It is one of the oldest nature reserves in Russia, created in 1932 to protect the marine habitats and waterfowl of the region, particularly the eider.

[2][3] The dominant topography is sea-island archipelago, with surrounding marine areas and adjacent coastal zones.

The Kandalaksha Bay portion of the reserve covers a significant shore-side area, and numerous islands along the southern coast.

[3] Kandalaksha is located in the Scandinavian and Russian taiga ecoregion, which is situated in Northern Europe between tundra in the north and temperate mixed forests in the south.

Biodiversity is higher at the Barents Sea site than the upper Kandalaksha, mostly due to long periods of ice cover and lower salinity at the southern location.

Belugas are the most famous among cetaceans while other species such as harbour porpoises, whales (bowhead, humpback,[8] rorquals, northern bottlenose, orcas) less frequently appear.

Characteristic mammals of the reserve include moose, brown bear, fox, hare, squirrel, marten, and ermine.

The reserve has a number of "buffer zones" outside the official borders, where recreational fly fishing and primitive camping are permitted.