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1. Why is the geographical position of the Murmansk region favourable? The Murmansk region – the extreme northwest area of Russia – is located on the Kola Peninsula, which is washed by two seas, the Barents Sea and the White Sea, borders on Finland and Norway. Almost all area of the region lies behind the Polar circle. The total area is 144900 square km (about 56000 square miles). The Kola Peninsula’s history, as an integral part of Russian history, dates to the period when the region had no separate administrative status and was merely a part of the Province of Archangel. Later the peninsula became a province itself. After the Russian Revolution the Murmansk area became a part of the Leningrad region. Only on the 28^th of May 1938 the area was awarded the status of a separate region.

2. What’s the population of the region? By 01.01.2005 there were 827.8 thousand of permanent population in the region. 91.5 % of the inhabitants lived in cities, 8.5 % – lived in village, including Russians, Ukrainians, Byelorussians and other nationalities. Russian Pomors and Lapps can be regarded as indigenuos population. Except for Lapps, from among small nationalities of the north, Komi-Izhemtsy also live on the Kola Peninsula. The total number of Lapps is 2150 persons and of Komi is 2601 persons. The coastal regions have long been inhabited by the Pomors, the descendants of early northern Russian seamen. The Pomors have retained their way of life, fishing and hunting traditions, folk legends, songs, ancient decorations and details of dress. 3. Why do you like or dislike the climate of the region?

The climate of the region is classified as moderate Atlantic-Arctic, although the domestic-heating season lasts about 10 months. Though the climate here is maritime (cool summer, rather mild winter, the average yearly temperature about zero), it is in fact harsh, grim and hostile for a human being. The Polar night falls on Murmansk in winter to last several months. Nothern lights, bright and gentle, flare up over the city, giving the surrounding scene a fairytale effect. This sort of light show is seldom seen outside the Far North. The northern lights, the symbol of the Arctic, come like a greeting from the sun during the long winter night. The lights are reflected on Russian Lapland’s stones and flowers. Though the temperature in winter here may drop as low as 35-40°C, the Kola Bay normally remains ice-free thanks to the North Atlantic Drift. The Port of Murmansk is thus active year-round. In summer when the sun never sets, a period of the Polar day begins, which is indeed an unforgettable experience. 4. What are the main peculiarities of the landscape? The landscape around hilly Murmansk has a strange and barren beauty. Where streets end, wilderness abruptly begins. The city is surrounded by hills, tundra and swamps. The Kola Peninsula contains 110701 lakes and 18209 rivers and streams. The largest lake in the region is the Imandra, on which yacht races are sometimes held. The tundra (the word of a Lappish origin means the height covered with woodless vegetation) is stretched as a narrow strip along the coast of the Barents Sea, and then, further to the east, the tundra zone gradually extends almost up to the middle part of the peninsula. You also may get acquainted with tundra dwarfish vegetation in a forest zone of the peninsula, mainly in the mountain areas. The main part of the Kola Peninsula is little developed and consequently a big number of brown bears and wild reindeers lives here. Some species of endemic plants grow in the Murmansk region and the total number of plant species is 591, mammals – 32 and of birds – 201.

5. Can we call our region the peninsula of treasures? Why? Unfathomable treasures sleep far beneath the soil of the Arctic. The Kola Peninsula is sometimes called the Peninsula of treasures. Many mineral deposits serve industrial applications. Specialists regard the apatite-nepheline ores found in the Khibin Mountains as one such giant deposit. Apatite – the "stone of fertility" – has been mined in these mountains since the 1930s. Among the treasures secreted in the soil and rock of the Kola Peninsula, one occasionally encounters stones of striking beauty and color. The town of Kovdor is very distinctive. Local deposits of several minerals have given life to this community.

