The basin of Lake Ladoga is of glacial-tectonic origin. In the Paleozoic 300 - 400 million years ago, the entire territory of the modern Lake Ladoga basin was covered by the sea. The sedimentary deposits of that time are sandstones, sands, clays, limestones - they cover a thick thickness (over 200 m) of a crystalline foundation consisting of granites, gneisses and diabases.

The modern relief was formed as a result of the activity of the ice sheet (the last Valdai glaciation ended about 12 thousand years ago). The main factors were: changes in the level of the world's oceans, the water of the glacier and its weight - the rise of the land began (and continues). After the glacier retreated approximately 12,600 years ago, the fresh Baltic Glacial Lake was formed with a level of 25 meters above the ocean. About 10-9.6 thousand years ago, the waters of the lake broke through in the area of ​​​​central Sweden and the Yoldian Sea was formed, the level of which was 7 - 9 m higher than the modern level of the Baltic Sea.

Approximately 9,500 years ago, rising land blocked the strait in central Sweden and Lake Ancylus was formed. In the north of the Karelian Isthmus, it was connected by a wide strait to Lake Ladoga. The Mga River at that time flowed east and flowed into the lake near the modern source of the Neva.

Approximately 8,500 years ago, tectonic processes open the Danish Straits and the Littorina Sea is formed. The water level, although significantly higher than the current one, was less than in Lake Anzilov. This led to the formation of the Karelian Isthmus and the formation of Lake Ladoga.

How long the lake was completely isolated is unknown - the water level in the lake rises faster than the rise of the land, and when the level of Ladoga exceeded the watershed level, the lake waters, flooding the valley of the Mgi River, broke into the valley of the Tosna River.

Thus, approximately 4 thousand years ago, a new strait arose between Lake Ladoga and the Gulf of Finland, which became the valley of the Neva River. The old strait in the north of the Karelian Isthmus by this time was already above the lake level. Over the past 2.5 thousand years, the relief has not changed significantly.

The northern part of Lake Ladoga lies on the Baltic crystalline shield, the southern part on the East European Platform. In the areas closest to Ladoga, the southern border of the shield runs approximately along the line Vyborg - Priozersk - the mouth of the Vidlitsa River - the source of the Svir River.

The crystalline foundation of the Northern Ladoga region belongs to the ancient primary foundation of Fennoscandia and was formed about 2000 million years ago. These are the oldest geological formations on Earth. Over millions of years, the ancient Svekokarelid Mountains have been flattened into picturesque hills, cliffs and cliffs. The depression of Lake Ladoga was formed in the Tertiary period as a result of a powerful geological fault. At the same time, as a result of faults, the formation of the archipelago and the coastal part of the northwestern shore of Lake Ladoga occurred. 12 thousand years ago, after the departure of the glacier, almost the entire surface of the Ladoga region was under the water of the ancient Baltic glacial lake. The climate, water level and salinity of the lake gradually changed. About 4000 - 3000 years ago, the Neva was formed and the level of Lake Ladoga dropped by 10 meters.

At the end of the 9th century AD. a change in the hydrography of the region (a decrease in the level of the Baltic and, accordingly, Lake Ladoga) led to a simultaneous process of shallowing of the rivers of the Ladoga basin, including the Volkhov and its tributaries.

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rice. 4 Ancylus Lake includes Ladoga 9500 years ago. The lake's flow into the ocean is indicated.

32 rivers - more than 10 km long - flow directly into Lake Ladoga; the largest rivers flowing into Lake Ladoga include: r. Svir flowing from Lake Onega, river. Vuoksa, originating in Finland, r. Volkhov, flowing from Lake Ilmen, river. Syasya and others.

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rice. 5 Svir River - Podporozhsky district in the northeastern part of the Leningrad region.

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rice. 6 Svir River, rapids.

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rice. 7 Sandy shores Svir River.

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rice. 8 Vuoksa River.

The Vuoksa River is mentioned in the Novgorod Chronicles. People have lived in the vicinity of the river since prehistoric times - sites from the Stone Age period have been discovered here; Vuoksa is mentioned in the ancient epic “Kalevala”. In the distant era of Tsar Ivan the Terrible, the Vuoksa River is mentioned as a place of congress to resolve state issues.

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Fig. 9 Vuoksa near Melnikovo.

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rice. 10 A dam on the Vuoksa River in Imatra.

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rice. 11 Priozersk Vuoksa River.

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rice. 12 Upper reaches of the Volkhov River.

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rice. 13 Volkhov River in the area of ​​St. Ladoga and Lyubsha (Chernavino-5), mounds in the “sopka tract”.

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rice. 14 Volkhov River - not far from the mouth.

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rice. 14 Syasya river.

Lake Ladoga - Nevo.

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rice. 16 ladozhskoe lake.

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rice. 17 Landscapes of Lake Ladoga.

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rice. 18 Lake Ladoga - shores.

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rice. 19 Lake Ladoga - breakers.

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rice. 20 Lake Ladoga - forest.

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rice. 21 Lake Ladoga - silence.

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rice. 22 Lake Ladoga - autumn.

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rice. 23 Rocky shores of Lake Ladoga.

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rice. 24 Lynx Rock, village. Vyartsilya, Northern Ladoga region.

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rice. 25 Ruskeala, former marble quarry. Rock height: 30 - 40 m, Northern Ladoga region.

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rice. 26 Lake Ladoga - stones.

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rice. 27 Boulder near Vidlitsa - a river in Karelia, Ladoga region.

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rice. 28 On the islands of Lake Ladoga.

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rice. 29 Cape Rahaniemi. Radiance August 18, 2003.

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rice. 30 Gorskii Staraya Ladoga Canal photo 1909

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Fig. 31 Korela Fortress in Priozersk.

Korela (Swedish Kexholm, Finnish Käkisalmi "Cuckoo Strait") is a stone fortress in the city of Priozersk, on an island in the Vuoksa River. Medieval Korela was the most northwestern city of Rus'. The fortress was founded at the turn of the XIII and XIV centuries. Novgorodians on the island of the Uzerve River(Vuokse)to protect the northwestern borders of the republic from the Swedes.

Priozersk - [Karelian. Kägöisalmi, Finnish Käkisalmi - “Cuckoo Strait”, Swedish. Kexholm - “cuckoo island”] is the administrative center of the Priozersky district of the Leningrad region. The city is located on the Karelian Isthmus, along the banks of the northern branch of the Vuoksa River, between Lake Ladoga and Lake Vuoksa. Until the beginning of the 17th century, it was the center of the Korelsky land, the Korelsky district of the Vodskaya Pyatina. From the 14th century to 1611 the city was known as Korela. From 1580 to 1595 and from 1611 to 1918 the city was called Kexholm. Since 1918, the city, as part of the newly independent Finland, began to be called Käkisalmi. In 1940, after the Soviet-Finnish war, the city became part of the Soviet Union, and the name Kexholm was returned. In 1941-1944, during the Soviet-Finnish War, the city was occupied by Finnish troops and was called Käkisalmi. In 1944, after the Moscow Armistice, the city became part of the Soviet Union for the second time. In 1948 it was renamed Priozersk.)

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rice. 32 Fortress Oreshek - Orekhovy Island, (Finnish: Pähkinäsaari) - a small island at the source of the Neva. The main attraction is the ancient Novgorod fortress of the 14th century Oreshek.

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Fig. 33 Map of the Brockhaus and Efron encyclopedia. Ladoga lake. (clickable)

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Lake Ladoga is the largest freshwater body of water in Europe and the second in Russia after Lake Baikal. The first settlements appeared here in the 7th century, and two centuries later an important section of the Varangian trade route was built. The territories of the Ladoga region have more than once become the scene of military operations. Novgorodians, Swedes, Finns and Russian troops fought for them with varying success.

On geographical maps The lake was designated in the middle of the 16th century. Subsequently, handwritten diagrams were drawn up, on the basis of which at the beginning of the 19th century. Quite detailed drawings of Ladoga and the surrounding area were developed and published.

During the siege of Leningrad (1941-44), Lake Ladoga became a link between the besieged city and the mainland. The Road of Life passed through the reservoir, in winter - along the ice cover, and during the navigation period - along the water. Today Ladoga is used for recreational and economic purposes. On its banks there are many villages, holiday homes, tourist centers, children's health camps, as well as natural, religious and architectural and historical attractions.

Holidays on Lake Ladoga 2020

Popular in the Ladoga region hiking, kayaking, water travel and competitions, bicycle and car tours, “wild” and beach holidays, pilgrimages, skiing and fishing. Not only Russians come here, but also citizens of other countries. Routes are selected based on your own preferences, the allocated period of time, and the location of the starting, base or ending point. As a rule, holidays on Lake Ladoga are combined with cultural programs.

Since 1996, major international off-road competitions “Ladoga Trophy” have been held in the vicinity of the reservoir. Crews using SUVs, all-terrain vehicles and specially prepared equipment take part in them. There are tracks for lightweight vehicles.

Every year, competitions are organized on the Vuoksi river rapids. extreme species water sports. They attract thousands of participants and fans.

Beaches

Places suitable for beach holidays are located in the southern and southwestern parts of Lake Ladoga. They are characterized by a gentle slope into the water, narrow sandy and rocky spits. There are wide beaches on the eastern islands of Mantsinsaari and Lunkulansaari. The northern and northwestern shores of Ladoga are not intended for swimming.

Around Lake Ladoga

Many independent tourists go on a circular trip around Ladoga for several days. There are circular roads around the reservoir, along which you can drive from one settlement to another. But it should be remembered that not all of them have good coverage, so on rainy days it can be difficult to overcome some areas.

