Southern lagoga. Wonderful places in Russia - Ladoga. Where is Lake Ladoga located? What rivers flow into Lake Ladoga

Lake Ladoga: description, photo, video

The size of Lake Ladoga in the Leningrad region is amazing. It covers an area of 18 thousand square kilometers. Due to the glacial origin, the reservoir has a low thermal conductivity - the water warms up slowly and also cools down for a long time. The low level of mineralization, in turn, ensures the high transparency of the lake, this is especially noticeable in good weather.

Lake Ladoga has been formed for centuries, so its water area is devoid of monotony and dullness. There are 650 islands on its territory. The largest of them is located at a distance of 22 kilometers from the coast, and its area is 36 square kilometers. This island on Lake Ladoga is called Valaam. It is part of the archipelago of the same name and is known for the Spaso-Preobrazhensky Monastery.

The northern shores of the reservoir are rocky and high. They are indented by a large number of small peninsulas and straits. In the south, the coastal zone is low-lying and swampy, and the coastline is smoother. The reservoir has three large bays, which are called lips. On the eastern side of the lake, bushes, pine forests grow, interspersed with stone placers and sandy beaches.

In the west, you can see many stone ridges that go deep into the reservoir. To visit this shore of Lake Ladoga and take a photo is the task of every tourist. A large number of rivers flow into Ladoga. 58 species of fish live in the lake - from trout and perch to salmon and burbot. The main advantage of the reservoir is the Ladoga seal, it is slightly smaller and darker than the sea seal. Dolphins should also be mentioned, which quite often swim here and the Baltic.

Where is Lake Ladoga

Lake Ladoga is spread over the territory of two administrative regions of Russia - the Republic of Karelia and the Leningrad Region. Its length from north to south is 219 kilometers, and the width between the most distant points is 138 kilometers. The bottom of the reservoir has an uneven structure, so the depth in the north varies between 70-130 meters, and in the south - 20-70 meters. Anyone who wants to visit Lake Ladoga and find out where it is should look for it near the settlements located on its shore:

Priozersk, Shlisselburg and Novaya Ladoga - Leningrad region;
Olonets, Sortavala, Lahdenpokhya - the Republic of Karelia.

The reservoir is the main source of fresh water that feeds St. Petersburg. The distance from the northern capital of Russia is only 47 kilometers. It is from here that the Neva originates.

Lake Ladoga coordinates on the map:

Latitude - 60°50′3″
Longitude - 31°33′10″

Lake Ladoga on the map

How to get to Lake Ladoga

The region around Lake Ladoga has a well-developed transport infrastructure, which makes it accessible for tourism. There are various ways to get to the reservoir. Excursions are organized to Lake Ladoga, ferries also go here. The last option is the most expensive, but allows you to completely immerse yourself in the wonderful atmosphere of Ladoga.

How to get to Lake Ladoga by car:

The movement is best to start from St. Petersburg;
After leaving the city, you should go to the Ryabovskoe highway or the Road of Life.

How to get to Lake Ladoga by public transport:

you can come to St. Petersburg by car, train or fly by plane;
a minibus regularly travels to the reservoir from the Dybenko metro station;
electric trains constantly run from the Finland Station in the direction of the lake, and an electric train from the Baltic Station also runs in this direction, the exact schedule can be found on the websites of the stations.

When is the best time to visit Lake Ladoga?

The coastal zone of the reservoir freezes at the beginning of winter, and the middle - in February. Moreover, the lake is covered with solid ice only in the most frosty winters. Strong and prolonged cooling in winter contributes to the fact that even in summer, the water warms up well only on the surface and near the shore. The reservoir thaws completely in April-May.

The warmest water is in August. During this period, it can warm up to +24 degrees at the surface and +4 at the bottom. The most favorable weather on Lake Ladoga for water tourism is in June-July. With the onset of autumn, a stormy period starts, so you can only admire the power of the elements from the shore.

Peculiarities

Throughout the year, family hotels, guest houses and peasant estates operate on the territory of the reservoir. You can come here both alone and with a group. The cost of accommodation for 1 night varies from 1.5 thousand rubles in a budget double room to 25 thousand rubles for renting a cottage. However, you can stay in the Ladoga area with tents.

At the recreation centers and rental stations you can rent rowing boats, bicycles, boats. In winter, skis and snowmobiles are available. Winter swimming enthusiasts are provided with equipped ice-holes. As for souvenirs, the St. Petersburg shore of the lake is not particularly rich in them - typical sets of postcards, wooden items and magnets. More interesting from this point of view is the Karelian coast.

In Sortavala, Pitkyaranta and Lahdenpokhya you can buy shungite bracelets, beads and cosmetics. Karelia is rich in deposits of this mineral. They also sell such famous tinctures as Karelian Collection and Karelian Balsam. Those who go on a visit to Valaam should definitely bring local gingerbread, candles, icons, crosses from the monasteries. Of course, do not forget about the goodies - herbs, a variety of mushrooms, berries and smoked lake fish.

