To the Lovozero tundra (Russia, Murmansk region) does not overgrow the tourist trail. But this region has also been mastered by mining enterprises. After all, the mountain ranges on which the tundras are located are made up of valuable, sometimes unique minerals. These are nepheline syenites, rare earth metals, tantalum, niobium, cesium, cerium, eudialyte. But the mining industry does not interfere with tourism. You are waiting for routes that run through the virgin mountain tundra. The harsh northern nature and the inaccessibility of these places gave rise to a large number of legends. We saw here both a UFO and a Bigfoot, and the local population believes that a mysterious city of shamans is hiding under the mountain range. Hiking in these places is very popular, despite the vagaries of the weather. River rafting is also famous. In this article we will talk about the Lovozero tundra, their nature, relief. We will also provide information on popular tourist routes.
Location
The Kola Peninsula on the map of Russia is located in the extreme northwest. Ter, Kola, Murman - so they called in the old daysthese harsh places of the Arctic. They are inhabited by the Sami or, in other words, the Lapps. Now the indigenous people of the Kola Peninsula are an ethnic minority. But all geographical names still bear Sami names. So, the tundras of interest to us are called "Luyavrurt". Some confuse them with the Khibiny. But these mountains are located several tens of kilometers to the west and are a completely different range in composition. Luyavrurt or, as the tundra is also called, Lovozero, stretched out in the shape of a horseshoe. If we consider the Kola Peninsula on the map, then the tundra is located in its west, but east of the Khibiny. The area of Lovozerye is almost a thousand square kilometers. This is the second highest range after the Khibiny. The highest point of the mountain range is Angvundaschorr. It is only sixty meters below Lyavochorra, the main peak of the Khibiny (1189 m above sea level).
Climate
Most of the Kola Peninsula lies north of the Arctic Circle. Therefore, one should not count on special heat. But the winters here are not as severe as you might expect from a map. Indeed, in the extreme north-west of Russia, the warm breath of the Gulf Stream is felt. On the coast of the Kola Peninsula, the temperature in January averages eight degrees with a minus mark. But since the tundra is a rather high mountain range, the altitudinal zonality must also be taken into account. Very strong piercing winds blow here, and snow can fall even in July. By the way, about summer. It is quite cool here - the same eight degrees, only with a plus mark. High air humidity and piercing wind contribute to the fact that a personfeels this temperature as close to zero. When hiking, please bring very warm clothing.
Relief
Lujavrurt is the oldest mountain range on our planet. And in terms of the variety of useful minerals, he knows no analogues. In the west, Luyavrurt is bounded by Umbozero. The eastern boundary of the ridge is another body of water. It is called Lovozero. Due to the conditionally mild climate formed by the Gulf Stream, this area lies in the natural zone of the taiga. Coniferous forests approach the mountain range from the north and south. But due to the altitudinal zonality, the slopes of the ridge are occupied by tundra. These mountains have an average height of eight hundred and fifty meters. Their characteristic feature is the absence of pronounced peaks. The mountains have, rather, flat tops, but the slopes are steep, steep. The ridge reaches its highest height in the west. There is the peak of Angvundaschorrd. The eastern part of the massif is occupied by low hills up to four hundred meters.
Nature
Lovozero is a bizarre mystical combination of blue lakes, waterfalls, ringing streams and rocky cliffs. The scree sometimes has such regular outlines that it seems as if it is a pavement laid out by the ancient Hyperboreans. On the shores of icy lakes, snow lies all year round. And Lovozerye is also raised bogs, overgrown with moss soft as a featherbed, and, of course, mountain tundra. At the foot of the mountains there are birch and berry forests, where in summer there are a lot of blueberries, blueberries, cloudberries, lingonberries, and in autumn - mushrooms. Everyone who has visitedOn the Lovozero tundra, they will tell you that the main representatives of the local fauna are midges. But they will stop chasing you with height. In the center of the Lovozero tundra lies the mystical Seydozero. It, together with the adjacent slopes and gorges of the mountains, is part of the Seidyavr reserve. In the protected nature reserve you can meet many species of birds.
