The geographical position of Lake Ladoga. Ladoga lake. General characteristics. Characteristics and environmental conditions

"We live in the beautiful country in the world, and all other countries envy us! ”, - I am ready to subscribe to every word. And the point is not even that “we shoed a flea and pierced a caterpillar”, but that so much natural and man-made miracles that you constantly feel a sense of pride in your homeland, and this makes you feel so good at heart!

We have the very best: the deepest lake in the world (Baikal), the most extensive forests (Siberian taiga), the coldest settlement on Earth (Oymyakon), the largest Orthodox church is located in Moscow (Church of Christ the Savior) ... We have a lot what is, the list is endless.

Now I want to tell you about one more “most”, about the most big lake in Europe - Ladoga. In length - more than two hundred kilometers, in width - 125 kilometers! When you stand on its shore, it seems that this is not a lake, this is the SEA! Ladoga, of course, is a national treasure not only for its impressive size, but also thanks to its clean water, unique flora and fauna, rich history ... Well, I will try to embrace the immensity and briefly tell you all the most interesting and useful that I know about this miracle nature.

How to get there

Ladoga lake occupies a vast territory and is located in two constituent entities of the Russian Federation at once - the Leningrad Region (western, South coast a) and the Republic of Karelia (northern, eastern shores).

The choice of the preferred mode of transport directly depends on which shore of Lake Ladoga you are trying to get to. In principle, it can be reached by plane, train, bus, ferry, and, of course, by private car.

By plane

To St. Petersburg

The closest airport to Lake Ladoga is Pulkovo Airport, located in St. Petersburg. The distance from it to the southwestern shore of Ladoga in the most optimal way (by car) is 55 kilometers. Pulkovo is the largest air transport hub in the North-West region, which daily receives flights from many settlements in Russia and from abroad. Finding the best route from your city, I think, is not difficult. The official website of the St. Petersburg airport and other Internet resources will help you. For example, you can monitor ticket prices.

You can rent a car right in the arrivals hall (Avis, Europcar, Sixt). The price for renting an economy class car (eg Hyundai Solaris) for one day is about 2000 rubles; The longer the rental period, the more acceptable the final cost. Compare prices from different distributors.

If you are planning to continue your journey to public transport, now is the time to decide how you intend to get to your final destination on Lake Ladoga - by rail or by bus. In the first case, you need to get, no, not to Ladozhsky, but to the Finland Station (popularly known as Finban), in the second - to the Obvodny Canal bus station or the Northern Bus Station.

How to get from the airport

So, how is it possible for a tourist to leave the airport? There are two acceptable options:

by taxi. Just do not try to hire a driver from among those who offer their services at the exit of the terminal! They usually charge three times the citywide price. Just call the taxi service by phone (for example, "Lucky", "Taxovichkoff", "068"). The delivery time of the machine is no more than 15 minutes; transfer cost to Finban ~ 850 rubles, to the bus station on the Obvodny Canal ~ 600 rubles, to the Northern bus station ~ 1100 rubles;
bus + subway. Buses (No. 39, No. 39A) and minibuses (No. 39K) run regularly from the airport building to the Moskovskaya metro station. Travel time is 15 - 30 minutes, depending on the traffic situation, the fare is 40 rubles. In order to get to the railway station you need to get to the metro station "Lenin Square" (transfer to the station "Technological Institute"), the bus station is within a 5-minute walk from the metro station " bypass channel”(transfer to the Sennaya Ploshchad station), the Northern Bus Station - near the Devyatkino metro station (transfer to the Tekhnologichesky Institute station). I place for your convenience a map of the St. Petersburg metro. On it there is a mark of the beginning of the route - st. m. Moskovskaya (red star), markers of the final stops: Finland Station - yellow rectangle, bus station - light green, Northern bus station - purple.

To Petrozavodsk

Alternative airports "in the vicinity" of Lake Ladoga:

Airport "Besovets". The distance to the eastern shore of Ladoga (Pitkyaranta) is approximately 190 km. Keep in mind that it has air traffic only with Moscow. Flights are operated by RusLine five days a week. Travel time is about 2 hours, for a round-trip ticket you will have to pay approximately 8,000 rubles. Read about how to get from the airport to the city center. It is better to get to the coast of Lake Ladoga (the cities of Lahdenpokhya, Sortavala, Pitkyaranta, Syasstroy) by bus from the local bus station. For example - to Sortavala the travel time will be about 4 hours, the ticket price is 550 - 600 rubles; it takes longer to get to Syasstroy - about 5 hours, the ticket price starts from 650 rubles.

By train

From Saint-Petersburg

From Finland Station(metro station "Ploshad Lenina") trains run regularly suburban traffic to Priozersk (northern direction) and to Shlisselburg (southeast, east direction). There are more flights in summer, less in winter. You can see the current timetable on the Russian Railways website. For clarity, I post a print-screen map. On it, colored markers show the nearest railway stations to the coast of Lake Ladoga.

crimson color marked Priozersk (fare ~ 350 rubles), standing on the river Vuoksa. The shore of the lake is located no more than 5 kilometers from the city center. From the Priozersk bus station (Vyborgskaya st., 31) you can go to smaller settlements on Ladoga.
orange marker- railway station Ladoga Lake (fare ~ 130 rubles). From the station to the beach, walk no more than one kilometer.
purple marker- railway station Petrokrepost (~ 120 rubles), located in the village of them. Morozov. The distance to the coast of Ladoga is 500 meters.

From Ladoga railway station(metro station "Ladozhskaya") twice a week (Wednesday, Friday) runs train No. 350A, following the route - Kostomuksha. He makes stops in Priozersk and Sortavala. The train arrives in Priozersk 2 hours after departure from St. Petersburg, in Sortavala - in 5.5 hours. Please note that the cost of tickets to Priozersk will be higher than to commuter train- about 450 rubles one way; a ticket to Sortavala will cost not much more than to Priozersk, about 550 rubles.

From Moscow, from other cities

I advise you not to invent a bicycle, but to get from Moscow (by train, plane, bus) to St. Petersburg, and from here start to your final destination. You will not find convenient direct trains or electric trains going straight to Lake Ladoga from Moscow or any other major Russian cities.

By bus

From Saint-Petersburg

Bus station on Obvodny Canal(Obvodny Kanal metro station) offers tourists daily flights to Novaya Ladoga (No. 847), Syasstroy (No. 862) and Pitkyaranta (No. 963). All these settlements are located in close proximity to the shore of Lake Ladoga. To Novaya Ladoga, a bus ticket will cost about 300 rubles, travel time - 3.5 hours; to Syasstroy - from 350 rubles, travel time - 2.5 hours; to Pitkyaranta - about 900 rubles, to get there in time - at least 7.5 hours. The bus to Pitkyaranta also makes stops in other settlements with access to Lake Ladoga. You can easily buy a ticket to the villages of Vidlitsa or Salmi. Kill two birds with one stone - save a little and end up in a sparsely populated area (relevant for those who are going to relax "savage").

North Bus Station(metro station "Devyatkino"). Tickets to Syasstroy (350 rubles) and Priozersk (250 rubles) are sold here. Tickets can be bought either at the box office of bus stations or on the Internet.

From Petrozavodsk

Petrozavodsk bus station(Chapaev St., 3) offers a large number of inter-republican routes to Sortavala, Lahdenpokhya, Pitkyaranta. More interesting direction- northern (to Sortavala). The cost of a ticket Sortavala - Petrozavodsk (4 hours on the way) is ~ 600 rubles. It is possible to get off this flight earlier, in such picturesque places as Rautalahti or Karjavalahti (the village is not marked on the map, but bus stop exists!). From Petrozavodsk to the Pitkyaranta bus station (Privokzalnaya St., 30) the fare costs about 450 rubles (3.5 hours on the way). The current schedule can be seen on the website of the Petrozavodsk bus station.

From Moscow, from other cities

As in the case of rail transport, I strongly advise you to first get to St. Petersburg or Petrozavodsk in any convenient way, and from there take a bus following the routes I have suggested above.

