Ladoga skerries depth map. Lake Ladoga, northern shore, approaches to Sortavala. Main attractions. What to see

Karelia is a wonderful land of forests and lakes. An inexhaustible stream of tourists and fishermen go to Karelian reservoirs. largest lake Europe with clear waters, Ladoga, attracts numerous tourists and lovers fishing. However, its difficult relief, coastline indented with skerries, autumn storms can be very dangerous for an unprepared traveler. The depth map clearly demonstrates impressive indicators, where dangerous areas and bottom drops.

About the largest freshwater reservoir in Europe

Ladoga lake formed as a result of the movement of glaciers. Its water surface has an area of ​​about 18 thousand square kilometers. Northern part The lake is distinguished by many rocky islands separated by countless channels. The most famous is the Height of the rocks can reach 70 meters. The coastline is diverse - picturesque fjords and skerries in the north, smooth lines of sandy beaches in the eastern part, swampy southern shores with shoals and banks, densely forested western coast with placers of boulders. Amazing shapes and unusual outlines will be remembered by everyone who visits Ladoga.

The Ladoga pit holds an impressive amount of water - 908 cubic kilometers. The depth map strikes with solid numbers. The secrets hidden in its majestic abysses can still surprise researchers. The huge reservoir delights with its harsh beauty everyone who has to visit its open spaces.

Depth and relief of Ladoga

The relief of the lake bottom is different throughout its water area, changing depending on the height of the surrounding shores. The formation of the reservoir bowl occurred as a result of melting and advancement of glacial masses. The change in depth values ​​occurs gradually from north to south. The relationship is natural: the steeper the shores surrounding the lake, the deeper its bottom. In the northern part of the lake, as shown detailed map depths of Lake Ladoga, one can observe numerous bottom irregularities with indicators up to 230 meters. The relief of the southern part is smooth with a change in depth in the range of 20-70 meters. The most impressive figure is noted north of the island of Valaam.

Map - why is it needed?

The map of the depths of Lake Ladoga allows you to see all the unevenness of the relief hidden under the water column, the complexity of which is determined by the physical and geological features of the formation of the bottom. The map also shows a frequent predominance of critical depressions and dips in northwestern region, treacherous shoals and reefs. Of particular danger are the so-called luds - small smooth rocky islands, which, due to changes in the water level in the lake, can become completely invisible. The map also offers the possibility of finding large shallows for successful trolling. In such shallow waters, shoals of valuable commercial fish such as char, whitefish, pike perch gather.

Southern part of the lake

Geographically, the lake is located in Karelia and Leningrad region. One of the three large bays, the Volkhov Bay, juts out into the southern coast of Ladoga. On east coast lips is the mouth of the Voronezhka River. This section of the lake is a very interesting place for fishing. The bottom relief is uneven, in some places it has pronounced sharp elevations. The bottom of the bay is hard, sandy, with rocky ridges and muddy areas. The range of depth indicators ranges from 1 meter in the coastal zone to 20 meters away from the coast, as shown by the map of the depths of Lake Ladoga. Voronovo is locality on the shore of the bay, from which you can get to St. Petersburg.

Northern part of the lake

The northwestern shore of the lake is interesting for various types of tourist holiday. The unique landscapes of this area of ​​Ladoga differ from neighboring territories. Deeply indented by skerries and fjords, the bays especially attract vacationers on kayaks and small boats. In this part of the reservoir, sharp drops in the bottom from depressions to shallows are especially noticeable, which allows you to see a map of the depths of Lake Ladoga. Sortavala, the largest city in the Northern Ladoga region, is part of tourist route to the island of Valaam. The best assistant in moving among the labyrinth of skerries will be an experienced guide or map.

Numerous beliefs and legends have enveloped the history of ancient Ladoga. Mysterious phenomena, the beauty of the white nights, picturesque shores and exciting fishing attract travelers and connoisseurs of fishing. Don't be fooled visible beauty insidious Ladoga - it can be very dangerous for inexperienced tourists. Dense fogs, not uncommon for these places, and strong storms that amaze with their unexpectedness and power, represent serious threat. A map of the depths of Lake Ladoga marks treacherous sinkholes and shoals. To enjoy the surrounding beauty, it is better to use the services of experienced guides.

