Diversity of nature in Karelia. Delightful nature of Karelia description

How much has been written about these places both in poetry and prose. A person who has visited Karelia will always remember it. Karelia is an amazing place, with serene northern beauty and at the same time harsh. There is greatness and mystery in this beauty, which is why you want to come back here.

In many ways, the nature of Karelia is similar to the nature of neighboring Finland. These regions are close both geographically and historically. Only the Finns have learned to provide their beauty to tourists in at its best, and the Russians are just starting to do this. From that forest lakes of Karelia they look as if they are cleaner, untouched by civilization. This is what attracts people here who want to feel harmony with nature and feel at one with the surrounding beauty.

Now Karelia is an excellent place for active recreation and eco-tourism. Everything is done here to ensure that as much as possible more people visited this region. Nature reserves, hiking and water routes. The lakes of Karelia, and there are about 60 thousand of them, are being made convenient for fishermen. There are a lot of fish here, the lakes are clean, and following the example of neighboring Finland, they can be made into excellent tourist attractions.

The republic also has its own natural and historical reserves and sanctuaries. Animals live in natural areas, a large number of which are listed in the Red Book. And the most famous historical places are, of course, Valaam and Kizhi. You can go to these places on excursions, which are organized very often. But of course it’s better to go to Karelia not for a few days, but for a couple of weeks or a month, in order to feel and see at least something.

A lot has already been done for tourists to the Republic of Karelia. Tourist centers have been organized, housing for guests has been built, from simple houses to comfortable cottages, and there are large hotels in some places in Karelia. Of course, in order to experience all the magic that the nature of Karelia can give, it is better to go to the forests or lakes of Karelia. Where everything is pristine and untouched since the glacier descended. Where you can walk under centuries-old pine trees, or kayak along the rapids of Karelian rivers.

The nature of Karelia is something that should be preserved carefully, so that future generations can get out of the boxes of offices and square meters your apartments to the freedom and space of the northern beauties of Karelia. Everyone should see these places. The secret that lies in them is the secret of all life. This cannot be explained, it can only be felt. And if you ever have a question about where to go and what to see, then Karelia is a place that will not leave anyone indifferent.

After Pudozh we went to Lake Onega. It would not be an exaggeration to say that it can be reached by an ordinary passenger car. The asphalt road goes to the village of Novo-Steklyannoye almost at the very mouth of the Vodla River, and along the dirt road laid through the forest by fishermen you can even get to the very shore.

In more detail, you need to drive 15 km north from Pudozh along the road towards Medvezhyegorsk, then turn left following the sign for Novo-Steklyannoye. You need to drive through the entire village, and when the road turns north, dirt roads will branch off to the left, from which the shore will be visible through the pine forest.
The road to the village is paved, but don’t rush to rejoice, the asphalt is very bad (and it’s unlikely that anything will change in the near future). In addition to numerous holes and potholes, the road in many places is crossed by pipes laid across to allow water to flow through. The coating settled and the pipes stood out like speed bumps. Of course, all this is not marked with signs, so be careful!

2. And here it is, a lake, with numerous bays, rocky coastline and endless sandy beaches! Here it is, the nature of Karelia!

3. I saw this a long time ago on Valaam, however, the moss-covered rocks and pine forest never cease to impress.

Probably everyone knows what petroglyphs are? But if not, then this is the name of the paintings left on the rocks by ancient people. According to my data, there should not be many of them at the mouth of the Vodla River, but nevertheless it was possible to try to find them. That's what we did.

This place should not be confused with Cape Besov Nos, where petroglyphs have been preserved in large quantities, but you cannot get there by car. I really wanted to visit there, and I even had thoughts of walking along the path through the forest, parking my car somewhere, but I still decided to take my time and leave this place for the future.

4. Finding paintings on stones is not easy. You need to carefully examine every more or less suitable place.

A lot of time passed, but nothing was found. Frankly, this did not upset me much - the beauty of Karelian nature compensated for everything many times over.

7. And suddenly some image caught my eye on one of the stones. “It’s probably moss,” I thought. But no, the image, although not clear, feels as if it was specially scraped out.

8. There’s more nearby.

We weren't able to find much. Still, I’m not an expert, and I can’t accurately recognize whether these are really drawings. Later I met locals vacationing here, who confirmed that there were paintings in these places, but they could not explain how to find them.

10. The rest of the time I just walked through the forest along the winding bays and took many photographs of the nature of Karelia. The views were pleasing to the eye, and the weather was simply pampering.

11. Flowers literally sticking out of the crack. The shot turned out to be symbolic - life is everywhere.

12. Here is a pine tree that grew right on a stone.

13. Its root wriggles strongly, trying to overcome the stone.

14. Why is the nature of Karelia so attractive? Perhaps because here, as nowhere else, its ability to withstand very difficult conditions is clearly visible.

15. Not all pine trees take root well on stones.

16. But moss and small plants feel great.

17. Among the numerous logs thrown ashore, there are also wrecks of boats. I wonder how long this one lay in the water before ending up here.

19. Everywhere you look on the water, there are rocky islands.

20. On one of them you can see a small lighthouse, somewhat reminiscent of a tower.

The Republic of Karelia is located in Northern Europe, on the border of Russia and Finland. It is called the center of wooden architecture, a pantry of mushrooms and the most mysterious region in Russia. Many beautiful photos were taken here, but they are not able to convey the full range of feelings that these places evoke in a traveler. Fabulous taiga forests, clear lakes, pristine nature, an abundance of historical and architectural monuments - all this needs to be seen with your own eyes.

Mount Vottovaara

In the central part of the republic, 20 kilometers southeast of the village of Sukkozero, there is a curious place - Mount Vottovaara, the highest peak of the Western Karelian Upland (417 meters).

Local residents call this place of power Death Mountain and consider it a portal to the other world - an anomalous effect on electrical equipment, nature, and the human body has been noted here. The dead silence, as well as the depressing sight of trees bent, broken by the wind and blackened after a fire, add to the ominous feeling.

In 1978, a complex of ancient cult seids - rolled stones-boulders, located in groups - was discovered on the mountain. In this case, huge blocks lie on smaller ones, creating the impression of stones on legs.

Also on Vottovaara there is a mysterious stairway to heaven - 13 steps carved into the rock, ending in an abyss.

Mount Kivakkatunturi

Located in national park Paanajärvi, in the Louhi region. The height of the mountain is 499 meters, and the name is translated from Finnish as “stone woman” - at the top there are many seids, one of which resembles the head of an old woman.

The climb to Kivakka is quite easy and takes 1-2 hours - in addition to the trodden path, there are wooden beams laid down for the convenience of tourists. When climbing, you can see around the landscape features characteristic of these places - hanging swamps and high-altitude lakes lying on the slopes of the mountain and indicating the water-bearing nature of the rock.

