20.10.2019

Vegetation of Karelia. Flora of Karelia Green Belt of Fennoscandia

Evgeny Ieshko

Vice-chairman

Presidium of the Karelian Scientific Center of the Russian Academy of Sciences

Karelia - a country of lakes, forests and stones

In the land of lakes and forests

Karelia is traditionally called a lake and forest region. Its territory, which is larger in area than Belgium, Holland, Switzerland and Denmark (without Greenland) together, is inhabited by a little more than 700 thousand people. Representatives of many nationalities live here, having a lot in common in their culture. Russians, Karelians, Belarusians and Ukrainians predominate. And for example, such peoples as Vepsians and Ingrians, indigenous to these places, are very few in number today. There is a fear that if the current unfavorable demographic trends continue, they may disappear.

The glaciation of its territory played a significant role in the formation of the modern relief of Karelia, which is characterized by rockiness and a clear orientation of water basins (from northwest to southeast). Intensive melting of the glacier began here about 13 thousand years ago. The ice sheet had a width and length of hundreds of kilometers. The ice finally melted only in the early Holocene. The waters of melting glaciers filled the folds of the rocky relief. As a result, many lakes have formed. The catalog of reservoirs of the republic includes 61 thousand lakes. There are more than 27 thousand rivers in Karelia.

The first traces of an ancient man who created his settlements on the territory of present-day Karelia date back to the 3rd millennium BC. In the first half of the next millennium, separate isolated groups already lived along the entire perimeter of Lake Onega. Among the surviving material evidence of this historical period, a special role is assigned to rock carvings - petroglyphs. On the sloping smooth granite rocks of the eastern shore of Lake Onega, hundreds and hundreds of various drawings of an ancient person were found. The open-air art museum attracts many tourists and researchers to these parts. Petroglyphs are trying to decipher and, on this basis, to comprehend the worldview of the Neolithic man and, perhaps, to better understand themselves.

virgin forests

For a number of reasons, intensive forestry activities have bypassed the Karelian forests located along the border with Finland. This led to a high degree preservation of the "islands" of virgin nature. The largest massifs (more than 100 thousand hectares each) of virgin (primary) forests in the west of Eurasia have been preserved only in the Republic of Karelia and the Murmansk region. The age of individual pine trees in such forests reaches 500 years or more. In these areas of the taiga zone of Russia, an appropriate network of specially protected natural areas has been created.

In Karelia, primary forests in the rank of national parks and reserves are preserved on an area of about 300 thousand hectares. It is assumed that about 150 thousand hectares of protected taiga lands should be added to this. To the west of the Russian-Finnish border, such large tracts of virgin forests have not survived. That is why the primeval forests of Karelia are of global importance.

Virgin forests are an integral part of the Paanayarovsky National Park, the Kostomukshsky, Pasvik, and Laplandsky nature reserves. One of the most precious pearls of the Green Belt of Fennoscandia, which, like a meridian, stretches from north to south along the state border from Barents Sea to the Gulf of Finland, will be the Kalevalsky National Park, which is being created now.

Not only beauty, but also wealth

The nascent industry has become the driving force behind the development of forests in Karelia. At the beginning of the 18th century, deforestation (in particular, for shipbuilding) was mainly selective here. Clear-cutting was practiced only around metallurgical plants. In the 19th century, the volume of timber harvested grew rapidly. If in 1850 305 thousand m 3 of forest was harvested, then in 1899 - 2.5 million m 3. At the beginning of the 20th century, annual logging in Karelia reached 3 million m 3 , and in the 1960s it exceeded 10 million m 3 . Workpiece records were set and immediately broken. In 1967, an unsurpassed record was set so far - about 20 million m 3.

Today, the AAC in Karelia, which is 9.2 million m 3 , is used by about 65%. The period of reforms that the country is going through has not bypassed the forest industry. Logging in the 90s was greatly reduced, and only in Lately felling intensity starts to rise again. Wood is required by the growing paper-making industry and the construction industry. Timber is an important export product that has an enduring demand on the world market.

With deforestation and changes in natural landscapes, the biological diversity of flora and fauna is changing. Intensive logging, the development of a network of logging roads, an increased number of pickers of mushrooms and berries - all this worries wild animals. That's why "pushed back" to the north of southern zone wolverine, forest deer, whooper swan and bean goose transfer their nesting places there.

Problems of aquatic communities are also often associated with negative impacts economic activity person. For example, as a result of the construction of hydroelectric power plants, the ecosystems of the Kemi and Vyga rivers have suffered. As a result, the largest populations of Atlantic salmon and other valuable salmon fish in the republic have been lost. Fortunately, these examples are the exception rather than the rule. In general, economic activity in the republic does not have a serious effect on the nature of Karelia. negative impact. Countless picturesque corners of the vast taiga region are pristine and clean. This is facilitated by the fact that Karelia is located at a considerable distance from large sources of pollution located in the industrial regions of Central Europe and Russia.

What's in the basket?

In the forests of the republic, rich reserves of medicinal, berry plants and edible mushrooms.

150 species have been identified in the region medicinal plants, of which 70 are used in scientific medicine. Of greatest interest for industrial harvesting are blueberries, lingonberries, bearberry, wild rosemary, erection cinquefoil (galangal), common mountain ash, tetrahedral St. John's wort, common raspberry. Up to 70% of the identified available stocks of medicinal plants fall on the leaves and shoots of lingonberries, blueberries and wild rosemary.

Although the reserves of the main types of medicinal plants are estimated at 10.5 thousand tons, the volume of industrial harvesting of medicinal plants in the republic is currently insignificant - only 5-6 tons per year.

About 100 species of plants suitable for food and about 200 species of honey plants grow in Karelia. Blueberries, lingonberries, cranberries and cloudberries are of the greatest economic importance. The biological reserves of the berries of these plants amount to 120.4 thousand tons, of which 61.8 thousand tons are available for mass harvesting.

Despite the significant reserves of available berry resources, there are no solid industries for their processing in the republic. Because in large numbers wild berries are exported outside the republic in unprocessed form. Part of the harvested berries - 4.5 - 5.5 thousand tons per year - is exported. For comparison: for their own needs, the population of Karelia annually also prepares 4-5 thousand tons of berries.

Edible mushrooms are an essential addition to the table of local residents. In the forests of Karelia, there are about 200 species of edible mushrooms, of which 47 are recommended for harvesting. The local population usually collects no more than 20 species. Of the tubular mushrooms, this is primarily the king of mushrooms - the porcini mushroom, then aspen, birch, boletus, mossiness mushrooms and goat. In large quantities, the inhabitants of Karelia prepare for the winter in a salty form agaric mushrooms and, above all, real mushrooms, volushki and serushki. The real chanterelle, pine and spruce mushrooms, occasionally found in the southern regions of Karelia, are also highly valued.

In years with an average harvest, the reserves of edible mushrooms in the republic are estimated at 164 thousand tons, in high-yielding years they increase by about 1.5-2 times, in lean years they are 6-7 times lower than the average.

Orchids of Karelia

The flora of Karelia is distinguished by great diversity. Botanists find here plants that are not found, or almost never found, in the neighboring countries of Northern Europe, where, with the introduction of new farming methods, suitable habitats for these plants disappear. These, in particular, include orchids, representatives of the family of delicate outlandish flowers that usually grow in tropical latitudes. But it turns out that some orchids take root well in the north. In Karelia, 33 species of orchids have been "registered". At the same time, 27 species grow on the territory of the Kizhi archipelago, which is distinguished by unique natural climatic conditions. Here, for example, such species that have almost disappeared in European countries grow, such as the lady's slipper, the unifolia pulp, the green half-petal, Dortman's lobelia.

Orchids of Karelia are, as a rule, small, nondescript plants. An exception are representatives of the genus venus slipper, numbering about 50 species, of which 4 are found on the territory of Russia. Among them, the real slipper and the large-flowered slipper are the most decorative. Both species are listed in the Red Book of Russia, as well as in Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Species of Wild Fauna and Flora. By the way, the slipper is real - the first orchid of the temperate zone, taken under protection back in 1878 (in Switzerland). Now this species is protected in all European countries, it is listed in the IUCN Red List.

Seal

Among the inhabitants of the reservoirs of Karelia, the Ladoga seal (pinniped mammal of the seal family) can rightfully be proud of its status. This is an endemic subspecies of the ringed seal, a relic of the Ice Age, listed in the Red Books of Fennoscandia, Ross
ii, karelia and to the list rare species animals of the World Conservation Union.

