Karelia is a land of unprecedented beauty. Karelia Beauty of Karelia

In the northwestern region of Russia there is an amazingly beautiful region - the Republic of Karelia. In addition to the natural beauty of forests, lakes, waterfalls, Karelia is famous for its ancient cities, temples and monasteries, as well as national parks.

Despite the fact that this region of northern nature does not have a warm climate, more and more tourists arrive here every year, each of whom is sure to find something interesting for themselves.

Our article will help you plan an independent trip both by your own car and by public transport from St. Petersburg. And if you are going to have an organized vacation, then you can select and book a suitable tour.

How to get there:

• By car: from St. Petersburg along the Ring Road you need to get to the Vyborg Highway (exit Vyborg/Pargolovo). Further along the Vyborg highway to the traffic police post, turn right. We move through the villages of Yukki, Luppolovo, Vertemyagi to Agalatovo. Further along the A-129 highway to Priozersk. Further along the road to Sortavala, past the turn to Kuznechnoye, along the new road bypassing Khiitola, through Kurkiyoki, Ikhala, Yakkima - to the city of Lahdenpokhya.
• By bus: A regular bus from the Northern Bus Station (Murino) runs daily at 7.20, 9.20, 12.20 and 18.50. Travel time is approximately 4 hours, fare is 550 rubles.
• By train: from Ladozhsky station by train 350A St. Petersburg - Kostomuksha to Yakkima station. Travel time is 4 hours 32 minutes, fare is 1,668 rubles. Next take a regular bus to the Lakhdenpokhya Bus Station.

Lakhdenpokhya is a small town in Karelia, in which several interesting buildings have been preserved. Unfortunately, some of them are in a sad state, for example the Lutheran Church from 1850. Now only the walls remain of the once beautiful building.

Another Lutheran church, built in 1935, also needs serious repairs. However, everyone can go inside and climb the bell tower, from where beautiful views open up.

Guests of Lahdenpokhya will be interested in walking along the streets of the city, where there are ancient wooden Finnish houses, and also visiting the Kurkijoki Local History Center, the exhibits of which tell about the history of the Northern Ladoga region.

Sortavala and Ruskeala

How to get there:

• By car: from St. Petersburg along the Ring Road you need to get to the Vyborg Highway (exit Vyborg/Pargolovo). Further along the Vyborg highway to the traffic police post, turn right. We move through the villages of Yukki, Luppolovo, Vertemyagi to Agalatovo. Further along the A-129 highway to Priozersk. Further follow the signs to Sortavala.
• By bus: A regular bus from the Northern Bus Station (Murino) runs daily. Travel time is approximately 5 hours, fare is 689 rubles.
• By train: from Ladozhsky station by train 350A St. Petersburg - Kostomuksha to Sortavala station. Travel time 5 hours 33 minutes.

The city of Sortavala is a small European town, which until 1940 belonged to Finland. That is why on almost every street in the city you can find many wooden and stone buildings in the Finnish style.

In addition to walking along the city streets, in Sortavala it is interesting to visit the Regional Museum of the Northern Ladoga Region, which contains various natural and industrial exhibits of the region, because the Sortavala region is famous for marble mining.

Sortavala is also interesting for tourists because it is from this city that ships depart for the island of Valaam.

Not far from Sortavala is the famous Marble Canyon - Ruskeala. Marble has been mined in these places since the times when the Swedes owned the territory.

Ruskeala Park offers tourists to walk along several walking routes, ride boats through the quarries, and also go bungee jumping. And since April 1, 2017, a unique underground route through mines and adits has been operating.

On the way to Ruskeala Park, it is worth a look at the ancient settlement of Paaso, at the Ruskeala waterfalls, and after the park you can visit the largest zoo of artiodactyl animals in Europe - GreenPark Zoo.

How to get there:

• By car:
• By bus: Bus station No. 2 St. Petersburg, bus No. 965. Travel time 8 hours 23 minutes.
• By train: from the Ladozhsky station of St. Petersburg by train Lastochka 806CH St. Petersburg - Petrozavodsk (travel time 4 hours 55 minutes), train 012A (travel time 7 hours 40 minutes, cost from 800 rubles) or 022CH St. Petersburg - Murmansk ( travel time 6 hours 41 minutes, cost from 1241 rubles).

The capital of Karelia, Petrozavodsk, is the largest city in the Republic. It has its own airport, two water stations, and a railway station. It is from here that tourists go on a trip to Kizhi Island.

It is pleasant to walk along the streets of the city; here you can see many architectural monuments, as well as various museums. The National Museum of the Republic of Karelia is open for history buffs. The Maritime Museum reminds residents and guests of Petrozavodsk of the times of Peter I, when a shipyard was founded on the territory of the city. In addition, the city has the Museum of Industrial History of Petrozavodsk at the tractor plant, the Postal Museum of the Republic of Karelia, and the Museum of Precambrian Geology, the period of ancient fossils.

Onezhskaya embankment deserves special attention, as it is not only a wonderful place for walking, but also a unique museum of modern art.

In Petrozavodsk there is a stone Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, erected under the direction of an Italian architect.
Not far from the capital of Karelia is the village of Marcial Waters - the first balneological and mud resort in Russia, founded by Peter I.

How to get there:

• By car: along the M18 highway to Petrozavodsk. Further follow the signs to Kondopoga.
• By bus: Bus station No. 2 St. Petersburg, bus No. 965 to Petrozavodsk. Next, transfer to bus No. 133E Petrozavodsk-Kondopoga. Travel time is 10 hours 31 minutes.
• By train: from Ladozhsky station in St. Petersburg by train 022Ч St. Petersburg - Murmansk to Kondopoga station (travel time 8 hours 4 minutes).

