Apatity, Mining settlement in Murmansk Oblast, Russia
Apatity is a city in Murmansk Oblast, Russia, that spreads at the foot of the Khibiny Mountains. The settlement sits near Lake Imandra and is surrounded by tundra and boreal forests.
The settlement began in 1926 as a railway junction on the line from Leningrad to Murmansk. Over the following decades, the town grew through mining operations and the merger of nearby communities.
The name comes from apatite mineral, which shapes local industry and appears in detailed exhibits at the geology museum. During winter, the sun stays below the horizon for over a month, while summer months bring constant daylight.
The town can be reached via the M18 federal highway or by train on the route from Saint Petersburg to Murmansk. During winter, heavy snowfall may limit visibility and cause delays.
Some residents descend from dispossessed farmers who came here from Northwest Russia under Stalin. Their descendants still live here and share stories about the early years of the town.
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