Trips around Lake Ladoga on bicycles and motor vehicles are no less eventful and memorable.

Recreation centers

In the vicinity of the reservoir there are a huge number of tourist centers - from budget options to luxury ones. Many of them operate year-round. Guests are offered to stay in separate houses, 2-3-story buildings with all amenities, or in tents on a landscaped area. Rates depend on living conditions and the range of services provided.

In addition, there are fishing, hunting, ski bases and ski resorts on Ladoga.

Hotels

On Lake Ladoga, vacationers can stay in guest houses, family hotels and hotel complexes. Prices correspond to the level of comfort and location of the facility.

Shore of Lake Ladoga

The southern part of the reservoir is characterized by low, gently sloping shores, shoals, banks and reefs. The northwestern line is cut by fjords, skerries and dotted with numerous islands, separated by a complex network of straits. From Priozersk to Pitkäranta there are mainly rocky, elevated shores and an uneven, deep bottom. From the east and west the water line is smooth.

In the surrounding area there are many ponds and marshy areas with characteristic vegetation. The lake is surrounded by mixed forests, mostly coniferous. Reed thickets dominate its shores. Representatives of the middle taiga fauna live in the forests, mushrooms and berries grow. More than 250 species of birds are found in the district.

The largest bays are located in the southern part of the lake. This is Petrokrepost Bay and two lips - Volkhovskaya and Svirskaya.

• The area of ​​the lake with islands is more than 18,000 square meters. km.
• Dimensions: length - about 220 km, width - up to 138 km.
• Length coastline— more than 1.5 thousand km.
• Height above sea level - 4.84 m.
• Depth: average - 47 m, maximum - 230 m.
• The volume of water is almost 910 cubic meters. km.

The construction of a bypass shipping canal began along the southern coast under Peter I. In the middle of the 19th century. a new one was built along it waterway, since the old one not only became shallow, but also did not correspond to the increased load on it. Today the Ladoga Canal is used for the passage of small and medium-sized ships. It consists of three sections - Novo-Ladozhsky, Novo-Syassky and Novo-Svirsky. They stretched from the mouth of the Neva to the mouth of the Svir.

The shores and water area of ​​Ladoga are divided between 9 municipal districts, 5 of which belong to the Leningrad region, and 4 to Karelia.

Islands

In the waters of Lake Ladoga there are a huge number of islands, concentrated mainly in the northwestern part of the reservoir. Some of them are inhabited, but most remain uninhabited.

Balaam

The most famous island of Ladoga and the largest in the Valaam archipelago. Here is the settlement of the same name and Valaam monastery(XI-XII centuries). The surrounding islands are marked as places of mass occurrence of the Ladoga ringed seal.

Konevets

Located southwest of Valaam. The local Nativity of the Mother of God Monastery, founded at the end of the 14th century, is often called the twin of the Valaam Monastery. The Horse-Stone, which was once used for pagan rituals, has stood on the island for a long time. The chapel was erected above it at the end of the 19th century.

Riekkala (Riekkalansaari)

The largest island in the waters of Lake Ladoga. There are several settlements here, connected by dirt roads. It is connected to the mainland by a pontoon bridge leading to Sortavala.

Mantsinsaari

Located off the northeastern coast of Ladoga. During the Second World War, the island was held by the Finns until the signing of the general surrender. Under Khrushchev, a massive outflow of population began from Mantsinsaari, and by the end of the last century it was completely empty. Nearby is the island of Lunkulansaari, separated from the mainland by a small channel.

The most famous islands of the Ladoga skerries are Kilpola, Kukhta, Sorolansaari, Lauvatsaari, as well as Putsaari - the island of St. Sergius, which for a long time served as a place for mining granite stone. The material was used for the construction of the Valaam Monastery and cladding of buildings in St. Petersburg.

Rivers

Lake Ladoga is fed by river tributaries, precipitation and groundwater. More than 30 rivers flow into it, the main of which are:

• Svir - flows from Lake Onega;
• Volkhov - carries water from Lake Ilmen;
• Vuoksa is the most large river Karelian Isthmus.

The only drainage is the Neva River.

Weather

The Ladoga region is located in the zone of influence of the marine temperate and continental climate. There are significant temperature fluctuations, cloudiness, high humidity, fog and insignificant amounts of precipitation. In winter it is moderately cold, windy and cloudy. Sudden invasions of Arctic masses contribute to a sharp cooling. Frosts recede in early April, but snow can also fall in May.

Summer on Ladoga is moderately warm. There are fewer cloudy days, but the amount of precipitation increases slightly. There are about 60-65 sunny days per year. From late May to mid-July, “white nights” dominate here.

The warmest month is July, the coldest are January and February. Average air temperatures at this time are +16.5 °C and -9 °C. The absolute maximum and absolute minimum were recorded between +31.7 °C and -42.8 °C.

Storms

Strong winds often blow on Ladoga, changing direction sharply. Their duration can reach 5 days, and their speed can be more than 15 m/s. The most dangerous storms occur in October. Maximum wind gusts are up to 84 m/s.

Depth map

There are two versions of the origin of the lake basin. The first, classical, implies its glacial-tectonic origin, and the second assumes the fall of a giant cosmic body to Earth. Proponents of the latter interpretation are based on the unusual bottom topography, reminiscent of a deep funnel in the northern part of the reservoir, as indicated by the map of the depths of Lake Ladoga. As additional arguments, huge boulders scattered on the flat terrain and, of course, anomalous phenomena- underwater lightning, sudden seething of water, mirages and barrantids (deep sounds). However, scientists argue that tectonic faults, the movement of lithospheric plates and, as a result, underwater seismic activity are to blame.

The depth map shows that the bottom of the lake deepens from south to north. The smallest areas, up to 3-4 m, are observed off the southern and eastern shores (in the area of ​​the island of Mantsinsaari and the village of Salmi). Next comes a strip of depths of 5-10 m, then up to 20 and up to 50 m. In the middle of the reservoir, measurements show 51-99 m, and closer to the north - 100-186 m. The deepest holes are located west of Valaam - 215, 221 and 228 m.

Fish of Lake Ladoga

The reservoir is home to more than 60 species of fish, including pike perch, smelt, sturgeon, burbot, sterlet, salmon, whitefish, trout, bream, perch, pike, etc. Both small and large specimens are found here (lake salmon reaches weight up to 10 kg). Most of the fish are native species, but some migrate from the Gulf of Finland, inflowing rivers and neighboring lakes.

Fishing

Fishing enthusiasts come to Ladoga in summer and winter. They are located in quiet backwaters on the southern or southeastern shore of the reservoir. Trophy fishing is popular on Lake Ladoga, the purpose of which is to catch large specimens of certain species of fish. For real professionals, this is a sport and a game of chance at the same time.

Water in Lake Ladoga

The water level in the reservoir changes periodically. During the observation period, an increase of 2 m and a decrease of 1.5 m relative to the average was recorded, although seasonal variations are small. Experts claim that the water in the lake is completely renewed every 12 years.

Ladoga water is homogeneous, slightly mineralized and soft. On average, the concentration of salts is 55 mg/l, which is almost twice as high as that of Lake Onega and almost two times lower than the salinity of water in Lake Baikal. The homogeneity of the composition is associated with vertical circulations, temporary and permanent currents. The softness of water allows it to be used for industrial and domestic purposes.

A feature of the reservoir is the color of the water, which takes on the shades of reflections of the sky and shores, as well as the bottom in relatively small areas. This is why Lagoda looks different in cloudy weather than in clear weather.

Water clarity:

• in the center - 4.5 m;
• off the west coast - 2.5 m;
• at river mouths - about 1 m;
• at maximum depths - up to 10 m.

Water temperature

Great depths have a significant impact on the temperature regime of lake water. Even in hot weather it remains cool. The reservoir warms up for a long time and cools down slowly.

At the beginning of spring, the temperature in shallow waters rises to +4 °C. By mid-July, about +20 °C is recorded on the surface, rarely +24 °C, but a little deeper the temperature is lower. By the beginning of September, the reservoir begins to cool; in winter it is covered with an ice shell, but not every year it is completely covered with it. The average ice thickness reaches 60 cm. Freeze-up occurs in December - February. The autopsy takes place in May.

Svirskaya Bay is considered the warmest part of Ladoga.

Where is Lake Ladoga located?

The reservoir is located on the territory of two constituent entities of the Russian Federation. Its northeastern part belongs to Karelia, and the south, west and southeast belong to the Leningrad region.

The shortest distances to the nearest shores are from:

• St. Petersburg - 40 km;
• Vyborg - 85 km;
• Petrozavodsk - 125 km;
• Veliky Novgorod - 150 km;
• Moscow - 580 km;
• border with Finland - 30-35 km.

Attractions

On the shores of Lake Ladoga there are religious, archaeological, military-historical, architectural and geological monuments, as well as nature reserves, nature reserves and natural parks. The most famous and popular attraction of Ladoga is the complex of the Valaam Monastery. No less famous is the Nativity of the Mother of God Monastery on Konevets Island.

The city of Sortavala is interesting for its historical buildings of the 1930s. in a style characteristic of Northern European Art Nouveau and Neoclassicism. 20 km from it, in the Ruskeala mountain park, there is a cascade of Ruskeala waterfalls and former royal quarries. Lined with marble mined here

And meridians 29°48 and 32°58` east longitude from Grinich. With an oval shape, somewhat pointed to the north, the lake stretches almost along the meridian, along which it has the greatest length of 196.5 kilometers. The greatest width of the lake is almost in the middle of its length, at the parallel of 61° north latitude, and between the mouths of Vuoksa and Olonka, 124 kilometers.