Kondopoga is the second largest city in Karelia after Petrozavodsk. Excavations on the territory of the city showed that the first human settlement in these places was formed around 1495.

On the territory of the city there is a wooden Assumption Church. In addition, in Kondopoga you can find several Carillons, compositions of bells. Every hour they make a melodious ringing.

Near Kondopoga there is the village of Kivach, famous for its waterfall of the same name, the highest flat waterfall in Europe. Another natural attraction of these places is Mount Sampo, which keeps many legends and secrets. The mountain offers a beautiful view of the lake and forest.

Also in Kondopoga it is interesting to visit the oldest hydroelectric power station in Russia and the Konchezersky iron smelting plant, built by order of Peter I.

How to get there:

• By car: along the M18 highway connecting St. Petersburg and Murmansk.
• By bus: Bus station No. 2 St. Petersburg, bus No. 965. Travel time is 5 hours 15 minutes. The fare is 617 rubles.

Olonets is one of the oldest cities in Karelia and the northern part of Russia. The uniqueness of this city lies in the preserved layout of the 18th century and in the unusual landscape - Olonets is located on a flat area between two rivers.

There are many churches and cathedrals in the city. In the center of Olonets, the rivers formed a small island on which the Cathedral of the Icon of the Mother of God of Smolensk, built in 1752, is located.

It is also interesting to visit the Church of Frol and Lavra - a striking example of wooden Novgorod architecture of the 17th century, the Church of the Holy Cross of the Church of Ingria, and the Assumption Church. Not far from the city is the village of Interposelok, where you can visit the Vazheozersky Monastery, founded in the 16th century.

Connoisseurs of ethnographic collections should visit the first local history museum of Karelia - the Museum of Livvik Karelians named after N.T. Prilukin. Also in the city is the Olonets Art Gallery, where paintings by Karelia artists are collected.

Medvezhyegorsk

How to get there:

• By car: along the M18 highway connecting St. Petersburg and Murmansk.
• By train: from Ladozhsky station in St. Petersburg by train 022Ч St. Petersburg - Murmansk to Medvezhya Gora station (travel time 9 hours 56 minutes).

The history of the fairly young city of Medvezhyegorsk began during the First World War with the construction of a railway connecting the Barents Sea and St. Petersburg. Later, the famous White Sea-Baltic Canal passed here. That is why the Medvezhya Gora railway station and the Museum of the History of Railway Transport are of particular interest to city guests.

The city has many attractions, and the nature in these places of Karelia is especially beautiful and surrounded by many legends and secrets. One of these places of power is the abandoned village of Pegrema. Also, nature lovers will be interested in the Vodlozersky National Park. There are hiking and water hiking trails along the way, along which you will encounter monuments of wooden architecture, sites and burials of ancient people.

In Medvezhyegorsk there is a City Museum in the former building of the White Sea Canal Directorate of the NKVD of the USSR, where you can see various household items of the ancient population of these places, get acquainted with the exhibition “Small Town in a Big War”, which tells about the events of the Great Patriotic War, and also learn the history of the construction of the White Sea Canal.

Another museum dedicated to the history of the White Sea-Baltic Canal is located in the city of Povenets. Here it is also interesting to visit the Sandarmokh tract and the memorial cemetery for the victims of the construction of the White Sea Canal.

How to get there:

• By car: along the M18 highway connecting St. Petersburg and Murmansk.
• By train: from Ladozhsky station in St. Petersburg by train 022CH St. Petersburg - Murmansk to Kem station (travel time 15 hours 7 minutes).

The ancient northern city of Kem is located on the banks of the river of the same name. The buildings of the city are mainly small wooden houses, which are striking examples of traditional architecture of the North.

In the center of the city is the Assumption Cathedral. The wooden temple is more than 300 years old, and it was erected without a single nail. Not far from the Cathedral is the Pomorie Museum, the exhibits of which give a complete picture of the life of the local population - the Pomors.

There are also many interesting places in the vicinity of Kemi. For example, in the village of Krivoy Porog there is an impressive Krivoporozhskaya hydroelectric power station.

26 kilometers from the city of Kem in Lake Onega there are 2 unusual islands - German and Russian. The islands have preserved places where ancient peoples lived.

In the village of Rabocheostrovsk on Popov Island there is an equally interesting attraction - the scenery from the filming of P. Lungin's film "The Island": a wooden church, a sunken barge, piers made of boards, stone shores - all this was left after filming.

Entertainment

Troll Park

Address: Kulikovo village, Lakhdenpokhsky district, Republic of Karelia.
Website: www.mishkina-skazka.ru
Telephone: +7 911 231 90 61
Price: 450 rubles - adults, 350 rubles - children. Locals (Karelia, Priozersky district) - discount upon presentation of a passport.
How to get there:
From St. Petersburg by car- along the highway (A-121) St. Petersburg-Priozersk-Sortavala, go to the border of the Leningrad region with Karelia. After 200 m, turn left to Khiitola (Kulikovo). After 4 km, climb uphill, at the top of the hill on the right there are pink stones, to the right into the forest. If you have reached the railway crossing, then you have already passed 700 meters.
From the side Sortovala by car- along the Sortavala-St. Petersburg highway (A-121), before reaching 200 m to the border of Karelia and the Leningrad region, turn right to Khiitola, then as described above.
By bus- from the Devyatkino metro station (Severny Bus Station) the St. Petersburg – Petrozavodsk bus leaves at 9:20 am. Buy a ticket to Kulikovo and at 12:40 the bus will arrive in the village. Kulikovo, which is 5 minutes from Troll Park.
By train- the train St. Petersburg - Kostomuksha departs from Ladozhsky Station at 14:48. Take a ticket to Khiitol (note, it does not run every day - check the schedule on the carrier’s website).
GPS coordinates: 61°11’01.0″N 29°46’51.4″E , 61.183600, 29.780945

