Karelia is called by many names... The center of wooden architecture, a storehouse of mushrooms, clear lakes, the most mysterious region of Russia... In truth, this region, in addition to its unusual and delightful nature, has some kind of mystery scattered all around, like fog.

In the depths of the forests and among the swamps, impenetrable peat bogs with dried out trees, there is something that is not found in the rest of Russia.

The most famous directors could shoot films with mystical plots here, and an infinite number of documentaries about the beauties of the region could be created, but Karelia is not a place of mass frenzied tourism (except for a few popular places), rather a nature reserve, in some places preserving its pristine nature. And that’s good: they would trample and kill all the charm of beauty...

In the West, Karelia neighbors Finland, 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 ​​the republic is 180,520 km², the population is 632,533 people - according to 2015 data, the population density is 3.5 people/km². There is enough space for everyone. For comparison: the area of ​​Moscow is 2511 km². population density - 4823 people/km².

It is never very cold or very hot here, the summer is short, there are slight frosts, even in June there is a heat of 20 degrees Celsius, noticeable due to the high humidity of the region, and the winter is snowy, but usually without severe frosts.

In the photo the city of Petrozavodsk

Karelia is rich in swamps and peatlands. The area has an abundance of minerals: iron ore, titanium, diamonds, quartz, mica, etc.

“The subsoil resources of Karelia include:

489 explored deposits,

31 types of solid minerals,

386 peat deposits,

14 deposits of groundwater for domestic and drinking purposes,

2 mineral water deposits,

10 officially recognized and over 200 registered geological monuments.”

In addition to swamps, peat, and minerals, Karelia is rich in water resources: many lakes, the largest of which (by the way, they are the largest in Europe) are Ladoga and Onega.

Pictured is Lake Onega

“There are about 27,000 rivers in Karelia, 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" .

Pictured is Lake Ladoga

You can look endlessly at the blue surface of the lakes and the mesmerizing pictures of picturesque landscapes, the majestic boulders surrounding the lakes. The spirit is captivating and you immediately feel the cool, clean air of Karelia.

« Diverse flora and fauna: roe deer, lynxes, badgers, squirrels, wolves, bears, minks, beavers live in forests where currants, strawberries, buckthorn, common hazel, etc. grow.”

85% of the territory of the republic is forest fund. Therefore, among the most important treasures of Karelia are forests and nature reserves.. Here is a clarification: swamps and swampy forests occupy more than 30% of the territory of the republic.

There are also many beautiful monuments of wooden architecture in Karelia.

« The natural reserve fund of the Republic of Karelia includes 168 specially protected natural areas (SPNA) .

Objects of federal significance include two reserves, three national parks, two federal zoological reserves, as well as the Kem-Ludsky section of the Kandalaksha Nature Reserve located within Karelia, located in the Murmansk region.

The network of protected areas of regional significance includes 45 reserves, 107 natural monuments, 1 resort area, 1 botanical garden, a protective zone of the Kivach federal reserve, a unique historical and natural landscape territory of Valaam, a Kizhi museum-reserve with a protective zone and 4 object with the status of “land of historical and cultural significance.”

« There are many cultural institutions in the republic dedicated to the history of the unique territory, theaters, and museums.

Interesting places and cities: Petrozavodsk, Sortavala, Kondopoga, Segezha, Kostomuksha.”

“The most interesting things about Karelia” in the “My Planet” program:

Let's talk about relaxation and the most beautiful places and attractions of Karelia.

Karelia is in fifth place (after the resorts of the Krasnodar Territory, Crimea, Caucasian Mineralnye Vody) in popularity of Russian vacation spots among Russian tourists, according to the Association of Tour Operators of Russia (ATOR).

““Traditional active, cultural and ecological (“green”) types of tourism are popular in Karelia.

Karelia attracts tourists with its historical and cultural monuments, ecologically clean nature and low population density. Karelia is popular among lovers of water tourism, travelers on bicycles and cars, fishermen and hunters. Cruise ships ply along Lakes Ladoga and Onega in the summer.”

A trip to Karelia is no less expensive than a holiday in Crimea: for example, a winter a snowmobile tour for five days - from 26 thousand rubles, spending a few hours with a Husky (a breed of dog) 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 to 40 thousand rubles.

The cost of a weekend in Karelia (2 days), with the route - Kizhi Island + Kivach Waterfall + Marcial Waters + Petrozavodsk today will cost an average of 7.2 thousand rubles.”

