The rocks that make up the vicinity of Lake Onega are very hard, and no remains of ancient animals and plants have been preserved in them, except for the prints of the simplest crustaceans and algae discovered in recent decades. These imprints of organic matter and organic remains, found mainly in the Middle and Upper Proterozoic formations of the Onega trough, indicate a very early (in the geological sense) development of organic life within the shores of Lake Onega, approximately 1900-1500 million years ago.
Further, in the history of the development of the organic world on the territory of Karelia, there is a significant gap, since the geological restructuring, accompanied by high temperatures and pressures, did not contribute to the preservation of traces of ancient life. In addition, at the beginning of it, organisms associated with the sea were born, and the territory of Karelia, together with Finland, Sweden and the Kola Peninsula adjacent to it, for a long time was an island.
The first of the Quaternary glaciations, which began about a million years ago and covered not only Karelia, but also areas far beyond its borders, destroyed all life that had managed to develop here in the pre-glacial period: plants and animals that were not capable of fast travel, died out, the rest migrated to more southern regions, and during the glaciation, the territory of Karelia was an icy desert, similar to modern Antarctica.
There were several glaciations, and there is evidence that in the intervals between them, that is, in the interglacial period, the vegetation of Karelia was very similar to modern: the territory was mainly covered with forests, which included such heat-loving tree species as linden, oak and elm, and among shrubs - hazel. This means that the interglacial climate was warmer than the modern one. But in subsequent epochs of glaciation, this vegetation was also destroyed by ice, slowly but stubbornly moving from the northwest to the southeast. Therefore, the history of the development of modern flora and fauna of Karelia in general and the coast of Lake Onega in particular should begin from the time when the ice of the last glaciation began to melt.
About 11,000-12,000 years ago, the northern half of Lake Onega was still occupied by ice, while along the shores of its southern part, already freed from the ice cover and largely flooded with the waters of the glacial lake, tundra-type vegetation grew, with polar willow and undersized birch. When the northern part of Onego was also freed from ice, the tundra vegetation moved to the north, closer to the edge of the glacier, and forest-tundra type vegetation took its place and swamps began to form.
The composition of plants and animals of that time is almost unknown, since their fossil remains have not yet been found in the vicinity of Lake Onega, but an analogy with more southern regions suggests that animal world somewhat different from modern southern regions mammoths, woolly rhinos, fossil deer and other smaller animals could move here.
Later, when the glaciers had already completely melted, in the middle of the post-glacial time, that is, about 6-7 thousand years ago, there was a period of warm and humid climate, and the shores of Lake Onega were covered with dense forest vegetation of pine, birch and heat-loving broad-leaved species. The composition of animals has also changed. Fossil remains (skulls, teeth, and others) found in the deposits of that time point to a taiga complex of fauna close to the modern one. Such large animals as mammoth and woolly rhinoceros could not exist in typical forest conditions and died out, others (musk ox, wild horse) were driven south.
In dense, mostly deciduous forests, there were brown bear, wolf, reindeer, roe deer, wild boar, from smaller ones - beaver, otter, polecat, marten, white hare, and in the waters of the lake - seal. Somewhat later, a man appeared on the banks of the Onego - the oldest sites were discovered by archaeologists in the vicinity of Medvezhyegorsk, on the Chelmuzhskaya Spit, near the village of Solomennoye near Petrozavodsk and in other places.
In subsequent times, the nature of the flora and fauna gradually changed, mainly due to changes in climatic conditions towards cooling and humidification, and, if in the area south coast Onego forests were still predominantly deciduous, but in the northern parts there was already a significant development of conifers: pines and spruces. About the fauna of that time, some idea can be obtained on the basis of the analysis of rock carvings in the area of the southeastern coast of the lake. Here, on the capes Besov Nos, Gazhiy Nos and others, our distant ancestors depicted such animals as elk, reindeer, bear, dog, etc.
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There are thousands of reservoirs on our beautiful planet, each of which is interesting and significant in its own way. We will tell you about Lake Onega - covered in legends, glorified by our famous ancestors, bewitching with its pristine beauty. They say that in winter you can hear the sun rise here, there is such silence around. But in summer, the shores of Lake Onega are drowned in the trills and chirping of hundreds of birds. Once here, it is as if you find yourself in another dimension, where tangible and visible reality is intertwined with history that you can touch with your hand.