A fabulous Troll Park has opened in the enchanted Karelian forest on the ruins of a Finnish farm. More than 50 figures from 40 cm to 4 meters presented in the open air. Mysteriously, the Trolls were taken by surprise by dawn and froze in unusual positions. What do we know about these mysterious creatures? Some say that Trolls steal children and kidnap beautiful girls. Others say that Trolls love wealth and hunt for gold and precious stones. Are they good or evil? Scary or cute? Can they harm us or are tales about Trolls just inventions of Scandinavian elders? Here you will find answers to these questions.

• trail over 500 meters
• more than 50 figures (trolls, mermaids, sirins, nagas, dragons)
• mini-farm with small piglets and rabbits, goats and chickens, you can pet them and feed them.
• hammocks
• children's trolling (rope ride)
• wild musical instruments
• master classes for children and adults
• secret troll trail
• interactive games (big slingshots, pillow fight on a log)
• colored crystal and treasure hunt (found crystal is a gift)

Zoo Greenpark Karelia

Address: Sortavala, village. Kirkkolahti
Telephone:+7 921 622-97-93
Website: http://www.zoogreenpark.ru/
Operating mode: autumn-winter from 10:00 - 18:00 (box office until 17:00), from 05/01/17 from 10:00-19:00 (box office until 18:00)
Price: 400 rubles adult ticket.
How to get there: In the city of Sortavala you need to drive in the direction of Petrozavodsk, following the main road. After the city of Sortavala, after about 10 km there will be a large intersection, at which you need to turn left following the sign for the village of Vyartsilya and drive under the railway bridge. Drive 31.5 km in this direction, then on the right there will be a sign for the Recreation Center “Black Stones”, turn, drive 10 km, follow the signs, there will be three of them. Coordinates 61° 59′ 27.38″ N, 30° 46′ 22.97″ E

The Greenpark Zoo near Sortavala will not leave either adults or children indifferent. This is the largest zoo of artiodactyl animals in Europe, located on an area of ​​30 hectares on the territory of the Black Stones recreation center.

The inhabitants of the zoo are not only various types of deer and bulls, ponies, roe deer, fallow deer, but also many other interesting species, including those listed in the Red Book. In addition, at the zoo you can get acquainted with ostriches, different species and breeds of birds, as well as foxes, raccoons and other animals.

For children, there is a petting zoo on the territory, where there are no nets or fences, and the animals can be petted and fed. The children's zoo is home to dwarf sheep, fawns, Cameroonian goats, rabbits, Shetlen ponies and other animals.

The zoo offers guided tours, but tourists are also offered independent walks. There are route signs throughout the entire territory, and at each paddock there are signs with the name of the species and a brief description of its characteristics and habitat.

Famous islands of Karelia

How to get there:

• From St. Petersburg by boat as part of excursion groups.
• From Priozersk by meteor: travel time 1 hour, cost about 2000 rubles. There and back again.
• From Sortavala by meteor - travel time 50 minutes. In summer, meteors occur daily at 9.00, 11.00, 13.15 and 16.00. The cost of round trip travel includes a walking tour: Mon-Fri and Sunday - 2300 rub./person, Saturday - 2570 rub./person.
• From Pitkäranta, meteors leave the pier of the Long Beach recreation center. Travel time 1 hour. The cost of round trip travel includes a walking tour: Mon-Fri and Sunday - 2460 rubles per person, Saturday - 2750 rubles per person.

Valaam Island is a unique place with its own unique nature, climate, architecture, and people. Every year, pilgrims and tourists from all over the world come here to touch these holy places.

There are many spiritual places on the island. Of course, the main temple of the island is the Spaso-Preobrazhensky Monastery, the construction of which dates back to the 14th century. On the territory of the monastery there is the Valaam Church, Archaeological and Natural Museum-Reserve, which tells about the history of the island.

The island itself is very green; after a walk along it you can visit the monasteries: Konevsky Igumensky monastery, Resurrection (Red) monastery, Gethsemane yellow monastery, St. Nicholas monastery, St. Vladimir monastery. Another monastery is located on the island of Putsaari. Visiting the skete is possible only with the blessing of the abbot.

The Kizhi Museum-Reserve is a unique open-air museum of wooden architecture. There are about 76 buildings collected here, which will take more than one day to explore.

Of course, the most grandiose building on the island is the Church of the Transfiguration. The temple can be seen from anywhere on the island. Like all Kizhi buildings, the temple was built without a single nail. The 22 domes, handmade from pine, look especially beautiful.

In addition to churches and temples, there are other buildings on the island: mills, peasant houses, baths, barns. In the interiors of these buildings, the life and traditions of ancient northern settlements have been preserved as much as possible.

The museums of Kizhi Island contain unique collections of ancient Russian icons, paintings, weaving, and wood carvings. Also among the exhibits you can find various archival documents and drawings that give an idea of ​​how the main buildings of the island were built and restored.

Natural attractions of Karelia

Coordinates: 61.7551484, 31.4160496
How to get there by car: On the Sortavala-Petrozavodsk highway you need to turn towards Lake Ruokoyarvi. Then continue straight along the dirt road until you reach the sign “White Bridges Waterfall”. After this you need to walk 2-2.5 km.