In freshwater reservoirs, seals live only in lakes Ladoga (Karelia), Baikal (Siberia) and Saimaa (Finland). The presence of a marine relic in the freshwater lake is explained by the origin of Lake Ladoga as a body of water separated from the sea. The Ladoga seal is the smallest subspecies of the ringed seal, whose body length is 110-135 cm. In summer, these animals prefer to stay in the northern part of the lake, where islands, stones and capes are convenient for rookeries in abundance. In winter, the seals go to the shallower southern parts of the reservoir. Many researchers associate the seasonal movements of seals with the migration of fish.

In the early 1930s, stocks Ladoga seal were determined at 20 thousand heads. However, due to predatory fishing (in some seasons, up to one and a half thousand animals were shot), the population of the seal was greatly reduced. This was facilitated by the beginning of the use of nylon nets in the 1950s, when the number of deaths of seals in them reached 700 heads per year. As a result, by 1960, the number of seals in Lake Ladoga decreased to 5-10 thousand heads.

Since 1970, seal fishing in Lake Ladoga has been regulated by setting production limits; in 1975, a ban was introduced on sports and amateur hunting for this animal. Since the beginning of the eighties, the seal has been under protection. Its number does not yet exceed 5,000 heads, while there is a tendency to restore it.

Olonia - goose capital

The coast of Lake Ladoga (the largest freshwater lake in Europe) and the territories adjacent to it are a real "bird's Eldorado". In spring, at the time of passage through this territory to the North-East along the White Sea-Baltic flyway, huge masses of birds that wintered in Western Europe and Africa rush. Some of them overcome the space between the Baltic and the White Sea in one non-stop flight (for example, the black goose, some sandpipers). But most other migratory birds make rest and feeding stops along the way. Especially large concentrations in Karelia near the town of Olonets are formed by geese, which find here ideal conditions for feeding in vast fields and excellent, safe places to spend the night in the waters of Lake Ladoga or large swamps filled with melt water. It is this combination that contributes to the fact that very large geese camps are formed here, the most powerful in Northern Europe. For the spring period, from 500,000 to 1.2 million individuals are counted here.

Shungite as a national treasure

Shungites are unique rocks , got its name from the Karelian village of Shunga, located on the shores of Lake Onega. Structural analogues of shungite are not found anywhere in the world. The reserves of the world's only Zazhoginsky deposit of shungite rocks, located in the Medvezhyegorsk region, are estimated at 35 million tons.

Shungite rocks are a natural composite with an unusual structure, in which highly dispersed crystalline silicate particles are uniformly distributed in an amorphous silicate matrix. Shungites also contain carbon in a non-crystalline state. On average, the rock of the deposit contains about 30% carbon and 70% silicates. Shungite has a number of unique properties that determine the scope of its use. Thus, shungite carbon is highly active in redox reactions. Using shungites, one can obtain structural rubbers (rubber plastics), electrically conductive paints, and plastics with antistatic properties. Shungite electrically conductive materials can be used in heaters of low specific power, which are safe in terms of fire.

Materials based on shungite have radio shielding properties. In addition, shungite has the ability to purify water from organic impurities, in particular from oil products and pesticides, from bacteria and microorganisms. These properties are already being used in a variety of filters. So, in Moscow, shungite filters are used to treat wastewater from the ring road.

The use of shungite preparations is promising in pharmacology and cosmetics. Water infusions on shungite, shungite pastes can have anti-allergic, antipruritic and anti-inflammatory effects. Shungite-based preparations can treat allergic, skin, respiratory, gynecological, muscle and joint diseases.

Green Belt of Fennoscandia.

The concept of the Green Belt of Fennoscandia (GGB) was born in the early 90s, as a project for a harmonious combination of the interests of society and nature. The original idea involved the development of a unified policy in the field of environmental protection on both sides of the Russian-Finnish border. Such a policy means a combination of effective management forest resources while preserving the unique natural and cultural heritage.

The created FZF is a strip with the largest for of Eastern Europe preserved massifs of virgin (primary) coniferous forests along the Russian-Finnish border. It combines into a single whole both unique natural complexes (virgin forests, rare and endemic species of flora and fauna, key habitats for migratory birds, etc.), and cultural monuments (wooden architecture, rune-singing villages, etc.) of the North-West of Russia and Finland. The Green Belt is of world ecological and historical and cultural significance and deserves to be assigned the status of a "UNESCO World Heritage Site", work on nominating it to the list of World Heritage Sites is actively underway at the present time. The core of the ZPF are already existing and planned protected natural areas(PAs) - 15 on the Russian side with a total area of 9.7 thousand km 2 and 36 in Finland with a total area of 9.5 thousand km 2. The creation of the FFF will promote international integration in the field of conservation of natural (in particular, habitats and biodiversity of boreal forests) and cultural heritage of Northern Europe, as well as their sustainable use (sustainable management of forest resources, development of small businesses related to non-forest resources and eco-tourism, revival and preservation of cultural traditions, crafts, folklore holidays).

The green belt of Fennoscandia should become a network of protected areas, organically linked to the zones of economic activity. It is intended to be a stimulus for the development of its constituent territories, attracting additional investment in the local economy.

The vegetation cover of Karelia includes about 1200 species of flowering and vascular spores, 402 species of mosses, many species of lichens and algae. However, a little over 100 species of higher plants and up to 50 species of mosses and lichens have a significant influence on the composition of vegetation. About 350 species have medicinal value, and are listed in the Red Book of the USSR as rare and endangered species in need of protection. Within Karelia, there are boundaries of distribution of a number of species. For example, in the eastern part of the Pudozh region there is western border the distribution of Siberian larch, in the Kondopozhsky district - the northern border of Corydalis, medicinal primrose; the northern limit of the area of the marsh cranberry is located, although in the Murmansk region, but not far from the border with Karelia; to the north, only small-fruited cranberries are found.

Forests.
Karelia is located within the subzones of the northern and middle taiga of the taiga zone. The boundary between the subzones runs from west to east somewhat north of the city of Medvezhyegorsk. The northern taiga subzone occupies two thirds, the middle taiga - one third of the republic's area. Forests cover more than half of its territory. The forest is the main biological component of most landscapes in the region.
The main tree species that form the Karelian forests are Scots pine, European spruce (mainly in the middle taiga subzone) and Siberian (mainly in the northern taiga), downy and drooping birch (warty), aspen, gray alder. Spruce European and Siberian in nature easily interbreed and form transitional forms: in the south of Karelia - with a predominance of signs of European spruce, in the north - Siberian spruce. Within the subzone of the middle taiga, in the stands of the main forest-forming species, Siberian larch (south-eastern part of the republic), small-leaved linden, elm, elm, black alder and the pearl of Karelian forests - Karelian birch are found as an admixture.
Depending on the origin, forests are divided into indigenous and derivatives. The first arose as a result of natural development, the second - under the influence of human economic activity or natural catastrophic factors leading to the complete destruction of indigenous forest stands (fires, windfall, etc.) - At present, both primary and secondary forests are found in Karelia. The primary forests are dominated by spruce and pine. Birch forests, aspen forests and gray alder forests were formed mainly under the influence of economic activity, mainly as a result of clear-cutting associated with logging and slash-and-burn agriculture, which was carried out in Karelia until the early 1930s. Forest fires also led to the change of coniferous species by deciduous ones.
According to the forest fund accounting data as of January 1, 1983, forests with a predominance of pine occupy 60%, with a predominance of spruce - 28, birch - 11, aspen and gray alder - 1% of the forested area. However, in the north and south of the republic, the ratio of forest stands different breeds is significantly different. In the northern taiga subzone, pine forests occupy 76% (in the middle taiga - 40%), spruce forests - 20 (40), birch forests - 4 (17), aspen and alder forests - less than 0.1% (3). The predominance of pine forests in the north is determined by more severe climatic conditions and the wide distribution of poor sandy soils here.
In Karelia, pine forests are found in almost all habitats - from dry on sands and rocks to swampy ones. And only in swamps does pine not form a forest, but is present in the form of separate trees. However, pine forests are most common on fresh and moderately dry soils - lingonberry and blueberry pine forests occupy 2/3 of the entire area of pine forests.
Indigenous pine forests are of different ages, they usually have two (rarely three) generations of trees, and each generation forms a separate tier in the stand. Pine is photophilous, therefore each new generation of it appears when the density of the crowns of the older generation decreases to 40-50% as a result of the death of trees. Generations usually differ by 100-
150 years. In the course of the natural development of indigenous forest stands, the forest community is not completely destroyed; the new generation has time to form long before the complete death of the old one. Wherein average age stands are never less than 80-100 years old. In primary pine forests, birch, aspen, and spruce can be found as an admixture. With natural development, birch and aspen never crowd out pine, while spruce on fresh soils, due to shade tolerance, can gradually seize a dominant position; only in dry and swampy habitats is pine out of competition.

