Umba River (Russia)
Encyclopedia
Umba is a 123 km long river on the Kola Peninsula
, Murmansk Oblast
, Russia
.
, located between the mountains of the Khibiny Massif
and the Lovozero Tundras
on the Kola Peninsula. From there it flows south, through a landscape of forests and hills. The river alternates between rapids and more quiet sections, and it flows through several lakes, the largest of which is Lake Kanozero
.
The river exits from Lake Kanozero through two separate outlet channels, about five kilometers apart. The outlets are called the Kitsa and the Rodvinga, and the latter again divides forming yet another channel called the Nizma. The Kitsa and Rodvinga rejoins in Lake Ponchozero
, below which the river is again called the Umba, and it is rejoined by the Nizma a few kilometers further downstream.
The river empties into the Kandalaksha Gulf
at the urban-type settlement
of Umba
.
Its biggest tributary is the Vyala
, which comes from Lake Vyalozero
and joins the Umba 15 km before the outlet to the sea.
fishing. Along with the Varzuga River
, it was the first river on the Kola Peninsula
to be made available for fishing tourism for foreign customers in the early 1990s, and infrastructure such as fishing lodges has been built along the river to accommodate this.
However, in recent years the number of salmon has dropped, as a result of poaching
by the local population, caused by an unemployment rate of a staggering 90% in the municipal centre of Umba
, and made worse by the fact that drivable roads go along the banks of the entire length of the river, making it easily accessible. http://www.barentsinfo.org/?deptid=15505
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...
, Murmansk Oblast
Murmansk Oblast
Murmansk Oblast is a federal subject of Russia , located in the northwestern part of Russia. Its administrative center is the city of Murmansk.-Geography:...
, 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...
.
Geography
The river's source is Lake Umbozero, 100 km northeast of KandalakshaKandalaksha
Kandalaksha is a town in Kandalakshsky District of Murmansk Oblast, Russia, located at the head of Kandalaksha Gulf on the White Sea, beyond the Arctic Circle. Population: 40,564 ; -History:The settlement has existed since the 11th century...
, located between the mountains of the 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...
and the Lovozero Tundras
Lovozero Tundras
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...
on the Kola Peninsula. From there it flows south, through a landscape of forests and hills. The river alternates between rapids and more quiet sections, and it flows through several lakes, the largest of which is Lake Kanozero
Lake Kanozero
Kanozero is a lake on the Umba River in Murmansk Oblast in Russia.The lake is 32 km long and between three and six kilometers wide. It is situated about halfway between Lake Umbozero and the White Sea. The Umba river enters the lake on the east side, about five kilometers from its northern...
.
The river exits from Lake Kanozero through two separate outlet channels, about five kilometers apart. The outlets are called the Kitsa and the Rodvinga, and the latter again divides forming yet another channel called the Nizma. The Kitsa and Rodvinga rejoins in Lake Ponchozero
Lake Ponchozero
Ponchozero is a lake on the Umba River in Murmansk Oblast, Russia. It is 10 km long and 3 km wide.The lake is located 25 km north of the urban-type settlement of Umba on the White Sea, and about 10 km southeast of Lake Kanozero....
, below which the river is again called the Umba, and it is rejoined by the Nizma a few kilometers further downstream.
The river empties into the Kandalaksha Gulf
Kandalaksha Gulf
The Kandalaksha Gulf is located in the Republic of Karelia, and Murmansk Oblast in northwestern Russia. Forming the north-western corner of the White Sea, it is one of four large bays and gulfs of this sea, the others being the Onega Bay , the Dvina Bay , and the Mezen Bay .The Kola Peninsula...
at the urban-type settlement
Urban-type settlement
Urban-type settlement ; , selyshche mis'koho typu ) is an official designation for a type of locality used in some of the countries of the former Soviet Union...
of Umba
Umba, Russia
Umba is an urban locality in Tersky District of Murmansk Oblast, Russia, located on the Kola Peninsula at the point where the Umba River flows into the Kandalaksha Gulf. Population:...
.
Its biggest tributary is the Vyala
Vyala River
Vyala is a 35 km long river in the southwestern part on the Kola Peninsula, Murmansk Oblast, Russia. The Vyala is a tributary to the Umba River. It flows westwards from Lake Vyalozero through a sparsely populated landscape of forests and bogs. It joins the Umba River 15 km north of the...
, which comes from Lake Vyalozero
Lake Vyalozero
Lake Vyalozero is a large freshwater lake on the Kola Peninsula, Murmansk Oblast, Russia. It has an area of 98.6 km². Vyala River flows from the lake....
and joins the Umba 15 km before the outlet to the sea.
Fishing
The Umba is known as a very good river for salmonSalmon
Salmon is the common name for several species of fish in the family Salmonidae. Several other fish in the same family are called trout; the difference is often said to be that salmon migrate and trout are resident, but this distinction does not strictly hold true...
fishing. Along with the Varzuga River
Varzuga River
Varzuga River is a river in the south of the Kola Peninsula in Murmansk Oblast, Russia. It is 254 km in length. The area of its basin is 9,840 km². The Varzuga River flows into the White Sea. It freezes up in October and stays under the ice until May.This is the most prolific atlantic...
, it was the first river on 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...
to be made available for fishing tourism for foreign customers in the early 1990s, and infrastructure such as fishing lodges has been built along the river to accommodate this.
However, in recent years the number of salmon has dropped, as a result of poaching
Poaching
Poaching is the illegal taking of wild plants or animals contrary to local and international conservation and wildlife management laws. Violations of hunting laws and regulations are normally punishable by law and, collectively, such violations are known as poaching.It may be illegal and in...
by the local population, caused by an unemployment rate of a staggering 90% in the municipal centre of Umba
Umba, Russia
Umba is an urban locality in Tersky District of Murmansk Oblast, Russia, located on the Kola Peninsula at the point where the Umba River flows into the Kandalaksha Gulf. Population:...
, and made worse by the fact that drivable roads go along the banks of the entire length of the river, making it easily accessible. http://www.barentsinfo.org/?deptid=15505