8 things to do on the Kola Peninsula in summer (PHOTOS)
The treacherous Snow Queen from Hans Christian Andersen's fairy tale of the same name carries Kai away to Lapland, a kingdom of frost, ice and the Northern Lights. However, in summer, this land looks quite different. You can even go swimming – and not always in a wetsuit.
The Kola Peninsula is a land of majestic northern nature, where mountains meet the tundra and taiga, the Barents Sea laps rocky shores and lakes coexist with towns that host numerous cultural festivals (the most famous include the ‘Summer Sami Games’, the ‘Taburetka’ Arts Festival, the ‘Imandra’ Northern Culture Festival, the ‘ROST’ Arctic Street Art Festival and others). Chances are you'll end up attending one of them! Here's what else you absolutely must do in this part of the world.
1. Experience the polar day
If you visit in the summer, you'll experience the polar day and midnight sun. In the evening, the sun doesn't set below the horizon, but hangs in the sky all night long, as if pinned there. This means you can walk around and explore the surroundings 24/7. This is a unique time when northern nature is at its most vibrant.
2. Step aboard the nuclear-powered ‘Lenin’ icebreaker in Murmansk
Murmansk is the largest city in the Arctic. So, if you're flying to the Kola Peninsula, you'll most likely arrive there. The main technical attraction there is the nuclear-powered ‘Lenin’ icebreaker, the world's first nuclear-powered surface ship. It's now a floating museum where you can see how sailors lived and worked in the 1960s.
3. Travel to the "end of the Earth" in Teriberka
The village of Teriberka, located on the shores of the Barents Sea, 130 km from Murmansk, became famous after Andrey Zvyagintsev's movie ‘Leviathan’ (2014). People visit to get the feeling of being at the end of the world. You can also see a real ship “graveyard” – rusty, post-apocalyptic shipwrecks; stroll along the ‘Dragon's Egg’ beach with its huge boulders polished by the sea and wind; and see the Batareisky Waterfall, cascading straight into the sea.
4. Swim in the Barents Sea
Yes, this is an activity for extreme sports enthusiasts (well, who else goes to the Arctic in the summer?), because, even in summer, the water rarely warms above 10°C (50°F). But, for the brave, ice floating is organized – a meditative swim in a special wetsuit that gives a feeling of weightlessness and oneness with the elements and nature.
5. See a sandy desert on the shores of the White Sea
On the eastern coast, along the Tersky coast, lies Kuzomen Sands. This unique place, where red sand dunes come right up to the waters of the White Sea, creating a landscape that feels anything but northern. The main living attraction in the area is a herd of feral Yakut horses that live there year-round and have even become accustomed to tourists.
6. Go for swim in Lake Imandra
Several Sami legends are associated with the origin of the lake's name. According to one of them, a hunter's daughter named Imandra lost her beloved and prayed to the gods to bring him back. When this didn't happen, she threw herself into the lake, causing it to swell to enormous proportions. Today, Imandra is a place where you can encounter wild nature. More than 140 islands are scattered throughout the lake, offering great places to stop and have a picnic.
Fishing there is a unique experience. The lake is home to over a dozen species of game fish, including whitefish, grayling, brown trout, char, pike, perch, burbot, vendace, smelt and trout. You can fish from the shore or from a boat (just hold on tight in the rapids!). For fans of canoes, kayaks, stand-up paddleboards, kites, wakeboards and hydrofoils, this place is simply a paradise. All equipment and wetsuits can be rented right there on the shore.
7. Climb the hills
A pair of comfortable trekking shoes (be sure to pack them in advance) will give you not only a scenic hike through the hills of the Kola Peninsula and stunning views (don't fall!) and magnificent photographs, but also the opportunity to see how wild northern berries grow. If you’re visiting in the second half of summer, you can pick blueberries, bilberries, crowberries, lingonberries and cloudberries right off the bushes.
8. Eat the freshest seafood
In Murmansk and Teriberka, you can try scallops, crab meat, the famous Murmansk cod and salmon. In Monchegorsk, the culinary focus shifts to freshwater fish from Lake Imandra. Be sure to try raw whitefish (a specialty of Imandra cuisine) and a rich fish soup made with brown trout and perch.
PS: One thing to keep in mind: the Kola Peninsula is, after all, a region with a harsh climate. The weather there can change quickly, the distances between attractions can reach hundreds of kilometers and, in remote villages, there's no cell service. So, don't let your guard down. Layers of clothing (yes, even a thin hat is a good idea on the water), a power bank and common sense are your best friends!