| Lapland Nature Reserve | |
|---|---|
| Russian: Лапландский заповедник (Also: Laplandskiy) | |
 Lapland Zapovednik | |
  Location of Reserve | |
| Location | Murmansk Oblast |
| Nearest city | Monchegorsk |
| Coordinates | 67°49′0″N 32°28′0″E / 67.81667°N 32.46667°E |
| Area | 278,436 hectares (688,030 acres; 1,075 sq mi) |
| Established | 1957 |
| Governing body | Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (Russia) |
| Website | http://www.laplandzap.ru/ |
Lapland Nature Reserve (Russian: Лапландский заповедник) (also Laplandskiy) is a Russian zapovednik (strict nature reserve) in Murmansk Oblast, Russia, above the Arctic Circle. Officially established in 1957, the reserve protects an area of 2,784 km2 (1,075 sq mi) to the northwest of Lake Imandra, including 86 km² of inland water. The terrain is mountainous tundra and northern taiga. Since 1985 the zapovednik has been designated by UNESCO as a biosphere reserve. The name refers to the cultural area of Lapland, now preferably called Sápmi.
The Lapland Nature Reserve was established in 1930. However, in 1951 along with many other zapovedniks of the Soviet Union it was abolished. It was reestablished in 1957, but in 1961-1965 was merged to Kandalaksha Nature Reserve. In 1983 the 1,613 km² area of the Lapland Nature Reserve was significantly expanded to include 1,296 km² of territories to the northwest, farther from the polluting influence of the Monchegorsk nickel smelter, and the zapovednik gave away 124 km² near the city. The reserve is situated in Murmansk Oblast about 50 km south of the city of Murmansk.[1][2] Its administrative center is the rural locality of Laplandsky Zapovednik.
- ^ "Lapland Zapovednik (Official Site)" (in Russian). Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (Russia). Retrieved January 21, 2016.
- ^ "Lapland Zapovednik" (in Russian). Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (Russia). Retrieved January 21, 2016.