Kirovsk
Kirovsk is a small town just like Olenegorsk. 26 thousand people live here. It takes 3 hours to drive here from Murmansk.
The road through the tundra is a magnificent sight.
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Dwarf forest. The mosquitoes there are far from dwarf-sized.
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On the way lies the city of Apatity. There is a whole complex of enterprises here: a phosphorus plant, a nepheline beneficiation factory, a bus plant, a geological center, a concrete plant and a dozen more.
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Cooling towers of a thermal power plant.
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There is a monument to Kirov in Kirovsk. Before Kirov’s murder, the city was called Hibinogorsk.
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Kirovsk left a mixed impression. On the one hand, the city is completely run-down.
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Seriously, this is like some slummy village.
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On the other hand, the city center is quite nice. The Northern Hotel:
![](../img/travel/kirovsk-jun-2021/P256.jpg)
The houses are painted in bright colors, but not eye-catching.
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A lovely House of Culture.
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The House of Culture is located on a hill, from where you can see the whole city.
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From a good angle, the center of Kirovsk looks like Andorra.
![](../img/travel/kirovsk-jun-2021/P168.jpg)
Even a hipster café was found in Kirovsk, in a single copy.
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A cool bus stop with a picture of mountains.
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Magnit adapted its corporate style to the Russian North.
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But overall, Kirovsk is a gloomy place.
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The surrounding Hibiny Mountains lighten up the atmosphere. In winter, of course, you can see the Northern Lights here. Kirovsk is also a center for skiing and other winter sports. Every winter, tourists come here to ski.
![](../img/travel/kirovsk-jun-2021/P194.jpg)
But what is there to do here in the summer? The devastation in the city is terrible.
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A spa club was found in a residential building.
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It would be better if a courtyard was found.
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The population of Kirovsk is poor and has alcohol problems. In 50 years, the number of residents has almost halved.
![](../img/travel/kirovsk-jun-2021/P205.jpg)
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And no mountains can alleviate the deep depression that reigns here.
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What a pity. The city has all the chances.
![](../img/travel/kirovsk-jun-2021/P247.jpg)