02-Apr-2003 -- I've driven past this confluence several times, the highway is just 300 meters away, but I've never been by myself, and I've always been escorted by someone who would never stop to visit. It's really very easy to get to, so I expect someone else to make a sucessfull visit before I do.

The confluence is 1.6 km NW of Min'kino as stated, but maybe a better description would be to say that it's right across the bay from the city of Murmansk. Three km to the east of the confluence and 300 m south stands an awesome WWII memorial called "Monument to the Defenders of the Soviet North" (or something similar); the monument is more affectionately known as Zashi. My friend took pictures of the confluence across the bay about an hour before sunset from the base of Zashi.

Photo #1 is of the confluence; its just to the right of the cargo ship, about halfway up the hill. Photo #2 is of the southern two thirds of Murmansk, including the train station and some busy docks we could hear all the way up at the monument. Photo #3 is of the northern third of Murmansk. Photo #4 is of Zashi himself. I don't think much of Soviet architecture, but I love the statues.

I wish I could report that we overcame great obstacles to make this attempt, but really we just took a cab. The driver dropped us off in the cold wind and sped away. After walking around the monument and convincing ourselves that we knew right where 69N 33E was, we hoofed it back to our hotel, stopping along the way for beer and salmon.