Lovozero tundra is a mountain massif on the Kola Peninsula in the Murmansk region. Description, tourist routes
To Lovozero tundra (Russia, Murmanskregion) is not overgrown with a tourist trail. But this region is mastered by mining enterprises. After all, the mountain ranges, on which there are tundra, are composed 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 the routes that run through the virgin mountain tundra. Severe northern nature and inaccessibility of these places gave rise to a large number of legends. We saw here a UFO and a snowman, and the local population believes that a mysterious city of shamans is hiding under a mountain ridge. Hiking in these places is very popular, despite the vagaries of the weather. Also enjoys fame rafting on the rivers. In this article we will talk about Lovozero tundra, their nature, relief. We also provide information on popular tourist routes.
Location:
The Kola Peninsula on the map of Russia is located on thefar north-west. Ter, Kola, Murman - so called in the old days these harsh places in the Arctic. They are populated by the Saami or, in other words, by the Lapps. Now the indigenous people of the Kola Peninsula are an ethnic minority. But all the geographical names still bear Saami names. So, the tundra of interest to us is called "Lujavrurt". Some confuse them with the Khibiny. But these mountains are located several dozen kilometers to the west and are an absolutely different in composition ridge. Lujavrurt or, as the tundra, Lovozero, also called, stretched out in the shape of a horseshoe. If we consider the Kola Peninsula on a map, then the tundra is in its west, but east of Khibin. The area of Lovozero is almost a thousand square kilometers. This is the second highest mountain range after the Khibiny. The highest point of the ridge is Angvundascorr. It is only sixty meters below Lyavochorra, the main peak of Khibiny (1189 m above sea level).
Climate
Most of the Kola Peninsula liesnorth of the Arctic Circle. Therefore, it is not necessary to count on a special heat. But the winters here are not so severe, as one might expect, looking at the map. After all, in the extreme north-west of Russia there is a warm breath of the Gulf Stream. On the coast of the Kola Peninsula, the temperature in January is an average of eight degrees with a minus mark. But since the tundra is a fairly high mountain range, it is necessary to take into account high altitude zones. There are very strong piercing winds here, and snow can fall even in July. By the way, about the summer. It's pretty cool here - the same eight degrees, only with the "plus" mark. High air humidity and piercing wind contribute to the fact that a person feels this temperature as close to zero. Going on a hike, you need to take a very warm clothes.
Relief
Lujavrut is the oldest mountain massif on ourplanet. And on the variety of useful minerals he does not know analogs. In the west, Lujavrut is limited to Umbozero. The eastern boundary of the ridge is another pond. 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 in view of 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 vertices. The mountains have rather flat tops, but the slopes are steep, steep. The highest ridge reaches in the west. There is the top of Angwondaschord. The eastern part of the massif is occupied by low hills up to four hundred meters.
Nature
Lovozero is a bizarrea mystical combination of blue lakes, waterfalls, ringing creeks and rocky cliffs. Stony screes sometimes have such regular outlines that it seems as if it is a pavement laid out by ancient Hyperboreans. On the shores of ice lakes, snow lies all year round. And Lovozero - this is the upper marshes, overgrown with moss-like moss, and, of course, the mountain tundra. At the foot of the mountains there are birch forests and berry berry where in the summer there are a lot of blueberries, blueberries, cloudberries, cowberries, and in autumn - mushrooms. All those who have visited the Lovozero tundra will tell you that the main representatives of the local fauna are midges. But they will stop chasing you with a height. In the center of the Lovozero tundra lies the mystical Seydozero. It, along with the adjoining slopes and gorges of the mountains, enters the reserve Seydyavr. Many species of birds can be found in the protected nature reserve.