Where is Lake Onega located
This reservoir is located in Russia, in the north-west of its European part. Approximately 80% of its area is located on the lands of Karelia, and the remaining 20% is divided between the Leningrad and Vologda regions.
To the Onega Bay, which belongs to the water area White Sea, the shortest distance from the lake (through forests and swamps) is 147 km. In 1933, the construction of the White Sea Canal with a length of 227 km was completed. It originates from the village of Povenets, which is located on the shores of the Povenets Bay of the lake, and ends near Belomorsk, a town with a population of about 10 thousand people located in the Soroka Bay of the White Sea. Thus, an exit from Lake Onega to the seas of the Arctic Ocean was created. The nearest neighbor of the described reservoir is Lake Ladoga. In a straight line to it 127 km. The Svir river connects Onega and Ladoga. If you move along its winding channel, you will have to overcome 224 km.
The cities of Petrozavodsk, Medvezhyegorsk and Kondopoga, which grew up on its shores, can serve as landmarks for the location of Lake Onega. They are located in the northern part of the reservoir. Its southern shores are sparsely populated. But here the Onega Canal passes, on the way of which there is a small, but fishy Megorskoye Lake.
Historical facts
Studying native nature is extremely interesting. Now scientists have a lot of new technologies in their arsenal, for example, isotope and radionuclide methods, spectral analysis. With their help, it was possible to establish that Lake Onega appeared on the site of the shelf sea 300-400 million years BC. e. (Paleozoic, approximately Carbon-Devon period). It washed the shores of the Baltic - that was the name of the then-existing continent. In those times in sea waters there were many protozoans that had shells. Dying, they sank to the bottom, forming a layer of limestone. In addition, many rivers flowed into the sea, carrying grains of sedimentary rocks with them. Now a layer of limestones, sandstones and clays forms a layer about 200 meters thick in the lake. It lies on a solid foundation of granite, gneiss and diabase, which appeared as a result of volcanic activity.
The origin of Lake Onega is associated with the height of the glacier then reached more than 3 km. Moving, huge white blocks easily plowed the earth's firmament, fundamentally changing the relief. This is also characteristic of the Baltic Shield, on which Lake Onega is located. About 12 thousand years ago, the glacier retreated. The marks left by him filled with water, forming large and small lakes. One of them was named Onego. The exact etymology of the word is unknown, there are only unconfirmed theories. People began to settle on the banks of this reservoir, as evidenced by numerous petrographers that have survived to this day.
Geographic characteristics
This is the second after Lake Ladoga body of water in Europe. Its total area (including all the islands) is 9720 km2, and the coastline stretches for 1542 km. The depth of Lake Onega is different. There are places where it reaches 127 meters, but closer to the coast and in small backwaters it does not exceed 1.5-2 meters. Thus, the average depth of the reservoir is about 30 meters.
The famous lake does not have a regular geometric shape. We can only say that it is somewhat elongated from the northwest to the southeast. In the northern part, there is the Big Onego Bay, which cuts deep into the land. Taking it into account, the maximum length of the reservoir is 245 km, and the maximum width is 91.6 km.
coast
Bypassing Lake Onega, you can see that its shores are indented by large and small bays, bays and capes. In addition to Big Onego, there is Small Onego, as well as Povenetsky and Zaonezhsky bays. The bays in the northern waters of the lake are Povenetskaya, Velikaya, Shchepikha, Konda, Petrozavodskaya, Bolshaya Lizhemskaya, Unitskaya, Kondopozhskaya. There is only one lip - Svirskaya.
The appearance of the coast is also different. In the more "wild" south, forests give way to shallows, which are sandy or rocky. Also in this part there are many impregnable rocks and picturesque, but dangerous swamps.
The northern shores are characterized by unusual geological ledges called "ram's foreheads". They are rocks polished by a moving glacier (gneisses, granites), gentle on one side and steep on the other.
Islands
In the European part of Russia, Lake Onega is not only one of the largest, but also a reservoir with a huge number of islands. There are more than 1500 of them here! These areas of land, protruding above the water surface, are large and very tiny, famous throughout the world and unknown to anyone, rocky and covered with dense forests.