To the north, the shores of the lake quickly narrow and end in the Hien-Selke Bay, and to the south, the shores narrow slowly and end in the vast Shlisselburg and Volkhov bays, separated by a wide ledge. The length of the coastline is 1071 km, of which 460 km, occupying part of the western bank, from the border with the Polutorny stream to the source of the Neva, the entire southern bank and part of the eastern bank to the village of Pogranichnye Konduzhi belong to Russia, the remaining 610 km. belong to Finland.

The surface of the lake, including the islands, is 15923 km2, of which 8881.1 km2 in Russia and 7041.6 km2 in Finland. While inferior in size to the large lakes of America, Lake Ladoga is significantly larger than all European lakes: it is twice as large, three times larger than Venus, five times larger and ten times larger than Saimaa, not to mention the rest of the Western European lakes.

Lake Ladoga serves as a receiver for a huge amount of water, the only one of which is the high-water Neva, flowing from the southwestern corner of the lake in two branches, separated by Orekhov Island, and flowing into St. Petersburg. Of the tributaries directly flowing into Lake Ladoga, the following are remarkable: in the western part of the lake: the Vuoksa River, flowing from Lake Saimaa and forming the famous Imatru Falls, flows into Lake Ladoga partly directly at Kexgolm, partly through Lake Suvanto by the Taipala River; in the northern part: Gellul, Lyaskil, Uksu, Tuloma, and Minol; in the eastern part: Vidlitsa, Tuloksa, Olonka, Obzha, Svir with Oyat and Pasha and Voronega; in the southern part: Sias with Tikhvinka, Volkhov, Kobona, Lava, Sheldikha and Nazya. The tributaries of the Volkhov, Syas and Svir serve as the beginning of three water systems: Vyshnevolotskaya, Tikhvinskaya and Mariinskaya, connecting Lake Ladoga with the Volga basin, and each of these rivers, along with the rest southern rivers, when it flows into the lake, it is connected or intersected by old and new Ladoga bypass canals, which stretch along the entire southern and often eastern shore lakes, from the source of the Neva to the mouth of the Svir.

With the help of its numerous tributaries, Lake Ladoga covers, in addition to parts of Finland, St. Petersburg and Olonets, almost all of the Novgorod and some parts of the Pskov, Vitebsk, Tver and Arkhangelsk regions. The Ladoga basin contains a space of 250,280.3 km2. Although Lake Ladoga, located between the basin and and, occupies a very advantageous position, and in terms of its vastness, depth and excellent navigation conditions it itself constitutes an inland sea, but its navigation and trade and economic importance are extremely insignificant, due to the bypass Ladoga canals, which made the construction of marine-type vessels necessary for navigation in the lake completely unnecessary.

Bay, Lake Ladoga and rocks (photo by Oleg Semenenko)

Shores of Lake Ladoga. From the mouth of the Vuoksa to the source of the Neva, the coast consists of clay and loamy sediments, bordered by sandy soil, with numerous boulders. Up to the mouth of Taipala, the coast is still quite elevated, but further to the south there is a low-lying desert coast, partly sandy and partly covered with thick grass. The southern shore of the lake, between the source of the Neva and the mouth of the Svir, is low-lying, almost treeless and consists of clayey and swampy soil; formed by sediment from rivers flowing into the lake, it is bounded from the south by an elevated ridge of limestones of the Silurian system, which, in all likelihood, was once the shore of Lake Ladoga. Currently, they are located at a distance of 3 to 30 kilometers from it, and only near the mouth of the Svir the limestones with their rocky cliffs cut like a wedge into the shore of the lake, towards Cape Storozhensky, forming the outskirts of a peninsula that protrudes far into the lake.

Eastern coast, from the mouth of the Svir to lake. Karkun-lamba, at first low-lying and partly swampy, gradually rises and consists of clayey and loamy soil, which on the very coastline turns into purely sandy. The coastal area of ​​the northwestern part of the lake is in complete contrast to the southeastern part. Here the shores and those adjacent to them are elevated, rocky and consist mainly of granite, partly gneiss, syenite and other crystalline rocks, as well as various types of marble.

From Kexholm to the north and further east to Impilax, the granite gradually changes from light gray and coarse-grained to bluish-gray and fine-grained, very strong and hard, then, to Pitkerando, it turns reddish, but south of Pitkerando the granite completely disappears from the surface land, and the soil is sandy-clayey, filled with boulders different types, and granite is found only in low-lying capes protruding into the lake, consisting of fine-grained red granite.

Islands in their composition and height they correspond to the shore near which they are located. Almost all the islands in the northern part of the lake are elevated, consisting mainly of granite and hard rock, while the islands in the southern part are low-lying, partly marshy and surrounded by shallows and reefs. Thanks to the many islands and significant ruggedness of the coast, Northern part The lake is very rich in bays and bays sheltered from the winds, which provide very convenient places for quiet mooring of ships, but in the southern part of the lake there are almost no such places with everything, as a result of which here ships, in strong winds, are forced to settle in the open lake, mainly in the open and dangerous Koshkinsky raid.

Of the islands in the northern part of the lake, near the shores, the most remarkable are: the island of Kuko-sari, lying at the mouth of the Vuoksi River. In the Kronober Bay: Kilpodan, Korpan and Teposari, the last two of which form the entrance to the bay, which is a vast bay, completely calm for ships. The island of Sarolin, which makes up the left shore of Yakimvar Bay, is 12 km away. jutting out into the mainland and representing a safe bay with all sorts of conditions.

Of the islands in the middle of the northern part of the lake, the following stand out: the Valaam group, consisting of 40 islands that stretch parallel, at a distance of about 20 km. from the extreme islands of the northern skerries. The main and largest of this group is the island of Valaam (26.2 km2), which has a very irregular shape, but with the closely adjacent islands of Skitsky, Predtechensky and Nikonovsky, it appears in the form of an equilateral triangle. In its northwestern part, on a rock, the Valaam-Preobrazhensky Monastery is located, in the depths of the bay, with a convenient pier. To the east of Valaam stretch the islands: Baiovye and Krestovye. To the southwest of the island: Gange-pa with a lighthouse, Muarka, Yalaya and Rahma-sari, lying almost on the same parallel. To the south are the islands: Suri Verko-sari and Voschaty or Vasiya-sari. South of this last island lies Konevets (6.5 km2), on which the Konevsky-Rozhdestvensky Monastery is located.

Lake Ladoga (photo by Dmitry Savin)

Depth Lake Ladoga is generally quite significant; distributed unevenly, depending on the height of the banks: the steeper and more elevated the shores adjacent to the water's edge, the greater the depth and vice versa. From the southern low-lying shore, the depth, starting from half a meter, slowly and gradually increases; having passed the reefs and shoals protruding from this shore, it begins to quickly increase, so that in the middle of the lake it is from 60 to 110 m, further to the north it increases to 140, and in some places reaches 200 meters. Thus, the Ladoga bottom has a very significant slope from south to north, and it consists of a number of more or less irregular ledges, on which in some places there are significant mounds and hills, in places there are depressions and basins. Thus, between the lines of equal depths of 60 and 80 m, there are bottom elevations at which the depth is only 32 m, and in the northwestern part of the lake, between the lines of equal depths of 10 and 140 m, there are depths of 200 or more m.

Water level and currents. The water level of Lake Ladoga is subject to constant fluctuations, depending on the totality of all meteorological circumstances in the entire basin of the lake, as a result of which the height of lake water not only in different years, but also at different times of the same year can be very different. Since time immemorial, the existing belief about the seven-year periodicity of changes in the lake water level, according to which the lake water horizon constantly seems to rise for 7 years, and constantly decreases over the next 7 years, was completely refuted by 14-year observations, which were produced on the island of Valaam and of which there was no correctness in changing the position of the water level.

Opening and freezing. First of all, the shallow southern part of the lake is covered with thin ice, usually in early November, sometimes at the end of October, at a temperature of about 5 degrees Celsius. This thin ice or lard is carried by the current into the Neva, where the autumn ice drift begins and does not last long. In the lake itself, with increasing frosts, the entire southern part of the lake is covered with ice, both at the very shore and in the space between the reefs and shoals protruding from it. Further, to the north of the parallel of the Sukhsky lighthouse, under the influence of winds that easily break up the formed ice, the lake does not freeze for a long time, and at great depths in the northern part it freezes only in December, often in January, in other years the middle of the lake remains unfrozen all winter .

In general, the lake is covered with solid ice only in the most severe winters; during ordinary frosts, only the outskirts, 20-30 kilometers from the shores, are covered with ice. Determining whether the middle of the lake is frozen or not seems to be quite difficult, due to the distance of the middle of the lake from the shore. Fishermen who carry out ice seine fishing determine this with great accuracy by the current in the ice holes: if in the ice holes there is a current corresponding to the direction of the wind, then the middle of the lake remains unfrozen, but the absence of a current shows that the entire lake is covered with solid ice.

The opening of Lake Ladoga, like freezing, also begins at the southern shore of the lake, usually at the end of March - the first half of April, simultaneously with the opening of southern tributaries and warm water, which has a direct impact on the opening of the Neva, which always begins from the source, near Shlisselburg , and there are two ice drifts on it: the river itself, which does not last long, and the very long Ladoga ice drift, which almost never passes at once.

Basic moments

Lake Ladoga is an important link on the Volga-Baltic route. During the navigation period, its waters plow passenger ships marine class, but shipping is limited due to sudden storms. The main shipping traffic passes through the Volgo-Balt bypass canals.

