Large islands in Lake Onega. lake onega lake

Lake Onega- the second largest freshwater reservoir in Europe. Its area is impressive, in terms of its size this reservoir is second only to the lake. The lake is located in the Republic of Karelia, as well as in the Leningrad and Vologda regions. But most of The lake is still located in the Republic of Karelia (80%), the other two regions account for only 20% of the area of ​​this reservoir.

Lake Onega: depth and area

To talk about this reservoir in more detail, you must first say about its size. The area of ​​Lake Onega is 9600 square kilometers, more precisely - 9690 square kilometers. km. This is an impressive number. And I must say that this area is taken without taking into account the islands. If we take into account the islands, then the area of ​​\u200b\u200bLake Onega in sq. km will reach the figure 9720. To better understand the scale of the lake, let's say that its area is equal to the area of ​​​​Cyprus, and this is not at all a small republic.

The average depth of Onega is about 30 meters, and greatest depth is equal to 127 meters. Note that these are very impressive numbers for lakes. About 50 different rivers (and about 1000 different watercourses) flow into Lake Onega, and only one river flows out of the lake - the Svir.

Dimensions of Lake Onega: length and width

The length of the reservoir from north to south reaches 245 kilometers. The largest width of the lake is 92 kilometers. There are three Karelian cities on the banks (Petrozavodsk, which is also Medvezhyegorsk and Kondopoga).

In general, it must be said that the Republic is a large part of the lake, characterized big amount rocks. The shores of the lake are really rocky, sometimes it is very difficult to approach the reservoir precisely because of the rocks.

The meaning of the lake

Almost every local resident will always answer your question about the area of ​​Lake Onega, will be happy to tell you some stories about the reservoir or its sights. For the local population, the reservoir is pride. Dimensions of Lake Onega really impressive. The locals have a lot to be proud of. As we have already said, the area Lake Onega in km 2 equivalent to entire countries! Let's get to know him in more detail.

Islands

Total number There are 1650 islands in Onega, but not all of them are large. The total area of ​​all islands of the lake is 224 square kilometers. The most famous island is Kizhi. It houses a unique museum-reserve of the same name, in which wooden temples of the 18th century have been preserved and restored. Some of them are built without the use of nails or other metal fastening materials.

But Kizhi is not the most big Island lakes, the largest in Lake Onega is Bolshoy Klimenetsky, its area is 147 square kilometers (more than half the area of ​​all lakes of Lake Onega). Bolshoy Klimenetsky Island has its own settlement, there is even a school here.

If you call other large islands, then you need to mention Bolshoi Lelikovsky, as well as the island of Suisar and South Oleniy. The nature on all the islands is very colorful, bright and special in its own way, like the entire Republic of Karelia, where most of the lake is located (we have already said this).

Flora and fauna of the island

Some shores of Lake Onega are very rocky, but most of the shores of the lake are low and often swampy. They also often flood when the water level in the lake rises. This can explain the fact that there are only three cities on the lake.

Along the banks of Onega, as well as on almost all of its islands, ducks, geese, swans and other water birds often nest in reeds and reed beds. Almost the entire coastal area of ​​the lake is occupied by dense coniferous forests, some of them are still untouched by human hands and are in a virgin state.

There is evidence that seals are sometimes observed in Lake Onega. In general, it must be said that fish, as well as various invertebrates, are represented in the lake in a wide variety. We emphasize that among the invertebrates there are a significant number of relics of the ancient ice age.

Returning to the fish of the lake, we note that they are found here:

• sterlet;
• lake salmon;
• trout (lake and stream);
• palia (ludnaya and pit);
• zander;
• pike;
• perch;
• vendace (including vendace-kilets);
• grayling;
• smelt;
• roach;
• lamprey (river and stream).

And that's not all, because in the lake there are no less than 47 species and varieties of freshwater fish, which belong to 13 families. Fishing on the Onega is a special chic and a way to find inner harmony with nature. Moreover, fishing is possible on the lake at any time of the year.

Ecology

IN modern world with outdated wastewater treatment systems, nothing good can be expected in terms of ecology. In the last decade, the impact on the lake ecosystem has only increased. Special damage is inflicted on the northwestern and northern parts lakes. Petrozavodsk, Kondopoga and Medvezhyegorsk industrial centers are located in this area. It should also be said that about 80% of the population lives in this area, the industrial potential of the basin here generally reaches 90%.

But in Lately there is a tendency to modernize treatment facilities and invest serious investments in this business (both from the local budget and from federal funds). I would like to believe that this unique lake will not be left to the mercy of fate and will not become the center of man's negligent attitude towards nature.

Economic importance

The lake is navigable, and it is a large part of the waterway, which is included in the Volga-Baltic waterway, as well as the White Sea-Baltic Canal. Also, the lake is a link for the basins of the Baltic, Caspian and northern seas.

