Girvas volcano on the map of Karelia. Ancient volcano girvas in karelia
Karelia is a country of lakes and forests. However, this is not the only thing that attracts tourists. The republic also has unusual attractions which are not widely known. For example, the waterfall and volcano Girvas in Karelia. They got their name from the name of the village near which they are located.
The name Girvas is associated with the Karelian word "khirvi" or "khirvas", which means "elk" in translation.
Paleovolcano Girvas
Girvas is a paleovolcano, it doesn't work. Now more than five hundred active and “dormant” volcanoes are known, and the number of paleovolcanoes, extinct millions and billions of years ago, is in the tens of thousands. In Karelia, such antiquities are numerous - the territory of the republic is part of tectonic plate, Baltic shield. Therefore, during the period of its geotectonic development, there were many volcanic complexes here. The Girvas volcano was active for about 900 million years, more than two billion years ago, in the early Proterozoic era.
Approaching it, you can see the dry river bed. The volcano itself is not similar to modern ones and is an ancient stony rock. It is located north of the village of Girvas in the park. There is an entrance fee. Paleopark is equipped for tourists: there are cafes, souvenir shops, toilets, parking.
Geological data
The presence of volcanic rocks and characteristic relief in the Republic of Karelia has long been known. The Girvassky paleovolcano was discovered during the construction of the Palozero hydroelectric power station in the 1960s by geologists A.I. Golubev and A.P. Svetov.
According to geological data, Girvas is an integumentary volcano, belongs to the Icelandic type. The lava field is one thousand square meters and consists of one and a half dozen lava flows of different ages, which indicates about 15 periods of volcano activity during its action. The thickness of the ancient lava layers reaches one hundred meters.
In the gorge, where water is drained from the Paleozerskaya hydroelectric power station, there are lava flows, inclusions of volcanic rocks. The mouth of the former volcano is elongated into northeast direction. Its dimensions are 20 by 50 meters. An explosion pipe and an additional volcanic crater have also been preserved from ancient times.
Girvas volcano in Karelia: how to get there by car
You need to go along the Kola highway, on which there is a sign for Girvas. On the square with the shops of the village of Girvas, you can see a branch from the road to the right, to the north. If you turn there and drive a little further, bypassing the dam of the local hydroelectric power station, you will meet the sign “Park Girvas”. On the left - a cafe, a ticket office, a parking place. On the right is the entrance to the paleopark.
It should be noted that travel agencies commit organized excursions in Girvas.
Girvas waterfall
Girvas is famous for its nearby waterfall. It is located near the Palozersk hydroelectric power station on a paleovolcano.
It is worth noting that earlier the name Girvas in Karelia was borne by another waterfall. But after the construction of a dam on the Suna River in the 1930s, it is no longer active. The modern Girvas waterfall is located on the Pioneer Canal and is the most powerful in the republic. It is also connected with the ancient geological history of Karelia. Its bed consists of frozen volcanic rocks.
Most of the year you will not be able to admire the Girvas waterfall, because the water from the canal goes to the needs of the hydroelectric power station of the nearby village - Paleozero. However, in early May, excess water from the power plant is released, and the mighty torrents of water cause observers to admire and awe. The height of the water drop is 300 meters, and the highest cliff is 15 meters.
At a time when the waterfall is not active, you can admire the surroundings from the dam. Extreme lovers use the dry rocky bed as a place for climbing.
How to get to the waterfall
How to get to Girvas in Karelia by car? You need to go in the direction of Murmansk along the highway and turn to Girvas at the sign, get to the village, from where immediately turn right along a large asphalt road (about 7 kilometers after the sign). After a couple of kilometers, a hydroelectric power station will appear on the right, to the left of which there is a waterfall. When it operates, the sound of water announces the approach of the stream.
A bit about the history of water attractions
To the south of the village of Girvas in Karelia, on the Suna River, is the Girvas reservoir and dam. These notable places created by human hands. In the old dry channel of the Suna, you can look at the ancient lava rocks of the Girvas paleovolcano, and after walking along the channel, you can see the Poor threshold (now dried up).
The construction of the Sunskaya hydroelectric power station was thought at the very beginning of the last century. But they were able to start it only in 1915, when the arms production in Petrozavodsk, which supplied the fronts of the First World War with ammunition, felt a shortage of electricity.
Initially, they wanted to build a dam in a different place, upstream than the Kivach waterfall. As a result of this project, Sandal Lake was to be connected with two other lakes - Sunozero and Nigozero. From the latter, it was planned to lay a canal to the Kondopoga region, where, in turn, they were going to build a hydroelectric power station with a capacity of 20 thousand kW.
