Lake Imandra coordinates. Lake Imandra, Murmansk region

In the European part of Russia, in the Murmansk region.

The local Lapp name for the lake, “Aiveryavr,” has fallen out of use. The lake was also called Innmandera, which means “ice continent”, or “large ice expanse” (“inn” - “ice”, “mandera” - “continent”).

Among the Sami, “imandra” are large lakes with a winding coastline and many islands.

The lake is located in the western part of the Kola Peninsula and belongs to the White Sea basin. With the creation of a hydroelectric power station on the river in 1952.

Niva (now a cascade of hydroelectric power stations), the lake was backed up and became a reservoir of long-term regulation.

Despite its significant size and position on the main route between the White Sea and Murman, the lake appeared on maps only in 1539. The topography of the Imandra basin was described in 1840. The lake was mapped by a Finnish expedition in 1887–1892. In 1880, the expedition route of the Russian Geographical Society passed through the lake basin. Work on the study of Imandra began in 1924 at the Murmansk Biological Station. In the 1960s expeditions of the State Research Institute of Lakes and Fisheries (GosNIORH) conducted research to study lake pollution, and since the 1970s. The Kola Scientific Center of the Russian Academy of Sciences conducts multicomponent studies of the variability of the lake’s ecosystem. Imandra.

There are more than 140 islands in the lake, the largest of which is Erm (26 km 2). The lake has a complex lobed shape and morphologically consists of three separate reaches: Bolshaya (Khibinskaya) Imandra (area 328 km2), Yokostrovskaya Imandra (351 km2) and Babinskaya Imandra (133 km2). The river begins at the Yokostrovsky Reach. Niva flowing into the Kandalaksha Bay of the White Sea. The range of level fluctuations before regulation was 95–109 cm, after the construction of the hydroelectric power station it increased to 200–205 cm. Since 1973, thanks to the commissioning of the Kola Nuclear Power Plant, the water level release by the Nivskye hydroelectric power station cascade does not exceed 1.5 m.

The highest levels are observed at the end of June, the lowest in April; The lake freezes in November and opens in May. Due to the regulation of the reservoir, the maximum water level remains until freezing. Surge fluctuations in water level can be caused not only by wind effects, but also by pressure differences over different parts of the lake. The lake has pronounced discharge currents (in the Yokostrovsky Strait 2–3 cm/s) and wind currents (the highest surface speed of the latter, according to observational data, is 17 cm/s). Cold bottom water masses move north under the influence of long-term northern winds, driving warm surface water to the south.

These compensatory currents cause mixing of the water column and heating of the deep layers of the lake.

After the ice melts, the water quickly heats up and direct stratification is established. Due to intense insolation, a significant amount of heat penetrates through the ice cover, which leads to an increase in the water temperature under the ice to 4°C. After the ice melts, the upper layer of water warms up most strongly, up to 10 m (on the surface - up to 14–18°C in July). During calm periods, a layer of temperature jump can form, which rarely lasts longer than one decade. In shallow bays, the water is usually warmer due to the influx of warm river waters. By the end of October there is a cooling to 4°C and a transition to reverse stratification.

By the beginning of November, the bays (lips) of the lake are covered with ice; by mid-November, ice is established on the open parts of the lake; strong winds can repeatedly break up thin ice. In winter, the temperature varies from 0°C in the surface layer to 2.6°C in the bottom layer due to heat transfer from the soil.

The shores of the lake are represented by various types: rocky, boulder (the most common), pebble, sandy and swampy-peaty.

The presence of mineral deposits and the convenient location of the main highways contributed to the development of the industrial complex in the lake basin. Main industries: mining, metallurgical industry, iron ore production. A nuclear power plant was built on the lake, more than 300 thousand people live, and railroads and highways run along the lake. The lake is polluted both as a result of wastewater discharge and due to the fall of pollutants from the atmosphere. Sulfates, chlorides, phosphorus, petroleum products, nickel, iron, copper, suspended and organic compounds enter the lake. Emissions of sulfur dioxide have led to acidification of the watershed. The greatest load on the lake was observed in 1970–1990.

