The nature of Karelia captivates everyone who has ever visited these places. The amazing beauty of northern nature, lush rivers with steep rapids, virgin purity of forests, fresh air filled with entrancing aroma of needles, stunning beauty of sunsets and the richness of the world of flora and fauna have long attracted tourists and travelers to Karelia.
Karelia is located in the north-west of the Russian Federation. Most of the republic is occupied by coniferous forests, famous for tall pine trees and slender firs, juniper thickets and an abundance of berries.
There are more than 60 thousand lakes in Karelia, the most famous of which are Onega and Ladoga. Many rivers and streams permeate the republic, but the rivers are mostly short. The longest Karelian river Kem has a length of only 360 km. There are swamps and waterfalls in Karelia.
It is the reservoirs in combination with the Karelian forests that create the amazing climate that captivates everyone. It is no coincidence that Karelia is called the "lungs of Europe." By the way, it was here, near Petrozavodsk, that the first Russian resort was created, founded in 1719 by decree of Peter I.
Karelia was admired by many artists and poets. Kivach waterfall is one of the most famous sights of Karelia, Marcial Waters is the first Russian resort founded in 1719 by decree of Peter I, Kizhi and Valaam are among the most mysterious places in Russia, and the mysterious White Sea petroglyphs still haunt archaeologists and historians .
Flora of Karelia
Features of the Karelian flora are due, first of all, to the geographic location of the republic. The main part of the plant world was formed in the postglacial period. Plants characteristic of the tundra grow in the northern regions and on the heights of the mountains: mosses, lichens, dwarf spruce and birch.
But most of the republic is occupied by coniferous forests. Closer to the north are pine forests. Approximately in the Segozero region, there is a border between northern and mid-taiga forests. Here begins the forest strip, where spruce and pine grow mixed. The closer to the southern outskirts of Karelia, the more spruce forests that alternate with mixed ones.
Of conifers, spruce and ordinary pine are most common. In the west, Finnish pines are often found. In mixed forest thickets, birch, alder, aspen, linden, elm and maple grow.
The lower tier of forests is composed of numerous shrubs. Where pine trees grow, there are fewer shrubs. The closer to the south, the more thickets of lingonberries and cloudberries, blueberries and blueberries, wild rosemary and the swamp world appear.
Near ponds, the soil is covered with gray mosses and lichens. It is easy to find heather and moss here.
And Karelian forests are the kingdom of mushrooms. Most collect boletus and boletus. In the southern regions, porcini mushrooms, butterfish, mushrooms and chanterelles are often found.
The animal world of Karelia
The fauna of Karelia is rich and diverse. All animals that traditionally live in the taiga are found here. But the peculiarity of the Karelian Republic is also that there are many reservoirs. This means that there are much more representatives of the North Sea representatives of the animal kingdom than in any other corner of Russia.
Of the large mammals in the Karelian forests you can find lynx, brown bear, wolf and badger. Numerous hare-hares have long been the coveted prey of local hunters. A lot of beavers and squirrels. Muskrats, otters, martens and European minks have chosen rivers and lakes. And in the White Sea and Lake Onega found seals.
The fauna of the southern regions is somewhat different from the northern ones. Moose and wild boars, raccoon dogs and Canadian mink live in the south.
The world of birds is also diverse. The best represented is the family of passerines. In the north there are a lot of upland game: wood grouse, black grouse, hazel grouse and white partridge. Of the birds of prey, hawks, numerous owls, golden eagles and moons are worth noting.
The waterfowl of Karelia is its pride. Ducks and loons settle on the lakes, and seagulls and eagles, which are valued for their down, have chosen the sea coast. And waders settle in the swamps.
Karelian fish can be conditionally divided into three categories:
Passers (whitefish, salmon, salmon, smelt);
Lake and river (pike, roach, perch, burbot, ruff, in the south - zander, grayling and river trout);
And marine (herring, cod and flounder).
The abundance of water bodies led to a large number of reptiles and insects. Of all the snakes that are found in Karelia, the most dangerous is the ordinary viper. And from the end of May until the beginning of September, hiking in the forest and picnics is overshadowed by clouds of mosquitoes, horseflies and midges. In the south, by the way, ticks are a great danger, especially in May-June.
Climate in Karelia
Most of Karelia is located in the zone of temperate continental climate with elements of the marine. Winter, although it lasts a long time, but severe frosts are rare here. Winters are mostly mild with lots of snow. Spring, with all its charms in the form of melting snow, flowering trees and an increase in daylight hours, occurs only in mid-April. But until the end of May, the probability of a return of frosts remains.
Summer in Karelia is short and cool. In most of the territory, truly summer weather sets in only by mid-July. The temperature rarely rises above + 20ºC. But already at the end of August the autumn mood of the weather is felt: overcast sky, heavy rains and cold winds.
The most unstable and unpredictable weather prevails on the sea coast and in the region of Ladoga and Onega lakes. Frequent cyclones come from the west. The weather is most often cloudy, with constant winds and heavy rainfall. On the White Sea coast, the highest cloudiness in the whole republic is noted.
February 10th, 2016, 01:10 pm
In my previous posts I showed several cities of Karelia -,. Ahead is still waiting for the capital of the republic - Petrozavodsk. But Karelia is famous not for cities, but for nature - unique,diverse bewitching, endless. And in my stories about cities, I would like to take a break to show those pieces of Karelian nature that we visited. About the same number of well-known and easily accessible natural sites of the republic we have not seen, and even about the dense and secluded corners of Karelia, which you just can’t get to, it’s not worth talking about. Therefore, I hope that this story about the nature of Karelia in the history of my blog will not be the last.