Forest fires play an important role in the life of pine forests in Karelia. Crown fires, in which almost the entire forest burns and dies, are rare, but ground fires, in which only living ground cover (lichens, mosses, grasses, shrubs) and forest litter are partially (rarely completely) burned out, occur quite often: they practically affect all pine forests on dry and fresh soils.
If crown fires are harmful from an ecological and economic point of view, then the effect of ground fires is ambiguous. On the one hand, by destroying the living ground cover and partially mineralizing the forest litter, they improve the growth of the forest stand and contribute to the appearance of a large amount of pine undergrowth under its canopy. On the other hand, persistent ground fires, in which the living ground cover and forest litter are completely burned out, and the surface mineral layer of the soil is actually sterilized, sharply reduce soil fertility and can damage trees.
There is reason to believe that the rare and low-growing so-called "clarified" pine forests, especially widespread in the northern part of the republic, owe their origin to repeated stable ground fires. In habitats with fresh and moist soils, ground fires prevent the replacement of pine by spruce: thin-barked, shallow-rooted spruce is easily damaged by fire, while thick-barked, deeper-rooted pine successfully resists it. Over the past 25-30 years, as a result of the successful fight against forest fires, the scale of replacement of pine by spruce has increased dramatically.

Derivative pine forests that have arisen as a result of economic activity are usually of the same age. The participation of deciduous species and spruce in them can be quite high, up to the replacement of pine by deciduous on rich soils. If undergrowth and spruce thinner are preserved during the felling of plantations, a spruce plantation may form in place of a pine forest. However, both from an economic and environmental point of view, this change is undesirable. Pine forests give more wood, they have more berries and mushrooms, they are more attractive for vacationers. Unlike spruce, pine gives resin. Pine forests are distinguished by the best water protection and soil protection properties. The replacement of pine by spruce can be allowed only for the most fertile soils, where spruce plantations, both in terms of productivity and resistance to adverse natural factors (winds, harmful insects, fungal diseases), are not much inferior to pine forests.
The productivity of pine forests in Karelia is much less than in the southern and middle regions of the country, which is largely due to unfavorable soil and climatic conditions. However, this is not the only reason. As mentioned earlier, persistent ground fires not only damage trees, but also reduce soil fertility. In tree stands of different ages, pine is subjected to oppression during the first 20-60 years, which negatively affects its growth until the end of its life.

In primary spruce forests, stands of different ages. As an admixture, pine, birch, aspen can be found in them, less often - gray alder. The share of these species in the composition of the forest stand usually does not exceed 20-30% (by stock).
The processes of decay and restoration in spruce forests of absolutely different ages occur simultaneously and relatively evenly, as a result, the main biometric indicators (composition, timber stock, density, average diameter and height, etc.) of such forest stands fluctuate slightly over time. The state of mobile equilibrium can be disturbed by felling, fire, windblow and other factors.
In spruce forests of different ages, the youngest and smallest trees predominate in terms of the number of trunks, and in terms of stock, trees over 160 years old with a diameter above the average. The crown canopy is discontinuous, jagged, and therefore a significant amount of light penetrates to the soil surface, and here grasses and shrubs are quite numerous.
Thanks to its shade tolerance, spruce firmly holds the territory it occupies. Fires in spruce forests were rare and did not have a significant impact on their lives. Windblows were not observed in stands of different ages.
Derivative spruce forests arose on clearings, or on the so-called "undercuts", as a rule, through a change of species - open spaces were first inhabited by birch, less often by aspen, spruce appeared under their canopy. By 100-120 years, less durable hardwoods died off, and spruce again occupied the previously lost territory. Only about 15% of fellings are restored by spruce without changing species, and mainly in those cases when viable undergrowth and spruce thinner are preserved during felling.

The replacement of spruce by deciduous species during logging is associated with its biological and ecological features. Spruce is afraid of late spring frosts, so in the first years of its life it needs protection in the form of a hardwood canopy; spruce does not get along well with cereals, which disappear after the appearance of birch and aspen; spruce bears fruit relatively rarely (abundant crops of seeds occur every 5-6 years) and grows slowly in the first years of life, so birch and aspen overtake it; finally, spruce occupies mostly rich soils where hardwoods grow most successfully.

Derivative spruce forests are relatively even in age. Under their closed canopy, twilight reigns, the soil is covered with fallen needles, there are few grasses and shrubs, there is practically no viable undergrowth.
Compared to pine, the range of habitats for spruce is considerably narrower. Compared to pine forests, the productivity of spruce forests under similar growing conditions is noticeably lower, and only on rich fresh soils is it approximately the same (by the age of maturity). About 60% of spruce forests in Karelia grow within the middle taiga subzone.
Deciduous forests(birch, aspen and alder forests) in the conditions of Karelia arose mainly in connection with human activity, and thus they are derivatives. In the subzone of the middle taiga is about 80% deciduous forests republics. Birch forests make up over 90% of the area of deciduous tree stands.
Most of the birch forests were formed after the felling of spruce plantations. The replacement of pine by birch occurs much less frequently, usually in the most productive forest types of the middle taiga subzone.

Under the influence of economic development, mainly logging, indigenous forests in Karelia are disappearing. They are replaced by derivative plantings of natural and artificial origin, a feature of which is the same age. What are the economic and environmental consequences of this?
Judging by the volume of wood, pine and spruce forests of the same age are preferable. The stock of wood in blueberry spruce forests of the same age at the age of 125-140 years in the conditions of southern Karelia reaches 450-480 m3 per hectare, while in the most productive spruce forests of different ages under the same conditions this stock does not exceed 360 m3. Usually, the stock of wood in spruce stands of different ages is 20-30% less compared to those of the same age. If we compare the wood products of the same-aged and uneven-aged forest stands not by volume, but by weight, the picture changes noticeably. Since the density of wood in forests of different ages is 15-20% higher, the difference in wood mass is reduced to 5-10% in favor of forest stands of the same age.
However, in terms of the resources of most types of non-timber forest products (berries, medicinal plants, etc.), the advantage is on the side of forests of different ages. They have a more diverse and numerous population of birds and mammals, including commercial species. It should also be noted that forests of the same age compared to uneven-aged forests have less wind resistance, worse soil and water protection properties, and are more affected by pests and diseases.
But in the specific natural and geographical conditions of Karelia (short and cool summers, weak autumn and spring floods, dissected relief, which causes a small catchment area, moderate wind regime, etc.), the replacement of forests of different ages with those of the same age, as a rule, does not entail serious environmental consequences. .
A negative phenomenon from an economic point of view is the replacement of coniferous species with deciduous species - birch, aspen, and alder. At present, the change of species can be prevented by the rational organization of reforestation and thinning. According to the available data, pine successfully regenerates on 72-83% of felled areas, spruce - only on 15%, and only thanks to the preserved undergrowth and thinner. The rest of the clearings are renewed with deciduous species. However, after 10-15 years, more than half of the area of deciduous young stands is formed by the second layer - from spruce, due to which high-performance spruce stands can be formed by thinning or reconstruction cuttings. Change of breeds does not cause noticeable ecological consequences.
When forming the forests of the future, one should proceed from their intended purpose. For forests of the second or third groups, where the main goal is to obtain the largest amount of wood, even-aged stands are preferable. Forests of the first group, designed to perform soil-protective, water-protective, recreational and sanitary-hygienic functions, are more suitable for plantings of different ages.
The dominant value of the forest as a source of reproducible natural resources(wood, medicinal raw materials, mushrooms, berries, etc.), as a habitat for valuable commercial animal species and as a factor stabilizing biospheric processes, in particular, restraining the development of negative manifestations of anthropogenic impact on environment, in the conditions of Karelia will continue in the future.

