Daria Yarkova moved to the land of a thousand lakes, as romantics call Monchegorsk, three years ago — and immediately fell in love with a small northern “city in a beautiful tundra”, as its name translates from the Sami language.
The love of travel and the desire to make this corner of Russia even better led Daria to join the team of the city development agency, where she is responsible for the tourist destination. Now laying new routes is not just a hobby for her. She told the portal about what to see in Monchegorsk and what interesting places there are. Vokrugsveta.ru . Then the text is in the first person.
From chemists to travelers
As a child, I loved listening to stories and legends about the North and imagining how people live there, beyond the Arctic Circle, in the “looking glass” of the Arctic. My grandmother is a native Pomeranian, so there were many books about the northern region in the home library. I have always enjoyed looking at an album with images of winter and summer landscapes of northern nature, wooden architecture, household items of local residents and, of course, dreaming about how I will one day visit there.
The dream came true in 2014, when my family and I moved from Donbass to the Murmansk region, and after a while to Monchegorsk – a small cozy city in the very center of the Kola Peninsula, where a little more than 40 thousand people live. The city grew up in 1937 on the shore of the largest picturesque lake on the peninsula, Imandra: its length is 120 kilometers, which is why it received the unofficial name “the third Kola Sea”. A distinctive feature of the lake is the delicate, lace—like shores and more than 140 small islands.
According to legend, the name of the lake was given by a beautiful hunter’s daughter, who lived with her father in these places in ancient times. According to another version, she was the daughter of a sorcerer, whom her father turned into a lake for disobedience, and he became the Khibiny mountains.
Such fairy tales and legends will be told by the locals about almost every landmark with a poetic name.
Stereotypes about “harsh” Northerners have collapsed
Everyone who has ever radically changed their place of residence knows that it is not easy: you need to settle in a new place, get all the necessary documents, find a job. It was also not easy for me: before finding a job, I probably went around all the surrounding businesses. I graduated from the Chemical Faculty of Donetsk National Technical University with a degree in ecology, and I was hired as a specialist in the testing laboratory of the Kola MMC in Nickel.
It was an interesting new experience. But perhaps the most valuable acquisition I’ve made while looking for a job is people. Contrary to the prevailing opinion about the harsh and taciturn Northerners, those who met me were incredibly warm and sociable: some of them helped me a lot in the future.
One day I met Olga, who worked at the design institute. When she found out where I was from and that I was looking for a job, she not only introduced me to the management of her company, but also helped solve many everyday issues. I didn’t have to work in that organization, but I made friends with a very positive person. We still maintain warm relations with Olga, and this is not the only example of the openness and goodwill of the Northerners.
I did not give up the dream of joining the tourism industry: She participated in volunteer work, which is actively developing in the city. In 2020, I learned that a competition for a vacancy in the future city development agency was starting in Monchegorsk, and I took part. So I became the head of the Tourism direction.
In addition to the opportunity to visit the most amazing places in our city and its surroundings, I am pleased that I constantly communicate with a lot of people on trips. And I am becoming more and more imbued with sympathy and respect for the inhabitants of the Kola Peninsula. Monchegorsk does not open immediately, but if you feel its beauty and special atmosphere, you will fall in love with this city forever.
Why are they going to Monchegorsk?
For a long time, Monchegorsk was strongly associated only with an industrial enterprise, and not at all with tourism. But in recent years, this area has been actively developing here, creating conditions for recreation, travel and entertainment, and all year round. Therefore, most hotels, guest houses, and hostels also operate non-stop. As in many cities where tourists come, the demand for housing is growing in high season, so it’s worth booking rooms in advance.
In September, for example, you can participate in the Moncha Night Trail, the only night cross—country race on the Kola. Why run, you ask? Beyond the northern lights!
From October to April, fans of downhill skiing, snowboarding, fatbikes, ice fishing and, of course, photo hunters for beauty go to Monchegorsk. Back in October, the Imandra Go regional Nordic walking competition takes place here.
In December, for those who love gift contests, souvenir fairs and other outdoor activities, the festival “Love is Imandra” is organized.
