Karelia is an incredibly beautiful region with an almost untouched nature. Hundreds of tourists come here every year to enjoy the green landscapes, listen to the pre-dawn birdsong, breathe in the fresh air, go hiking or fishing. The main attraction of Karelia is its lakes. Large and small, with clear water, they become a real magnet for eco-tourism lovers. Vacation on the lakes in Republic of Karelia is an opportunity to fall in love with the beauty of this country.
Lake Ladoga
- Depth: in the northern part from 70 to 230 meters, in the southern part – from 20 to 70.
- Bottom: silty / sandy.
- Average water temperature in summer: +18 degrees.
- Fishing is possible: yes.
Lake Ladoga is the largest freshwater lake in Europe and the second largest in Russia (after Lake Baikal). Its basin area is 250,000 square kilometers, and the coastline stretches for 1,570 kilometers.
Tourists go on vacation to Lake Ladoga for crystal clear water and sandy beaches. The water in the lake is cool, but this is not a problem for the hot Karelian summer. Cozy recreation centers are spread along the coast, where tourists can rent a house, rent a boat and various bathing accessories.
On the shores of Lake Ladoga there is the Olonets reserve, where hundreds of species of birds, animals and plants live. You can get to the lake from the nearby settlements: Kuytezha, Olonets, Ilyinsky, etc.
Fishermen consider Lake Ladoga one of the paradise places. River trout and other salmon species, pike, perch, burbot, pike perch, whitefish, bream, etc. are found here.
Lake Onega
- Average depth: 30 meters.
- Bottom: sand / small pebbles.
- Average water temperature in summer: +17 degrees.
- Fishing is possible: yes.
Another giant lake in the vastness of Karelia. On the European continent, it ranks second after Ladoga. The lake basin area is almost 63,000 sq. km., and the length of the coastline is 1542 kilometers.
The main feature of Lake Onega is the multitude of islands scattered in its waters. The most famous island is Kizhi, where the museum of the same name is located. Going on vacation to Lake Onega in Karelia, you can stay in one of the small hotels, camping or recreation center. Gazebos with barbecues, baths and saunas, boat and water scooter rental are available for tourists.
The largest settlement on the Karelian side of the lake is the capital of the republic, Petrozavodsk. From Petrozavodsk you can get to the beaches and campgrounds of Lake Onega by taxi, bus or private car.
If you are going fishing, the lake will not disappoint you. Here you can catch sterlet, salmon, trout, whitefish, vendace, pike, grayling, bream, catfish, eel, pike perch, burbot.
Lake Vygozero
- Average depth: 6.2 meters.
- Bottom: sandy / rocky.
- Average water temperature in summer: +18 degrees.
- Fishing is possible: yes.
Located in the northern part of Karelia, Vygozero covers an area of 1200 square kilometers, and its basin is 19,000 square kilometers. The coastline of Vygozero Lake exceeds 650 kilometers.
Almost five hundred small islands nestled in the waters of the lake, which can be reached by a rented boat or speedboat, as well as as part of a tour to the islands. A tourist shipping route along of White Sea–Baltic Canal runs along Vygozero Lake.
It is better to go to the lake in mid-summer. By this time, the water near the coast warms up to 21 degrees. You can stop at one of the dozens of recreation centers or go with a tent to the equipped campings. The easiest way to get to Vygozero Lake is from the villages of Segezha and Nadvoitsy.
As for fishing, bream, pike perch, vendace, burbot, perch, roach, pike, ide – this is not a complete list of what a fisherman can catch in Vygozero Lake.
Lake Topozero
- Average depth: 15.9 meters.
- Bottom: muddy.
- Average water temperature in summer: +11 degrees.
- Fishing is possible: yes.
The area of the Topozero basin is three and a half thousand kilometers, and the coast stretches for 500 kilometers. Along the entire coast, tourists will find incredible landscapes with rock formations, forests and colorful wildflowers.
People rarely go to Lake Topozero to Karelia for a beach vacation, because it belongs to cold water bodies. Until May or early June, the water of the lake is covered with ice, and by the middle of summer, even near the coast, the water warms up by no more than 16 degrees. Nevertheless, recreation on the lakes in Karelia would not be complete without a visit to this reservoir.
Firstly, Lake Topozero has a very unusual color – the waters in it are light yellow, with a shade of blue. Secondly, there are very picturesque islands on it – Zhiloy, Taraskin, Kukat, Nuomu, Akhvenshuari and others. The third is fishing. Here you can enjoy freshly caught burbot, pike, bream, perch and other fish.
The largest villages near the lake are Kestenga, Sofporog, Pyaozersky.
Lake Segozero
- Average depth: 29 meters.
- Bottom: stony.
- Average water temperature in summer: +15 degrees.
- Fishing is possible: yes.
The lake basin area exceeds 7,500 square kilometers, and its coastline stretches for 410 kilometers. However, you will not be able to drive along the entire lake. There is no passage to the northern part of Lake Segozero, you can only get to the southern and western coasts along the highway passing nearby.
But it is precisely this inaccessibility that attracts tourists here. Here you can settle down with a tent on the deserted shore and during the whole period of your vacation you will not meet a single traveler. If you like such a secluded vacation, then Segozero will definitely suit you.
If complete seclusion is not for you, then look for recreation centers and campgrounds, which are located mainly on the southern coast. Here you can rent a house, boat, fishing tackle and “hunt” for salmon, palia, vendace, grayling, pike and other fish. By the way, fishing is the main type of attraction on this lake in Karelia. It is almost impossible to swim here because of the difficult topography of the coast and cold water.
Lake Pyaozero
- Average depth: 15.4 meters.
- Bottom: stony.
- Average water temperature in summer: +21 degrees.
- Fishing is possible: yes.
Almost 13,000 square kilometers of the lake basin is surrounded by a coastline of 256 kilometers. Despite its impressive size, this lake is one of the warmest in Karelia. The water near the coast warms up to +25 degrees in the middle of summer.
On the one hand, the lake is surrounded by the Paanajärvi National Park, and on the other, there are only a few small villages. The largest of them are Sofporog, Pyaozersky and Kestenga. Due to the fact that almost no one lives on the banks of the Pyaozero Lake, an incredible number of aquatic inhabitants have been bred here. If you are a fishing lover, then take a spinning rod, tackle and go for burbot, pike, roach, grayling, whitefish, perch, smelt, trout and palia.
Recreation centers are located mainly in the western part of the lake. These are small guest houses with 5-10 rooms. Everything in them is done so that you do not get distracted from observing the pristine nature on the lake.
Vacation on the lakes of Karelia with Kids
If you are planning a family trip to the lakes of Karelia, then choose the middle or the second half of the summer. At this time, the water and air are the warmest here, but not as scorching as in the south.
Travelers with kids in Karelia have access to equipped recreation centers, which have everything you need to stay with a baby – Eden, Kudama, House on the lake shore, Onezhskaya Gorka, Shishki, Akhvenlampi and others. But it is better to refuse campgrounds and remote corners: villages in Karelia are located at a great distance from each other, so getting to a pharmacy or hospital in case of trouble will be problematic.
Many rivers flow into the lakes of Karelia, so families often go there for rafting. Such an extreme type of recreation will leave an impression for a long time. The main thing is to choose an experienced guide with professional equipment.
But if extreme is not for you, then you can just go on day trips through the forests and mountains, where many hiking trails lead, or sunbathe on the beaches with crystal fresh water.
Conclusion
Rest on the lakes in Karelia will appeal to all lovers of green tourism. Diverse terrain, rich flora and fauna, clean air – what else do you need for a great summer vacation?
