[colorado tanker]

M., are you referring to the area the Finns called Petsamo? If so, that indeed would be a very old port and trading post. Still, the Sov’s considered the area a military zone due to proximity to the NATO border. I don’t know what the Russians consider it. It would be a real coup to pull off some archeology there!

[muawiyah]

There are several features within close proximity to the Pechanga. One of them is the world's deepest hole. Another is a gigantic meteor now used as a source for chrome. Then there's the (currently rusting) Russian submarine fleet.

It's not that this area is near NATO, but that it's within the Russian zone of control and has all sorts of stuff of interest to the Russians.

There's a hotel in the area that appears to make all its money during the week before the crabbing season.

This is within the Murmansk Oblast and it has an ICE FREE PORT.