Swamps.
Together with swampy forests, swamps occupy 30% of the republic's area. Their wide development is facilitated by the relative youth of rivers and streams. They cannot wash out the hard crystalline ridges that come to the surface and develop the valleys, therefore, despite the large slopes of the terrain, they weakly drain most of the territory of Karelia. There are many swamps in the Olonets, Ladvinskaya, Korzinskaya, Shuiskaya and other lowlands. But the most swampy is the White Sea lowland. The smallest swamps are in the Ladoga region, on the Zaonezhsky peninsula and in part of the Pudozh region.
The peat deposit of the Karelian marshes contains 90-95% of water. Their surface is abundantly moistened, but unlike the shallow waters of lakes and rivers overgrown with vegetation, the water rarely stands more than 20 cm above the soil surface. Upper layer The soils of the swamp are usually composed of loose and very water-intensive, slightly decomposed peat.
Bogs arise by peating of shallow and small water bodies, which appeared in abundance on the territory of Karelia after the retreat of the glacier, or when drained on dry valleys weakened. The boundary between the swamp and wetlands is conventionally assumed to be a peat depth of 30 cm; The 50 cm peat deposit is already considered suitable for industrial development.
As peat accumulates, the soil-ground or groundwater that feeds the swamp after its formation gradually ceases to reach the root layer, and the vegetation switches to feeding on atmospheric waters, which are poor in nutrients. Thus, in the process of the development of swamps, a progressive depletion of the soil with elements of nitrogen-mineral nutrition occurs. There are lowland (rich nutrition) stage of swamp development, transitional (medium nutrition), high (poor nutrition) and dystrophic (superpoor nutrition), in which peat accumulation stops and its degradation begins.
If swamps develop in more or less closed basins or by peating up shallow lakes, the central part of the swamp massif is depleted first. There is also the most intensive accumulation of peat.
The vegetation of the swamps is very diverse, due to the large differences in environmental conditions - from rich to extremely poor, from extremely wet to arid. In addition, their vegetation is complex. With the exception of heavily watered swamps, which are common only for the first stages of development, the surface of swamps is characterized by a microrelief. Microrelief elevations are formed by hummocks (grass, moss, woody), often elongated in the form of ridges and abundantly moistened hollows. The ecological conditions in terms of thermal regime, moisture and nutrition are sharply different on the bumps and in the hollows, therefore the vegetation on them varies greatly.
Lowland swamps are dominated by herbaceous vegetation in the form of thickets of reeds, horsetail, watch, cinquefoil, sometimes with a moss cover of moisture-loving green mosses. On the outskirts of swamps with abundant flowing moisture, in combination with grassy vegetation, forests with black (glutinous) alder, birch, pine or spruce are developed, occupying microrelief elevations.
In transitional bogs, basically the same species grow as in lowland bogs, but there are always sphagnum mosses, which eventually form a continuous moss cover. Birch and pine grow, but they are oppressed, the tree layer is sparse.
In raised bogs, sphagnum mosses reign supreme on all elements of the microrelief: in hollows - the most moisture-loving (maus, lindbergia, balticum), on elevations - fuscum, magellanicum, capable of surviving droughts, in low-humid hollows and flat places - papillesum. From the higher plants grow sundews, sheikhtseriya, ocheretnik, cotton grass, pukhonos, swamp shrubs, cloudberries. Of the trees - only the oppressed low-growing pine, which forms special swamp forms.
In dystrophic bogs, the productivity of vegetation is so low that the accumulation of peat stops. Secondary lakes appear in large numbers, sphagnum mosses on bumps and ridges are gradually replaced by fruticose lichens (moss reindeer moss, reindeer moss), and in hollows - algae and liver mosses. Since the dystrophic stage occurs primarily in the central part of the swamp massif and peat accumulation does not occur here, then over time the top of the massif from a convex becomes concave and heavily watered, which is the reason for the formation of secondary lakes.
The swampy massifs of Karelia are characterized by a winding coastline and the presence of upland islands; in connection with the features of the relief, a significant part is occupied by hollows. The water supply of these arrays is connected with outlets groundwater. The central part of such swamps has a lower surface compared to the edges, abundant flowing moisture, heavily watered hollows or even lakes.
Hollows and lakes are separated from each other by narrow bridges in the form of ridges covered with grass-moss, less often - purely moss vegetation with oppressed pine or birch. The fringes of the swamps, adjoining the uplands, are fed by poor waters flowing down from them, and are occupied by the vegetation of transitional or even raised bogs. Bog massifs of this structure are called "aapa", they are most common in the northern mainland of Karelia.
The marsh massifs of the Shuiskaya, Korzinskaya, Ladvinskaya, Olonets lowlands are of a completely different structure. Low-lying swamps prevail there without a lowered watered central part. They are largely drained and are used in forestry and agriculture. In some places in these lowlands there are swamps that have reached the upper stage of development.
Upland bog massifs predominate on the vast White Sea Lowland, in the central part of which the vegetation of dystrophic type bogs is developed. Along with sphagnum mosses, mosses are abundant, which are the winter food of the reindeer, and in the hollows - liver mosses and algae.
The main economic significance of the marshes of Karelia is determined by the great opportunities for their melioration for forestry and Agriculture. With high agricultural technology, marsh soils are very fertile. But we should not forget that in their natural state, swamps have a certain water protection value. Large crops of cranberries, cloudberries, blueberries and many types of medicinal plants ripen annually in the swamps. In order to protect berry and medicinal plants, as well as typical and unique bogs for scientific research, a number of bog massifs (mainly in the southern part of the republic) were excluded from drainage plans or declared sanctuaries by the decisions of the Council of Ministers of the Karelian ASSR.

Mountain tundra.
In the very north-west of Karelia, where the spurs of the Maanselkya ridge are located, you can find areas of mountain tundra covered with low shrubs, mosses and lichens with rare small trees of winding birch. Plots of moss and lichen barrens are also found much to the south, almost throughout Karelia, on the tops and steep slopes of selga, composed of crystalline rocks with thin soil or no soil at all. In the latter case, only scale lichens grow here.

Meadows and hayfields.
Until recently, natural meadows and hayfields on grassy swamps occupied about 1% of the republic's area. Unfortunately, a significant part of them has been overgrown with forest in recent years.
Almost all the natural meadows of Karelia have arisen in places from the clearing of forests and on fallow arable lands. The only exceptions are coastal meadows and swamp hayfields. The latter are in essence not meadows, but grass or moss-grass marshes; at present, they are almost never used for haymaking.
Meadow vegetation is represented by real meadows, as well as hollow, peaty and swampy types of meadows, with peaty ones being the most common.
Among real meadows, large-grass and small-grass meadows, most often associated with fallows, are of the greatest importance. The former are developed on the richest soils, their herbage is composed of the best fodder cereals, among which are usually meadow fescue with an admixture of timothy, meadow foxtail, sometimes hedgehog and couch grass. From other herbs - bluegrass, clover, mouse peas and meadow forbs.
However, there are few such meadows. Most often they can be found in the regions of the northern Ladoga region. They are the most productive, the quality of hay is high. Of the upland (not swampy) meadows, small-grass meadows are widely represented, with a predominance of thin or fragrant spikelets in the herbage of bent grass. They are also confined mainly to fallows, but with depleted soils. Herbs often contain a lot of legumes and meadow forbs, often with a predominance of cuffs. The productivity of such meadows is lower, but the yield and quality of hay are significantly increased with surface fertilization.
A small area is occupied by empty meadows with low-growing herbage, which are dominated by white beetles, sometimes sheep fescue. They are unproductive, but they should not be neglected: white-bearded plants are responsive to surface fertilization. Meadows dominated by pike are confined to poorly drained heavy mineral soils with signs of stagnant moisture or to peaty soils of different mechanical composition. They also develop as a result of excessive grazing and in the absence of care for crops of perennial grasses on drained peat and heavy clay soils. Shchuchniks are distributed throughout Karelia.
In the herbage, in addition to pike, there are bent grass, bluegrass, red fescue, caustic and golden buttercups, and other meadow herbs. Clover are rare and in small numbers. The usual admixture of representatives of marshy meadows - black sedge, filamentous rush, unnoticed weeds, meadowsweet. The yield is quite high, the quality of hay is average, but when haymaking is late, it is low. Surface application of fertilizers noticeably increases the yield, but the composition of the herbage and the quality of hay change little.
Small sedge meadows with a predominance of black sedge in the herbage are developed on peaty or peaty-gley soils with abundant stagnant moisture. Often there is a moss cover of moisture-loving green mosses. The yield is average, the quality of hay is low. The effectiveness of surface fertilization is negligible.
Relatively often, mainly in the southern part of the republic, there are meadows with a predominance of reed grass in the herbage. Coastal aquatic vegetation is of great importance. A number of commercial fish lay eggs on parts of plants submerged in water. Waterfowl, including ducks, use this vegetation as food and shelter grounds. The muskrat also feeds here. Widespread thickets of reeds and horsetails should be mowed down and used for green fodder for livestock, for hay and silage.
Until mid-August, cane leaves contain a lot of carbohydrates, sugars and proteins (no less than good hay). There are fewer proteins in horsetail, but their content remains unchanged until late autumn. However, when using coastal-aquatic vegetation for food, pets should be wary of poisonous plants from the umbrella family - hemlock (poisonous milestones) and cuminus, which are sporadically found in the thickets of horsetail and sedge. Their poisonous properties are preserved in hay.

