Kolvitsa combines a distinctive natural attraction with village history: the eco trail leads to the “Chyornyy padun” waterfall, while several memorial sites commemorate the settlement’s beginnings and those who were lost. This combination of river and remembrance is a good starting point for planning your stay.
Eco Trail to the Waterfall
The eco trail begins at the bridge and runs 600 meters along the left bank of the Kolvitsa River to the “Chyornyy padun” waterfall. Information boards along the route cover features of the natural environment; steps have been built on the slopes. Independent visits are possible in summer and early autumn. The Kolvitsa River flows into Kandalaksha Bay in the White Sea near Kolvitsa.
Village History and Memorial Sites
Kolvitsa’s settlement history began in 1894, when the Karelian families Arkhipovykh and Artemyevykh arrived on the left bank of the Kolvitsa River and began building their lives there. Beside the bridge stands a memorial stone engraved with the village’s history; it was installed in summer 2014. The “Lebed-kamen” is also located on a forest path in Kolvitsa.
The “Pamyat Kolvitsy” memorial complex was built along the eco trail in autumn 2015. It commemorates residents who went to the Great Patriotic War and did not return. The memorial cross at the highest point of the village has a different focus: it was erected in May 1994 to mark the village’s 100th anniversary. It commemorates people who did not return from the sea or from war, or who died defending their homeland against invaders. The Chapel of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker on the eco trail was built by dedicated local residents in 2017 and consecrated in September of that year. Together, these sites reflect different chapters of local remembrance: the founding of the settlement, those killed in the war, and others who did not return.
Cultural Highlights in the Wider Destination of Murmansk Oblast
In Umba, the guided “Starinnaya pomorskaya derevnya Umba” walking route runs 5.5 kilometers alongside a river to the sea. Seven information boards cover the settlement’s history, the Pomors, their livelihoods, and their daily lives. The route also offers insight into northern wooden architecture. This guided tour must be booked at least two days in advance; check the current arrangements before your visit.
Another cultural perspective in Umba is offered by the exhibition at the Museum of the History, Culture, and Everyday Life of the Tersky Pomors. It covers livelihoods from the 18th to the early 20th century, including fishing, hunting marine mammals, shipbuilding, and pearl fishing. Traditional crafts are also among the exhibition’s topics: carpentry and joinery, woodworking, shoemaking, as well as women’s crafts and needlework. These regional themes complement the perspective on Kolvitsa without replacing its natural and memorial sites.
Discover more destinations: Kovdor, Pushnoy, Murmansk, Kildinstroy, Teriberka, Kirovsk, Pirenga, Fedoseyevka.
View the wider travel guide: Murmansk Oblast.