A canal was also supposed to appear, diverting water from the hydroelectric power station to Lake Onega. But there was a revolution, and there was no time for the construction of a hydroelectric power station. Work resumed only in 1923.
In the late 20s of the XX century, the Kondopoga power plant began work. It was no longer supposed to supply the arms factories of the Karelian capital, but the paper mill in the city of Kondopoga. Soon an unpleasant discovery was made - Sandal Lake began to shallow, there was not enough water for the normal generation of electricity. In this regard, they decided to send Suna along a new channel, to Paleozero.
In the early 30s of the XX century, the village of Girvas appeared, and in 1932 - Sunagesstroy. Soon they began to build a dam for a hydroelectric power station. Because of this, the water in the river rose by 50 meters. Beneath it were shores with forests and arable land, an old local cemetery and part of the small village of Koykary. The constructed dam became the reason for the end of the old Girvas waterfall. After all, it was erected in its place.
After the war, it was decided to build the Palozersk hydroelectric power station. Therefore, it was necessary to increase the water level of the Girvas reservoir by another 2 meters. The new hydroelectric power plant started operating in 1954.
What else is remarkable about Girvas
Of course, the main attraction can be called the nature of Karelia. Photos of Girvas convey only a small part of her beauty.
An interesting fact: there is an old airfield near the village of Girvas in Karelia. It was built in the early 1940s. Then appeared runway strip. Soon, before the start of the war, the strip was expanded and lengthened, which should have made it suitable not only for small aircraft. However, with the outbreak of war, work was stopped for obvious reasons. By the early 1980s, the airfield was a narrow dirt road and was used as a reserve for Aviation Regiment.
Only in the first half of the 1980s did it work normally. The rest of the time he was in reserve. And in the 1990s, after the relocation of the Aviation Regiment to Norilsk, it completely ceased to be used and fell into disrepair.
The runway for takeoff and landing is currently concreted. Its length is 2800 meters. Now the airfield is sometimes used for landing small civil aircraft and helicopters, as well as a platform for car and air performances.
Anton ★★★★★
(19-09-2018)
Girvas is worth seeing. Only you don’t have to pay for it, the locals simply breed naive tourists. Instructions for a free inspection can be easily found on the Internet, just type in the search: How to see the Girvas volcano for free.
The park is not bad, but half is not available for inspection: for example, marked at the entrance rocks, are visible only from the territory of the hydroelectric power station, for which the move is ordered. I did not see any signs of a volcano, and there were no special differences between this threshold and similar ones, for example, on Janisjoki. If you go from the village towards the Kola highway, then a kilometer from the sign there is a road to the right into the forest, leading to a wild analogue with an abandoned spillway.
Konstantin ★★★★★
(9-08-2016)
Were on August 2nd. A tourist site with a parking lot, a ticket office, a toilet, a cafe and a souvenir shop has now been designed by the road. The ticket is 100 rubles per person, however, I didn’t understand for what exactly: for visiting the waterfall or for parking, because. tickets were not checked at the entrance to the waterfall. Frankly, it’s not a pity for money - it’s clearly become cleaner and more well-groomed here.
And as for the waterfall itself, we were extremely lucky: a spillway was carried out, this is an enchanting spectacle, cooler than Kivach. It’s just that it’s inconvenient to slide down the slope to the lower viewpoint. ... continuation src="/jpg/plus.gif">
Maybe they'll think of making a ladder.
★★★★★
(7-08-2016)
Were in Girvas on August 3-5. heap positive emotions! We hit the spillway - Kivach is not even close! The spectacle is amazing! No one took the money, they parked the car behind the hydrostation and calmly entered the park. Everywhere clean and tidy! We crawled along the canyon (rift) for a long time! A lot of impressions, emotions, photos! The only negative is that we could hardly find places for tents. And I highly recommend staying here!
Were in August 2015. The water was just flowing! The spectacle is unforgettable. A powerful stream of water, the noise of which is heard hundreds of meters away. The car was left in front of the dam, then on foot. We walked along the waterfall almost to the beginning of the canal. Pleased with the absence of tourists and the cleanliness around, though there is a slight "trodden". Very a nice place. By the way, if 50 meters behind the dam turn right onto the forest road and drive forward 1-2 km, then they open amazing views to the channel!
Tourist groups do not bring here, so it is not crowded here, but on the rocks you can see “hello” to descendants. Rocky place around Girvas volcanic origin, millions of years ago there was a volcano crater. During the construction of a hydrodam on the Suna River, its course was artificially changed. Water is sometimes drained into the former channel, but this happens very rarely, so it is almost always dry and incredibly beautiful. This place is also called a stone waterfall. We passed part of the channel along its bottom and felt like grains of sand. ... continuation src="/jpg/plus.gif">
Indelible impression! Girvas, viva!