What to see in the surroundings

There are a large number of museums on the territory of Ladoga. They talk about folk crafts, local prominent people, the history of their cities, etc. The Museum of Kronid Gogolev, located in Sortavala, can be singled out separately. Here you can see the work of various wood craftsmen. It is also obligatory to visit the Museum "Road of Life". It is located in the village of Lake Ladoga and contains expositions of military equipment of various times. There is a memorial called "Broken Ring" 5 kilometers from here.

One of the main places for pilgrimage to Ladoga is Valaam Island. Its main attraction is the Spaso-Preobrazhensky Monastery. You can get to the island by boat, which runs from Priozersk. In the city itself, you can look at the Korela fortress, built in the 13th century. Not far from Priozersk is the island of Konevets. It is known for its ensemble of religious buildings with the Konevsky Nativity-Bogorodichny Monastery.

If you are traveling by car, you should allocate at least two weeks for your vacation. We advise you to visit, as well as beautiful in Karelia.

In the south of Ladoga, in Shlisselburg, there is the majestic Oreshek fortress, which was built by the grandson of Alexander Nevsky. The observation deck offers indescribable views of the lake and the Neva River. A little to the east is Novaya Ladoga with a group of memorial sites and cathedrals.

Video: Karelia. Ladoga lake. Koyonsaari Island

This is the sea in miniature. Let it not be as warm and sunny here as on, but it is rich in picturesque places and is suitable for lovers of varied recreation. Cozy beaches, clean air, churches, cathedrals and rich history will not let you get bored. It is worth escaping here for at least a day to recharge with positive energy.

Lake Ladoga is the largest freshwater lake in Europe. Located on the territory of Karelia and the Leningrad region.

The first name of the lake was different. In ancient Russian chronicles, it was called Nevo. Scientists believe that the name comes from the Finnish word for "bog, bog." In treaties concluded with the Hanseatic cities and in the Scandinavian sagas, he is called Aldoga, from the Finnish “wave”. The modern name comes into use only from the beginning of the 13th century. The lake began to be called Ladoga, having formed the name from the name of the city of Ladoga.

Scientists have proven that the basin of Lake Ladoga is of glacial-tectonic origin. In the Paleozoic era, the waters of the ancient sea splashed here, later a glacier formed at this place, which largely shaped the modern relief of the reservoir and its environs. The area of the lake is 18,400 square kilometers. Its length from south to north is about 219 km. The maximum width of the reservoir (from west to east) is 138 km.

Due to its origin, Ladoga is characterized by uneven depths. The “shallowest” part of the lake is the southern one. Local depths do not exceed 70 m. But in the northern part, the average depth of Lake Ladoga is about 100 m. There are places where the water column reaches 260 m.

A pattern is noticeable on Lake Ladoga: the steeper the shores, the greater the depths around them. The highest and steepest coasts are in the north, right next to the skerries. In the south, they are more gentle and the depths there are small.

By the way, the peculiarity of Ladoga is the uneven water level. In the old days they said that it grows for seven years and falls for seven years. On average, the water reserves of the lake are 908 cubic kilometers. For comparison, Baikal is 24,000 km³.

32 rivers flow into Lake Ladoga, and only one flows out of it - the Neva. Many rivers connect Ladoga with other lakes. Through the Volkhov, it is connected to Lake Ilmen, through the Svir River - to Onega, through Vidlitsa - to Vedlozero, through Tulema - to Tulmozero.

Sunset on the Svir. The Svir River connects Ladoga and Onega lakes.

The lake is rich in islands. Most of them are in the north. These are the famous Ladoga skerries, the most beautiful necklace of islands, which are separated from each other by a whimsical labyrinth of straits. An integral part of the Ladoga skerries is the famous Valaam archipelago, where the ancient Spaso-Preobrazhensky Monastery is located.

The large northern islands include Lunkulansaari, Konevets, Mantinsaari, Vossinansaari and others. In the southern part of the reservoir, there are very few islands and they are all small: Ptinov in the Volkhovskaya Bay and Zelentsy in the Shlisselburgskaya.

On the shore of Lake Ladoga.

The unique inhabitant of the lake is the Ladoga seal. This is the only species of marine mammals that has adapted to life in fresh water. Their rookeries on the islands of the Valaam archipelago are under special protection.

From the end of the eighth century, Slavic settlements appeared on the shore of the lake: the city of Ladoga, later - Korela, the current Priozersk. At the beginning of the 14th century, the Oreshek fortress, now Shlisselburg, was built at the source of the Neva. The famous monasteries on Valaam and Konevets were founded a little later.

Shore of Lake Ladoga.

At the end of the 17th century, the southern, northern and western shores of Lake Ladoga went to the Swedish Ingermanland. The Swedes rename the Russian Oreshek and Korela into Noteburg and Kexholm, and establish the settlement of Sortavala. With the beginning of the Northern War, Lake Ladoga becomes the scene of hostilities. The most famous battles of that period were the battle of ships near Kexholm and the capture of Noteburg. In 1721, the Ladoga coast again became Russian.