Not far from the village of Leppäsilta there is a picturesque White Bridges waterfall. Its height reaches 19 meters, which is almost 2 times higher than the famous Karelian Kivach waterfall. However, due to its inaccessibility (to get to the waterfall you need to walk about 2 kilometers along a forest road), tourists do not visit these places very often. The nature around the waterfall is very picturesque; you can often see various forest animals here.

Coordinates: 65.762970, 31.074407
How to get there by car: along the M18 highway St. Petersburg–Murmansk to the village of Loukhi, then along the highway 110 km west to the village of Pyaozersky.
Website: http://paanajarvi-park.com/

The national park is located around the picturesque Lake Paanajärvi. Its territory is a unique natural complex consisting of mountain peaks, deep gorges, numerous lakes, swamps and rivers with noisy rapids and waterfalls. There are several hiking, water-walking and snowmobile tourist routes of varying complexity and length in the park.

Coordinates: 62°29’9″N 33°40’26″E
How to get there by car: along the M18 St. Petersburg–Murmansk highway to the sign for the village of Girvas (70 km after Petrozavodsk), then at the central intersection in the village you need to turn left and follow for 10-15 minutes to the bridge and the hydroelectric power station.

50 km from Kondopoga in the village of Girvas there is a unique natural site with a history of more than 3 billion years - the Girvas volcano. This is the oldest paleovolcano on earth. It is surprising that it was discovered quite recently - about 60 years ago. Now there is no mountain or crater here. However, scientists have found a lot of evidence of the once-former activity of the volcano: in the bed of the Suna River you can see a one and a half meter magmatic “tongue”, the lava field extends over a thousand square kilometers, and the river bank is formed by frozen magma.

Coordinates: 63.106814, 32.641242
How to get there by car: Drive through Sortavala or Petrozavodsk to the villages of Gimoly or Sukkozero. Then follow the GPS coordinates to the nearest parking lot.

The most mysterious mountain of Karelia, Vottovaara, is located near the villages of Sukkozero and Gimoly. Scientists consider this place a unique geological monument, and residents of nearby villages consider it a concentration of evil forces. There are numerous stone structures on the mountain, the history of which is full of legends and secrets. It is believed that in ancient times there was a cult complex here. The trees also amaze with their bizarre shape.

All this gives rise to a wide variety of legends, from shamans living on this mountain to UFOs.

You can get acquainted with other equally interesting places in Karelia in our article Monasteries, petroglyphs, quarries and other attractions of Lake Onega

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February 10th, 2016 , 01:10 pm

In my previous posts I showed several cities in Karelia -,. The capital of the republic, Petrozavodsk, still lies ahead. But Karelia is famous not for its cities, but for its unique nature, diverse, fascinating, endless. And in my stories about cities, I would like to take a break to show those pieces of Karelian nature that we visited. We didn’t see about the same number of well-known and easily accessible natural sites of the republic, and it’s not worth talking about the dense and secluded corners of Karelia, which you just can’t get to. Therefore, I hope that this story about the nature of Karelia in the history of my blog will not be the last.

Under the cut - Kivach waterfall, Lake Onega in summer and winter, the shore of the White Sea at midnight, an abandoned fishing port in Belomorsk, White Sea petroglyphs, the release of water at the dammed Girvas waterfall, Kizhi, the Ruskeala marble canyon and several more views.

1. I’ll start with, in my opinion, the most famous natural attraction of the republic - the Kivach waterfall. It is located near Kondopoga, on the Suna River. A reserve of the same name is organized around it. There is a civil path with several observation platforms leading to the waterfall itself. The ticket price (currently 150 rubles) also includes a visit to a small nature museum and arboretum.

2. We got to Kivach in amazing early winter weather, with pure snow and temperatures just below zero. Now it seems to me that he cannot appear more beautiful.

3. Kivach is the fourth (in some sources - the second) largest flat waterfall in Europe. At the beginning of the 20th century, a cascade of dams and hydroelectric power stations was created on the Suna, one of which - Kondopoga - we met in the post about Kondopoga. The other one - Palyozerskaya - waits below. Because of them, the Kivach waterfall has seriously lost its power and picturesqueness. However, he still has enough of the latter:

4. Karelia is simply dotted with lakes. If you look at the map, surprise and admiration is caused not only by the number of water spaces, but also by their bizarre shapes. It was as if some artist had drawn them with shaking hands. And how were people able to navigate the labyrinth of these lakes, oxbow lakes, bays, estuaries and lips, find suitable places to live, and build roads? It’s easier to appreciate all the intricacies of water in Karelia from above. On earth, all that remains is to enjoy the views of the water surfaces that regularly appear here and there.
Lake Onega in a snowstorm, within the boundaries of Petrozavodsk. Because of the wind, standing on the shore takes no more than a few seconds. The water is leaden, visibility is several tens of meters:

5. Finland is proudly called “the land of thousands of lakes” by its inhabitants. Karelia, however, is not much inferior to it, and in terms of the number of reservoirs per square kilometer it ranks first in the world. And if we remember about the middle zone and Siberia, then Russia, by analogy with Finland, can be called “the country of millions of lakes.”
Lake Onega in the middle of summer, the city of Medvezhyegorsk. It doesn’t seem like a storm, but it’s still restless:

6. And this is Lake Onega in clear weather. Onega is the 2nd largest lake in Europe. The first, Ladoga, however, is also located in Karelia, and we will see it later in this post.

