Coordinates: 69°24′50″N 30°13′55″E / 69.41389°N 30.23194°E
Nikel (Russian: Ни́кель, lit. nickel; Finnish: Kolosjoki) is an urban-type settlement in Murmansk Oblast, Russia, located on the shores of Lake Kuets-Yarvi some 196 km northwest of Murmansk and 7 km from the Norwegian border. It is the administrative center of Pechengsky District. Population: 15,900 (2005 est.); 16,534 (2002 Census);[1] 21,838 (1989 Census);[2] 18,000 (1973).
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History
The area of Pechenga (Finnish: Petsamo) became part of Finland in 1920 Peace Treaty.
In 1930's huge reserves of nickel were found on fells nearby. The amount was estimated to be five million tons. In 1934 the Finnish Government awarded the mining right to the British Mond Nickel Co, subsidiary of International Nickel Co (Inco), that founded the Petsamon Nikkeli Oy mining company. The company began building a railway between the town, know as Kolosjoki, and between Liinahamari harbour, and other infrastructure.
After the Finnish–Soviet Winter War Petsamo remained part of Finland, although the Government took over the mines from the British company in Summer 1940. The first mining operations began in the same year. During the War the ore was mainly sold to the Germany. The hydro power plant in Jäniskoski started operations in 1942 and it was possibly to smelt the ore on locally.
In Moscow Armistice in 1944 Finland ceded the Petsamo to the Soviet Union. Retreating German forces destroyed the power plant and partially the smelter.
Grave pollution concerns
The town is linked to the Norilsk Nickel plant nearby where many of its citizens are employed and which causes grave environmental and health concerns for the population. The nickel smelter which has been an eyesore in Norway–Russia relations for decades due to its extreme pollution levels, usually deposits its sulfur dioxide fumes to the south of the town where the countryside is a brown moonscape of bald hills, barren of plant life for kilometers around.[3] In the summertime, the toxic fumes which for the rest of the year rarely blow northwards towards the town, occasionally do just that making breathing difficult and even burning holes in people's umbrellas.[3].
Recent events
The video of English alternative rock band White Lies, "Farewell to the Fairground" was filmed there in early 2009.
Sister city
References
- ^ Федеральная служба государственной статистики (Federal State Statistics Service) (2004-05-21). "Численность населения России, субъектов Российской Федерации в составе федеральных округов, районов, городских поселений, сельских населённых пунктов – районных центров и сельских населённых пунктов с населением 3 тысячи и более человек (Population of Russia, its federal districts, federal subjects, districts, urban localities, rural localities—administrative centers, and rural localities with population of over 3,000)" (in Russian). Всероссийская перепись населения 2002 года (All-Russia Population Census of 2002). Federal State Statistics Service. http://www.perepis2002.ru/ct/doc/1_TOM_01_04.xls. Retrieved 2008-07-25.
- ^ "Всесоюзная перепись населения 1989 г. Численность наличного населения союзных и автономных республик, автономных областей и округов, краёв, областей, районов, городских поселений и сёл-райцентров. (All Union Population Census of 1989. Present population of union and autonomous republics, autonomous oblasts and okrugs, krais, oblasts, districts, urban settlements, and villages serving as district administrative centers.)" (in Russian). Всесоюзная перепись населения 1989 года (All-Union Population Census of 1989). Demoscope Weekly (website of the Institute of Demographics of the State University—Higher School of Economics. 1989. http://demoscope.ru/weekly/ssp/rus89_reg2.php. Retrieved 2007-12-13.
- ^ a b "Balancing Growth and Environment". The Moscow Times. July 25, 2008. http://www.themoscowtimes.com/article/600/42/369177.htm. Retrieved 2008-07-25.
- ^ [1]
External links
- Nikel town municipality (Russian)
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