#6: [30-Jul-16]

#5: [13-Mar-09]

#4: [30-Aug-06]

#2: [17-Jul-05]

#1: [02-Apr-03] (incomplete)

08-Jul-2006 -- Story starts from 69N 34E.

From the city centre of Murmansk (Му́рманск) we walked down to the harbour and its industrial zones. It was the last day on our tour before we had to return home.We were aware that this Confluence was located just on the other side of the Kol'sky Zaliv Fjord in 5 km beeline distance. It was a coincidence that we suddenly saw a crowd of people in all ages waiting in front of a gate; all of them carrying plastic bags or wearing bag-packs. This suggested that they were tourists or day trippers and we figured that they were waiting for a ferryboat to bring them on the other side. Indeed, a minute later the gate opened and everybody was given access to the ferry terminal. We spontaneously decided to take the ferry and visit the confluence point.

After our arrival on the other side of the fjord, the GPS display showed a remaining distance of 2.2 km to the Confluence. We followed the cost line on a track with nice views. On our way, we met Foder, Ol'ga and Nina from Murmansk. They heard us speaking German and since they spoke the German language, we were able to have a conversation.

It turned out that they were going to have a picnic that included a barbeque. We were cordially invited to share with them tasty chicken-wings, salmon bread, potatoes and salad in their dacha-home. It was one of these rare hot and sunny days on the northern Kola Peninsula. We enjoyed very much spending time with our new friends in just 1 km beeline from the Confluence.

Of course, it didn't take long and my proposal was spoken out: to visit the nearby confluence point. Foder and Ol'ga were happy to join and we hiked further north along the track. For the last 500 m we had to leave civilisation and find our way through the tundra. Foder, not even wearing a shirt wasn't optimally prepared for a hike through the arctic wilderness, but it seemed that mosquitoes didn't bother him much.

Ol'ga guided us to the confluence point, which we reached after half an hour walk through wet terrain. Not far from the confluence point, Murmansk and the fjord can be seen. The nearest building is the school of the village Min'kino. The point itself is on a slight slope covered with moss, blueberries and small pine trees.

CP visit details:

• Time at the CP: 16:22 p.m.
• Hiking time: 1.5 hours
• Hiking distance: 2.2 km (beeline)
• Distance to a track: 450 m
• Distance to houses: 450 km
• Topography: on a slope, mountainous area
• Minimal distance according to GPS: 0.00 m
• Position accuracy at the CP: 5 m
• GPS height: 48 m
• Vegetation: Tundra: blue-berries, moss, lichen, dwarf-birch.
• Weather: 22°C
• Description of the CP: In the northern part of Scandinavia and also on the northern part of the Kola Peninsula. Very close to the big city Murmansk, just on the opposite side of the fjord. Area is clearly influenced by its industry.
• Given Name: The Russian Picnic Confluence