The system of channels and rivers allows you to send any cargo from the capital of the republic (the city of Petrozavodsk) to any countries located in the coastal sea zone. These are countries from Germany to Iran. We also mention that there is an artificially dug canal, which is located along the southern bank of the Onega (from the Svir River to the river called Vytegra).

There are two ports on the shores of Lake Onega (Petrozavodsk capital port and the city of Medvezhyegorsk), in addition, there are five marinas and several small stopping points for ships.

No regular year-round passenger traffic at the moment there is no lake. But there is a regular service several times a day during navigation between Petrozavodsk and Kizhi Island, as well as between Petrozavodsk and the Great Bay. Tourist boats and the so-called "meteors" are involved here. Also, according to the latest information, there is a connection between Petrozavodsk and Shala.

From some interesting events lakes, we note that since the distant 1972 Lake Onega annually (in summer, in July) hosts the country's largest Onega sailing regatta. This is an open national championship sailing among yachts (cruising). There are no other organized competitions, although the area of ​​Lake Onega allows it. This is explained by the weak development of tourism in the region.

Kizhi Island

The main attraction of Lake Onega is Kizhi Island, more precisely, the museum-reserve of the same name, which is located here. There are currently almost 90 monuments on the territory of the museum island. wooden architecture times of the XV-XX centuries.

The center of Kizhi Island is architecture (built in the 18th century), it is a 20-domed Church of the Transfiguration of the Lord, as well as a 9-domed Church of the Intercession of the Virgin and a bell tower. In 1990, Kizhi Island was included in the List world heritage UNESCO. This is the pride of our entire country!

Onega petroglyphs

Rock paintings that are named Onega petroglyphs, are located on the eastern shores of Lake Onega. Scientists believe that their age is in the range of 4-2 thousand years BC. Petroglyphs are arranged in groups. In total, they occupy a stretch of coast approximately 21 km long or even more. Their total number is approximately 1200 different figures and signs. Petroglyphs have not been fully studied and from time to time new rock paintings are discovered. It seems that many more secrets are hidden by the shores of Lake Onega. Its area allows it to do so.

To understand the scale of Lake Onega, you need to see it with your own eyes. Come fishing in Karelia or just relax here from the hustle and bustle of megacities, breathe in the clean northern air. You will fall in love with these places forever, and you will come back here again and again. Lake Onega will captivate and enchant. Photographers will also like Karelia. Here are incredibly beautiful landscapes that will impress a creative person. Tourists will also appreciate the lake, especially those who love beautiful open spaces. Rest in Karelia is also a great pastime, clean air, beautiful nature.

Lake Onega is the second largest lake in Europe. In terms of an area equal to 9900 km 2, it ranks fourth among big lakes Russia. Its maximum depth does not exceed 120 m. The main tributaries of Lake Onega are Shuya, Suna and Vodla. River flows out of it. Svir.

lake basin tectonic origin; it was largely reshaped as a result of the activity of the glacier. The influence of the work of glaciers is especially noticeable in its northern part, which is notable for its ruggedness. coastline: there are many narrow bays deeply protruding into the land, elongated from the northwest to the southeast, i.e. in the direction of the movement of the glacier.

The relief of the lake bottom is characterized by a complex structure and extreme uneven distribution of depths. This Lake Onega, as well as Ladoga, stands out sharply from other large lakes in the world. Approximately along the line Petrozavodsk - the mouth of the Vodla, the lake basin is divided into two sharply different parts: northern and southern. South part it has a flat bottom topography and relatively shallow depths. Here, in turn, several morphologically distinct parts can be distinguished: 1) Svir Bay, 2) Svir Onego, 3) Southern Onego and 4) Central Onego.

The northern part of the lake basin is characterized by extremely sharp fluctuations in depths, the presence of numerous long and deep depressions or pits separated by elevated sections of the bottom. A large number of shoals, capes, islands and bays gives this part of the lake an skerry character. Separate parts of the lake have independent names: Big Onego, Petrozavodsk Bay, Kondopoga Bay, Lizhma Bay, etc. The largest bay in the northern part of the lake is Povenetskaya, it has a length of about 100 km.

The northern coast is rocky, while the southern, eastern and western coast mostly formed by a chain sand dunes reaching a height of 15-18 m in places, behind which swamps are sometimes located. The entire deep-water part of the lake basin is filled with light gray-green silts, and the shallow coastal parts of the lake are filled with wood, pebbles and boulders.

The amplitude of fluctuations in the lake level is small and amounts to 50-55 cm per year; its long-term values ​​are 1.8-1.9 m depending on the nature of the weather in a given year. different type the annual course of the water level, however, for the most part, the course of the level corresponds to the type of regime with a distinct, albeit low, spring flood. In the secular course of the lake level, a certain cyclicity is observed, which is in good agreement with the course of atmospheric precipitation.

It is interesting to note that in 1854 engineer Stabrovsky recorded seiches on Lake Onega for the first time in Russia. This was done many years before the seichi Lake Geneva began to be studied by Trout.