The photo shows 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 else, this is one of the most striking creations of wooden architecture.

“A world-famous architectural ensemble located on the Kizhi island of Lake Onega, consisting of two churches and a bell tower of the 18th-19th centuries, surrounded by a single fence - a reconstruction of traditional churchyard fences.

The architectural ensemble of the Kizhi Pogost is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.”

In the photo is the island of Valaam with the monastery

The Botanical Garden, Kivach Waterfall, Valaam Island also deserve attention no less than Kizhi. Lake Ladoga, whose name has been familiar to us since the first grades of high school, is, of course, inferior to Baikal in terms of volumes of fresh water, but not by much: it is the largest freshwater lake in Europe. Its banks connect Karelia and the Leningrad region. In the old days, many grandiose historical battles took place on Lake Ladoga.

Yes, the bogs of Karelia are not only beautiful from afar and as “helpers” in preserving peat reserves, but near them there is an abundance of cranberry and cloudberry berries.

There are a total of 69 officially registered swamps, and not just as swamps, but as “state regional swamp natural monuments on the territory of the Republic of Karelia.”

In Karelia you can clearly see that swamps are not only mud, frogs, mosquitoes, bogs, slush, dampness, but also natural monuments, beautiful places, and gorgeous views.

On the territory of the republic you can find the rare and beautiful Swallowtail butterfly, owls, hawks, golden eagles, and marsh harriers.

Lake Onega is one of the main attractions of Karelia and the second largest freshwater lake in Europe. Its borders connect Karelia, Vologda and Leningrad regions.

“The cities of Petrozavodsk, Kondopoga and Medvezhyegorsk are located on the shores of Lake Onega. About 50 rivers flow into Lake Onega, but only one flows out - the Svir.”

Petrozavodsk has many architectural and historical monuments.

“The most famous of them: the architectural ensemble of Round Square of the late 18th century, the building of the former provincial men’s gymnasium from 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 sister cities and others” .

The most beautiful attraction in Kondopoga is the Assumption Church, built in the 18th century, 42 meters in height. There is also an Ice Palace with 1850 seats and a Palace of Arts with an organ hall.

Tourists who have been to Karelia note the impassability of some rocky and swampy areas, as well as the lack of infrastructure, cluttered recreation areas, changeability, unpredictability of the climate, but at the same time the unusual, “abandoned”, pristine beauty of the region.

Almost everyone who spoke about their trips to the republic was delighted and satisfied; a few expressed minor complaints: this says something.

From tourist reviews:

« Waterfall "Kivach". What a beauty it is, and no need to go abroad! I’ll warn you right away - lovers of five-star hotels and helpful service will be disappointed. for the rest, be sure to go, be sure to fall in love with Karelia, and be sure to have a great vacation.”

« One of the most interesting holiday destinations in Russia. Stunning nature, especially in northern Karelia, real fairy-tale forests, huge boulders, mosses and centuries-old spruce trees, many lakes and real northern lights in winter.

The choice of recreation is very diverse, from relaxing in cottages with saunas and barbecues to tents and trips to marble quarries and waterfalls.

All this is inexpensive, unusual and unforgettable, and most importantly, there is truly fresh and clean air, mushrooms grow right in the city (in Kostomuksha), a sea of ​​berries, you just have to leave the house.”

« Now I understand why the song says “I will dream about Karelia for a long time”... Even a brief acquaintance with this amazing region will truly be remembered for a very long time...

Last year I had the opportunity to visit the island of Kizhi - the most famous on Lake Onega, with magnificent wooden churches, with real old Karelian houses for large (20 - 25 people) families. The domes of churches, covered with aspen ploughshares like scales, shine silver in the sun.”

« People immediately fall in love with these places and want to return again and again. getting there is convenient and easy, by train or by 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. It is in this place that you can relax mentally and spiritually, gain strength...”

« I have been in love with the Russian northern region for a long time and irrevocably. I visited my sweet spot last year at the end of August and lost my head. What a wonderful place, the air is magical, fresh, and what silence there is in the forests of Karelia.

I recently went to see the film “The Dawns Here Are Quiet,” and my heart ached from the memories. I visited the place where Renat Davletyarov’s film was filmed. The landscapes are the most beautiful, it’s impossible to forget.”

« How little and how much it takes to fall in love with these places! It seems that all you have to do is come and that’s it – the magic of the Russian North will not let you go. Karelia, in the tangles of pine roots on the shores of Lake Onega, the silvery planks of Kizhi roofs, the vast expanse of fields and the foam of waterfalls, and all this is Karelia.”

