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The capital city of Murmansk oblast: Murmansk.
Murmansk oblast (region) (also spelled Murmanskaya) is a federal subject of the Russian Federation, part of North-West Federal District. The administrative center and capital city is Murmansk. The territory of the region is located mainly on Kola Peninsula.
Murmansk region population is about 780,000 (2012); land area - 144,902 sq. km.
Murmansk province is located in Northern Europe, on Kola peninsula as well as on Rybachy peninsula. Most part of the region is above the Arctic Circle. On the west it is bordered by Norway and Finland, on the south by the Republic of Karelia and is washed by the White and Barents Seas.
Murmanskaya oblast is located on Baltic crystalline shield. It is a real mineralogical treasury, no other one can be compared with it in such a variety of minerals and deposits. Over 700 minerals (about 25% of all known on earth) were found in it. Over 100 of them are met nowhere else.
Main deposits are apatite (Khibin deposits). Apatite is a valuable raw for phosphoric fertilizers and are mined in the region from old times, nepheline is used for producing alumina, soda and cement.
The second largest deposits are Olenegorsky and Kovdorsky iron (about 10% of all Russian iron extracted) deposits. Apatite is also mined at Kovdorsky deposit. Copper and nickel ores at Pechenga and Monchegorsk deposits give also cobalt, platinum, osmium, iridium and many others.
Oil is extracted from the Barentsev Sea shelf, one of the largest gas fields in the worlds is found here - Stockman gas field. Unique Lovozerskoye deposit has the largest collection of rare metals.
There are almost unlimited deposits of aluminum raw (Keyvy) and lithium ores and rare metals on the territory of the region. Also there are a lot of deposits of construction rock and half precious stones. Diamonds have been found lately.
Murmansk region nature view
Murmansk region landscape
Murmansk province nature
Murmansk region has developed transport system. The province is an important trade center of Russia. There are two large airports: “Murmansk” (in Murmashy near Murmansk city) and “Khibiny” (in Apatithy). Murmansk airport has international status with regular flights to Finland, Norway and Sweden.
Federal highway M-18 “Kola” crosses the region from Saint-Petersburg through Petrozavodsk, Murmansk, Pechenga to the border with Norway (an international automobile customs “Borisoglebsk”).
In October 2005, a bridge across Kola bay was put into action and it is a juncture providing automobile transportation of districts in Murmansk region and a way towards frontiers with Scandinavian states (Norway, Finland) and connection of most of the province with Murmansk.
The climate in the southern part of Murmansk region is of moderate sea type, in northern part - sub-arctic greatly softened by warm Gulf Stream which enables navigation throughout a year. In winter polar nights are typical and in summer - polar days.
Fishing, mining, chemical and non-ferrous metallurgy industries are well developed. There is a unique extra deep borehole in the region - Kolskaya - it is 12 km deep, at present it is closed.
There are also two large commercial sea ports in Murmansk province (Murmansk sea port and Kandalaksha sea port). It should be mentioned that Murmansk city sea port is the only non-freezing port in the north-west part of Russia.
Murmansk is also the base of Russian nuclear icebreakers fleet. The main export goods of the province are non-ferrous metals, apatite concentrate and fish products.
Today this region is becoming more popular among people fond of ecological tourism. Environmental tourism is being developed, mainly foreign tourists are eager to live where there has been no human being before (for example, tourist site near Yokanga).
Murmansk region view
Murmansk oblast view
Murmansk oblast scenery
Murmansk region lake
Murmansk province river
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