From the open top you can clearly see the beauty of Paanajärvi Park. This place becomes especially picturesque with the arrival of autumn, when the plants color the mountain in yellow-purple colors.

Mountain Park "Ruskeala" (Marble Canyon)

The basis of this tourist complex in the Sortavala region of Karelia is a former marble quarry. The blocks quarried here were used for cladding palaces and cathedrals in St. Petersburg and other Russian cities. Now these quarries have turned into man-made marble bowls filled with pure water and cut through by a system of shafts and adits, reminiscent of mysterious caves and grottoes.

The mountain park is 450 meters long and about 100 meters wide. It is equipped for tourists - pedestrian paths have been cleared, observation platforms have been created, there is parking for cars, and boat rentals. It is from the water that the most impressive views of the surrounding rock formations, up to 20 meters high, open up. You can also take a boat into the marble grotto and admire the bizarre reflection of the water in the translucent arches.

Marble Canyon Caves

No less interesting are the mines and adits of the quarry, which can be visited on a guided tour. Most of these caves were flooded, but there are also dry ones - the higher the air temperature on the surface, the more deadly cold it feels here.

For its unique acoustics, one of these grottoes is called Musical. However, the greatest interest is caused by the Proval cave, in the roof of which a hole measuring 20 by 30 meters has formed. Another name for the Gap is the Hall of the Mountain King or the Ice Cave; it is best to go down into it in the cold season, when the 30-meter thickness of water in the grotto is hidden under ice. The drops flowing from the vaults formed numerous ice stalactites and stalagmites, the beauty of which is emphasized by lighting.

Ruskeala waterfalls (Akhvenkoski waterfalls)

Not far from the village of Ruskeala, where the Tokhmajoki River divides into several branches, there are 4 small waterfalls. Falling from rocky ledges 3-4 meters high, the kvass-colored water foams and rumbles.

The area around is landscaped, there are wooden gazebos, a cafe, and a souvenir shop. Once upon a time, the films “The Dawns Here Are Quiet” and “The Dark World” were filmed in these places; now kayaking (kayak) is carried out along the Tokhmajoki River, overcoming waterfalls.

Paanajärvi National Park

This corner wildlife is located in the north-west of Karelia, in its most elevated part and occupies about 103 thousand hectares. The park owes its name to the unique Lake Paanajärvi, which arose in rock faults; the boundaries of the park run along the line of this lake and the Olanga River.

The landscapes here are picturesque and varied - mountain peaks alternate with gorges, turbulent rivers and noisy waterfalls coexist with the calm surface of lakes.

The park contains the highest point of the republic - Mount Nourunen. Here you can also see the Kivakkakoski waterfall - one of the largest and most powerful in Karelia.

Daylight hours in winter are very short - the northern lights can be seen from the end of August. But in summer the sun sets only for 2-3 hours - the time of white nights comes.

National Park "Kalevalsky"

This park was created in the far west of Karelia in 2006 to preserve one of the last tracts of old-growth pine forests in Europe. On an area of 74 thousand hectares, pine trees occupy about 70%; the age of many trees reaches 400-450 years.

For thousands of years, these places have been the constant habitat of various species of animals and plants; the pristine beauty of the forests still fascinates today. In the park you can see many large rivers with picturesque waterfalls and deep, clean lakes.

There are also several villages located here - Voknavolok is considered the cradle of Karelian and Finnish cultures, where the songs of the Kalevala epic were born, many historical and cultural monuments have been preserved in Sudnozero, and Panozero is considered one of the oldest settlements in the area.

Archipelago Kuzova

It is a group of 16 small islands in the White Sea, near the city of Kem. In order to preserve the unique landscape and diversity of flora and fauna, the Kuzova state landscape reserve was created here. Now there are special places for visiting tourists on 3 islands - Russian Kuzov, German Kuzov and Chernetsky.

Besides beauties surrounding nature The archipelago attracts with its abundance of seids, labyrinths, ancient sites of people from the Mesolithic and Bronze Ages, and religious buildings. The islands are shrouded in many legends and are still a mystery to historians and archaeologists.

Girvas volcano crater

In the small village of Girvas, Kondopoga region of Karelia, there is the world's oldest preserved volcanic crater, its age is about 2.5 billion years.

It used to flow here deep river Suna, but after the construction of the dam for the hydroelectric power station, its bed was drained and the water was sent along a different path, and now petrified lava flows are clearly visible in the half-empty canyon. The crater of the volcano itself does not protrude above the ground, but is a depression filled with water.

Kivach waterfall

Translated from Finnish, the name of the waterfall means “powerful”, “swift”. It is located on the Suna River and is the fourth largest flat waterfall in Europe. Kivach consists of four rapids with a total height of 10.7 meters, of which the vertical drop of water is 8 meters.

Due to the construction of a hydroelectric power station in this area, there was a large outflow of water, which somewhat reduced the attractiveness of the waterfall. The best time to visit this attraction is considered to be spring, when Suna gains strength, feeding on melt waters. In 1931, a State Government was created around the waterfall. nature reserve"Kivach".

White Bridges Waterfall (Yukankoski)

This waterfall, located on the Kulismayoki River in the Pitkäranta region of the republic, is one of the highest and most beautiful in Karelia and reaches about 18 meters in height. In summer, the water in the river warms up well, which allows you to swim in it and stand under the falling streams of water.

In 1999, on the territory adjacent to the waterfall, the hydrological natural monument “White Bridges” was established, the area of which is 87.9 hectares. Due to its location in the forest, far from the highway, Yukankoski is not very popular among travelers.

Marcial waters

This name is given to a balneological and mud resort, as well as a village in the Kondopoga region. The resort was founded by Peter I in 1719 and is the first in Russia.

There are 4 wells from which mineral waters flow; their main feature is the amount of iron, greater than in other sources in Russia and abroad. Each source has a different concentration of iron, and the waters also contain calcium, magnesium, manganese, and sodium.

Sapropelic silt sulfide mud extracted from the bottom of Lake Gabozero also has healing properties.

The resort is visited for the treatment of diseases of the blood, cardiovascular, digestive, genitourinary and musculoskeletal systems, respiratory organs. Here, according to the design of Peter I, the Church of St. Apostle Peter was built, and opposite the temple there is a building local history museum"Marcial Waters".

Valaam Island

The name of the island translates as “high land” - it is the largest of the islands of the Valaam archipelago, located in the north Lake Ladoga.

Every year Valaam attracts thousands of tourists - its rocky territory 9.6 kilometers long and 7.8 kilometers wide is covered coniferous forests, large and small inland lakes, cut by numerous channels, bays and bays.

Here is the village of Valaam and a monument of Russian architecture - the Valaam stauropegial monastery with many hermitages (buildings located in hard-to-reach places).

Island of Good Spirits

This island, located on Voronyo Lake, is not marked on any geographical map, for which it is often called Karelian Shambhala. You can get to it while rafting along the Okhta River and only with the help of tips from the guides.