Before the development of the watershed began, water mineralization was low – 20–30 mg/l.

The content of total phosphorus corresponds to the natural background only in the Babinskaya Imandra reach (5–13 µgP/l).

In Bolshaya Imandra, its concentration reached 80–130 µgR/l (up to 200–300 µgR/l at the wastewater disposal sites of JSC Apatit). The average long-term values ​​of total nitrogen in the water of the Bolshaya Imandra reach were 200–400 µg/l, in other reaches they did not exceed 300 µg/l.

Based on the ratio of nitrogen and phosphorus, we can talk about eutrophication of the stretch.

A large species diversity of phytoplankton was noted in the lake; in the Bolshaya Imandra reach, the phytoplankton biomass ranged from 1.5–3.0 g/m 3 (mesotrophic type). In other reaches, these values ​​are respectively 0.7–1.1 g/m3 and 1–3.5 mg/m3 (oligotrophic type). The taxonomic structure of the zooplankton community is a good indicator of the degree of pollution of the reservoir as a whole and its individual parts. Rotifers are the most resistant to the influence of wastewater; with distance from sources of pollution, the proportion of cladocera and copepods increases.

The biomass of zooplankton is greatest in the Bolshaya Imandra reach (1.26–2.91 g/m3), in Yokostrovskaya and Babinskaya Imandra – 0.67–1.0 g/m3. The ichthyofauna of the reservoirs of the Kola North, including Lake Imandra, is relatively poor in species. Due to anthropogenic pressure, the species composition of fish has changed: only whitefish predominate, and the number of char and brown trout has decreased significantly. In polluted areas, fish exhibit pathologies. ² Settlements on the lake: Monchegorsk, Imandra, Khibiny, Tik-Guba, Afrikanda, Zasheek. Fishing is widespread, and the reservoir is used for timber rafting and water supply.

In April, an international race with kites and other winter sails is held on the ice of the lake.

M.G. Grechushnikova ². In total, the islands occupy about seventy km ². In early November, ice covers the entire surface of Imandra and lasts almost until the end of spring. On the hottest July days, the surface layer of water and shallow water can warm up to 18 degrees.

About twenty tributaries flow into the lake, of which the largest are the Belaya, Monche and Pirenga rivers. The waters of Lake Imandra are carried into the Kandalaksha Bay of the White Sea by the Niva River. Before the construction of a number of hydroelectric power stations on it, the area of ​​the lake was almost 60 km smaller ².

The Shirokaya Salma and Ekostrovsky straits divide the reservoir into three large reaches or three Imandras: Bolshaya Khibinskaya, Ekostrovskaya and Babinskaya.

The largest in area is Ekostrovskaya Imandra, which has the shape of an elongated oval and occupies almost half of the lake’s water area. It is connected to Babinskaya Imandra by the kilometer-long Hare Salma Strait. Its rugged coastline forms numerous bays, of which the largest are considered to be the lips: Tik, Okhtokanda, Knyazhaya and Zasheechnaya.

Bolshaya Imandra is smaller in area, but larger in water reserves, which account for more than 60 percent of the lake’s volume. Most of the islands, eighty of them, are located in the waters of Bolshaya Imandra. Of the many lips or bays, the following stand out due to their size: Monche, Kurenga, Kislaya, Belaya and Vite. The eastern coast, from the Khibiny side, is much less indented.

Babinskaya Imandra, the smallest of the three reaches, has a rounded shape. The largest island lies in its waters. Here the coastline also forms many bays, of which the following bays should be mentioned: Molochnaya, Kamka, Kun-chast, Cheverez and Upolaksha.

The huge perimeter of the lake and the complex geological structure of the coast are the reason for the variety of types of shores, the nature of which varies from rocky to boulder, sandy, pebble or marshy. In some areas, soils on the banks are represented by several types at once. During waves on the lake, the waves reach a meter, but the islands partially dampen their force and provide shelter for ships.