Under the cutter - Kivach waterfall, Lake Onega in summer and winter, the White Sea shore at midnight, an abandoned fishing port in Belomorsk, White Sea petroglyphs, water discharge on the Girvas, Kizhi waterfall blocked by a dam, Ruskeal marble canyon and several other species.
1. I will start with in my opinion the most famous natural attraction of the republic - Kivach waterfall. It is located near Kondopoga, on the Suna River. Around it is organized the eponymous reserve. A civil path with several viewing platforms has been laid to the waterfall itself. The ticket price (now 150 rubles) also includes a visit to a small museum of nature and the arboretum.
2. We came to Kivach in the amazing weather of the beginning of winter, with clear snow and a temperature just below zero. Now it seems to me that he cannot appear more beautiful.
3. Kivach - the fourth (in some sources - the second) largest plain waterfall in Europe. At the beginning of the 20th century, a cascade of dams and hydroelectric power plants was created on the Sun. We met one of them, Kondopoga, in a post about Kondopoga. The other - Paleozerskaya - is waiting below. Because of them, Kivach Falls seriously lost in power and picturesqueness. Nevertheless, the last one is still enough for him:
4. Karelia is simply dotted with lakes. If you look at the map, then surprise and admiration is caused not only by the amount of water spaces, but also by their bizarre forms. Some kind of artist painted them with shaking hands. And as soon as people in the labyrinth of these lakes, old ladies, bays, estuaries and lips were able to navigate, find suitable places for life, build roads? It is easier to evaluate all the intricacies of water in the territory of Karelia from above. On the ground, one can only enjoy the views of the water surface, regularly appearing here and there.
Lake Onega in a blizzard, within the boundaries of Petrozavodsk. Because of the wind, standing on the shore is no more than a few seconds. Lead water, visibility - several tens of meters: 
5. Finland, its inhabitants proudly call the "country of thousands of lakes." Karelia, however, is not much inferior to it, and in terms of the number of reservoirs per square kilometer it occupies first place in the world. And if we recall the middle lane 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 seems to be not a storm, but 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 him later in this post.
7. In addition to Ladoga and Onega lakes in the territory of Karelia there is another large reservoir - the White Sea. Here is its swampy rugged coast. About twelve in the morning:
8. Generally speaking, I already have a hefty post about the nature of the Karelian coast of the White Sea. It can also be, with a clear conscience, attributed to the “beauties of Karelia”, but we stayed there for a long time and explored the area in great detail so as not to be limited to fragments. Well, the nature on the White Sea is purely specific, very different from the rest of Karelia. Although formally this is Karelia, this area can be completely distinguished into a separate natural and ethnographic region of Pomorie, the second half of which is located in the Arkhangelsk region.
9. Mansion in Belomorsk, about which as a whole, is 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 put out of the brackets of the story about Belomorsk is petroglyphs. These are such ancient drawings carved in stone. They are concentrated a couple of kilometers from the city, in the floodplain of the Vyg River, and are scattered over a rather vast territory. The second place in their density is located in a kind of stone meadow. The place is called "Zalavruga":
11.
From the highway you have to go down to a broken primer and ride on it a couple of kilometers to the riverbank. There is a large forest parking, and then you have to go on foot. First, this beautiful wooden bridge is overcome, then two more kilometers through the swampy Karelian forest. If the weather is rainy - wear shoes that are not a pity! The track is not equipped at all.
The bridge was demolished here more than once. Its latest version, as well as some other infrastructure, is built and maintained here by a local enthusiast - Alexey Verbov. This bridge, by the way, a week after taking this shot was also flooded during the discharge of water from the Belomorsk Hydroelectric Power Station, but it seems to have survived.
12.
Alexey himself can be found directly on Zalavrug in a tent with souvenirs. He does not refuse tourists a brief overview of the history and territory of petroglyphs and answers to questions. We bought from him a booklet of his authorship with brief information about these places, which we did not regret later. The territory itself is managed by the White Sea Museum of Local Lore. It seems that the republican authorities also do not forget about petroglyphs, and there is hope that someday a tourist site will be centrally equipped here, at least on Kivach.
Most of the drawings are not striking, they need to be peered intently. In the photo they look brighter and more contrasted than live:
13. I must say that the White Sea accumulation of petroglyphs in Karelia is far from the only one. Another place with a comparable number of cave paintings is located south, on Cape Besov Nos on the east coast of Lake Onega.
As I understand it, Alexei, this is the largest cave image of a deer in the world:
14. But even the White Sea petroglyphs of one Zalavruga are not limited. It may be less bright and in less concentration, but they are here everywhere within a radius of a couple of kilometers. If you allocate more time for this, you can make a voyage on foot with a passing inspection of hundreds of drawings from the highwaythrough Zalavruga to the Belomorskaya hydroelectric power station, and from it back to the city. In general, petroglyphs and hydraulic structures and processes are inextricably linked here, because the "deposit" of petroglyphs is located in the middle of the Vyg River Delta, in the immediate vicinity of two hydroelectric power stations. This place, for example, is generally in the potential flood zone during the discharge of water at the dam:
15. The largest place of concentration of petroglyphs - “Demon Traces” - 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 painting. However, in our time, the bunker was recognized as emergency and closed for visits. The situation turned out to be idiotic - it seems that there are drawings, but no one can look at them for a dozen 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 at the dam of the next hydroelectric station in the cascade - Vygostrovskaya - at the only asphalt road in the district, which leads from Belomorsk to the Kola highway.