« Yeah, the roads there are certainly impassable, but the fishing is magical. Many forest lakes. There is an island in Ladoga, the locals call it 3 pines, there is a house right on the rock and a little further on there is a bathhouse. The easiest way to get to it is from Lyaskel along the Yanis River or from the village of Khiidinselga (Sawmill). I advise you to visit there, the beauty is indescribable, great fishing and a lot of mushrooms, you can see Valaam from the cliff...”

A beautiful part of the Russian North - a place that is definitely worth visiting, in fact, I’m saying this without pathos or advertising - our country has a lot of wonderful nature that cannot be compared with abroad. And although abroad is also good, “home” is much better.

You can choose hotels, tours, and book tours on many websites. In addition to recreation centers, there are sanatoriums.

Winter holidays are highly praised, when you can celebrate the 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 middle of a frost-free winter, so that the winter sun blinds your eyes through the windows in the morning and the snow crackles under your feet during walks. . In winter there is a kind of beauty there, and in summer, of course, the landscapes are still the same, but in snowy times there is its own charm - anyone who has been will understand what we are talking about.

Well, now all you have to do is choose the place you like, buy a ticket and go on vacation:

Greetings to all nature lovers and those who are in one way or another interested in beautiful Karelia and they want to visit here (after all, you do?)! 😀

I’m starting a series of articles dedicated to this beautiful land of rivers and lakes, and I’ll start with a selection of the very best places that, in my opinion, are worth visiting. I’ll make a reservation that this list was compiled based on the places I personally visited. I still have a list of places I want to go (after all, I haven’t seen everything in Karelia yet). But knowing them, I’m almost sure that the list presented in this article is unlikely to change. These places are cool and deserve your close attention!

I admit, it was very difficult for me to choose 10 places, and then also select photographs. But I did it! 🙂 The places on the list are not arranged according to any of my ratings, but simply randomly. But the first two are still the best for me.

I present them to your attention!

1. NATIONAL PARK "PAANAYARVI".

If you ask me which place in Karelia impressed me most, then without hesitation or hesitation I will answer - Paanajärvi! Yes, this amazing, fabulous and beautiful place has forever won a strong first place in my rating and, of course, in my heart.

Paanajärvi is a national park, a conservation area in the north-west of Karelia. Here is the highest mountain, the most powerful waterfall, one of the deepest and most picturesque lakes in Karelia and the coolest landscapes! Indeed, everything here is the best.

I want to come back here. Very much. I highly recommend for nature lovers, especially northern and wild ones, to come to Paanajärvi!

I visited here this summer (summer 2018), I was so impressed that on my blog I now have as many as 4 detailed articles on each of the park’s attractions with all the details and my recommendations. There are several attractions in the park, and it is simply impossible to touch on each one in a couple of sentences. Therefore, I won’t write much here, but will give a link to the first of the articles in this series:. Links to the other three articles are at the end of the first.

I'll show you a few photos here.

Stunning view from Mount Kivakka.

This is the view from the highest mountain in Karelia - Nuorunen.

Kivakkakoski Waterfall is the largest unregulated flow in Karelia.

The picturesque Mäntykoski waterfall, which can only be reached via Lake Paanajärvi.

Nice paths in the middle of the forest. It is convenient to cross the swamps.

2. MOUNT VOTTOVAARA.

And this is perhaps the most mystical place in Karelia. Mystical, amazing and beautiful! I'm sure everyone has heard about Vottovaara at least once.

This is a mountain in the Muezersky region of western Karelia. What attracts people, ordinary tourists and even scientists here? First of all, these are numerous seids - sacred stones of the ancient Sami, according to one version. The second most unusual phenomenon is twisted dry trees. They are truly extremely amazing and amazing. At least for them it’s worth coming here.

There are rumors of strange phenomena occurring on the mountain. It supposedly has an effect on some people.

I was very impressed by the visit to the mountain. Of course, I didn’t notice any particular impact on my consciousness, unfortunately or fortunately, but I want to go back. Here you feel at least unusual. Not like any other place or mountain. Well, the views from it are incredibly beautiful!

Over time, the appearance of the mountain, as it is now, will change, so everyone should go there urgently! 😉

Unusual twisted trees are the highlight of the mountain.

Megaliths of glacial origin are impressive.

The views from the mountain are some of the most beautiful in Karelia!

