Chunozero Lake and Baraniy Island

The waters of the Chunozer fill an arc-shaped tectonic depression at the southern foot of the Chunatundra Massif.

• Depth: 40 meters
• Length: 24 km
• Width: from 0.5 to 3 km
• Area: 21 km2
• Altitude above sea level: 128 meters

The lake stretches from east to west for 20 km with the formation of a large bay of Ellukht. Trout, perch, burbot, grayling, and river trout live in Chunozera. In summer there are ducks, sandpipers and gulls.

The large Upper Chuna River flows into the western end of the lake, and in the east a small rapid river flows — the Lower Chuna. Rivers and lakes carry their waters into Lake Imandra, and then into the basin of the White Sea.

The largest island on the lake is Baraniy.

In the 1930s-80s, employees of the reserve and their families had permanent residence in the village of Lapland Reserve, where the Chunozerskaya estate is now located. They were engaged in the cultivation of agricultural crops. According to some sources, employees grazed sheep on the island of Baraniy, which is where its name came from. But this is very doubtful, since the area of the island is very small, there are no meadows on it, it is located too close to the shore and is easily accessible to bears.

Baraniy Island is a favorite nesting place for the black—throated loon, long-nosed and large croc, common gogol and carrier.