Lapland state biosphere nature reserve is famous reserve, located in the Murmansk region. Its territory is one of the most protected natural areas in Europe. The total area of the reserve is 278435 ha, including the waters at 8574 ha. the Most important and valuable part of the reserve is a wild and untouched nature, which is in its natural pristine condition.

The creation of Lapland Murmansk reserve with the protection of Federal importance, occurred in 1930, and in 1985 he was included in the world system of biosphere reserves. It should be noted that the reserve is not only environmental, but also environmental education and research center with a mission: to preserve and to study in detail the natural phenomena and processes, the genetic heritage of flora and fauna communities and species of animals and plants, unique or typical of ecological systems, as well as to convey to the public the important information concerning environmental education.

The topography of the protected zone is a rugged, krupnoformatnoy and mountain character. The largest area is covered with mountain tundra and is composed of five separate mountain ranges with varying heights from 600 to 1114 meters. For vertical forms of relief are especially characteristic congruence of shapes due to the antiquity of the mountain system.

Throughout the territory of the Lapland nature reserve is a watershed of the Barents and White seas. All the protected waters are divided into eight river-lake systems. All the lakes and rivers the water is amazingly clean, soft and transparent, which shows a complete lack of limestone and indicates a weak chemical weathering. In the territorial zone of the reserve has a considerable number of lakes and rivers, which flow in the famous lake Imandra. There are a total of 168 lakes, the total length of the coast which is 370 km, 63 of stream and river length of approximately 718 km

One of the most important parts of the Murmansk reserve are old-growth forests, which occupy 52% of the territory. Age taken separately forests ranges from three to ten thousand years. Interestingly, in their development throughout their history not intervened absolutely no power, except natural. The age of some trees is 600 years old, the trunk diameter is 70 cm and the height is 30 meters.

According to the latest data in the reserve there are mostly conifers: spruce and Siberian pine frieze. In addition, there are 575 species of lichens, 603 species of vascular plants, 370 species of mosses and 273 species of different fungi. As for vascular plants, five species listed in the Red book of Russia: polutnik lake, Calypso onion, vudsiya Alpine, cotoneaster cinnabar-red and palmate-wheel-horse of Trastamara.

In the Lapland reserve is home to more than 31 species of mammals, including the Northern wild deer, wolf, brown bear, Fox, weasel, Wolverine, American mink, European beaver, squirrel, mountain hare, forest lemming and many other representatives of the animal world. In the reserve live and nest birds, there are about 198 species. Especially characteristic of this region were five varieties of chicken: black grouse, capercaillie, hazel grouse, rock and ptarmigan, as well as five species of birds listed in the Red book: the white-tailed eagle, Golden eagle, falcons, peregrine Falcon and Gyrfalcon, osprey. Quite harsh natural conditions of the reserve to allow for the winter only twenty species of birds and 22 species are able to withstand the winter only when there is a constant feed.

A characteristic feature of the Lapland nature reserve was the presence of the estate of Santa Claus, which is located on the shore of a small lake Chuna. In this place you can meet absolutely any animal that live in the area and welcome Santa Claus will take everyone to visit the winter Palace, with fabulously beautiful design.