3. RUSKEALA MOUNTAIN PARK.

Already a very popular and famous place. Crowds of tourists from all over the country flock here. And for good reason – it is truly unique. Most often they begin their acquaintance with Karelia with him. Majestic marble rocks, turquoise water, the opportunity to take a boat ride through the marble canyon, visit its grottoes and see the magical illumination of the rocks, learn how marble was mined, fly on a zip line over the canyon or bungee jump, just walk around, enjoying the views, sometimes feeling in some fairy tale - you will get all this after visiting Ruskeala.

I've been here in winter, summer and autumn. You can read about winter Ruskeala at. Admire Ruskeala in autumn. And here I will attach summer and autumn pictures.

To this same point I will refer AKHVENKOSKI waterfalls(they are also called Ruskeala, because they are located very close to the canyon, on the way to it, so you won’t miss it). These waterfalls attract, firstly, with their beauty, and secondly, films were filmed here, for example, the Soviet “And the Dawns Here Are Quiet.” Hanging bridges were recently built over the rapids and a route was laid out. There is a fee, but you can just look at the general view of the waterfalls for free. The waterfalls are traditionally visited by everyone who travels to the marble canyon itself. Convenient because it's on the way.

Ruskeala Mountain Park coordinates: 61°54’5″N 30°37’53″E

Ahvenkoski waterfalls coordinates: 61°54’58″N 30°37’38″E

In the water you can see stone blocks that have fallen from above.
Dangerous areas are fenced off.

Magnificent and so different marble!

The boats are still in service.

Ahvenkoski waterfalls. Walk over the stormiest rapids.

The bridges over the waterfalls were made quite recently.

4. CITY OF PAASO.

This is a high mountain Paasonvuori , which is located in the Sortavala region (immediately after Sortavala near the village of Helyulya), a place where ancient Karelians lived in the 12th-13th centuries, and maybe earlier. Excavations were carried out on the mountain and evidence of this was found: ceramic fragments, arrowheads, jewelry. Now we will no longer find any traces of former settlements, but the very knowledge that we are in a historical place excites the imagination. This is usually what happens to me. 🙂 But it’s worth climbing the mountain primarily because of the beautiful views that open from it. On one side we see a highway, a lake, a railway above the lake, a river going into the distance, and the village of Helyulya. If we look in the other direction, we will see views of majestic spruce forests. Below I will attach one of my favorite photographs that I took in Karelia. The sight of forests is endlessly inspiring!

A safe and at the same time picturesque path to the top goes around the rock on the right, if you stand with your back to the road, there was also a tiny bridge over a ditch near the road itself. On the route itself there will be a sign “Paaso Settlement”. Leave the car in the parking lot - there will be a turnoff from the highway - and walk back, you will find the beginning of the path. We didn’t know this and climbed straight up the rocks. It is possible to climb this way, but it is difficult.

You can visit the settlement while heading to Ruskeala. It does not take a lot of time.

Coordinates of the Paaso settlement: 61°43’56″N 30°41’54″E

The path to the top of the mountain is very picturesque.

View of the highway and the village of Helyulya.

View from the mountain to the railway.

View of the spruce forests from the other side of Mount Paasonvuori. I probably like this look even better.

5. KOJONSAARI ISLAND.

We visited this wonderful place a year ago and were very impressed! The island is located on Ladoga, or more precisely, in the Ladoga skerries. It attracts with its chic sandy beaches, which are uncharacteristic in this area and, of course, breathtaking views from Leshego Rock. There are also pine trees on the island, bizarrely twisted and growing directly on the stones or from the sand. There are also mixed forests. You can set aside a whole day for a leisurely visit to the island and a picnic on it, and you won’t regret it. Unfortunately, we didn’t have a whole day, we walked quickly, but we still spent 4 hours on the island. We had a longer route that went around part of the island.

You can go from St. Petersburg to Koyonsaari in one day if you get up early. It takes about 3.5-4 hours to get to the island. You can leave the car near it on the road or, if there is no space, for a small fee on the next tour. bases (for example, “Annushkin Prichal”). There is a bridge from the mainland to the island, since the distance is only 150 meters - yes, it’s funny, but you don’t have to swim to the island, you can only take a few steps.

Coordinates of the bridge to Koyonsaari island: 61°17’07.2″N 30°05’27.0″E

Koyonsaari beaches.

Pines grow not only on rocks, but also on sand! Still hardy trees.

View from Leshego rock in the other direction. Numerous islands are visible everywhere.

