Europe is famous for its beauty and attractiveness. Its nature has more than once become the property of songs and legends, fairy tales and poems, essays and stories. Among all the diversity, water spaces stand out. Ladoga lake- a bright representative. Its main difference from other water bodies is the rich flora and fauna.
general characteristics
Lake Ladoga is called the largest in all of Europe. Its area exceeds 18 thousand square kilometers. It is interesting that 457 kilometers of water area are occupied by the islands of Lake Ladoga, which in themselves are not so large. For example, the area of the largest land areas located in the middle of the lake surface does not exceed one hectare. And in total there are more than 650 of them. Nature has placed the islands so that over 500 of them are located in the northwestern part of the lake.
The rocky islands have a bizarre shape and unusual outlines. Their height is 60-70 meters. It is especially interesting to observe the harmonious combination of coastline and island lines. The islands are separated from each other by numerous bays that cut into land areas.
Mother Nature has worked for thousands of years on the artistic and aesthetic design of this corner of the globe. Lake Ladoga is one of the oldest water bodies. In its lifetime, it has seen a lot and experienced amazing events, which can be judged by the numerous remnants and remains on its banks and bottom.
New research has made it possible to find out more accurate parameters of the water body. Lake Ladoga stretches 83 kilometers wide and 219 kilometers long. Without the island territory, it occupies a total of 17,578 square kilometers, which allows it to be called the largest European lake.
The length of the coastline exceeds one and a half thousand kilometers. Scientists were able to calculate the coefficient of its ruggedness. It is 2.1, which suggests the presence of multiple bays. The bowl of the lake is distinguished by its impressive capacity, which is 908 cubic kilometers.
Lake depth
The average depth of Lake Ladoga is 51 meters. However, if we talk about the largest, the figure already grows to 230 meters. The depth map of Lake Ladoga also shows impressive indicators. It usually marks the areas that are considered the deepest.
The bottom topography is heterogeneous. Therefore, it is not surprising that the depth of Lake Ladoga varies throughout its entire water area. For example, in the southern part the bottom is flat and smooth. This helps reduce the depth. The decrease is observed from north to south. In the northern part, the depth reaches 10-100 meters, and in the southern part this value is an order of magnitude lower and varies in the range from 3 to 7 meters. The bottom is distinguished by rocky spits and shallows, and you can even find clusters of boulders.
Bottom relief
In general, such differences in depth are explained by the peculiarities of the geological structure of the bottom. Which, in turn, is due to its impressive length. The geological structure also leaves its mark on the lake basin and its appearance. Interestingly, the bottom topography seems to resemble islands. He copies them exactly. Thus, at the bottom of the lake you can observe mountains and plains, depressions and potholes, hills and slopes.
Depressions up to 100 meters deep most often predominate. There are more than 500 of them in the northwestern part of the lake. Interestingly, such formations are concentrated in groups. And they, in turn, create a kind of labyrinth of bays. This phenomenon is called skerry. The depth map of Lake Ladoga allows you to verify this.
The slope of the lake has an average of 0.0105, and the angle averages 0.35 degrees. This value near the northern coast is already 1.52 degrees, and near the eastern coast it is 0.03. This is also considered a fairly important indicator.
Animal world
In a country like Russia, Lake Ladoga plays a huge role. It is called the supplier of drinking water for Northern capital state - St. Petersburg. However, in addition to this, Ladoga is home to a huge number of different animals. The main place among them, of course, is occupied by fish.
Today, more than 58 varieties and species of fish are known to exist in the waves of Lake Ladoga. It is interesting that there are also those who are “guests” in Ladoga. These include conger eel, Baltic salmon and sturgeon. They only occasionally swim into the waters of the lake. Permanent place their habitat is the Gulf of Finland and the Baltic.
Unfortunately, due to the massive fishing of fish today, not all of its former inhabitants remain alive in Ladoga. Sometimes representatives of the fish kingdom disappear for no apparent reason. For example, sterlet. It no longer occurs in Ladoga waters, and researchers have never discovered the reason for this.
New species
But new inhabitants appeared in the lake. They are represented by peled and carp. The latter appeared in Ladoga relatively recently - in 1952-1953. The reason for this was that it was bred in the nearby Lake Ilmen. The fate of the peled was similar. It “wandered” to Ladoga from the Karelian Isthmus, where they began actively breeding it in the late 50s of the last century.