Lake Ladoga is located in the Republic of Karelia and the Leningrad Region of the Russian Federation. It is considered one of the largest freshwater lakes in Europe. Its area is about 18 thousand square meters. kilometers. The bottom is uneven: in one place the depth can be 20 meters, and in another - 70 meters, but the maximum is 230 meters. 35 rivers flow into this water area, and only the Neva flows out. Ladoga is divided into North and South, East and West.

Formation of the water area

Scientists say that Lake Ladoga has a glacial tectonic origin. At the site of its basin, about 300-400 million years ago, there was a sea. The change in relief was influenced by glaciers, which led to the rise of the land. When the glacier began to recede, it appeared glacial lake with fresh water, Antsyl Lake appeared, which connected with Ladoga. New tectonic processes take place 8.5 thousand years ago, due to which the Karelian Isthmus was formed, and the lake became isolated. Over the past 2.5 thousand years, the relief has not changed.
In the Middle Ages in Rus', the lake was called "Nevo", and in Scandinavia - "Aldoga". However, its real name comes from Ladoga (city). Now this is not only the name of the city, but the river and the lake. It is difficult to determine which object was first named Ladoga.

Climatic features

In the area of ​​Lake Ladoga, a temperate and transitional climate type has formed: from continental to maritime. It depends on the circulation of air masses and on the location. The amount of solar radiation here is small, so moisture evaporates slowly. The average number of days in a year is 62. The weather is mostly overcast and cloudy. The duration of daylight hours at different times of the year varies from 5 hours 51 minutes. until 18 h 50 min. From the end of May to the middle of July there are "white nights" when the sun sets below the horizon by about 9o, and the evening smoothly turns into morning.

The water resources of the lake are the main climate-forming factor in the Ladoga region. The water area contributes to the smoothing of some climatic indicators. So the air masses from the continent, passing over the surface of the lake, become sea. The minimum temperature of the atmosphere drops to -8.8 degrees Celsius, and the maximum rises to +16.3 degrees, the average is +3.2 degrees. The average annual rainfall is 475 millimeters.

Recreational riches

Despite the fact that even in summer the water in the lake is very cold, a large number of people come here for vacation every year, so there are beaches for tourists. Many vacationers ride catamarans and kayaks.

There are 660 islands on the lake, and they are mainly concentrated in the northern part of the reservoir. Among the largest are the Western and Valaam archipelagos, and largest islands- Riekkalansari, Valaam, Mantsinsaari, Tulolansari, Kilpola. Monasteries were built on some islands (Konevei, Valaam), where the relics of saints rest and sacred relics are located. There is also a memorial "Road of Life".

On the territory of the Ladoga basin, the Nizhnevirsky Reserve is located, where various species of fauna, including rare ones, live. The following types of flora grow here:

• blueberry;
• green mosses;
• elm;
• maple;
• Linden;
• mushrooms.

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

Location of the lake

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

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

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

Rivers of Lake Ladoga and islands

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

The most major river, flowing into Ladoga - Svir. She brings him water Lake Onega. Even such rivers as Avloga, Morie, Burnaya, Airajoki, Vidlitsa, Obzhanka, Syas, Olonka and others flow into the reservoir.

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

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

The largest islands:

1. Riekkalansari - 55.3 km. sq.
2. Mantsinsaari - 39.4 km. sq.
3. Kilpola - 32.1 km. sq.
4. Tulolansari - 30.3 km. sq.
5. Vaalaam - 27.8 km. sq.

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

The history of the lake

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

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

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

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

Climatic conditions

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

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

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

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

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

Lake coastline

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

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

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

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

Relief of the bottom of the lake

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

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

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

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

Economic importance of the lake

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

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

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

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

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

regular passenger traffic not on Ladoga. However, motor ships of a tourist destination go twice a day in certain directions during navigation periods.

Fish that live in the waters of the lake

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

Rest on Ladoga

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

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

Of particular interest to tourists is the island of Valaam. He is completely covered coniferous forest. The island has an old monastery, which was founded in the ninth-eleventh centuries.