List of plants with useful properties growing on the territory of Karelia
Calamus vulgaris Astragalus danish Ledum marsh Sheep vulgaris Thigh saxifrage Black henbane Belozor marsh Calla marsh Birch drooping (warty) Hemlock spotted Bor spreading Northern wrestler (high) Siberian cow parsnip Common lingonberry Budra ivy-shaped Mountain bugushnik Initial letter Valeriana officinalis Cornflower meadow, blue Cornflower
dosborolistny, yellow, simple Three-leaved watch Ground reed grass Monetary loosestrife, common. Heather common Veronica long-leaved, oak, officinalis. Veh poisonous Catchment common Crowberry bisexual, black. Voronets spike-shaped. Crow's eye four-leafed Bindweed field Carnation lush, grass Geranium forest, meadow. Blueberry Highlander viviparous, amphibious, snake, cancer necks, pepper, bird, knotweed. Adonis ordinary (cuckoo color) Gravity city, river. Gyrsanka rotundifolia Gryzhanka naked Guljavnik officinalis Two-leafed reed-shaped (canary-reechnik) Elecampane British, high. Loosestrife willow-leaved Sweet clover white, officinalis. Sandman white (white tarragon) Angelica forest Fragrant spikelet common Oregano vulgaris Dymyanka officinalis Angelica (angelica) officinalis. Hedgehog national team Spruce European, Siberian. Zheltushnik levkoy Larkspur high Zhivuchuchka creeping Zhiryanka common Starry cereal medium (wood louse) St. John's wort (ordinary), spotted (tetrahedral) Wild strawberry Winter-loving umbrella Common goldenrod (golden rod) Fragrant bison Istod bitter, common. Kalina common Kaluga marsh Iris iris (yellow iris) Fireweed marsh Common sorrel Common clover (red) creeping (white), medium. Cranberry marsh (four-petal) Round-leaved, peach-leaved, onion-shaped (rapunzel-shaped), prefabricated (crowded) bell. Magnificent consolida (field larkspur) European hoof Mullein bear's ear Field barnacle Awnless rump Arctic bramble (brambleberry, polyberry, princess) stony Cat's foot dioecious Nettle dioecious, stinging. Burnet officinalis Yellow capsule Water lily white, small (tetrahedral), pure white Kulbaba autumn European swimsuit Kupena officinalis Kupyr forest Meadowsweet (meadowsweet) vyazolistny May lily-of-the-valley Potentilla goose, upright (galangal), silvery. Common quinoa Linnaeus northern Linden heart-shaped Foxtail meadow Burdock large Meadow soddy (pike) Common toadflax (wild snapdragon) Buttercup caustic, creeping, poisonous, Alfalfa sickle-shaped (yellow) stepmother Lungwort ordinary (obscure) Canadian small-scale spurge (common) Cloudberry squat Soapweed officinalis Mylnyanka marsh Mylnyanka medicinal Mytnik marsh Mint field Meadow grass meadow Impatiens ordinary Forget-me-not field Auburn ordinary (smolevka) Meadow fescue, red Dandelion officinalis Comfrey officinalis Alder sticky, gray Omaloteka forest (sudweed forest ) Common bracken Shaggy sedge Sow thistle garden Stonecrop caustic, hare cabbage Nightshade bittersweet, black
Common tansy Sabelnik marsh Sedmichnik europeanSorrel water Cyanide blue Common colza, umbellate Susak umbellata Sudweed swamp, swamp Blackcurrant Common gout common Yarut field Common pine Common sorrel Arrowleaf common hawk hairy Meadow heartwood - sour Meadow sivets Shchitovnik male Pikulnik bipartite (gill) andromeda) Soft true odorous bedstraw (fragrant woodruff) Plantain large lanceolate medium bent bent grass Wormwood common field common popovnik (cotton grass) common Motherwort five-lobed wheatgrass creeping Agrimony ordinary (burdock) cattail angustifolia Rhodiola rosea (golden root) chamomile (medicinal) fragrant (odorous) , green, tongueless, chamomile) odorless (odorless tririb) English round-leaved sundew Common ash Duckweed Timothy grass meadow Thyme ordinary Cumin bull Bearberry and ordinary Toritsa field Torichnik red Triostrennik swamp reed Southern (common) Yarrow Common fallopia (Highlander bindweed) Violet tricolor (pansies) Chamerion narrow-leaved (willow-tea) Forest horsetail - field Common hop Common chicory Hellebore Lobela Tripartite string Bird cherry common Bilberry common Chernogolovka common Thistle curly China meadow Chistets forest

The Republic of Karelia is located in Northern Europe, on the border between Russia and Finland. It is called the center of wooden architecture, the pantry of mushrooms and the most mysterious region in Russia. Many beautiful photos were taken here, but they are not able to convey the whole gamut of feelings that these places evoke in the traveler. Fabulous taiga forests, transparent lakes, virgin nature, an abundance of historical and architectural monuments - all this must be seen with your own eyes.

Mount Vottovaara

In the central part of the republic, 20 kilometers southeast of the village of Sukkozero, there is a curious place - Mount Vottovaara, the highest peak of the West Karelian Upland (417 meters).

locals they call this place of power Death Mountain and consider it a portal to the other world - an anomalous effect on electrical equipment, nature, and the human body is noted here. The dead silence, as well as the depressing sight of trees bent, broken by the wind and blackened after the fire, enhance the ominous feeling.

In 1978, a complex of ancient cult seids was discovered on the mountain - stones-boulders of a run-in form, located in groups. At the same time, huge blocks lie on smaller ones, creating the impression of stones on legs.

Also on Vottovaara there is a mysterious staircase to the sky - 13 steps carved into the rock, ending in an abyss.

Mount Kivakkatunturi

It is located in the Paanajärvi National Park, in the Loukhi district. The height of the mountain is 499 meters, and the name is translated from Finnish as “stone woman” – at the top there are many seids, one of which resembles the head of an old woman.

The ascent to Kivakka is quite easy and takes 1-2 hours - in addition to the trodden path, wooden beams are laid for the convenience of tourists. When climbing, you can see around the landscape features characteristic of these places - hanging swamps and high-altitude lakes lying on the slopes of the mountain and indicating the water content of the rock.

The beauty of Paanajärvi Park is clearly visible from the open top. This place becomes especially picturesque with the advent of autumn, when the plants paint the mountain in yellow-crimson colors.

Ruskeala Mountain Park (Marble Canyon)

The basis of this tourist complex in the Sortavala region of Karelia is a former marble quarry. The blocks mined here were used for facing the palaces and cathedrals of St. Petersburg and other Russian cities. Now these quarries have turned into man-made marble bowls filled with the purest water and cut through by a system of shafts and adits resembling mysterious caves and grottoes.

The mountain park is 450 meters long and about 100 meters wide. It is equipped for tourists - footpaths have been cleared, observation platforms have been created, there is parking for cars, and boat rentals. It is from the water that the most impressive views of the surrounding rocks, up to 20 meters high, open up. Also on the boat you can swim into the marble grotto and admire the bizarre reflection of water in the translucent vaults.

Marble Canyon Caves

No less curious are the mines and adits of the quarry, where you can get on a guided tour. Most of these caves were flooded, but there are also dry ones - the higher the air temperature on the surface, the more deadly cold is felt here.