The place is a traveler's paradise and is famous for convenient sites for parking, excellent fishing and picturesque surroundings. However, what attracts people most is the abundance of wooden crafts on the island - a real museum under open air, created by the hands of tourists. Some products date back to the 70s of the last century. According to legend, this place is inhabited by spirits who guard the island and inhabit every craft, bringing good luck to its maker.

Solovetsky Islands

This archipelago, which includes more than 100 islands, occupies 347 square kilometers and is the largest in the White Sea. It is located at the entrance to Onega Bay and is included in a specially protected protected area.

Here is the Solovetsky Monastery with many churches, the Maritime Museum, the airport, Botanical Garden, ancient stone labyrinths and a whole system of canals that you can navigate by boat.

The White Sea beluga whale lives near Cape Beluzhy - White whale. Beautiful nature and an abundance of historical and architectural monuments attract many excursion groups to these places.

Lake Pisan

This reservoir is located in the central part of the Republic of Karelia, and has a tectonic origin - the lake was formed as a result of a fracture in the earth's crust, as clearly evidenced by the symmetry of its shores. The name of the lake translates as “longest” - occupying up to 200 meters in width, it extends 5 kilometers in length. In some places the depth exceeds 200 meters.

On the northern shore of the reservoir there are parking areas, convenient places for fishing and launching boats. As you move south, the banks become higher, forming a gorge with rocks rising 100 meters above the water. Virgin nature, silence and lack of nearby settlements make this place especially attractive for lovers of solitude.

White Sea

This inland sea, located in the north of the European part of Russia, belongs to the Arctic Ocean basin and has an area of 90 square kilometers. Because of the cold, even in summer time water (up to 20 degrees), there is not too much water on the White Sea large flow tourists, and nature in many places remains untouched.

Blueberries and mushrooms grow abundantly on the islands of the sea coast; in the water you can see jellyfish, fish, seals and beluga whales. The seabed after low tide is a unique sight - it is filled with a variety of living organisms.

Lake Ladoga (Ladoga)

Located in Karelia and Leningrad region and is the largest freshwater body of water in Europe - the length of the lake is 219, and its greatest width is 138 kilometers. The northern shores are high and rocky, with many bays, peninsulas, large and small islands; the southern coast is shallow, with an abundance of rocky reefs.

Along Ladoga there are a large number of settlements, ports and recreation centers; numerous ships glide along the water surface. Numerous historical finds have been found at the bottom of the lake. different eras, even now these places are popular among diving enthusiasts. Mirages and brontides also occur here - a rumble coming from the lake, accompanied by the seething of water or weak vibrations of the earth.

Lake Onega (Onego)

This lake is called younger sister Great Lake Ladoga - it is the second largest freshwater body of water in Europe. There are more than 1,500 islands on Onego territory different sizes, dozens of ports and marinas are located on the shores, and the Onega Sailing Regatta is held annually.

The water in the lake is clean and transparent thanks to the shungite mineral that literally lines the bottom. In addition to fish, there is bivalve, growing mother-of-pearl balls of pearls in its shell.

Taiga forests rich in mushrooms and berries, charm northern nature, a huge number of historical monuments, architecture, and folk art attract many tourists to these places.

Onega petroglyphs

On east coast Lake Onega in the Pudozh region of Karelia contains ancient rock paintings dating back to the 4th-3rd millennia BC. They are collected in 24 separate groups and cover an area of 20 kilometers; more than half of the petroglyphs are located on capes Peri Nos, Besov Nos and Kladovets.

In total, about 1,100 images and signs were carved into the rocks, mainly drawings of birds (especially swans), forest animals, people and boats. The dimensions of some petroglyphs reach 4 meters.

Among the mystical figures is the mysterious triad “demon, catfish (burbot) and otter (lizard).” To neutralize this evil spirits, around the 15th century, the monks of the Murom Holy Dormition Monastery knocked out a Christian cross on top of the image.

Kinerma village

The name of this ancient Karelian village, lost in the Pryazha region, translates as “precious land”. The settlement, founded more than 400 years ago, has up to two dozen houses, half of which are architectural monuments. The buildings are located in a circle, in the center of which is the Smolenskaya Chapel Mother of God and the old cemetery.

More recently, the fate of the village was in question; only 1 person lived here permanently. However, thanks to the efforts of local residents, it was possible to restore the buildings, improve everyday life, and attract tourists. For the preservation of its historical appearance, Kinerma is recognized as a complex monument of wooden folk architecture of the Karelian-Livviks. She also won the competition “The most beautiful village in Russia.”

Kizhi Museum-Reserve

The main part of this unique open-air museum is located on the island of Kizhi in Lake Onega. The heart of the collection is the Kizhi Pogost ensemble, consisting of the 22-domed wooden Church of the Transfiguration, the smaller Church of the Intercession and the bell tower that unites them; the complex is now included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

The museum is constantly replenished with chapels, houses, icons, household items, outbuildings brought from the surrounding Karelian, Russian and Vepsian villages; it also presents a number of historical objects of Zaonezhye and Petrozavodsk.

Assumption Church

The Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary is located in the city of Kondopoga, on the shores of Lake Onega. The church was built in 1774 in memory of the peasants who died during the Kizhi uprising (1769-1771).

With a height of 42 meters, it became the tallest wooden church in Karelia. Interior decoration has survived to this day and, with its modesty, contrasts with the rich modern churches.

A visit to the Assumption Church is not included in the list of obligatory routes; there is no invasion of tourists here, but newlyweds get married and children are baptized by local residents. It’s worth coming here for the surrounding beauty and special atmosphere of this place.

Karelia is an amazing region. Countless clean lakes rich in fish, coniferous forests abounding in berries and mushrooms, diverse fauna, white nights, northern lights - this is all the nature of the Republic of Karelia. Having visited this republic once, you will not remain indifferent. Every traveler who finds himself in this fabulous land wants to return here again. Many artists admired the beauty of the republic. Nowadays you can see Karelian landscapes in many museums around the world.

Nature of Karelia: climate

The republic is located in the north next to large bodies of water (Barents Sea, White Sea, Baltic Sea). This proximity saved Karelia from sudden temperature changes, making the climate in the territory mild, and provided the republic with sufficient rainfall throughout the year. Winter here is without severe frosts, and summers are moderately warm. At the same time, say that weather here are stable, it is impossible. The weather changes quite often. Even if there is not a single cloud in the sky in the morning and the sun is shining brightly, this does not mean that in three or four hours it will not rain heavily.

Nature of Karelia: plants and animals

Coniferous forests grow over most of the territory of the republic. In the north of Karelia, pine forests predominate, and in the south - spruce forests. Deciduous tree species also enter from the south. Main representatives: elm, birch, ash, linden. Among all representatives of the flora of Karelia, the Karelian birch occupies an honorable place. It gained its popularity thanks to its durable wood, which has an unusual pattern. As you know, there are no annual rings on a tree cut. The wood fibers are arranged randomly, forming a unique pattern. Products made from Karelian birch were valued by both kings and ordinary people.