Since ancient times, Christian righteous people settled in these remote regions. Small hermitages grew into monasteries, which became authoritative spiritual centers in Russia. During the dark period of repression of the 20-30s of the last century, the monasteries were liquidated, and prisoners were kept within their walls. In the 90s, justice was restored and the monasteries were returned to the Russian Orthodox Church.

Today Ladoga region is one of the most popular tourist regions of the country. Nature reserves have been created here to protect Karelian nature. In cities and towns located around Lake Ladoga, tourist centers and hotels have been built. Infrastructure is actively developing in coastal cities - Shlisselburg, Priozersk, Novaya Ladoga, Sortavala, Pitkyaranta, from which the main excursion routes begin. Travelers get acquainted with the beauties of northern nature, original historical and cultural monuments.

History of Lake Ladoga

Lake Ladoga is a relic of the last glaciation, which covered the northern hemisphere of the planet by geological standards quite recently - about 10-12 thousand years ago. The vast valley, now the bottom of the lake, was filled with meltwater, and rivers and streams rushed into the lowland. Following the glacier retreating to the north, people came to the shores of the reservoir. Numerous traces of settlements were discovered during construction work; in archaeological science they were called Ladoga sites. Among the artifacts of prehistoric times are stone arrow and spear tips, fragments of pottery with ornaments, human burials and food remains. The diet of local Neolithic residents was dominated by lake fish; meat was obtained by hunting seals, forest game and waterfowl.

In the Scandinavian sagas and in the trade treaties of the merchants of the Hanseatic League, the lake is called Aldoga, which can mean “wavy”, but linguists offer other interpretations. These places were inhabited by Karelians, Vepsians, and Chuds. In the languages ​​of these peoples, more ancient names for Lake Ladoga have been preserved, one of them is Velikiy Nevo.

During the Middle Ages, Ladoga and large areas of Karelia were included in the sphere of influence of Veliky Novgorod. Novgorod trade and military sailing ships sailed on the lake. From time immemorial, Sweden has also laid claim to the Ladoga region. The Novgorod Chronicle reports about one of the episodes of this confrontation. At the beginning of the summer of 1164, the warships of the Swedish king entered the lake and headed for the walls of the coastal fortress of Ladoga, built at the mouth of the Volkhov River. The stronghold covered Novgorod from the north. In that battle, the Novgorod squad defeated the Swedes, retaining Karelia for Russia. But it was only at the beginning of the 18th century that Tsar Peter I managed to put an end to the dispute over the territory, ending the Russian-Swedish war with victory.

Storms often rage on Lake Ladoga, caused by strong gusty winds. It was this circumstance, which often led to shipwrecks, that forced Peter I to decide to build bypass canals to ensure safe transit navigation. The construction of canals continued in subsequent centuries. Thanks to these man-made waterways, today the lake is connected with the southern and northern regions of Russia through busy shipping along the modern route “from the Varangians to the Greeks” - from the Baltic to Azov and the shores of the Black Sea region.

Dramatic events during the Great Patriotic War took place on Ladoga. The famous Road of Life ran here, the only link from the mainland to Leningrad, besieged by Nazi troops. Major battles took place in this area, aimed at breaking the blockade of the Northern capital.

Geography and natural resources

The coastline of Lake Ladoga is picturesque and diverse. The northern coast is composed of rocky ridges, smoothed by a glacier, with huge boulders scattered among them. This part of the lake landscape is strewn with islands, cut up by narrow winding bays protruding deeply into the mainland, here they are called skerries. The islands and coasts are overgrown with birch, pine and spruce trees, the mossy undergrowth is dominated by shrubs, and berries and mushrooms grow in abundance. In the northern part, the water depth reaches 230 m.

The western coast is also rocky, but the slopes, decorated with mixed forests, are almost not indented by bays.

A characteristic feature of the eastern shore of Lake Ladoga is its wide sandy beaches; in the river mouths there are high dunes covered with mast pine trees. Here is the island of Mantsinsaari, one of the largest on the lake.

The southern coast is low-lying and swampy, it is covered with dense thickets of reeds, and there are nesting sites for a variety of waterfowl. The coastal part is dangerous for navigation; rock reefs and sandbanks are hidden under shallow water.

Part of the lake coast is included in the northern and northeastern regions of the Leningrad region, the other part belongs to the territory of the Republic of Karelia.

35 rivers flow into Lake Ladoga, the largest of which are the Volkhov, Svir, and Vuoksa. And only one Neva flows out of it, preserving the ancient Karelian name of Lake Nevo. This is probably where the concept of seine - fishing net - comes from. Geologists managed to find out that this flow into the Baltic was formed quite recently, in observable historical times. Neva is about 2500 years old. Before the breakthrough of rocks by the Neva outflow into the Gulf of Finland, the lake level was approximately 12 meters higher, all modern coastal regions were under water.

To the east of Vyborg, geologists discovered traces of the bed of an older river that carried away excess Ladoga waters. This glacial channel existed about 10 thousand years ago. Over time, the land, 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.

Historical and natural reserves have been created on Ladoga. Since 2017, by decree of the Russian government, 650 rocky islets clustered along the northern coast of the reservoir have been classified as protected areas. Organized here national park“Ladoga Skerries” with a unique ecosystem - several thousand freshwater seals, listed in the Red Book, live here, they are known as Ladoga seals. Local waters are inhabited by rare species of fish, also protected by Russian legislation. Colonies of gulls nest on the islands. The reserve is located on the territory of the Republic of Karelia, the park area exceeds 122 thousand hectares.

In the west, the skerries are limited by the large island of Kilpola, connected to the mainland by a bridge. The island has its own lake, Vitsalampi, as well as smaller bodies of water. Here are ancient Karelian settlements, tourist centers and cafes, campsites and guest houses. There is a whole fleet of sailing yawls for walking around the skerries.

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 wonderful white nights here. 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.

The shallow southern part of Lake Ladoga warms up well in the summer. In this water area, the water temperature in June-August reaches +24 °C, and a short beach season opens here. But in most of the reservoir, even in the warmest season of the year, swimming is uncomfortable; water temperatures rarely exceed +14 °C. The warmest period occurs here in mid-August, when the air temperature reaches +22...+24 °C.

Sights of Lake Ladoga

The extensive list of attractions of Lake Ladoga is headed by the world famous ancient monastery on the island of Valaam. According to legend, the first cross was erected here by the Apostle Andrew. Historians date the founding of the monastery to the 11th century.

On neighboring island Putsaari, surrounded by a circle of small islands, is the secluded monastery of St. George. This quiet abode belongs Valaam Monastery, tourists rarely come here.

20 km from the town of Lodeynoye Pole, on the wooded bank of the Svir River, is the Alexander-Svirsky Monastery. Beautiful examples of Moscow architecture of the 15th-17th centuries are worth seeing here. The interiors of the monastery buildings are decorated with ancient frescoes. Among the shrines kept here is a consecrated copy of the famous Shroud of Turin.

You can take an interesting walk through the historical center of Sortavala, located on the northern shore of Lake Ladoga. Stone and wooden buildings from the century before last have been preserved here. This region contains more than 60 monuments of the historical and cultural heritage of the indigenous population of Karelia. Ancient settlements and necropolises date back to the 6th millennium BC. e.

The ruins of the Novgorod fortress can be seen in the ancient city of Staraya Ladoga. Fragments of walls built from river boulders on a strong lime mortar have been preserved here. They can be seen near the Church of St. George.

A kilometer from the village of Kokkorevo, the “Broken Ring” monument was erected, dedicated to the Road of Life.

The natural reserves of Lake Ladoga also beckon. In a mountain park near the village of Ruskeala, the picturesque Ruskeala waterfalls foam. Key episodes of the touching film “The Dawns Here Are Quiet” (1972) were filmed here. The waterfalls have gazebos and a parking lot. In the store you can buy souvenirs and smoked fish.

Beaches

The beaches are concentrated on the southern coast of Lake Ladoga. It is shallow here, the water is quite warm in summer, but the bottom is almost everywhere muddy, although there are rocky and sandy areas. In other parts of the reservoir, the coast is much deeper, the water does not warm up well during the short summer, and it is also cooled by icy bottom springs. Rivers carry a lot of silt and peat into the lake, and therefore the water in Ladoga is cloudy. You won't be able to snorkel and watch the underwater inhabitants - visibility under water is almost zero.

One of the most popular beaches you will find in the village of Kokkorevo. During the swimming season it is crowded, although there is no sign of service on the beach. There are no sun loungers or changing cabins here, not to mention toilets. A bus runs from the Vaganovo railway station to the Broken Ring memorial, but it does not go to Kokkorevo. You will have to walk about half an hour to the beach. Vacationers come here by car, but there is no parking on the beach; cars stretch out in a long line along a narrow dirt forest road. Those who decide to swim here during the day have to park their car and walk a kilometer and a half to the beach.

The ideal option is to come to Kokkorevo by bicycle. In this case, you can go further along the coast, find a secluded beach in the reeds, where it will be nice to swim and have a picnic. Just don’t forget to pick up trash after yourself - environmentalists complain that during floods, plastic bottles and bags from natural landfills are carried even into nature reserves.

The town of Osinovets also has a fairly large beach. A noticeable landmark will lead to it - a tall lighthouse tower, painted in red and white stripes. Not far from the beach there is a cafe overlooking the lake. Snacks, hot dishes and drinks are offered.

Behind Osinovets is the village of Lake Ladoga. Here, at the foot of low hills covered with pine trees, you will find a sandy beach, rare for these parts. A hundred meters away is a nice railway station, built in the shape of a pointed Finnish house. There is an old steam locomotive nearby. It is better to come to this beach on weekdays; on weekends it is crowded.