Lake Ladoga is rich in interesting places:

Ladoga skerries

Skerries are rocky islands separated by narrow straits and channels. They occupy a significant part of the northern part of the lake. Skerries stretched in a semicircle from the town of Pitkyaranta to the village of Berezovo. Throughout their length they are stunningly beautiful, but the most majestic landscapes begin to the northeast of the island of Koinosaari, which closes the village of Terva from the expanses of Ladoga.

On the northern coast of Lake Ladoga is the amazing city of Sortavala. It owes its peculiar historical and cultural appearance to three states at once: Finland, Sweden and Russia, which included it at different times. This is the most beautiful Karelian city, surprising with its unusual architecture.

Eastern beaches

The eastern coast of Ladoga is famous for its clean sandy beaches. Shallow water warms up well, especially if June and May are warm. These beaches are considered the perfect place to relax.

Lake Ladoga in these places seems endless, and on the coast in some places you can see sand dunes. They also exist near the village of Vidlitsy. The ancient settlement is located at the mouth of the river of the same name. In the village you can admire the Church of the Great Martyr George. The surroundings of Vidlitsa attract with incredibly beautiful nature.

Beach near Vidlitsa.

Priozersk

Ancient Korela, modern Priozersk, is one of the ancient Russian cities with an unusually interesting history. This is a beautiful town, where ancient Orthodox churches and a majestic Lutheran church have been preserved. There is a unique ancient fortress here. The pearls of architecture are surrounded by beautiful landscapes with picturesque rivers and dense northern forests.

Fortress Oreshek

The Shlisselburg Fortress Oreshek is rightfully considered a monument of history and architecture. Built at the beginning of the 14th century on Orekhovy Island, it served as an outpost on the Swedish border. The citadel has withstood fierce assaults more than once, fully justifying its name. Later, the fortress became the "Russian Bastille", where the most dangerous criminals were sent. Today, there is a museum here, which works despite the restoration work that has been going on since 1966.

Balaam

An archipelago consisting of fifty islands, the largest of which is Valaam. This is one of the main shrines of Orthodoxy, Northern Athos, as it is called. Here is the oldest monastery in Russia. The history of its origin goes back to the 1st century, when Andrew the First-Called visited Valaam. Almost a thousand years later, the first monks came to the island from Novgorod. Valaam is a unique place. Wild nature is all around here, practically unchanged since the development of the island by man.

Stormy waves of Lake Ladoga, which in windy weather looks like the sea, incredible sunsets and sunrises, sheer cliffs of skerries and sand dunes of eastern beaches. All this forever remains in the heart of everyone who has ever seen these magnificent landscapes. It is worth coming here, because the harsh Ladoga is not only a living history, but also one of the most beautiful places in Russia.

Lake Ladoga on the map.

Ladoga skerries;
Sortavala;
Priozersk;
Balaam;
Fortress Oreshek;
Beaches on the eastern shore of the lake;
Mouth of the Svir River.

Petrozavodsk, Kivach, Marcial Waters, northern Ladoga, Ruskeala Waterfalls, Valaam and much more. Car and pedestrian trips for every taste - choose, and you will dream of Karelia for a very long time!

Large freshwater lakes are now a rarity on the planet earth, they can be easily counted, such lakes are mainly located on the territory of our state of Russia. The wide and spacious expanse of the lake surprises a person who finds himself on its shores for the first time, there are a lot of coniferous forests that come close to the shore Lake Ladoga. In pine forests, you can find a large number of stone boulders covered with moss, these stones may have been brought by the water element that once hit the ground. There are a lot of islands on the lake, mostly of a rocky type, on the banks there are a large number of Orthodox shrines, temples and monasteries. Wild animals that live near the lake use it as a source of drink, approaching the shore and quenching their thirst.

Features of Lake Ladoga.

We have the largest lake in our area. Ladoga, it is the size of half the European state of Switzerland. The distance from the northern part of the lake to the southern reaches 230 kilometers, and the width from east to west is 80-85 kilometers, and the depth in some places reaches 200 meters. And this is only approximate data, since the mud layer at the bottom can be different and the depth is correspondingly greater, but even with such data one can judge the majesty Ladoga created by nature itself. Compared to Lake Ladoga almost three times more fresh water than in Onega lake, although they are comparable in size, it's all about the depth of the lakes.

Shores of Lake Ladoga have a different appearance and profile, the northwestern part of the coast has a rocky appearance with many bays, which are considered deep. Here the shores have beautiful cliffs rising tens of meters above the surface of the water, on which pines grow. The locals call the bays in this part of the lake - lips, and the rocky islets - skerries, in total there are more than six hundred such islands on the lake. There are also large islands on the lake:

Valaam Island
Konevets Island
Lunkulansaari
Kilpola
Riek-kalansaari
Mantsins saari

The most famous is Valaam island where Orthodox monasteries and churches are located. Other names belong to the Finnish-Ugric group, and the names are derived from the Finnish language.

Valaam archipelago.

Coniferous forests reign on the islands of Lake Ladoga, islands of skerries are rocky, and rise high above the water. Traveling on the lake on a ship, swimming up to them, from afar they resemble hedgehogs, and pine trees look like needles. Basically, most of the islands are located in the northern part of the lake, in the center of the lake there is Valaam archipelago with many islands.