By car

The most-most-most convenient way get from St. Petersburg and Moscow to Lake Ladoga! With a private car, it is possible to get to almost any place on the coastline without thinking about tickets, their cost and availability, time for transfers ... You can take a bunch of things with you; this is especially true for "tent campers" and lovers active rest.

From Saint-Petersburg there are two main highways encircling Ladoga - one goes along its western, northern coasts (A-121 "Sortavala"), the other - along the south and then turns to Petrozavodsk (R-21 "Kola"). These routes meet each other in the area of the Karelian village of Pryazha, located not far from Petrozavodsk. On East Coast(road 86K-8) you can get from the R-21 highway after the city of Olonets, and from the A-121 road, turning south from it near the Leppyasilta settlement. Which path you prefer depends on the final point of your journey. Theoretically, to get to the southern and eastern coasts, it is better to use the Kola highway, to the northern and western coasts - the Sortavala highway. Or maybe you just want to ride around Ladoga? Then the "problem of choice" disappears by itself.

From Moscow, of course, to go longer, at least longer by 700 kilometers. If you want to get to the western or northern shores of Ladoga, feel free to follow the M-10 highway to St. Petersburg, and go along the St. Petersburg Ring Road to the Sortavala highway. If you planned to find yourself on the southern or eastern shores, then from the M-10 highway after the settlement of Chudovo you need to turn right onto and Volkhov. In the end, this road will take you to the Kola highway and further to Lake Ladoga. Another one alternative way from Moscow to the eastern coast of Lake Ladoga - the A-114 road passing through Kalyazin, Pikalevo,. But, I warn you, the quality of the road surface and the roadside infrastructure of the A-114 road are inferior to the same indicators of the M-10 federal highway. In the “worst” case, you will have to spend about 13 hours on the road, for example, if you are traveling from Moscow to Sortavala or Pitkyaranta ( ~1000 km). However, I do not advise you to stop on the road for the night. This distance can easily be overcome in one day, and even with small children, it has been tested on itself.

It would not be superfluous to immediately draw up a road estimate (for a traveler-motorist from Moscow):

payment for gasoline (at the rate of 2000 km in both directions) - about 8000 rubles;
travel on the M11 toll road - from 1000 to 1500 rubles, depending on the time of day (round trip);
snacks in roadside cafes - at least 300 rubles per person;
a hotel room - at least 1,500 rubles for double occupancy (if you decide to stay overnight on the way).

The total is about 15,000 rubles. Of course, you can optimize costs by removing all items from the list, except for the purchase of fuel - then our estimate will be reduced by exactly half!

By ferry

From Saint-Petersburg

Since the beginning of May, numerous travel companies offer a huge number of water cruises on Lake Ladoga. You can easily choose a route to your liking, for example, "St. Petersburg - Valaam - St. Petersburg" (for 3 days, price from 8000 rubles), "St. Petersburg - Valaam - Konevets - St. Petersburg" (for 4 days, prices from 11 thousand rubles), extended "St. Petersburg - Valaam - Sortavala - Pellotsari - Konevets - St. Petersburg" (for 5 days, prices from 19 thousand rubles). And so on and so forth. These cruises are countless, they are all different in price, content, and duration.

Motor ships start from the River Station of St. Petersburg (195 Obukhovskaya Oborona Ave.) and arrive there as well. Unfortunately, the public budget river transport on the islands does not currently exist. If you want to sail to any island in Lake Ladoga from the northern capital, you will have to buy a ticket to a river cruise, but this, as you probably noticed, is not a cheap pleasure.

From Moscow

It is also easy to swim to the islands of Lake Ladoga, as well as from St. Petersburg - you just need to buy a ticket for the ship. All river vessels to Ladoga depart from the Northern River Station (metro station " River Station"). Interesting cruises, in my opinion, are "Moscow - - - Peplotsari - Sortavala - Valaam - St. Petersburg" (duration - 9 days, cost - 42,000 rubles) or "Moscow - - Peplotsari - Sortavala - Moscow" (for 12 days , cost from 64,000 rubles) ... In general, the offer of cruises is truly impressive, apparently, and the demand for them is quite high, despite their fabulous cost.

Clue:

Lake Ladoga - the time is now

Hour difference:

Moscow 0

Kazan 0

Samara 1

Yekaterinburg 2

Novosibirsk 4

Vladivostok 7

When is the season. When is the best time to go

You probably already guessed that the most season on Lake Ladoga is, of course, summer. The climate here is not very pleasant - humid, cloudy, windy - and even in summer, during your holiday on the coast, there will probably not be a single sunny day. But this is the saddest one. Statistics say that on average there are about 60 sunny days in a year, of course, the lion's share of them falls in the summer, when the southern anticyclone enters the lake area, and in the winter - during the dominance of the Arctic anticyclone. Spring and autumn are usually very rainy and windy, especially in autumn when the storm season begins.

The northern and eastern shores of Ladoga (Lakhdenpohsky, Pitkyarantsky, Olonets regions and the city of Sortavala of the Republic of Karelia) are equated with regions of the Far North. I can’t say that the climate here is very harsh compared to, for example, St. Petersburg, but the average annual temperature is clearly lower by a couple of degrees.

Lake Ladoga in summer

As I said, summer is the best choice for visiting Lake Ladoga. At least the positive air temperature will be guaranteed here. It is in the summer that residents of St. Petersburg and other large cities of our Motherland go to the shores of Lake Ladoga in order to take a break from the hustle and bustle of the city, breathe fresh air, and improve their health. It is still quite cool in June, it is better to choose July-August for a trip, when the average monthly air temperature still exceeds 20 degrees Celsius. True, it is not a fact that you will be able to swim, because the water in Ladoga only in rare years warms up to more than 21 degrees, and even then, such a temperature is relevant only for the southern shallow areas, on the northern coast, where the depths are much greater, only "walruses".

Lake Ladoga in autumn

Navigation on Lake Ladoga is closed in October, and this is no coincidence. It is in early October that the strongest storms rage on Ladoga. The weather is disgusting - cold, damp, overcast, plus fog and gusty winds. If you already go to Lake Ladoga in the fall, then only in September, preferably at the beginning of the month. There are lovely quiet days here in early autumn, when inveterate lovers can enjoy good fishing in the calm, when tourists can still swim to the islands and Konevets, and when "middle managers" can spend their last weekend in nature, frying barbecue and contemplating the local beauties .

Lake Ladoga in spring

March and April are not the best time to plan a trip to the shores of Lake Ladoga. But this is purely my personal opinion. I start from the fact that in March, and even in April, there can be negative temperatures here, and if not, then there is a high probability of precipitation, fog and gusty winds. The first tourists usually appear in these parts in early May, besides, there is a good reason for this - the long May weekend. Navigation is just opening in May - welcome to Konevets, Peplotsari and other islands. But do not flatter yourself too much - the average monthly temperature in May for the region is 10 degrees Celsius, so you can safely leave sunscreen at home!

Lake Ladoga in winter

In winter, numerous lovers of hunting for perch come out on the ice of Ladoga :). Winter fishing on Ladoga is very, very popular. Unfortunately, due to the unstable temperature (sometimes wild cold, sometimes thaw), sad cases often happen on the ice of Lake Ladoga. People, be careful and extremely careful, no "octagon" is worth a human life! In addition to fishing, people are engaged in various "activities" in winter, for example, skiing, skating, snowkiting ... The average temperature throughout the world is -8.8 degrees Celsius.

conditional areas. Descriptions and features

The nature of Lake Ladoga is beautiful, amazing and, by the way, quite heterogeneous.

north coast Ladogi from Priozersk to Pitkyaranta is a rocky skerry area with fjords and numerous small islands. It is very beautiful and romantic here. natural scenery remind immediately of Finland, and Norway, and Sweden combined. It is impossible not to fall in love with this rugged northern beauty; and those who have visited Northern Ladoga at least once will definitely want to come back here again. And again. And again. There are plenty of housing options here. Mainly guest houses and cottages. Where there is demand, there is supply. Recently, especially "thanks" to the economic crisis, more and more Russians choose to rest in their homeland. Northern Ladoga is an ideal option in this regard - service and views, like abroad, but you still pay for your vacation with our “wooden”. The flow of tourists to this area is now consistently high, so you need to try to find decent in terms of living conditions, but affordable housing. Some make it easier - they come here in the summer with tents. If you have your own boat, you can sail to any micro island, set up your camp and feel like a real oligarch, at least for the weekend!