Equipment
Due to the steep slopes and extremely poor roads, only hiking is possible in this region. On the other hand, numerous routes have been laid along the Lovozero tundra, some of them include elements of rafting. A typical hike lasts from four days to a week. All routes are of medium difficulty. The peculiarity of the mountain range is such that you first need to overcome steep rocky slopes. Then the path runs through fairly flat terrain. Therefore, it is necessary to approach the choice of hiking shoes with responsibility. Preference should be given to sturdy trekking boots with grooved soles. During the hike, you will often have to wade through mountain streams. To do this, you will have to take “coral slippers” with you (flip-flops and flip-flops without fastening on your feet can be carried away by the current). Be sure to have a strong raincoat on the trip, which will not be torn to pieces by a strong wind. And finally, a sleeping bag. It must be designed for low temperatures. Trekking poles are welcome on the hike (they can be occupied by ski poles). And bring warm clothes with you!
Lovozero tundra: routes
Hiking starts from differentsettlements of the Kola Peninsula: Apatity, Krasnoshchelye, Revda, Olenegorsk … But most of the routes necessarily go to Seydozero. This reservoir is located in the very center of the "horseshoe" of the Lovozero tundra. Tourists also pay attention to two circuses of Raslak. These geological formations are almost perfect round bowls with a diameter of several kilometers. An ancient glacier dug out sheer walls of circuses up to two hundred and fifty meters high. Some routes include climbing the main summit as well as Mount Alluive. This is one of the few "thousanders" in the Lovozero mountain range. The Pass of Geologists will connect Alluive with Angvundaschorrd. So you don't have to go down and then climb up. Seydozero is the pearl of all Lujavrurt tundra routes without exception. Many people specially come to the Kola Peninsula to see this reservoir. Its shores are full of various "religious buildings" of the ancient Sami. And fans of the space hypothesis are sure that seids, houris and other formations are the work of an unearthly civilization. At the end of the hike, tourists can visit the Museum of the History of the Sami.
Ghost villages
The Lovozero tundra is also interesting because tourists often come across abandoned settlements on their way. Once the region was the center of the mining industry. Geologists, builders, workers of the plant, and lumberjacks settled in the mountain tundra and on the slopes of the mountains. Now the area is completely given "at the mercy" of tourism. But the ghost settlements remained. The last inhabited village is Revda. Helocated north of Mount Alluive, a few kilometers. Tourists departing from Revda pass Ilma. This ghost town was abandoned in the forties. Even further away is the once populated area of Alluive. It was founded in 1937 and abandoned by the residents in the fortieth.
Red Slit
This is the third largest village in the Lovozero tundra. Six hundred and five people live there. Krasnoshchelye is interesting because in this settlement people live in a patriarchal economy. There is a reindeer farm here. The Saami also survive by fishing, gathering mushrooms and berries. There are no year-round roads connecting Krasnoshchelye with other settlements. The usual communication is by air. People come here to look at the patriarchal life of the Sami, and then go to the Lovozero tundra.
Typical route. Day One
As mentioned above, hikes in the Luyavrurt mountain tundra last from four to seven days. At the same time, the group is recruited not very large - about ten people. There are routes in which inflatable boats are used for transportation. But the channels between the lakes are often swampy, and you have to drag the shuttles knee-deep in the water. There are few merry rifts, as in the Khibiny, in the Lovozero tundra. A typical route starts from Olenegorsk, the nearest railway station in Lujavrurt. From this town, a minibus takes the group to the village of Revda. From it begins the exclusively walking part of the route to the Lovozero tundra. The hike starts the next morning. And on the first daytourists are invited to see the Stone Museum in Revda. Local artisans make various souvenirs from scattered rare minerals. Sometimes it is possible to drive an SUV to an abandoned mine on the slope of Mount Karnasurta. This place is interesting because three unique minerals were discovered here, which are not found anywhere else on the planet - laplandite, lovdarite and zorite. Tourists move nine kilometers along the Ilmayok riverbed. After passing the Voronya Gora (Karnasurta) pass, they descend to the Elmorajok stream and set up camp for the night.
