| Khibinsky Mountains | |
| Range | |
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Khibins in winter
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| Country | Russia |
|---|---|
| Region | Kolsky Peninsula |
| Highest point | Yudytchvumtchchorr |
| - elevation | 3,937 ft (1,200 m) |
The Khibiny Massif, Khibiny Mountains, Khibinsky Mountains or Khibins, Khibinsky tundras, Khibiny (Russian: Хиби́ны [xʲiˈbʲinɨ]) 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 km2. and occupies the central part of the peninsula at a relative elevation of 900-1000 m above the surrounding plain. The mountains are not particularly high; the two highest peaks are the Yudytchvumtchchorr, which stands 1,201 metres (3,940 ft), and the Chasnachorr, which stands 1,191 metres (3,907 ft).[1] The average elevation is 1,116 metres (3,661 ft).[2] The mountains form the shape of a horseshoe topped by a high plateau, drained by a series of deep canyons. The peaks are of plateau type, with steep slopes, with glaciers, icefields and snowfields in some places. The overall terrain is alpine tundra.
About 5 km from the easternmost point of Khibins, the second massif, Lovozero Massif is situated. They are one of two major mountain ranges, the Khibinsky and Lovozero, on the peninsula.[3]
The massif is seismically active.
The massif is extremely rich in various minerals, mainly apatite and nepheline ores. 477 valid minerals have been reported and 108 of those are type localities or minerals first described in the Khibiny.[4]
The Khibinskys are mostly uninhabited, except for one of the world's richest mineral quarries, with approximately 10% of all new minerals discovered there, including one that can potentially absorb radioactivity from nuclear waste.[5] By the foot of the massif the cities of Apatity and Kirovsk are situated.
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The Khibinsky Mountains lie within the Kolsky Peninsula, a large peninsula extending from northern Russia into the Barents and White seas. The total land area of the peninsula is approximately 100,000 square kilometres (39,000 sq mi). It is found to be rich in minerals due to the removal of a layer of soil during the last ice age.[3]
The Khibinskys have an Arctic-moderate climate, with an average winter temperature of −5 °C (23 °F). However, the temperature can potentially drop to −30 °C (−22 °F) during the night. The Gulf Stream, which brings warmer water to the Kolsky Peninsula from the north, moderates the climate, making it slightly warmer than other Arctic regions.[1]