Tourists praise the sandy beach on the lake cape near the village named after Morozov. You can walk to it from the railway station in half an hour. The beach is clean, equipped with changing rooms and a toilet. But even here you need to take bedding, sandwiches, drinking water and other supplies with you.

The sandy beaches on the eastern shore of Lake Ladoga are very picturesque, but they are not suitable for swimming; the water here is too cold even at the height of summer.

Leisure

The Ladoga region provides a lot of opportunities for sports and active rest– from river rafting to mountaineering. Hiking to mushroom and berry fields is popular in this area. In winter, they lay along the banks ski slopes, there are skating rinks 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.

The most fishing places in Ladoga are in the southern part of the lake. It is shallow here and the warm water has enough plant food for fish. Fishermen boast of significant catches. Among the trophies are large pike perch, burbot, catfish, and once, not far from Sortavala, a pike weighing half a centner was caught.

From December to early April, Lake Ladoga is the time for winter fishing and seasonal entertainment. At first, lake water freezes only in shallow coastal waters. Here, already in the first ten days of December, fishermen begin to drill holes in the ice for jigs, and tourists ride on the surface of Ladoga on skates and snowmobiles. However, local residents warn that it is still dangerous to get closer to the deep water in the center of the lake at this time. There, streams from bottom springs rise to the surface, stormy winds rage over the water, and therefore a sufficiently strong ice cover is formed only in mid-January, when Karelian frosts hit. The cold does not frighten extreme fishermen and winter sports lovers, because cozy camp sites with warm log cottages and hotly heated Finnish baths await them on the shores.

Coastal ice becomes fragile by mid-spring; the surface of the lake finally thaws only in May.

For more than 20 years, the international rally “Ladoga Trophy” has been held along the shore of the lake. Anyone can take part in the competition, which usually takes place in June, all you need to do is register. Athletes on standard and specially prepared off-road vehicles and ATVs take to the 1,200 km long ring track around Lake Ladoga. Motorcyclists compete in other categories, and since 2016, cyclists have also participated in the race. The start and finish of the competition is on St. Isaac's Square in St. Petersburg.

Experienced scuba divers can join the exciting project “Secrets of Sunken Ships”. During annual underwater expeditions, divers add to the register of objects discovered at the bottom of Lake Ladoga. Among them are vintage ships and airplanes from the Second World War.

What to buy

Residents 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 treat can reach up to 6,000 rubles. Local markets sell homemade preserves - salted and pickled mushrooms, dried fish. You can also buy wonderful lingonberry jam here.

Popular souvenirs are crafts made by Karelian artisans made of wood and stone, embroidery. The healing “Karelian balsam” and bags of local medicinal herbs are in demand.

Where to stay

On the shores of Lake Ladoga, travelers will find modern recreation centers, cozy hunting lodges, inexpensive hostels, tourist centers, cheap guest houses.

Within the Leningrad region you can stay inexpensively at the Ladoga-Lake camp site

The recreation center "Krenitsy" is located nearby. There is a restaurant here and secure parking. The rooms are equipped with kitchenettes. Accommodation will cost from 2400 rubles, breakfast is included in the price.

In Priozersk, the Uyut Hotel, designed for budget tourists, is popular. You will have to prepare food in the shared kitchen. For a room you will need to pay from 1575 rubles.

In the Karelian city of Salmi you can stay at Mantiasaari Cottages. Guests have at their disposal a two-story log cabin with two to three bedrooms, a living room, an equipped kitchen and a private sauna. Fishing trips and snowmobile safaris in winter are offered. The cost of living is from 1,836 to 3,475 rubles per day.

Comfortable luxury hotel complexes have also been built in the vicinity of Lake Ladoga. One of them is the “Ladoga Estate”, which is in the Karelian city of Niemelyanhovi, standing on the shore of the Ladoga Bay of the same name. It offers warm cottages and townhouses, the interiors are made in the style of northern modernism. The complex has pleasure boats, berths, and a helipad. There are two restaurants, a lobby bar, a bath complex, a spa, billiards, slot machines, and a bowling alley. An excursion program is offered, travel to the Ladoga skerries and islands, rental of boats and equipment for fishing and water sports is available. As the weather gets colder, winter activities are provided for guests. Accommodation at the Ladoga Estate will cost from 21,800 rubles per day. Breakfast (buffet) is included in the payment.

How to get there

The most convenient way to get from Russian cities to the northeastern shores of Lake Ladoga is through Petrozavodsk. The southwestern lake regions are accessible by transport coming from St. Petersburg. Buses regularly depart from St. Petersburg to Sortavala, Novaya Ladoga and Priozersk. Large tourist centers and holiday homes send their own transport to pick up their guests. Travelers usually get to remote areas by own cars. An SUV is ideal for such trips.

During the summer navigation period, pleasure boats and Meteora depart daily from the pier in Priozersk to the island of Valaam. In other settlements, you can rent a private boat for a walk along Lake Ladoga and visit the islands.

Wealthy travelers can choose a multi-day boat cruise from St. Petersburg or Moscow. The cost of such a tour starts from 8,000 rubles; the trip program includes visits to picturesque protected islands.

“We live in the most beautiful country in the world, and all other countries envy us!” - I am ready to subscribe to every word. And the point is not even that “we shoed a flea and pierced a caterpillar,” but that Mother Russia contains so many natural and man-made wonders that you constantly feel a sense of pride in your Motherland, and this makes your soul feel so good !

We have the very best: the best deep lake in the world (Baikal), the most extensive forests (Siberian taiga), the coldest populated area on Earth (Oymyakon), the largest Orthodox church located in Moscow (Cathedral of Christ the Savior)… We have a lot of things, the list goes on and on.

Now I want to talk about another “most”, about the largest lake in Europe – Ladoga. It is more than two hundred kilometers long and 125 kilometers wide! When you stand on its shore, it seems that this is not a lake, this is the SEA! Ladoga, of course, is a national treasure not only for its impressive size, but also thanks to its clean water, unique flora and fauna, rich history... Well, I will try to embrace the immensity and tell in brief all the most interesting and useful things I know about this miracle nature.

How to get there

Lake Ladoga occupies a huge area and is located in two constituent entities of the Russian Federation - the Leningrad region (western, southern shores) and the Republic of Karelia (northern, eastern shores).

The choice of your preferred mode of transport directly depends on which shore of Lake Ladoga you are trying to get to. In principle, it can be reached by plane, train, bus, ferry, and, of course, by private car.

By plane

To St. Petersburg

The closest airport to Lake Ladoga is Pulkovo Airport, located in St. Petersburg. The distance from it to the southwestern shore of Ladoga in the most optimal way (by car) is 55 kilometers. Pulkovo is the largest air transport hub in the North-West region, receiving daily flights from many localities in Russia and from abroad. I think it won’t be difficult to find the best route from your city. The official website of St. Petersburg airport and other Internet resources can help you. For example, you can monitor ticket prices.

You can rent a car right in the arrival hall (Avis, Europcar, Sixt). The price for renting an economy class car (eg Hyundai Solaris) for one day is about 2000 rubles; The longer the rental period, the more acceptable the final cost. Compare prices from different rental companies.

If you plan to continue your trip to public transport, then now is the time to decide how you intend to get to your final destination on Lake Ladoga - by railway or by bus. In the first case, you need to get, no, not to Ladozhsky, but to the Finlyandsky station (popularly “Finban”), in the second - to the Obvodny Canal bus station or to the Northern bus station.

How to get there from the airport

So, how can a tourist leave the airport? There are two acceptable options:

• by taxi. Just don’t even think about hiring a driver from among those who offer their services at the exit of the terminal! They usually charge prices three times higher than the citywide prices. Just call a taxi service (for example, “Vezet”, “Taksovichkoff”, “068”). The machine delivery time is no more than 15 minutes; transfer cost to Finban ~ 850 rubles, to the bus station on the Obvodny Canal ~ 600 rubles, to the Northern bus station ~ 1100 rubles;
• bus + metro. Buses (No. 39, No. 39A) and minibuses (No. 39K) regularly run from the airport building to the Moskovskaya metro station. Travel time is 15 – 30 minutes depending on the traffic situation, the fare is 40 rubles. In order to get to Train Station you need to get to the Lenin Square metro station (change at the Tekhnologichesky Institute station), the bus station is within a 5-minute walk from the Obvodny Kanal metro station (change at the Sennaya Ploshchad station), Northern Bus Station – near the Devyatkino metro station (transfer to the Tekhnologichesky Institute station). For your convenience, I am including a map of the St. Petersburg metro. There is a mark on it where the route begins - station. metro station Moskovskaya (red star), final stop marks: Finlyandsky Station - yellow rectangle, bus station - light green, Northern Bus Station - purple.

To Petrozavodsk

Alternative airports “in the vicinity” of Lake Ladoga:

• airport "Besovets" in. The distance to the eastern shore of Ladoga (Pitkyaranta) is approximately 190 km. Keep in mind that it has air connections only with Moscow. Flights are operated by RusLine five days a week. The travel time is about 2 hours; for a round-trip ticket you will need to pay approximately 8,000 rubles. Read about how to get from the airport to the city center. It is better to get to the coast of Lake Ladoga (the cities of Lakhdenpokhya, Sortavala, Pitkyaranta, Syasstroy) by bus from the local bus station. For example, the travel time to Sortavala will be about 4 hours, the ticket price is 550 – 600 rubles; It takes longer to get to Syasstroy - about 5 hours, the ticket price starts from 650 rubles.

