Lake Imandra
Encyclopedia
Imandra is a lake
in the south-western part of the Kola Peninsula
in Murmansk Oblast
, Russia
, slightly beyond the Arctic circle
. It is located 127 m above sea level; its area is about 876 km², maximum depth is 67 m. The shape of the shore line is complicated. There are a number of islands and the largest one, Erm Island measures 26 km². There are three principal parts of the lake connected by narrow straits: Greater Imandra (Большая Имандра) or Khibinskaya Imandra in the north (area 328 km², length about 55 km, width 3-5 km), Ekostrovskaya Imandra in the centre (area 351 km²), and Babinskaya Imandra in the west (area 133 km²). The lake drains into the Kandalaksha Gulf
of the White Sea
by the Niva River
. The lake is known for the transparency of its water and its abundance of fish
.
, located on the Monche-Guba inlet in the north-western part of the lake, is known as a centre of winter sports. During the summer, many residents enjoy boating on the lake, while in winter the frozen lake is popular with cross-country skiers.
Apatity
is located near the eastern shore of the lake, and Polyarnye Zori
are on the Niva River
a few kilometers below its outflow from the lake.
Lake
A lake is a body of relatively still fresh or salt water of considerable size, localized in a basin, that is surrounded by land. Lakes are inland and not part of the ocean and therefore are distinct from lagoons, and are larger and deeper than ponds. Lakes can be contrasted with rivers or streams,...
in the south-western part 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 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...
, slightly beyond the Arctic circle
Arctic Circle
The Arctic Circle is one of the five major circles of latitude that mark maps of the Earth. For Epoch 2011, it is the parallel of latitude that runs north of the Equator....
. It is located 127 m above sea level; its area is about 876 km², maximum depth is 67 m. The shape of the shore line is complicated. There are a number of islands and the largest one, Erm Island measures 26 km². There are three principal parts of the lake connected by narrow straits: Greater Imandra (Большая Имандра) or Khibinskaya Imandra in the north (area 328 km², length about 55 km, width 3-5 km), Ekostrovskaya Imandra in the centre (area 351 km²), and Babinskaya Imandra in the west (area 133 km²). The lake drains 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...
of the White Sea
White Sea
The White Sea is a southern inlet of the Barents Sea located on the northwest coast of Russia. It is surrounded by Karelia to the west, the Kola Peninsula to the north, and the Kanin Peninsula to the northeast. The whole of the White Sea is under Russian sovereignty and considered to be part of...
by the Niva River
Niva River
Niva River is a river in the Murmansk Oblast in Russia. The length of the river is 36 km. The area of its basin is 12,800 km². The Niva River flows out of the Imandra Lake and into the Kandalaksha Gulf of the White Sea...
. The lake is known for the transparency of its water and its abundance of fish
Fish
Fish are a paraphyletic group of organisms that consist of all gill-bearing aquatic vertebrate animals that lack limbs with digits. Included in this definition are the living hagfish, lampreys, and cartilaginous and bony fish, as well as various extinct related groups...
.
Towns on or near the lake
The town of MonchegorskMonchegorsk
Monchegorsk is a town in Murmansk Oblast, Russia, located on the Kola Peninsula, south of Murmansk, the administrative center of the oblast. Administratively, it is incorporated as Monchegorsk Town with Jurisdictional Territory—a unit of administrative division equal in status to that of a district...
, located on the Monche-Guba inlet in the north-western part of the lake, is known as a centre of winter sports. During the summer, many residents enjoy boating on the lake, while in winter the frozen lake is popular with cross-country skiers.
Apatity
Apatity
Apatity is a town in Murmansk Oblast, Russia, located along the Murmansk Railway between Lake Imandra and Khibiny Massif, west of Kirovsk and south of Murmansk, the administrative center of the oblast...
is located near the eastern shore of the lake, and Polyarnye Zori
Polyarnye Zori
Polyarnye Zori is a town in Murmansk Oblast, Russia, located on the Niva River, Lake Imandra, and Lake Pinozero south of Murmansk. Population:...
are on the Niva River
Niva River
Niva River is a river in the Murmansk Oblast in Russia. The length of the river is 36 km. The area of its basin is 12,800 km². The Niva River flows out of the Imandra Lake and into the Kandalaksha Gulf of the White Sea...
a few kilometers below its outflow from the lake.