In addition, in the waters you can also find such fish as palia, salmon, pike perch, whitefish, bream, trout, ripus and vendace. They are distinguished by their value in the field of industry. These species are called commercial. There are also less valuable inhabitants of the lake. Among them are roach, smelt, pike, ruffe, blue bream, bleak and silver bream. They are considered no less tasty, but their use in food is represented in smaller quantities.
It is probably impossible to really name all the fish that are found in the waters of Lake Ladoga. There are so many inhabitants there that work to discover and study them continues to this day.
On the verge of extinction
Some fish of Lake Ladoga are now on the verge of extinction. Among them there are those that are considered valuable in the industrial field. The clearest example is salmon. In Ladoga there are individuals whose weight exceeds 10 kilograms. They are real giants. Interestingly, the fish go to spawn in late spring and summer. The young live there for no more than a couple of years, and then return to the lake.
The rivers are now clogged with lumber, making it difficult for salmon to spawn. In this regard, it was decided to suspend mass fishing. The corresponding law was passed back in 1960.
Another valuable fish is palia. She lives in the northern part of the lake. In winter it can be found at a depth of more than 70 meters, and in the warm months it rises to 20-30. Reproduction occurs in mid-autumn.
Whitefish also live in Ladoga. Now there are seven varieties of them in the lake. Four of them, namely lake Ladoga, Ludog, black and Valaam, are considered exclusively riverine, and the other three - Svir, Vuoksa and Volkhov - can live both in the lake and in the river. On average, during the breeding season, each individual lays about nine thousand eggs in October and November.
Just recently, people were massively engaged in catching whitefish, but now this species is on the verge of extinction. A peculiar reason for this can be called the construction of the Volkhov hydroelectric power station dam. Pisces were unable to overcome such an obstacle, and the measures people took to achieve this did not save the situation.
Rivers of Lake Ladoga
Now let's talk about waterways.
The rivers of Lake Ladoga are very numerous. This allows us to talk about its wide drainage basin. Its area exceeds 250 thousand square kilometers. Not every lake can boast such figures.
Finland and Karelia, located nearby, share water resources with Ladoga; rivers also carry their waves from the Novgorod, Pskov and Vologda lands. The water bodies of the Arkhangelsk and Leningrad regions make their contribution.
In total, about 45 thousand streams and rivers flow into Lake Ladoga. It is interesting that before becoming part of Ladoga, river waters accumulate in nearby lakes, including Saimaa, Onega and Ilmen. They, in turn, allow the formation of such tributaries of the main Ladoga as the Volkhova, Vuokse and Svir. In total, they bring more than 57 cubic kilometers of water into the lake per year. This represents approximately 85 percent of the total water mass that accumulates in the area we are considering. geographical object in a year.
All other tributaries are called small. There is no explanation for this, because among them there are such impressive deep rivers as Janisjoki, Syas and Tulemajoki.
It should be understood that the tributaries of the Ladoga are quite young - by the standards of rivers - in age. They are only 10-12 thousand years old. That is why most of them have not yet formed wide valleys. They flow among rocky areas and steep banks.
The Baltic crystalline shield lies in the northeastern part of the lake. That is why the deepest and loudest tributaries flow into Ladoga from that side. Very often they turn into full-flowing stormy streams, encountering rocks on their way that are quite difficult to erode.
Tributary Svir
Lake Ladoga is located in Russia, and its deepest stream is called the Svir. This river flows from the Svirskaya Bay of Lake Onega, and flows into Ladoga from the southeast.
Its length is about 224 kilometers. The river includes two large tributaries, which are named Pasha and Oyat. It is interesting that the origin of this object is still covered in secrets and mysteries.
The Svir River itself and its banks are not distinguished by the picturesqueness inherent in Ladoga. The description of Lake Ladoga tells about the amazing beauty of its shores, which Svir cannot boast of. Its coastline is covered with alder bushes and marshy plants, and there are coniferous forests. Basically, the banks of the Svir River are accumulations of stones and boulders.
In ancient times, Svir was famous for its numerous rapids. They could not be called high, but the piles of boulders presented a serious obstacle to navigation. Local residents very often helped out the sailors, helping them cope with crossings. Very often, residents of coastal villages and towns themselves served as sailors, pilots and even captains. The proximity to a deep river left its mark on the character and way of life of the people.