By train

From Saint-Petersburg

From Finlyandsky Station(metro station "Ploshchad Lenina") commuter trains regularly run to Priozersk (northern direction) and to Shlisselburg (south-eastern, eastern directions). There are more flights in summer, fewer in winter. You can view the current schedule on the Russian Railways website. For clarity, I am posting a print screen of the map. It shows the nearest railway stations to the coast of Lake Ladoga with colored markers.

• Raspberry color Priozersk is indicated (fare ~350 rubles), located on the Vuoksa River. The shore of the lake is located no more than 5 kilometers from the city center. From the Priozersk bus station (Vyborgskaya str., 31) you can go to smaller settlements on Ladoga.
• Orange marker– railway station Ladoga Lake (fare ~130 rubles). From the station to the beach, walk no more than one kilometer.
• Purple marker– Petrokrepost railway station (~120 rubles), located in the village named after. Morozova. The distance to the Ladoga coast is 500 meters.

From Ladozhsky station(Ladozhskaya metro station) train No. 350A runs twice a week (Wednesday, Friday), following the route - Kostomuksha. He makes stops in Priozersk and Sortavala. The train arrives in Priozersk 2 hours after departure from St. Petersburg, and in Sortavala - 5.5 hours later. Please note that the cost of tickets to Priozersk will be higher than to commuter train- about 450 rubles one way; a ticket to Sortavala will not cost much more than to Priozersk, about 550 rubles.

From Moscow, from other cities

I advise you not to invent a bicycle, but to get from Moscow (by train, plane, bus) to St. Petersburg, and from here start to your final destination. Convenient direct trains or electric trains going straight to Lake Ladoga, from Moscow or any other major Russian cities you won't find it.

By bus

From Saint-Petersburg

Bus station on Obvodny Canal(Obvodny Kanal metro station) offers tourists daily flights to Novaya Ladoga (No. 847), Syasstroy (No. 862) and Pitkyaranta (No. 963). All these settlements are located in close proximity to the shore of Lake Ladoga. A bus ticket to Novaya Ladoga will cost about 300 rubles, travel time is 3.5 hours; to Syasstroy - from 350 rubles, travel time - 2.5 hours; to Pitkäranta - about 900 rubles, travel time - at least 7.5 hours. The bus to Pitkäranta also makes stops in other settlements with access to Lake Ladoga. You can easily buy a ticket to the villages of Vidlitsa or Salmi. If you kill two birds with one stone, you will save a little and end up in a sparsely populated area (relevant for those who are planning to go on holiday as a “savage”).

North Bus Station(metro station "Devyatkino") Tickets to Syasstroy (350 rubles) and Priozersk (250 rubles) are sold here. Tickets can be purchased either at the ticket office of bus stations or on the Internet.

From Petrozavodsk

Petrozavodsk bus station(Chapayeva St., 3) offers a large number of inter-republican routes to Sortavala, Lakhdenpokhya, Pitkyaranta. More interesting direction– northern (to Sortavala). The cost of a ticket Sortavala – Petrozavodsk (4 hours travel time) is ~600 rubles. This flight has the opportunity to get off earlier, in such picturesque places as Rautalahti or Karjavalahti (the village is not indicated on the map, but bus stop exists!). From Petrozavodsk to the Pitkyaranta bus station (Privokzalnaya St., 30) travel costs about 450 rubles (the journey takes 3.5 hours). The current schedule can be found on the website of the Petrozavodsk bus station.

From Moscow, from other cities

As is the case with by rail, I strongly advise you to first get to St. Petersburg or Petrozavodsk in any convenient way, and from there take a bus following the routes I suggested above.

By car

The most-the-most convenient way get from St. Petersburg and Moscow to Lake Ladoga! By personal car you can get to almost any place on the coastline, without thinking about tickets, their cost and availability, time for transfers... You can take a bunch of things with you; This is especially true for campers and outdoor enthusiasts.

From Saint-Petersburg there are two main highways encircling Ladoga - one runs along its western, northern coast (A-121 Sortavala), the other along the southern coast and then turns to Petrozavodsk (R-21 Kola). These routes meet each other in the area of ​​the Karelian village of Pryazha, located near Petrozavodsk. You can get to the east coast (road 86K-8) from the P-21 highway after the city of Olonets, and from the A-121 road, turning south from it in the area of ​​​​the village of Leppäsilta. Which route you prefer depends on the final point of your trip. Theoretically, to get to the southern and eastern coasts, it is better to use the Kola highway, and to the northern and western coasts, it is better to use the Sortavala highway. Or maybe you just want to take a ride around Ladoga? Then the “problem of choice” disappears by itself.

From Moscow, of course, the ride is longer, at least 700 kilometers longer. If you want to get to the western or northern shores of Ladoga, feel free to follow the familiar M-10 highway to St. Petersburg, and along the St. Petersburg Ring Road take the Sortavala highway. If you planned to find yourself on the southern or eastern banks, then from the M-10 highway after the village of Chudovo you need to turn right onto Volkhov. In the end, this road will lead you to the Kola highway and further to Lake Ladoga. Another alternative route from Moscow to the eastern coast of Lake Ladoga is the A-114 road, passing through Kalyazin, Pikalevo,. But, I warn you, the quality of the road surface and roadside infrastructure of the A-114 road are inferior to the same indicators of the M-10 federal highway. In the “worst” case, you will have to spend about 13 hours on the road, for example, if you are traveling from Moscow to Sortavala or Pitkäranta ( ~1000 km). However, I do not recommend stopping overnight on the road. This distance can easily be covered in one day, and even with small children, it has been tested for yourself.

It wouldn’t hurt to immediately draw up a travel estimate (for a car enthusiast traveler from Moscow):

• payment for gasoline (based on 2000 km in both directions) - about 8000 rubles;
• travel on the M11 toll road - from 1000 to 1500 rubles depending on the time of day (round trip);
• snacks in roadside cafes - at least 300 rubles per person;
• hotel room - at least 1,500 rubles for double occupancy (if you decide to stay overnight along the way).

The total is approximately 15,000 rubles. Of course, we can optimize expenses by removing all items from the list except the purchase of fuel - then our estimate will be cut exactly in half!

By ferry

From Saint-Petersburg

Since the beginning of May, numerous travel companies have been offering a huge number of water cruises on Lake Ladoga. You can easily choose a route to your liking, for example, “St. Petersburg - Valaam - St. Petersburg” (for 3 days, price from 8,000 rubles), “St. Petersburg - Valaam - Konevets - St. Petersburg” (for 4 days, prices from 11 thousand rubles), extended “St. Petersburg - Valaam - Sortavala - Pellotsari - Konevets - St. Petersburg” (for 5 days, prices from 19 thousand rubles). And so on and so forth. There are countless of these cruises, they are all different in price, content, and duration.

Motor ships start from the St. Petersburg River Station (Obukhovskaya Oborony Ave., 195) and arrive there. Unfortunately, the public budget river transport to the islands on this moment does not exist. If you want to sail to any island in Lake Ladoga from the Northern capital, you will have to buy a ticket on a river cruise, but this, as you have probably noticed, is not a cheap pleasure.

From Moscow

It is also easy to sail to the islands of Lake Ladoga, just like from St. Petersburg - you just need to buy a ticket for the ship. All river boats to Ladoga depart from the Northern River Station (Rechnoy Vokzal metro station). Interesting cruises, in my opinion, are “Moscow - - - Peplotsari - Sortavala - Valaam - St. Petersburg” (duration – 9 days, cost – 42,000 rubles) or “Moscow - - Peplotsari - Sortavala - Moscow” (for 12 days , cost from 64,000 rubles)... In general, the offer of cruises is truly impressive, apparently, and the demand for them is quite high, despite their fabulous cost.

Clue:

Lake Ladoga - the time is now

Hour difference:

Moscow 0

Kazan 0

Samara 1

Ekaterinburg 2

Novosibirsk 4

Vladivostok 7

When is the season? When is the best time to go

You most likely have already guessed that the peak season on Lake Ladoga is, of course, summer. The climate here is not very pleasant - humid, cloudy, windy - and even in summer there will probably not be a single sunny day during your holiday on the coast. But this is the saddest option. Statistics say that on average there are about 60 sunny days a year on Ladoga, of course, the lion's share of them occur in the summer, when the southern anticyclone enters the lake area, and in the winter - during the dominance of the Arctic anticyclone. Spring and fall are usually very rainy and windy, especially in the fall when storm season begins.

The northern and eastern coasts of Ladoga (Lakhdenpokhsky, Pitkyaranta, Olonetsky districts and the city of Sortavala of the Republic of Karelia) are equated to the regions of the Far North. I can’t say that the climate here is very harsh compared to, for example, St. Petersburg, but the average annual temperature is clearly a couple of degrees lower.

Lake Ladoga in summer

As I already said, summer is the best choice for visiting Lake Ladoga. At least the air temperature here is guaranteed to be positive. It is in the summer that residents of St. Petersburg and other major cities people from our Motherland choose to go to the coast of Lake Ladoga in order to take a break from the noise and bustle of the city, breathe fresh air, and improve their health. In June it is still quite cool; for a trip it is better to choose July-August, when the average monthly air temperature still exceeds 20 degrees Celsius. True, it is not a fact that you will be able to swim, because the water in Ladoga only in rare years warms up to more than 21 degrees, and even then, this temperature is relevant only for the southern shallow areas; on the northern coast, where the depths are much greater, only "walruses".