South coast, in contrast to the North, low, swampy, slightly indented. Of the interesting places I can name - the fortress "Oreshek" at the mouth of the Neva River, the city of Novaya and Staraya Ladogi. Actually, all hotels and hotels are concentrated around these attractions. Cause meager developed infrastructure, in my opinion, is the fact that the entire southern coast of Ladoga is surrounded by the Staroladoga and Novoladozhsky canals. They have a high daily throughput and, probably, partly interfere with the development of the tourism business due to the fact that they separate the shore of the lake from the "mainland". However, there are a couple of decent guest houses here too. They say that on the south coast it “pecks” better, that here is a “paradise for a fisherman”. And the water temperature is higher here, so you can even swim in summer!

West Bank also slightly indented and densely overgrown with shrubs and forests, approaching directly to the water's edge. It is difficult to find a decent place for a secluded parking lot here. Very popular, as they are located not far from St. Petersburg, are the beaches in the village of Kokkorevo and the village of Lake Ladoga. There are a couple of spa hotels and guest houses nearby that look pretty decent. But further north - "golyak" up to Priozersk.

East coast, probably the least popular with tourists, no, not because it is “worse”, but because it is further away. Few people from St. Petersburg want to spend five hours on the road one way to fry a barbecue, and the next day go home again for five hours, so as not to be late for work on Monday. But everything changes dramatically if you are planning not a vacation for the weekend, but a full vacation. Then - welcome to the east coast with its wide sandy beaches, clear water and the complete absence of people. After the Nizhne-Svirsky and Olonets reserves, that part of the eastern coast begins, which the traveler needs to get to. You can choose to stay in a guest house, or a hotel, or rent a house from a private owner (this is true not only for the east coast).

Below I place a map of hotels / hotels / guest houses of Ladoga. Pink rectangle - north coast; purple is not a rectangle - the south coast with a meager selection; red - the west coast with an even less rich choice of housing; yellow - east. Prices for accommodation and entertainment will be discussed in the next section.

What are the prices for holidays

Accommodation prices range from 1,500 rubles per night to infinity (well, let's say 20,000 rubles in a club spa hotel). This is for the double room. If you come with a large company and rent a house, then most likely it will be quite budgetary - the same 1000 - 1500 rubles per person, but living conditions will be much more comfortable. The house, as a rule, has its own kitchen (so you can cook yourself and not spend money on a restaurant), a barbecue or a barbecue on the street. Double rooms hardly have a cooking area, a fridge and a kettle at most.

You can save money by carefully “monitoring” coupon sites. Discounts for accommodation in some hotels sometimes reach 50%! If you are planning a long vacation on the shores of Lake Ladoga, then you can think about renting a country house - a summer residence. Good Options will cost from 30,000 rubles per month of residence, bargaining is appropriate.

In restaurants at hotels, prices can vary without succumbing to any laws of logic. It can be cheap and tasty, or maybe vice versa. But on average, you expect the following prices: breakfast 150/300 rubles, lunch 250/500 rubles, dinner 250/600 rubles.

Another item of expenditure is the rental of sports equipment. The cost of renting a rowboat is approx. 1500 rubles / day, boats with a motor - approx. 2500 rubles/day, bicycle - from 200 rubles/day, quad bike - from 2000 rubles/hour, snowmobile - from 1500 rubles/hour; negotiated price for hunting, fishing, excursions to the islands.

Main attractions. What to see

The main attraction of Ladoga is undoubtedly its amazing nature! No matter how many times you come to Ladoga, it does not matter, you will never be able to look at its harsh northern landscapes with indifference. This incredible symbiosis - pines, rocks, mosses, coastal wave, distant horizon ... They act magically - they calm the mind, help to tune in to a philosophical mood, discard everything empty and even make an important decision. Yes, yes, it is! That is why, my number one in the TOP-5 list.

Top 5

Beaches. Which is better

All the beaches of Lake Ladoga, of course, can not be counted! There are a huge, overwhelming number of them. I'll start my brief review, perhaps, with those that are not far from St. Petersburg:

beach in the village "Kokkorevo" (on the map number 1). A very popular and crowded place to stay. On a fine day, owners of nearby summer cottages and residents of the eastern districts of St. Petersburg flock here (and residents western regions go on vacation to The Gulf of Finland). The beach is sandy, without any infrastructure, but surprisingly clean enough, apparently, the proximity of the Cultural Capital plays an important role. This beach is a gathering place for kitesurfers and windsurfers;

beach in the village "Ladoga Lake" (on the map No. 2). There are a terrible number of people here on a summer weekend, but it is always possible to lay your own towel. The beach is sandy and clean with the necessary infrastructure (changing rooms, toilets, cafes). There is a volleyball net and sports equipment rental. The Museum of the Siege of Leningrad is located 20 meters from the beach strip; the area is dominated by the Osinovetsky lighthouse (one of the highest on Ladoga). The only negative is that the water temperature is not always happy, but this does not stop desperate Petersburgers at all. Come and swim!
There is an excellent beach not far from the settlement "Vladimirovka" (on the map No. 3). It is located exactly opposite the island of Konevets, and summer yoga festivals are held here. The beach is a long sandy strip with a gentle entry into the water. At the bottom there are quite large boulders and pebbles. But you will surely notice them, because the water is very clean and transparent! The beach is NOT equipped with changing rooms, there is no cafe here, but there are pine trees, sand and sun (sometimes);
There is a wonderful long sandy beach near the village of Motornoye (on the map No. 4). Almost a twin brother of the beach at number 3. Sand and pine trees are the main advantages of this place. The water is definitely cold. Lovers often stop here tent rest, enough safe place. For reference - from St. Petersburg the beach is located at a distance of 150 km;
Further after Priozersk, the area of skerries begins, infrequently pampering the tourist with warm sand. Among the rocky northern shores of Ladoga, no, no, yes, sandy bays come across, but you have to look for them yourself. I will give the highest rating to the beaches of Koyonsaari Island (on the map number 5), they are magnificent. A minimum of people and no service, but a maximum of nature and silence;

On the eastern coast, after Pitkyaranta, in the area of the village of Karku, an almost continuous sand strip, a kind of oriental "monoplyazh". I will especially note the area of the village of Vidlitsa (on the map No. 6), it is beautiful and pleasant to relax here, and it’s not so far to go to the grocery store, if anything. Of course, don't count on any service here - only privacy, only hardcore!

After the city of Olonets, swampy areas begin, occupying almost the entire southern coast of Ladoga up to Shlisselburg. To make it easier for you to navigate, I put a map. I want to emphasize that this is my personal set of acceptable places for a beach holiday, I think you understand that you can swim, if you wish, on any stretch of the Ladoga coast.

Churches and temples. Which are worth a visit

Almost every settlement on Lake Ladoga, be it a city, a village or a village, has its own church, and in some there is not even one. It makes no sense to give a list of hundreds of items here, I will limit myself to a few:

Museums. Which are worth a visit

To the above museum sites (Valaam, Konevets, Oreshek fortress, Korela fortress) I will add a few more interesting cultural sights for an inquisitive mind:

Museum "Road of Life" (settlement "Ladoga Lake"). A large and entertaining museum complex, consisting of outdoor exposition and several thematic pavilions. Here you can see with your own eyes and even touch the real military equipment of those years, to examine in detail the personal belongings of the Red Army soldiers, to see unique photographs, to listen to a "grabbing" tour. The museum is a must visit! Working hours: Wednesday-Sunday from 11-00 to 18-00. The cost of visiting is 200 rubles. for adults excursion service- 150 rubles, audio guide - 300 rubles.

Museum of the history of the city of Shlisselburg (Shlisselburg, Factory Island, 2A). The museum is located in a relatively small area, so the exposition is constantly changing. The museum seemed to me interesting topics that here you can book an excursion for a small fee (200 rubles for a group of 5 people) not only in the stationary building of the museum, but throughout Shlisselburg. The museum's senior researcher will guide you through key locations and tell you all about the founding of the city and its history. Opening hours: Monday-Friday from 09-00 to 18-00, Saturday from 10-00 to 17-00, Sunday - day off. The cost of an adult ticket is 30 (!) Rubles.

