Tersky district stretches as a belt alongside the White Sea.

Tersky region strip extends along the White Sea coast. Tersky (or, in another form, Turiy) is former name of all the Kola Peninsula. "Tre", "Ter" – "Forest", hence "Tersky Shore" – "Forest Shore". СToday Tersky shore is a part of the coast from Cape St. Nos to the mouth of the river Varzuga (local people believed – up to Tury Peninsula).

Humans first appeared on Tersky Shore on the eve of III-II millennium BC. Some archaeologists suggest that marine animal hunters first began to develop Tersky Shore. They settled mainly at the mouths of rivers on the terraces and hunted for seals, walrus, whales, and white whales. Their culture captured in stone drawings – petroglyphs, which still remains on Nizhnekamensky gave-yard and Kanozero.

Fish was the basis of the Pomors economy from antiquity to the present day. They were fishing in the lakes ("white" fish: eels, umber, pike and other), rivers (salmon) and the sea (white herring and cod). The so-called Umbsky labyrinth is an intricate net of stone aisles, which is located on Cape Annin Krest at White Sea coast. It was built in 18-16 centuries BC and, according to the latest hypothesis, it is a fishing facility. Ancient Pomors were fishing using the labyrinth and tidal currents.

Fishing for salmon became the main business on Tersky Shore, as in all Pomerania, by the end of XVI century. It arose simultaneously with a settlement (temporary or permanent) in any convenient place. Lack of bays and gulfs at Tersky Shore greatly affected that Pomors built their villages basically in mouths of rivers; exceptions are only Tetrino village and Kashkarantsi village. Salmon used to be equal to northern furs and pearls. Every tenth fish, as every tenth pearl, was given to the State or Church.

Until now Europe's largest herd of salmon comes into the Tersky Shore rivers. Within last 15 years at all rivers salmon fishing license is permitted as "caught-removed", but in some parts of the Umba and Varzuga rivers it is only "caught-released". At each river are sections where you can catch salmon, trout, and croaker under license. At one license is allowed to catch a salmon, two pinks, and two - five bulltrouts.

For a long time Tersky region was virtually inaccessible to tourists, but growing interest in eco-tourism and infrastructure development have made it increasingly popular. Most tourists are attracted with the local rivers and forests wealth, as well as Pomors culture and customs. Here there are a lot of well-preserved historic villages: the most striking manifestations of cultural traditions of Tersky Pomerania are concentrated in old towns, such as town of Varzuga, where it is the most ancient on the Kola Peninsula Our Lady Assumption Church (1774g.) situated.

• Umbais a capital ofTersky region.. The settlement is located on the bank of Pyr’ya bay of the White Sea. The very first written mention of Umba is dated from 1466 year. In 1898 here was built private "Umbsky" sawmill. Local name of right-bank part of Umba is "Old Umba". Here remains Pomors historical building block.
• Varzuga is the only village among Tersky settlements that facing away from the sea. The village is located on both sides of the same-name river, in 13 km from the sea in a straight line, or about 30 km along the river. The most of the village including Uspensky Church is located on the right bank of the river. Beginning of Russian settlement Varzuga dated by XVIII century. Varzuga first mentioned in 1466. After the church building in 1491 Varzuga became the first Russian village on Cola Peninsula. In 1660th villages Kuzomen and Tetrino emerged from Varzuga. Varzuga was quite large village; in 1897 its population was 793 people. The main source on income for the locals were sales of salmon caught in the Varzuga river and pearl production from shells caught in the Varzuga and other rivers. Also important was seal hunting and fishing industry.
  
• Pyalitza is a village of Tersky Pomors. In XVI century it was a fishery on the broader with Tersky Lop’
  In 1701 the Swedish Squadron led by Carl Loewe devastated Pyalitza -11 peasant households and salt-mine of Voskresensky monastery. In 1722 Prof. J. Lepehin visited Pyalitza, in 1837 – Prof. K.M. Ber.
  According to 1871 inventory in Pyalitza were 29 houses, 170 peasants, animals: cattle – 44, sheep – 94, deer – 160; first elementary school was established in 1900
• Strel'na – in XVII it was salmon fishery of Solovetsky Monastery, in 1846 – Kotlov’s family settlement (9 people), in 1855 – 5 households, 33 residents. The village was attacked by the English-French squadrons and was almost completely burned (July 14, 1855). In 1900, there were 10 peasant households and 71 residents.

There are a lot of rivers suitable for fishing on Tersky Shore. The largest (second largest on Kola Peninsula) is the Varzuga River. It flows from the lakes behind the far North and runs for more than three hundred kilometers to the White Sea. To the East from Varzuga mouth another major river Strel’na ends its path, as well as a number of smaller rivers: Chaloma, Chavan’ga, Pyalitza, Pulon’ga.

Tersky Shore Rivers are turbulent, with many thresholds and waterfalls. The Umba best-known thresholds are Zaborny, Varakozersky, Karelia, Kapustny, Krivets, Razboynik, and Padun. On the Varzuga there are Arengsky, Evas, Marine and Oraliha thresholds. Fishing on the thresholds is so exciting!

There are a lot of lakes on Tersky Shore. Only the Ubma river basin has more than four thousands of lakes! Water in rivers and lakes is clear and clean, it is absolutely safe to drink it without boiling. Fish likes such water. In rivers there is in abundant salmon and trout, in lakes – umber, pike, roach, perch and burbot.

There is a unique northern nature, the identity of the old Pomeranian villages, wooden church built without a single nail, stone crosses and labyrinths. You will see up close the beauty of the northern lights and White Nights, learn why the sea is white, and, after traveling to the famous amethyst field on Cape Ship, can take as a memory a sparkling with purple crystals piece of the North. It will remind you of your unforgettable trip to Kola Peninsula.