Teriberka: At the Edge of the World

15 points11 km6 hours

Teriberka is a small settlement on the Kola Peninsula that has become a true gem for travelers. On this route you'll understand why the village became the most Instagrammable place in Russia and feel the atmosphere of a real “edge of the earth.” Even the most demanding foodies will be delighted by the fresh local sea urchins and scallops. And with a bit of luck you can photograph real whales, seals and, of course, a sky lit up by the northern lights.

Route author

Susanin Team

Things to do

🏞️ Enjoy the view
🌟 Make a wish
🌲🦋 Enjoy nature

Route points (15)

Abandoned School in Murmansk

Point on route “Teriberka: At the Edge of the World”

Point 7

Abandoned School

🖌️ Street art • ⏳ Ponder the eternal

Be Careful!

The building is in a dangerous condition, and Susanin strongly advises against going inside!

The Center of Village Life

The school was built in 1959, when Teriberka was a thriving settlement. Remarkably, until 1984 no road led to the village. You could get here only by ship, if the weather allowed, or by helicopter. Even so, the school was never empty: about a hundred children studied here, and it served as the center of educational and cultural life. Besides classrooms, it had a gym, sports clubs and a branch of a Murmansk lyceum offering vocational training. Events such as academic olympiads and competitions were held here, drawing students from the neighboring village of Lodeynoye, just five kilometers (three miles) away.

Today

The perestroika period brought drastic changes. A shrinking population and economic problems led to fewer students. By 2006 the school had only 27 pupils, as many as there were teachers. Closing the school became inevitable, and the children were transferred to the school in Lodeynoye. In 2011 the school became famous among fans of abandoned places after a report on a visit was published on LiveJournal. The building had been mothballed, but the visitors carefully removed the glass from one window and got inside. They found well-preserved classrooms, furniture, books and teaching materials. After that post, crowds of tourists flocked to the school, but sadly they weren't as careful and considerate as the first visitors: windows were smashed, property was looted, and teaching materials were carried off as souvenirs.