Lake Ladoga in autumn

Navigation on Lake Ladoga closes in October, and this is no coincidence. It is at the beginning of October that the strongest storms rage on Ladoga. The weather is disgusting - cold, damp, cloudy, plus fog and gusty wind. If you are going to Lake Ladoga in the fall, then only in September, preferably at the beginning of the month. There are sometimes lovely, quiet days in early autumn, when in the calm avid amateurs can enjoy good fishing, when tourists can still sail to the islands and Konevets, and when “middle managers” can spend their last weekend in nature, barbecuing and contemplating the local beauty .

Lake Ladoga in spring

March and April - not at all best time to plan a trip to the shore of Lake Ladoga. But this is purely my personal opinion. I start from the fact that in March and even in April there can be negative temperatures here, and if not, then there is a high probability of precipitation, fog and gusty winds. The first tourists usually appear in these parts at the beginning of May, and there is a good reason for this - the May long weekend. In May, navigation just opens - welcome to Konevets, Peplotsari and other islands. But don’t flatter yourself too much – the average monthly temperature in May for the region is 10 degrees Celsius, so you can safely leave your sunscreen at home!

Lake Ladoga in winter

In winter, numerous people who like to hunt for fish come out onto the ice of Ladoga :). Winter fishing on Ladoga is very, very popular. Unfortunately, due to the unstable temperature (either wild cold or thaw), sad incidents often happen on the ice of Lake Ladoga. People, be attentive and extremely careful, no “okushka” is worth a human life! In addition to fishing, in winter people engage in various “activities”, for example, skiing, ice skating, snow kiting... The average temperature throughout the country is -8.8 degrees Celsius.

What are the prices for holidays?

Accommodation prices vary from 1,500 rubles per night to infinity (well, say, 20,000 rubles in a club spa hotel). This applies to a double room. If you come with a large group and rent a house, then most likely it will be quite affordable - the same 1000 - 1500 rubles per person, but the living conditions will be much more comfortable. The house, as a rule, has its own kitchen (so you can cook yourself and not spend money on a restaurant), grill or barbecue outside. Double rooms barely have a cooking area, at most a refrigerator and a kettle.

You can save money by carefully monitoring coupon sites. Discounts on accommodation in some hotels sometimes reach 50%! If you are planning a long vacation on the shores of Lake Ladoga, then you can think about renting a country house - a dacha. Good options will cost from 30,000 rubles per month of stay, bargaining is appropriate.

In hotel restaurants, prices can vary, defying any laws of logic. It can be cheap and tasty, or maybe vice versa. But on average, you can expect the following prices: breakfast 150/300 rubles, lunch 250/500 rubles, dinner 250/600 rubles.

Another expense item is the rental of sports equipment. The cost of renting a rowing boat is approx. 1500 rub./day, boats with a motor – approx. 2500 rub./day, bicycle – from 200 rub./day, ATV – from 2000 rub./hour, snowmobile – from 1500 rub./hour; negotiable price for hunting, fishing, excursions to the islands.

Main attractions. What to see

The main attraction of Ladoga is, undoubtedly, its stunning nature! No matter how many times you come to Ladoga, it doesn’t matter, you will never be able to look at its harsh northern landscapes indifferently. This incredible symbiosis - pines, rocks, mosses, coastal waves, the distant horizon... They act magically - they calm the mind, help to tune in to a philosophical mood, throw away everything empty and even make an important decision. Yes, yes, it is! That is why, my number one in the TOP 5 list.

Top 5

Beaches. Which ones are better

Of course, you can’t count all the beaches of Lake Ladoga! There are a huge, huge number of them. I’ll start my brief review, perhaps, with those that are located near St. Petersburg:

• beach in the village “Kokkorevo” (on map No. 1). A very popular and crowded place to relax. On a fine day, owners of nearby summer cottages and residents flock here eastern regions St. Petersburg (and residents of the western regions go on vacation to the Gulf of Finland). The beach is sandy, without any infrastructure, but surprisingly quite clean, apparently proximity plays an important role Capital of Culture. This beach is a gathering place for kitesurfers and windsurfers;

• beach in the village of “Lake Ladoga” (on map No. 2). There are a terrible number of people here on a summer day off, but you can always lay down your own towel. The beach is sandy and clean with the necessary infrastructure (changing rooms, toilets, cafes). There is a volleyball net and sports equipment rental. The Museum of the Siege of Leningrad is located 20 meters from the beach; The Osinovetsky lighthouse (one of the highest on Ladoga) dominates the area. The only negative is that the water temperature is not always pleasing, but this does not stop desperate St. Petersburg residents. Arrived - swim!
• There is an excellent beach near the village of Vladimirovka (on map No. 3). It is located exactly opposite Konevets Island, and summer yoga festivals are held here. The beach is a long strip of sand with a gentle entry into the water. At the bottom there are quite large boulders and pebbles. But you will probably notice them, because the water is very clean and transparent! The beach is NOT equipped with changing rooms, there is no cafe here, but there are pine trees, sand and sun (sometimes);
• There is a wonderful long sandy beach near the village of Motornoye (on map No. 4). Almost the twin brother of beach number 3. Sand and pine trees are the main advantages of this place. The water is probably cold. Fans of tent camping often stop here; it is a fairly safe place. For reference, the beach is located 150 km from St. Petersburg;
• Further after Priozersk, the area of ​​skerries begins, which rarely pampers tourists with warm sand. Among the rocky northern shores of Ladoga, there are sandy bays, but you have to look for them yourself. I will give the highest rating to the beaches of Koyonsaari Island (on map No. 5), they are magnificent. Minimum people and no service, but maximum nature and silence;

• On the eastern shore after Pitkäranta, in the area of ​​​​the village of Karku, an almost continuous strip of sand begins, a kind of eastern “monobeach”. I would especially like to note the area of ​​the village of Vidlitsa (on map No. 6), it’s beautiful and pleasant to relax here, and it’s not that far to go to a grocery store. Of course, don’t expect any service here – only privacy, only hardcore!

After the city of Olonets, swampy areas begin, occupying almost everything South coast Ladoga up to Shlisselburg. To make it easier for you to find your way around, I’m including a map. I want to emphasize that this is my personal set of acceptable beach holiday destinations; I think you understand that you can swim, if you wish, on any stretch of the Ladoga coast.

Churches and temples. Which ones are worth visiting?

Museums. Which ones are worth visiting?

To the above museum sites (Valaam, Konevets, Oreshek fortress, Korela fortress) I will add a few more cultural attractions that are interesting for an inquisitive mind:

• Museum “Road of Life” (village “Lake Ladoga”). A large and entertaining museum complex consisting of an outdoor exhibition and several thematic pavilions. Here you can see with your own eyes and even touch authentic military equipment of those years, examine in detail the personal belongings of Red Army soldiers, see unique photographs, and listen to a “touching to the heart” excursion. The museum is a must visit! Opening hours: Wednesday-Sunday from 11-00 to 18-00. The cost of visiting is 200 rubles. for adults, excursion service – 150 rubles, audio guide – 300 rubles.

• Museum of the History of the City of Shlisselburg (Shlisselburg, Factory Island, 2A). The museum is located in a relatively small room, so the exhibitions are constantly changing. I found the museum interesting because for a small fee (200 rubles for a group of 5 people) you can book a tour not only in the permanent museum building, but throughout Shlisselburg. A senior museum researcher will take you to key sites and tell you all about the city's founding and history. Opening hours: Monday-Friday from 09-00 to 18-00, Saturday from 10-00 to 17-00, Sunday – closed. The cost of an adult ticket is 30 (!) rubles.

• Regional Museum of the Northern Ladoga Region (Sortavala, Ladoga Flotilla Embankment, 5). Sortavala is a city with a Finnish rather than a Russian face. You can feel the Scandinavian spirit of this Karelian city in the halls of the museum of the northern Ladoga region. See the main local history exhibitions, visit the halls of temporary exhibitions, and take field trips around the city and the nearest islands. For detailed information please visit the website.

Parks

In the southeastern part of Lake Ladoga there are two particularly important natural sites - the Nizhne-Svirsky State nature reserve and Olonets State Nature Reserve (part of the first). They were created in the 80s to preserve and protect the flora and fauna of the region. First of all, this concerns waterfowl and migratory birds, which have stopovers in these places for rest and feeding.

The Nizhne-Svirsky and Olonetsky nature reserves will be of interest to ornithologists and fans of pristine nature. But getting to the territory of the reserves is not so easy! It is necessary to first send an application addressed to the director indicating the purpose of the visit, length of stay, and the number of people in the group. When management makes a positive decision on admission, payment is made (nowhere is it indicated how much, apparently this is a big secret), and the group is included in the visiting schedule.

What to see in 1 day

Going to Ladoga for one day from afar is somehow ridiculous. We will start from the fact that you are a St. Petersburg resident or a guest of the Northern capital, who, tired of the bustle of the city, decided to get out into nature for a “weekend”. Let's say you have a personal car, and the weather outside is +25 degrees Celsius. So be it! Then my suggestion:

1. At 10-00 we leave the house/hotel/hostel in the direction of Shlisselburg. In principle, from any area of ​​the city to the mouth of the Neva (where Shlisselburg is located) it takes no more than an hour (without traffic jams).
2. Our path lies to the Oreshek fortress. Enter into your navigator the address of the pier from which boats depart for Orekhovy Island - the village named after. Morozova, st. Skvortsova, 76.
3. Let's assume that at 11-00 you are already there! We take a boat to the island. We walk, wander, admire, take pictures. You can even take a short break at the fortress wall. Admire the views of Ladoga, Neva and Shlisselburg. Drink coffee from a thermos, eat a sandwich (which you, of course, took with you from home).
4. At one o'clock in the afternoon or so, I suggest heading towards the beach in the village of Lake Ladoga.
5. On the way, we’ll stop by to see the “Broken Ring” monument, which is located in locality Kokkorevo.
6. Around two we are on the beach. Hooray! The main landmark of the beach is the huge Osinovetsky lighthouse; if you are near it, then you are on the most popular beach of Ladoga.
7. We relax - swim and sunbathe, sunbathe and swim.
8. For those who are hungry, there are a couple of cafes on the beach. Of course, the prices here are a little steep, but hunger is not a problem!
9. Those who are not delighted with meaningless lying on the beach, or do not like to play, say, beach volleyball (by the way, there are nets) can also get cultured by going to the nearby “Road of Life” museum.
10. I think that by six or seven o’clock in the evening you will already have time to feel all the charm of beach life on Lake Ladoga - it’s time to go home.
11. On the way back, buy dried or smoked fish. Yum-yum, very tasty. And such delicacies are sold almost everywhere - in stalls on the highway and in rural stores.
12. At eight o'clock in the evening you are satisfied and happy - already at home.

