Lapland Reserve

Laplandsky Reserve is located in the west of the Kola Peninsula, on the shores of Lake Imandra. Here, in the Monchetundra and Chunatundra mountain ranges, one of the largest protected areas in Europe is located. The core of the reserve consists of territories, the nature of which has been preserved in a pristine state: ancient virgin forests, crystal clear lakes, untouched tundras. Access here is closed to tourists, there must remain pristine beauty on our planet.

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Highlights

The buffer zone of the reserve is open to the public. As the terrain here is highly rugged, the journey will not be easy. On the territory of the Lapland Reserve there are five independent mountain massifs, the heights of which vary from 600 to 1114 meters. Forests cover more than half of the reserve’s area, and a considerable area belongs to rocks and mountain tundras (about 34%). There are very beautiful waterfalls here, such as the 30-meter waterfall Maiden’s Braids, which got its name because of its resemblance to a girl’s loose hair. It flows down from the Karabashi glacier.

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Another attraction is the Ebr-chorr waterfall, which is unusually beautiful at any time of year and does not freeze even in winter.

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‘ Winter in the reserve

A trip to the Lapland Reserve will be an unforgettable adventure for everyone. Here you can not only get acquainted with amazing representatives of northern flora and fauna, but also, perhaps, find traces of the ancient civilization of the Hyperboreans and penetrate deeper into the mysteries of our planet

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General Information

  • Full name: Lapland State Natural Biosphere Reserve.
  • IUCN Category: Ia (strict nature reserve).
  • Date of foundation: January 17, 1930.
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  • Region: Murmansk region, Monchegorsk district.
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  • Area: 278435 hectares
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  • Relief: rugged, mountainous.
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  • Climate: maritime subarctic.
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  • Official website: http://www.laplandzap.ru/.
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  • E-mail: tur@laplandzap.ru.

History of creation

‘ Shalaika, Sulimov’s dog, Lapland reindeer dog … This animal does not yet have an official name

There is a very interesting breed of dog in the Lapland Reserve – Shalaika, or Sulimov’s dog. Its uniqueness lies in the fact that it is a hybrid of a subtropical jackal from the North Caucasus and a husky from the Arctic Circle. The jackal’s sense of smell is 50 times finer than that of other dogs.

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The most characteristic representatives of the avifauna of the Lapland Reserve are grouse (Tetrao urogallus), ruffed grouse (Lyrurus tetrix), ruffed grouse (Bopasa bonasia), white and tundra ptarmigan (Lagopus lagopus and L. mutus). There are several species of large birds of prey, which are listed in the Red Book of Russia: golden eagle (Aquila chrysaetos), white-tailed eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla), falcons gyrfalcon (Falco gyrfalco) and peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus), osprey (Pandion haliaetus).

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The Lapland bunting (Calcarius lapponicus) is a bird of the bunting family. Often these birds are kept in captivity, as they are well accustomed to humans, obedient and docile.

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There are in the Lapland Reserve and insects. For example, the Lapland cockroach (Ectobius lapponicus) is able to severely damage dried fish. If infested with parasites, it becomes unfit for eating.

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This is interesting

‘ Sacred Seidozero is a real miracle of the Lapland Reserve, created by nature. There are many legends about this place, and people who managed to visit its shores tell incredible stories about the mysterious power of Seidozero.

In the Lovozero tundra of the Kola Peninsula at an altitude of 189 meters there is a mysterious Seidozero (Seidyavr). Translated from the Sami language, “seid” means “sacred”. According to legend, Seid’yavr Lake was one of the places where the ancient Hyperborean civilization existed. Hyperborea (from Greek borey – “north”) – a legendary northern country, in Greek mythology considered the land of happy and blessed people, close to the gods and loved by them. On a rock near the western shore of the lake there is a giant 70-meter long image of a black silhouette – Kuiva. People who have seen it claim that it makes an intimidating impression. Even today, scientists are still not sure whether the Kuiva image is man-made or not. To this day it remains one of the mysteries of the Lapland Reserve. The Lovozero tundra is a very mysterious place: heat comes from the ground here all the year round, mobile and other communications work with great interruptions. Many times people have disappeared without a trace in these places, so locals try not to go deep into the tundra. Finding a guide is extremely difficult.

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Reserve regime

The reserve is open to visitors on specially designed ecological routes, for example to the waterfalls Vaikis, Maiden Spits, Ebr-chorr and Lake Vaikis.It is possible to climb Ebr-chorr – the northernmost and highest peak of the Lapland Reserve (1115 m). In the area of the Chunozersky estate you can familiarize yourself with the technique of building igloos – dwellings made of snow – or go to visit Santa Claus. In 2001 the visit center “The Homeland of Santa Claus” was opened on the territory of the reserve. You can visit the Museum of Nature, the house-museum of German Mikhailovich Kreps – the organizer and first director of the reserve, as well as the quart-museum of Oleg Izmailovich Semenov-Tyan-Shansky.

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How to get there

The easiest way to get to the Laplandsky Reserve is by private transportation. Chunozerskaya manor is the starting point for excursions. The entrance to the reserve is located at the 371st kilometer of the highway Murmansk – St. Petersburg or 1222nd kilometer of the highway St. Petersburg – Murmansk.

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Where to stay

At 40 kilometers from Monchegorsk is the village of Laplandsky Reserve, on the territory of which there are tourist bases. You can stay at the Chunozersky estate.

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