7. In addition to Lakes Ladoga and Onega, there is another large body of water in Karelia - the White Sea. Here is its swampy, rugged shore. About twelve o'clock at night:

8. Generally speaking, I already have a hefty post about the nature of the Karelian coast of the White Sea. It can also, with a clear conscience, be classified as one of the “beauties of Karelia,” but we stayed there for quite a long time and studied the area in great detail so as not to limit ourselves to fragments. Well, the nature on the White Sea is very specific, very different from the rest of Karelia. Although formally this is Karelia, this area can be distinguished into a separate natural and ethnographic region of Pomorie, the second half of which is located in the Arkhangelsk region.

9. Standing apart in Belomorsk, about which in general, stands an abandoned fishing port. Here you can enjoy the views and air of the White Sea in the company of rusting iron and abandoned buildings:

10. Another object that I left out of the story about Belomorsk is petroglyphs. These are ancient drawings carved in stone. They are concentrated a couple of kilometers from the city, in the floodplain of the Vyg River, and scattered over a fairly wide area. The second most dense place is in a kind of stone clearing. The place is called "Zalavruga":

11. You will have to leave the highway onto a broken dirt road and ride along it for a couple of kilometers to the river bank. There is a large forest parking lot here, and then you have to walk. First, you cross this beautiful wooden bridge, then another two kilometers through the swampy Karelian forest. If the weather is rainy, wear shoes that you don't mind! The path is not equipped in any way.
The bridge here has been demolished more than once. Its latest version, as well as some other infrastructure, is being built and maintained here by a local enthusiast, Alexey Verbov. This bridge, by the way, a week after this shot was taken, was also flooded when water was released from the Belomorsk hydroelectric power station, but it seemed to have survived.

12. Alexey himself can be found directly on Zalavruga in a tent with souvenirs. He does not refuse tourists a brief overview of the history and territory of the petroglyphs and answers to questions. We bought a booklet from him with brief information about these places, which we did not regret later. The territory itself is under the jurisdiction of the White Sea Local Lore Museum. The republican authorities also do not seem to forget about the petroglyphs, and there is hope that someday a tourist site will be centrally developed here, at least like in Kivach.
Most of the drawings are not striking; you need to look closely at them. In the photo they look brighter and more contrasting than in real life:

13. It must be said that the White Sea cluster of petroglyphs in Karelia is far from the only one. Another place with a comparable number of rock paintings is located further south, on Cape Besov Nos on the eastern coast of Lake Onega.
As far as I understand Alexey, this is the largest rock carving of a deer in the world:

14. But even the White Sea petroglyphs are not limited to Zalavruga alone. They may be less bright and in less concentration, but they are everywhere here within a radius of a couple of kilometers. If you set aside more time for this, you can make a voyage on foot while simultaneously inspecting hundreds of drawings from the route via Zalavruga to the Belomorskaya hydroelectric station, and from there return to the city. In general, petroglyphs and hydraulic structures and processes here are inextricably linked, because the “deposit” of petroglyphs is located in the middle of the Vyg River delta, in close proximity to two hydroelectric power stations. This place, for example, is generally in a potential flood zone when water is released at a dam:

15. The largest concentration of petroglyphs - "Demon's Footprints" - turned out to be in the immediate flood zone, and during the construction of the hydroelectric power station it was imprisoned in a protective bunker so that the water would not damage the rock art. However, in our time, the bunker was declared unsafe and closed to visitors. The situation turned out to be idiotic - there seem to be drawings, but no one has been able to look at them for ten years. Pay attention to the door to the pavilion. She moved here from a submarine.

16. The bunker is opened only in special cases, not for mere mortals. It is located right next to the dam of the next hydroelectric power station in the cascade - Vygostrovskaya - near the only asphalt road in the area, which leads from Belomorsk to the Kola highway.

17. From the dam of the Vygostrovskaya hydroelectric power station there is a view of the village of Zolotets with the church. Along the road leading from Belomorsk to the highway, there are several villages and a couple of large settlements. Because of this, a false feeling of comfort and familiarity arises. In fact, the places here are very remote. Apart from these three villages along the road, there are live settlements only along the White Sea Canal, but there are only a couple of those. And if you believe the statistics, all of them, including the city of Belomorsk, are rapidly losing population.

18. Another Karelian waterfall - Girvas. It surpasses Kivach in its power and picturesqueness, but you can only see it a couple of times a year. The fact is that the waterfall, located on the same Suna River as Kivach, was included in the Suna cascade of hydroelectric power stations, and the Palyeozerskaya hydroelectric power station was built in its place.

19. The bed of the waterfall is encased in a dam and is used as an idle spillway. It is “turned on” only at the end of May, after the spring flood, and on special occasions. We were lucky to come across one of these cases: the summer of 2015 was rainy, and the reservoir located above was overflowing. To restore balance in the system, the gates holding back the waterfall were opened, and a rapid stream of water rushed down.

20. The spectacle is mesmerizing: unlike the languid aristocratic Kivach, the dashing Girvas, yearning in his stone prison, rages with a powerful stream, and God forbid anything or anyone gets in his way.

21. At the same time, there is no normal observation deck here, safety precautions are completely zero. You have to go down to the edge of the reservoir along a sloping wet path. It costs nothing to slip and fall down into the seething waters of the waterfall. The only insurance here is the trunks of pine trees and huge anthills at their feet. But it is precisely thanks to this wildness and unsettledness that you realize with all your skin the power and greatness of nature and your defenselessness in front of it. A similar delight from contemplating dangerous natural phenomena at arm's length, without any fences or safety equipment, has been experienced more than once in our country, for example, in Belaya Kholunitsa.

22.