6. Why is the Murmansk region the most economically advanced one among the northern regions of Russia? The Murmansk region is the most economically advanced one among the northern regions of Russia, holds up the 14^th position in Russia by the volume of industrial production. The specific character of the region economy is connected with the use of the Kola Peninsula natural resources, its geographical position. The basic branches of economy are mining and processing of minerals, nonferrous metallurgy, fishery and fish processing, power engineering and transport services. The region main export items are fish, nonferrous metals, a concentrate for production of fertilizers and the electric power. The region is one of the most energy-supplied areas of Russia. The product of non-ferrous metallurgy – nickel, copper, aluminum is much in demand at home and at foreign market. The largest enterprises known in the world market are the joint-stock companies "Norilsky Nickel", "Apatite", "Kandalaksha Aluminum Plant", "Olenegorsk Mineral-Processing Industrial Complex", "Kovdor Mineral-Processing Industrial Complex", "Murmansk Shipping Company", "Murmansk Trawl Fleet", "Sevryba" etc. Some areas near the Severonickel complex, unfortunately, are zones of almost total ecological ruin. Such is the price we and nature pay for a high grade of nickel. The landscape of these areas awaits help. The Kola nuclear power station generates electricity not only for the Murmansk region, but also for the neighboring Republic of Karelia. Employees of the power plant live in the town of Poljarnye Zory. 7. What do you know about the history of Murmansk? The region’s central city and capital, Murmansk, was founded on the 4^th of October 1916. The city’s first name was Romanov-on-Murman. The residents of Murmansk are fond of saying that Murmansk was born twice, once when it was founded in 1916 and again when it was rebuilt after destruction by German air attacks in World War 2. The city lay in ruins but it withstood the forty-month siege by German forces and the port never stopped its operation, handling different cargoes including those brought by the English and American convoys. Giant ocean ships were unloaded round-the-clock. An obelisk rises in the port, commemorating 83 dockers who were killed during an enemy air raid while they were unloading ships. The Murman fishermen also made their contribution to the victory over the Nazi Germany. At the very beginning of the war 15 trawlers joined the Northern Navy, while the rest continued fishing under very dangerous conditions. Several streets in Murmansk are named after famous captains of the Trawl Fleet: Captain Egorov street, Captain Burkov street, Captain Kopytov street, Captain Taran street and others. In 1985 Murmansk joined the ranks of the "hero cities" officially honored for their role in World War 2. The living piously remember the fallen. Russian, American and English veterans bring flowers of grateful memory to the graves and monuments. In accordance with ancient traditions they place wreaths on the water in memory of those who died at sea. In Murmansk there is also a cemetery for the English seamen who perished in the Kola Peninsula at the end of 1910s. Murmansk was rapidly restored after the war. 8. What is Murmansk nowadays? Now the city of Murmansk is an administrative, industrial, scientific and cultural center of the region. Almost half of the Kola Peninsula’s population lives here. The region’s maritime, rail, air and road transport routes converge at Murmansk. There are 3 trade seaports, 2 airports in the region. Atomic ice-breaking fleet, which provides all the year round navigation, is based in Murmansk. The location of the city makes it a natural center for international cooperation. New housing estates have appeared along with schools, theatres, shops, houses of culture and clubs. Yet this is a region where rigorous Arctic conditions make building extremely difficult. The city is beautified from year to year. Its streets are lined with trees and decorative shrubs carefully looked after by local people. 9. Why is Murmansk an industrial city? Murmansk is an industrial city. Its main industrial enterprises are a shipyard, shiprepairing plants, food industry plants and some oil and gas prospecting enterprises. The value of Murmansk is its harbour which lies about 25 miles from the open sea. On its eastern side there is the port of Murmansk. It was founded in 1915. It has developed from a small fishing village into a well-equipped modern sea port accessible for the largest ships. At present it is one of the biggest sea ports of our country and consists of a commercial port and a fishing one. The commercial port, which is rightfully called the city’s gates, is the home of powerful vessels, among them the atomic ice-breakers the Lenin, the Arktika and the Sibir, the pride of the Arctic fleet. Among the world’s cities, only Murmansk can boast a fleet of powerful atomic icebreakers for use on the Arctic seas. Thanks to the nuclear icebreakers, navigation in this region of the Arctic is a year-round business. The Great Northern Sea Route begins here. Ships flying the flags of different countries call at Murmansk port at all seasons. In the commercial port one can see merchant ships of different types: tankers, timber-carriers, bulk-carriers, ice-breakers, passenger liners, waterboats, lighters etc. In the port all the vessels are supplied with everything they need – fuel oil, coal, fresh water, provisions and all kinds of equipment. Various repairs can be carried out. Murmansk is also a big fishing port of world-wide reputation. The fishing fleet of Murmansk was organized in the twenties. The first piers were built in 1926. In the fishing port one can see many fishing ships of different types: middle-sized trawlers, side trawlers, fish-carriers, tugs, motor-boats etc. 10. Prove that Murmansk is a large cultural and scientific city Murmansk is a large cultural and scientific centre in the Kola Peninsula. The Arctic Fishery and Oceanography Research Institute, the Polar Geophysical Institute and other scientific institutions are functioning here. The regional system of state education includes 313 pre-school educational establishments, 245 secondary schools, 22 secondary-technical schools, 11 middle level educational institutions and 2 Universities – the Murmansk State Teachers’ Training University and the Murmansk State Technical University, which train specialists in different fields. Federal State Unitary Enterprise "Arktikmorneftegazrazvedka" is a leader of oil and gas exploration on the Russian Arctic shelf. In 1987 the first wells trial operation started in a trial and commercial zone of Peschanooziorskoye field on the island of Kolguev. The city has a Philarmonic Society, 12 museums, 8 cinemas, 3 professional theatres, 203 public libraries, 102 club’s establishments. The Local Lore museum highlights the history of the region. One can also see here tools and ornaments of the ancient tribes that once inhabited the Kola Peninsula, and exhibits telling the history of the first Russian Arctic expeditions. There are many monuments in Murmansk: the monument to A. Bredov, Hero of the Soviet Union, the monuments to the victims of intervention and to the heroic sixth battery, a majestic monument to the defenders of the Soviet Far North – a figure of a watchman with a rifle, 34 meters high, which is visible almost from any point of the city. Folks have named the monument as "ALYOSHA". He is the first to meet ships arriving to Murmansk and from his foot the best view of Murmansk and the Kola Bay opens. On the square in front of the Regional Scientific Library there is the monument to Fathers of Slavic written language Cirill and Mephody. It was erected on the 22^nd of May, 1990. It is a gift from Bulgaria. Other places of interest in Murmansk are the following: Oceanarium, Marine passenger terminal, Drama Theatre, Museum of the PINRO institute. 11. How do the people of the Murmansk region like to spend their leisure time? The city leads a varied life. In summer the midnight sun facilitates flying at all hours. Comfortable restaurants and cafes, recreational facilities and palaces of culture serve the people of Murmansk. The young people favor the city’s discotheques.