Pines in Karelia are found both in areas with sandy soil and in swampy and mountainous areas. It's amazing that such large trees can grow on almost bare rocks, with their roots wrapped around the boulders on all sides. The substrate for them is the lichen with which the mountain ranges are covered. According to the stories of local residents, it is in these pine forests that many porcini mushrooms grow. Spruce trees mainly grow along the banks of rivers and lakes. In percentage terms, they are an order of magnitude smaller than pine trees.

Another feature of Karelian landscapes are swamps. They occupy almost a third of the territory. Vegetable world typical for swamps - mosses, reeds, horsetail, blueberry bushes, cloudberries.

Representatives of the fauna of Karelia are bears, lynxes, wolves, hares, and squirrels. All those who live in the taiga. If you go down to the south of the republic, they will be joined by wild boars, moose, raccoon dogs. There are a lot of lakes and rivers in the Karelian region, which are inhabited by different animals. I would especially like to highlight an endemic species that lives only on Lake Ladoga - the Ladoga ringed seal. Unfortunately, due to illegal hunting, the number of rare animals is decreasing every year. There are many fish in the rivers and lakes of the republics: from roach to trout and flounder (in the sea). Also, the forests and swamps of the republic are densely populated with blood-sucking insects. Such is the harshness, but beautiful nature Karelia.

Lakes, rivers and waterfalls

It is not for nothing that the second name of the republics is the land of lakes. There are more than 60 thousand lakes in Karelia. This is the so-called legacy of the Ice Age. The caring attitude of the local population towards reservoirs has made it possible to preserve the almost pristine purity of the lakes to this day. Lakes Onega and Lake Ladoga are recognized as the largest freshwater lakes in Europe.

The republic also abounds in rivers. There are about 27 thousand of them in the region. Most rivers do not have longer length and are limited to 10 kilometers. But in the republic there are rivers more than 100 kilometers long. The longest ones are Suna, Shuya, Vyg, Olonka, Kem.

There are more than 100 waterfalls in Karelia. The most famous is the Kivach waterfall. Thousands of tourists come to admire the beauty of the natural creation. Even great poet Derzhavin G.R. captured the beauty of the waterfall in poetry. Representatives of the Romanov family came here to enjoy the beauty and sound of falling water.

Ladoga lake

The amazing nature of Karelia inspired painters. For example, the Russian artist Kuindzhi captured the beauty of the region in three paintings: “North”, “On the Island of Valaam” and “Lake Ladoga”. Until now, the lake attracts tourists who can admire the brewing scenery. The shores of the lake are bordered by coniferous forests, only in the south they are diluted with deciduous trees. The fauna of the lake is very diverse. The fish world is diverse (about 53 species). Its prominent representatives are: whitefish, trout, vendace, roach, bluefish, bream, smelt, perch, pike, burbot. Many birds have chosen the lake. During flights to warm countries, swans, terns, ducks, gulls, and cranes stop here. Many representatives of birds nest along the shores of the lake.

There are many rocky islands on the territory of the lake, the most famous of which is Valaam.

On the ice of the lake during the Great Patriotic War The “Road of Life” took place, saving residents of besieged Leningrad from hunger.

Volcano Girvas

Surrounded by a coniferous forest near the Suna River there is a geological monument - the Girvas volcano. Now it is extinct, but three billion years ago streams of lava erupted from its crater. Geologists first saw it only in the middle of the last century during the construction of the Palyozersk hydroelectric station. Time has been merciless to the volcano, and today it is very difficult to discern its outlines. Now any tourist will be able to touch the ancient geological formation with their own hands. Next to the volcano there is another landmark of the republic - Girvas waterfall.

Mount Vottovaara

One of mysterious places Karelia - Mount Vottovaara. The attractive and at the same time eerie landscape of the slopes sets the mountain apart from other geological formations of the republic. At the top there are structures made of stones. As some scientists and researchers suggest, this is the work of the ancient Sami tribes who once inhabited this territory. And they used this place for ritual rites. And now many psychics come here to recharge their energy. There are dead lakes near the mountain.

Karelia: vacation

In Karelia, nature has created all the conditions for tourists to relax. A large number of attractions, amazing places will not let travelers get bored. Everyone will find something that will satisfy their desires. For lovers of active recreation - hiking, river rafting, for lovers of a relaxing pastime - sanatoriums with various health procedures.

Basic moments

Karelia, the northern pearl of international tourism in Russia, is a link in the Blue Road tourist route, connecting the country with Norway, Sweden, and Finland.

Amazing nature Karelia, the original culture of the peoples inhabiting it, architectural masterpieces and religious shrines attract travel lovers and admirers of beauty here at any time of the year. Here you can ski and sled, kayak and raft, hunt, fish, and get acquainted with unique architectural, cultural and historical sights. IN last years“green” ecological routes are very popular, including visiting national parks And protected areas, as well as ethnographic tours that provide the opportunity to visit Karelian, Pomeranian, and Vepsian settlements with a centuries-old history.

History of Karelia

Back in the 7th-6th centuries BC. e. people began to settle on the territory of Karelia. This is evidenced by the world-famous Karelian petroglyphs discovered on the eastern coast of Lake Onega, near the village of Besov Nos. There are ancient images in the Belomorsky region of Karelia, at the mouth of the Vyg River. It is known that in the 1st century BC. e. Finno-Ugric tribes, Karelians, Vepsians and Sami lived here. At the beginning of our era, Slavic tribes appeared on the shores of the White Sea, bringing here the culture of cultivating the land.

Originating in the 9th century Kievan Rus the Karelian lands found themselves in the sphere of its influence. After the collapse of this ancient state, Karelia became part of the Novgorod Republic, and in 1478, together with the other lands of Veliky Novgorod, became part of the Russian state.

In the 16th-17th centuries, the Swedes, who laid claim to this territory, undertook another expansion to the east, and, as a result of the three-year Russian-Swedish war, in 1617, under the Treaty of Stolbovo, Russia ceded the Karelian Isthmus to Sweden. In the next century, according to the Treaty of Nystadt (1721), which ended the Northern War, this part of the land returned to Russia.

Since 1923, Karelia had the status of an Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic. In 1990, the Supreme Council of Karelia adopted a declaration on the state sovereignty of the Karelian Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic, and the following year it was renamed the Republic of Karelia. On March 31, 1992, the Republic of Karelia, having signed a federal agreement, became a full subject of the Russian Federation and became part of the Northwestern Federal District of Russia.

Karelia has its own coat of arms, anthem and flag, and its capital is the city of Petrozavodsk.