17. From the dam of the Vygostrovskaya hydroelectric station, a view of the village of Zolotets with a church opens. Along the road leading from Belomorsk to the highway, there are several villages and a couple of large settlements. Because of this, there is a false sense of comfort and well-being. In fact, the places here are very deaf. In addition to these three villages along the road, there are living settlements only along the Belomorkanal, but also a couple. And according to statistics, all of them, including the city of Belomorsk, are rapidly losing population.
18. Another Karelian waterfall is 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 is included in the Suna cascade of the hydroelectric power station, and the Paleozerskaya hydroelectric power station was built in its place.
19.
The channel of the waterfall is chained to a dam and is used as a single spillway. They “turn it on” only at the end of May, after the spring flood, and on special occasions. We were lucky to get into one of these cases: the summer of 2015 turned out to be rainy, and the reservoir located above was full. To restore balance in the system, the gates holding back the waterfall were opened, and a rapid stream of water rushed down.
20. The sight is bewitching: unlike the languid aristocratic Kivach, the dashing Girvas, yearning for his stone dungeon, rages in a powerful stream, and God forbid something or someone to get in his way.
21. At the same time, there is no normal viewing platform here, the safety equipment is at full zero. You have to go down to the edge of the reservoir along an inclined wet path. It costs nothing to slip and fly down into the raging waters of the waterfall. The only insurance here is pine trunks and huge anthills at their feet. But it is precisely thanks to this savagery and lack of organization with all skin that you are aware of the power and grandeur of nature and your defenselessness before it. A similar delight from contemplating natural hazards at arm's length, without any fences and safety equipment, has been experienced more than once in our country, for example, in White Kholunitsa.
22.
Do not think that it makes sense to go here only 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 frozen lava, which became the channel of the Suna, opens to the eye. The canyon itself, in which the reservoir is located, surrounded by high pine banks looks more like a majestic Siberian river, recalling the distant Yenisei:
23. We will return to Lake Onega. Not on the coast, but deep into its expanses of water. On the Meteor from Petrozavodsk we go to the famous island of Kizhi.Frankly, we went there with a share of skepticism, for show. It seems like you can’t see Kizhi, but at the same time there was no keen desire - they thought there would be a lot of beautiful architecture, washed up by crowds of tourists and infrastructure for the sale of everything in the world, as is often the case in very popular tourist places. And as usual, they made a mistake.
24.
Kizhi is not just an exhibition of wooden architecture, it is a real time machine. Cafes and souvenirs are only at the pier. The atmosphere of a traditional Onega settlement is recreated strictly and meticulously on the territory itself. As I understand it, museum employees on the island do not just work - they live here, in the broadest sense of the word. Flax is grown and spun, cultivated, kept livestock and poultry. All this has been successfully woven into an interactive for tourists, but at the same time it is not only an entertaining decor, but also part of their life. Unusual? Is it weird?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 on subsistence farming. Well, and probably still they have something from a crazy tourist flow. Among them there are Old Believers, to whom the museum staff are very peculiar, because they are reluctant to make contact, and marry only with other Old Believers.
Villages on the Onega Islands. It is inhabited and, judging by the type of houses, country. For most Russians, probably, the idea of \u200b\u200btraveling to the country by boat or motor boat sounds wild. He put the dog in the stern, loaded the seedlings and forward. No Friday traffic jams. Only the weather is very dependent.
25. Of course, not all the indigenous people of Kizhi are deep-seated conservatives stuck in the 19th century. Most went to cities for modern life. But the cottages were preserved on the island. To have a summer residence here is probably the dream of so many, but you cannot buy it. It can only be inherited. 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, Preobrazhenskaya, as you can see, is under reconstruction. This ensemble was built here, on Kizhi, and thanks to it, a museum was formed here. These three buildings, as if with a magnet, pulled onto the island masterpieces of wooden architecture from all around Lake Onega.
26.
Getting to Kizhi is expensive and not so simple. The flow of tourists here is just crazy. Up to eight tourist Meteor flights go here every day, a couple and a half voyages, and many large cruise ships stop. We sweep away the latter immediately, because nobody will use them as a way of casting specifically to Kizhi. Traveling by a strange coincidence, they go extremely uncomfortably (at night - to the island, in the morning - back) and there is almost no information about them in public sources, you can see something about them only in Petrozavodsk. And spending the night in Kizhi is a difficult question. As I understand it, there are no full-fledged hotels here, and the stay of tourists with tents is strictly limited. Remain tourist "Meteors". All of them, again, by a strange coincidence, belong to the fashionable Petrozavodsk hotel. The fleet itself is clearly Soviet-built, and how many ships, obviously used before on this route, were sharply in private hands, one can only guess.
I won’t talk about Kizhi in detail. Firstly, about them and so on the Internet in bulk. Secondly, photographs do not convey even half the beauty of this place. To appreciate Kizhi, you need to come here.
27.