The water balance of Lake Onega on average over a long period (1887-1939) according to calculations made by 3.A. Vikulina; characterized by the following data (Table 1).

Table 1. Water balance of Lake Onega

The transparency of the lake water is relatively low, less than in Lake Ladoga. The white disk, lowered into the water, usually ceases to be visible at a depth of 4 m. The water of the lake in the mass has a slightly brownish color due to the large influx of swamp waters; its mineralization is very weak and amounts to 30-40 mg / l, and its hardness is not more than 1 German degree. Highest values(17°) water temperature reaches in August; in the bottom layers, even in the hottest periods, the temperature is not higher than 4 °. In the warm part of the year, the shock layer is well expressed and is located at a depth of 20–25 m.

The process of freezing of Lake Onega begins from the coastal shallow parts and gradually captures the central deep water areas, which are covered with ice much later due to large stock heat in the water and excitement; this process lasts about 1.5-2 months - from mid-November to the end of January. Clearing the lake of ice begins in the southern part of the reservoir in mid or late April. Most of the lake is opened in the first decade of May, and the central part - in the middle of this month. Lake Onega is part of the White Sea-Baltic waterway and is the regulator of the Svir flow, the water energy of which is used for hydroelectric purposes.

Lake Onega is the second largest lake in Europe. This lake is 2 times smaller than Lake Ladoga and contains three times less water. However, at the same time, the water in Lake Onega is of the highest quality: it is much cleaner than Ladoga water, and even water in Baikal.

The length of Lake Onega from north to south is 248 kilometers, and from west to east - 96 kilometers. Here a large number of capes, islands, bays and bays. The total number of all islands is 1500.

The shores of the lake are mostly sandy and pebbly, but at the same time, rock outcrops can also be found. coast northern region Lake Onega are composed of crystalline rocks, they are rugged and elevated. The relief of the bottom of the lake is quite simple, especially in its northern part. Almost all types of fish that are known in the reservoirs of Karelia are found in Lake Onega. More than 110 tributaries flow into this lake.

Onega lake. general characteristics

Lake Onega is one of the largest freshwater reservoirs in Karelia, which is located in its southeastern part. The total area of ​​the water surface of Lake Onega is 10,050 km2, and the total area, together with the islands, is 10,340 km2. The maximum width of the lake is 248 kilometers, and the maximum width is 83 kilometers. The total number of islands is 1650, with an area of ​​290 km2. The length of the entire coastline is 1542 kilometers, and together with the islands - 2699 kilometers. The total volume of water masses is 295 km3. The height of Lake Onega above sea level is 33 m2.

The lake has an elongated oblong shape from the northwestern to the southeastern part. Lake Onega is divided into several large bays and reaches. It is divided into 3 main parts:

1. The main part is the Central Onego.
2. North-western region - Big Onego.
3. The northeastern region, which consists of Small Onego, Kuzaransky Onego, Pyalemsky Onego, Tolvuysky Onego, Povenets Onego, Big Bay and a number of small bays.

Basically, sandy and rocky shores prevail here. Rocky shores are common in the northern part of the lake and in the area west coast. sandy shores stretch from the mouth of the Vodla River to the source of the Svir River.

The area of ​​the river basin of Lake Onega is 51,540 km2. From it, about 16 km3 of water enters the lake every year.

The water level in the lake changes every year. This is mainly due to the amount of precipitation. A constant current is expressed only in some parts of Lake Onega and is weak.

Lake Onega is one of the deepest reservoirs in Karelia (after Lake Ladoga). Its average depth is 29.4 meters and the maximum depth is 120 meters. Approximately 26 percent of the total area of ​​the lake is located at a depth of up to 10 meters, 42 percent at a depth of up to 20 meters, 69 percent at a depth of up to 40 meters, and 92 percent at a depth of up to 60 meters.

The relief of the bottom of Lake Onega is quite complex. This is especially true for the northern part of the lake. This lake is characterized by depressions and elevations of the bottom. Typical landforms for the lake are selgas, luds, underwater ridges and thefts, pits and depressions. In addition, there are also some areas with a flat bottom in the lake. The soils of Lake Onega are very diverse. There are rocky, rocky-sandy, sandy and sandy-gravel soils. The colors of the water in Lake Onega range from light yellow to yellow or orange-brown.

Onega lake. Flora and fauna

Higher aquatic vegetation is the least common in Lake Onega. Its thickets can be found only in the northern part, in small bays and other places that are protected from waves.

The total length of thickets is approximately 1 percent of the length of the entire coastline. Basically, these thickets consist of reeds, and in some places you can find pondweeds, reeds, water lilies, horsetails, villains, egg capsules, sedge and other types of vegetation.

The fauna of the lake is quite diverse, if we talk about its quality. Here you can see aquatic insects, mollusks, crustaceans, water mites, worms, bryozoans, sponges and others. There are only 350 different forms and species of benthic fauna in Lake Onega, however, only 30 percent of them have a significant distribution in the lake itself, while the rest are quite rare.