For the unique acoustics, one of these grottoes is called Musical. However, Proval Cave is of the greatest interest, in the roof of which a hole 20 by 30 meters in size was formed. Another name for the Pit is the Hall of the Mountain King or the Ice Cave, it is best to descend into it during the cold season, when the 30-meter water column in the grotto is hidden under ice. Drops flowing from the arches formed numerous ice stalactites and stalagmites, the beauty of which is emphasized by the backlight.

Ruskeala waterfalls (Akhvenkoski waterfalls)

Not far from the village of Ruskeala, where the Tokhmajoki River is divided into several branches, there are 4 small waterfalls. Falling from rocky ledges 3-4 meters high, kvass-colored water foams and rumbles.

The area around is ennobled, there are wooden gazebos, a cafe, a souvenir shop. Once upon a time, the films “The Dawns Here Are Quiet”, “Dark World” were filmed in these places, now kayaking (canoes) is carried out along the Tohmajoki River, overcoming waterfalls.

Paanajärvi National Park

This corner wildlife It is located in the north-west of Karelia, in its most elevated part and occupies about 103 thousand hectares. The park owes its name to the unique lake Paanajärvi, which arose in the faults of the rocks. The boundaries of the park run along the line of this lake and the Olanga River.

The landscapes here are picturesque and diverse - mountain peaks alternate with gorges, stormy rivers and noisy waterfalls coexist with the calm expanse of lakes.

The park contains the most high point Republic - Mount Nourunen. Here you can also see the Kivakkakoski waterfall - one of the largest and most powerful in Karelia.

Daylight hours in winter are very short - from the end of August you can observe the northern lights. But in summer the sun sets only for 2-3 hours - it's time for white nights.

National Park "Kalevalsky"

This park was created in the extreme west of Karelia in 2006 to preserve one of the last old-growth pine forests in Europe. On the territory of 74 thousand hectares, pines occupy about 70%, the age of many trees reaches 400-450 years.

For thousands of years, these places have been an unchanging habitat for various species of animals and plants, and the virgin beauty of the forests fascinates even now. In the park you can see many large rivers with picturesque waterfalls, deep clear lakes.

There are also several villages here - Voknavolok is considered the cradle of Karelian and Finnish cultures, where the songs of the Kalevala epic were born, many historical and cultural monuments have been preserved in Sudnozero, and Panozero is considered one of the oldest settlements in the region.

Body archipelago

It is a group of 16 small islands in the White Sea, near the city of Kem. In order to preserve the unique landscape and the diversity of flora and fauna, the state landscape reserve "Kuzova" was created here. Now there are special places for visiting tourists on 3 islands - Russian Body, German Body and Chernetsky.

In addition to beauty surrounding nature the archipelago attracts with an abundance of seids, labyrinths, ancient settlements of people of the Mesolithic and Bronze Age, religious buildings. The islands are shrouded in many legends and are still a mystery to historians and archaeologists.

Girvas volcano crater

IN small village Girvas in the Kondopoga region of Karelia is the oldest surviving volcano crater in the world, its age is about 2.5 billion years.

The full-flowing Suna River used to flow here, but after the construction of a dam for a hydroelectric power station, its channel was drained, and the water was let in another way, and now petrified lava flows are clearly visible in the half-empty canyon. The crater itself does not protrude above the ground, but is a depression filled with water.

Waterfall Kivach

Translated from Finnish, the name of the waterfall means "powerful", "swift". It is located on the Suna River and is the fourth largest flat waterfall in Europe. Kivach consists of four rapids with a total height of 10.7 meters, of which the sheer drop of water is 8 meters.

Due to the construction of a hydroelectric power station in this area, there was a large outflow of water, which somewhat reduced the attractiveness of the waterfall. best time spring is considered to be a visit to this attraction, when the Suna is gaining strength, feeding on melt water. In 1931, the State nature reserve"Kivach".

Waterfall White Bridges (Yukankoski)

This waterfall, located on the Kulismajoki River in the Pitkyaranta region of the republic, is one of the highest and most beautiful in Karelia and reaches about 18 meters in height. In summer, the water in the river warms up well, which allows you to swim in it and stand under the falling streams of water.

In 1999, on the territory adjacent to the waterfall, a hydrological nature monument "White Bridges" was established, the area of which is 87.9 hectares. Due to its location in the forest, away from the highway, Yukankoski is not very popular with travelers.

Martial waters

This name is given to a balneological and mud resort, as well as a village in the Kondopoga region. The resort was founded by Peter I in 1719 and is the first in Russia.

There are 4 wells from which mineral waters flow, their main feature is the amount of iron, which is greater than in other sources in Russia and abroad. In each source, the concentration of iron is different, and the waters also contain calcium, magnesium, manganese, and sodium.

Sapropelic silt sulfide muds extracted from the bottom of Lake Gabozero also have healing properties.

The resort is visited for the treatment of diseases of the blood, cardiovascular, digestive, genitourinary and musculoskeletal systems, respiratory organs. Here, according to the project of Peter I, the Church of St. Peter the Apostle was built, and opposite the temple is the building of the local history museum "Marcial Waters".

Valaam Island

The name of the island translates as " high ground"- it is the largest of the islands of the Valaam archipelago, located in the north of Lake Ladoga.

Every year Valaam attracts thousands of tourists - its rocky territory 9.6 kilometers long and 7.8 kilometers wide is covered with coniferous forests, large and small inland lakes, indented by numerous channels, bays and bays.

Here is also the village of Valaam and a monument of Russian architecture - the Valaam stauropegial monastery with many sketes (buildings located in hard-to-reach places).

Good Spirit Island

This island, located on Voronye Lake, is not marked on any geographical map, for which it is often called Karelian Shambhala. You can get to it while rafting down the Okhta River and only with the help of the tips of the guides.

The place is a paradise for the traveler and is famous for its convenient parking areas, excellent fishing and picturesque surroundings. However, most of all, people are attracted by the abundance of wooden handicrafts on the island - a real open-air museum created by tourists. Some items date back to the 70s of the last century. According to legend, this place is inhabited by spirits that guard the island and inhabit every craft, bringing good luck to its maker.

Solovetsky Islands

This archipelago, which includes more than 100 islands, occupies 347 square kilometers and is the largest in the White Sea. It is located at the entrance to the Onega Bay and is included in the specially protected protected area.

Here is the Solovetsky Monastery with many churches, the Maritime Museum, the airport, Botanical Garden, ancient stone labyrinths and a whole system of channels through which you can go by boat.

White Sea white whale lives near Cape Beluga - White whale. Beautiful nature and the abundance of historical and architectural monuments attract many excursion groups to these places.

Lake Pisan

This reservoir is located in the central part of the Republic of Karelia, and has a tectonic origin - the lake was formed as a result of a fault earth's crust, which is clearly evidenced by the symmetry of its shores. The name of the lake is translated as "the longest" - occupying up to 200 meters in width, it extends for 5 kilometers in length. In some places, the depth exceeds 200 meters.

On the northern shore of the reservoir there are parking lots, convenient places for fishing and launching boats. When moving south, the banks become higher, forming a gorge with rocks rising 100 meters above the water. Virgin nature, silence and absence nearby settlements make this place especially attractive for lovers of solitude.

White Sea

This inland sea, located in the north of the European part of Russia, belongs to the basin of the Northern Arctic Ocean and has an area of 90 square kilometers. Because of the cold even in summer time water (up to 20 degrees), there is not too much tourist flow on the White Sea, and nature in many places remains untouched.

On islands sea coast blueberries and mushrooms grow abundantly, in the water you can see jellyfish, fish, seals and beluga whales. A unique spectacle is the seabed after low tides - it is filled with a variety of living organisms.

Lake Ladoga (Ladoga)

It is located in Karelia and the Leningrad region and is the largest fresh water reservoir in Europe - the length of the lake is 219, and the maximum width is 138 kilometers. The northern shores are high and rocky, with many bays, peninsulas, large and small islands; the southern coast is shallow, with an abundance of rocky reefs.

Along Ladoga there are a large number of settlements, ports and recreation centers, numerous ships glide along the water surface. Numerous historical finds have been found at the bottom of the lake different eras, even now these places are popular among diving enthusiasts. Mirages and brontides also occur here - a rumble coming from the lake, accompanied by the seething of water or weak vibrations of the earth.

Lake Onega (Onego)

This lake is called the younger sister of the great Ladoga - it is the second largest fresh water body in Europe. There are more than 1,500 islands of various sizes on the territory of Onego, dozens of ports and marinas are located on the shores, and the Onego Sailing Regatta is held annually.