On the coast is the city of Monchegorsk and the villages of Tik-Guba, Khibiny, Afrikanda, Zasheek and Imandra, which was once a thriving town. Nearby is the large city of Apatity and a smaller city - Kirovsk. All of them pollute the water of Imandra with domestic and industrial wastewater. Drinking water is also drawn from it. In the 90s, there was some clearing of the ecosystem due to a decrease in industrial waste caused by a decline in the metallurgical industry.

The huge reservoir is still struggling, but it copes with pollution, remaining a lake full of fish, which are successfully caught and still eaten.

Those who prefer traveling can visit the Lapland Nature Reserve located to the west or follow the water route of the scientist-naturalist and geographer of the nineteenth century Middendorf: along the Imandra and Niva - to Kandalaksha Bay. But the lake has not become famous for fishing and travel in recent years. Its endless expanse of water or ice and constant winds have made the lake a springboard for athletes of all sports who use sails in their arsenal.

Every year in the spring, an international 100-kilometer race on boards (snowboards, skateboards) on ice under kites and other parachute-sails imitating the wings of a kite is held here. They practice kiting on the lake and, in the summer version, on wakeboards, and windsurfing, which is characterized by the vertical installation of the sail on the board.

In winter, the lake is also visited by lovers of skimbat and ice sailing (skating on ice in a special sailing boat). Skimbat is a type of windsurfing with a sail loosely attached to the board, which the athlete holds in his hands. In winter he wears skis, snowboards or skates on his feet, and in summer he wears a skateboard or rollerblades on land. This equipment is used for climbing uphill and jumping from 20-30 meters. The maximum jump length was recorded in the mountains at 290 meters.

In recent years, sea kayaking and rowing slalom have been practiced on the Imandra, and kayaking, downhill and freestyle on the rapid tributaries. In addition to sport, sailing ships are also used simply for taking vacationers on a ride.

For fishing, active recreation and extreme sports, there are about a dozen on the shores of Lake Imandra.

lake Big Imandra

View of Lake Imandra from the Khibiny Mountains.

Lake Imandra is the largest lake on the Kola Peninsula, its area is 876 square meters. km. The lake stretches from north to south for 109 km, width - 19. The greatest depth is 67 m. It is located on the territory of the Lapland Nature Reserve. The lake was first discovered during the expedition of geologist N.V. Kudryavtsev in 1880. Above the surface of the lake one can see many such islands, unlike each other, over 140 in total, the largest of them is Erm Island in Babinskaya Imandra - 26 square meters. km.

Iokostrovskaya Imandra

in the photo: Erm island in Babinska Imandra

The lake is divided into three parts:

the northern part is Big Imandra with an area of ​​328 sq. km (length about 55, width 3-5 km);

the central part is Iokostrovskaya Imandra with an area of ​​351 sq. km (width about 12), connected to Bolshaya Imandra by the shallow Iokostrovsky Strait, its width at the narrowest point is 700 m;

West Side - Babinskaya Imandra with an area of ​​133 sq. km., connected to the central part of the lake by the short Shirokaya Salma Strait.

On the western shore, many rivers flow into Lake Imandra (Pirenga, Witte, Monche and others), which form complex lake-river systems. The Niva River begins from Iokostrovskaya Imandra.

The lake has very clean, transparent water: at a depth of 11 meters the bottom is clearly visible. Powered by snow and rain. There are a lot of fish. The most attractive milking for fishermen is salmon, whitefish, and grayling.

The city of Monchegorsk is located on the lake, as well as such settlements as Khibiny, Imandra, Tik-Guba, Afrikanda, Zasheek.

On Lake Imandra, kite sailing competitions over a distance of 100 km are held every winter.

Legend of the Murmansk region - Lake Imandra . This amazing lake is located on the Kola Peninsula, or rather, in its southwestern part. The largest lake space in the Murmansk region fills the meridian tectonic fault and is the basin of the White Sea.

The waters of Imandra flow at the foot of part of the Khibiny Mountains, creating the amazing natural beauty of the Lapland protected area.