Don’t think that it only makes sense to come here for a couple of weeks a year. On days when there is no discharge and only a small stream flows from the dam, the crater of the ancient extinct volcano Girvas with solidified lava opens up to the eye, which became the bed of the Suna. The canyon itself, in which the reservoir is located, surrounded by high pine banks, looks more like a majestic Siberian river, reminiscent of the distant Yenisei:

23. Let's return to Lake Onega. Not on the coast, but in the depths of its watery expanses. On the Meteor from Petrozavodsk we are going to the famous Kizhi island.To be honest, we went there with a bit of skepticism, just for show. It seems like it’s impossible not to see Kizhi, but at the same time there was no strong desire - they thought there would be a lot of beautiful architecture, blurred by crowds of tourists and infrastructure for selling everything in the world, as often happens in super-popular tourist places. And as usual, we were wrong.

24. Kizhi is not just an exhibition of wooden architecture, it is a real time machine. There are cafes and souvenirs only at the pier. On the territory itself, the atmosphere of a traditional Onega settlement is strictly and meticulously recreated. As far as I understand, the museum employees don’t just work on the island - they live here, in the broadest sense of the word. They grow and spin flax, cultivate the land, and keep livestock and poultry. All this is successfully woven into an interactive experience for tourists, but at the same time it is not only an entertaining decoration, but also a part of their life. Unusual? Strange?Even more strange was the fact that in the northern part of the island, which is not a museum, several families of descendants of the indigenous inhabitants of the Kizhi Pogost live in the village. They have nothing to do with the museum, they just have houses here, inherited from their ancestors. They also live by subsistence farming. Well, they probably still have something from the crazy tourist flow. Among them there are Old Believers, to whom the museum staff treats in a very peculiar way, because They are reluctant to make contact, and marry only with other Old Believers.
Villages on the Onega Islands. Quite habitable and, judging by the appearance of the houses, country houses. For most Russians, the thought of traveling to the dacha on a speedboat or motorboat probably sounds crazy. He put the dog on the stern, loaded the seedlings and off he went. No Friday traffic jams. You just really depend on the weather.

25. Of course, not all indigenous residents of Kizhi are dense conservatives stuck in the 19th century. Most left for the cities for modern life. But the island still has dachas. Having a dacha here is probably the dream of many people, but you can’t buy it. You can only get it by inheritance. I hope this status does not change.
The most important, famous and postcard view of Kizhi, consisting of two churches and a bell tower. The main one, Preobrazhenskaya, is apparently under reconstruction. This ensemble was built right here, in Kizhi, and thanks to it, the museum was formed here. These three buildings, like a magnet, attracted masterpieces of wooden architecture from all over Lake Onega to the island.

26. Getting to Kizhi is expensive and not so easy. The flow of tourists here is simply crazy. There are up to eight tourist Meteor flights a day, one and a half pair of regular ones, and many large cruise ships also stop here. We discard the latter immediately, because No one will use them as a method of transfer specifically to Kizhi. By a strange coincidence, the regular ones travel extremely inconveniently (at night - to the island, in the morning - back) and there is almost no information about them in publicly available sources; you can apparently find out something about them only in Petrozavodsk. Yes, and spending the night in Kizhi is a difficult question. As far as I understand, there are no full-fledged hotels here, and the stay of tourists with tents is strictly limited. The tourist Meteoras remain. All of them, again by a strange coincidence, belong to a fashionable Petrozavodsk hotel. The fleet itself is clearly Soviet-built, and one can only guess how so many ships, apparently previously used on this route, suddenly ended up in private hands.
I won’t talk about Kizhi in detail. Firstly, there is already a ton of material about them on the Internet. Secondly, photographs do not convey half the beauty of this place. To appreciate Kizhi, you need to come here.

27. Of course, the prices are simply outrageous. You can ride there and back for one person for about 4 thousand. On the island itself, you spend a little more than four hours, which is catastrophically short. This price includes transportation itself, an entrance ticket to the museum and an excursion, which is quite good in itself. It seems that there are options to pay only for travel, without an excursion, and not for the same “Meteor” round trip, as most tourists are sold, but for different ones, so that you can spend the whole day on the island. But being in Moscow before the trip, we were unable to find out about all these options. Finally, even these expensive and not very interesting tickets cannot be bought just like that. You need to book 3 months in advance, otherwise there will be no places.
In addition to churches, there are also various barns, craft houses, a mill and, of course, homes of both poor peasants and wealthy families.

28. The funny thing is that such a stir is created mainly by foreign tourists. For them, Kizhi is one of the main points in traveling around Russia, fortunately it is located not far from St. Petersburg - the main magnet for foreign tourists in the Russian Federation. Plus, the infrastructure and process of serving foreigners in Kizhi have been perfected since Soviet times. Among the guests there are not only Finns, as one might think. During our short stay on the island we managed to see the Chinese, Japanese, Germans, and South Europeans. According to the guide, only a couple of years ago the number of Russian tourists in Kizhi exceeded 50% for the first time in history.
An ancient cemetery on the territory of the Kizhi churchyard:

29. If in the previous frame there is the second largest lake in Europe, Onega, then this is already the first - Ladoga, in the area atmospheric the village of Lyaskelya, which apparently has well preserved Finnish non-ceremonial architecture. It was a surprise for me that the nature of the west of Karelia is strikingly different from the center: some rocky hills of noticeable height appear here, which gives the impression that we are approaching the mountains. Coupled with endless expanses of water, this gives a rather beautiful effect:

30. And this is the Ruskeala mountain park. This is a fusion of an extreme sports center with a natural landscape museum based on a flooded marble canyon. Located near the village of the same name, 30 kilometers from. There is a lot to see here: an impressively sized lake with clear blue water framed by rocky shores and virgin forest. No less beautiful than Kivach for sure.

