Lovozero Tundras

Lovozero Tundras (Ловозёрские тундры, Lovozyorskiye Tundry, named after the lake in that area – Lovozero Lake; the region is also known as Ловозёрье, Lovozyorye) is a mountain range located in the center of Kola Peninsula, in Russia, between Lovozero and Umbozero Lake, and constitute a horseshoe-shaped ridge of picturesque hills, that surround the Seydozero Lake. The slopes are covered mainly with spruce and pine. Highest point is a mount Angvundaschorr (1,120 m). The area around the lake is inhabited by Saami, and many place names are of non-Russian origin.

Geology

The Lovozero tundra is underlain by a complex of agpaitic to hyperagpaitic rocks containing minerals as eudialyte, loparite (an ore of niobium and tantalum), natrosilite (anhydrous sodium silicate), etc. At least 340 minerals are found in the massif and 73 minerals were initially discovered there.

Tourism

The area is relatively well accessible from railroads. In winter the area is accessible from Khibiny Mountains via the ice of Umbozero. In summer there are usable mountain roads and trails.

Anomalous activity

The unusual influence of the Tundras, which was the cause of several deaths, is considered mainly with the rock Kuyva (Куйва), the Rayavr Lake, which means “the dead verdure”, and the El-Marayok Pass. Cases of inexplicable terror and the stoppage of watches and electronic devices are known in that region. The phenomenon was studied in 1920 by the expedition of Alexander Barchenko, who was known as a researcher of the human anomalous abilities. However, no satisfactory results have been made. (The Pekov reference below makes no reference to anything peculiar about the region other than the geology and mineralogy which is unusual.) The only other areas with similar geology and mineralogy are Khibiny (immediately west of Lovozero), Ilimaussaq in SW Greenland and Mont-Saint-Hilaire, Quebec, Canada.

Toponyms in Lovozero Tundras

Settlements

• Ilma (Ильма)
• Puncha (Пунча)
• Motka (Мотка)

Lakes, bays

• 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 (Вавпбед) (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