But if we talk about the animal world, it is quite large. It is in the waters of this river that salmon spawning is often observed. In spring you can find schools of these fish heading to the mouth of the Svir. The tributaries Oyat and Pasha play the main role in spawning. Ichthyologists believe that it is these rivers that can contribute to the revival of salmon in Lake Ladoga.
When to visit
Over its centuries-old history, Lake Ladoga has been shrouded in secrets, riddles and legends. All this, of course, attracts numerous tourists. People also travel to Ladoga to admire the amazing beauty of nature and see with their own eyes one of the largest lakes in the world.
In order not to make a mistake, you should know when it is better to go and what time to give preference.
A trip here in May and June will be foggy in the truest sense of the word. At the end of May and beginning of June, thick fogs descend on Ladoga, in which it is quite easy to get lost. In such cases, it is very important to take experienced guides with you who will help you get on the right path and see all the surrounding beauty.
This time is considered quite cold for those places. In the evening, the skerries can be covered with a thin crust of ice, and the wind brings dampness. Of particular interest are the few hours after sunny weather. At such moments, the lake shines with calm and attractiveness. However, the very next moment a breeze blows in. It causes meter-long waves in the bays, although the lake off the coast continues to be peaceful.
One of the most striking advantages of this time, of course, after the attractive appearance of the coastal area, is the complete absence of mosquitoes. The extraordinary cleanliness of the lake is also called a virtue. The bottom, even at a depth of several meters, can be seen extremely clearly. It is believed that if you drink water at such a moment, happiness will not take long to arrive. The water itself is clean and tasty.
Those people who value comfort and coziness should visit Ladoga in the last two months of summer. This period is considered the best for proper rest. In this case, the air and water temperatures exceed the optimal mark, allowing you to swim in the waves of the lake and sunbathe on the shore. On the islands you can pick berries and mushrooms, which are abundant there.
Those people who travel to Ladoga with the aim of admiring the local beauty should choose the autumn months, when literally the entire coast shimmers with gold and bronze. In October, the weather worsens, accompanied by fog and storms. At such times you can meet many artists and landscape painters here. They try to capture the lush beauty of Ladoga.
Lake Ladoga in winter also presents an interesting sight. However, it is quite cold here at this time of year. But the middle of the lake does not freeze even in severe frosts due to its impressive depth.
Those people who want to visit this corner of our vast Motherland should look for Lake Ladoga on the map. Many travel companies offer entire routes. If you wish, you can choose one of the proposed ones or create your own.
A trip to the coast of Lake Ladoga will surely be memorable for everyone. This area is distinguished by the amazing beauty of nature at any time of the year, the diversity of flora and fauna, as well as the opportunity to have a great rest.
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 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 countries. 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 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 a riverbed more ancient river, which 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. The Ladoga Skerries National Park is organized here 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.
Lake Ladoga in winter
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 monastery belongs to the Valaam Monastery; tourists rarely come here.
20 km from the town of Lodeynoye Pole, on the wooded bank of the Svir River is Alexandro-Svirsky monastery. Beautiful examples of Moscow architecture of the 15th-17th centuries are worth seeing here. The interiors of the monastery buildings are decorated ancient frescoes. Among the shrines kept here is a consecrated copy of the famous Shroud of Turin.
You can take an interesting walk along historical center the city 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 viewed in ancient city Old 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.
"Broken Ring" monument
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 - high tower lighthouse, 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 - pretty railroad station, built in the form 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.
Panorama of Lake Ladoga
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.
Kayaking on Ladoga
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.
In the vicinity of Lake Ladoga there are built and comfortable hotel complexes luxury class. 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. To Sortavala, Novaya Ladoga and Priozersk, buses depart regularly from St. Petersburg. 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.