Valaam Island is the largest on Lake Ladoga V Valaam archipelago, ancient monasteries and temples were founded here back in the 14th century by Novgorod people, its size is about 60 square kilometers or in another way, 6 by 10 kilometers, and the depth of the bays near the island reaches 150 meters. Located in the north of the island Monastery bay, the passage into which by water can be made through a narrow and elongated strait between high rocks. On the shores of the bay is the famous holy monastery of the monks. On other islands Valaam archipelago, of which there are a little more than fifty, there are monastic sketes, where the elder monks lived and live, acquiring the Holy Spirit.

One of the centers of Orthodoxy Valaam Monastery became in the 15th century, gaining fame for the exploits of hermit monks, everyone who needed God's guidance and help in curing various ailments strove here. These places began to be called "Northern Athos", it is possible to get here in the summer by ship, and in the winter on ice. Those who visited this holy place forever remained here in their hearts, giving amazing reviews not only about the beauty of the island, but also about the spiritual ascent of the novices of the monks living here. famous people who have been here figures of Russian culture devoted part of their work Valaam, in painting, in poetry, in music, in them they tried to convey a piece of that splendor and grace that they felt in these places.

And currently Valaam island, became a place of pilgrimage and tourism, after returning under the control of the monastery and monastic lands, Russian Canonical Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate. In the years Soviet power atheistic orientation, Balaam survived in prayer and standing, the Holy Spirit never left these places, and the trials that fell only strengthened faith and Holy Orthodoxy.

Fortress Oreshek.

Many rivers and streams flow in, but only one river flows out - the Neva, which is small in length and flows into to the Baltic Sea near city of St. Petersburg(Leningrad). The strategic importance of the place where the Neva River begins has long been known, and in the 14th century a powerful fortification appeared at the source of the river - Oreshek fortress, it was erected by Novgorod builders, thereby establishing themselves in these places and on Lake Ladoga. This building protected the borders of the Novgorod Principality from raids by the Swedish armies, there were a lot of sieges and attacks on the fortress, therefore, after each fortress was improved and completed, already in the 16th century the power of this stronghold was maximum, the walls towered around the entire perimeter of the island. Since that time, little has changed, and now we can see this unique structure as it was in those distant times.

For a short period of time in the 17th century, this fortress fell under the rule of the Swedes, but thanks to Peter the Great, Russian troops finally recaptured this place from the Swedes, and the Emperor gave a new name to the fortress - Shlisselburg, or Key City, testifying to the protection of the water entrance to the Neva. Later, starting from the time of Catherine II until the overthrow of the royal power as a result of the revolution of 1917, the fortress was redesigned into a prison, which contained prisoners especially dangerous for the state. Only with the advent of Soviet power, the fortress got rid of the prison on its territory. And in the years Great Patriotic War 1941-1945, faithfully served the wars defending the Motherland from the Nazi invaders, for three years the garrison successfully repulsed attempts to capture the fortress by enemy troops. The fortress played a special role in the protection of the "Road of Life" during the blockade of Leningrad, it allowed relatively unhindered delivery of goods both by water - in summer, and by ice - in winter.

Southern part of Ladoga.

In the southern part Lake Ladoga there is a unique small island, it is of man-made origin, during the reign of Peter the Great, stone blocks were brought here, since the shoal that existed here interfered with navigation on the waters Lake Ladoga, and many ships belly ran aground. A little later on Suho Island- that's what they called it, they built a lighthouse, which, by the way, functions to this day, making navigation in these places safe.

Coast of the Northeast Lake Ladoga, are distinguished by the presence of sandy areas among the rocky coast. And from the mouth Svir river in the northern direction there is a flat area with sand dunes almost 60 kilometers long, a large number of coniferous trees on the shore make these places insanely beautiful and pleasing to the eye. Southern part of Lake Ladoga has a gentle coast, and in some places it is overgrown with reeds and reeds, the depth here is small, and the cover of the coast itself is small stone boulders with pebbles.

Staraya Ladoga, city and fortress.

At all times, Lake Ladoga was actively used as part of the trade route going from the North to Constantinople, together with the flow into the lake Volkhov river settlement was founded Ladoga . History says that in the 12th century a stone fortress was already erected here, which has survived to this day, its name Ladoga fortress. Another fact from history: until the 18th century, the lake was called Nevo . And only at this time the lake received its current Ladoga name thanks to Ladoga fortress.

In the annals, the mention of a settlement and a fortress (today Staraya Ladoga) has been known since 922, built near the confluence of the Volkhov River on the right bank. This place is known in connection with the death Prince Oleg bitten by a poisonous snake that crawled into the remains of his war horse, according to the legend, he was told that he would gain death from his horse. And even the killing of his horse did not save Oleg from fate, in these places the grave of Prince Oleg is located.