Capital of Karelia

The emergence of the main city of the Republic of Karelia is associated with the name of Peter the Great and the dramatic historical events of the early 18th century: Russia’s access to the Baltic Sea, the reorganization of the state in a “European manner,” and the rapid development of industrial production.

In 1703, at the mouth of Lake Onega, on the banks of the Lososenka River, they began to build the Petrovsky plant, which became the largest weapons factory in Russia. The Petrovskaya Sloboda arose around it, where artisans, soldiers, and officials of the mining department lived. According to the decree of Catherine II, in 1777 this settlement received the status of a city, and in 1781 Petrozavodsk became the center of the Olonets province. The first governor of the region was the poet and nobleman Gavrila Derzhavin.

Business card of Petrozavodsk – Old city, where architectural buildings of the 18th-19th centuries are located. Among the most famous are the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral (1823), the Exaltation of the Cross Cathedral (1852), the Solomensky Pogost with the Church of the Apostles Peter and Paul (1781), and the Stretenskaya Church (1798).

The capital of Karelia is the central hub of the republic’s tourism infrastructure. From here the automobile and railways, leading to the main attractions of the region.

Petrozavodsk station

Historical and cultural sights

The uniqueness of the culture of Karelia is a symbiosis of the heritage of four indigenous peoples who have lived together on this land for ten centuries - Karelians, Finns, Vepsians, and Russians. Many architectural and historical sights located in the Republic of Karelia have the status national treasure Russia, and some are on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

The three main treasures in the treasury of Karelia are Kizhi, Valaam and the Solovetsky Islands. These cultural and spiritual centers of world significance annually welcome hundreds of thousands of guests who want to get acquainted with the vibrant and original historical sights of the republic, visit unique museums, and learn about the artistic and folklore traditions of Karelia.

Kizhi

Kizhi is one of one and a half thousand islands located in Lake Onega. On the island there is the Kizhi Pogost, an outstanding monument of ancient wooden architecture in the north of Russia, included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

This architectural ensemble was created in the 18th century. In 1714, local residents on own funds built here the magnificent twenty-two-domed Church of the Transfiguration. Half a century later, the Church of the Intercession grew not far from it, and then a slender bell tower, which gave the ensemble integrity and completeness. Art historians believe that this composition probably embodied the believers’ idea of the essence of the divine universe.

The architectural ensemble of the Kizhi Pogost, located in the southern part of the island, became the basis on which a huge open-air museum-reserve was created. It presents monuments of ancient architecture, household items (about 30 thousand exhibits), religious relics, including 500 icons of the 16th-19th centuries. All this was created over the centuries in Russian, Karelian, Vepsian villages located in different regions of Obonezhye and in the villages of South and North Karelia.

In addition to the monuments that represent the main exposition of the complex, there are several ancient villages.

Kizhi shrouded in evening haze

Over the half-century of its existence, the museum has been replenished with unique exhibits: one of the oldest surviving wooden churches in Russia - the 14th-century Church of the Resurrection of Lazarus, several chapels, and more than twenty peasant houses - were transported here. Among the transported structures were barns, barns, bathhouses and other outbuildings.

In the central part of the island there are the villages of Yamka and Vasilyevo, in the north there is an exhibition center, the exhibition of which introduces tourists to the culture of the Russian population of Pudozh, a separate sector is dedicated to the culture of the Pryazha Karelians.

The museum-reserve is not only a repository of masterpieces with a century-old history, but also a research center where they are engaged in the revival folk traditions. The museum hosts folk festivals, folk games, and Days of Folk Crafts.

Today, divine services are held in ancient temples, and bells ring in Kizhi belfries.

Infrastructure facilities - a cafe, a bar, souvenir kiosks, a post office and a first-aid post - are located in the southern part of the island. There is also a pier from where you can go on a boat trip along the route called “Kizhi Necklace”. During the trip, you will be able to see the peculiar round dance of ancient chapels scattered in different parts Kizhi Islands and neighboring islands. Each of them is unique, different from the other, and located in its own natural and historical environment.

The tour takes 3 hours. Cost: 100 rubles per person.

Kizhi Island, Karelia

Recently, a new excursion route appeared on Kizhi Island - an ecological trail. Considering that the museum-reserve is located in a unique natural region of Karelia, it was stretched for almost 3 km and equipped with viewing platforms, from where magnificent panoramas of the territory, cut by traces of ancient earthquakes and a glacier that descended about 12 thousand years ago, open up. From here you can watch rare birds and admire the herb meadows of Kizhi Island. Along the route there are information stands and places for rest.

The entire island is under the jurisdiction of the museum-reserve, and for an individual visit you need to pay 500 rubles to enter it. A ticket for pensioners costs 300 rubles, for students – 200 rubles, children under 16 years old can visit the island for free.

You can book a tour right on the spot. The choice of excursion programs is large, their duration is from a quarter of an hour to three hours, the cost is from 200 to 1000 rubles per person.

Balaam

In the northern part of Lake Ladoga is the Valaam archipelago, whose name was given by the island of Valaam. The world-famous monastery built on it also bears this name. The history of the Valaam Monastery dates back to the 10th-11th centuries. Since then, an outstanding landscape and architectural complex has gradually formed around it.

These places in Karelia were inhabited back in the 10th century, and around the same time the first Orthodox monks appeared here. It is reliably known that in the 14th century there was already a monastery here. In 1611 it was devastated by the Swedes, and stood in ruins for more than a hundred years. Restoration of the monastery began only in 1715, but the wooden buildings were destroyed by fires in the mid-18th century. Large-scale construction of monastery buildings made of stone began in 1781. Churches, chapels, and outbuildings were erected here. Over time, roads were laid on the lands belonging to the monastery, dams were poured, canals were dug, bridges were erected and drainage structures were equipped.

The Christianly persistent and patient Valaam monks literally manually created a fertile soil layer on the rocky slopes of the island, adding soil brought from the mainland. Here they began to grow trees and garden crops that were unusual for these places.

The architectural decoration of the monastery and the man-made beauty of the surrounding landscape form a single whole with unique nature Valaam. It is so impressive that in the 19th century the island became a kind of workshop where Russian artists honed their skills in painting landscapes. Thus, the Valaam Monastery and the island itself were depicted in many paintings kept today in famous museums.

The magnificent stone monastery complex is the high-rise and semantic dominant of the entire Valaam archipelago. The central monastery estate includes the Transfiguration Cathedral, the cell buildings that frame it, hotels for pilgrims, the Holy Gate with the gateway church of Peter and Paul, the temples of the Assumption and the Life-Giving Trinity.

Valaam Spaso-Preobrazhensky Monastery, Karelia

The central estate is surrounded by the Intercession Chapel, the Church of the Reverend Fathers, near the walls of which lie the remains of the abbots of the monastery, monasteries and other buildings.

Operating temples are open to the public, but you must be dressed appropriately. Women wearing trousers, shorts, short skirts and bare heads will not be allowed entry. Shorts, T-shirts and tracksuits on men are also not acceptable.