Lake Ladoga is a lake in Karelia (northern and eastern shores) and Leningrad region (western, southern and southeastern shores), the largest freshwater lake in Europe. Belongs to the Baltic Sea basin of the Atlantic Ocean. The area of the lake without islands ranges from 17.6 thousand km 2 (with islands 18.1 thousand km 2); volume of water mass - 908 km 3; length from south to north is 219 km, greatest width is 138 km. The depth varies unevenly: in the northern part it ranges from 70 to 230 m, in the southern part - from 20 to 70 m. On the shores of Lake Ladoga there are the cities of Priozersk, Novaya Ladoga, Shlisselburg in the Leningrad region, Sortavala, Pitkyaranta, Lakhdenpokhya in Karelia. 35 rivers flow into Lake Ladoga, but only one originates - the Neva. In the southern half of the lake there are three large bays: Svirskaya, Volkhovskaya and Shlisselburgskaya bays. Climate The climate over Lake Ladoga is temperate, transitional from temperate continental to temperate maritime. This type of climate is explained geographical location and atmospheric circulation characteristic of the Leningrad region. This is due to the relatively small amount of solar heat entering the earth's surface and atmosphere. Due to the small amount of solar heat, moisture evaporates slowly. There are an average of 62 sunny days per year. Therefore, for most of the year, days with cloudy, cloudy weather and diffuse lighting predominate. Day length varies from 5 hours 51 minutes at the winter solstice to 18 hours 50 minutes at the summer solstice. The so-called “white nights” are observed over the lake, occurring on May 25-26, when the sun drops below the horizon by no more than 9°, and the evening twilight practically merges with the morning. The white nights end on July 16-17. In total, the duration of white nights is more than 50 days. Amplitude of average monthly amounts of direct solar radiation on a horizontal surface at clear sky from 25 MJ/m2 in December to 686 MJ/m2 in June. Cloudiness reduces, on average, the annual total solar radiation by 21%, and direct solar radiation by 60%. The average annual total radiation is 3156 MJ/m2. The number of hours of sunshine is 1628 per year.
The lake itself has a noticeable influence on climatic conditions. This is characterized by a smoothing of extreme values of climatic characteristics, as a result of which continental air masses, passing over the surface of the lake, acquire the character of marine air masses. average temperature air in the area of Lake Ladoga +3.2 °C. The average temperature of the coldest month (February) is?8.8 °C, the warmest (July) is +16.3 °C. The average annual precipitation is 475 mm. The lowest monthly precipitation falls in February - March (24 mm), the highest in September (58 mm). During the year, western and southwestern winds prevail in most of Lake Ladoga. The average monthly wind speed in the open part of the lake and on most islands from October to January - February is 6-9 m/s, in other months 4-7 m/s. On the coast, the average monthly wind speed varies from 3 to 5 m/s. Calms are rare. In October, storm winds with a speed of more than 20 m/s are often observed on Lake Ladoga, the maximum wind speed reaches 34 m/s. Breezes are observed along the entire coast in summer on windless sunny days and clear nights. The lake breeze begins around 9 am and continues until 8 pm, its speed is 2-6 m/s; it extends 9-15 km inland. Fogs are observed most often in spring, late summer and autumn.
The bottom topography of Lake Ladoga is characterized by an increase in depth from south to north. The depth varies unevenly: in the northern part it ranges from 70 to 230 m, in the southern part - from 20 to 70 m. Average depth lakes - 50 m, the largest - 233 m (north of the island of Valaam). The bottom of the northern part is uneven, furrowed with depressions, and the southern part is calmer and more smooth. Lake Ladoga ranks eighth among deepest lakes Russia. Transparency on the western coast of Lake Ladoga is 2-2.5 m, on the eastern coast 1-2 m, in the estuary areas 0.3-0.9 m, and towards the center of the lake it increases to 4.5 m. The lowest transparency was observed in Volkhov Bay (0.5-1 m), and the largest is to the west of the Valaam Islands (8-9 in summer, over 10 m in winter). There is constant unrest on the lake. During strong storms, the water “boils” in it, and the waves are almost completely covered with foam. The water regime is characterized by surge phenomena (water level fluctuations by 50-70 cm annually, up to a maximum of 3 m), seiches (up to 3-4 m), wave heights during storms up to 6 m. The lake freezes in December (coastal part) - February (central part), opens in April - May. central part It is covered with solid ice only in very severe winters. Due to the long and strong cooling in winter, the water in the lake is very cold in summer; it warms up only in the thin upper layer and in the coastal strip. The temperature regime differs in the central deep-water part of the lake and on the coast. The water temperature on the surface in August is up to 24 °C in the south, 18-20 °C in the center, at the bottom about 4 °C, in winter under the ice 0-2 °C. The water is fresh and clean (except for areas polluted by industrial waste), minerals and salts are dissolved in negligible quantities. The water belongs to the hydrocarbonate class (low content of calcium and magnesium salts, slightly more nickel and aluminum).