Of course, the prices are just scrap. A round trip for one can take about 4 thousand. On the island itself, at the same time, you spend a little more than four hours, which is catastrophically small. This price includes transportation itself, an entrance ticket to the museum and an excursion, which is pretty good in itself. It seems that there are options to pay only for travel, without an excursion, and not on the same Meteor round-trip, as most tourists sell, but on different ones, so that you can spend the whole day on the island. But being in Moscow before the trip, we could not find out about all these options. Finally, even these expensive and not very interesting tickets just can not be bought. You need to book for 3 months, otherwise there will be no seats.
In addition to churches, various barns, craft houses, a mill, and of course dwellings, both of poor peasants and wealthy families, are also represented.
28.
The funny thing is that such a stir is created mainly by foreign tourists. Kizhi for them is one of the main points in traveling around Russia, since they are located near St. Petersburg - the main magnet for foreign tourists in the Russian Federation. Plus, the infrastructure and the process of servicing foreigners in Kizhi have been refined since the Soviet era. Among the guests there are far not only Finns, as one might think. For a short period of stay on the island, they managed to see the Chinese, and the Japanese, and Germans, and South Europeans. According to the guide, only a couple of years ago the number of Russian tourists in Kizhi for the first time in history exceeded 50%.
Ancient cemetery on the territory of Kizhi graveyard: 
29. If in the previous frame - the second largest lake of Europe Onega, then this is the first - Ladoga, in the regionatmospheric lyaskelya village, which has well preserved apparently Finnish non-parade architecture. It was a surprise for me that the nature of the west of Karelia is very different from the center: there are some rocky hills of tangible height, which gives the impression that we are approaching the mountains. Together with endless water spaces, this gives a pretty beautiful effect:
30. And this is the mountain park "Ruskeala". This is such an alloy of the center of extreme sports with a natural landscape museum, based on a flooded marble canyon. Located near the village of the same name 30 kilometers from. There is something to see here: an impressive lake with clear blue water framed by rocky shores and a virgin forest. No less beautiful than Kivach for sure.
31.
But thanks to Lake Ruskeala alone, it would not be so popular and interesting: simply beautiful places in our country in bulk. The point is also in the stunning organization of space and infrastructure. In the park laidthoughtful and paths comfortable for walking, a lot of stands with clear and interesting information were installed. During the walk there are all kinds of additional entertainments: bungee jumping, descent on the troll, sailing on a boat, descent into the caves. Upon entering the territory - several cafes and shops. All this at very reasonable prices and in excellent condition.
Descent on the troll in action:
32.
As far as I know, all this was done by private individuals. The place is neither a reserve, nor a museum. It seems that people traveled around the world, looked "how to" equip such places and gathered here the best. Everything here is done with knowledge, soul, love and care for nature, at the level of the best European tourist sites. For Ruskealu its owners are huge Respect. There would be more such places in our country ...
Abandoned Marble Quarry:
33. Another set of waterfalls- Ruskealsky, near the mountain park. Not as large-scale, of course, as previously shown, but if you got to Ruskeala, and there is no time to go to large waterfalls (at least 300 kilometers to them), these will work. It’s for nothing that you still can’t refuse picturesqueness:
34.
There are a lot of waterfalls in Karelia, and not all of them are in such convenient transport accessibility. You can go to some with an excursion on some UAZ or Niva, I would regret my passenger 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. Some low, overgrown mountains are indeed observed here, and the damp, cool weather only adds to the association with the Transfegerash Highway in Romania or Rosa 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 to perfect condition in recent years. And this, among other things, greatly contributes to the aesthetic pleasure. When you do not think about how not to fly away into a ditch or go round a hole, landscapes passing by are perceived much better. And the road with smooth asphalt, neat roadsides and columns is beautiful in itself.
36 pictures are, of course, a drop in the sea of \u200b\u200bKarelian beauties. But this is enough to understand how beautiful it is and why Karelia is so popular with tourists. On the other hand, live it all looks much more impressive. Before the trip, of course, I saw a photo of all these places, but then it seemed that there was "nothing special", nature as nature. Seen with my own eyes, Karelia is perceived in a completely different way. I hope I will return there and visit something that did not fit into this trip.
The last point of my story about Karelia will be its capital - Petrozavodsk. The regional center, quite good by the standards of modern Russia, can only be shown in a few parts. Next time, let's start.
The Republic of Karelia was formed in 1920, and received its status in 1923. The capital is the city of Petrozavodsk. The western border coincides with the border of Finland. The northwest is washed by the White Sea. The relief is characterized as a hilly plain, and in the west passes into the West Karelian Upland. The highest point of the republic is Mount Nuorunen.
Climatic features
The main part of Karelia is located in a strip of temperate continental climate. Despite the long winters, severe frosts are a rarity here, and spring comes around mid-April. Although very often in late May there are frosts. Summer is quite short, and the temperature rarely rises above +20 degrees. At the end of August, cold winds and heavy rains already begin.
Unpredictable weather is observed at the location of Lake Onega and Ladoga, on the sea coast. On the seashore, the largest cloud cover is observed throughout Karelia.
Hydrology
Naturally, the number and types of plants and animals of Karelia are largely determined by water bodies, and only rivers there are more than 27 thousand. The largest include Chirka-Kem with a length of 221 km, Kem - 191 km. Most of them have rapids and rocky shores.
There are 60 thousand lakes in the republic, and together with swamps, the total occupied surface area of \u200b\u200bwater bodies is 2 thousand square cubic meters.
Vegetable world
There are 17 forestries in the republic. And the total occupied area by forests is 148 thousand square kilometers, and this is 85% of the entire territory of Karelia.