31. But thanks to lake alone, Ruskeala would not be so popular and interesting: there are just a ton of beautiful places in our country. It’s also about the amazing organization of space and infrastructure. There are routes throughout the park thoughtful and The paths are comfortable for walking, there are many stands with clear and interesting information. As the walk progresses, all sorts of additional entertainment arises: bungee jumping, ziplining, boating, going down into caves. At the entrance to the territory there are several cafes and shops. All this at very reasonable prices and in excellent condition.
Zipline in action:

32. As far as I know, all this was done by private individuals. The place is neither a nature reserve nor a museum. It feels like people have traveled around the world, looked at “how it should be” to arrange such places and have collected the best here. Everything here is done with skill, soul, love and care for nature, at the level of the best European tourist sites. For Ruskeala, her owners are enormously gratefulrespect. If only there were more places like this in our country...
Abandoned marble quarry:

33. Another complex of waterfalls- Ruskeala, not far from the mountain park. Not as large-scale, of course, as those previously shown, but if you find yourself in Ruskeala and don’t have time to go to large waterfalls (they are at least 300 kilometers away), these will do. Despite the fact that you still can’t deny them picturesqueness:

34. There are a lot of waterfalls in Karelia, and not all of them are within such convenient transport accessibility. You can go on a tour to some of them in a UAZ or Niva; I would regret my car. To others - only with a long hike.

35. The exit point from the M-18 “Kola” highway to the city of Medvezhyegorsk turned out to be unexpectedly beautiful. There are indeed some low tree-covered mountains here, and the damp, cool weather only adds to the associations with the Transfegeras highway in Romania or Rose Peak in Sochi.

36. Finally, a view of the M-18 highway. As if to contrast with the terrible regional roads of Karelia, it, as well as the Petrozavodsk-Sortavala highway, have been brought into perfect condition in recent years. And this, among other things, greatly contributes to aesthetic pleasure. When you don’t think about how not to fly into a ditch or go around a pothole, the landscapes rushing by are perceived much better. And the road with smooth asphalt, neat shoulders and bollards is beautiful in itself.

36 pictures are, of course, a drop in the ocean of Karelian beauties. But this is enough to understand how beautiful it is and why Karelia is so popular among tourists. On the other hand, it all looks much more impressive in real life. Before the trip, of course, I saw photos of all these places, but then it seemed that there was “nothing special” here, nature as nature. Seen with your own eyes, Karelia is perceived completely differently. I hope I will return there again and visit what was not included in this trip.
The last point of my story about Karelia will be its capital - Petrozavodsk. The regional center, which is quite good by the standards of modern Russia, can only be shown in a few parts. Next time we'll start.

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 must 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 the Paanajärvi National Park, 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 mined 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 the purest 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. 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 of wild nature 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.

In addition to the beauty of the surrounding nature, the archipelago attracts with the 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.

Previously, the full-flowing Suna River flowed here, but after the construction of a dam for a 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, the Kivach State Nature Reserve was created around the waterfall.

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, the hydrological natural monument “White Bridges” was established on the territory adjacent to the waterfall, 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, and respiratory organs. Here, according to the design of Peter I, the Church of St. Apostle Peter was built, and opposite the temple is the building of the 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 of Lake Ladoga.

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

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

Island of Good Spirits

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

The place is a traveler's paradise and is famous for its convenient parking areas, excellent fishing and picturesque surroundings. However, what attracts people most is the abundance of wooden crafts on the island - a real open-air museum 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, an airport, a botanical garden, ancient stone labyrinths and a whole system of canals that you can navigate by boat.

The White Sea beluga whale, the white whale, lives near Cape Beluzhy. 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 the absence of nearby settlements make this place especially attractive for lovers of solitude.

White Sea

This inland sea, located in the north of European Russia, belongs to the Arctic Ocean basin and has an area of ​​90 square kilometers. Due to the cold water even in summer (up to 20 degrees), there is not too much tourist flow on the White Sea, 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)

It is located in Karelia and the 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 from different eras have been found at the bottom of the lake; 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 the younger sister of the great Ladoga - it is the second largest freshwater body of water in Europe. On the territory of Onega there are more than 1,500 islands of 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 a bivalve mollusk that grows nacreous pearl balls in its shell.

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

Onega petroglyphs

On the eastern coast of Lake Onega in the Pudozh region of Karelia there are 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 of “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 chapel of the Smolensk 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 Kizhi Island 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).

Thanks to its height of 42 meters, it became the tallest wooden church in Karelia. The 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.

Travel! We encourage you to devote your leisure time to travel and hiking! After all, only the road can give you a feeling of fullness of life and happiness. Only by leaving your sagging sofa and routine behind you can you see the beautiful places of Karelia!

More than 850 thousand tourists visit Karelia annually

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Don’t give in to laziness, take unconventional steps, travel on your own and give your loved ones the joy of discovery. With Charm Travel, beautiful landscapes, new impressions, intimate knowledge, and fresh feelings await you. So, let's go: after all, there, around the bend, you will see the most beautiful places in Karelia!

The most beautiful places in Karelia: where are we going?

In fact, on the Internet you can find a huge number of videos and photos of beautiful places in Karelia. Here are hundreds of selfies against the backdrop of the Marble Canyon, and Ladoga in summer and winter, and the nature of Solovki, and the fascinating architecture of Kizhi in front and profile. But in one article we have collected for you information about the most famous sights of the region, after reading which you will understand how wonderful yours can be.