I got lucky in August 2015. Just in time for the spill! The spectacle is amazing! They tried to drive 100 rubles from the nose into the parking lot, this angered me (there is only one car). I drove 50m further, to the forest road and along the path we went to the stream. There is no garbage, but there are boletus :-)
I really liked the threshold and of course the abandoned runway 2500m long. Of course, they need to be taken out to separate sights of Girvas.
We arrived at 8.30. And two at once. Alas, for viewing (hydroelectric power station from below, i.e. spillway), now they will take 100.00, and no one really knows when the opening takes place. But, from 9.00 o'clock, we were taken for no money. A bag of shungite, costs 80.00, for water filtration, who knows. In Petrozavodsk, it reaches 300.00.
It looks, of course, good, in the sense of approaches to the stones, but there is still a lot of garbage if you turn into the woods next to it. It seems that the seizure of money from tourists is quite justified, but unpleasant, a fact.
Oleg Morozov ★★★★☆
(6-08-2015)
We were on the 20th of July, no one collected any money.
Michael ★★★★★
(19-12-2014)
If you are lucky, then everywhere around, and especially in the forest, you will find a surprisingly thick and incomparable coniferous smell. It can also happen with the release of water from the dam. We were twice: in 2012 we were lucky, in 2014 - not so much. But this place is definitely worth a look.
Antip ★★★★★
(9-09-2013)
Yes, the photo is not a crater, but a fault (canyon). The views from the crater are not worse.
Advice on how to find both.
So, having left Kola in the direction of Girvas, you drive to the village and along it. There will be a right turn - do not go there. And then it will be like a square with shops with a pronounced right turn and a weaker road straight ahead.
If straight - it's to the fault, you can stop on the left after the dam.
If to the right - you reach 2 branches of the hydroelectric power station - just between them you need to rest against the fence and along the path to the left - there ... continued src="/jpg/plus.gif">
and a crater.
Konstantin ★★★★☆
(30-07-2013)
How natural monument- Very beautiful. Unfortunately, the spillway was closed, and a timid stream oozed over the stones. I note that on the approach paths it is very littered with uncultured people, and on the paths of the slope it is very slippery after the rain. Honestly, it would be better to cultivate and take money for the entrance a la Kivach.
Have been here twice. The first time there was not much water and we were and crawled over the stones, both along the top and along the channel. It is really worth visiting here as one of the points of acquaintance with Karelia. The amount of stone is amazing, it's amazing how trees can grow on such a monolith.
The dam is rarely opened, and the sight is probably fantastic, given the elevation difference and the landscape. We were at the blocked dam, but got a lot of positive impressions. It is worth climbing from top to bottom, it is very beautiful and interesting - mini-falls, streams, various rocks, a variety of shapes and colors of stone ... We crawled over the stones for an hour and a half, if not more. It is not difficult to find - if you are driving from Kondopoga, then in the village you reach the "square" with several shops, and turn right from it, in the direction of the hydroelectric power station. ...
Volcano Girvas
Scientists who analyzed the rocks in the area of activity of the volcano are sure that the Girvas volcano was one of powerful volcanoes Earth. It shook the surface for several kilometers, the landscape changed in seconds, and now you can walk along the volcano without fear...
The word "volcano" evokes certain associations. First of all, it is a large cone-shaped object with a crater-shaped top. Girvas Volcano is not affected by these ideas. For 3 billion years, the forces of nature have been carefully removing all the results of the work of the Girvas volcano, which before that had been spewing lava for one billion years. Giant figures even on a planetary scale, given that the age of the Earth is about 6 billion years. The remains of the volcano's vent can be seen even now, it stretches for 50 m. In addition to the vent, the explosion pipe and the side layer of the volcanic apparatus are visible. It's like watching a volcano through a section or looking inside a complex mechanism.
However, it is far from the geological value that delights people who find themselves in the territory where the volcano hosted. First of all, the hearts of the guests of Karelia are conquered by the picturesqueness of these ancient monoliths, which have long been occupied by the approaching taiga. Many old coniferous trees have chosen sandy soils between the rocks. These deposits have been left here since ancient glaciation. The volcano was discovered several decades ago, but volcanologists are still interested in it, finding new features, making new discoveries. Girvas is an interesting book for them, and the more carefully you read it, the more interesting details it will tell.