Karelian flora is considered relatively young, since it was fully formed not so long ago, about 15 thousand years ago. The republic is dominated by needles and pine, spruce. Closer to the Arkhangelsk region, Siberian larch is found.
Of small-leaved species, the following are widely distributed:
- fluffy and warty birch;
- gray alder;
- smooth elm;
- small-leaved linden;
- maple;
- aspen.
In marshes, on the banks of the rivers, black alder is found.
But, above all, Karelia is the land of berries. Lingonberries, raspberries, buckthorn and juniper, bird cherry and hazel grow here.
Protected nature reserves
For salvation, the Red Book of animals and plants of Karelia has been compiled. But this is not the only step; in the republic there are 3 state nature reserves:
- "Kivach."
- "Kostomuksha".
- Part
There are ecological trails for travelers and science tourism.
In Karelia there are 3 more state national parks: “Paanajärvi”, “Kalevala” and partly the Arkhangelsk park “Vodlozersky”.
In addition, the republic has 1 botanical garden, 45 reserves and 107 natural monuments. Preserves play an important role in the process of protecting plants and animals of Karelia listed in the Red Book. These are small-sized protected areas where certain species of animals are protected, for example, beaver or plant populations, for example, plots with large-fruited cranberries.
Representatives of the flora
There are about 63 species of mammals in the republic. Some species are listed in the Red Book of animals of Karelia:
- flying squirrel;
- ladoga ringed seal;
- brown ear-flaps.
Nerpa, as an animal of Karelia, lives on the shores of Lake Ladoga and on some Finnish lakes. This animal gathers in groups of 7-15 individuals and lives almost sedentary. The total number of seals in Karelia does not exceed 3 thousand.
And the most interesting thing is that an ordinary hedgehog even got into the list of protected animals. But this is an omnivorous animal that can even eat a numb adder without harm to itself.
Some animals of Karelia are accustomed individuals, for example, prominent representatives of North America are:
- canadian beaver;
- american norm;
- muskrat.
And from the Far East came here a raccoon dog, which quickly acclimatized and feels great to this day.
In the 60s of the last century, wild boars appeared in the republic, roe, badger, bear and wolves are found in the south.
Feathered
It is hard to imagine the fauna of Karelia without birds. There are about 285 species in the republic, 36 of which are already listed on the Red Book. These include the white-tailed eagle, in Karelia there are 40 pairs.
The most common are birds of the genus corvidae, there are black grouse, capercaillie, hazel grouse and partridge. And in the spring you can see geese that come here from warm countries. Many of their predatory representatives of birds:
- hawk;
- marsh harrier;
- owl;
- golden eagle.
Since there are many reservoirs in Karelia, therefore there are many aquatic representatives of birds:
- loon;
- duck;
- seagulls;
- sandpiper;
- common eider.
In the Red Book there are many birds living in the republic:
family | |
gulls | klusha, chegrava, small tern |
owl, white owl and bearded owl |
|
pigeon | |
falcon | derbnik, peregrine falcon, kestrel and gyrfalcon |
early bird | forest and horned lark |
woodpeckers | white-backed |
oatmeal | lapland plantain |
snipe | small godwit and hollow |
shorthanded | gray shrike |
blackbird | white-footed redstart |
drum | |
tit | blue tit |
magpie waders | magpie continental subspecies |
pheasant | partridge and quail and others |
Reptiles
Karelia is poor in reptile animals. Only 5 species live on the territory of the republic:
- common viper;
- godfather;
- ordinary already;
- the lizard is fast;
- lizard viviparous.
What animals in Karelia are protected from reptiles:
Ordinary already | This is a non-poisonous snake that hides when a person sees it. If it is possible to catch it already, then it immediately begins to hiss, sharply throw its head forward, if all this does not help, then it starts to secrete a “smelly” liquid, in extreme cases, pretends to be dead. The largest males can reach 2.5 meters in length. |
Lizard | They call it still agile, belongs to the family of real lizards. The average size is 25 cm, large individuals are found reaching 35 cm. The lizard can drop its tail, which grows over the course of a month. They eat caterpillars, insects, larvae, and can even eat their offspring. |
Residents of the ponds
Due to the rich water supply of the republic, there is accordingly a huge amount of fish. To date, there are 60 species, and together with the acclimatized ones - 115, which are conditionally united in 16 families.
Aquatic animals of Karelia are conditionally divided into:
The largest variety of fish species in Onega and Ladoga Lakes, ruff, salmon, roach and burbot live here. No less rich are representatives of the water Syamozero, Kuito and the Pisto River.
In Karelia fishing is an ancient craft, but today few of the fishermen will share their fishing places. Any lake is not suitable for trophy fishing, in order to catch a valuable breed, you will have to go to the north of the republic and best of all with a guide.
Insects
Naturally, what kind of nature can be imagined without insects and animals of Karelia. The photo of some butterflies is impressive.
Many butterflies got into the Red Book of the republic:
- poplar ribbon;
- silkworm birch;
- mourning;
- swallowtail;
- blue sash;
- violet nacre.
The small number in the territory of Karelia and the common rhinoceros, and the cortex revealed a large one.
However, especially in the southern part of the republic, not far from Segozero, there are huge mite settlements. Tourists are always warned about this, their activity falls on the period from May to June. Therefore, in these places it is recommended to wear closed clothing, up to jackets with hoods. Many in mosquitoes and horseflies, midges.