The inhabitants of the Kola Peninsula thirst for beauty, and for all things new. Many Murmansk families make a habit of visiting the Local Philarmonic Society and the city’s Arts Museum. The study of foreign languages is also very popular. Sports enthusiasts from elsewhere in Russia and abroad arrive in the Murmansk region every year at the end of March, when the "spring of light" is only beginning here. The Festival of the North goes on for several days, finishing with a marathon ski race which attracts mass participation. Traditional competitions in this national sport always attract many tourists. The Khibin Mountains are a downhill skier’s paradise. Skiing enthusiasts say that the snow arrives earlier here than in other parts of Russia – and leaves later. The light and the abundance of snow make winter and spring recreation in the Khibin Mountains an experience not to be forgotten. Good hotels, lifts, equipment rentals and experienced instructors are all available. 12. What is your attitude to the beneficial relations? The people of the Kola Peninsula wish to be friends with all the world’s peoples, to work together and through that cooperation to develop mutually beneficial relations. Murmansk has seven twin cities in different parts of the world. A memorial in the centre of the city honors these cities. In January 1993, in the Norwegian town of Kirkenes, Russia signed a treaty establishing an association of Northern European regions. Finland, Norway and Sweden, in addition to Russia, are the participating states. The association was named the Barents Euro-Arctic Council. This international body has already brought its first projects to fruition. For innovative persons, the Kola Peninsula offers boundless opportunities. Many areas of environmental protection call for an investment of human strength, skill, imagination and knowledge. The Kola Peninsula is a friendly and very rich region.