Excursions to Valaam depart from Petrozavodsk and Ladoga region. As a rule, buses go to the city of Sortavala, from where in the warm season there are daily flights on the Meteor ship. Travel time by water is 1 hour.

When ordering an excursion in this city, you can choose one of two options: a short program, which includes a transfer, a walking tour of the monastery estate (from 2,300 rubles per person) or full program, which additionally includes a tour of a large territory called “New Jerusalem”, a visit to Nikon Bay, lunch in the refectory, as well as the opportunity to listen to church spiritual chants (from 3170 rubles per person).

If you are traveling by personal or rented water transport, you can moor at the pier in Monastyrskaya Bay.

Winter on Valaam travel companies organize ski tours and snowmobile trips.

Valaam Island in winter

Solovki

The Solovetsky Islands administratively belong to the Arkhangelsk region, but historically they are connected with Karelia and are located at its northern administrative borders in the White Sea. The shortest route to Solovki lies just from the Karelian coast, and most of the tourist routes in Karelia include a visit to the Solovetsky archipelago.

It is located near the Arctic Circle and includes six large islands and about a hundred smaller ones. The coastline of Solovki is uniquely picturesque: it impresses travelers with boulder deposits along the sea, similar to the ruined walls of ancient cities, a wide strip of mixed forests and lakes scattered among them.

The archipelago has the status of a specially protected area, a historical, architectural and natural museum-reserve.

The architectural complex of the museum, the basis of which is the Solovetsky Monastery, is included in the list of the World cultural heritage UNESCO.

The most famous among the islands of the archipelago is Bolshoi Solovetsky Island. It is here that the only village of the archipelago and the main historical, spiritual and natural attractions of the museum-reserve are located: the monastery itself, the Ascension monastery on Sekirnaya Mountain, the Savvatievsky monastery, as well as the Isaac, Filipovskaya and Makarievskaya hermitages.

Some other shrines of the Solovetsky Monastery - monasteries, deserts, as well as Stone labyrinths are located on the islands of Bolshaya Muksalma, Anzer and on Bolshoi Zayatsky Island.

The Solovetsky Monastery, one of the largest spiritual and cultural centers in Russia, was founded in the 15th century by the monks Zosima and Herman. The monastery is known for its outstanding role in the history of the fortification Russian state in the northern territories.

The monastic architectural ensemble includes archaeological complexes of the pre-Christian era, the grandiose Kremlin - a powerful fortress built from wild boulders, monumental white-stone temple buildings, a system of man-made canals connecting the island lakes, and an ancient botanical garden.

In the 20s of the last century, the Bolsheviks considered the construction of the monastery to be a quite suitable place for arranging places of detention for criminals and “unreliable” citizens. It should be said that criminals and heretics were previously isolated within the walls of the Solovetsky Monastery. But if over the previous four centuries about 300 prisoners languished here, then in less than two decades more than a hundred thousand people were in the prison cells of the “Solovetsky Special Purpose Camp” located here, most of whom never left Solovki. Their ashes rest in unmarked mass graves.

In 1990, the Solovetsky Monastery returned to the fold Orthodox Church, gradually restoring its role in the spiritual life of Russia. Tens of thousands of pilgrims and tourists come here every year to see the majestic monastery complex covered in legends.

It is most convenient to get to the Solovetsky Islands from the cities of Kem and Belomorsk.

From the pier of the village of Rabocheostrovsk, located 12 km from Kem, motor ships depart twice a day from June to September. The cost of a one-way ticket is 1,500 rubles for an adult, 750 rubles for children from 3 to 10 years old, for children under three years old the trip is free. Travel time – 2 hours.

The same cost of tickets for passengers traveling to the Solovetsky Islands from the Fishing Port in Belomorsk. The ship, which sails daily from June to September, travels for 4 hours and has 4 comfortable passenger lounges, a café, a promenade deck and even a library on board.

In the kingdom of northern nature

Karelia is a kind of georeserve. Traces of geological history have been preserved in this pristine region. Northern Europe. Here you can see the consequences of cataclysms that shaped the face of the planet long before the appearance of people. Local landscapes that preserve the memory of prehistoric earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, falls of giant meteorites, make a colossal impression on tourists, and students of geological faculties come to these parts to study the classic traces of glaciers that once advanced on the continent from North Sea. Colossal masses of ice that melted about 12 thousand years ago left their “ Business Cards" - huge boulders, deep grooves in the rocks, and ridges of stones, as if collected by the bucket of a giant bulldozer - moraines. All these titanic transformations of the earth's surface exposed many placers of useful minerals and even precious stones.

Almost half of Karelia is covered by forests, a quarter of its area is occupied by numerous lakes. The landscape is complemented by swamps and picturesque rocks covered with moss.

The main natural wealth of Karelia is forest. Coniferous and mixed taiga forests are the habitat of reindeer, bears, wolves, lynxes, moose, wild boars, and there are about 270 species of birds.

Under the green canopy of pine trees, bushes of blueberries, lingonberries, wild rosemary, crowberries, forest herbs and mosses, including many medicinal ones, grow luxuriantly. These pine forests are the best places to collect porcini mushrooms. In the undergrowth grow willow, bird cherry, rowan, juniper, alder, including a valuable species with black wood.

Another rare tree– Karelian birch – is found in small areas in the forests of the southern region of the country. This short tree, recognizable by its uneven, bumpy or ribbed trunk, is one of the most valuable tree species on the planet. His distinctive feature– very beautiful patterned wood. Products made from Karelian birch decorate both simple Karelian houses and the most famous palaces in the world.

There are 27 thousand rivers in Karelia, and more than 60 thousand lakes. Figuratively speaking, each Karelian family owns one lake. Someone “got” Ladoga, and someone is the “owner” of the lambushka - that’s what the Karelians call forest lakes without sources.

The country's lake-river system is unique: there is no such ratio of land and water surface anywhere else.

Lake Ladoga (17.7 thousand km²) and Lake Onega (9.9 thousand km²), most of whose water area is located in the Republic of Karelia, are the largest in Europe. The northern coasts of these lakes are incredibly picturesque - the Kizhi and Ladoga skerries - rocky islands separated by narrow straits and making up archipelagos.

The largest rivers of Karelia are Vodla, Vyg, Kovda, Kem, Suna, Shuya. Karelian reservoirs are home to 60 species of fish, including whitefish, pike perch, trout, brown trout, salmon, pike, bream, and burbot.

The only inland sea in Russia, the White Sea, is located on the territory of the Republic of Karelia. In ancient times it was called the “Bay of Snakes” due to its curved, serpentine coastline. The picturesque rocky coastline, covered with beautiful deciduous and coniferous forests, healing air, and excellent fishing attract romantics, yachtsmen, and sports fishermen to the shores of the harsh White Sea. Unfortunately, holidays here are available only during the short summer; most of the year the sea is covered with ice.

