Lake Ladoga
Lake Ladoga is located in the northwest of Russia, in the land of harsh and marvelous nature. It is the largest freshwater lake in Europe. The area of the water mirror is 17,870 km², the total area of the Ladoga islands adds another 167 km² to this impressive figure. The size of the lake is 219 by 138 km, and the length of the winding coastline exceeds the distance from Moscow to St. Petersburg, reaching 1570 km.
Video: Lake Ladoga
Contents- Highlights
- History of Lake Ladoga
- Geography and natural resources
- Climate and weather
Lake Ladoga Sights - Beaches
- Active recreation
- What to buy
- Where to stay
- How to get there
Highlights
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Today, the Ladoga region is one of the most popular tourist regions in the country. Reserves protecting Karelian nature have been established here. In cities and towns located around Lake Ladoga, built tourist bases, hotels. The infrastructure is actively developing in the coastal towns – Shlisselburg, Priozersk, Novaya Ladoga, Sortavala, Pitkyaranta, from which the main excursion routes start. Travelers get acquainted with the beauty of northern nature, original monuments of history and culture.
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History of Lake Ladoga
Lake Ladoga is a relic of the last glaciation, which covered the Northern Hemisphere of the planet by geological standards not so long ago – about 10-12 thousand years ago. The vast valley, which is now the bottom of the lake, was filled with melt water, and rivers and streams rushed into the lowlands. Following the glacier retreating northward, people came to the shores of the reservoir. Numerous traces of settlements were discovered during construction works, and in archaeological science they were called Ladoga sites. Among the artifacts of prehistoric times are stone arrowheads and spearheads, fragments of ceramic dishes with ornaments, human burials and food remains. The diet of the local inhabitants of the Neolithic era was dominated by lake fish, meat was obtained by hunting seals, forest game and waterfowl.
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Lake Ladoga is often raging storms caused by strong gusty winds. It was this circumstance, which often led to shipwrecks, that forced Peter the Great to decide to build bypass channels to ensure safe transit navigation. The construction of canals continued in the following centuries. Thanks to these man-made waterways, today the lake is connected with the southern and northern regions of Russia by a lively navigation along the modern route “from the Varangians to the Greeks” – from the Baltic to Azov and the shores of the Black Sea.
.Dramatic events of the Great Patriotic War took place on Ladoga. Here ran the famous Road of Life, the only thread from the Great Land to besieged by Hitler’s troops Leningrad. In this area were major battles aimed at breaking the blockade of the Northern Capital.
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Geography and natural resources
The shoreline of Lake Ladoga is picturesque and diverse. The northern shore is composed of rocky ridges smoothed by the glacier, with huge boulders scattered among them. This part of the lake landscape is studded with islets, cut deeply into the mainland by narrow winding bays, here they are called skerries. Islands and coasts are covered with birch, pine and fir trees, shrubs dominate in the mossy undergrowth, berries and mushrooms grow in abundance. In the northern part of the water depth reaches 230 meters.
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There are 35 rivers flowing into Lake Ladoga, the largest of which are the Volkhov, Svir, Vuoksa. And flows out of it only one Neva, which retains the ancient Karelian name of Lake Nevo. Hence, probably, the concept of a seine – a fishing net. Geologists managed to find out that this outflow into the Baltic was formed quite recently, in foreseeable historical times. The Neva River is about 2500 years old. Before the Neva outflow into the Gulf of Finland, the level of the lake was about 12 meters higher, and all modern coastal regions were under water.
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East of Vyborg, geologists have found traces of the bed of an older river that carried away excess Ladoga water. This glacial channel existed about 10,000 years ago. Over time, the earth, freed from the weight of billions of tons of ice, seemed to breathe a sigh of relief, and the old riverbed gradually rose above the water level. Geologists note that the uplift of the granite shield, on which Karelia is located, continues to this day.
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Climate and weather
The climate on Ladoga is transitional from temperate continental to maritime. Cloudy weather prevails, sunny days are rare. But from the end of May to mid-July there are marvelous white nights. In March and September there are periods of prolonged rains.
.Hydrographers characterize Lake Ladoga as “cold-water”. In the deepest place the water temperature does not exceed +4…+5 ° C.
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The shallow southern part of Lake Ladoga warms up well in summer. In this area of water temperature in June-August reaches +24 ° C, and here opens a short beach season. But it is uncomfortable to swim in the most part of the reservoir even in the warmest part of the year, water temperatures rarely exceed +14 °С. The warmest period comes here in the middle of August, when the air temperature reaches +22…+24 ° C.
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Lake Ladoga sights
The extensive list of attractions of Lake Ladoga is headed by the world-famous ancient monastery on Valaam Island. According to legend, the first cross was erected here by the Apostle Andrew. Historians attribute the foundation of the monastery to the 11th century.
.On the neighboring island of Putsaari, surrounded by a chorus of small islets, there is a secluded hermitage of St. George. This quiet monastery belongs to the Valaam Monastery, tourists are rarely here.
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20 km from the town of Lodeynoye Pole, on the wooded bank of the Svir River is the Alexander-Svirsky Monastery. Here are worthy of inspection beautiful examples of Moscow architecture of the XV-XVII centuries. The interiors of the monastery’s buildings are decorated with ancient frescoes. Among the relics kept here is a consecrated copy of the famous Shroud of Turin.