For many, many years majestic stone walls and towers have been rising on the banks of the Volkhov Ladoga fortress, history has left a memory of the head of the construction of their Novgorod man Pavel as mentioned earlier at the beginning of the 12th century. On the territory of the fortress, several churches were built that have survived to this day, and one of which is known as the Church of George was built under Yaroslav the Wise.

Ever since it was built Ladoga fortress until the end of the Great Northern War Peter the Great, the fortress repulsed the raids of the conquerors. And the northern borders of the Russian land had serious protection by the garrison Ladoga fortress . Noting the diligence of the defenders, Boris Godunov presented the bell to the city as a token of gratitude from the tsar and all Russian lands. After Peter the Great, the border shifted to the north, and Ladoga fortress lost its defensive significance, although it always remained a powerful rear in military clashes with its northern neighbors.

Winter on Ladoga.

It has long been famous in winter for its winds and ice hummocks, when the ice floes crack under the force of the wind and rise, freezing in the cold, the height of such heaps in places reaches ten meters, and in the area of the lighthouse of the artificial Sukho Island up to twenty meters. The lake freezes completely only in February. With the advent of heat, the ice begins to melt, but until summer, drifting ice floes can be found on the lake, some of which move along the Neva River to the Baltic Sea. Such an effect on river Neva called the second ice drift, the river itself is freed from ice in April.

Navigation along the Ladoga lake starts in May, built waterways can be reached to the White Sea or to the Volga, they were erected during the years of Soviet power, thanks to shock construction projects, in which millions of people, both civilians and convicts, were involved, the construction was in charge of the gloomy Gulag organization.

Thanks to the beautiful unique natural views and rich history, the sights of Lake Ladoga attract a large number of tourists every year. Lake Ladoga is the largest in Europe. It was along it that the Road of Life passed, which saved the people of Leningrad during the blockade.

The lake is located in two subjects at once - in the republic and the Leningrad region.
Lake Ladoga is the second largest lake in Russia after Lake Baikal and the largest in Europe.
The maximum depth of the lake is 220 meters.
35 rivers flow into Lake Ladoga, the largest of them are Svir, Vuoksa, Volkhov. Only one river flows out - the Neva.
There are 660 islands on the lake, the most famous of them is Valaam, on which there is a monastery.
Ladoga is a very turbulent lake, strong storms are frequent here, therefore, for navigation, first the Staraya Ladoga and later the Novoladozhsky canals were built, stretching from Shlisselburg to Novaya Ladoga.
From September 12, 1941 to March 1943, the Road of Life passed along Lake Ladoga - the only transport highway connecting besieged Leningrad with the country.

Lake Ladoga on the map

Lake Ladoga is restless and stormy, huge and deep. On its banks there are cities: Shlisselburg, Priozersk, Novaya Ladoga (Leningrad region), Sortavala, Lahdenpokhya (Karelia). The sights of Lake Ladoga are beautiful nature, ancient fortress cities and monasteries, national natural parks, as well as the Road of Life memorial and the Green Belt of Glory.

It was once called the Venice of the North because of the canals built here for navigation, as an alternative to the capricious and stormy Lake Ladoga. Now the Staraya Ladoga Canal, created according to the plan of Peter I, is abandoned, dried up and overgrown, the locks are dilapidated. The Novoladozhsky Canal, built under Alexander II to replace the shallowed Staroladoga Canal, continues to be used.

Shlisselburg is surrounded by Lake Ladoga and the Neva River flowing from it. During the Great Patriotic War, it was captured by the Germans (September 8, 1941) - the front passed along the Neva River, Soviet troops were stationed on the opposite bank. The time of the occupation of Shlisselburg was the blockade of Leningrad, which was broken with the liberation of the city - Operation Iskra. Not far from Shlisselburg there is a museum-reserve "Breakthrough of the Siege of Leningrad", dedicated to this event. There is a diorama and a panorama here, plunging into the atmosphere of January 1943.

About 300 meters from the shore of Shlisselburg, Orekhovy Island is located, on which the heroic is located. Built back in 1323 by the Novgorodians, it has an important strategic location - at the source of the Neva, at the entrance to Ladoga. It was captured by the Swedes, but after 90 years it was returned by the army of Peter I, who named it Shlisselburg (the key city from German).

The Shlisselburg fortress was turned into a terrible prison for political prisoners. The fortress on the island, located not far from St. Petersburg, was a convenient dungeon for the enemies of the emperor or empress. Here the overthrown baby sovereign John Antonovich languished for 8 years, until he was stabbed to death by the jailers in an attempt to free him. Here, members of the Narodnaya Volya, participants in the assassination attempt on Alexander II and Alexander III and other high officials served their sentences.

Memorial "Oath" in the ruins of St. John's Cathedral

The military glory of the fortress-hero Oreshek again earned during the Great Patriotic War. For almost 500 days the fortress garrison heroically defended the Road of Life and the right bank of the Neva. The Germans subjected the ancient fortress to constant artillery and mortar shelling, but they could not capture it. Oreshek was almost completely destroyed, after the war only a small part of its buildings were restored. Now there is a branch of the Museum of the History of St. Petersburg.