The water in the lake is clean and transparent thanks to the mineral shungite, which is literally lined with the bottom. In addition to fish, there is a bivalve mollusk that grows mother-of-pearl balls of pearls in its shell.

Taiga forests rich in mushrooms and berries, the charm of northern nature, a huge number of historical and architectural monuments, folk art attract many tourists to these places.

Onega petroglyphs

On the eastern coast of Lake Onega in the Pudozh region of Karelia, there are ancient rock paintings dating back to the 4th-3rd millennium BC. They are collected in 24 separate groups and cover an area of 20 kilometers, more than half of the petroglyphs are located on the capes Peri Nos, Besov Nos and Kladovets.

In total, about 1100 images and signs are carved into the rocks, mainly drawings of birds (especially swans), forest animals, people and boats. Some petroglyphs are up to 4 meters in size.

Among the mystical figures is the mysterious triad "demon, catfish (burbot) and otter (lizard)." In order to neutralize this evil spirits, around the 15th century, the monks of the Murom Holy Assumption Monastery knocked out a Christian cross over the image.

Kinerma village

The name of this ancient Karelian village, lost in the Pryazha region, is translated as "precious land". The settlement, founded over 400 years ago, has up to two dozen houses, half of which are architectural monuments. The buildings are located in a circle, in the center of which is the Smolenskaya Chapel Mother of God and the old cemetery.

More recently, the fate of the village was in question, only 1 person lived here permanently. However, thanks to the efforts of local residents, it was possible to restore buildings, improve life, and attract tourists. For the preservation of the historical appearance of Kinerma, it was recognized as a complex monument of the wooden folk architecture of the Karelian Livviks. She also won the competition "The most beautiful village in Russia."

Museum-Reserve "Kizhi"

The main part of this unique open-air museum is located on Kizhi Island in Lake Onega. The heart of the collection is the ensemble "Kizhi Pogost", consisting of the 22-domed wooden Church of the Transfiguration, the smaller Church of the Intercession and the bell tower uniting them, now the complex is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

The museum is constantly replenished with chapels, houses, icons, household items, outbuildings brought from the surrounding Karelian, Russian and Vepsian villages, it also presents a number of historical objects of Zaonezhye and Petrozavodsk.

Assumption Church

The Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary is located in the city of Kondopoga, on the shores of Lake Onega. The church was built in 1774 in memory of the peasants who died during the Kizhi uprising (1769-1771).

Thanks to its height of 42 meters, it has become the tallest wooden church in Karelia. Interior decoration preserved to this day and its modesty contrasts with the rich modern temples.

A visit to the Assumption Church is not included in the list of mandatory routes, there is no invasion of tourists, but the newlyweds get married and the locals baptize their children. It is worth coming here for the sake of the surrounding beauty and the special atmosphere of this place.

There is reason to believe that the rare and undersized so-called "clarified" pine forests, especially widespread in the northern part of the republic, owe their origin to multiple stable ground fires. In habitats with fresh and moist soils, ground fires prevent the replacement of pine by spruce: thin-barked, shallow-rooted spruce is easily damaged by fire, while thick-barked, deeper-rooted pine successfully resists it. Over the past 25-30 years, as a result of the successful fight against forest fires, the scale of replacement of pine by spruce has increased dramatically.

The replacement of pine by spruce can only be allowed on the most fertile soils, where spruce stands are not much inferior to pine forests in terms of productivity and resistance to adverse natural factors (winds, harmful insects, fungal diseases). The productivity of pine forests in Karelia is much less than in the southern and middle regions of the country, which is largely due to unfavorable soil and climatic conditions. However, this is not the only reason. As mentioned earlier, persistent ground fires not only damage trees, but also reduce soil fertility. In tree stands of different ages, pine is subjected to oppression during the first 20-60 years, which negatively affects its growth until the end of its life.

In primary spruce forests, stands of different ages. As an admixture, pine, birch, aspen, and less often gray alder can be found in them. The share of these species in the composition of the forest stand usually does not exceed 20-30% (by stock). etc.) of such forest stands fluctuate slightly over time. The state of mobile equilibrium can be disturbed by felling, fire, windblow and other factors.

In spruce forests of different ages, the youngest and smallest trees predominate in terms of the number of trunks, and in terms of stock, trees older than 160 years with a diameter above the average. The crown canopy is discontinuous, jagged, and therefore a significant amount of light penetrates to the soil surface, and here grasses and shrubs are quite numerous.

Thanks to its shade tolerance, spruce firmly holds the territory it occupies. Fires in spruce forests were rare and did not have a significant impact on their lives. Windblows were not observed in stands of different ages either. Derivative spruce forests arose in clearings, or in the so-called "undercuts", as a rule, through a change of species - open spaces were first populated with birch, less often with aspen, spruce appeared under their canopy. By 100-120 years, less durable hardwoods died off, and spruce again occupied the previously lost territory. Only about 15% of fellings are restored by spruce without changing species, and mainly in those cases when viable undergrowth and spruce thinner are preserved during felling.

Deciduous forests (birch, aspen and alder forests) in the conditions of Karelia arose mainly in connection with human activity, and thus they are derivatives. About 80% of the republic's deciduous forests are located in the middle taiga subzone. Birch forests make up over 90% of the area of deciduous tree stands. Most of the birch forests were formed after felling spruce plantations. The replacement of pine by birch occurs much less frequently, usually in the most productive forest types of the middle taiga subzone.

Judging by the volume of wood, pine and spruce forests of the same age are preferable. The stock of wood in blueberry spruce forests of the same age at the age of 125-140 years in the conditions of southern Karelia reaches 450-480 m3 per hectare, while in the most productive spruce forests of different ages under the same conditions this stock does not exceed 360 m3. Usually, the stock of timber in uneven-aged spruce stands is 20-30% less than in same-age stands. If we compare the wood products of the same-aged and uneven-aged forest stands not by volume, but by weight, the picture changes noticeably. Since the density of wood in forests of different ages is 15-20% higher, the difference in wood mass is reduced to 5-10% in favor of forest stands of the same age.

However, in terms of the resources of most types of non-timber forest products (berries, medicinal plants, etc.), the advantage is on the side of forests of different ages. They have a more diverse and numerous population of birds and mammals, including commercial species. It should also be noted that forests of the same age compared to uneven-aged forests have less wind resistance, worse soil and water protection properties, and are more affected by pests and diseases.

But in the specific natural and geographical conditions of Karelia (short and cool summers, weak autumn and spring floods, dissected relief, which causes a small catchment area, moderate wind regime, etc.), the replacement of forests of different ages with those of the same age, as a rule, does not entail serious environmental consequences. .

A negative phenomenon from an economic point of view is the replacement of coniferous species by deciduous species - birch, aspen, alder. At present, the change of species can be prevented by the rational organization of reforestation and thinning. According to the available data, pine successfully regenerates on 72-83% of felled areas, spruce - only on 15%, and only thanks to the preserved undergrowth and thinner. The rest of the clearings are renewed with deciduous species. However, after 10-15 years, more than half of the area of deciduous young stands is formed by the second layer - from spruce, due to which high-performance spruce stands can be formed by thinning or reconstruction cuttings. Change of breeds does not cause noticeable ecological consequences.

When forming the forests of the future, one should proceed from their intended purpose. For forests of the second or third groups, where the main goal is to obtain the largest amount of wood, even-aged stands are preferable. Forests of the first group, designed to perform soil-protective, water-protective, recreational and sanitary-hygienic functions, are more suitable for plantings of different ages.

The dominant value of the forest as a source of reproducible natural resources (wood, medicinal raw materials, mushrooms, berries, etc.), as a habitat for valuable commercial species of zhi-. and as a factor stabilizing biospheric processes, in particular, restraining the development of negative manifestations of anthropogenic impact on the environment, in the conditions of Karelia it will continue in the future.

The Karelian Territory is located in the very north of Russia. From the west it borders on Finland, and its eastern shores are washed by the White Sea. This region is famous for its amazing fauna and flora, which has largely preserved its original appearance. keeps many secrets, it is dotted with rivers, and a huge number of lakes are hidden in its bowels.

Today these places are protected by the state. Hunting and deforestation are strictly controlled. The forest is playing important role in the development of tourism infrastructure, and is also of great industrial importance.

encyclopedic data

Forests cover more than half of the territory of the Republic of Karelia. Another 30% is occupied by swamps. In total, the forest of Karelia occupies 14 million hectares, 9.5 million of which are covered with continuous dense forest. A third of this territory is protected, the rest of the forests are used industrially.