Regional Museum of the Northern Ladoga Region (Sortavala, Ladoga Flotilla Embankment, 5). Sortavala is a city with a Finnish rather than a Russian face. Feel the Scandinavian spirit of this Karelian city can be in the halls of the Museum of the northern Ladoga region. Look at the main local history expositions, go to the halls of temporary exhibitions, visit field trips around the city, the nearest islands. For detailed information, please visit the website.

parks

In the southeastern part of Lake Ladoga there are two especially important natural objects - the Nizhne-Svirsky State nature reserve and Olonets State Nature Reserve (part of the first). They were created in the 80s to preserve and protect the flora and fauna of the region. First of all, this applies to waterfowl and migratory birds who in these places have a stop for rest and feeding.

The Nizhne-Svirsky and Olonets nature reserves will be of interest to ornithologists and lovers of virgin nature. But getting into the territory of the reserves is not so easy! You must first send an application addressed to the director, indicating the purpose of the visit, the length of stay, the number of people in the group. When the management makes a positive decision on admission, payment is made (nowhere is it indicated how much, apparently, this is a big secret), and the group is included in the visiting schedule.

What to see in 1 day

Going to Ladoga for one day from afar is somehow ridiculous. We will start from the fact that you are a Petersburger or a guest of the Northern capital, who, tired of the bustle of the city, decided to get out on a "weekend" in nature. Let's say you have a personal car and the weather outside is +25 degrees Celsius. So be it! Then my suggestion:

At 10-00 we leave the house / hotel / hostel in the direction of Shlisselburg. In principle, from any district of the city to the mouth of the Neva (where Shlisselburg is located) it takes no more than an hour (without traffic jams).
Our path lies in the Oreshek fortress. Hammer on the navigator the address of the pier from which the boats leave for Orekhovy Island - the village of them. Morozova, st. Skvortsova, 76.
Suppose that at 11-00 you are already there! We take a boat to the island. We walk, wander, admire, take pictures. You can even make a small halt at the fortress wall. Admire the views of Ladoga, Neva and Shlisselburg. Drink coffee from a thermos, eat a sandwich (which you, of course, brought with you from home).
At one o'clock in the afternoon or so, I propose to move towards the beach in the village of Lake Ladoga.
On the way, we will stop by to see the Broken Ring monument, which is located in the village of Kokkorevo.
About two - we are on the beach. Hooray! The main landmark of the beach is the huge Osinovetsky lighthouse, if you are near it, then you are on the most popular beach of Ladoga.
Rest - swim and sunbathe, sunbathe and swim.
For those who are hungry, there are a couple of cafes on the beach. Of course, prices here bite a little, but hunger is not an aunt!
Those who are not delighted with senseless lying on the beach, or do not like to play, for example, beach volleyball (by the way, there are nets here), you can cultivate and go to the nearby Museum "Road of Life".
I think that before six or seven o'clock in the evening you will already have time to feel all the charm of beach life on Lake Ladoga - it's time to go home.
On the way back, buy dried or smoked fish. Yum yum, very tasty. And such delicacies are sold almost everywhere - in stalls on the highway and in rural stores.
At eight o'clock in the evening you - contented and happy - are already at home.

neighboring regions

Ruskeala mountain park (34 km from the town of Sortavala) - former marble quarries, now - a natural object of unique beauty. The main attractions of the park are the "Main" quarry, along with Italian quarry and Ruskeala failure. Read more about the place, or on the official website.

nearby islands

Lake Ladoga pleases the tourist with islands - there are about 660 of them (!), And about 500 of them are concentrated in the northern part of Ladoga, the so-called "skerry region". The two most famous islands are Konevets (I wrote about them above). Most major islands Ladogi - Riekkalansaari (near Sortavala), Mantsinsaari (south of Pitkyaranta), Kilpola (near Kuznechnoye settlement). But some micro islands do not have a name at all, travelers themselves give them names! The island of Pellotsaari is interesting, having the shape of a heart, “the heart of Ladoga”. It has a hiking ecological trail "One day in the life of a taiga island."

Each, even the smallest island, is a unique and inimitable little world. If you go boating through the skerries, you can find perfect island to your taste!

Food. What to try

One of the main treasures of Ladoga is FISH! There are more than 50 species of fish in the waters of the lake, including salmon, trout, lamprey, whitefish, pike perch, smelt ... Since the waters of the lake are considered quite clean, you can safely eat the Ladoga catch without fear of poisoning with heavy metals or toxic chemicals. In almost every settlement on Lake Ladoga there are shops or stalls where they sell fresh - smoked - dried fish. I advise you not to neglect the alluring aromas, but rather buy, for example, smoked bream, and bring home the freshest tender trout!

They say that on the Murmansk highway, 75 km from St. Petersburg in the village of Yushkovo, there is a wonderful fish market that amazes the city dweller with an assortment and price. What is not here - fresh, and smoked, and salted, and dried, and dried fish and, of course, caviar. The initial cost is overpriced, so bargain. Approximate prices per fish (for 1 piece): trout, whitefish, salmon, hot smoked bream - approx. 300 rubles; the same items, but cold smoked, are more expensive - prices from 350 rubles per unit; dried bream and pike - approx. 200 rubles; dried vendace - from 200 rubles 0.5 kg.

All more or less decent places are located either in cities (Priozersk, Shlisselburg, etc.), or at hotels - hotels. And in the first and second cases, you can choose a restaurant to your taste and budget. It is clear that in large settlements there are European, and Japanese, and Russian taverns, and you can have a bite to eat with a shawarma or a hamburger, but let the seeker find it! I'm talking about the fact that instead of McDonald's or the U Sveta cafe, you can find establishments where they cook freshly caught Ladoga fish, national Karelian dishes (kalaruoka, kalitki). I think that without tasting local "delicacies" the trip will be incomplete!

Very decent places where you can try something from Karelian cuisine:

restaurants "Dacha Vintera" (in the city),
Piipun Piha (in ),
"Ladoga Estate" (in the village of Niemelyankhovi).

The cost of dinner with drinks per person starts from 1000 rubles.

Holidays

In my opinion, the two most significant events on Lake Ladoga are of a sporting nature:

Safety. What to watch out for

Beware in Russia is, of course, roads and fools. The road around Lake Ladoga is mostly passable, but there are separate sections of primer on which you can kill the car's suspension or get body paint chipped (as it was with us!). Ride in such areas should be slow, careful, gentle; however, the more nimble guys are trying to overtake you and douse you with a wave of roadside dust. At the entrances to the edge of the lake, you must also be careful - it is quite possible to get stuck in liquid soil, or skid in the sand, or God knows what else! You should always carry a winch and a couple of strong men with you. As for the fools ... My friends and I really like to relax in nature in tents, but this is not always safe, unfortunately. Bad people can take you by surprise - rob, or even worse ... Therefore, if you go to nature "savage", then only in large companies, and if together, it is better to stay at recreation centers, or in tent campsites. Another misfortune for a tourist - the weather. If you are boating in "open" water, beware of a sudden change in weather. Such a phenomenon on Ladoga is not uncommon. Strong storms and dangerous waves often occur on the lake, which can overturn any watercraft even with an experienced captain.

Things to do

In summer, of course, sunbathe and swim if the weather permits. Go boating (you can rent a boat at almost any hotel on Lake Ladoga), pack up and go on a hike from point A to point B (work out your travel route in detail first!), pick mushrooms and berries that grow here in abundance in summer and autumn, fishing is possible in all seasons. This is a standard set of Ladoga entertainments, and if you want something hotter, try something more extreme (see below).

extreme sports

Souvenirs. What to bring as a gift

It doesn’t occur to me that I would advise you to bring the amazing and unique from Lake Ladoga. Most likely, it depends on the place where you will rest.

