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Welcome to Monchegorsk
The most green city of the Kola Peninsula
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Monchegorsk was founded in 1937 in Monche-tundra ("Monche" means beautiful in Saamese language) and was a small village of geologists and builders.
Nowadays is Monchegorsk the third largest city in Murmansk region on Kola Peninsula with a population of 63 thousand inhabitants.
The cathedral of the Resurrection are the major points of interest of Monchegorsk. The construction of cathedral has become such
evidence on Kola Peninsula. This cathedral, consecrated by the AII Russia 's Patriarch Alexij in 1998, became a true decoration of our land.
It is absolutely
necessary to take a look at the Cathedral!
You can learn more about the history of Monchegorsk if you visit to the local
History and Economy museum. Also we recommend you to visit
the Museum of Color Stones. There is also the Museum of Dwarfs in Monchegorsk- a private collection of figurines and toy dwarfs.
Valery Tsyganov - the most known, almost legendary Russian mountain-skier (now - the chairman of a Committee on Sports
and Tourism of Murmansk region) - was born and grown up in Monchegorsk and trained on slopes of the neighboring Monche mountains. The Tsyganov's Award mountain
skiing competition is held in Monchegorsk annually in the beginning of April.
Our "Severonikel" industrial complex is one of the largest world's manufacturers of non-ferrous metals. Approaching
Monchegorsk you can't not to pay an attention to the absence of trees near the city, to the "scorched" surface of the tundra. But not always it was
here this way. The foot of Monche tundra (translation from Lappish - the beautiful height) is surrounded by lakes. Only 50 years ago their shores were
covered with a dense coniferous forest. Monchegorsk is still a green city.
The future streets of Monchegorsk were cut through the forest and houses of the first builders and metallurgists of the
industrial complex were erected there. At that time, in 30th ,40th, and even in the beginning of 50th no body understood what kind of influence the smokes of
metallurgical combine could have upon the nature.
The condition of the forest began noticeably deteriorate in the end of 60th, and in 70th the forest began to die out
disastrously fast, which was connected to the extension of production and transition to use the ore from Norilsk containing a plenty of sulfur.
Degradation of nature became obvious, however, the raising of production rate, urged by Moscow, continued.
The first step towards the nature was made in 1987 - the sulfuric acid workshop was commissioned at the industrial complex,
which allowed reducing ejections of sulfur dioxide to the air with 80%. Despite of depression, more essential modifications were made in the beginning of 90th.
Deliveries of Norilsk ore were terminated and introduction of autogenously smelting along with extension of sulfuric acid production allow reducing the
ejections of harmful substances to atmosphere considerably. Main contaminant of the air - the melting shop of the industrial complex was closed in the end of
90th. Ecologists and the management of the "Severonikel" industrial complex have started a serious discussion over a cleaning and re-vegetation of
suffered territories. It will cost Russia many billions of dollars by tentative assessment, but it has to be done and the funds have to be found. The
optimism reigns in Monchegorsk.
So there is no return to the former rash industrial policy; our health and nature is now in our hands!
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