Kandalaksha Nature Reserve

The Kandalaksha Reserve was founded on 7 September 1932 as a hunting reserve — one of the oldest in the country; in 1939 it became a state nature reserve. Its territory is scattered across two seas: in Kandalaksha Bay of the White Sea — about a hundred islands (including Veliky island of ~7,000 hectares) and three mainland taiga sections; in the Barents Sea — the Ainov and Gavrilov islands and the Seven Islands archipelago. The reserve was created to protect sea, waterfowl and shorebirds, above all the eider — the valuable bird of northern seas. On the 'Seven Islands' large bird colonies nest: Brünnich's and common guillemots, razorbills, black guillemots. Among marine mammals, the ringed seal, bearded seal and grey seal live in the waters, with beluga whales visiting occasionally. Since 1975 the reserve has been a wetland of international importance. Visits are possible on a 3-km excursion trail on the mainland section; coordination via kandalaksha-reserve.ru. The main part of the reserve is open only to scientists and sea expeditions.