The Imandra lake is located in the Extreme North-West of the European Russian territory - in depression separating the Kola peninsula from the continent. Territory of the Kola peninsula takes the eastern part of the Baltic shield formed from crystalline foundation rocks and loose quaternary sediments. Total area of the Murmansk region makes up 144.9 thousand km2, its greater part is located behind the Polar Circle. According to the relief, the territory is divided into two parts: western - continental and eastern - peninsular. The Imandra lake lying in the continental part is the largest inland water reservoir of the Kola peninsula (The Murmansk region Atlas, 1971).

Murmansk region belongs to the Atlantic-Arctic zone of temperate climate by predominance of warm air streams from North Atlantic and cold ones from Arctic, which is characterized by the increased cyclone frequency in cold time and anticyclone frequency in warm time. Climate is mildened by the surrounding seas and in particular the heat storage brought by the northern branch of the warm current - the Murmansk nearshore current. Proximity of the warm oceanic current determines rather high air temperatures in winter, and temperature differences between the Barents sea and inland in summer and winter months cause large variability of temperature by change of the wind direction.

Air temperature. Average annual air temperature on the Kola peninsula varies from +1 on the coast to -2°С in central areas. In the center of the region climate is more continental, annual amplitude of average monthly temperatures in the Imandra lake basin amounts to 27°С . January and February are the coldest months. Mai and October are transition months. Beginning of spring, which is characterized by rise of the temperature above 0°С, falls to the third April, but cold weather is often observed against the total warming, it sometimes snows. Average monthly air temperature in July being the warmest month does not exceed +13-14°С, at that cold weather is observed rather often. In the mountains summer air temperature falls on average in each 100 m of height. Period when air temperature exceeds +10°С lasts from 1 to 2.5 months.

Precipitation. Kola peninsula belongs to the zone of excess moistening due to the low evaporation of moisture. The total precipitation amount on average to 500 mm a year, in mountain areas - up to 1200 mm. During the year precipitation are irregular, most of them (approximately 60%) fall to the warm season. During the cold period they make up from 100 to 200 mm, at that the highest number is observed in the central high part of the peninsula.

Wind. Wind in the Imandra lake basin has monsoon characteristics. In winter, in the period of the most intense frequency and activity of cyclones above the Norwegian and Barents seas, north wind prevails. In summer wind direction becomes more stable, but it is possible to emphasize the predominance of East rhumbs. As a whole, between the mountains North-West winds prevail. Winds from WSW, W, ENE and NE are rare. Average monthly wind velocity is between 2.5-4.1 m/s.

Solar radiation. Values of solar radiation vary from 0 to 8168.5 MJoules/m2. The maximum radiation was registered in Mai (8168.5 MJoules/m2). The lowest radiation was in December, when the Polar night begins. Basing on the data of the last decades, the annual radiation balance may be considered to make up on average 67 kcal/cm2.

Snow cover. Snow cover on the Kola peninsula is mainly formed at the beginning of November, in the mountain areas - 3-4 days earlier for each 100 m of height. Melting of the snow cover is observed in the first Mai decade. Its distribution is very irregular because of the strong wind. The maximum number of snow falls north and south of high mountain ranges (Chuna, Monche, Khibiny). In the lowland, where the Imandra lake is located, wind blows off snow from open areas.