Equipment
In view of the steep slopes and extremely badOnly hiking is possible in this region. But along the Lovozero tundra numerous routes are laid, some of them include elements of rafting. The usual hike lasts from four days to a week. All routes are of medium complexity. The peculiarity of the mountain ridge is that first you need to overcome steep stony slopes. Then the road runs through a fairly flat terrain. Therefore, it is necessary to take responsibility with responsibility for choosing shoes for the campaign. Preference should be given to strong trekking boots on corrugated soles. During the trek, wading through mountain streams often happens. To do this, you will have to take with you "coral slippers" (flip-flops and flip-flops without fastening on your feet can carry away the current). It is necessary to have a strong raincoat in the campaign, which will not tear to pieces a strong wind. And, finally, sleeping bag. It should be designed for low temperatures. Welcome to trekking sticks for trekking (they can be occupied by skiing). And take warm clothes with you!
Lovozero Tundra: routes
Hiking tours start from different populated areaspoints of the Kola Peninsula: Apatity, Krasnoshchelya, Revda, Olenegorsk ... But most routes necessarily go to Seydozers. This reservoir is located in the heart of the "horseshoe" of the Lovozero tundra. Do not ignore the tourists and two circuses of Raslak. These geological formations are almost ideal round bowls a few kilometers in diameter. The ancient glacier dug the sheer walls of circuses up to two hundred and fifty meters. Some routes include the conquest of the main peak, as well as the mountains of Alluaiv. This - one of the few "thousand" in the mountain range of Lovozero. The pass of the Geologists is connected by Alluaiv with Angwondaschord. So you do not need to go down to climb up. Seydozero is the pearl of all routes without exception on the tundra of Lujavrurt. Many people specially come to the Kola Peninsula to see this pond. Its banks are full of various "cult structures" of the ancient Sami. And the admirers of the cosmic hypothesis are sure that seidas, gurias and other formations are the work of an unearthly civilization. At the end of the hike, tourists can visit the Museum of Saami History.
Ghost communities
Lovozero tundra is also interesting becauseThe ways of tourists often meet abandoned settlements. Once the edge was the center of the mining industry. In the mountain tundra and on the slopes of the mountains, geologists, builders, mill workers, loggers settled. Now the region is completely given up to the "to buy" to tourism. But the ghost settlements remained. The last inhabited village is Revda. It is located to the north of Mount Alluaiv, a few kilometers away. Tourists departing from Revda, pass Ilmu. This ghost settlement was abandoned in the forties. Further away is the once inhabited place Alluaiv. It was founded in 1937 and amicably abandoned by residents in the fortieth.
Redshine
This is the third most populated villageLovozero Tundra. There live six hundred and five people. Krasnoshchelie interesting that in this settlement people live patriarchal economy. There is a reindeer farm here. The Saami also survive by fishing, gathering mushrooms and berries. There are no all-year-round roads linking Krasnoshchelie with other settlements. The usual message is by air. People come here to look at the patriarchal way of life of the Saami, and then go to the Lovozero tundra.
A typical route. The first day
As already mentioned above, hiking in the mountain tundraLujavrut last from four to seven days. At the same time, the group is 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 swamped, you have to drag the shuttles down to their knees in the water. Funny rifts, as in the Khibiny, in the Lovozero tundra are few. A typical route starts from Olenegorsk, the nearest railway station in Lujavrurt. From this town minibus brings the group to the village of Revda. From it begins only the hiking part of the route to the Lovozero tundra. The campaign starts in the morning of the next day. And on the first day tourists are invited to see the Museum of Stone in Revda. Local artisans from rare rare minerals scattered around make various souvenirs. Sometimes it is possible to drive up an SUV to an abandoned mine on the slope of Mount Carnasurt. This place is interesting because there were discovered three unique minerals that are not found anywhere else on the planet - laplandite, lindarite and dawn. Tourists are moving nine kilometers along the Ilmayok river. After passing the pass of the Crow of the Hill (Carnasurt), they descend to Elmorajok stream and camp for the night.