The richest and most diverse is the population of the thickets of the littoral, which make up about half of the forms and species known for this lake.

The average biomass volume of the bottom mass of the lake in summer and autumn is 11.5 kg/ha, with an average abundance of 5.72 million ind./ha.

Of all the benthic fauna of Lake Onega, crustaceans, including pontoporea, are the most valuable food for fish. Oligochaetes, in turn, are rarely used by fish as food. The most significant accumulation of food objects is found in pits and depressions with a depth of up to 50 meters.

If we talk about the crustacean plankton of the lake, then it is distinguished by a significant species diversity of composition. In general, 37 species of lower crayfish live in the lake.

In the coastal shallow waters of Lake Onega, one can find various forms of planktonic crayfish. Planktonic crustaceans reach the highest quantitative development in summer in surface layer water.

By the abundance of crayfish, as well as by their biomass in the horizon up to 2 meters, Lake Onega is a medium-productive reservoir in the entire republic. However, individual sections of this lake are not equivalent in terms of food resources in shallow, most heated areas.

In addition, if we talk about the feed ratio, then here the composition of the crustacean plankton of Lake Onega has a number of positive features. The plankton of the lake is dominated by cladocerans, most of which are valuable food substances, which include holopedium and bosmins.

Onega lake. Fish

In Lake Onega, you can find almost all types of fish that are known for the reservoirs of Karelia. This lake is inhabited by sturgeon (sterlet), salmon (salmon, trout, brook trout, ludny trout, pit trout, vendace, whitefish), chorius (grayling), smelt (smelt), pike (pike), cyprinids (roach, dace, silver bream, sabrefish, bream, golden crucian carp), loach (whiskered char, loaches), catfish (catfish), eels (eels), perch (perch, perch, ruffs), gobies (Onega slingshots, lops, sculpins), stickleback (nine-spined sticklebacks, three-spined sticklebacks), cod (lake burbot and lake-river burbot). Of the minigas, the river lamprey and stream lamprey are the most common.

In general, 47 varieties and species of fish live in Lake Onega, which belong to 13 families and 34 species. It is possible to find a chub in the lake.

17 species of fish are endowed with the greatest fishing value in the lake, namely vendace, whitefish, ruffs, roach, pike, char, pike perch, smelt, salmon, bream and perch, and the smallest - crucian carp, ide, dace, bleak and grayling. Other fish species in Lake Onega are quite rare.

The main commercial fish of this lake is the vendace. It is widespread in almost all places. The vendace feeds only on crustacean plankton. In turn, kilets is a large form of vendace. It is mainly found in the southern part of the lake. Smelt is an object of mass fishing. But at the same time, it will also happen as food for fish such as pike perch, salmon, burbot and char. If we talk about whitefish, then in Lake Onega they are noted in 9 different forms. In addition, all whitefish are divided into 2 large groups- these are lake-river whitefish and lake whitefish. Also in Lake Onega there is also burbot, or rather its two forms - lake-river and lake burbot. Burbot as well as vendace is ubiquitous. Pike perch is one of the most valuable fishery objects on the lake, but its catch is rather small. However, the most common and numerous fish in Lake Onega is the ruff, which is found at a depth of up to 70 meters. Perch can be found mainly in coastal areas, as well as in shallow water. open lake. Breams are found here in the area of ​​estuaries and sources of rivers. But the pike is not of significant importance in the fishing of the lake. It lives in shallow, vegetated areas. If we talk about salmon, then in Lake Onega there are several herds of this fish. Now the most numerous is the herd of Shuya salmon.

But one of the most valuable fish of the salmon family is char, which is common in the area adjacent to the deepest parts of the lake. The ide in this lake has little commercial value, but the grayling can be found almost everywhere. Very rarely in Lake Onega there are golden carp, unlike bleak and dace.

On our beautiful planet there are thousands of reservoirs, each of which is interesting and significant in its own way. We will tell you about Lake Onega - covered in legends, glorified by our famous ancestors, bewitching with its pristine beauty. They say that in winter you can hear the sun rise here, there is such silence around. But in summer, the shores of Lake Onega are drowned in the trills and chirping of hundreds of birds. Once here, it is as if you find yourself in another dimension, where tangible and visible reality is intertwined with history that you can touch with your hand.

Where is Lake Onega located

This reservoir is located in Russia, in the north-west of its European part. Approximately 80% of its area is located on the lands of Karelia, and the remaining 20% ​​is divided between the Leningrad and Vologda regions.

To the Onega Bay, which belongs to the White Sea, shortest distance from the lake (through forests and swamps) is 147 km. In 1933, the construction of the White Sea Canal with a length of 227 km was completed. It originates from the village of Povenets, which is located on the shores of the Povenets Bay of the lake, and ends near Belomorsk, a town with a population of about 10 thousand people located in the Soroka Bay of the White Sea. Thus, an exit was created from Lake Onega to the seas of the Northern Arctic Ocean. The nearest neighbor of the described reservoir is Lake Ladoga. In a straight line to it 127 km. The Svir river connects Onega and Ladoga. If you move along its winding channel, you will have to overcome 224 km.

