The Lovozero Massif (, ''Lovozyorskiye Tundry'', named after the lake in that area –
Lake Lovozero; the region is also known as , ''Lovozyorye'') is a
mountain range
A mountain range or hill range is a series of mountains or hills arranged in a line and connected by high ground. A mountain system or mountain belt is a group of mountain ranges with similarity in form, structure, and alignment that have aris ...
located in the center of the
Kola Peninsula
The Kola Peninsula (; ) is a peninsula in the extreme northwest of Russia, and one of the largest peninsulas of Europe. Constituting the bulk of the territory of Murmansk Oblast, it lies almost completely inside the Arctic Circle and is border ...
in
Russia
Russia, or the Russian Federation, is a country spanning Eastern Europe and North Asia. It is the list of countries and dependencies by area, largest country in the world, and extends across Time in Russia, eleven time zones, sharing Borders ...
, between Lovozero and
Lake Umbozero
Umbozero Lake (, named after the adherent Umba River) is located in Murmansk Oblast of Russia
Russia, or the Russian Federation, is a country spanning Eastern Europe and North Asia. It is the list of countries and dependencies by area, ...
, and constitutes a horseshoe-shaped ridge of picturesque hills, that surround the
Seydozero Lake. The slopes are covered mainly with spruce and pine. The highest point is Mount
Angvundaschorr (1,120 m). The area around the lake is inhabited by
Saami
The Sporting Arms and Ammunition Manufacturers' Institute (SAAMI, pronounced "Sammy") is an association of American manufacturers of firearms, ammunition, and components. SAAMI is an accredited standards developer that publishes several A ...
, and many place names are of non-Russian origin.
Geology
The Lovozero Massif is underlain by a complex of
agpaitic
An agpaitic rock is a peralkaline igneous rock, typically nepheline syenite or phonolite. Characteristic minerals in these rocks include complex silicates containing zirconium, titanium, sodium, calcium, the rare-earth elements, and fluorine. Agp ...
to hyperagpaitic rocks containing minerals as
eudialyte
Eudialyte, whose name derives from the Greek phrase , , meaning "well decomposable", is a somewhat rare, nine-member-ring cyclosilicate mineral, which forms in alkaline igneous rocks, such as nepheline syenites. Its name alludes to its ready so ...
,
loparite
Loparite-(Ce) is a granular, brittle oxide mineral of the perovskite class. It is black to dark grey and may appear grey to white in reflected light on polished thin section with reddish brown internal reflections. It has the chemical formula of . ...
(an ore of
niobium
Niobium is a chemical element; it has chemical symbol, symbol Nb (formerly columbium, Cb) and atomic number 41. It is a light grey, crystalline, and Ductility, ductile transition metal. Pure niobium has a Mohs scale of mineral hardness, Mohs h ...
and
tantalum
Tantalum is a chemical element; it has Symbol (chemistry), symbol Ta and atomic number 73. It is named after Tantalus, a figure in Greek mythology. Tantalum is a very hard, ductility, ductile, lustre (mineralogy), lustrous, blue-gray transition ...
),
natrosilite (anhydrous sodium silicate), etc. At least 105 valid minerals have been described in the massif and 39 minerals were
initially discovered there.
[http://www.mindat.org/loc-2689.html Mindat mineral list] The only other areas with similar geology and mineralogy are
Khibiny Massif
The Khibiny Mountains ( ; ) is one of the two main mountain ranges of the Kola Peninsula, Russia, within the Arctic Circle, located between Imandra and Umbozero lakes. The range is also known as Khibiny Massif, Khibinsky Mountains, Khibinsky Tu ...
(immediately west of Lovozero),
Ilimaussaq in SW
Greenland
Greenland is an autonomous territory in the Danish Realm, Kingdom of Denmark. It is by far the largest geographically of three constituent parts of the kingdom; the other two are metropolitan Denmark and the Faroe Islands. Citizens of Greenlan ...
and
Mont-Saint-Hilaire, Quebec
Mont-Saint-Hilaire () is a suburb of Montreal on the South Shore (Montreal), South Shore of southeastern Quebec, Canada, on the Richelieu River in the La Vallée-du-Richelieu Regional County Municipality, Regional County Municipality of La Val ...
,
Canada
Canada is a country in North America. Its Provinces and territories of Canada, ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, making it the world's List of coun ...
.
Tourism
The area is relatively well accessible from railroads. In winter the area is accessible from
Khibiny Mountains
The Khibiny Mountains ( ; ) is one of the two main mountain ranges of the Kola Peninsula, Russia, within the Arctic Circle, located between Imandra Lake, Imandra and Umbozero Lake, Umbozero lakes. The range is also known as Khibiny Massif, Khibin ...
via the ice of Umbozero. In summer there are usable mountain roads and trails.
Toponyms in Lovozero Tundras
Settlements
* Ilma (Ильма)
* Puncha (Пунча)
* Motka (Мотка)
Lakes, bays
*
Lovozero (Ловозеро)
*
Umbozero (Умбозеро)
*
Seidozero (Сейдозеро)
*
Sengisyavr (Сенгисъявр)
*
Rayavr (Райявр)
*
Motka Bay (Мотка-Губа)
Rivers, creeks
*
Ilmayok (Ильмайок)
*
Elmorayok (Эльморайок)
*
Seidyok (Сейдйок)
*
Kiftuay (Куфтуай)
*
Kitkuay (Киткуай)
*
Uelkuay (Уэлькуай)
*
Sigsuay (Сигсуай)
*
Tavayok (Тавайок)
*
Muruay (Муруай)
*
Chivruay (Чивруай)
*
Kuansuay (Куансуай)
*
Iidichyok (Иидичйок)
*
Vavnyok (Вавнйок)
*
Koklukhtiuay (Коклухтиуай)
Massifs, mounts, passes
*
Alluayv (Аллуайв)
*
Angvundaschorr (Ангвундасчорр)
*
Sengischorr (Сенгисчорр)
*
Mannepakhk (Маннепахк)
*
Elmorayok Pass
*
Kuftuay Pass
*
Chivruay-Ladv Pass (Чивруай-Ладв)
*
Strashempakhk (Страшемпахк)
*
Engpor (Энгпор)
*
Suoluayv (Суолуайв)
*
Punkaruayv (Пункаруайв)
*
Ninchurt (Нинчурт)
*
Mount Karnasurta (Карнасурта)
*
Mount Kuyvchorr (Куйвчорр)
*
Mount Kuamdespakhk (Куамдеспахк)
*
Mount Vavnbed (Вавнбед) (per Pekov: Lovozero Massif p. 32)
References
*References: Pekov, Igor: Lovozero Massif Vneshtorgizdat Publishing Moscow 2000
*Khomyakov, A. P. : Mineralogy of Hyperagpaitic Alkaline Rocks Clarendon Press 1995
External links
Lovozero Tundras, In Russian
{{coord, 67.8458, N, 34.6697, E, source:ruwiki_region:RU_type:mountain, format=dms, display=title
Mountain ranges of Russia
Mountains of Murmansk Oblast