It is best to travel around Karelia in summer or winter, but it is worth considering that the weather here is unstable at any time of the year, since the territory of the republic is located in a cyclone zone. During the summer months there is good shipping, and at this time it is pleasant to see the sights, many of which are located in rather “wild” corners. Another highlight of summer holidays in Karelia is the white nights; in June the sun does not set 22 hours a day.

Summer in Karelia is usually cool: in July in the north of the republic the average is +14 °C; in the southern regions - about +18 °C, but here, sometimes, heat reigns for 2-3 weeks, and the temperature can exceed +30 °C. You need to be prepared for such a whim of nature as prolonged rains - in summer time they are not uncommon.

During the winter season, the weather can also be capricious. The Karelian winter can be called mild (the average temperature of the coldest months is about -13 °C), but there is always a chance that frost will strike and the temperature will drop to -35 °C.

Natural attractions of Karelia

In Karelia, almost a million hectares (5% of the republic’s territory) are occupied by state-protected national parks, nature reserves, and wildlife sanctuaries.

Near the Arctic Circle, on the border of Karelia with Finland and Murmansk region, spread over an area of 104 thousand hectares national park"Paanajärvi." Travelers are attracted to this remote corner by the virgin forests that occupy most of the park’s territory, the purest forest air, clear waters rivers and lakes and the opportunity to be alone with nature.

In the park you can climb to the top of Mount Nuorunen - the highest point of Karelia (576.7 m), go on a trip to the small but deep-water Lake Paanajavari (124 m), hidden in a deep gorge, admire the view of the Olanga River with its delightful cascading Kivakkakoski waterfall, consisting of seven ledges. There are three more amazing waterfalls here - Mutkakoski, Mäntykoski, Selkäkoski, which also deserve attention.

For tourists, the park has ecological trails equipped with bridges over streams and swamps. Information signs and signs will guide you along the way.

Here you can rent a wooden house (without amenities) with a stove, bunks; in the yard you will find a place for a fire, a woodpile with firewood, boilers, and axes.

Camping sites and, of course, bathhouses are available for tourists. There is parking (in other places vehicles prohibited from being present). You can rent a motor boat, kayak, or snowmobile.

Nearby is the village of Pyaozersky, where the park’s visitor center operates. Here you can get permission for fishing, picking berries and mushrooms, and walking around Lake Paanayavari on a boat or a wooden sailing boat “Nadezhda”.

Hunting, river rafting, and collection of medicinal plants. Minerals and rocks cannot be removed from here either.

There is no electricity or cell phone service in this protected area.

Vodlozersky National Park

In the Vodlozersky National Park, which was given the status of biosphere reserve, each guest can spend time according to their ideas about relaxation. Fans of leisurely educational travel can stay in cozy houses scattered on the banks of a lake or river, and from time to time take excursions on a motor boat around the islands of Vodlozero, admiring the boundless Vodlozero expanses, spread out under the low hanging sky. During your trip, you can visit villages located on the islands with a centuries-old history, where today the ancient rituals of the local residents are being revived, and ancient temples are being restored to their former appearance.

Fans of active recreation can go on specially laid routes for hiking and skiing, they also have snowmobile safaris and sport fishing.

The unique Kalevalsky National Park was created to preserve a large massif natural forests and the natural and cultural landscape, which has become the environment in which the plot of the world famous Karelian epic “Kalevala” develops.

The local landscape is like a mosaic created from forests, swamps and lakes, the largest of which is Lake Lapukka, where game and fish have been hunted for centuries. Here you can see smokehouses for fish and bait holes for martens sunk into the ground.

The reserve is home to bears, and in summer you can watch reindeer and their cubs mincing along the path along the river bank.

Reserve "Kivach"

In the southern part of Karelia there is the Kivach Nature Reserve, the oldest in Russia. 85% of its territory is occupied by specially protected forests; hunting and fishing are prohibited here, but you can pick mushrooms and berries for your own consumption (commercial picking is prohibited here).

The reserve is named after the waterfall, which for centuries has attracted travelers to this place with its beauty. Approaching the waterfall, you will see how the waters of the Suna River, bursting out of the basalt rocks through which it flows, thunder down from an eight-meter height in a heavy cast stream, forming a grandiose foaming whirlpool.

Waterfall "Kivach"

Today this natural miracle is the main attraction of the reserve and is part of the main excursion programs in Karelia.

The waterfall owes its fame to the famous Russian poet and first Karelian (at that time Olonets) governor Gabriel Derzhavin, who after visiting this place wrote an ode, which he called “Waterfall”. Today, not a single description of the Kivach waterfall is complete without the first lines of the work: “The mountain is falling like diamonds.”

Emperor Alexander II also honored the waterfall with his presence. On the occasion of his visit to Kivach, a road was paved. A bridge was built across the Suna, below the waterfall, for the distinguished guest, and near the waterfall itself, on the right side, a gazebo and a house for the night.

A visit to the waterfall, as well as the Nature Museum and Arboretum of the reserve will cost you 150 rubles (free admission for children, schoolchildren and students). You will have to pay an additional 65 rubles for the excursion.

Many people believe that best time for an excursion to this protected place it is winter, so the museum staff prepared winter season special program “Tales of the Reserved Forest”. It includes open-air theatrical performances, games, competitions, and sleigh rides. For children - tea with Santa Claus, meeting fairy tale characters, sweet gifts.

The cost of visiting a two-hour show is 350 rubles.

The first Russian resort, Marcial Waters, is located 54 km north of the capital of Karelia. It was founded at the beginning of the 18th century by order of Peter I.

ABOUT healing power ferruginous mineral springs, on the basis of which the resort was built, were known to local residents for a long time, and in 1719 medicinal properties waters were confirmed by research by court doctors.

The emperor, accompanied by his retinue, came here more than once for treatment. For his first visit, three wooden palaces and a large building with two dozen rooms were built here, along a long corridor of which one could go to the springs.

From pre-revolutionary times, pavilions built over the springs and the building of the Church of Peter and Paul have been preserved here. On their basis, in 1946, the Museum of the History of the first Russian resort “Marcial Waters” was created.

Today you can also spend time here with health benefits. The modern balneological resort “Marcial Waters” is the largest health complex in the north of Russia, where there are well-equipped hydropathic clinics, mud baths with healing Gabozero mud, physiotherapy and other departments.

The sanatorium is surrounded by a forest, three sections of which are unique: a reserve where Karelian birch grows, a grove of elms and deciduous forest with giant linden trees.

Active recreation in Karelia

The expanses of Karelia are a paradise for travelers who love thrills and seek individual acquaintance with unexplored corners of the Earth, as well as fishermen, hunters and simply sports lovers who flock here from all regions of Russia and neighboring northern countries.