Vocabulary favourable, adj благоприятный extreme, adj крайний total, adj общий peninsula, n полуостров integral, adj неотъемлемый separate, adj отдельный merely, adv только award, v присуждать regard, v считать indigenuos, adj коренной Lapps саами except for, prep за исключением descendant, n потомок retain, v сохранять ancient, adj старинный moderate, adj умеренный although, cj хотя average, adj средний harsh, adj неприятный grim, adj безжалостный hostile, adj враждебный gentle, adj мягкий flare up, v вспыхивать peculiarity, n особенность landscape, n ландшафт hilly, adj холмистый barren, adj бедный wilderness, n пустыня abruptly, adv резко swamp, n болото strip, n полоска extend, v простираться get acquainted with, v знакомиться dwarfish vegetation карликовая растительность reindeer, n олень species, n вид endemic, adj присущий данной местности mammal, n млекопитающее unfathomable, adj неизмеримый deposit, n месторождение application, n применение ore, n рудник giant, adj гигантский fertility, n плодородие mine, v добывать encounter, v сталкиваться striking, adj удивительный distinctive, adj отличительный, примечательный branch, n отрасль employee, n служащий

destruction, n разрушение withstand, v противостоять siege, n осада unload, v разгружать commemorate, v служить напоминанием contribution, n вклад honor, v почитать piosly, adv свято grave, n могила wreath, n венок cemetery, n кладбище perish, v умирать restore, v восстанавливать

converge, v сходиться rigorous, adj суровый shrub, n куст hipyard, n судоверфь harbour, n гавань accessible, adj доступный rightfully, adv справедливо ice-breaker, n ледокол boast, v хвастаться raw material, n сырье fertilizer, n удобрение equipment, n оборудование carry out, v осуществлять tribe, n племя inhabit, v населять devote, v посвящать mention, v упоминать defender, n защитник rifle, n винтовка visible, adj видимый highlight, v освещать

leisure time свободное время thirst for, v жаждать favor, v выбирать the festival of the North праздник Севера attract, v привлекать participation, n участие abundance, n обилие recreation, n отдых lift подъемник equipment rentals базы проката

beneficial, adj выгодный mutually, adv взаимно sign, v подписать treaty, n договор innovative, adj любознательный boundless, adj безграничный call for, v взывать

1. The basic branches of economy are mining and processing of minerals, nonferrous metallurgy, fishery and fish processing, power engineering and transport services. – Основные отрасли экономики – добыча и переработка полезных ископаемых, цветная металлургия, рыболовство и рыбопереработка, энергетика и транспортные услуги.

2. The largest enterprises known in the world market are the joint - stock companies "Norilsky Nickel", "Apatite", "Kandalaksha Aluminum Plant", "Olenegorsk Mineral-Processing Industrial Complex", "Kovdor Mineral-Processing Industrial Complex", "Murmansk Shipping Company", "Murmansk Trawl Fleet", "Sevryba" etc. – Крупнейшие предприятия, известные на мировом рынке – ОАО "Норильский никель", ОАО "Апатит", ОАО "Кандалакшский алюминиевый завод", Оленегорский ГОК, Мурманское морское пароходство, Мурманский траловый флот, "Севрыба" и другие.

3. Federal State Unitary Enterprise "Arktikmorneftegazrazvedka" is a leader of oil and gas exploration on the Russian Arctic shelf. In 1987 the first wells trial operation started in a trial and commercial zone of Peschanooziorskoye field on the island of Kolguev. – Федеральное государственное унитарное предприятие "Арктикморнефтегазразведка" – лидер нефтегазоразведочных работ на шельфе российской Арктики. В 1987 г. на опытно-промышленном участке Песчаноозерского месторождения на о. Колгуев была начата пробная эксплуатация первых скважин.