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

Historical digression

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

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

Novaya Ladoga

Novaya Ladoga is one of the towns on the banks of Ladoga. It is located on the left side of the Volkhov River in the place where it flows into the lake. The city was founded in 1704 by Emperor Peter the Great himself. There are a lot of historical architectural monuments which may be of interest to guests and tourists.

Shlisselburg

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

Priozersk

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

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

Lake Ladoga is the largest freshwater lake Europe - 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 of 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 pond pressed by the banks broke through to Baltic Sea 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. South 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. Huge area lakes - over 18,000 sq. 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 famous words about the fact 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:

1. . 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. Curious natural phenomena: mirages, brontides (underground rumble).
5. Visiting holy places.
6. Developed tourist infrastructure.
7. Rest on sandy beaches.
8. 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.

Europe is famous for its beauty and attractiveness. Its nature has more than once become the property of songs and legends, fairy tales and poems, writings and stories. Among all the diversity, expanses of water stand out. Lake Ladoga is a bright representative. Its main difference from other water bodies lies in the rich flora and fauna.

general characteristics

Lake Ladoga is called the largest in Europe. Its area exceeds 18 thousand square kilometers. Interestingly, 457 kilometers of water area is occupied by the islands of Lake Ladoga, which in themselves are not so large. For example, the area of ​​the largest land areas located in the middle of the lake surface does not exceed one hectare. And in total there are more than 650 pieces. Nature has placed the islets so that over 500 of them are located in the northwestern part of the lake.

The rocky islands are distinguished by their bizarre shape and unusual outlines. Their height is 60-70 meters. It is especially interesting to watch harmonious combination coast and island lines. The islands are separated by numerous bays that cut into land areas.

Mother nature has been working on the artistic and aesthetic design of this corner for more than one millennium. the globe. Lake Ladoga is one of the oldest water bodies. In its lifetime, it has seen a lot, experienced amazing events, which can be judged by the numerous remains and remains on its banks and bottom.

New research has made it possible to find out more accurate parameters of the water body. Lake Ladoga is 83 kilometers wide and 219 kilometers long. Without insular territory it occupies a total of 17578 square kilometers, which allows us to call it the largest European lake.

The length of the coastline exceeds one and a half thousand kilometers. Scientists managed to calculate the coefficient of its irregularity. It is 2.1, which allows us to speak about the presence of multiple bays. The bowl of the lake is distinguished by its impressive capacity, which is 908 cubic kilometers.

lake depth

The average depth of Lake Ladoga is 51 meters. However, if we talk about the largest, then the figure already grows to 230 meters. The map of the depths of Lake Ladoga also makes it possible to judge impressive indicators. It usually marks the areas that are considered the deepest.

The bottom relief is not uniform. Therefore, it is not surprising that the depth of Lake Ladoga is different throughout its entire water area. For example, in the southern part, the bottom is flat and smooth. This helps to reduce depth. The decrease is observed from north to south. In the northern part, the depth reaches 10-100 meters, and in the southern part, this value is an order of magnitude lower and varies in the range from 3 to 7 meters. The bottom is distinguished by rocky spits and shoals, you can even find clusters of boulders.

Bottom relief

In general, such differences in depth are explained by the features of the geological structure of the bottom. Which, in turn, is due to its impressive length. Geological structure leaves its mark also on the lake basin and its appearance. Interestingly, the bottom relief seems to resemble islands. He copies them exactly. Thus, mountains and plains, depressions and potholes, hills and slopes can be observed at the bottom of the lake.

Most often, depressions up to 100 meters deep predominate. There are more than 500 of them in the northwestern part of the lake. It is interesting that such formations are concentrated in groups. And they, in turn, create a kind of labyrinth of bays. This phenomenon is called skerry. The map of the depths of Lake Ladoga allows you to verify this.

The slope of the lake has an average of 0.0105 and the angle averages 0.35 degrees. Given value near the northern coast it is already 1.52 degrees, and near the eastern coast - 0.03. This is also considered quite an important indicator.