For extreme sports enthusiasts and those who prefer leisure tourists - all-terrain vehicles and boats, ATVs, off-road bicycles, snowmobiles, helicopters. River rafting routes, horseback riding and skiing routes have been developed for them, as well as skating rinks, paintball fields and vast areas for hunting wild animals.

Lake Onega, Ladoga skerries, lakes Sandal, Segozero, Keret are reservoirs through which water routes pass for tourists traveling on kayaks, boats, boats, and yachts.

An exciting and exciting adventure - rafting on the rivers of Karelia. Desperate tourists raft on catamarans, kayaks, rafts - small inflatable rafts. Beginners are offered easy, short routes (3-5 hours), usually along the Shuya River, overcoming simple rapids, which end with a picnic with a well-deserved “fighting 100 grams”. This extreme entertainment will cost you at least 3,100 rubles.

Rafting on the rivers of Karelia

Rafting on the Umba and Keret rivers with access to White Sea, during which, in the intervals between overcoming the rapids, you will be able to admire the changing landscapes and even have time to catch fish, will require you to part with an amount of 10,000 rubles.

The best cycling routes run around Lakes Onega and Lake Ladoga, in the Ladoga region, South and Central Karelia.

The winter season is the time for ski trips and snowmobile safaris, which give the opportunity to visit the hard-to-reach sights of Karelia, located, for example, in Zaonezhie, and most importantly - to fully enjoy the wonderful beauty of the snow-covered Karelian expanses.

Most of the routes are designed so that they can be completed by people with average physical training: There are points for a planned stop where you can rest and have a snack. If you went to long journey, you will always have the opportunity to stay at one of the recreation centers or guest houses located along your route.

The same high-speed transport that overcomes snow barriers will take you to one of the most famous islands of Karelia - Kizhi Island. A two-day snowmobile tour from Petrozavodsk to Kizhi with one night in a hotel will cost from 26,400 rubles.

Karelian cuisine

From time immemorial, Karelians consider fish to be the most respected food item. The most popular is lake fish, which in Karelia is sold steamed, fried, salted, dried, dried and even fresh. First and second courses are prepared from it, and added to salads.

The most revered dish of Karelia is fish soup, which you should definitely try. Here it is called "Kalaruokka". There are countless recipes for its preparation, but most often fish soup is cooked from whitefish, adding milk, cream, and butter.

A traditional stew made with white fish meat is called “Kalakeitto” in restaurant menus. Red fish soup (salmon) is a festive option, it is called “Lohikeitto” and is world famous. This dish, thanks to the addition of cream, has an excellent velvety flavor and is devoid of fishy smell. In a good restaurant this treat will cost you approximately 800 rubles.

Karelians often eat fish soup for breakfast, lunch and dinner, but the range of second courses here is not so large. Mainly among them are products made from rye and wheat flour, potatoes and all kinds of cereals. Pancakes and flatbreads made from unleavened dough are served with porridges, mashed potatoes, generously flavoring them with butter.

In Karelia, porridge pies and fish pies are very popular, the unleavened dough for which is made from rye flour.

Delicious dishes here are prepared from the meat of wild animals - deer, elk, bear and forest products - mushrooms, berries. Be sure to try local berry fruit drinks, kvass, and delicious liqueurs. You should also treat yourself to aromatic Karelian honey.

The best restaurant in the Republic of Karelia, where national dishes are served, is considered to be “Karelian Gornitsa”, located in the center of Petrozavodsk. Many even call it a city landmark.

In remote corners of Karelia, as a rule, small establishments are available to tourists, where, however, as in any tourist region, international cuisine is presented: local, traditional European, Russian, Italian, Oriental, Mexican, fast food. Prices depend on the class of the establishment and the choice of dishes; a hearty lunch or dinner will cost from 500 to 3,000 rubles.

Where to stay

Living in Karelia has its own nuances. Large hotels can only be found in the capital. Business people and tourists who have chosen Petrozavodsk as their base stop here and go on excursions from here. There are premium hotels here, where you will have to shell out tens of thousands of rubles for a night’s stay, but you can find a cheaper hotel - about 2,000 rubles per day, or choose one of the motels - about 1,000 rubles per day.

Mostly, tourists prefer to stay in tourist complexes located in nature. For an elite holiday, you can choose camp sites that are located directly on the territory of nature reserves or historical monuments. And the most budget option in Karelia is to spend the night in tents in places specially designated for such recreation.

In general, tourist complexes have a wide price range of rooms from economy class to luxury class.

One of the largest hotel complexes Karelia is located in the village of Aleksandrovka (50 km from Petrozavodsk) and is located on the coast of Petrozero. Not far from it are two attractions - the Kivach nature reserve and the Marcial Waters resort. The complex includes a hotel and several cottages. The cost of living in a comfortable double hotel room is 2,500 rubles per day (for two). A day in a luxury cottage will cost 6,400 rubles. (for four).

The tourist base “The Thirteenth Cordon” attracts travelers with its location on the shores of the magnificent Lake Ladoga. Here you can stay in two-story cottages, divided into categories “economy” (from 1,500 rubles per person/day) and “luxury” (from 2,000 rubles per person/day).

The Kanapelka camp site, located on the coast of the Rasinselka Strait, is called a heavenly place where you can feel complete unity with the nature of Karelia. Tourists have access to fishing equipment, a sauna, boats, and a fire pit equipped with everything necessary. You can pick berries and mushrooms right on the premises, and you will be fed with products from your own eco-farm. The cost of living in a comfortable cottage is from 6,000 to 9,000 rubles per day.

IN Lately so-called hamlets are popular. One of them is the Karelian farm, which is often called a men's settlement. Avid fishermen love to stay here. All conditions have been created for them, and the place itself is located in pine forest on the banks of the Syapsi River, not far from a large reservoir - Syamozero. Guest houses with all amenities and individual parking are available to vacationers. The cost of living is from 3000 rubles/day.

Karelia is one of the most beautiful regions of Russia, a land of taiga forests, lakes and ancient monuments

How to get there

The main airport of Karelia is located 12 km from Petrozavodsk and is named after the city (the old name was Besovets). It receives planes from different cities of Russia and foreign countries. The cost of a flight on the Moscow – Petrozavodsk route starts from 3,600 rubles; travel time will be 1 hour 30 minutes – 1 hour 45 minutes. The airport accepts helicopters; there are also sites for them located in small towns in Karelia.

A railway line runs through the territory of Karelia from south to north. Trains from St. Petersburg to Petrozavodsk travel through the Karelian Isthmus and the stations of the Northern Ladoga region. The St. Petersburg – Kostomuksha train will take you to the west of the republic.

Bus traffic is well developed in Karelia. There are routes to St. Petersburg, Novgorod, Vologda and other cities.

The main highway passing through the territory of Karelia is the M18 highway St. Petersburg - Murmansk. The road surface is well-surfaced, but secondary roads are often bumpy dirt roads.