The cities of Petrozavodsk, Medvezhyegorsk and Kondopoga, which grew up on its shores, can serve as landmarks for the location of Lake Onega. They are located in the northern part of the reservoir. Its southern shores are sparsely populated. But here the Onega Canal passes, on the way of which there is a small, but fishy Megorskoye Lake.

Historical facts

Studying native nature is extremely interesting. Now scientists have a lot of new technologies in their arsenal, for example, isotope and radionuclide methods, spectral analysis. With their help, it was possible to establish that Lake Onega appeared on the site of a shelf sea 300-400 million years BC. e. (Paleozoic, approximately Carbon-Devon period). It washed the shores of the Baltic - that was the name of the then-existing continent. In those times in sea ​​waters there were many protozoans that had shells. Dying, they sank to the bottom, forming a layer of limestone. In addition, many rivers flowed into the sea, carrying grains of sedimentary rocks with them. Now a layer of limestones, sandstones and clays forms a layer about 200 meters thick in the lake. It lies on a solid foundation of granite, gneiss and diabase, which appeared as a result of volcanic activity.

The origin of Lake Onega is associated with the height of the glacier then reached more than 3 km. Moving, huge white blocks easily plowed the earth's firmament, fundamentally changing the relief. This is also characteristic of the Baltic Shield, on which Lake Onega is located. About 12 thousand years ago, the glacier retreated. The marks left by him filled with water, forming large and small lakes. One of them was named Onego. The exact etymology of the word is unknown, there are only unconfirmed theories. People began to settle on the banks of this reservoir, as evidenced by numerous petrographers that have survived to this day.

Geographic characteristics

This is the second body of water in Europe after Lake Ladoga. Its total area (including all the islands) is 9720 km2, and the coastline stretches for 1542 km. The depth of Lake Onega is different. There are places where it reaches 127 meters, but closer to the coast and in small backwaters it does not exceed 1.5-2 meters. Thus, the average depth of the reservoir is about 30 meters.

The famous lake does not have a regular geometric shape. We can only say that it is somewhat elongated from the northwest to the southeast. In the northern part, there is the Big Onego Bay, which cuts deep into the land. Taking it into account, the maximum length of the reservoir is 245 km, and the maximum width is 91.6 km.

coast

Bypassing Lake Onega, you can see that its shores are indented by large and small bays, bays and capes. In addition to Big Onego, there is Small Onego, as well as Povenetsky and Zaonezhsky bays. The bays in the northern waters of the lake are Povenetskaya, Velikaya, Shchepikha, Konda, Petrozavodskaya, Bolshaya Lizhemskaya, Unitskaya, Kondopozhskaya. There is only one lip - Svirskaya.

The appearance of the coast is also different. In the more "wild" south, forests give way to shallows, which are sandy or rocky. Also in this part there are many impregnable rocks and picturesque, but dangerous swamps.

The northern shores are characterized by unusual geological ledges called "ram's foreheads". They are polished by a moving glacier rocks(gneisses, granites), gentle on one side and steep on the other.

Islands

In the European part of Russia, Lake Onega is not only one of the largest, but also a reservoir with a huge number of islands. There are more than 1500 of them here! These areas of land, protruding above the water surface, are large and very tiny, famous throughout the world and unknown to anyone, rocky and covered with dense forests.

The largest island is called Bolshoi Klimetsky. Its area is 147 km2. The natural attraction here is Mount Medvezhitsa, whose height is 82 meters. There are several villages on Bolshoy Klimetsky, there is a secondary school. There are no monuments of nature and history here. Communication with the mainland is carried out by ferry crossing.

The second largest island is called Bolshoy Lelikovsky. It is about 6 times smaller than B. Klimetsky. People also live on this island, but public buildings, except for a small shop, is not here.

If they ask which one on Lake Onega is the most famous island, any person will immediately call Kizhi. Its area is only 5 km2, its length is 5.5 km, and its width is 1.4 km. You can get around this piece of land in a couple of hours, but the glory of its borders knows no bounds. Here is the museum-reserve of the same name, created on the basis of as well as an architectural ensemble, included in the number of UNESCO World Heritage Sites. It is an ensemble of two churches (twelve-domed and seven-domed) and a bell tower. According to legend, the church “about 12 chapters” of the Transfiguration of the Lord was built by a local craftsman without a single nail. So that no one could repeat his creation, he threw the ax into the lake.

Another island that I would like to mention is called Suisaari (or Suisari). It rises above the water in the Kondopoga Bay. Island in given time uninhabited, but there is an old village that has the status of a historical monument. Quartz and chalcedony were found on Suisaari, and agates are also found here. Most of the land is occupied by forest, in which even bears are found. The shores of the island are heavily swamped. There are many bird nests in the reeds.