Insanely beautiful view from Leshego rock. It's worth coming here just for this!

6. CAPE IMPINIEMI.

This place also belongs to the Ladoga skerries, only to the north. The cape is located in the southernmost part Hunucca Peninsula in the north of Ladoga. The nearest village is Impilahti.

What is interesting about the cape? First of all, with its relief - flat, bizarre rocks that go into the water cannot leave anyone indifferent. It's really very beautiful! Also here you can see open Ladoga with its crazy sunrises, sunsets and other weather and natural phenomena. You can even see Ladoga seals in the lake! There are also elevations here, and from the elevations, of course, the views are even more beautiful. And on the cape there is a small internal lake, closed by rocks from Ladoga, where it is calm and quiet. Many people like to relax on it, but I would choose a place to set up a tent right next to Ladoga, on the cape itself, with a gorgeous panoramic view. We didn't spend the night here, but we had a wonderful day. The place is one of my top favorites! And I really want to come here for longer.

This time we were very lucky with the weather: at first it was cloudy, but then the sun came out, making the landscapes around us even more beautiful and brighter. There was calm. But on Ladoga there are often storms, when it is dangerous to go out into open water on a boat. You definitely need to keep this in mind and watch the weather forecasts.

How to get to Impiniemi: you need a car here. Heading from St. Petersburg, we pass Sortavala, turn to Ruskeala and drive along the northern coast of Lake Ladoga to the village of Impilahti. The road that leads to the cape starts in Impilahti and is approximately 6 km long. But to get to the end by car, you need a very large and passable jeep. At some point, one might say, the road ends and something like it begins: mud (very serious mud!), puddles, rocks and roots.

But there is a good option, which we also took advantage of: taking a boat to the very cape. We turned to the guys from "Karelia Park" (this is an extreme park with its own zip line and bungee) and they dropped us right on the cape. They can also take it back. Vkontakte community . And we decided to walk back. It was quite creepy, as we were told that bears live on the peninsula. That's why we walked with the radio blaring. 😆

Rocks on the cape.

Flat rocks extending into the water are the hallmark of Cape Impiniemi.

It is from Impiniemi that you can see Valaam. We saw)

The views here are amazing, I'm telling you the truth! 🙂

7. LYNX MOUNTAIN.

This mountain is my favorite of all the mountains I have been to in Karelia at this point in my life. Bye) The views from Lynx Mountain seemed the most beautiful to me. It's easy to climb the mountain. In the distance we see a lake and endless beautiful forests. Of course, there are rocks covered with moss and the ubiquitous pine trees of unusual shape. Here you want to sit on a bench built by someone kind at the very top, and, turning off your brain, just look into the distance and dream.

The name of the mountain was given simply for beauty, and there are no lynxes here, as a local guy we met told us. But there are lynxes in Karelia! And I wouldn’t be at all surprised if they are here too. They say they were met further south, closer to St. Petersburg.

Lynx Mountain is located near lakes Janisjärvi (a very beautiful lake, by the way!). The nearest village is Vyartsilya (you need to go north of Ruskeala). You can only get to the mountain (well, almost to it, you have to walk a little, about 5 minutes) by car. There are clubs on the Internet that organize trips to the mountain on ATVs. If you search, you can find it. There are also several recreation centers on the banks of the Yanisjärvi, and some of them probably rent bicycles, and maybe, if you ask, they will take you there. But you also need to get to the bases somehow. The mountain is quite remote from the main “tourist” places, so it is still most convenient for auto tourists to visit it.

Important! These places are a border zone - Finland is only 5 km away, so you need to have passports (a passport of a citizen of the Russian Federation is enough). Most likely they will ask where you are going, you can say to the Arsenal recreation center, for example (we were just there).

Rysya Mountain coordinates: 62°8’4″N 30°45’53″E

Breathtaking views from the mountain!

Northern pines, cunningly twisted and growing right on the rocks, are something incredible!

View from the mountain.

Centuries-old rocks of glacial origin.

8. WHITE BRIDGES WATERFALL (YUKANKOSKI).

Located in the Pitkyaranta region of Karelia. The highest waterfall in southern Karelia - its height at different times of the year ranges from 15 to 19 meters. It is especially full of water, of course, in the spring. In fact, there are two waterfalls here, few people know about the second one, but if you walk further along the beaten paths, you will see it. The second waterfall is smaller. The main attraction is still the first one, which is in the photos below. It is named “White Bridges” because once upon a time there really was a white stone bridge built by the Finns. Now a new wooden bridge has been laid, painted white.