For example, from the islands of Valaam and Konevets, they mainly bring ritual gizmos - icons, crosses, candles, Christian literature. Prices in the church shop are democratic, starting at 50 rubles per item (candles are cheaper). From the northern region of Ladoga, tourists take away products made from shungite (a black rock mined exclusively in Karelia). The cost of small figurines starts from 300 rubles. In many cities of the Ladoga region, they offer products made from natural materials - leather (bags from 2000 rubles), birch bark (casket from 500 rubles), wood (decorations from 300 rubles), textiles (rugs from 1500 rubles) . Of course, you should not forget about natural gifts - mushrooms, berries (which you can collect yourself), fresh and thermally processed fish. But, of course, the best thing you can bring from Lake Ladoga is a persistent northern tan and a charge of positive mood!

How to move around the region

Lake Ladoga - holidays with children

I am a supporter of traveling with children everywhere. Therefore, of course, I stand up for the fact that on a trip to Lake Ladoga it is necessary to take children with you, but more! They - fun, knowledge of the world, communication with nature, healing, hardening (solid pluses). You - continuous strained to follow them; but raising children is not easy at all! I advise you and your children to be vaccinated against ticks before traveling to “any countryside”. IN last years cases of infection with tick-borne encephalitis in the Leningrad region have become more frequent. Be careful!

Have something to add?

Lake Ladoga - the largest freshwater lake in Europe - is located in the north-west of Russia, in a harsh region with majestic nature and rich history. It was here that Russian statehood was born, the first Russian cities appeared.

The history of the lake, the unique and rich nature - all this makes Lake Ladoga the most valuable object culture and beautiful corner Russia.

Origin of the lake

The lake was formed by the melting of the glacier, and this process lasted several millennia. Several times the giant lake either merged with the waters of the ancient ocean, or again found itself surrounded by firmament. Finally, about three thousand years ago, a body of water squeezed by the banks broke through to the Baltic Sea by the Neva River.

The gradual formation of the lake was reflected in the unique bottom topography: if in the northern part of the lake the depth reaches 230 m, then in the “shallow” southern part it is 20-70 m. natural areas. The Karelian (northern) coast lies on the Baltic crystalline shield, it is steep and rocky. The southern coast, located in the Leningrad region, consists of sedimentary rocks. The coast gently goes under water, forming sandy shoals and beaches.

Lake Ladoga on the map looks like the footprint of some giant beast. The length of the reservoir from north to south is 219 km, and from west to east - 138 km. The huge area of the lake - over 18,000 square meters. km - holds about 900 cubic meters. km of water. More than 40 rivers and streams fill it with their waters, and only one - the full-flowing Neva - flows out. Some rivers connect Lake Ladoga with other lakes - with Onega, Ilmen, Saimaa.

There are many islands on the lake - more than 660. In the north of the lake there are the famous Ladoga skerries - a magnificent necklace of a series of rocky islands separated by narrow straits. The main diamond of this stunning unique beauty natural phenomenon- the holy island of Valaam with the famous Spaso-Preobrazhensky Monastery.

History of the lake

In the history of our country, Lake Ladoga occupies special place. The name of the reservoir comes from the name of the ancient Russian city of Ladoga, but there is another version: on the contrary, the city is named after the lake. Until the 13th century, the lake was called "great lake Nebo". In Finnish, the word "nevo" means: "swamp", "quagmire".

Fateful events that are reflected in culture and history are associated with Lake Ladoga:

the famous route from the Varangians to the Greeks passed through Ladoga;
in the 14th century, Oreshek, the oldest Russian fortress, was built at the source of the Neva;
at the end of the XIV century, the largest Orthodox monasteries were built on the islands - Valaam and Konevsky, famous for their missionary activities;
Novgorodians kept a navy here;
battles took place on the lake and its shores Northern war 1701-1721;
Road of life during the Second World War.

Since 1721, the coast of Lake Ladoga has become completely Russian. Even then, Peter I appreciated the harsh nature of the lake, its deceit: a complete calm in a few tens of minutes can be replaced by a real storm, and the waves rise to a height of 4-5 meters. Such inconstancy of the lake made the Russian emperor say the famous words that only one who walked along Ladoga can be considered a real sailor.

The road of life

There are tragic pages in the history of the lake that cause tears of joy and grief at the same time - this is a heroic chronicle of saving hundreds of thousands of human lives from besieged Leningrad during the Great Patriotic War.

The road of life through Lake Ladoga connected the dying city with the country and saved it from destruction. In the period from September 1941 to March 1944, 1,600 thousand tons of various cargoes were transported through the water and ice of the lake and more than 1,300 thousand people were evacuated.

In winter, goods and people were transported on the famous "lorries" - GAZ-AA. With the melting of the ice, navigation on the water began. In addition to 15 barges, metal vessels, which were built in Leningrad, took part in the navigation.

The road of life passed near the front line and needed protection. It was defended by anti-aircraft artillery divisions and fighter regiments, but thin ice and bombing destroyed about a thousand trucks.

In memory of the feat Soviet people on the Road of Life in the territory from Leningrad to Ladoga, 7 monuments, 112 memorial pillars along the highway and railway were installed. The most famous of the monuments is the "Broken Ring" by architect V. G. Filippov.

Why you should visit Lake Ladoga

Ladoga is one of the many water bodies in our country, a visit to which will bring great pleasure. From year to year, in any season, thousands of fishermen, pilgrims and just vacationers flock to the shores of the lake. Each of them has their own interests, but the stunning beauty of the water surface, bizarre islands, majestic shores and, of course, the harsh nature of the lake leave no one indifferent. You need to make friends with him, and then the relationship with the lake will last for many years, bringing a lot of impressions.

So why is it worth visiting the shores of a wonderful lake? Here are the main reasons:

. More than 50 species of fish live in the lake, the most famous of which are salmon, whitefish, Ladoga smelt, pike perch. You can fish at any time of the year with consistently great results.
Rich flora and fauna. The nature of Lake Ladoga is unique and diverse: here you can meet southern views plants and flora of the tundra; hares, wolves, bears, elk and other species of animals live in the forests, and the Ladoga seal lives in the north of the lake.
Diving. Thanks to fresh and clean water, its low temperature, the artifacts of bygone times lying at the bottom are perfectly preserved and are of scientific and research interest.
Curious natural phenomena: mirages, brontides (underground rumble).
Visiting holy places.
Developed tourist infrastructure.
Rest on sandy beaches.
Complete absence of mosquitoes.

Lake Ladoga - mysterious, majestic and beautiful, will always attract thousands of tourists seeking to join its harsh beauty. The wealth of waters and shores, the bizarre landscape and the history of the lake stagger the imagination and fill hearts with love for Russia, its nature and culture.

Lake Ladoga is located in the northwest of Russia.

Lake Ladoga has ancient history, unique nature and a rich natural world.

Its shores, islands and water area have importance for the development of the economy and tourism of the region. This is the largest European freshwater lake.

How did the lake

It is believed that for hundreds of millions of years there was a sea on the site of modern Lake Ladoga. Its modern appearance is the result of the movement of the glacial cover.

Researchers believe that the basin on which the lake arose began to free itself from ice about 14 thousand years ago. It first arose with glacial lake, which had a drain into a glacial lake, on the site of which the Baltic Sea later arose.

Over the next several thousand years, the water level in the lake, the area of its surface changed repeatedly. Later, as a result of a change in the profile of the bottom, the lake basin was oriented to the south.

Gradually formed the bed of the Neva in its present form. After the formation of this river, the water level in the reservoir, which belongs to the Baltic basin, decreased by 12-13 meters.

Historical events

On the southern part of its coast in the 8th century, the city of Ladoga was founded, which gave the name to the lake. It played an important role in the waterway of the Varangians from Scandinavia to Byzantium discovered in the next century. In the 13th century, the name Ladoga Lake became common. In 1617, after the defeat of Russia in the war with the Swedes, most of the lake coast and coastal fortresses and settlements were ceded to the Swedes.

At the beginning of the 18th century, as a result of the victory for Russia, the shores of the lake became completely Russian. After that, shipping channels were arranged. During, most of the Ladoga coast was occupied by German and Finnish troops. To maintain communication between Leningrad, blocked by the Nazis, and the non-occupied part of the Soviet state, from the autumn of 1941 to the spring of 1943, a "" was organized.