Animal world

In a country like Russia, Lake Ladoga plays a huge role. They call him a supplier drinking water For northern capital state - St. Petersburg. However, in addition to this, a huge number of a wide variety of animals live in Ladoga. The main place among them, of course, is occupied by fish.

To date, more than 58 varieties and species of fish are known to exist in the waves of Lake Ladoga. It is interesting that there are those who are "guests" in Ladoga. These include sea eel, Baltic salmon and sturgeon. They only occasionally swim into the waters of the lake. permanent place their habitat is The Gulf of Finland and the Baltic.

Unfortunately, due to the massive catching of fish today, far from all of its former inhabitants have remained in Ladoga. Sometimes representatives of the fish kingdom disappear for no apparent reason. For example, sterlet. It is no longer found in Ladoga waters, and the researchers have not found the reasons for this.

New species

But new inhabitants appeared in the lake. They are represented by peled and carp. The latter appeared in Ladoga relatively recently - in 1952-1953. The reason for this was that it was bred in the nearby lake Ilmen. The fate of the peled was similar. It "wandered" to Ladoga from the Karelian Isthmus, where it was actively bred in the late 50s of the last century.

In addition, in the waters you can also find such fish as palia, salmon, pike perch, whitefish, bream, trout, ripus and vendace. They are distinguished by their value in the field of industry. These species are called commercial. There are also less valuable inhabitants of the lake. Among them are roach, smelt, pike, ruff, blue bream, bleak and bream. They are considered no less tasty, but their use in food is represented by smaller volumes.

Probably, it is impossible to really name all the fish that are found in the waters of Lake Ladoga. There are so many inhabitants there that work on their discovery and study continues even now.

On the brink of extinction

Some fish of Lake Ladoga are now on the verge of extinction. Among them are those that are considered valuable in the industrial field. The brightest example- salmon. In Ladoga there are individuals whose weight exceeds 10 kilograms. They are real giants. Interestingly, the fish goes to spawn in late spring and summer. Young animals live there for no more than a couple of years, and then return to the lake.

Now the rivers are littered with lumber, so salmon spawning has become difficult. In this regard, it was decided to suspend the mass catch of fish. The corresponding law was passed in 1960.

Another valuable fish is palia. She lives in the northern part of the lake. In winter, it can be found at a depth of more than 70 meters, and in the warm months it rises to 20-30. Reproduction occurs in mid-autumn.

Live in Ladoga and whitefish. Now there are seven varieties of them in the lake. Four of them, namely the Lake Ladoga, Ludog, Cherny and Valaam, are considered exclusively riverine, and the other three - Svir, Vuoksa and Volkhov - can live both in the lake and in the river. On average, during the breeding season, each individual lays about nine thousand eggs in October and November.

More recently, people were massively engaged in catching whitefish, and now this species is on the verge of extinction. A peculiar reason for this can be called the construction of the dam of the Volkhovskaya hydroelectric power station. The fish could not overcome such an obstacle, and the measures people took to do this did not save the situation.

Rivers of Lake Ladoga

Now let's talk about water arteries.

The rivers of Lake Ladoga are very numerous. This allows us to speak of its wide drainage basin. Its area exceeds 250 thousand square kilometers. Not every lake can boast of such figures.

Finland and Karelia, located nearby, share water wealth with Ladoga, rivers also carry their waves from Novgorod, Pskov and Vologda lands. The water bodies of the Arkhangelsk and Leningrad regions make their contribution.

In total, about 45 thousand streams and rivers flow into Lake Ladoga. Interestingly, before becoming part of Ladoga, the waters of the rivers accumulate in the nearest lakes, including Saima, Onega and Ilmen. They, in turn, make it possible to form such tributaries of the main Ladoga as the Volkhov, Vuokse and Svir. In total, they bring more than 57 cubic kilometers of water into the lake every year. This is approximately 85 percent of the total water mass that accumulates in the geographical feature in a year.

All other tributaries are called small. There is no explanation for this, because among them there are such impressive full-flowing rivers as Janisjoki, Syas and Tulemajoki.