Maybe no one would have known that the giant was active here, if not for the traces of lava rivers that were found in the former bed of the Suna. After the construction of the dam, the river exposed its bottom with petrified streams. The crater and debris of the volcano are completely destroyed. In this pile of rocks, it is simply impossible to guess the outlines of the volcano. Now it's very significant geological monument, which is not bypassed by any introductory geological expedition, and tourists are happy to honor this place with attention. There is a sense of transience here in a special way. In the past, the lava field was equal to 1 thousand square meters. km, which demonstrates the complexity of the volcanic structure.
In the stone conglomerates of the Girvas volcano, there are magmatic fragments in the form of pillars and balls, as well as whole “bombs”, inside of which gas voids are formed. If you take a position on the elevated bank of the river, then the lava tongue is clearly visible. The volcano itself is surrounded by a thick, several hundred meters thick layer of lava.
How to get to Girvas volcano
Tourists who plan to visit Girvas should definitely go to the waterfall located on the Suna River, 37 km from the volcano. Despite the change in the course of the river, the name of the volcano still looks majestic. The lacy frills of its water stream impress with their size and beauty. The volcano went out or maybe just fell asleep, because no one can predict what awaits our planet in the future. Look at this giant, frozen in the middle of a magical Karelian nature, definitely worth it.
The R-21 road, along which motorists get to Karelia, leads to the village of Girvas, a sign will warn about this. At the end of the village - turn right and after 2 km you will see the bridge and the structure of the hydroelectric power station. Behind the bridge is a place where you can leave your car. Next, you should go down a well-visible path.
Source: rus-globus.ru
Legendary Thirty, route
Through the mountains to the sea with a light backpack. Route 30 passes through the famous Fisht - this is one of the most grandiose and significant monuments nature of Russia, closest to Moscow high mountains. Tourists lightly pass all the landscape and climatic zones countries from the foothills to the subtropics, overnight stays in shelters.
The first in our travels to the sights of Karelia was trip to Girvas volcano
. About what is in Karelia dormant volcano, I was surprised to find out when I booked a ticket to. And after such an intriguing discovery for us, we go on an excursion to the volcano in anticipation of a meeting with something unusual.
On the way, looking from the windows of the sightseeing bus, we admire the landscapes of Lake Munozero. Already the names themselves here in Karelia are unusual for us: Munozero, Konchezero, Ushkozero, Girvas, Kivach, Suna, etc., and the stress is placed on the first syllable.
We make the first stop before reaching the village of Girvas near the bridge, which turned out to be a dam on the Suna River. The views of the river before and after the dam are very different.
In principle, it should be so, but the view of the river behind the dam is amazing. This is a narrow canyon with steep stone banks, the bottom of which is sometimes covered with a small amount of water.
On the pine we see a sign.
We go down from the road and pass along the right bank for some distance, admiring amazing scenery canyon.
The Suna River behind the dam.
And further short video, the daughter filmed at the dam.
Look at the opposite bank. It is clearly seen that this is a frozen lava flow.
This old channel of the once stormy and abounding river Suna. Before the construction of the Girvas dam and the bypass channel to the Palozersk hydroelectric power station, there were several waterfalls on the Suna River, including the Girvas waterfall, which was a cascade of rapids in a narrow canyon. And downstream after 3 km there was another Poor threshold waterfall. Now he remained on the Sun only. With sadness and regret, the guide told us about the loss by Karelia of such beautiful and once powerful lowland waterfalls.
In addition to the canyon itself, my attention was drawn to the method of installing electric poles on the rocky shore. I have never seen such a thing. (Photos can be enlarged).
But these locals have already caught the attention of my children. Apparently, the frogs have settled in the old pits. It was once here that geological samples of rock were taken.
In places there are such piles in crevices. They were hammered into crevices and chipped off stone blocks. To be honest, I listened to half of the story about these piles. So, when and for what these blocks were used, I will not say.
After admiring the Girvas section of the Suna river canyon, we went to the Girvas volcano itself. It's already behind the village. Here, too, there is a sign in the form of some gates.
We walk along the path, at the bottom right there is a small reservoir, obviously, this is a spare spillway from the dam, during the flood there is an idle spillway and then instead of an extinct volcano you can see a real waterfall.
We pass a small bridge.
And now, already, between the trees we notice, as if sintered rocks, and a small waterfall.
A little more and we're out open space. Wow! Here he is, how extinct Girvas volcano .
Girvas volcano
View of Girvas volcano and Pioneer Canal.
Of course, the volcano is not in the usual sense, it is not something high, glaciers and time have done their job, hewing and smoothing the ancient giant, whose age is more than two billion years. But still, it's impressive. Some kind of puppy delight from all this beauty covers me. I want to climb everywhere, see everything, touch everything and take pictures.
