Murmansk Oblast facts for kids
Murmansk Oblast is a special region in northwestern Russia. It's like a state or province. The main city and capital is Murmansk, where most people live. About 741,511 people call this region home.
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History of Murmansk Oblast
People first started living in the Murmansk area a very long time ago, between 8000 BC and 7000 BC. The first permanent towns began to appear around the 15th century. These towns were mostly found along the Tersky Coast.
In the late 15th century, this area became part of the Grand Duchy of Moscow, which was an early form of Russia. Back then, most people in the region made their living by fishing.
How Murmansk Oblast is Organized
Murmansk Oblast is divided into different types of areas to help manage it. It has six main districts, six special "closed cities," and six other cities and towns that are directly controlled by the oblast government.
Districts
The six main districts are:
- Kandalakshsky District
- Kolsky District
- Kovdorsky District
- Lovozersky District
- Pechengsky District
- Tersky District
Special Cities
There are six special cities in Murmansk Oblast that are called "closed cities." These cities are controlled by the national government. A "closed city" means that people need special permission to live there or even visit. The six closed cities are:
- Gadzhiyevo
- Ostrovnoy
- Polyarny
- Severomorsk
- Snezhnogorsk
- Zaozyorsk
Main Cities and Towns
Six other important cities and towns are directly managed by the Murmansk Oblast government. These cities have their own special areas within the oblast. They are:
- Murmansk
- Apatity
- Kirovsk
- Monchegorsk
- Olenegorsk
- Polyarnye Zori
Climate and Weather
Most of Murmansk Oblast is located inside the Arctic Circle. This means that during the summer, the sun stays in the sky all day and night, a phenomenon called the "midnight sun." In winter, it's the opposite: the sun never rises for a period, leading to long, dark days.
The entire region has a subarctic climate. This means winters are very cold, but summers are short and can be quite warm. Even though it's so far north, the area isn't as cold as other places at the same latitude. This is because of the North Atlantic Current, a warm ocean current that brings milder air. Thanks to this current, the northern coast of Murmansk Oblast is generally warmer than the central and southern parts.
People and Cities
The original people of this area are called the Sami. However, today they make up only a tiny part of the population, about 0.2%.
Here are some of the largest cities in Murmansk Oblast:
- Murmansk is the biggest city, with about 292,465 people.
- Apatity is the second largest, with around 55,201 people.
- Severomorsk has about 52,597 residents.
- Monchegorsk is home to about 41,482 people.
- Kandalaksha has a population of about 30,575.
- Kirovsk has around 26,206 residents.
When it comes to religion, about 42% of the people in Murmansk Oblast follow the Russian Orthodox Church. Another 4.5% follow other types of Christianity. About 1% of the population is Muslim. Around 12% of people say they are atheists (meaning they don't believe in God), and 28% say they are "spiritual but not religious."
Images for kids
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The Polar Alpine Botanical Garden in Kirovsk
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A Norilsk Nickel plant in Monchegorsk
See also
In Spanish: Óblast de Múrmansk para niños