The waterfall is really very beautiful! And the surrounding area – picturesque forests – adds even more charm.

To get to the waterfall, you need to go towards Pitkäranta and then turn off the main road. Everything is pretty clear there, just follow the coordinates. But there is one thing: previously there was a narrow dirt road along which you could still get to the parking lot at the waterfall itself (or almost to it). But last year, when we were there for the last time, we saw the beginning of active construction of a large road to the waterfall. We were able to get through, but the road was being widened, there were a lot of trucks with sand, and we had to periodically let them through. I don’t know how it is now. Unfortunately, this place will soon become very crowded with tourists, just like Ruskeala.

If you don’t have a car, most travel companies include this waterfall in their programs.

Coordinates of the White Bridges waterfall: 61°45’12″N 31°24’37″E

Waterfall and me, to understand the scale and height.

Top view of the waterfall. The photo, of course, does not show the height.

9. KIVACH WATERFALL.

And this is the largest flat waterfall in Karelia. It is called the pearl of the republic. It is located on the Suna River in the Kivach nature reserve. Although Kivach is not as high as White Bridges, it is unique and beautiful in its own way. In the old days, the waterfall attracted many historical and creative figures, such as Alexander II or the poet Derzhavin, who even dedicated a poem to it.

On the territory accessible to tourists, there is also a museum and an ecological trail telling about various plants and trees.

I have a personal story connected with this waterfall. I've wanted to come here since school! 🙄 Every year my parents and I drove from the north and back past the turnoff from the highway to Kivach, and I always asked: “Well, let’s stop by, come on, it’s nearby!” But we were always in a hurry, and my entreaties were not heard. Can you imagine my joy when I finally got here? This was already in adulthood and quite recently. But I want to come back here again and again.

Recommendation: there are a lot (sometimes too much) of tourists here! Several buses arrive at once. Therefore, it is best to go to the waterfall right from the early morning in order to calmly admire its beauty and take normal photographs without cropping other people’s arms, legs, and heads.

All tours are also taken to the Kivach waterfall now. companies from St. Petersburg.

Kivach waterfall coordinates: 62°16’4″N 33°58’49″E

A stunning view of Kivach from the observation deck higher up.

Kivach waterfall. It was once more turbulent. But even now he is very handsome.

10. EXTINCTED VOLCANOES OF GIRVAS.

We bet that when you heard the word “volcano”, you probably imagined a huge spiky mountain with a crater in the center? Yes, yes, that’s exactly how volcanoes seem to me too. And our Girvas, once upon a time very long ago (3 billion years ago), most likely was like this. But over such a long time, all traces that resembled a classic volcano were destroyed by nature. All that is left to us are petrified lava flows in the bed of the Suna River, which we can see and even walk on. This gives you a very unusual feeling. Well, it’s also beautiful here!)

Surprisingly, the volcano was discovered quite recently - in the 60s of the 20th century. There is a hydroelectric power station here, the construction of which helped to discover this unique place, which is sometimes called the oldest extinct volcano on the planet. The bed of the Suna River became bare and these same lava flows were revealed to the eye.

Girvas is located in the village of the same name and very close to the Kivach waterfall, so visiting them can be combined. It is very easy to find and there is no need to turn off the main road. There is parking here.

Girvas volcano coordinates: 62°29’9″N 33°40’26″E

Solidified lava in the bed of the Suna River.

A small waterfall.

Girvas. It's beautiful here and there are always people.

— Take protection against mosquitoes and ticks. Anticipating questions, I will add: no, there are no more bloodsuckers here than anywhere else. I didn't notice this! Of course, the deeper you go into the forests, the more of them there are, but I repeat, they are here just like everywhere else. There are a lot of midges in Paanajärvi in ​​the summer, yes. And in some of the places listed above they were not observed at all. But it’s better to take the funds, it will be calmer.

— If you are traveling as a savage and go to places remote from residential areas and/or to forests (from my list these include Impiniemi, Koyonsaari, Ladoga Skerries and Rysya Gora), it is better to always have repellers for wild animals with you. 😯 Just in case. These could be, for example, false flares. Thank God, we haven’t encountered bears, lynxes, or wild boars yet. And we are afraid of them. But as they say, if you are afraid of wolves, do not go into the forest. And we want to go!)

— It’s really best to come to all popular tourist places at the very opening, while there are no people.

— Take paper maps. Sometimes phones fail or glitch and show geolocation incorrectly. We have several such cards. It is maps of Karelia that exist.