It should be understood that the tributaries of the Ladoga are quite young - by the standards of rivers - in age. They are only 10-12 thousand years old. That is why most of them have not yet formed wide valleys. They flow among rocky areas and steep banks.

The Baltic crystalline shield lies in the northeastern part of the lake. That is why the most full-flowing and loud tributaries flow into Ladoga from that side. Very often they turn into full-flowing turbulent streams, encountering rocks on their way that are quite difficult to wash away.

Svir tributary

Lake Ladoga is located in Russia, and the Svir is called its most full-flowing stream. This river flows from the Svir Bay of Lake Onega, and flows into Ladoga from the southeast.

Its length is about 224 kilometers. The river includes two large tributaries, which are called Pasha and Oyat. Interestingly, the origin of this object is still shrouded in secrets and mysteries.

The Svir River itself and its banks are not distinguished by the picturesqueness inherent in Ladoga. The description of Lake Ladoga tells about the amazing beauty of its shores, which Svir cannot boast of. Its coast is covered with alder bushes and wetlands, coniferous forests are found. Basically, the banks of the Svir River are accumulations of stones and boulders.

In ancient times, the Svir was famous for its numerous rapids. They could not be called high, but heaps of boulders were a serious obstacle to navigation. Local residents very often rescued sailors by helping them cope with crossings. Very often, residents of coastal villages and cities themselves served as sailors, pilots, and even captains. Proximity to deep river left its mark on the character and way of life of people.

But if we talk about the animal world, then it is quite large. It is in the waters of this river that salmon spawning is often observed. In the spring, you can meet flocks of these fish that head to the mouth of the Svir. The Oyat and Pasha tributaries play the main role in spawning. Ichthyologists believe that it is these rivers that can contribute to the revival of salmon in Lake Ladoga.

When to visit

Lake Ladoga for centuries of history shrouded in secrets, riddles and legends. All this, of course, attracts many tourists. People also go to Ladoga to admire the amazing beauty of nature, to see one of the largest lakes in the world with their own eyes.

In order not to miscalculate, you should know when it is better to go, what time to give preference to.

Traveling here in May and June will be foggy in literally this word. In late May and early June, thick fogs descend on Ladoga, and it is quite easy to get lost in them. In such cases, it is very important to take with you experienced guides who will help you get on the right track and see all the surrounding beauty.

This time is considered cold enough for those places. In the evening, skerries can be covered with a thin crust of ice, and the wind brings dampness. Of particular interest are the few hours after sunny weather. At such moments, the lake shines with calmness and attractiveness. However, in the next moment, a breeze comes up. It causes meter-long waves in the bays, although the lake off the coast continues to be distinguished by tranquility.

One of the most striking advantages of this time, of course, after an attractive appearance coastal area, is the complete absence of mosquitoes. Dignity is also called the extraordinary purity of the lake. The bottom, even at a depth of several meters, can be seen very clearly. It is believed that if you drink water at such a moment, then happiness will not be long in coming. The water itself is clean and delicious.

Those people who appreciate comfort and coziness should visit Ladoga in the last two months of summer. This period is considered the best for good rest. In this case, the temperature of air and water exceeds the optimal mark, allowing you to swim in the waves of the lake and sunbathe on the shore. On the islands you can pick berries and mushrooms, which are in abundance there.

Those people who travel to Ladoga in order to admire the local beauties should choose the autumn months, when literally the entire coast shimmers with gold and bronze. In October, there is a deterioration in the weather, which is accompanied by fogs and storms. At such times, you can meet many artists and landscape painters here. They try to capture the exuberant beauty of Ladoga.

Lake Ladoga in winter is also an interesting sight. However, it is quite cold here at this time of the year. But the middle of the lake does not freeze even when severe frosts because of the impressive depth.

Those people who want to visit this corner of our vast Motherland should look for Lake Ladoga on the map. Many travel companies offer complete itineraries. If you wish, you can choose one of the suggested ones or create your own.

A trip to the coast of Lake Ladoga will surely be remembered by everyone. Distinguishes this area Amazing beauty nature at any time of the year, the diversity of flora and fauna, as well as the opportunity to have a great rest.