There I am - in the crater of an extinct volcano.
The place where we are is the crater of an ancient volcano. Here is what you can read about the Girvas volcano on the website of the information and analytical system “Specially Protected natural areas Russia":
At the crater of the Girvas volcano.
Tourists on the ancient giant. The buildings of the Palozersk HPP are visible behind the trees.
Now a small stream flows from the spillway through the volcano.
Here it is, frozen volcanic lava. Such a beauty.
From the volcano open beautiful views on sand dunes Pioneer channel.
I so wanted to sit down on that ridge next to a group of tourists and admire these landscapes. But our tourist group already returning back, had to catch up.
However, we did not go right away, but crossed the road. There is a small parking lot for sightseeing buses, several pavilions like summer cafes, souvenir shop and public place MF. We were given 15 minutes of free time. Having bought ice cream, we continued to enjoy the local landscapes.
The parking lot is stylized as a village. True, the fence with rugs against the background of electric poles looks ridiculous.
On the shore there are lovely meadow flowers.
Landscape Pioneer Canal in front of the dam.
There is also a trout farm here.
The map shows the Girvas volcano and the Girvas section of the Suna river canyon.
The excursion to the Girvas volcano ended, but on the way back the guide showed us something else interesting on Munozero. She called it "our Gulliver". And it really looks like a giant lying person. This landscape is visible when we pass through the village of Spasskaya Guba from Girvas towards Marcial Waters.
Here we have such a wonderful trip to Girvas volcano which exceeded all expectations.
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Anyone who has been to Karelia knows that in this area, literally at every step, there are amazing natural attractions. If you want to see something really unforgettable and unusual, then your path should run through the small village of Girvas. It was he who gave the name to the amazing attraction, which happy accident opened only in the 60s of the last century. You may have heard of her too. Although it is unlikely, because this place is still a scientific find, little studied by experts. So, get acquainted - Girvas volcano in Karelia.
Girvas - a volcano or not?
Having visited the area of Karelia where the Girvas volcano is located, you cannot immediately understand that under your feet there is a crater that once erupted tons of molten magma and threw dangerous ash boulders for several kilometers. Today there is nothing left of this elemental power. Except perhaps a layer of a lava field, barely visible from above, which stretches for several kilometers and goes into the hills, which in some places received the Suna flows and became part of its shores.
The Girvas volcano in Karelia is one of the oldest on the planet. It was active more than three billion years ago, after which it selflessly went out. Nature through rains, strong wind gusts, change temperature conditions decided to wipe it off the face of the earth by destroying all actual reminders of the volcano. That is how, over time, the crater and the mouth of this mighty giant disappeared.
A group of researchers managed to detect its presence, who began to study the Karelian landscapes before the construction of the hydroelectric power station. As a result of the blocking of the channel, the water level in the Suna decreased, which led to the exposure of part of its banks. That is how the researchers stumbled upon an extinct volcano. Later, it was given the name Girvas, as well as the village located nearby.
Scientists equipped expeditions several times to study the Girvas volcano in Karelia in more detail. They managed to find out that he belongs to the category of so-called " Icelandic volcanoes". Once upon a time, Girvas was a real natural disaster, as it regularly erupted hundreds of thousands of tons of volcanic magma, destroying all life within a radius of several tens of kilometers. Despite the fact that its crater and vent have been destroyed, the lava field remains. The researchers claim that it covers an area of tens of square kilometers and had a powerful influence on the formation of the local flora and fauna.
The depth of lava fields in some places reaches hundreds of meters. Moreover, the researchers say that they are heterogeneous in structure. In certain areas, so-called "volcanic bombs" were found. They are an accumulation of gas, placed in a shell of solidified lava mass.
Girvas Volcano: how to get there safely and quickly?
Every year, the number of tourists who want to see such an unusual natural attraction with their own eyes is increasing. Therefore, the question becomes natural, how to get to the Girvas volcano, what transport is suitable for this?
There are several options:
- The longest and most unpopular one is to get to the Kondopoga railway station, from where another 50 km can be reached by car or public transport to the village of Girvas. From here - a few more kilometers to the volcano itself.
- The most preferable and safe is to start moving from the Karelian capital - Petrozavodsk. You need to leave the city in the direction of Murmansk along the P21 highway, then, following the signs, turn to the village of Girvas. Having reached its center, turn left and move until you see the bridge over the Suna. Having moved to the other side, you can leave the car in the parking lot, and on the left you will see the Girvas volcano, “coming out” of the river.