The largest island is called Bolshoi Klimetsky. Its area is 147 km2. The natural attraction here is Mount Medvezhitsa, whose height is 82 meters. There are several villages on Bolshoy Klimetsky, there is a secondary school. There are no monuments of nature and history here. Communication with the mainland is carried out by ferry crossing.
The second largest island is called Bolshoy Lelikovsky. It is about 6 times smaller than B. Klimetsky. People also live on this island, but there are no public buildings, except for a small shop.
If you ask what is the most famous island on Lake Onega, any person will immediately name Kizhi. Its area is only 5 km2, its length is 5.5 km, and its width is 1.4 km. You can get around this piece of land in a couple of hours, but the glory of its borders knows no bounds. Here is the museum-reserve of the same name, created on the basis of as well as an architectural ensemble, included in the number of objects world heritage UNESCO. It is an ensemble of two churches (twelve-domed and seven-domed) and a bell tower. According to legend, the church “about 12 chapters” of the Transfiguration of the Lord was built by a local craftsman without a single nail. So that no one could repeat his creation, he threw the ax into the lake.
Another island that I would like to mention is called Suisaari (or Suisari). It rises above the water in the Kondopoga Bay. The island is currently uninhabited, but there is an old village that has the status of a historical monument. Quartz and chalcedony were found on Suisaari, and agates are also found here. Most of the land is occupied by forest, in which even bears are found. The shores of the island are heavily swamped. There are many bird nests in the reeds.
Rivers of Lake Onega
More than 1,000 rivers and streams carry their waters into the reservoir we are describing, and only one river flows out of it - the Svir. It is quite full-flowing, has a length of 224 km, connects the Ladoga and Onega lakes. The width of the Svir can vary from 100 meters to 12 km. The river is navigable. A cascade of hydroelectric power stations was built on it, the largest of which is Verkhnesvirskaya. Svir is interesting in that there is the Storozhensky lighthouse (it is the second in Russia and the seventh in the world in height) and the Nizhnesvirsky reserve.
About 50 rivers flowing into the Onega are over 10 km long. The most famous are Suna, Gimerka, Vodla, Losinka, Chebinka, Neglinka, Anga, Pyalma and others.
Climate
The weather in the area of Lake Onega is windy and changeable. Storms on the reservoir are so frequent that they even dug the Onega Canal in its southern part to ensure safer passage of ships to the Svir River.
Winters here in some years can be mild with temperatures not lower than -4 °C, but more often there are quite noticeable frosts down to -15 °C, and sometimes down to -30 °C. Winter lasts 120 days. In November - December, an ice cover forms in the bays and along the coast, and by mid-January it spreads to the entire lake, except for the deepest places. In some years, the water here remains open all winter.
Strong winds can crack the ice, forming cracks. Then the white blocks crawl one on top of the other. It turns out peculiar mountains several meters high.
The ice breaks by May, but sometimes you can find floating ice floes in June.
The warmest and most suitable months for relaxing here are July and August. The water temperature in shallow water can warm up to +22 °C, but most often reaches +17 °C. The ambient air temperature during the day rises to +30 °C, and the average values are around +20 °C.
The weather in this area is not only windy, but also rainy. The water balance of the lake is replenished by 25% every year due to precipitation. Rain falls steadily throughout the summer.
Flora
Lake Onega is extraordinarily beautiful. Its shores froze in a severe charm. They silently frame the water surface, sparkling in the sun with golden highlights. The water in the lake is so clean and transparent that the bottom can be seen at a depth of 4 meters or more. Some islands and parts of the coast are covered with dense virgin forests of coniferous trees, but deciduous copses are also found here. Spruces, pines, firs, larches are the main higher plants that make up the Onega biome. Only occasionally does a glance catch a birch, an alder and an aspen. Bypassing the environs of Lake Onega, you can find euonymus, honeysuckle, and currants in the undergrowth. Carpets of blueberries and lingonberries spread under your feet, cranberries can be found in the swamps, and the mushroom season opens in the second half of summer.
On swampy shores and shallow waters, the shores are overgrown with reeds and cattails, which is very valuable for many birds. Some bays are adorned with lilies and water lilies, and sour, wintergreen, horsetails and other herbaceous plants grow green on the banks.
Fauna
The surroundings of Lake Onega are full of life. Geese, ducks, swans nest in the reeds. Cranes, terns, eagle owls, grebes, herbalists also fly here. Woodpeckers, jays, tits, and many other small birds live in the forests.
