THE KOLA-PENINSULA - GEOGRAPHY, HISTORY AND RESOURCES

The Kola Peninsula in northwest Russia is one of the most important ec onomic regions in the circumpolar North. The region contains valuable natural resources, including a wide variety of mineral and fish resour ces, and is proximate to the large gas fields of the Barents Sea. A la rge population, industrial complexes, and military infrastructure are also characteristic of the region. The Kola Peninsula developed rapidl y during the Soviet period (1917-92) under the principles of socialist development policy. This policy favoured extensive resource extractio n and industrialization and resulted in increased northern settlement, much of it involuntary. Soviet development policy prompted the openin g of new mines and the construction of smelters and refining facilitie s, while Soviet military policy necessitated the establishment of larg e military basing operations. Resource development and processing have led to severe environmental damage in the region and beyond. This pap er describes the geographical features of the Kola Peninsula and the r egion's development history and contains data on natural and labour re sources.