page_title: Kandalaksha Nature Reserve
section_title: Flora and fauna
hierarchical_section_title: Kandalaksha Nature Reserve / Flora and fauna
caption_attribution_description: Русский: Схема размещения ООПТ Мурманской области по состоянию на 01.01.2011
context_page_description: Kandalaksha Nature Reserve is a Russian 'zapovednik' on the south shore of Kandalaksha Bay in the Murmansk and Karelia regions on the opening to the White Sea. The reserve also includes two small sectors on the northern coast of the Kola peninsula on the Barents Sea; notably, the warm Atlantic current causes the northern sectors on the Barents Sea to be warmer than the more southerly White Sea sectors. Over 550 islands are covered in the boundaries of the reserve. It is one of the oldest nature reserves in Russia, created in 1932 to protect the marine habitats and waterfowl of the region, particularly the eider. The reserve is situated in the Kandalakshsky District, Kolsky District, and Lovozersky District of Murmansk Oblast. The nearest city, Kandalaksha, is at the northwest entrance to the Kandalaksha Gulf, about 5 km from the nearest point in the reserve. Since 1976, the reserve has been part of the RAMSAR wetland site of international importance "Kandalaksha Bay". It covers an area of 70,530 ha.
context_section_description: Kandalasky is known for its taiga and tundra floral communities. Over 700 species of vascular plants and 400 species of bryophytes (liverworts and leafy mosses) have been recorded. Biodiversity is higher at the Barents Sea site than the upper Kandalaksha, mostly due to long periods of ice cover and lower salinity at the southern location. But the biomass of algae and invertebrates is much higher. Typical trees are pine and spruce. Lichens (inter-dependent communities of algae and fungi) cover the coastal rocks and shores.
  The Kandalaksha Reserve is the main breeding ground in Russia for the Atlantic and large crested cormorants, and for the Atlantic gray seal. Beluga is the most famous among cetaceans while other species such as harbour porpoises, whales (bowhead, humpback, rorquals, northern bottlenose, orcas) less frequently appear.
  Also, almost all common eider in the Murmansk region breed in the reserve. The sea ducks prefer to nest on treeless islands. High numbers of fish - particularly cod, haddock, and lumpfish, are a draw for the waterfowl. Characteristic mammals of the reserve include moose, brown bear, fox, hare, squirrel, marten, and ermine. Common birds include black grouse, ptarmigan, kestrel, and large owls.
caption: PA's of Murmansk (in green).  Kandalaksha sectors are in the south along the bay, and on the north shore of the Barents Sea
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