— Take memory cards for larger cameras and clean your phones in advance) Because you can take pictures here endlessly, especially if this is your first time.

To be continued. Stay with me!

When planning to spend an unforgettable vacation, full of vivid emotions and positive impressions, you should turn your attention to Karelia - a land of numerous lakes, endless forests and interesting sights.

Every year, tourists' interest in this region is growing, since this is where you can spend several unforgettable days, fully resting and relaxing. Fans of outdoor activities will also find here everything they need for new experiences, including unforgettable descents along wild rivers and overcoming rapids in kayaks.

Book a trip to Karelia by bus as part of an excursion group.

Features of the location and climate of Karelia

The republic is located in the northwestern part of the Russian Federation, bordering Finland in the west, Murmansk in the north, Arkhangelsk in the east, and Leningrad and Vologda regions in the south. The climate is quite mild, tending towards continental, but saturated with heavy rainfall. Winters are cool, but without severe frosts, but summers are warm and long, so it is better to travel around Karelia from April to October.

If we talk about natural attractions, there are a lot of lakes, rivers, forests and plains, thanks to which you can find amazingly beautiful landscapes everywhere. All this appeared thanks to the glacier, which, slowly retreating to the north, left behind moraine ridges, lake pits and kamas. There are also several “dormant” volcanoes here, and traces of volcanic activity can be found in large quantities - frozen magma, which has strangely changed the topography in some areas.

Main types of recreation in Karelia:

1. Hunting and fishing
2. Excursions with the opportunity to explore local attractions
3. Active holidays with mountain hikes and river boating
4. Family holiday at a camp site, hotel or cottage

Many excursion tours combine several types of recreation so that tourists have the opportunity to get maximum impressions and pleasant emotions, not only by visiting local attractions, but also by directly participating in the assault on mountain peaks and the descent along raging rivers.

Petrozavodsk is the capital of the republic and a city with interesting sights

An excursion tour of Karelia should begin with a visit to its capital - the city of Petrozavodsk, located on the shores of the majestic Lake Onega. This is a place with a rich and long history, whose residents carefully preserve the secrets of ancient crafts and shipbuilding, which began to actively develop during the time of Peter I. Residents pass on songs and tales of the Karelian peoples from generation to generation, thereby ensuring continuity and preserving their cultural and historical characteristics . Some of the most significant places in Petrozavodsk that are definitely worth a visit include the following:

1. Onega embankment. This is a very beautiful place where its residents love to walk to take a break from the hustle and bustle and everyday worries, and enjoy the magnificent views of the Onega expanse.

Tourists here will also be very interested in seeing the exhibition of abstract sculptures located right in the open air, most of which were donated by sister cities from Western European countries (France, Germany). Tourists will be especially surprised by such monuments as the sleeping beauty, the wishing tree, the star map, as well as numerous images of fishermen. There are also numerous kiosks where you can purchase tickets for excursions to Valaam, Kizhi, the Solovetsky Islands, Marcial Waters and the Kivach Falls.

2. National Museum of the Republic. It is definitely worth a visit for anyone who wants to better study the folklore and identity of the indigenous peoples of Karelia, get acquainted with mystical petroglyphs, see a collection of spinning wheels, as well as ancient Karelian kantele harps. It will be very cool to see the famous collection of Karelian epic “Kalevala”, which tourists with a philological education will certainly appreciate.

3. Maritime Historical and Cultural Center “Polar Odyssey”. This is a great place for anyone who loves not only the sea, but also ancient sailing ships, since this club has been reconstructing sailing ships of the north for many years. The most spectacular are the brigantine "Polar Odyssey" and the three-masted boat "Saint Nicholas", on which you can take a short tour of the sea.

4. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral. This is the main religious landmark of the city, built under the leadership of the famous Italian engineer Pietro Carlo Maderni in the mid-19th century. The impressive dome is made according to the strict canons of architectural classicism.

During a tour of the city, it is also worth seeing the bronze monument to Peter I, erected in honor of the bicentenary of the birth of the great Tsar, as well as the monument to the steam locomotive Er 738-47.

Tourists with children should also visit the private art gallery “Doll House”, where you can see an exhibition of toys made by hand by the best craftsmen. For tourists with an engineering education, it will certainly be interesting to visit the Museum of Industrial History in Petrozavodsk, where you can get acquainted with the milestones of scientific and technological progress of the entire region.