This lake has amazing dimensions: the reservoir area is 876 square kilometers. With such a huge area, the length of the water body is 109 km, and the coastal length is 750 km. The deepest studied zone of the lake is 67 meters, and its average depth is 16 meters. The lake contains approximately 140 islands of various sizes. The largest island, 24 square kilometers, is Erm.

Lake Imandra is divided by three daughter zones: Babinskaya, Bolshaya and Ekostrovskaya. These zones are geographical parts of a given water area, and they are connected by the Zayachya Salma and Ekostrovsky Straits. Niva is the river that became the source of this legendary reservoir. The Imandra water valley contains about 20 tributaries, the largest of which are Pirenga, Monche and Belaya.

A little history

Iveryavr is the name given to Lake Imandra in Lapp. This lake was also called “Innmandera”, which translated meant “large ice expanse” or “ice continent”. The real name among the Sami fully characterized the lake itself by its extensive coastline, powerful water content and multiple formations of different-sized shores.

Since 1952, the lake has become a reservoir, as a hydroelectric power station was built at its source. In 1539, the lake appeared on maps, and it was mapped only in 1887-1892. In 1840, he first produced the topography of the Imandra basin. In 1924, a biological station in Murmansk began to explore the expanses of the reservoir. Since the 1970s, the lake has been continuously studied for biological changes. Before this, in the 1960s, this water area was tested for pollution with good results.

The largest European Subarctic lake, Imandra, is of glacial origin. At this time it is saturated with rain and snow. Minerals were discovered near the reservoir, resulting in the establishment of iron ore and metallurgical industries, as well as mining, in the lake basin. The area also hosts mining and processing of apatite deposits and copper-nickel smelting production. A nuclear power plant was built in the lake area, which contributed to the development of a population of up to 300 thousand people and the deterioration of the environment. There are several populated areas on the lake: Khibiny, Zasheyek, Afrikanda, Imandra, Tik-Guba and Monchegorsk.

Legend of the lake

According to legend, Imandra is the daughter of a hunter with incomparable beauty. Skillfully wielding a bow, the girl hunted with her father. One day she laughed and attracted the attention of another hunter passing by with her wondrous voice. Her sunny laughter turned the hunter's head. Trying to track the girl's path along the rocky slopes, the hunter was not careful enough. He fell off the rocks and fell into a small lake. Having learned about this, Imandra was seized with horror - the beauty threw herself into the dark waters so that they would accept her grief and free her soul. The expanse of water surrounded it and spread throughout the entire water area. And the islands formed as a result of these events are Imandra and the dead hunter.

Climatic conditions

The climate of the area around the lake is of moderate variability. In winter, the air in the area of ​​the reservoir is cold up to 40 degrees Celsius, and in summer above the pool it warms up to 25 degrees Celsius. In summer, the water generally warms up to 14 degrees, and in shallow water it reaches 18 degrees. In winter, Imandra is covered with ice, and in those places where rivers flow through the lake, the ice takes much longer to set and can form internal deep currents. The river temperature at a depth is approximately 3-4 degrees above zero.

Water world, plants and animals

Fish

Fishing is popular in the reservoirs of Imandra. Fauna complexes are presented in four directions:

• Freshwater arctic fish: char, burbot, various types of whitefish and smelt.
• Freshwater Ponto-Caspian: mainly stickleback.
• Piedmont-boreal species are grayling and brown trout.
• Lowland boreal species: lake minnow, pike, ide, perch, ruff.

Animals

Mainly living on the territory of the reservoir of the Lapland Nature Reserve are:

• Moose.
• Wolves.
• Deer (Northern).
• Bears (Brown).
• Wolverines.
• Foxes.
• Hares.
• Martens.

Plants

The combination of taiga and tundra has created a rich natural world. The forests are dominated by coniferous trees, such as pine trees (including Finnish spruce). There are small birch groves with wild fruit and berry bushes such as rowan and juniper. There are a lot of berries and moss in the forests.