Second and third day of the hike
Some itineraries offer radial (circular) light walks around the camp. Numerous mountain trails lead up from the Elmorajok stream. Without much luggage, tourists climb along the Tulbnyunuai stream to the top of Kedykvarpahk (one thousand one hundred and eighteen meters above sea level). From this mountain, the name of which is translated as "Rockfall", a beautiful panorama of the entire range opens up. In the absence of clouds, even the Khibiny are visible. The road along the stream is very picturesque. The Tulbnyunuai brook dug a deep canyon with high and sheer walls in soft rocks. Cascades and waterfalls will accompany tourists all the way. In the taiga at the foot of the mountains there are many thickets of blueberries, crowberries and lingonberries. On the third day, tourists leave the camp and reach the key point of the hike - Seydozero. There are many convenient parking lots on the banks of this vast reservoir. But it is best to camp at the confluence of the Kukluhtnyunuai stream on the northern side of the lake. There is a sandy beach hereand, if you're lucky with the weather, you can swim. On the south side rise the peaks of Chivruailatv and Ninchurg.
Seidozero
All routes dedicate at least a day to this pearl of Lujavrurt. There is a path along the entire shore of the lake. Sometimes there are berries. Since the Lovozero tundra is a protected area, a forester lives here. His hut is the only building for many kilometers of wild and deserted terrain. What you need to know about Seydozero? There are legends about this reservoir. Some of them are quite modern. So, it is believed that Raslak's circuses are take-off sites for UFOs. But scientists have found out that the glacier created these two round "bowls". On the coastal rock of Seydozero, one can still discern the figure of Kuyva. Although it has been proven that this bas-relief was created by nature and consists of stones, overgrown with moss and lichens, popular rumor still endows it with miraculous power. However, under the influence of erosion, Kuyva is gradually destroyed and loses its “human appearance”. Now, to see an old man with a beard in the rock, you need to strain your imagination very much. Legends say that in the bowels of Mount Ninchurg, on the southern shore of the lake, a secret city of shamans is hidden. Modern studies have not confirmed the presence of caves in the massif. But travelers continue to call the lake Shamansky and consider it the "Place of Power of the Sami".
Fifth and sixth days of the hike
Leaving the relatively comfortable shores of Seydozero, tourists begin to conquer the mountain range. The dirt road rises steeply along the turbulent river Kukluhtnyunuay. Along the waythere are cascades, beautiful pearl waterfalls. At first, the road leads through the forest, winding between firs and spruces. Then thickets of dwarf birch begin and, finally, a group of tourists rises to the mountain tundra zone. This is the flat top of Mount Kuyvchorr (the name is associated with the same character Kuyva). From above, an incomparable view of the blue Seydozero lying as if in the palm of your hand opens. Walking on the flat tops is quite easy, but you need good sturdy shoes, as you have to step over piles of stones. The local mountains are composed of sedimentary rocks. Therefore, among the stone chaos, no, no, and even there are even slabs, as if hewn by a human hand. This gave rise to the myth that once in the Lovozero tundra there was a civilization of the Hyperboreans, who paved the road. After a fifteen-kilometer march, tourists stop for the night on the banks of the Svetlaya River. The next day, the group descends its waterfall-rich course. Having crossed the river (the width of the stream in this place is ten meters, and the depth, if there was no rain, thirty centimeters), tourists get on the path leading to Lake Svetloe. On its shore, at the foot of Vavnbed, the group, which covered nine kilometers that day, spends the night. On the lake you can feel the proximity of civilization. At least cell phones are picking up the signal.
Last day of hike
A week has passed, which means it's time to leave the Lovozero tundra. The end of the route usually looks like this. The group from the Svetloye reservoir goes to Lovozero. The path for tourists is crossed by the river Sergevan. Since there is no ford here, you need to overcome the water barrierwill be on a suspension bridge. Then you need to reach the village of Lovozero. But to get to the village, you must first go around the swamp with terrible swamps. The transition from Svetly to the village of Lovozero is twelve kilometers. We have described a typical seven-day itinerary. But there are also shorter ways. The fairly wide and deep river Motka flows into Seidozero. The upper course of the water artery is located near the village of Lovozero. Therefore, there is the possibility of transferring tourists by boat. In Lovozero there is a Museum of the History of the Sami. It is recommended to visit it to complete the impressions received during the trip. There are also grocery stores in Lovozero where you can buy groceries for the train. In this settlement, a minibus is already waiting for tourists to take them to the railway station in Olenegorsk. There are also alternative starting points for hiking. For example, in the western part of the ridge, from the village of Vahtovoye. To explore the southern, highest peaks of the Lovozero tundra, you should climb the path along the Chivruai valley from Seydozero.