Rivers of Lake Onega

More than 1,000 rivers and streams carry their waters into the reservoir we are describing, and only one river flows out of it - the Svir. It is quite full-flowing, has a length of 224 km, connects the Ladoga and Onega lakes. The width of the Svir can vary from 100 meters to 12 km. The river is navigable. A cascade of hydroelectric power stations was built on it, the largest of which is Verkhnesvirskaya. Svir is interesting in that there is the Storozhensky lighthouse (it is the second in Russia and the seventh in the world in height) and the Nizhnesvirsky reserve.

About 50 rivers flowing into the Onega are over 10 km long. The most famous are Suna, Gimerka, Vodla, Losinka, Chebinka, Neglinka, Anga, Pyalma and others.

Climate

The weather in the area of ​​Lake Onega is windy and changeable. Storms on the reservoir are so frequent that they even dug the Onega Canal in its southern part to ensure safer passage of ships to the Svir River.

Winters here in some years can be mild with temperatures not lower than -4 °C, but more often there are quite noticeable frosts down to -15 °C, and sometimes down to -30 °C. Winter lasts 120 days. In November - December, an ice cover forms in the bays and along the coast, and by mid-January it spreads to the entire lake, except for the deepest places. In some years, the water here remains open all winter.

Strong winds can crack ice, forming cracks. Then the white blocks crawl one on top of the other. It turns out peculiar mountains several meters high.

The ice breaks by May, but sometimes you can find floating ice floes in June.

The warmest and most suitable months for relaxing here are July and August. The water temperature in shallow water can warm up to +22 °C, but most often reaches +17 °C. The ambient air temperature during the day rises to +30 °C, and the average values ​​are around +20 °C.

The weather in this area is not only windy, but also rainy. The water balance of the lake is replenished by 25% every year due to precipitation. Rain falls steadily throughout the summer.

Flora

Lake Onega is extraordinarily beautiful. Its shores froze in a severe charm. They silently frame the water surface, sparkling in the sun with golden highlights. The water in the lake is so clean and transparent that the bottom can be seen at a depth of 4 meters or more. Some islands and parts of the coast are covered with dense virgin forests of coniferous trees, but deciduous copses are also found here. Spruces, pines, firs, larches are the main higher plants that make up the Onega biome. Only occasionally does a glance catch a birch, an alder and an aspen. Bypassing the environs of Lake Onega, you can find euonymus, honeysuckle, and currants in the undergrowth. Carpets of blueberries and lingonberries spread under your feet, cranberries can be found in the swamps, and the mushroom season opens in the second half of summer.

On swampy shores and shallow waters, the shores are overgrown with reeds and cattails, which is very valuable for many birds. Some bays are adorned with lilies and water lilies, and sour, wintergreen, horsetails and other herbaceous plants grow green on the banks.

Fauna

The surroundings of Lake Onega are full of life. Geese, ducks, swans nest in the reeds. Cranes, terns, eagle owls, grebes, herbalists also fly here. Woodpeckers, jays, tits, and many other small birds live in the forests.

The animal world is also widely represented. Local residents have repeatedly seen hares, squirrels, ermines, and roe deer in the surrounding forests. They say that bears are also found here, because their droppings are often found.

In the expanses of water and on the shores, seals can be observed. They swim here for food. There are a lot of fish in Lake Onega. About 54 species of fish live here, including whitefish, smelt, grayling, pike perch, perch, eel, sabrefish, silver bream, pike, bream and others.

Fishing on Lake Onega is productive at any time of the year. You can fish from the shore and from the water, which is more preferable. The depth of the bays of 40-100 meters allows the use of motorized vessels.

Settlements

The most famous and Big City, which grew up on the shoreline of Lake Onega, is the capital of Karelia (Petrozavodsk). It is called the city of labor and military glory, the historical and cultural center of the Prionezhsky district. People lived in this area as early as 6000 BC. e., as evidenced by the numerous sites found. But the city itself was founded by Peter I, who founded an arms factory here. Petrozavodsk is interesting for its historical monuments, architectural ensembles and the fact that interesting festivals are held here - Hyperborea, Air, White Nights of Karelia, as well as a sailing regatta.

Kondopoga is another city on the banks of the Onega, located 54 km from Petrozavodsk. It has been mentioned in historical chronicles since 1495. From the 18th century, marble began to be mined near it, which was used to build the palaces of St. Petersburg. IN last years The city authorities are actively developing tourism here. Of interest are the Assumption Church, built at the end of the 18th century, but restored twice, two carillons of bells, as well as leisure. The city stands on the banks of the Kondopoga Bay. The depth of Lake Onega here is up to 80 meters, which allows both amateur and commercial fishing. Its species composition in this area of ​​the lake is incredibly rich, and the bite is excellent.