I.I. Shishkin, A.I. Kuindzhi, N. Roerich dedicated their works to the nature of Karelia

Look, enjoy the aesthetics of places, choose how to travel - by car or with Sharm Travel, draw up travel maps, and then share your impressions.

10 most beautiful places in Karelia that are worth visiting

So, we will show the reader the most interesting and beautiful places in Karelia: in winter and summer, golden autumn and long-awaited spring:

1. Marble Canyon

Kizhi is not only an architectural monument. This is also a huge fund of the museum’s scientific library, which stores more than 12,000 rare and rare publications

5. Solovetsky Islands

The Solovetsky Islands are not only an opportunity to admire the endless bounty of Karelia’s nature, but also to better learn the history of the region. And at some moments she was, without exaggeration, scary. The Solovetsky Islands are the place where thousands of prisoners found their final refuge. Perhaps that is why the bells of the active monastery ring so hopelessly on the days of services. Come, feel the energy of this place, and you will see the history of the country from a different angle.

In 1992, the Solovetsky Museum-Reserve was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

6. White Bridges Waterfall

When listing natural waterfalls, one cannot help but recall the unique Yukanokoski waterfall, also known as White Bridges, the highest waterfall in Karelia. How beautiful it is in the spring, when rushing waters rush at breakneck speed along the huge stone steps. It is magnificent framed in the gold of trees in autumn, and in an emerald necklace in summer.

Peat impurities make Yukanokoski's streams golden.

7. Valaam archipelago

The famous island is the largest in the archipelago of the same name, located in Lake Ladoga. Its beauty has been captured by famous artists. Well, our contemporaries can take at least a thousand photographs of the beautiful nature of a sacred place.

Valaam is not only beautiful, but also an unexplored place of anomalous phenomena. Former employee of the Valaam Island Museum O.V. Bochkareva carried out work on collecting and studying “anomalous phenomena”

8. Lakes Ladoga and Onega

Karelia is rich in unique nature: beautiful places on the map of the region are indicated in blue and light blue. This is the heart of the Russian North: lakes Ladoga and Onega. Needless to say, it is they who create that unique atmosphere of the area, harsh and sensual at the same time. To be convinced of this, it is enough to come to the coast once and see the sunset. Your heart will forever be given to this land, infinitely beautiful and forever new.

35 rivers flow into Lake Ladoga, but only one flows out - the Neva

9. Mount Owl

In addition to the famous natural protected areas, Karelia has many historical monuments. Many of them are dedicated to very recent events - the Second World War, the flames of which burned the North of Russia, leaving indelible traces. Such attractions include Mount Filin, a former command grotto of the Finnish army, and now a functioning military history museum in the rock.

The rock contains zeolite, shungite, magnetite, which have a healing effect on the human body

10. Kivach Nature Reserve

Another unique – and state-protected – natural monument is the Kivach Nature Reserve. Every year more than 100,000 people come here to see the unique fauna and flora! And they can be understood: after all, in the reserve there are trees whose age is estimated at 3.5 centuries!

The reserve is called “Karelia in miniature” because on its territory there are selgi, and eskers, and “curly rocks” and “ram’s foreheads” - all types of reliefs of the region

Let's go for beauty and harmony with Sharm Travel

Don’t look for miracles in expensive overseas countries, because our Karelia offers beautiful vacation spots for almost nothing. Admire the dynamics of the capital, Petrozavodsk, walk along its well-groomed streets, visit museums.

Petrozavodsk has a huge number of parks, attractions, museums, architectural and historical monuments

And when you get tired of the noise of the big city, come to Vuoksa, among the water surface of which stands on a rock. This place is not only divinely beautiful, but also has a special power to heal the wounds of the soul. Need to rethink your life? Welcome to Vuoksa.

Temple on Vuoksa is the only church in the world whose foundation is a monolithic rock

The beautiful places of Karelia - here they are, just reach out. Discover a new world - pure, fresh, sincere. Enjoy it, learn to appreciate and take care of what you have, get joy from communicating with people and nature. Call, come in, we will open for you the world of beauty of the Russian North!

The photographer’s critical perception of his own work is arranged in a surprising way. After a trip, you throw photos onto your hard drive and think: “There are not many, oh, not many, Andryusha, pictures that are pleasing to the eye!” Here the light is boring, here we should have taken it to the left, here the foreground is useless. But half a year passes and one fine day you rummage through old archives out of boredom and see the same photos, but in a different way. Here we’ll frame it tighter, here we’ll insulate it, put a gradient on top and now it’s a worthless picture that you wouldn’t be ashamed to post on a blog, or even on a photo site.

02 . Although it is possible that banal nostalgia is to blame.

03 . Consciousness simply embellishes an ordinary card with pleasant memories, and the colors become brighter, the light is purer, and the composition is more successful. Y?

04 . Or maybe the time of year is to blame?
Is there anyone who loves winter more than summer?

05 . Is there anyone who will say that white is more beautiful than green?

06 . Now, in this vague monochrome winter, even the summer weather seems full of colors.

07 . Or do I just miss the Karelian White Nights?

08 . Or maybe for these brave guys and our camp on a desert island?

10 . It seems to be better here: at least, if not sunset, then at least the Belt of Venus. And somewhere below it is the island of Valaam, which I left for the next trip to Karelia. Only when will it happen and will it happen at all? Is it worth returning to a place you’ve already been to, since there are so many other interesting places in the world?

11. Oh, maybe I like these Karelian stones so much now because I have never seen Icelandic, Norwegian, or even Egyptian ones?

12 . Happy New Year, Merry Christmas and sorry for the unusual, uninformative post. A slight hangover and nostalgia. Will soon pass.