Travel! We urge you to devote your leisure time to trips and hikes! After all, only the road can give a feeling of fullness of life and happiness. Only leaving behind a crumpled sofa and routine, you can see the beautiful places of Karelia!
More than 850 thousand tourists visit Karelia annually
Take a short test and find out which tour is perfect for you
(you can select 1 or more answer options)
Step 1
Who do you want to go with?
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Choose type of tour
What would you like to see?
Nature (waterfalls, rocks, forests, rivers and lakes, bays, etc.)
Animals (husky, horses, petting zoo, etc.)
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Religious places
Military facilities (fortresses, museums)
Places of power (shrines, seids)
Desired direction?
Karelia (Ruskeala, Sortavala, Yakkim)
Novgorod region(Novgorod, Staraya Russa, Valdai)
Pskov region (Pskov, Izborsk, Pechora, Pushkin mountains)
Leningrad region.(Mandrogs, Vyborg)
The main thing is to be interesting
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In the near future
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I’m still thinking, but I’ll go soon
Do not succumb to laziness, take non-standard steps, travel yourself and give loved ones the joy of discoveries. With Sharm Travel you will find beautiful landscapes, new impressions, intimate knowledge, fresh feelings. So, on the way: because there, around the bend, you will see the most beautiful places in Karelia!
The most beautiful places of 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 on the background of the Marble Canyon, and Ladoga in summer and winter, and the nature of Solovki, and the enchanting architecture of Kizhey in face and profile. But in one article we have collected for you information about the most famous sights of the region, by reading which you will understand how beautiful 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 go - by car or with Sharm Travel, make travel maps, and after that - share your impressions.
10 most beautiful places in Karelia 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. It is also a huge fund of the scientific library of the museum, which houses more than 12,000 rare and rare editions
5. Solovetsky Islands
The Solovetsky Islands is not only an opportunity to admire the endless generosity of the nature of Karelia, but also to better know the history of the region. And at some moments she was, without exaggeration, terrible. The Solovetsky Islands is the place where thousands of prisoners found their last refuge. Perhaps that is why the bells of the existing monastery ring so hopelessly during 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. Waterfall White Bridges
Enumerating the natural ones, one cannot but recall the unique Yukanokoski waterfall, which is also called White Bridges, the highest waterfall in Karelia. How good it is in the spring, when fast-moving waters rush along huge stone steps with furious speed. He is magnificent in the frame of gold trees in the fall, and in the emerald summer necklace.
Impurities of peat make golden Yukanokoski jets golden
7. Valaam archipelago
The famous island is the largest in the eponymous archipelago located in Lake Ladoga. Its beauty is captured by famous artists. Well, our contemporaries can take at least a thousand pictures of the beautiful nature of the sacred place.
Valaam is not only beautiful, but also a place of anomalous phenomena that has not been fully studied. Former employee of the Valaam Island Museum O.V. Bochkareva carried out work on the collection and study of "anomalous phenomena"
8. Lakes Ladoga and Onega
Karelia is rich in the unique nature: beautiful places on the map of the region are marked with blue and blue. This is the heart of the Russian North: Lake Ladoga and Onega. Needless to say, it is they who create that unique atmosphere of the area, severe and sensual at the same time. To verify this, it is enough to come to the coast once and see the sunset. Your heart will be forever given to this land, infinitely beautiful and forever new.
35 rivers flow into Lake Ladoga, and only one flows out - the Neva
9. Mount Owl
In addition to the well-known natural protected areas in Karelia, there are many historical monuments. Many of them are devoted to very recent events - the Second World War, the flame of which burned the North of Russia, leaving indelible marks. These sights include Mount Filina - the former command grotto of the Finnish army, and now - the current military-historical museum in the rock.
Zeolite, shungite, magnetite, which have a healing effect on the human body, are found in rocks
10. The Kivach Nature Reserve
Another unique - and protected by the state - natural monument is the Kivach Nature Reserve. More than 100,000 people come here every year to see the unique fauna and flora! And they can be understood: after all, trees grow in the reserve, whose age is estimated at 3.5 centuries!
The reserve is called “Karelia in miniature” because on its territory there are selga, and oz, and “curly rocks” and “ram's foreheads” - all types of landforms
We go for beauty and harmony with Sharm Travel
Do not look for miracles in expensive overseas countries, because our Karelia offers beautiful places for relaxation almost for nothing. Admire the dynamics of the capital, Petrozavodsk, walk along its well-groomed streets, visit museums.
Petrozavodsk - a huge number of parks, attractions, museums, monuments of architecture and history
And when you get tired of the noise of a 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 life? Welcome to Vuoksa.
Vuoksa Temple is the only church in the world based on a monolithic rock
Beautiful places of Karelia - here they are, just lend a hand. Discover a new world - pure, fresh, sincere. Enjoy it, learn to value and protect what is, get the joy of communicating with people and nature. Call, come, we will open for you the world of beauty of the Russian North!
As soon as they don’t call Karelia ... The center of wooden architecture, the pantry of mushrooms, transparent lakes, the most mysterious region of Russia ... In truth, this region, in addition to its unusual and delightful nature, has some kind of a mystery, dispelled around.
In the wilderness of forests and among swamps, impassable peat bogs with dried trees, there is something that is not found in the rest of Russia.