In the central park of culture and recreation you can stroll under the canopy of tall birches and have fun on attractions that will be of interest to both adults and children. Lovers of plants and flowers should visit the city Botanical Garden, where many green spaces grow, including evergreen conifers. You can have a snack in numerous restaurants and cafes, tasting both Russian national and local dishes, including baked “kalitki” - a national Karelian dish.

Kizhi Island and Lake Onega

After Petrozavodsk, you should go to the island of Kizhi, which is a real decoration of the Karelian land, where you can fully experience all the charm of the Russian north.

It is here that one of the largest open-air reserves is located, which includes dozens of wooden buildings - excellent examples of folk architecture. On the island you can see real mills, Russian huts, barns and even an ancient wooden church built during the time of Peter I.

From here you can take a horse-drawn carriage ride to the neighboring village to get acquainted with the weaving craft and the peculiarities of wooden shipbuilding. Celebrations with songs and dances are regularly organized here, during which you can listen to melodious Karelian songs and appreciate the traditional costumes of the local residents. It will be very cool to see with your own eyes an interesting architectural ensemble of such buildings, as this will allow you to better understand architectural monuments, buildings of Russian, Vepsian and Karelian use.

You can get to Kizhi Island by river taxi, presented in the form of motor ships and pleasure boats, traveling on which is very interesting, since during the voyage you can admire wonderful views from the windows of the cabin or from the deck. Along the way you come across many fishing boats, as well as yachts that are rented personally by those tourists who want to travel individually and without being tied to an excursion group.

There is an amazing place in Karelia called the Kivach Nature Reserve, which is a must-visit for anyone who appreciates the pristine nature of this wonderful region.

Dense forests with numerous fauna representatives allow you to see dozens of different animals and birds. Along the way there are turbulent rivers, some of which you can go down on special boats, but accompanied by an instructor. By the way, the latter entertainment is extremely popular among those who want to tickle their nerves and experience an adrenaline rush. Having decided to go down the Shuya River, having overcome dozens of steep rapids, you can be sure that a person will experience real excitement and delight.

During the excursion, it is worth visiting the Kivach waterfall, which is a magnificent sight with a seething stream, a sea of ​​foam and splashes, which evokes only positive emotional experiences. In the area of ​​the waterfall there are many boulders and huge stones of various shapes, the remains of hardened magma, which surprisingly combines with the majestic pine trees growing along the banks of the river. You should definitely take a photo here, especially since the pictures turn out great with a wonderful panorama in the background.

Many tours include a mandatory visit to the village of Marcial Waters, located in the Kondopoga region, where the health resort of the same name is located. It is here that you can find a source with special water rich in mineral micro- and macroelements, the main of which is divalent iron. This water tastes very different from ordinary water, but drinking it is very healthy, since it contains large amounts of calcium, magnesium, manganese and sodium.

One of the most famous church buildings in the Karelian Republic is Valaam, located on the island of the same name near the city of Sortavala. Here you can see the stone Spaso-Preobrazhensky Monastery, which is a majestic architectural structure - a real masterpiece of church architects. A sightseeing tour of the monastery allows you to see with your own eyes the rich interior decoration of the temple (icons, painted walls), learn from the guide about the history of origin and the most significant events in the development of the monastery.

Prominent Russian figures, including Roerich, visited the island of Valaam at one time. Tchaikovsky, Shishkin, Kuindzhi, and Leskov, who drew inspiration from these places. There is a lot to see and admire here, not to mention the photographs, which turn out very good and picturesque.

Why is Karelia worth visiting?

The places in the Karelian Republic are very beautiful, so often tourists who have been here just once will definitely return in the future to plunge into pristine nature again. As a rule, a sightseeing tour of Karelia includes the following route: Petrozavodsk - Kizhi Island (Lake Onega) - Martian Waters - Kivach Nature Reserve - Valaam Island. A sightseeing trip usually takes from 7 to 10 days, depending on the intensity of the program. In Petrozavodsk there are many hotels where you can spend the night, and quite inexpensively, but when traveling around the region you should be content with small cottage houses or even tents, which you need to be prepared for.

In general, a trip to Karelia leaves behind positive emotions and pleasant memories, so it is not surprising why tens of thousands of tourists come here every year not only from Russia, but also from neighboring countries and abroad.

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 1668 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, which offers beautiful views.

Guests of Lahdenpokhya will be interested in walking along the streets of the city, where there are ancient wooden Finnish houses, as well as 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 little 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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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 Norunen. 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 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.