Attractions in the surrounding area of ​​the lake

• The Aku-Aku rock gorge, which connects the Imandra rivers underground.
• There is an observation deck on Mount Poazuaivench.
• Cathedral of the Holy Ascension.
• Monument to Elk.
• Monument to the Defenders of the Arctic.
• Mount Vudyavorchorr.
• Various picturesque lakes.
• Museum of Mineralogy and Geology.

Tourism

Cool summers and cold winters. This combination allowed the development of many resort and tourist areas on the lake. Mainly, sports tourism flourishes: fishing, hunting, berry and mushroom picking. In winter, travelers can go skiing or try other snow sports.

Wilderness mountain treks are open in the lake area. There are plenty of mountain routes for travelers.

Travelers often take rest on the various picturesque banks of the Imandra. This is a kind of ritual when traveling along the huge coastal area of ​​the lake.

For adrenaline lovers, there are also extreme tourist destinations, such as boating of high difficulty categories. More relaxed travelers prefer relaxing boat rides in shallow currents.

The most beautiful and picturesque places, rich in unique vegetation, inhabited by rare species of animals and birds, are located in especially inaccessible areas of the country. In the southwestern part of the Kola Peninsula, washed by the waters of the White and Barents Seas, beyond the Arctic Circle, there is an amazingly beautiful and largest in the Murmansk region Lake Imandra.

Geographical data

In the European part of the Subarctic, where Lake Imandra is located, it is the largest water area. The bizarrely indented coastline with peaty, marshy and sandy soil structure is about 750 km in total. Rocky and boulder shores form the bulk of the relief and periodically give way to sandy and pebble beaches in numerous bays.

Located in the western part of the Khibiny mountain range on the Kola Peninsula, Lake Imandra has impressive parameters. The total area of ​​the water basin is 876 square meters. km, while the length of the lake at some points reaches 109 km. The purest water with unique transparency parameters allows you to see the depth of Lake Imandra at 11 m, especially on a bright sunny day and calm weather. The maximum explored depth is about 67 m.

Geographically, the territory of the reservoir, which belongs to the Lapland Nature Reserve, is divided into three large parts: northern, central and western. The entire surface is strewn with many small and medium-sized islands: there are more than 80 of them on the entire area of ​​Lake Imandra. Since ancient times, the shores of this geographical object have provided shelter for people, and now they have become the site for the construction of large cities, the most famous of which are Khibiny, Monchegorsk and Imandra. More than 20 large and medium-sized rivers fill the lake, and its source is the Niva River.

The Legend of Imandra

According to legend, Imandra is a girl who was the daughter of a hunter who lived on the shore of a very small lake. The girl was incredibly pretty, had excellent command of a bow and arrow, and successfully hunted with her father. The beauty's loud laughter attracted the attention of a young hunter passing by, who was so fascinated by the sound that he went to look for Imandra. Carried away by the search for the mysterious stranger, the young man completely forgot how dangerous the rocky shores and steep cliffs are. He fell down and died, crashing on the coastal rocks. The darkened Imandra for a long time asked the gods to bring the beautiful hunter back to life, but they left her pleas unanswered. Then, out of despair and grief, the girl threw herself into the waters of the lake, which accepted her sadness, parted and became huge. And the deceased hunter and Imandra turned into numerous islands on the blue surface of the reservoir.

Literature

Interesting facts about Lake Imandra are associated with the travels through this magical land of the Russian writer Mikhail Prishvin, who was amazed by the beauty of his untouched native nature. The traveler's notes compiled a diary of wanderings across the expanses of Russia. A separate addition was the book “Behind the Magic Kolobok,” which reflected all the writer’s impressions of the most beautiful pearl of the Russian North, where he vividly describes the unique way of life of the Laplanders, admiring the originality and mystery of the descendants of the Kalevala heroes.

Plants of Lake Imandra

The flora near Imandra is rich and diverse. Tundra and taiga, closely intertwined, create a unique and complex ecosystem. Pine and spruce forests with a predominance of Finnish spruce are interspersed with birch groves, thickets of juniper and rowan. The dense undergrowth is formed by many types of berries, mosses and lichens.