Here the most famous directors could make films with mystical plots, and there can be an infinite number of documentaries about the beauties of the region, but Karelia is not a place of mass frenzied tourism (except for a few popular places), rather, a nature reserve, which in some places has preserved its pristine nature. And this is good: they would trample, but they would kill all the beauty of beauty ...
In the West, Karelia is adjacent toFinland, in the south - with the Vologda and Leningrad regions, in the east - with the Arkhangelsk region in the north - with the Murmansk region, in the northeast it is washed by the White Sea ..
The capital of Karelia is the city of Petrozavodsk.
The area of \u200b\u200bthe republic is 180 520 km², the population is 632 533 people - according to the data of 2015, the population density is 3.5 people / km². Enough space for everyone. For comparison: the area of \u200b\u200bMoscow is 2511 km². population density - 4823 people / km².
It is never very cold and very hot, the summer is short, slight frosts occur even in June there is also a heat of 20 degrees Celsius, palpable due to the high humidity of the region, and winters are snowy, but usually without severe frosts.
In the photo the city of Petrozavodsk
Karelia is rich in swamps and peatlands. Minerals are abundant in the area: iron ore, titanium, diamonds, quartz, mica, etc.
“Resources of the subsoil of Karelia include:
489 proven deposits,
31 types of solid minerals,
386 peat deposits,
14 underground water deposits for household and drinking purposes,
2 mineral water deposits,
10 officially recognized and over 200 recorded geological monuments. ”
In addition to swamps, peat, minerals, Karelia is rich in water resources: many lakes are the largest of which (by the way, they are the largest in Europe) - Ladoga and Onega.
In the photo Onega Lake
“In Karelia there are about 27,000 rivers, of which the largest are: Vodla (length - 149 km), Kem (191 km), Onda (197 km), Unga, Chirka-Kem (221 km), Kovda, Shuya, Suna Kivach and Vyg waterfalls.
There are about 60,000 lakes in the republic ” .
In the photo Ladoga Lake
You can watch endlessly at the blue expanses of lakes and bewitching pictures of picturesque landscapes, majestic stone blocks surrounding the lakes. The spirit fascinates and immediately feels the cool clean air of Karelia.
« Varied flora, fauna:"roe deer, lynx, badgers, squirrels, wolves, bears, minks, beavers live in forests where currants, strawberries, buckthorn, common hazel, etc."
85% of the republic’s territory is forest resources. Therefore, from the most important treasures of Karelia are forests, reserves. Here's a clarification: swamps and swamp forests occupy more than 30% of the republic.
There are also many beautiful monuments of wooden architecture in Karelia.
« The Nature Reserve Fund of the Republic of Karelia includes 168 specially protected natural territories (SPNA) .
Objects of federal significance include two reserves, three national parks, two federal zoological reserves, as well as the Kem-Ludsky site of the Kandalakshsky reserve located in the Murmansk Region located within Karelia.
The network of protected areas of regional significance includes 45 nature reserves, 107 natural monuments, 1 resort area, 1 botanical garden, a protected area of \u200b\u200bthe Kivach federal reserve, a unique historical and natural-landscape territory of Valaam, a museum-reserve Kizhi with a protected area and 4 object with the status of "land of historical and cultural purpose".
« There are many cultural institutions in the republic dedicated to the history of the unique territory, theaters, museums.
Interesting places and cities: Petrozavodsk, Sortavala, Kondopoga, Segezha, Kostomuksha. ”
“The most interesting about Karelia” in the program “My Planet”:
Let's talk about relaxation and the most beautiful places, sights of Karelia.
Karelia is in fifth place (after the resorts of the Krasnodar Territory, Crimea, Caucasian Mineral Waters) in terms of the popularity of Russian holiday destinations among Russian tourists according to the Association of Russian Tour Operators (ATOR).
““ Traditional active, cultural and ecological (“green”) types of tourism are popular in Karelia.
Karelia attracts tourists with historical and cultural monuments, ecologically clean nature and low population density. Karelia is popular among lovers of water tourism, travelers on bicycles and cars, among fishermen and hunters. In the summer, cruise ships ply the Ladoga and Onega lakes. ”
A trip to Karelia is no less expensive than a vacation in Crimea: for example, winter a five-day snowmobile tour - from 26 thousand rubles, spending several hours with a Husky (dog breed) will cost 3-4 thousand rubles, a weekend - 13 thousand rubles, a three-day tour to Kizhi from 35 thousand rubles. In summer - river rafting, jeep tours for several days (up to a week) - from 10 thousand rubles to 40 thousand.
The cost of spending a weekend in Karelia (2 days), with a route - Kizhi Island + Kivach Waterfall + Martial Waters + Petrozavodsk today will cost an average of 7.2 thousand rubles. "
In the photo the architectural ensemble of Kizhi
If you are going to Karelia, be sure to visit Kizhi (Kizhi Pogost) - you will not see such beauty anywhere, this is one of the most striking creations of wooden architecture.
“The world-famous architectural ensemble, located on the island of Kizhi of Lake Onega, consisting of two churches and a bell tower of the 18th-19th centuries, surrounded by a single fence - a reconstruction of the traditional fencing of pogosts.
The architectural ensemble of Kizhi Pogost is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. ”
Pictured is Valaam island with a monastery
The Botanical Garden, Kivach Waterfall, Valaaam Island are also no less than Kizhi deserve attention. Lake Ladoga, the name of which we have known since the first grades of high school, is of course inferior to Lake Baikal in terms of fresh water, but not by much: it is the largest freshwater lake in Europe. Its shores connect Karelia and the Leningrad region. On Lake Ladoga in the old days there were many grandiose historical battles.