Over one and a half million tons of food and other goods were delivered to the city for navigation by ships and cars on hard ice, over 1.3 million residents of the city were evacuated. An important role here was played by the ships of the Ladoga military flotilla, created at the beginning of the Soviet-Finnish war.

Ladoga lake. road of life photo

A big mark in the history of Ladoga was left by the islands located on the lake. The island of Valaam gained worldwide fame with its foundation, founded in the 10th-11th centuries. According to legend, the holy apostle overcame the path from Kyiv and Novgorod. When he reached the island, he blessed it with a cross. Prominent Russian architects took part in the construction of the monastery buildings.

On small island Konevets in the XIV century, the Monk Arseniy founded the Nativity of the Theotokos Monastery.

Characteristics and environmental conditions

Together with the islands, the area of Lake Ladoga is 18.3 thousand square meters. km. It stretches from north to south for 219 km, with a width of 125 km. The lake is located 4.84 m above sea level. The shores of the lake, stretching for more than a thousand kilometers, have a varied and rich relief. On the south coast, they are not high, they have many shallows, interspersed with rock reefs and small bays. On this side of the lake there are three large bays.

Lake Ladoga, Valaam Island, Valaam Monastery photo

Its northern shores are predominantly rocky and high. There are many peninsulas, fjords and skerries, separated by straits of small islands. From the eastern side, two bays, fenced off by a large island, protrude into the coast. The coastal strip is relatively flat, with wide sandy beaches. Even more gentle is the western coast of Lake Ladoga. It is distinguished by a dense forest that comes directly to the water, formed by coniferous and deciduous trees, and a variety of shrubs. There are frequent accumulations of boulders along the coast, which can ridge into the water, creating a danger to navigation.

There are a huge number of islands on the lake, of which 660 have an area of more than a hectare and occupy about 435 square meters. km. More than half a thousand are located in the area of skerries in the north of the lake. Dozens of islands form archipelagos, the largest of which is Valaam with 50 islands. Most of the islands are different high cliffs and steep banks. They may be heavily forested or sparsely vegetated.

In the region of Lake Ladoga, there is a specific climate, which has signs of temperate continental and temperate maritime. This is due to the features of the region, expressed in. relatively small amount of heat from the sun that enters the earth and the atmosphere. During the year, only two months in total are sunny. Overcast days with cloudiness and scattered light prevail throughout the year.

The average annual air temperature here is + 3.3 degrees. In February it is - 8.8, and in warm July +16.3. The lake freezes over from December to February. Its middle is covered with ice only when extremely low temperatures. In April-May it is freed from ice. Due to constant unrest, Lake Ladoga is not calm. Storms are not uncommon here, characterized by foam-covered waves reaching six meters in height. Sometimes there are phenomena of surge and surge of the water mass, leading to changes in the water level.

Flowing rivers, cities, ecology

The full flow of Lake Ladoga is provided by the many rivers flowing into it, which provide about 85% of its water balance. Among them, the largest is the Svir, which flows from Lake Onega, Volkhov, originating in Lake Ilmen, Vuoksa, connecting Ladoga with Lake Saimaa. In total, 35 rivers and many streams carry their waters into the lake. Only the Neva, flowing out of it, flows into the Baltic Sea. It accounts for about 92% of the water flow from the lake.

city Priozersk fortress Korela photo

On the shores of the lake there are such cities with Russian and Karelian names:

Lakhdenpokhya
Novaya Ladoga
Pitkyaranta
Priozersk
Sortavala
Shlisselburg.

These communities are centers of coastal economic life. The activities of their industrial enterprises are largely provided by lake navigation. The waterway from the Volga to the Baltic Sea passes through Ladoga. Millions of tons of cargo move across the lake every year. These are oil products and oil, building materials, chemical raw materials, etc. Tens of thousands of passengers are transported, including as part of tourist cruises.

Economic activity on the shores of the lake has led to environmental pollution. Many enterprises, instead of effectively cleaning production waste, dump it into the lake and the rivers flowing into it. Radiation and nuclear hazardous enterprises and test sites for testing radioactive components operate near the lake. As a result, contaminated areas have formed on some islands.

Ladoga skerries photo

In some parts of the water area, the content of dissolved heavy metals is seriously exceeded. Some coastal locations have high levels of toxicological and microbial contamination.

Animal world

Over 250 species of birds are found in the region of Lake Ladoga. A fifth of them annually in spring and autumn fly here in transit. According to ornithologists, Ladoga birds reach Novaya Zemlya and Iceland, South Africa and India. Among them:

geese
ducks
swans
seagulls
waders
cranes and others.

Many other birds, including those belonging to rare species, arrange their nests on the shores. On the southern coast, waterfowl nest in reed thickets. There are many freshwater fish in the lake. During the spawning period, she goes to spawn in the flowing rivers. In total, there are over fifty species of various fish, including such as:

trout
salmon
zander
perch
pike and others.

About ten fish species are harvested, among which ripus, vendace and smelt predominate. Fishing is most effective in the south of the lake at depths of up to 20 m. For spawning in the Volkhov and other rivers flowing into the lake, sturgeon comes from the Baltic through Ladoga along the Neva. Here they catch pike perch near the southern shore. In Volkhov and near the coast of the lake, there are fish breeders of Siberian sturgeon, whitefish, trout, and other valuable fish.

Lake Ladoga and seagulls photo

However, the negative impact on nature reduces the population of valuable commercial fish, such as whitefish, trout, salmon, etc. Volkhov whitefish and Atlantic sturgeon were included in the Russian Red Book. In addition, this book contains a unique seal, which is called the Ladoga ringed seal. The number of these animals in the lake does not exceed five thousand individuals.

annually on May 25-26, “white nights” can be observed over the lake, which last more than fifty days and end on July 16-17;
in 2002, an atlas of Lake Ladoga was published with the participation of domestic and foreign experts;
for the first time, the lake was marked in 1544 on a map made by the German scientist S. Munster;
Since 2002, the state register of ships, aircraft and other underwater objects located at the bottom of the lake has been compiled;
after the war, experiments were made on some islands with chemical warfare and radioactive substances, new types of weapons and explosives were developed
in the 1970s, according to the then standards, the waters of the lake were the cleanest and were marked with the I class of quality, while today the moderately polluted water of the lake is assigned only the III class;
among the deepest Russian lakes, Ladoga ranks eighth.

It lies almost in the center of the Great Lakes region, at an altitude of 4.95 meters above sea level, lies between the parallels 59°51` and 61°46` north latitude and the meridians 29°48 and 32°58` east longitude from Greenwich. With an oval shape, somewhat pointed to the north, the lake stretches almost along the meridian, in the direction of which it has greatest length at 196.5 kilometers. The greatest width of the lake is almost in the middle of its length, at the parallel of 61 ° north latitude, and between the mouths of the Vuoksa and Olonka, 124 kilometers.

To the north, the shores of the lake quickly narrow and end with the Hien-Selke Bay, and to the south, the shores narrow slowly and end with the vast bays of Shlisselburg and Volkhov, separated by a wide ledge. The length of the coastline is 1071 km., Of which 460 km., Occupying part of the western coast, from the border from the Polutornoy stream to the source of the Neva, the entire southern coast and part of the eastern coast to the village of Pogranichnye Konduzhi belong to Russia, the rest 610 km. belong to Finland.

The surface of the lake, including the islands, is 15923 km2, of which 8881.1 km2 in Russia and 7041.6 km2 in Finland. European lakes: it is twice as large, three times as large as Venus, five times as large and ten times as large as Saimaa, not to mention the rest of Western European lakes.

Lake Ladoga serves as a receiver of a huge amount of water, the only drain of which is the high-water Neva, flowing from the southwestern corner of the lake in two branches, separated by Orekhov Island, and flowing into St. Petersburg. Of the tributaries directly flowing into Lake Ladoga, the following are remarkable: in the western part of the lake: the Vuoksa River, flowing from Lake Saimaa and forming famous waterfall Imatra, partly flows into Lake Ladoga directly at Kexholm, partly through Lake Suvanto by the Taipala River; in the northern part: Gellyulya, Laskila, Uksu, Tuloma, and Minola; in the eastern part: Vidlitsa, Tuloks, Olonka, Obzha, Svir with Oyat and Pasha and Voronega; in the southern part: Connecting with Tikhvinka, Volkhov, Kobona, Lava, Scheldikha and Naziya. The tributaries of the Volkhov, Syas and Svir serve as the beginning of three water systems: Vyshnevolotskaya, Tikhvinskaya and Mariinskaya, connecting Lake Ladoga with the Volga basin, and each of these rivers, together with the rest of the southern rivers, at its confluence with the lake, is connected or crossed by old and new bypass Ladoga canals, which stretch along the entire southern and often eastern shores of the lake, from the source of the Neva to the mouth of the Svir.