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An interesting walk can be made through the historical center of Sortavala, located on the northern shore of Lake Ladoga. Here are preserved stone and wooden buildings of the century before last. In this region there are more than 60 monuments of historical and cultural heritage of the indigenous population of Karelia. Ancient settlements and necropolises date back to the VI millennium BC
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Beaches
Beaches are concentrated on the southern shore of Lake Ladoga. Here it is shallow, the water is quite warm in summer, but the bottom is almost everywhere muddy, although there are stony and sandy areas. In other parts of the reservoir the coasts are much deeper, the water warms up poorly during the short summer, besides it is cooled down by ice bottom springs. Rivers carry a lot of silt and peat into the lake, which is why the water in Ladoga is murky. Snorkeling and watching underwater inhabitants will not be possible – visibility underwater is almost zero.
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One of the most popular beaches you will find in the village of Kokkorevo. In the bathing season it is crowded, although the beach lacks the slightest signs of service. There are neither sun beds nor changing cabins, not to mention toilets. There is a bus from the railway station “Vaganovo” to the memorial “Broken Ring”, but it does not go to Kokkorevo. It takes about half an hour to walk to the beach. Vacationers come here by car, but there is no parking at the beach, the cars stretch in a long line along the narrow dirt forest road. Those who decided to swim here in the afternoon, have to put the car “in the tail” and walk to the beach a kilometer and a half.
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The ideal option is to come to Kokkorevo by bicycle. In this case, you can go along the coast farther away, find a secluded beach in the thickets of reeds, where it will be nice to swim and have a picnic. Just don’t forget to clean up your garbage – ecologists complain that during floods plastic bottles and bags from illegal dumps are carried by water even into nature reserves.
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Active recreation
The Ladoga region provides plenty of opportunities for sports and outdoor activities, from river rafting to mountaineering. In this area, hiking in mushroom and berry places is popular. In winter, ski tracks are laid along the coasts, skating rinks are organized on the ice. But the most popular hobby of travelers on Lake Ladoga is fishing, and you can successfully fish here at any time of the year.
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Experienced scuba divers can join the fascinating project “Secrets of Shipwrecks”. During annual underwater expeditions divers replenish the register of objects found on the bottom of Lake Ladoga. Among them – ancient ships, airplanes from the Second World War.
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What to buy
The inhabitants of Ladoga villages masterfully prepare smoked fish. Smoked salmon is especially tasty, but these weighty fish are sold only whole at an average cost of 600 rubles/kg, so the price of a smoked salmon can reach up to 6000 rubles. Local markets sell home canned food – pickled and pickled mushrooms, dried fish. Here you can also buy a wonderful lingonberry jam.
.Popular souvenirs – handicrafts of Karelian craftsmen from wood and stone, embroidery. In demand are healing “Karelian balsam” and bags with collections of local medicinal herbs.
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Where to stay
On the shores of Lake Ladoga, travelers can find modern recreation centers, cozy hunting lodges, inexpensive hostels, campgrounds, and cheap guest houses.
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Within the Leningrad region, you can inexpensively stay at the Ladoga Lake campground in the village of Bruneva. The cost of accommodation – 4000 rubles per day.
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Not far away is a recreation center “Krenitsy”. There is a restaurant, there is a guarded parking lot. Rooms are equipped with kitchenettes. Accommodation will cost from 2400 rubles, breakfast is included in the price.
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In Priozersk, the hotel “Uyut”, designed for budget tourists, is popular. Cook food will have to cook in a common kitchen. For a room you will have to pay from 1575 rubles.
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In the Karelian town of Salmi you can stay in the “Cottages of Mantiasaari”. At the disposal of guests is a two-story log cabin with two to three bedrooms, living room, equipped kitchen and private sauna. Fishing trips are offered, and snowmobile safaris in winter. The cost of accommodation – from 1836 to 3 475 rubles per day.
.In the vicinity of Lake Ladoga built and comfortable luxury hotel complexes. One of them – “Ladoga Estate” that in the Karelian town of Niemelyankhovi, standing on the shore of the eponymous bay of Ladoga. Warm cottages and townhouses are offered here, the interiors are made in the northern art nouveau style. The complex has pleasure boats, moorings, helipad. There are two restaurants, a lobby bar, a bath complex, a spa-salon, billiards, slot machines, a bowling hall. Excursion program, trips to Ladoga skerries and islands, boat rental and equipment for fishing and water sports are available. With the onset of cold weather, winter entertainment is organized for guests. Accommodation in “Ladoga Estate” will cost from 21 800 rubles per day. Breakfast (buffet) is included in the payment.
.How to get there
From Russian cities to the northeastern shores of Lake Ladoga is most convenient to get to via Petrozavodsk. The southwestern lakeside regions are accessible by transportation coming from St. Petersburg. There are regular buses to Sortavala, Novaya Ladoga and Priozersk from St. Petersburg. Large campgrounds and holiday homes send their own transport for guests. In remote corners travelers usually get to their own cars. For such trips, an off-road vehicle is ideal.
.During the summer navigation period from the pier in Priozersk to Valaam Island daily departures of pleasure boats and “Meteors”. In other settlements you can hire a private boat for a walk on Lake Ladoga and visit the islands.
Wealthy travelers can choose a multi-day cruise on a motor ship from St. Petersburg or Moscow. The cost of such a tour – from 8000 rubles, the program of the trip includes a visit to picturesque protected islands.
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