Medvezhyegorsk. This is the northernmost and youngest city on the Onega. Its history began in 1915 with the construction of the railway. stations Bear Mountain. There are no unique attractions here, but this town is an excellent starting point for traveling along Onega.

On the shores of the lake there are many small towns and villages where tourists can find comfortable conditions for recreation. Among them are Pyalma, Povenets, Pindushi, Shalsky and others.

Ecology

In the northern water area of ​​the lake, environmental indicators are much worse than the southern one. This is due to the fact that about 90% of industry and more than 80% of the population are concentrated here. Every year, thousands of tons of waste are dumped into Lake Onega, including phenols, lead, sulfur oxides, waste reclamation water, and sewage.

Attractions

Interesting places in the vicinity of Lake Onega, several dozen. All of them can be divided into monuments of nature and history. It is more convenient to get to both of them by water. Land routes in many sections are so broken that only an SUV can overcome them.

You can visit the lake not only the island of Kizhi. Big interest cause petroglyphs, concentrated on the eastern shore of the reservoir. There are over 800 drawings here.

Tourists are always taken to Cape Besov Nos. It is famous for its hooked shape, as well as for its many rock paintings that adorn it.

Damn chair. This is an unusual formation in the rock near the village of Solomennoye. The height of the "seat" is 80 meters above sea level, and the height of the "back" is 113 meters. Damn chair formed glaciers. They say that if you sit on its edge and make a wish, it will certainly come true.

The Kivach waterfall on the Suna River was more powerful before the construction of the dam, but even now it fascinates with its power and beauty. There is also a reserve of the same name.

Of the man-made monuments in the vicinity of Onega, there are dozens of ancient functioning and already closed wooden temples. Each one is interesting in its own way. You can select Murom monastery in the village of Pudozh, the Museum of Marcial Waters, the Church of the Great Martyr Barbara.

Rest

Tourists come to the lake to relax both "savage" and civilized. In the first case, there are many possibilities and suitable places for breakdown campground. It is advisable to take into account that the best weather here is in August, but during the same period there is a massive breeding of mosquitoes and midges.

You can also stay in guest houses, which are now available in almost every coastal village. Mini-hotels will not only offer sleeping area, but also feed, rent a boat and fishing tackle.

Fishing on Lake Onega is the main entertainment for men. Guest houses are ideal for comfortable rest fishermen, because guests have the opportunity to take a steam bath in a Russian bathhouse, cook a catch on the grill, and sleep in a clean bed.

55 km from the city of Petrozavodsk operates a sanatorium " Martial waters”, which began its work in 1719. Allergy, skin diseases, cardiovascular system, lungs, joints, bone apparatus, nervous diseases, digestive organs are treated here. Vacationers are offered comfortable rooms with amenities, delicious food. Therapeutic and diagnostic procedures are carried out according to modern technologies.

Legends and myths

Lake Onega attracts many mysterious phenomena occurring in its vicinity.

The local population and tourists often see wandering lights, dark figures. Some even hear bells ringing and voices. These phenomena are most often observed in places of mass graves or where there used to be pagan sanctuaries.

There are also many documented cases that occurred in the vicinity of Lake Onega with people and give rise to assumptions that there are time and energy faults here.

The most sensational occurred in 1073 on the island of Bolshoy Klimetsky with A.F. Pulkin, fleet captain, deviator. He grew up in these places, he knows every path here. While fishing on the island, Pulkin went deep into the forest for firewood. The captain came ashore after 34 days. Pulkin could not explain where he had been all this time, and why the rescue teams could not find him.

Another strange story happened to the students. They came to the island to rest. But as soon as their boat moored to the shore, the guys felt an incredible energy impact in the form of vibration and an unpleasant buzz that caused a headache. All this stopped as soon as the students set sail from the shore.

In 2009, an incredible incident happened to the girl Anya (age 6). Her family arrived at Lake Onega to relax as "savages". Dad pitched a tent, lit a fire. Mom made dinner. Anya was playing nearby, but suddenly disappeared. The parents searched all around. The father rushed into the forest, constantly calling his daughter loudly. Mom stayed near the tent. The girl was nowhere to be found. Imagine the amazement of the parents when, after looking into the tent for the tenth time, they saw their daughter peacefully sleeping there. This story ended happily, except for the fact that Anya's eye color changed, curly hair straightened, old moles disappeared and new ones appeared. Parents are also embarrassed that the girl often speaks in a dream in a language unknown to anyone.

Similar stories among local residents walks a lot. Lake Onega, beautiful and majestic, keeps many secrets and is waiting for their discoverers.

Powerful and majestic, with long coastlines and many tributaries, Lake Onega is located in Karelia.

The lake is located in the European part of Russia and is considered the second largest freshwater reservoir, after Ladoga. Most of the lake went to the Republic of Karelia, about 80% of the entire reservoir was located there, and the remaining 20% ​​went to the Leningrad and Vologda regions. Lake Onega belongs to the basin of the Baltic Sea of ​​the Atlantic Ocean.

