Lovozero Tundras
Encyclopedia
The Lovozero Massif is a mountain range
located in the center of the Kola Peninsula
in Russia
, between Lovozero and Lake Umbozero, 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
, and many place names are of non-Russian origin.
to hyperagpaitic rocks containing minerals as eudialyte
, loparite (an ore of niobium
and tantalum
), natrosilite (anhydrous sodium silicate), etc. At least 105 valid minerals have been described in the massif and 39 minerals were initially discovered
there. The only other areas with similar geology and mineralogy are Khibiny Massif
(immediately west of Lovozero), Ilimaussaq
in SW Greenland
and Mont-Saint-Hilaire, Quebec
, Canada
.
Mountain range
A mountain range is a single, large mass consisting of a succession of mountains or narrowly spaced mountain ridges, with or without peaks, closely related in position, direction, formation, and age; a component part of a mountain system or of a mountain chain...
located in the center of the Kola Peninsula
Kola Peninsula
The Kola Peninsula is a peninsula in the far northwest of Russia. Constituting the bulk of the territory of Murmansk Oblast, it lies almost completely to the north of the Arctic Circle and is washed by the Barents Sea in the north and the White Sea in the east and southeast...
in Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
, between Lovozero and Lake Umbozero, 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
Angvundaschorr
Angvundaschorr Massif is a mountain massif in Lovozerskiye Tundras mountain range ....
(1,120 m). The area around the lake is inhabited by Saami
Sami people
The Sami people, also spelled Sámi, or Saami, are the arctic indigenous people inhabiting Sápmi, which today encompasses parts of far northern Sweden, Norway, Finland, the Kola Peninsula of Russia, and the border area between south and middle Sweden and Norway. The Sámi are Europe’s northernmost...
, and many place names are of non-Russian origin.
Geology
The Lovozero Massif is underlain by a complex of agpaiticAgpaitic rock
An agpaitic rock is a peralkaline igneous rock, typically nepheline syenite or phonolite. Characteristics include complex silicates containing zirconium, titanium the rare earth elements, and fluorine. Agpaites are unusually rich in rare and obscure minerals such as eudialyte, loparite,...
to hyperagpaitic rocks containing minerals as eudialyte
Eudialyte
Eudialyte, whose name derives from the Greek phrase Εὖ διάλυτος eu dialytos, meaning "well decomposable", is a somewhat rare, red silicate mineral, which forms in alkaline igneous rocks, such as nepheline syenites...
, loparite (an ore of niobium
Niobium
Niobium or columbium , is a chemical element with the symbol Nb and atomic number 41. It's a soft, grey, ductile transition metal, which is often found in the pyrochlore mineral, the main commercial source for niobium, and columbite...
and tantalum
Tantalum
Tantalum is a chemical element with the symbol Ta and atomic number 73. Previously known as tantalium, the name comes from Tantalus, a character in Greek mythology. Tantalum is a rare, hard, blue-gray, lustrous transition metal that is highly corrosion resistant. It is part of the refractory...
), natrosilite (anhydrous sodium silicate), etc. At least 105 valid minerals have been described in the massif and 39 minerals were initially discovered
Type locality (geology)
Type locality , also called type area or type locale, is the where a particular rock type, stratigraphic unit, fossil or mineral species is first identified....
there. The only other areas with similar geology and mineralogy are Khibiny Massif
Khibiny Massif
The Khibiny Massif, Khibiny Mountains, Khibinsky Mountains or Khibins, Khibinsky tundras, Khibiny is one of the two main mountain ranges of the Kola Peninsula, Russia, within the Arctic Circle, located between Imandra and Umbozero lakes.The massif is of oval shape of about 1,300 sq.km...
(immediately west of Lovozero), Ilimaussaq
Ilimaussaq intrusive complex
The Ilimaussaq intrusive complex is a large alkalic layered intrusion located on the southwest coast of Greenland. It is Mesoproterozoic in age. It is the type locality of agpaitic nepheline syenite and hosts a variety of unusual rock types....
in SW Greenland
Greenland
Greenland is an autonomous country within the Kingdom of Denmark, located between the Arctic and Atlantic Oceans, east of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago. Though physiographically a part of the continent of North America, Greenland has been politically and culturally associated with Europe for...
and Mont-Saint-Hilaire, Quebec
Mont-Saint-Hilaire, Quebec
Mont-Saint-Hilaire is an off-island suburb of Montréal in southeastern Québec, Canada on the Richelieu River in the Regional County Municipality of La Vallée-du-Richelieu...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
.
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.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)
- AngvundaschorrAngvundaschorrAngvundaschorr Massif is a mountain massif in Lovozerskiye Tundras mountain range ....
(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)