the northern lights. Not without reason here are the longest polar nights (42 days) and polar days (59 days) on the mainland.