Geographic features

Karelia is distinguished by its peculiar relief. Its territory is like a patchwork carpet, on which you can see coniferous forests, swamps, wastelands, birch groves, hills. In prehistoric times, the landscape was shaped by the movement of glaciers. Today, as a memory of the events of bygone eras, "ram's foreheads" rise above the region - a kind of white smooth rocks carved by giant ice.

The southern regions are completely covered with dense and high pine forest. The northern forest of Karelia is distinguished by its lower height and density.

Coniferous and deciduous trees of Karelia

Sandy soil explains the fact that pine reigns in Karelia. It owns almost 70% of the forests. Spruce grows on clay and loamy soils, mainly in the southern region of the middle taiga zone.

Some isolated areas of the coast of Lake Onega are covered with spruce forest, combined with linden and maple. coniferous forests Karelia in the south-east of the republic are mixed with Siberian larch.

From deciduous trees in the region grows gray alder, aspen. The famous wood with variegated coloration, high density and extraordinary graininess, is found only in the southern edges of the region.

These places are also rich in medicinal plants. Wild plants grow here: bearberry, lily of the valley, orchis, watch.

Climate

The forest of Karelia was formed under the influence of the harsh northern climate. The northern region is adjacent to the border of the Arctic Circle, and a very small part is located even in its limit.

The forest is characterized by a typical taiga ecosystem, but the surroundings of Levozero, located in the very north of Karelia, are tundra.

White nights and seasonal features of the region

Winter in these parts is long. In the northern regions, there are 190 days with sub-zero temperatures a year, in the southern regions - about 150. Autumn begins in August and ends around mid-October. Reservoirs freeze, winds intensify, intensity and duration of precipitation increase.

If you are attracted autumn forest Karelia, sung by many artists and poets, go there at the end of August or at the very beginning of September, otherwise you will have the opportunity to admire the taiga winter.

However, the winter in these parts is not so terrible. Even in the middle of autumn, an impressive amount of snow falls in Karelia, which either melts or falls in flakes again. Snow cover remains for almost half a year at the level of 60-70 cm (in especially snowy winters - even up to a meter). For winter, thaws are not uncommon, when the sun shines like spring.

Another feature that you should know about these places is the white nights. In summer, daylight hours exceed 23 hours. Darkness practically does not occur, and the peak of the white night falls on June, when there is not even twilight. But there is, of course, the other side of the coin - the polar night, which descends to the earth for almost 3 months. True, in the south of the republic this phenomenon is weakly expressed. For white nights, you need to go further north - about 66 degrees north latitude.

Karelian lakes

Forests are not the only natural wealth of Karelia. This region is also famous for its lakes. There are two largest lakes in Europe - Ladoga and Onega. Lakes play a very important role in the life of the forest ecosystem. Since ancient times, the indigenous inhabitants of the region, the Karelians, have settled on their banks. They were engaged not only in hunting, but also in fishing. The lakes are also important for the animals that inhabit the forests of Karelia. Photos of these places attract tourists. Even today people prefer to settle near forest lakes.

The total number of Karelian lakes reaches 60 thousand. There are many rivers in these parts - about 11 thousand. All reservoirs of the region belong to the basins of the White and Baltic Seas.

Animal world of forests

Very varied. Among mammals, lynxes, martens, American and Russian minks, otters, ferrets, weasels, wolverines, ermines, badgers, brown bears, wolves, raccoon dogs, elks, foxes, wild reindeer, moles, shrews, squirrels, and mice predominate. Hedgehogs are less common and only in the south. Muskrats settled in many reservoirs of southern and middle Karelia. The white hare has a wide commercial value. Of the reptiles, there are many snakes and vipers. But snakes can be found only in the southern regions, in the north there are almost none.

The forests of the Republic of Karelia are home to 200 species of birds, most of which are migratory. Capercaillie, black grouse, hazel grouse, partridges constantly live here. Diverse waterfowl: loons, grebes, ducks, geese, swans. There are sandpipers, hawks, bitterns, ospreys, buzzards, cranes and corncrakes in the forests, and many different species of owls. Woodpeckers and thrushes are also not uncommon here, and waxwings flock to these parts in autumn. A particularly attentive tourist can meet even a golden eagle in the Karelian forests. Black grouse and capercaillie settle everywhere.

The islands on the White Sea are famous for the settlements of the eider, which has high-quality down. It, like other rare birds, is forbidden to hunt.

Insects

If you are planning to visit the fabulous Karelian forests and seek advice from seasoned tourists, you probably hear horror stories about mosquitoes the size of sparrows, which simply teem with wild thickets, and even large cities of this northern region.

Information about the size, of course, is exaggerated, but there is no smoke without fire. There are a huge number of mosquitoes here, and they are quite large. And besides mosquitoes, the forests and swamps of Karelia are inhabited by an unthinkable number of various bloodsuckers, which are especially active during the flowering period of cloudberries. But by the end of August, activity weakens, and with the first September frosts, it completely disappears.

Karelia Tourism

Two-thirds of the republic is open to tourists. It is unlikely that it will be possible to get into the reserve, since entry into all protected zones is simply prohibited. Yes, and there is nothing special to do there, in the taiga cold and pristine wilderness.

It is better to go to regions with a more or less developed tourist infrastructure. And it is worth mentioning that it is everywhere still in its infancy. There is no need to talk about a high level of service yet. But do tourists go to the taiga for this?

The leader in the top is Valaam - an ancient monastic complex on one of them. You can go here on your own or as part of an excursion group. The monastery in the city of Kizhi deserves no less attention. Both of these places are located outside the Karelian forest, however, those who travel to these parts from afar try to visit not only the wild wilderness of primeval nature, but also visit holy places.

Many researchers claim that there are many geoactive anomalies in Karelia, called places of power. By the way, Valaam and Kizhi are also among them and are considered one of the most powerful. In the wilderness of the forest, there are many ancient pagan temples built by the Saami and Lapps - the indigenous inhabitants of these places, who were later supplanted by the ancestors of modern Karelians and Slavs. Some daredevils go to the Karelian forests just for the sake of these mystical places. Think carefully: are you ready to face the unknown?

If you decide to see with your own eyes what kind of forest is in Karelia, plan your trip for any time of the year. Travel agencies offer guests wild summer vacations, Christmas tours, rafting on obstinate rivers, and many other programs that maximize the beauty of lakes and forests. Of course, in terms of tourism business in Karelia, there is still room for growth, but even the current level will satisfy the discerning vacationer. It offers rental of any water transport, horseback riding, safaris (in season, of course), fishing. You can go on vacation even without equipment and gear - everything can be rented.

Camping in the forest

Well, if a civilized, organized by a team of professionals vacation in the forests of Karelia is not your thing, you can visit these places in the company of the same avid hikers. Ideally, if there is at least one person in the group who has experience of hiking in Karelia. Not everywhere you can pitch tents and burn fires, and some amazing places and not on the maps at all. For example, it is almost impossible to get to the Island of Spirits along the Okhta on your own - you will need an experienced guide here.

Camping sites are organized in large numbers on the shores of forest lakes and rapids. These places are especially attractive for lovers of water sports. Kayakers are not uncommon in Karelia.

In order not to have problems with the law and your own conscience, follow the safety rules when organizing bonfires. Do not leave any traces of your stay in the wild forest in the form of food and drink packages and household garbage. This can result in a large fine.

Folk forest crafts

The forest of Karelia is ready to generously share its wealth all summer long. Here you can collect cranberries, lingonberries, cloudberries, blueberries, raspberries, blueberries. There are many mushrooms in these parts. Locals are engaged in quiet hunting all season long. If you are not lucky with either mushrooms or berries, ask the inhabitants of any roadside settlement. Surely there are many who want to offer you local delicacies for a moderate fee.

In ancient times, people also hunted. A valuable fur-bearing animal, which even today abounds in Karelian forests, was valued far beyond the borders of the region. The ancestors of the Karelians were active in trade, selling their goods to merchants from all over Europe.

The industrial value of the forest

Today, the main areas are not only the extraction of furs, the collection of berries, mushrooms and medicinal plants, but also the pulp and paper, as well as the woodworking industry. Procurers produce standing timber in Karelia and send it to many regions of Russia. A large part of the forest is exported. To maintain a balance, the state strictly controls deforestation and planting young trees.

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