In Lake Ladoga, 378 species and varieties of planktonic animals were identified. More than half of the species are rotifers. A quarter of the total number of species is made up of protozoa, and 23 percent falls jointly on Cladocera and Copepods. The most common zooplankton species in the lake are Daphnia and Cyclops. A large group of aquatic invertebrate animals lives at the bottom of the lake. In Ladoga, 385 species were found (mostly various crustaceans). The first place in the benthofauna belongs to insect larvae, which account for more than half of all species of benthic animals - 202 species. Next come worms (66 species), water mites, or hydrocarines, mollusks, crustaceans and others. The lake is rich in freshwater fish, which go into the rivers to spawn. Lake Ladoga is home to 53 species and varieties of fish: Ladoga slingshot, salmon, trout, palia, whitefish, vendace, smelt, bream, raw fish, bluefish, silver bream, rudd, asp, catfish, pike perch, roach, perch, pike, burbot and others . Human impact on the reservoir reduces the number of valuable fish - salmon, trout, palia, lake-river whitefish and others, and the Atlantic sturgeon and Volkhov whitefish are listed in the Red Book of Russia. The most productive areas include the shallow southern part of the lake with depths of up to 15-20 m, where the main fishery is concentrated, and the least productive areas include the northern skerry area. Sturgeon passes through the lake from the Gulf of Finland along the Neva to spawn in the Volkhov and other rivers. Along the southern and southeastern shores of Lake Ladoga there is pike perch. The lake is inhabited by salmon, which in the fall go to the rivers where they spawn. Whitefish, Siberian sturgeon and other fish are bred in Lake Ladoga and Volkhov. In the Ladoga region, 256 species of birds belonging to 17 orders are regularly found. More than 50 bird species have been recorded here during transit migration in spring and autumn. Migration connections of the Ladoga region cover the space from Iceland to India and from South Africa to Novaya Zemlya. The most attractive areas for birds are the southern Ladoga region. Grebes, swans, geese, ducks, waders, gulls, terns, cranes and rails are found here on migration, as well as nesting sites of dabbling ducks, tufted ducks, red-headed pochards, gulls, terns, great and middle curlews, godwit, grass-billed plover, golden plover and other waders, gray crane, white-tailed eagle, osprey, falcon, eagle owl, great gray owl, short-eared owl and a number of other birds. The northern skerries are a nesting site for gray-cheeked grebe, great and common mergansers, gulls (including sea gulls and black-billed gulls), terns (including arctic terns), waders and many other species; aggregations of arctic ducks and waders are observed on migration. Lake Ladoga is home to the only representative of pinnipeds, the Ladoga ringed seal. The number of seals in the lake is estimated at 4000-5000 heads (according to 2000 data). The species is listed in the Red Book.
“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 subjects of the Russian Federation at once - the Leningrad region (western, South coast a) 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 node North-Western 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 rail 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, east 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. A more interesting direction is the northern one (to Sortavala). The cost of a ticket Sortavala – Petrozavodsk (4 hours travel time) is ~600 rubles. It is possible to get off this flight earlier, in such picturesque places, like 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 goes along its western, northern coasts(A-121 "Sortavala"), the other - along the south 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. On East Coast(road 86K-8) can be reached 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 path 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 districts 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 of the eastern districts of St. Petersburg flock here (and residents of the western districts 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. 20 meters from beach strip the museum of the siege of Leningrad is located; 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. Behind 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:
- 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).
- 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.
- 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).
- At one o'clock in the afternoon or so, I suggest heading towards the beach in the village of Lake Ladoga.
- On the way, we’ll stop by to see the “Broken Ring” monument, which is located in locality Kokkorevo.
- 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.
- We relax - swim and sunbathe, sunbathe and swim.
- 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!
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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 can find perfect island to 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 that amazes the city dweller 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. From interesting places I can name the “Oreshek” fortress at the mouth of the Neva River, the cities 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 the bite is better on the southern coast, 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 a 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). , .
Anything to add?
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. Maximum width the lakes are almost in the middle of their 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 waterfall, flows into Lake Ladoga partly directly at Kexholm, 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, each of the named 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 of the lake, from the source of the Neva to the mouth of the Svir.
With the help of its numerous tributaries, Lake Ladoga captures, in addition to parts of Finland, St. Petersburg and Olonets, almost all of Novgorod and some parts of 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.