Nearby Islands

Lake Ladoga delights tourists with islands - there are about 660 of them (!), and about 500 of them are concentrated in the northern part of Ladoga, the so-called “skerry area”. Two most famous islands– and Konevets (I wrote about them above). The largest islands of Ladoga are Riekkalansaari (near Sortavala), Mantsinsaari (south of Pitkäranta), Kilpola (near the village of Kuznechnoye). But some micro islands do not have names at all; travelers themselves give them names! The island of Pellotsaari is interesting, having the shape of a heart, “the heart of Ladoga”. There is a walking ecological trail “One day in the life of a taiga island” on it.

Everyone, even the most small island, is a unique and unrepeatable little world. If you sail a boat through the skerries, you may find the perfect island to suit your taste!

Neighboring regions

Ruskeala Mountain Park (34 km from Sortavala) – former marble quarries, now unique in beauty natural object. The main attractions of the park are the “Main” quarry, together with the Italian quarry and the Ruskeala failure. Read more about the place, or on the official website.

Food. What to try

One of the main riches of Ladoga is FISH! In the waters of the lake there are more than 50 varieties of fish, including salmon, trout, lamprey, whitefish, pike perch, smelt... Since the waters of the lake are considered quite clean, you can safely eat the Ladoga catch without fear of being poisoned by heavy metals or toxic chemicals. In almost every locality on Lake Ladoga there are shops or stalls where they sell fresh, smoked or dried fish. I advise you not to neglect the alluring aromas, but rather buy, for example, smoked bream, and take home fresh, tender trout!

They say that on the Murmansk highway, 75 km from St. Petersburg in the village of Yushkovo, there is a wonderful fish market, which amazes the urban citizen with its assortment and price. There is so much to be found here - fresh, smoked, salted, dried, dried fish and, of course, caviar. The initial cost can be high, so bargain. Approximate prices for fish (for 1 piece): trout, whitefish, salmon, hot smoked bream - approx. 300 rubles; the same items, but cold smoked ones are more expensive - prices start from 350 rubles per unit; Dried bream and pike - approx. 200 rubles; dried vendace - from 200 rubles 0.5 kg.

All more or less decent places are located either in cities (Priozersk, Shlisselburg, etc.) or at hotels. In both the first and second cases, you can choose a restaurant to suit your taste and budget. It is clear that in large populated areas there are European, Japanese, and Russian taverns, and you can have a snack on shawarma or a hamburger, but let the seeker find! What I mean is that instead of McDonald's or Sveta's cafe, you can find establishments where they prepare freshly caught Ladoga fish and national Karelian dishes (kalaruoka, kalitki). I believe that without tasting local “delicacies” the trip would be incomplete!

Very decent places where you can try something from Karelian cuisine:

• restaurants "Dacha Wintera" (in the city),
• Piipun Piha (in),
• “Ladoga Estate” (in the village of Niemelyanhovi).

The cost of dinner with drinks per person starts from 1000 rubles.

Holidays

In my opinion, the two most significant events on Lake Ladoga are of a sporting nature:

Safety. What to watch out for

In Russia you should, of course, beware of roads and fools. The road around Lake Ladoga is mostly passable, but there are some sections of primer where you can kill your car's suspension or get chipped body paint (as happened with us!). You should drive in such areas slowly, carefully, gently; True, the faster guys are trying to overtake you and throw a wave of roadside dust over you. You also need to be careful when approaching the edge of the lake - it is quite possible to get stuck in liquid soil, or skid in the sand, or God knows what else! It’s worth carrying a winch and a couple of strong men with you at all times. As for fools... My friends and I really like to relax outdoors in tents, but it’s not always safe, unfortunately. Bad people can take you by surprise - rob you, or even worse... Therefore, if you go into nature as a “savage”, then only in large groups, and if together, then it is better to stay at recreation centers or in tent camps. Another misfortune for a tourist - weather. If you are boating in “open” water, beware of sudden changes in weather. This phenomenon is not uncommon in Ladoga. The lake often experiences strong storms and dangerous waves that can capsize any boat even with an experienced captain.

Things to do

In the summer, of course, sunbathe and swim, if the weather permits. Sailing on a boat (you can rent a boat at almost any hotel on Lake Ladoga), pack up and go on a hike from point A to point B (first work out your travel route in detail!), in summer and autumn, pick mushrooms and berries that grow here in abundance, You can fish in all seasons. This is a standard set of Ladoga entertainment, but if you want something hotter, try something more extreme (see below).

Extreme Sports

Souvenirs. What to bring as a gift

It doesn’t occur to me that I would advise you to bring something amazing and unique from Lake Ladoga. Most likely, it depends on the place where you will be vacationing.

For example, from the islands of Valaam and Konevets they mainly bring ritual items - icons, crosses, candles, Christian literature. Prices in the church shop are affordable, starting from 50 rubles per item (candles are cheaper). From the northern region of Ladoga, tourists take away products made from shungite (a black rock mined exclusively in Karelia). The cost of small figurines starts from 300 rubles. In many cities of the Ladoga region they offer products made from natural materials - leather (bags from 2000 rubles), birch bark (box from 500 rubles), wood (jewelry from 300 rubles), textiles (rugs from 1500 rubles) . Of course, you shouldn’t forget about natural gifts - mushrooms, berries (which you can pick yourself), fresh and thermally processed fish. But, of course, the best thing you can bring from Lake Ladoga is a lasting northern tan and a charge of positive mood!

Lake Ladoga - holidays with children

I am a proponent of traveling everywhere with children. Therefore, of course, I advocate that on a trip to Lake Ladoga you need to take children with you, and more of them! For them - fun, knowledge of the world around them, communication with nature, healing, hardening (all advantages). It’s a real hassle for you to keep track of them; but raising children is not easy at all! Before traveling to “any country,” I advise you to vaccinate yourself and your children against ticks. In recent years, cases of infection with tick-borne encephalitis in the Leningrad region have become more frequent. Be careful!

Conditional areas. Descriptions and features

The nature of Lake Ladoga is beautiful, amazing and, by the way, quite diverse.

• North Shore Ladoga from Priozersk to Pitkäranta is a rocky skerry area with fjords and numerous small islands. It is very beautiful and romantic here. The natural landscapes are immediately reminiscent of Finland, Norway, and Sweden combined. It's impossible not to fall in love with this rugged northern beauty; and anyone who has visited Northern Ladoga at least once will definitely want to come back here again. And again. And again. There are plenty of housing offers here. These are mainly guest houses and cottages. Where there is demand, there is supply. Recently, especially “thanks” to the economic crisis, more and more Russians are choosing to vacation in their homeland. Northern Ladoga is an ideal option in this regard - service and views are like abroad, but you still pay for your vacation with our “wooden” ones. The flow of tourists to this area is now consistently high, so you need to try to find decent living conditions, but affordable housing. Some people make it simpler - they come here in the summer with tents. If you have your own boat, you can sail to any micro island, set up your own camp and feel like a real oligarch, at least for the weekend!

• South coast, unlike the Northern one, is low, swampy, slightly indented. Among the interesting places I can name are the Oreshek fortress at the mouth of the Neva River, the city of Novaya and Staraya Ladoga. Actually, all hotels and inns are concentrated near these attractions. The reason for the poorly developed infrastructure, in my opinion, is the fact that the entire southern shore of Ladoga is surrounded by the Staraya Ladoga and Novoladoga canals. They have a high daily traffic load and, probably, partly hinder the development of the tourism business due to the fact that they separate the lake shore from the “mainland”. However, there are also a couple of decent guest houses here. They say that on south coast It’s better to “bite” that this is “a paradise for a fisherman.” And the water temperature here is higher, so you can even swim in the summer!

• West Bank it is also slightly indented and densely overgrown with bushes and forests, approaching right to the water's edge. It is difficult to find a decent place for a secluded parking lot here. The beaches in the village of Kokkorevo and the village of Lake Ladoga are very popular, as they are located near St. Petersburg. There are a couple of spa hotels and guest houses nearby that look quite decent. But further to the north there is a “bare” all the way to Priozersk.

• Eastern Bank, is probably the least popular among tourists, no, not because it is “worse” there, but because it is further away. Few St. Petersburg residents want to spend five hours on the road one way to barbecue, and then drive five hours home again the next day so as not to be late for work on Monday. But everything changes dramatically if you are not planning a weekend getaway, but a full-fledged vacation. Then - welcome to the east coast with its wide sandy beaches, clean water and the complete absence of people. After the Nizhne-Svirsky and Olonetsky reserves, that part of the eastern coast begins that the traveler needs to get to. You can choose to stay in a guest house or hotel, or rent a house from a private owner (this is relevant not only for the east coast).
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Anything to add?