A small Karelian town on the banks of Ladoga is located near the tourist town of Sortavala. Here you can go to the military museum "Filin Mountain", located in the rock and admire the Finnish churches.

It is located on the shore of Lake Ladoga and is divided into two parts by Lake Lyappäjärvi, connected by the Karelian Bridge. Sortavala is called a small architectural encyclopedia; about 200 buildings of various styles, built from the end of the 20th century to 1939 by Finnish architects, have been preserved here. The pride of the city is the Kronid Gogolev Museum, with its unique works - paintings carved from wood.

Near Sortavala there is a former marble quarry, and now the Ruskeala mountain park is one of the most popular places in the Republic of Karelia. Ruskeala waterfalls are also located here - low, but very picturesque. From the pier of Sortavala, motor ships go to the island of Valaam.

In the northern part of the lake is the Valaam archipelago, which includes 50 islands. The largest of them is . The sights of Lake Ladoga on the island of Valaam attract many travelers every year. These are the Valaam Monastery, Gethsemane, Nikolsky, Vladimirsky, Ilyinsky and other sketes. As well as the stunning northern nature of the island, sung by many famous artists.

The city of Novaya Ladoga is located at the mouth of the Volkhov River. In 1702, Peter the Great ordered to enclose the land of the Nikolsko-Medvedsky Monastery with a moat, and to create the Novoladozhskaya shipyard at the place where the Volkhov flows into Lake Ladoga. Two years later, Novaya Ladoga was founded on this site.

The city is rich in attractions, including cultural heritage sites. This is the ensemble of the Church of St. John the Evangelist, the Memorial to the Heroes of Ladoga, Gostiny Dvor and so on.

Priozersk is a city between Lake Ladoga and Lake Vuoksa. It is located 145 kilometers from St. Petersburg. The area has many cultural treasures that attract tourists from all over the world. For example, the Old Fortress, which has been stormed and attacked more than once. People interested in faith will find it interesting to visit the Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary or the Lutheran Church. Also in the city are monuments to Mowgli and Peter the Great.

The Korela fortress is a stone fortress located in the city of Priozersk, it played a significant role for the Karelian Isthmus. In the Middle Ages, Korela was the most northwestern city of Rus'. At the end of the 13th - beginning of the 14th centuries, this fortress was built in order to defend the state from the Swedes. Initially it was wooden, but after a fire in 1310, stone buildings appeared.

For a century (1611-1710) the fortress belonged to Sweden and was named Kexholm. It was possible to return it during the Northern War. Now it is in a partially destroyed state.

During the Great Patriotic War, the Road of Life was the only transport route to Leningrad. Food, medicines, weapons were transported to the city along it, people exhausted from hunger were evacuated from the city.

In winter, when Lake Ladoga froze, the road became icy, and cargo was transported to Leningrad on the famous lorries. Drivers, despite severe frosts, did not close the car door or even removed it in order to have time to jump out if the car went under the ice. This is clearly seen in the preserved photographs.

The monuments erected on the Road of Life are included in the Green Belt of Glory.

Green Belt of Glory

broken ring

The Green Belt of Glory is a memorial complex erected in 1965-1968 in memory of the people who defended Leningrad during its siege in 1941-1944. It was initiated by Mikhail Dudin, a Soviet poet, and designed by a group of architects led by G.N. Buldakov. The belt is located exactly at the place where the enemy was stopped in those dark days.

The complex was built using the folk method: with the help of residents and Leningrad organizations. 200 kilometers - this is the length of this attraction, which consists of two blockade rings - Small and Large.

The Konevsky Nativity of the Theotokos Monastery is an Orthodox male monastery located on the island of Konevets and founded by Arseniy Konevsky (Reverend) with the aim of converting the Karelians to Christianity. Often it is called the twin of the Valaam Monastery, located on the island of Valaam. Every year, tourists who are interested in culture and religion, and simply believers flock here.

The lake is surrounded by many cities of historical importance, but the sights of Lake Ladoga are not limited to culturally important cities. So, on the territory of Ladoga, there is now the Nizhne-Svirsky State Nature Reserve for waterfowl, as a place for their nesting. Refers to wetlands. 256 species of various birds have been recorded on the territory.

In addition to them, a variety of plants, reptiles and even large mammals live here: brown bears, elk. Birds listed in the Red Book also live here: osprey, black stork, howl and other birds.

Lake Ladoga is one of the largest fresh water reservoirs in Europe. In our article, we want to talk about where nature and climate are located on its coast. It has some interesting features. Nature here is of particular beauty.

Location of the lake

Where is Lake Ladoga located? It is partly located in Karelia (eastern and northern coast) and in the Leningrad region (southern, southeastern, western). On its banks there are such cities as Novaya Ladoga, Priozersk, Shlisselburg, Sortavala, Lakhdenpokhya, Pitkyaranta.

Lake Ladoga on the map is located simultaneously in the Leningrad region and in Karelia. It is large enough. In addition, it also has islands. The area of Lake Ladoga is 17.9 square kilometers, excluding island areas. It stretches from north to south for two hundred and nineteen kilometers. Its widest point is one hundred and thirty-eight kilometers. Agree, the size is impressive. These parameters can be used to estimate the area of Lake Ladoga.

