Khibiny is a mountain system that has attracted researchers and nature lovers since ancient times. They are not as inaccessible as other areas. You can get to the mountains by car. Or another option is to get to Murmansk by plane or train.
Location and Terrain
The Khibiny Mountains are located on the Kola Peninsula between Imandra Lake and Umbozero. They are an array of plateau-shaped peaks. The highest point is 1201 m. This is Yudychvumchorr mountain, which is part of the Khibiny massif. The height of the mountains averages 1000 meters.
There are many traces of ancient glacial activity. This is indicated by such relief forms as circuses and punishment. And also the troughs - valleys plowed by a glacier, similar to troughs.
There are the results of the activity of permafrost - kurums, the so-called stone rivers. And on the plateau there are whole stone seas.
Geological structure
The Khibiny Mountains represent a crystalline structure - intrusion. This is a solid geological body composed of rocks of magmatic origin. There are only 8 such intrusions in the world. This horseshoe-shaped massif is mostly composed of rocks - nepheline syenites. In ancient times there were huge volcanoes that cooled down, and magma underwent crystallization. Therefore, about 800 different minerals are found here. Some of them are specific only to this territory.
The names of modern settlements correspond to the minerals found here: Nepheline Sands, Apatity, Titan. After the heavy glacial shell descended from these mountains, this territory experienced a tectonic uplift. It occurred unevenly, as evidenced by the nature of geological structures. They have the appearance of funnels, the edges of which are composed of older rocks than the center. For about 20 million years, the Khibiny mountains rose 500 meters above the surrounding plains. Then there was a long break of 15 million years. Then again the mountains began to grow, this time their height doubled.
Climate
Climatic conditions, depending on the geographical location, have the Khibiny Mountains. On a map of the Northwest in the European part of Russia, you can see that most of the peninsula is located beyond the Arctic Circle. Despite this fact, the climate here is much warmer than in other areas of the Far North. The severity of local weather is smoothed by the proximity of the Barents Sea, as the North Cape flows into this part of the ocean. Therefore, the climate here is quite mild, and severe frosts are relatively rare.
Due to the presence of Khibin in the Arctic, twilight reigns here for six months. In winter, daylight is very small and lasts 2-3 hours. The polar night lasts about four months - a period when the sun does not rise from the horizon. And due to the proximity to the planet’s magnetic pole, one can observe a very impressive phenomenon - the northern lights.
Summer lasts two and a half months. The highest positive temperatures are +20 in July. The average month is +13 degrees. The coldest period lasts during January. The average temperature of the month is -11 degrees. And the most negative mark in winter -35 0 is in the Khibiny Mountains. The photos of these places show that fogs and high clouds are often here. This indicates the effect of cyclones on the territory. Precipitation falls mostly in the form of snow.
Flora
The vegetation cover consists of several zones. The zone of coniferous and mixed forests is located mainly at the foot of the mountains and in river valleys at low altitudes. This belt ends at an altitude of 470 meters and occupies a third of the massif. Spruce and birch prevail in it. In the forest you can find mountain ash, aspen and bird cherry.
Above begins a zone of subalpine birch forests. It stretches a narrow strip between the belts of the forest and tundra. Here there is growing dwarf birch, a swimsuit, geranium, an artifact.
Next is the mountain-tundra zone. It occupies about half the entire area of the Khibiny Mountains. Shrubbery is common below. In early August, the berry period continues. Ripe blueberries, blueberries, cloudberries. In early autumn, the time comes lingonberry. Above is a moss-lichen tundra. Mosses are dominated by green and sphagnum. Lichens cover large boulders of stone rivers. Many plants included in the Red Book grow here.
Place names
The Sami are considered to be indigenous people in the Khibiny region. On the map of these mountains are entirely names in the language of this people. Nevertheless, their meanings are different. Since there are several dialects in the Sami language of the Kola Peninsula.
One of the versions of the origin of the name of the mountains from the word "hiben" is a flat hill. The Sami conditionally divided the Khibiny Mountains into two parts: Umbozersky and Lavozersky. The first in their language sounded like Umptek, the second - Luyavrurt.
The Saami first came up with the name of the river, and then the valley was called from it. And then ridges were designated. The first part of the word is a sign of the subject (tall, rocky). The second designated a geographical object (mountain, river, lake). For example, Lake Vudyavr. Wood is a hill covered with shrubs. The root of yavr is the lake. Thus, the Sami gave simple descriptions of objects. Among them, Woodyavr is a lake on a hill with a bush.
The Khibiny Mountains are a wonderful land in which one wants to visit. This is a unique place where mountains, tundra, many lakes with clear water and the northern lights combine. Khibiny is rightly called the treasury of minerals.