The Khibiny Massif are the highest mountains of the
Kola Peninsula, a large
peninsula extending from northern
Russia into the
Barents and
White seas. The total land area of the peninsula is approximately . It is rich in minerals due to the removal of a layer of soil during the last
ice age. The average elevation is . The mountains form the shape of a horseshoe topped by a high
plateau, drained by a series of deep canyons. The peaks are of
plateau type, with steep slopes, with
glaciers,
icefields and
snowfields in some places. The overall terrain is
alpine tundra. The second, and similar mountain range of the Kola Peninsula, the
Lovozero Tundras, is located about 5 km east from the easternmost point of Khibiny, separated from it by Lake
Umbozero. The Khibiny range is extremely rich in minerals, mainly
apatite and
nepheline ores. 477 valid minerals have been reported and 108 of those are
type localities or minerals first described in the Khibiny. The range is also seismically active. The Khibiny Mountains are mostly uninhabited, except for one of the world's richest mineral quarries. One of the minerals discovered there is reported to have a potential as a nuclear waste radioactivity absorbent. By the foot of the massif the cities of
Apatity and
Kirovsk are situated.
Climate Khibiny have an Arctic-moderate climate, with an average
winter temperature of −5 °C (23 °F). However, the temperature can potentially drop to −30 °C (−22 °F) during the night. The
Gulf Stream, which brings warmer water to the Kolsky Peninsula from the north, moderates the climate, making it slightly warmer than other Arctic regions. ==Toponyms in Khibins==