Yes, the swamps of Karelia are not only beautiful from afar and as “helpers” in preserving peat reserves, but there are an abundance of cranberry berries and cloudberries near them.
A total of 69 officially registered swamps, and not just as swamps, but as “state regional wetland natural monuments in the territory of the Republic of Karelia”.
In Karelia, one can clearly see that swamps are not only mud, frogs, mosquitoes, bogs, slush, dampness, but also natural monuments, beautiful places, gorgeous views.
On the territory of the republic you can find a rare and beautiful butterfly Swallowtail, owls, hawks, golden eagles, swamp moons.
Lake Onega is one of the main attractions of Karelia and the second largest freshwater lake in Europe. Its borders connect Karelia, the Vologda, Leningrad regions.
“On the shores of Lake Onega are the cities of Petrozavodsk, Kondopoga and Medvezhyegorsk. About 50 rivers flow into Lake Onega, and only one flows out - Svir. ”
In Petrozavodsk there are many monuments of architecture and history.
“The most famous of them are: the Architectural ensemble of the Round Square at the end of the 18th century, the building of the former provincial men's gymnasium of 1790, the architectural ensemble of Karl Marx Avenue of the 1950-1960s, the embankment of Lake Onega with a large number of sculptures - gifts from twin cities and others” .
Kondopoga has the most beautiful attraction: the Assumption Church, built in the 18th century, 42 meters in height. Another Ice Palace with 1850 seats and the Palace of Arts with an organ hall.
Tourists visiting Karelia note the impassability of some rocky, marshy areas, as well as the lack of infrastructure, cluttered places of recreation, variability, unpredictability of the climate, but at the same time the unusual, “abandoned”, pristine beauty of the region.
Almost all who spoke of trips to the republic remained in admiration, contentment, and the few expressed small claims: yes, it says something.
From reviews of tourists:
« Waterfall "Kivach". What beauties are there, and not a single foreign country is needed!i warn you right away - lovers of five-star hotels and helpful service will be disappointed. the rest must go, be sure to fall in love with Karelia, be sure to have a great rest. ”
« One of the most interesting places to stay in Russia. Stunning nature, especially in northern Karelia, real fabulous forests, huge boulders, mosses and centuries-old spruce, many lakes and real northern lights in winter.
The choice of recreation is very diverse, from relaxing in cottages with saunas and barbecue to tents and trips to marble quarries and waterfalls.
All this is inexpensive, unusual and unforgettable, and most importantly it’s where there is truly fresh and clean air, mushrooms grow right in the city (in Kostomuksha), a sea of \u200b\u200bberries, you just have to leave the house. ”
« Now I understand why the song sings "Karelia will dream for a long time" ...Even a brief acquaintance with this amazing region is really remembered for a very long time ...
Last year I happened to visit Kizhi Island - the most famous on Lake Onega, with magnificent wooden churches, with real old Karelian houses for large (20–25 people) families. The heads of the churches, covered with aspen plowshares like scales, are cast in the sun with silver. ”
« They immediately fall in love with these places and want to come back more than once. It is convenient and easy to get by train or car, along very good new routes, which also deserve special attention. In some sections of the road, the route runs in the middle of huge rocks.
Even the weather, most often rainy and cool, does not overshadow the overall impression of the trip. In this place you can relax morally and spiritually, gain strength .. "
« In love with the Russian northern region for a long time and irrevocably.I visited a sweetheart party last year at the end of August and lost my head. What a wonderful place, the air is magical, fresh, and what silence is in the forests of Karelia.
Recently I went to the movie “Dawns Here Are Quiet,” and my heart was pinched by memories. I visited the place where the picture of Renat Davletyarov was shot. The landscapes are beautiful, forgetting is unrealistic. "
« How little and how much it takes to fall in love with these places! It seems enough to come, and that’s all - the magic of the Russian North will not let you go. Karelia, in the plexus of the roots of pines on the shores of Lake Onega, the silver roof roof of Kizhe, the vast expanse of fields and the foam of waterfalls, and all this is Karelia. ”
« Yeah, the roads there are certainly not passable, and the fishing is magical. Many forest lakes. There is an island in Ladoga, the locals call it 3 pine trees, there is a house right on the rock and a little further on the bathhouse. The easiest way to get to it is from Lyaskel along the Yanis River or from the settlement of Khiydinselga (Sawmill). I advise you to go there, indescribable beauty, noble fishing and a lot of mushrooms, from the cliff you can see Valaam .. ".
The beautiful part of the Russian North - a place that you should definitely visit, in fact, I say without pathos and advertising - in our country there is a lot of wonderful nature that can not be compared with abroad. And although abroad is also good, but “your own” is much better.
You can choose hotels, tours, book permits on many sites. In addition to recreation centers - there are sanatoriums.
Winter holidays are highly praised when you can celebrate New Year in the wilderness of coniferous forests in a small house, almost buried in a snowdrift, next to a pack of Husky dogs, in the frost-free winter, so that the winter sun blinds through the windows in the morning and the snow pops under your feet while walking . In winter there is a peculiar beauty, and in summer, of course, the landscapes are still those, but in the snowy times there is its own charm - whoever was will understand what it is about.