Characteristics of Lake Onega

lake area

The reservoir has a coastline of 1542 kilometers, total area 9720 km². The maximum depth is 127 meters, although the average depth for the lake is about 30 meters.

The length from south to north is 245 kilometers, and the largest width of the coastal zone is 92 meters.

(Map and scheme of Lake Onega)

Lake water temperature

The water temperature in Lake Onega during the warm periods of the year (starting from May) varies from +5 to +13 degrees. In August, if the summer turned out to be extremely successful and warm, then in shallow water the water temperature will be about +17 degrees. However, above +22, the water in Lake Onega has not yet heated up.

During the cold periods of the year, starting from September, the lake cools down. After a hot summer, the temperature slowly drops, in October and November it reaches +2 degrees. And with the onset of frost, it decreases to 0 or -2.

(Air temperature on Lake Onega in winter and summer)

The air temperature here does not warm up above +30 degrees, even if the weather is sunny long time. The highest temperature mark recorded on the territory of the lake is +35 degrees. The warmest period is July, when the air warms up to +17 degrees.

During the winter months average temperature air varies from -7 to -13 degrees. The absolute minimum recorded in this area was -42 degrees.

Svir river

The Svir River connected two large Lakes Onega with Ladoga with a water thread, 224 km long. The river begins its movement from Onega and changes in its channel from 100 m in the narrowest places and up to 12 km wide in the Ivinsky spill, then the river flows in the lowlands, occupied in the past by glaciers and flows into Lake Ladoga. In the Ivinsky spill, the river passes through the created Verkhnesvirsky reservoir, with an area of ​​183 sq. km with a hydroelectric dam. The river contains 30 islands, in the same place in the Leningrad region along the banks of the river there is the Nizhne-Svirsky Reserve.

Nature of Lake Onega

Lake Onega is characterized by low shores. Therefore, there are areas of terrain in the coastal zone that are completely swampy. However, such conditions do not prevent the development of flora and fauna, which is abundant both in the reservoir itself and around it.

The highest form of vegetation is the least common on the territory of Onega; it can be found only in protected areas. nooks and crannies in the northern part. But here reeds and reeds, growing in an even line along the coastal zone, feel good. In some places you can find water lilies, sedge, pondweeds, egg capsules, horsetails. Also, coastal areas are rich in dense taiga forests.

The fauna located on the territory of the Onega reservoir does not suffer from the conditions either. In total, more than 350 different forms and species live on its territory. Starting from the simplest forms, aquatic insects, crustaceans, mollusks and sea sponges, and ending with seals.

If we talk about feathered friends, then waterfowl nest on the lake - geese, gulls, ducks and swans. Often on migration there are such species as cranes, eagle owls, short-eared owls, herbalists, grebes, terns, shepherds.

Fish of Lake Onega: 1) Lake salmon; 2) Trout; 3) Paliya; 4) Vendace

Also, there are more than 45 species of fish that belong to 13 families. The species that can turn up for a fisherman are: salmon, lake and river trout, catfish, eel, ruff, pike perch, dace, crucian carp, sabrefish, rudd, smelt, roach, pike, silver bream, loach, sterlet, vendace, palia, whitefish, ide, perch and grayling. The most common of them are perch, bream, pike perch, smelt, pike, vendace and ruff, and the least common are whitefish, grayling, palia, catfish and dace.

Cities on Lake Onega

The coastal strip of Lake Onega is densely populated, although it does not have million-plus cities on the shore. The entire coastal zone is dotted with small villages and settlements. Most of the villages are located in the southern and western parts of the lake.

The largest of the populations are the cities: Petrozavodsk, Medvezhyegorsk, Vytegra and Kondopoga, and if we take into account the urban settlement, then the list can be supplemented by the villages of Povenets, Voznesenye, Shalsky and Pindushi.

If you are traveling through the territory of the Onega reservoir, be sure to visit Petrozavodsk. The capital of the Republic of Karelia has a large number architectural monuments, for example, the building of the old men's provincial gymnasium or the ensemble of the Round Square. Do not forget to visit Kizhi Island as well. Its main attraction is the historical, architectural and ethnographic museum-reserve.

Climate and seasons of Lake Onega

(Winter rotunda on the embankment of Lake Onega, Petrozavodsk)

In general, winter on Lake Onega is mild, air and water temperatures are acceptable even for desperate bathers who want to harden themselves. However, it is often too windy on the territory of the reservoir, the cold subarctic climate carries an abundance of air masses. In winter, this results in long blizzards and snowstorms, and in summer - in a storm.

When continental anticyclones come from the south and east, dry and hot weather sets in in the spring-summer period, and sunny and clear days in winter.

Summer on Lake Onega is distinguished by picturesque places. Almost the entire coastal strip in Karelia looks like a colorful picture that has come to life, and under the warm rays of the sun, the landscape seems completely fabulous. However, during the summer season, there are often precipitations on Onega, most of the norm (about 70%) falls precisely from May to August.