The second and third day of the trek
In some routes, radial(circular) walks lightly around the camp. From the creek Elmorajok lead up many mountain trails. Without special baggage, tourists climb along the Tulbnunuai stream to the top of Kedykvarpakhk (one thousand one hundred and eighteen meters above the sea level). From this mountain, whose name translates as "Rockfall", a beautiful panorama of the whole ridge opens. In the absence of cloudiness, even the Khibiny are visible. The road along the stream is very picturesque. Creek Tulbnunuay dug in the soft rocks a deep canyon with high and steep walls. Cascades and waterfalls will accompany tourists all the way. In the taiga at the foot of the mountains there are many thickets of blueberries, crows and cowberries. On the third day, tourists are removed from the camp and reach the key place of the trek - Seydozero. On the banks of this vast pond there are many convenient parking lots. But it is best to camp in the place of the confluence of the Kukluhtnunuy brook on the north side of the lake. There is a sandy beach and if you are lucky with the weather, you can swim. On the south side, the tops of Chivruylatv and Ninchurge rise.
Seydozero
This pearl of Lujavruta is dedicated to all routesat least a day. A path is laid along the whole shore of the lake. Sometimes there are berries. Since the Lovozero tundra is a protected place, a forester lives here. His hut is the only building on many kilometers of wild and deserted terrain. What do you need to know about the Seizose? There are legends about this pond. Some of them are quite modern. So, it is believed that the circuses of Raslak are take-off areas for UFOs. But the scientists found out that he created these two round "bowls" glacier. On the coastal rock of the Sejdozero one can still distinguish the figure of Kuyva. Although it was proved that this bas-relief was created by nature and consists of stones, covered with moss and lichen, people's rumor still gives it a miraculous power. However, under the influence of erosion Kuiva gradually collapses and loses the "human face". Now, to see an old man with a beard in the rock, you need to strain your imagination. Legends claim that in the depths of the Ninchurg mountain, on the southern shore of the lake, is hidden the secret city of shamans. Modern studies have not confirmed the presence of an array of caves. But the lake is still the travelers continue to call Shamansky and consider it "the seat of the Saami forces."
Fifth and sixth days of trekking
Leaving the relatively comfortable coast of Seydozer,tourists begin to conquer the mountain range. The dirt road rises steeply up along the turbulent Kukluhtnuyuai river. On the way there are cascades, beautiful pearl waterfalls. First the road leads through the forest, winding between fir trees and firs. Then a thicket of dwarf birch begins, and finally a group of tourists rises to the zone of mountain tundra. It is a flat top of Kuivchorr mountain (the name is associated with the same Kuivoy character). From above opens an unmatched view of the blue Seydozero lying on the palm of your hand. It's easy to walk on flat tops, but you need good strong shoes, because you have to step over the piles of stones. The mountains here are made of sedimentary rocks. Therefore, among the stone chaos, no, no, and there are even slabs, as if carved with a human hand. This gave birth to the myth that once in Lovozero tundra there was a civilization of hyperboreans who paved the way. After a fifteen-kilometer march, tourists stop for the night on the bank of the river Svetlaya. The next day the group descends along its water-flowing course. Crossing the river for a wade (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 Svetloye. On its shore, at the foot of Vavnbed, the group, which has covered nine kilometers on this day, sleeps. On the lake, the proximity of civilization is felt. At least, they catch the signal of cell phones.
The last day of the trek
A week passed, which means it's time to leaveLovozero Tundra. The end of the route usually looks like this. The group from the pond Light goes to Lovozero. The way to tourists crosses the river Sergeev. Since the ford is not here, it will be necessary to overcome the water obstacle on the suspension bridge. Then you need to reach the village of Lovozero. But in order to get to the settlement, you should first bend the swamp with eerie swamps. The transition from the Bright to the village of Lovozero is twelve kilometers. We described a typical seven-day route. But there are shorter ways. A fairly wide and deep river Mothka flows into the Seydozero. The upper course of the waterway is near the village of Lovozero. Therefore, there is the possibility of transfer of tourists by boat. In Lovozer there is a Museum of the Sami history. It is recommended to visit it in order to supplement the impressions received during the hike. Also in Lovozero there are grocery stores where you can buy food on the train. In this locality of tourists there is already a minibus waiting to take them to the station in Olenegorsk. There are alternative starting points for hikes. For example, in the western part of the ridge, from the village of Vakhtovoe. To survey the southern, highest peaks of the Lovozero tundra, it follows from Seydozer to climb the trail along the valley of Chevruai.