With the help of its numerous tributaries, Lake Ladoga captures, in addition to part of Finland, St. Petersburg and Olonets, almost all of Novgorod and some parts of Pskov, Vitebsk, Tver and Arkhangelsk regions. The Ladoga basin includes a space of 250280.3 km2 Although Lake Ladoga, being between the basin and and, occupies a very advantageous position, and in terms of vastness, depth and excellent navigation conditions it itself constitutes an inland sea, but its navigation and trade and economic importance are extremely insignificant, due to the Ladoga bypass canals, which made the construction of sea-type ships necessary for navigation in the lake completely redundant.

Bay, Lake Ladoga and rocks (photo by Oleg Semenenko)

Shores of Lake Ladoga. From the mouth of the Vuoksa to the source of the Neva, the coast consists of clayey and loamy deposits, bordered by sandy soil, with numerous boulders. Up to the mouth of Taipala, the coast is still quite elevated, but further to the south, a low-lying desert coast extends, partly sandy, partly covered with thick. The southern coast of the lake, between the source of the Neva and the mouth of the Svir, is low-lying, almost treeless and consists of clay and swampy; formed by sediments of the rivers flowing into the lake, it is limited from the south by an elevated ridge of limestones of the Silurian system, which, in all likelihood, was once the shore of Lake Ladoga. At present, they are located at a distance of 3 to 30 kilometers from it, and only near the mouth of the Svir, limestones with their rocky cliffs cut into a wedge into the shore of the lake, to Cape Storozhensky, forming the outskirts of the peninsula, which protrudes far into the lake.

Eastern coast, from the mouth of the Svir to the lake. Karkun-lamba, at first low-lying and partly swampy, gradually rises and consists of clay and loamy soil, which turns into pure sand on the very coastline. The coast of the northwestern part of the lake is the complete opposite from the southeastern one. Here, the shores and adjacent to them are elevated, rocky and consist mainly of granite, partly gneiss, syenite and other crystalline rocks, as well as various kinds of marbles.

From Kexholm to the north and further east to Impilax, the granite gradually changes from light gray and coarse-grained to bluish-gray and fine-grained, very strong and hard, further, to Pitkerando, it turns into reddish, to the south of Pitkerando, the granite is completely hidden from the surface. land, and the soil is sandy-clay, filled with boulders of various types, and granite is found only in low-lying capes protruding into the lake, consisting of fine-grained red granite.

Islands according to their composition and height they correspond to the coast near which they are located. Almost all the islands in the northern part of the lake are elevated, consisting mainly of granite and hard stone rocks, while the islands in the southern part are low-lying, partly swampy and surrounded by shoals and reefs. Due to the many islands and the significant indentation of the shores, the northern part of the lake is very rich in bays and bays closed from the winds, which are very convenient places for a quiet parking of ships, in the southern part of the lake there are almost no similar places, as a result of which ships here, with strong winds, are forced to settle in an open lake, mainly on the open and dangerous Koshkinsky roadstead.

Of the islands in the northern part of the lake, near the shores, the most remarkable are: the island of Kuko-sari, lying at the mouth of the Vuoksa River. In Kronober Bay: Kilpodan, Korpan and Teposari, of which the last two form the entrance to the bay, representing a vast bay, completely calm for ships. Sarolin Island, which is the left bank of the Yakimvar Bay, 12 km. sunk into the mainland and representing a safe bay in all sorts of ways.

Of the islands in the middle of the northern part of the lake stand out: Valaam group, consisting of 40 islands, which stretch along the parallel, at a distance of about 20 km. from the extreme islands of the northern skerries. The main and largest of this group is Valaam Island (26.2 km2), which has a very irregular shape, but with the closely adjacent Skitsky, Predtechensky and Nikonovsky islands, it appears as an equilateral triangle. In its northwestern part, on a rock, is the Valaam-Preobrazhensky Monastery, deep in the bay, with a convenient pier. To the east of Valaam stretch the islands: Baiovye and Krestovye. To the south-west of the island: Gange-pa with a lighthouse, Muarka, Yalaya and Rahma-sari, lying almost on the same parallel. To the south are the islands: Suri Verko-sari and Voschaty or Vasiya-sari. south of that last island lies Konevets (6.5 km2), on which the Konevsky-Rozhdestvensky Monastery is located.

Lake Ladoga (photo by Dmitry Savin)

Depth Lake Ladoga is generally very significant; distributed unevenly, depending on the height of the banks: the steeper and higher the banks adjacent to the water's edge, the greater the depth and vice versa. From the southern low-lying coast, the depth, starting from half a meter, slowly and gradually increases; having passed the reefs and shallows protruding from this coast, it begins to increase rapidly, so that in the middle of the lake it is from 60 to 110 m, further to the north it increases to 140, and in some places reaches 200 meters. Thus, the Ladoga bottom has a very significant slope from south to north, and it consists of a series of more or less irregular ledges, on which there are significant hillocks and hills in places, deepenings and depressions in places. So, between lines of equal depths of 60 and 80 m, there are bottom elevations, at which the depth is only 32 m, and in the northwestern part of the lake, between lines of equal depths of 10 and 140 m, there are depths of 200 or more m.

Water level and currents. The water level of Lake Ladoga is subject to constant fluctuations, depending on the totality of all meteorological circumstances in the entire lake basin, as a result of which the height of lake water, not only in different years, but also at different times of the same year, is very different. From time immemorial, there was a belief about the seven-year periodicity of changes in the water level of the lake, according to which the lake water horizon constantly, as it were, rises for 7 years, and constantly decreases over the next 7 years, was completely refuted by 14-year observations, which were produced on the island of Valaam and from which there was no correctness in changing the position of the water level.

Opening and freezing. First of all, the shallow southern part of the lake is covered with thin ice, usually at the beginning of November, sometimes at the end of October, at a temperature of about 5 degrees Celsius. This thin ice or fat is carried by the current into the Neva, on which the autumn ice drift begins, which does not last long. In the lake itself, with increasing frost, the entire southern part of the lake is covered with ice, both near the coast itself and in the space between reefs and shoals protruding from it. Further, to the north of the parallel of the Sukhsky lighthouse, under the influence of winds that easily break the ice that forms, the lake does not freeze for a long time, and at great depths of the northern part it freezes only in December, often in January, in other years the middle of the lake remains unfrozen all winter. .

In general, the lake is covered with solid ice only in the most severe winters, with ordinary frosts, only the outskirts, 20-30 kilometers from the coast, are covered with ice. It is quite difficult to determine whether the middle of the lake is frozen or not, due to the remoteness of the middle of the lake from the shore. Fishermen performing under-ice seine fishing determine this with great accuracy by the current in the holes: if a current is observed in the holes corresponding to the direction of the wind, then the middle of the lake remains unfrozen, while the absence of a current shows that the entire lake is covered with solid ice.

The opening of Lake Ladoga, like freezing, also begins at the southern shore of the lake, usually at the end of March - the first half of April, simultaneously with the opening of the southern tributaries and warm water, which has a direct impact on the opening of the Neva, which always starts from the source, at Shlisselburg, and two ice drifts occur on it: the river proper, which does not last long, and the very long Ladoga ice, which almost never passes immediately.

Lake Ladoga is the largest lake in Europe. The area of Lake Ladoga is 18400 sq. km. It is an inexhaustible source of drinking water for the second largest city in Russia - St. Petersburg.