Resin moss, characteristic of the tundra, actively develops on peat and sandy soils near Lake Imandra. The abundant flora of these wonderful places contains species listed in the Red Book. Among such plants are lake grass, bulbous calypso, cinnabar-red cotoneaster, lead-green sedge, and sea grass.

Fauna of Imandra

The rich flora of Imndra provides shelter for numerous species of animals, including especially rare and protected ones. On the territory of the Lapland Nature Reserve, where Lake Imandra is located, a large population of reindeer, as well as moose, foxes, brown bears, martens, hares and a huge number of different species of rodents, live in natural conditions. The forests are home to partridges and black grouse, and there are large populations of rare bird species such as the golden eagle, osprey and white-tailed eagle. The expanses of the reservoir have become home to screaming swan, diving ducks and geese.

Like many northern waters, Lake Imandra is home to numerous representatives of ichthyofauna. There are many game fish here, such as pike and char, grayling, whitefish, smelt and lake minnow.

Tourism

Lovers of recreation in wild conditions, fans of winding mountain paths and adherents of extreme sports have chosen the shores of Imandra for their stops, and the cities located on the shores of the lake actively help attract tourists and travelers. You can comfortably stay in a cozy hotel in Monchegorsk and, using the services of a professional guide, get to the most remote areas near Lake Imandra in the Murmansk region, as well as go to the Nivsky Cascade - the largest reservoir of the Kola Hydroelectric Power Station.

The incredible beauty of the untouched nature of the polar region, the purity of the air and the opportunity to break away from civilization and everyday worries, to be alone with oneself and nature attract tourists from all over Russia and the world. In summer, when weather conditions are most optimal for living, many tent camps are built on the wooded shores and clean beaches of Imandra.

Mountain routes

Several mountain routes have been organized along the Khibiny trails, which can satisfy the needs of all categories of tourists. Beginners will enjoy the leisurely climbs and views, while more experienced climbers will be able to climb the 1096 m high Yumyechorr or 847 m high Goltsovka peaks.

Extreme tourism

Those who want to get an adrenaline rush choose rafting from 2 to 6 categories of difficulty along numerous mountain rivers with dangerous rapids, difficult and relief routes. Testing yourself and your body's abilities while away from civilization is the best way to escape from a comfortable but boring everyday life.

Among the popular and moderately dangerous entertainments, kite surfing has been actively developing in recent years. Riding a board with a paraglider gives you the exhilarating feeling of flying through the waves.

More relaxed travelers can choose sailing yachts and boats. The vast territory of Imandra may require several days to cover the entire route and will allow you to enjoy the cleanest air and quaint coastal landscapes.

Ecology

Active human activity and the increasing flow of tourists every year increase the popularity of domestic tourism, but, unfortunately, they are slowly killing Imandra.

The results of the irrational use of small vessels were a decrease in the transparency and quality of water, the appearance of oil stains and the gradual extinction of numerous species of fish inhabiting the lake. The population decline over the past years has reached catastrophic proportions.

Coasts that are actively subject to development lose their uniqueness, vegetation dies, and forest inhabitants move away from humans. Forest fires destroy forest reserves and deprive animals of their natural habitats. An increase in the number of industrial enterprises leads to an increase in the volume of harmful emissions, which has a detrimental effect on the ecosystem of Lake Imandra and the Kola Peninsula.

Irrational use of commercial fish species leads to a decrease in their numbers and the impossibility of restoring the population naturally.

The abundance of tourists, thanks to which the active development of the infrastructure of nearby cities is taking place, leads to littering of the water area and the extinction of flora and fauna.

Regional authorities have been making attempts for several years to stop the extinction of the lake due to human fault. Some particularly hazardous enterprises were liquidated, and entry by cars and the use of diesel motor boats was limited. But without conscious desire It is impossible for every tourist who arrives to the shores of Lake Imandra and residents of nearby cities to save the unique ecosystem. While admiring the beauty of nature today, it is necessary to think and do so that our descendants can enjoy this amazing pearl of the Kola Peninsula in its natural and pristine form.