The depth of the reservoir in the northern region ranges from seventy to two hundred and thirty meters, and in the southern part from twenty to seventy meters. As you can see, the depth of Lake Ladoga is very heterogeneous, and is of the greatest importance in the northern part of the reservoir. And the volume of the mass of water is nine hundred and eight cubic meters.

Rivers of Lake Ladoga and islands

Thirty-five rivers flow into the reservoir. But only one originates from it - the Neva. There are three large bays on the southern coast of the lake: Volkhovskaya, Svirskaya and Shlisselburgskaya bays.

The largest river flowing into Ladoga is the Svir. She brings the waters of Lake Onega into it. Even such rivers as Avloga, Morie, Burnaya, Airajoki, Vidlitsa, Obzhanka, Syas, Olonka and others flow into the reservoir.

It must be said that in Lake Ladoga the water level is not a constant value. It constantly oscillates, and this is remarkably visible from the white stripes on the rocks that go under the water.

The islands of Lake Ladoga are quite numerous. There are about 660 of them. Their total area is four hundred and thirty-five square kilometers. I must say that more than five hundred islands are located in the northern part of the reservoir. This is the Skerry region.

The largest islands:

Riekkalansari - 55.3 km. sq.
Mantsinsaari - 39.4 km. sq.
Kilpola - 32.1 km. sq.
Tulolansari - 30.3 km. sq.
Vaalaam - 27.8 km. sq.

The most famous on the lake are the Valaam Islands. They are an archipelago of fifty islands with a total area of about thirty-six square kilometers. They became famous thanks to the Valaam Monastery, located on the main island, and the Nativity of the Theotokos Monastery on the island of Konevets.

The history of the lake

Lake Ladoga is located in a basin, which has a glacial tectonic origin. Three hundred to four hundred million years ago, the entire territory of the lake and its basin was covered by the sea.

The modern relief was formed as a result of the activity of the glacier. The main factor was a change in the level of the ocean, there was a rise in land. After the glacier retreated, the Baltic fresh glacial lake was formed. Later, the waters of this reservoir went to the territory of modern Switzerland. And there the Yoldian Sea was formed.

Nine and a half thousand years ago, due to the rise of the land, Lake Ancylus appeared. On the Karelian Isthmus, it was connected by a strait to Lake Ladoga. And eight and a half thousand years ago, ongoing tectonic processes opened the Danish straits, and the Litorin Sea was formed. This, in turn, led to the emergence of the Karelian Isthmus and, in fact, the formation of Lake Ladoga. Over the past two and a half thousand years, the relief in these places has not changed much.

The northern part of the lake is located on the southern part - on the East European platform. It is at the junction of these surfaces that the greatest depth of Lake Ladoga is observed.

Climatic conditions

Lake Ladoga has a temperate climate, as if a transitional form from temperate maritime to temperate continental. Such climatic conditions are explained very simply. The geographical position of Lake Ladoga and the atmospheric circulation of this region determined such a climate.

I must say that in these places there are not so many sunny days a year. This means that the amount of solar heat entering the earth is not so great. Therefore, moisture evaporates extremely slowly. In 12 months there can be only sixty-two sunny days here. Most of the year in this region days with overcast, cloudy weather and diffused lighting prevail.

It is better to plan a vacation on Lake Ladoga from the twenty-fifth of May to the seventeenth of July, then white nights can be observed here. These days the sun does not fall below the horizon, morning and evening twilight merge into a single whole. In general, the white nights last about fifty days.

It should be noted that Lake Ladoga itself also has an impact on the local climate, smoothing out extreme characteristics. Throughout the year, southwestern and western winds dominate here. Quiet and calm weather is extremely rare. Sometimes the winds have storm indicators.

Breezes are observed along the entire coast during summer days and nights. They start around 9 am and continue until 8 pm. The breezes penetrate inland for fifteen kilometers. Fogs are observed here most often in spring, autumn and summer.

Lake coastline

The coastline of Ladoga is more than a thousand kilometers. The northern shores are rocks, strongly indented, forming many peninsulas and narrow bays, as well as small islands separated by straits.

The southern coastline is low. It is less indented and is often flooded by waters. The coast is entirely rocky reefs, banks, shallows. Volkhovskaya, Svirskaya and Shlisselburgskaya bays are the largest bays of Lake Ladoga.

The eastern shores are very little indented. There are two bays here: Uksunlahti and Lunkulanlahti. It is in this part that wide beautiful beaches of sand are found.

The western shore of the reservoir is even less indented. It is completely overgrown with dense mixed forests and shrubs that come close to the water. The coast is strewn with boulders. Stone ridges sometimes go far into the depths of the lake from the cape, thus forming dangerous shoals.

Relief of the bottom of the lake

As we noted earlier, the topography of the lake bottom is heterogeneous and has a clear increase in depth from south to north. We can say that the average depth of the reservoir is about fifty meters, and the largest is two hundred and thirty-three meters (towards the north of the island of Valaam). Lake Ladoga in the northern part has a very uneven bottom. It is full of cavities. And in the southern region, the bottom is smoother and more even. Lake Ladoga is the eighth deepest lake in Russia.

