ИСТИНА

Khibiny Mountains are located in the center of the Kola Peninsula behind the Polar Circle, North-West of Russia in the Arctic region. The relative altitude of the slopes rare exceeds 500-600 m; the altitudes of the plateau-like peaks vary within 900-1200 m. While the altitude of the Khibiny Mountains is relatively low, the release zones are steep enough (35-40 deg. on average). Snow avalanches are among the most significant natural hazards in the region. In the Khibiny Mountains 0,8-1 avalanche release zones fall within 1 sq.km of a slope. Avalanches endanger mining and touristic infrastructure, roads and settlements, locals and numerous tourists. Most victims during the last years are off-piste winter sport participants (skiers and snowmobile drivers) who trigger the fatal avalanche themselves. The constant growth of winter sports and tourism as well as mining facilities, and therefore the increased avalanche hazard and risk are taking place in the region. Avalanche risk assessment has been conducted in the Khibiny mountains for 2008 and 2018 on the scale of 1: 200 000. Full social (collective) and individual risk were assessed. Full social risk shows the annual number of fatalities as the result of an avalanche impact. Individual avalanche risk is the probability of fatal accident led to the death of an individual from some group of people within the investigated territory for the period of one year. To evaluate the avalanche risk changes during the last 10 years, a technique based on a combination of social and natural indicators assessment was used. To get the values of avalanche risk indices for all grid cells of investigated territory subsequent calculations of population vulnerability to snow avalanches in time and space were made. While in 2008, 98% of the Khibiny Mountains territory was characterized by the acceptable avalanche risk level, now more than 50% is characterized by the admissible and unacceptable risk. Avalanche risk assessment results clearly demonstrate that the avalanche mitigation system reconstruction taking into the account the recent avalanche situation in the region must be done to protect the population and infrastructure in the Khibiny Mountains.