A few years ago, I had the idea to create a winter event that would become a point of attraction for tourists. Her colleagues supported her: this is how the family festival with an Arctic flavor “Zimandra” appeared with folk festivals, master classes, food courts and competitions.
The real hallmark of Monchegorsk is the Imandra Viking Fest festival of medieval culture. Thousands of guests from all over the country gather at the festival every year to experience the atmosphere of another era.
The sights of Monchegorsk and its surroundings attract not only connoisseurs of collective holidays, which are noisy, fun and active. Those who appreciate peace, solitude and leisurely walks against the backdrop of stunning northern nature, go to Monchegorsk to walk along one of the marked RuTrail hiking routes. Since they are of different lengths, everyone can choose a trail by themselves — from a few kilometers through the park with trekking poles to a 40-kilometer hike through the Monchetundra. Away from the hustle and bustle, you can spend up to seven days traveling along marked trails.
How much does it cost to spend the night in Monchegorsk
It all depends on where to stay: prices for an overnight stay in a hostel, for example, start from 650 rubles, in a hotel — 3-5 thousand.
What to try in Monchegorsk
Arctic cuisine is very popular among tourists. This direction appeared four years ago and has already become a local landmark. Thanks to her, another direction is developing in the city — gastrotourism. Local cuisine is worth trying, at least in order to get to know the taste of the Arctic.
The point here is not in intricacy, but in authenticity: everything is prepared from local products, and you can order dishes both in restaurants and in food courts.
In the menu, pay attention to the section “Arctic cuisine”. There you will find venison dishes: as it turned out, it goes well with cranberries, blueberries, cloudberries and berry syrup, which is like nothing else.
To complete the sensations of local flavor, you can order a sauce made from northern berries, chips from yagel, and for dessert — ice cream with cloudberry, latte based on fir extract with powder from natural needles.
By the way, jam from the same berries and chips are also a great souvenir.
Top 8 interesting places in Monchegorsk
Leningradskaya embankment
The “Dreamer” art object is located here: from here you can enjoy a picturesque view of the Khibiny, Imandra and numerous islands. In summer, you can sail along the lake on a yacht, fly along the water surface on a kite, rent a kayak, a paddle board or explore the numerous islets on a motor boat. In winter, go cross—country skiing or fishing.
Museum of Colored Stone
This is a real Hermitage of minerals and rare rocks: now the collection contains more than 4,000 exhibits from all over the Kola Peninsula, Russia and the world.
The central square
In 2013, several episodes for the Oscar-nominated film Leviathan were filmed here. The main cafes, restaurants and hotels are also located there.
Central Park named after Sergey Brovtsev
It is located on the shore of another urban lake — Lumbolka. This is the first Polar Park in Russia: in summer you can rent a bike, a fatbike, a scooter or an electric scooter here. In winter, rent a children’s snowmobile, banana, tubing or cheesecake.
Klementyev Embankment
It is worth looking at the art object “Solntsekrug” by sculptor Alexandra Weld Queen: 13 residents from different cities of Russia worked on it for about a month. The “Sun circle” is a symbol of warmth and light, which is so lacking for a person beyond the Arctic Circle. During the polar day, it absorbs the power of the sun, and on the polar night it gives it away — it glows in the dark.
The area of the Five Corners
Here you can see the symbol of the city — a bronze moose. According to urban legend, during the construction of the combine, a moose, who was nicknamed the Foreman, came to visit the workers. In the morning he “opened” the construction site, and in the evening he “accepted” the completed work.
Sculpture “Conquerors of the Monchetundra” (in other sources — “Pioneers”)
Ironic townspeople call it the monument to Vasya Kirkin. The 15-meter monument was opened in September 1977, on the fortieth anniversary of the city. It is said that at midnight from Saturday to Sunday, the geologist shifts the pickaxe from one hand to the other. To make sure of this personally, you need to go there at midnight all alone — otherwise the magic will not work!
Poazuivench Mountain
From there you can enjoy views of the city, Khibiny, lakes Imandra, Lumbolka and Komsomolskoye. Those who have seen this panorama understand why Monchegorsk is called a city surrounded by lakes.
Find more guides to interesting places in the regions of the Russian Federation in the section “Discovering Russia” on Vokrugsveta.ru .
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