The transparency of lake water is different for different shores. Its lowest indicators are observed in the Volkhov Bay, and the highest - in the western direction from the Valaam Islands.

During a strong storm, the water in the lake, as they say, boils and boils, it is completely covered with foam.

Only the central part of the reservoir can be covered with ice, and only in very severe winters. A long cold period leads to a strong cooling of the water, for this reason the water in the lake remains cold even in summer. It has time to warm up only in a thin upper layer and a narrow coastal strip. The maximum surface water temperature is in August, when it is twenty-four degrees. The water in the lake is fresh and, in principle, quite clean, except for those areas where there is runoff pollution from industrial waste.

Economic importance of the lake

The place where Lake Ladoga is located determined its serious economic importance for the country. The fact is that the lake is navigable, which is important for the region. It is considered one of the parts of the waterway that is part of the Volga-Baltic route, as well as the White Sea-Baltic Canal.

The most navigable is the southern part of Ladoga from the Neva to the Svir. Since the reservoir has a serious size, there are often storms here, especially in autumn. During such periods, all navigation stops for the safety of passenger ships.

Since the founding of St. Petersburg, the lake has become part of the unified water transport system of northern Russia. For safe navigation along the southern coast, the Staraya Ladoga Canal was laid. As soon as it became insufficient, the Novoladozhsky Canal was also laid, one hundred and sixty-nine kilometers long.

The Staraya Ladoga Canal is now almost completely dried up and overgrown. And the second channel is navigable to this day. Up to eight million tons of cargo is transported across the lake per year. Oil products, chemical raw materials, building materials, timber are transported to the Baltic from the Volga. In addition, tens of thousands of passengers are transported annually along Ladoga.

Cruises (tourist) to the islands of Konevets and Valaam are made from Moscow, St. Petersburg and other cities. Vessels enter and pass through the central water area of the lake, where the shores are not visible. And in strong winds, you can feel a significant pitching.

There are no regular passenger traffic on Ladoga. However, motor ships of a tourist destination go twice a day in certain directions during navigation periods.

Fish that live in the waters of the lake

The fish of Lake Ladoga is of industrial importance. Ten species are caught, among which the most popular are vendace, smelt, ripus. Quite a lot of pike perch and whitefish are found in the lake.

Rest on Ladoga

Despite the fact that the water in Lake Ladoga remains cold even in summer, it attracts a large number of tourists. As we said earlier, there are beautiful sandy beaches on the coast. The northern islands are especially popular among tourists. The best period for kayaking on the lake is June and July. A little closer to autumn, storms begin, in which the excitement of the water is like in the sea.

Here on the lake there is the Nizhnesvirsky nature reserve. It is located on the right bank of the Protected area - wetlands of international importance. They are interesting because they are a nesting place for water and migratory birds. 256 different bird species have been recorded in this area.

Of particular interest to tourists is the island of Valaam. It is completely covered with coniferous forest. There is an old monastery on the island, which was founded in the ninth-eleventh centuries.

Vacationers also like to visit Konevsky Island, where there is a monastery. The island got its name from the Horse-Stone boulder located here. Until the end of the nineteenth century, this stone was a place of sacrifice. The main attraction is the Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin, located on the territory of the monastery.

Historical digression

Novgorodians for several centuries had a military and merchant fleet on Lake Ladoga. Geographical information fell to Western cartographers in those days. Lake Ladoga appeared on the map of the Moscow State as early as 1544. It was made by the German scientist Sebastian Munster.

And in 1600, a drawing of Rus' was drawn up by Fyodor Godunov. On it, the lake was plotted with fairly high accuracy. In the middle of the eighteenth century, a map was made not only of Lake Ladoga itself, but also of an artificial canal.

Novaya Ladoga

Novaya Ladoga is one of the towns on the banks of Ladoga. It is located on the left side of the Volkhov River in the place where it flows into the lake. The city was founded in 1704 by Emperor Peter the Great himself. A large number of historical architectural monuments have been preserved here, which may be of interest to guests and tourists.

Shlisselburg

The city is located on the banks of Ladoga. It was founded by the Prince of Novgorod in 1323, who founded a wooden fortress on Oreshek Island. Later it was captured by the Swedes, who renamed it Noteburg. And in 1702 the fortress was recaptured by Peter the Great. He then gave it its current name. The city also has its sights: the Staraya Ladoga Canal, the Oreshek fortress, the monument to Peter the Great, the Cathedral of the Annunciation, St. Nicholas Church.

Priozersk

In this place, the Karelian settlement lived already in the twelfth century. And in 1310, a capital fortress called Korela was built by the Novgorodians at the mouth. Later it was conquered by the Swedes. But in 1710 it again passed to the Russian Empire.

Lake Ladoga and its environs are quite interesting places for tourists. Here you can not only admire the beauties of nature, take boat trips, visit the islands, but also see historical monuments that have survived to our time.