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Pechenga Печенга | |
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 Interactive map of Pechenga | |
  Pechenga Location of Pechenga Show map of Russia Pechenga Pechenga (Murmansk Oblast) Show map of Murmansk Oblast | |
| Coordinates:69°33′38″N31°13′40″E / 69.56056°N 31.22778°E /69.56056; 31.22778 | |
| Country | Russia |
| Federal subject | Murmansk Oblast |
| Administrative district | Pechengsky District |
| Elevation | 5 m (16 ft) |
| Population | |
• Total | 3,188 |
| • Capital of | Pechengsky District |
| • Municipal district | Pechengsky Municipal District |
| • Urban settlement | Pechenga Urban Settlement |
| Time zone | UTC+3 (MSK  [2]) |
| Postal code[3] | 184410 |
| Dialing code | +7 81554 |
| OKTMO ID | 47615162051 |
Pechenga (Russian:Пече́нга;Finnish andSwedish:Petsamo;Norwegian:Petsjenga;Northern Sami:Beahcán;Skolt Sami:Peäccam) is anurban locality (anurban-type settlement) inPechengsky District,Murmansk Oblast,Russia. Municipally, it is incorporated asPechenga Urban Settlement of Pechengsky Municipal District. Population:3,188 (2010 census);[1]2,959 (2002 census);[4]2,671 (1989 Soviet census).[5]
The Pechenga area has beenindigenously inhabited by theSami.
The settlement was founded by Russians as thePechenga Monastery in 1533 at the influx of thePechenga River into theBarents Sea, 135 km west of modernMurmansk. St.Tryphon of Pechenga, a monk fromNovgorod is considered to be the founder of Pechenga Monastery. In 1533, the area became part of Russia.
Inspired by the model of theSolovki, Tryphon wished to convert thelocal Sami population to Christianity and to demonstrate how faith could flourish in the most inhospitable lands. His example was eagerly followed by other Russian monks. By 1572, the Pechenga Monastery counted about 50 brethren and 200 lay followers. Six years after Tryphon's death in 1583, the wooden monastery was raided and burnt down by the Swedes. It is said that the raid claimed the lives of 51 monks and 65 lay brothers. The monastery was moved closer to the Norwegian border. It was destroyed in 1764, but restored in 1880, and exists to this day.[6]
During the state of war between Finland and Soviet Russia (1918–1920) the area around Pechenga was disputed by British,Bolshevik and Finnish forces, and as a result of theTreaty of Tartu in 1920 became a part ofFinland asPetsamo.Nickel was discovered in 1921 and began to be exploited commercially in 1935. The area was captured by the Soviets during theWinter War in 1940 but returned to Finland at the conclusion of the war. During the Second World War,between 1941 through 1944, Petsamo was used as a staging post for attacks onMurmansk by Finland and Germany. Aircraft from the British aircraft carrierHMS Furiousattacked the port on 30 July 1941. The area was captured by the Red Army during thePetsamo–Kirkenes Offensive in 1944 and in 1947, after the subsequentParis Peace Treaty, incorporated into theSoviet Union.
After the war the area was a military zone due to its proximity to the Norwegian border. Nickel mining has led to ecological problems in the area.
The200th Separate Motor Rifle Brigade is stationed at the settlement.
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