The lake is slightly elongated in the meridional direction. The maximum length is about 200 km, width - 130 km. Greatest depth- 230 m. Nature itself made sure that there was no monotony on shores of Ladoga. Lake Ladoga is rich in islands (up to 500 islands with an area of about 300 sq. km), almost all of them are located in the north of the lake. Among them, the Valaam Islands stand out for their size, with coastal slopes sheerly descending into the water. Of the other islands, the largest are Konevets, Vossinansaari, Heinäsensaari, Mantinsaari, Lunkulansaari. IN southern half there are very few lakes of islands and their sizes are small: Zelentsy (in the Shlisselburg Bay), Ptinov (in the Volkhov Bay).

Nature has been working on the artistic framing of Lake Ladoga for millions of years. Its northern part lies on the Baltic crystalline shield, the formation of which dates back to the most ancient eras in the history of the Earth's development. The rocks that make up the shield are mainly represented by granites, gneisses, and crystalline schists of the so-called Archean age. These rocks come to the surface and are only covered in places by a thin layer of sediments of a later time.

Ladoga skerries - a necklace of islands separated by a labyrinth of straits, stretched along the northern coast. Some of them bristled with granite cliffs, dropping almost vertically into the cold depths of the waters. Others expose their sloping stone backs to the waves. In the depths of the bays, small islands covered with trees turn green. A scattering of rounded boulders meets us on the western coast. Rocky ridges, called "fences" here, go far into the lake. sandbanks and dunes overgrown with red-stemmed pines open up to the gaze of the traveler along the eastern coast.

Integral part Ladoga skerries is the Valaam archipelago, on which the ancient Spaso-Preobrazhensky Monastery is located. At one time, it was his monks who were sent to the Russian Orthodox Church spread the Christian faith among the peoples of distant Russian Alaska. Now Valaam is one of the most popular centers of international tourism.

Thirty-two rivers carry their waters to Ladoga, this is the full-flowing Svir, concealing a huge supply of energy, and the small rivers of the northern coast, lost among the forests and meadows, and the straight Volkhov, and flowing through the many lakes of Vuoksa. There are short rivers, the sources of which lie 20-40 kilometers from Ladoga. Others stretched out for more than one hundred kilometers, and their waters overcome a long way before they join the lake. No matter how the rivers of the Ladoga basin differ from each other in their size, together they serve as the main source of nutrition for the lake. Every year the rivers bring here about 68 cubic kilometers of water. In high-water years, this figure can increase to 100. The share of rain and snow involved in replenishing water reserves in the lake accounts for 15 percent, groundwater - only 2 percent of the total inflow.

Many rivers connect Ladoga with lakes: the Volkhov River - with Ilmen, the Svir River - with Onega, the Vidlitsa River - with Vedlozero, the Tulema River - with Tulmozero, the Lyaskelya or Yanisyeki River - with Lake Janisyarvi, the Vuoksa River - with large the lakes of Finland (the Saimaa lake system), the Taipale River - with Sukhodolsky Lake (Suvantojärvi).

Lake Ladoga, without exaggeration, can be called a pantry of solar energy. Solar energy penetrating into the water column sets the water masses of the lake in motion. Even in short periods of calm, when the surface of Ladoga is mirror-fixed, at depth there is a movement of water masses both horizontally and vertically. This phenomenon contributes to the redistribution of heat in Ladoga, the gradual enrichment of ever deeper layers with it. The accumulation of solar heat and its distribution in water during the day, season, year determines the temperature regime of the lake. Ladoga has its own spring, summer, autumn and winter.

The water reserve in Ladoga is 908 cubic kilometers. This value does not remain constant - in some periods it grows, in others it falls. True, such fluctuations in relation to the total mass of water in the lake did not exceed 6 percent, at least over the past 100 years. They manifest themselves in changes in the water level and are sometimes so significant that they even cause low-water and high-water periods in the Ladoga regime.

In the old days, a long low standing level was often explained by the influence of supernatural forces. Among the inhabitants of the villages scattered along the banks, there were various legends. Maybe because the number 7 was considered lucky in Rus', there was a belief that the water level on Ladoga has been growing for 7 years and falling for 7 years. The onset of dry years in the life of the lake has always been considered an unkind phenomenon. In the XVIII and XIX centuries it especially affected the life of St. Petersburg, whose economic development was closely connected with shipping. In dry years, due to the strong shallowing of the Ladoga canals and the source of the Neva, navigation was difficult and suffered heavy losses. The supply of goods to the city was reduced, food prices began to rise, which was why the poor suffered first of all.

From ancient times, swimming on the lake was associated with great risk. Thousands of ships perished in its waves. It got to the point that not a single insurance company in Russia insured ships sailing with cargo on Ladoga. It was not only the poor equipment of ships and the lack of good navigational charts that affected, but also natural features Ladoga. "The lake is stormy and filled with stones," wrote famous explorer A.P.Andreev.

The reason for the harsh nature of Ladoga lies in the structural features of its basin, the distribution of depths and the outlines of the lake. A sharp break in the bottom profile during the transition from great depths in the northern part to shallow depths in the southern part prevents the formation of a "correct" wave - along the entire length of the lake.

Such a wave can occur only in the northern part. When the winds drive it south, it retains its shape only over great depths. As soon as she gets into the area with depths of 15 - 20 meters, the wave breaks. She is tall but short. Her comb topples over. There is a complex system of waves going in different directions, the so-called "crowd". It is especially dangerous for small boats that experience unexpected, fairly strong jolts. There is a known case when a research vessel, operating at a wave of 3-4 points and a wave height of 0.8 meters, experienced a blow, as a result of which it tore off the doors of the closet from the hinges, and the dishes that flew out onto the floor of the wardroom were smashed to smithereens. In the old days, apparently, during such unexpected blows, the steering failed or the ship's hull was destroyed, which led to its inevitable death.

Another feature of the unrest on the lake was also noticed. During a storm, waves alternate: a group of 4-5 high and long waves is replaced by a group of lower and shorter ones. Such excitement is perceived by the vessel as a bumpy road. It causes roll, which adversely affects the condition of the ship's hull. The study of waves on the lake is associated with great difficulties. The highest wave that was measured on Ladoga was 5.8 meters. According to theoretical calculations, the height of the wave during a storm can be higher here.

A relatively calm area of Ladoga is the southern bays, where a wave of 2.5 meters occurs only with very strong winds. The quietest month on Ladoga is July. At this time over the lake for the most part worth the calm.

The ichthyofauna of Lake Ladoga is represented by 14 families: lamprey, sturgeon, salmon, grayling, smelt, pike, carp, loach, catfish, eel, cod, stickleback, perch and sculpin. There are 53 all types and varieties of fish in Ladoga. In the lake, its channels and lower sections of tributaries, the following fish are found and found in the order of the ichthyological system according to Berg: river lamprey, stream lamprey, sterlet, Baltic sturgeon (occasionally), sea salmon (as a rarity ), lake salmon, lake trout, brook trout (in Ladoga rivers), ludoga char, pit char, common vendace, Ladoga ripus, Vuoksinsky whitefish, black whitefish, Yamny or Valaam whitefish, Ludog whitefish, Volkhov whitefish, Svir whitefish, lake whitefish , grayling, smelt, smelt, pike, roach, dace, chub, ide, minnow, rudd, asp, tench, gudgeon, bleak, silver bream, bream, white-eye, blue, damp, sabrefish, crucian carp, mustachioed char, loach, pluck, catfish, eel, burbot, nine-spined stickleback, three-spined stickleback, zander, perch, ruff, four-horned goby and sculpin.

Only 9-10 species are of paramount commercial importance: whitefish, smelt, perch, roach, pike perch, vendace (together with ripus), bream, pike, salmon (together with trout), ruff. According to the species composition of fish, Lake Ladoga is rightly called a reservoir predominantly salmon. Salmon, trout, palia, vendace, several species of whitefish, grayling and smelt close to salmon fish, that is, a third of the species and varieties of fish represent a group of inhabitants of large, cool and clean waters. Another large group - cyprinid fish, which also make up a third of the Ladoga fish species, is common for water bodies warmer than Ladoga, but these fish have adapted to living in Ladoga, and some of them have a large number (roach, ide, bleak, bream, partly raw).

The most interesting tourist attraction on the lake is the Ladoga seal listed in the Red Book of Russia.