The animal world is also widely represented. Local residents have repeatedly seen hares, squirrels, ermines, and roe deer in the surrounding forests. They say that bears are also found here, because their droppings are often found.
In the expanses of water and on the shores, seals can be observed. They swim here for food. There are a lot of fish in Lake Onega. About 54 species of fish live here, including whitefish, smelt, grayling, pike perch, perch, eel, sabrefish, silver bream, pike, bream and others.
Fishing on Lake Onega is productive at any time of the year. You can fish from the shore and from the water, which is more preferable. The depth of the bays of 40-100 meters allows the use of motorized vessels.
Settlements
The most famous and Big City who grew up on coastline Lake Onega is the capital of Karelia (Petrozavodsk). It is called the city of labor and military glory, historical and cultural center Prionezhsky region. People lived in this area as early as 6000 BC. e., as evidenced by the numerous sites found. But the city itself was founded by Peter I, who founded an arms factory here. Petrozavodsk is interesting for its historical monuments, architectural ensembles and the fact that interesting festivals are held here - "Hyperborea", "Air", "White Nights of Karelia", as well as a sailing regatta.
Kondopoga is another city on the banks of the Onega, located 54 km from Petrozavodsk. It has been mentioned in historical chronicles since 1495. From the 18th century, marble began to be mined near it, which was used to build the palaces of St. Petersburg. In recent years, the city authorities have been actively developing tourism here. Of interest are the Assumption Church, built at the end of the 18th century, but restored twice, two carillons of bells, as well as leisure. The city stands on the banks of the Kondopoga Bay. The depth of Lake Onega here is up to 80 meters, which allows both amateur and commercial fishing. Its species composition in this area of the lake is incredibly rich, and the bite is excellent.
Medvezhyegorsk. This is the northernmost and youngest city on the Onega. Its history began in 1915 with the construction of the railway. station Medvezhya Gora. There are no unique attractions here, but this town is an excellent starting point for traveling along Onega.
On the shores of the lake there are many small towns and villages where tourists can find comfortable conditions for recreation. Among them are Pyalma, Povenets, Pindushi, Shalsky and others.
Ecology
In the northern water area of the lake, environmental indicators are much worse than the southern one. This is due to the fact that about 90% of industry and more than 80% of the population are concentrated here. Every year, thousands of tons of waste are dumped into Lake Onega, including phenols, lead, sulfur oxides, waste reclamation water, and sewage.
Attractions
Interesting places in the vicinity of Lake Onega, several dozen. All of them can be divided into monuments of nature and history. It is more convenient to get to both of them by water. Land routes in many sections are so broken that only an SUV can overcome them.
You can visit the lake not only the island of Kizhi. Of great interest are the petroglyphs concentrated on the eastern shore of the reservoir. There are over 800 drawings here.
Tourists are always taken to Cape Besov Nos. It is famous for its hooked shape, as well as the many rock paintings that adorn it.
Damn chair. This is an unusual formation in the rock near the village of Solomennoye. The height of the "seat" is 80 meters above sea level, and the height of the "back" is 113 meters. Damn chair formed glaciers. They say that if you sit on its edge and make a wish, it will certainly come true.
The Kivach waterfall on the Suna River was more powerful before the construction of the dam, but even now it fascinates with its power and beauty. There is also a reserve of the same name.
Of the man-made monuments in the vicinity of Onega, there are dozens of ancient functioning and already closed wooden temples. Each one is interesting in its own way. You can select Murom monastery in the village of Pudozh, the Museum of Marcial Waters, the Church of the Great Martyr Barbara.
Rest
Tourists come to the lake to relax both "savage" and civilized. In the first case, there are plenty of opportunities and suitable places for setting up a tent camp. It is advisable to take into account that the best weather here is in August, but during the same period there is a massive breeding of mosquitoes and midges.
You can also stay in guest houses, which are now available in almost every coastal village. Mini-hotels will not only offer sleeping area, but also feed, rent a boat and fishing tackle.
Fishing on Lake Onega is the main entertainment for men. Guest houses ideal for a comfortable stay for fishermen, because guests have the opportunity to take a steam bath in a Russian bathhouse, cook a catch on the grill, and sleep in a clean bed.
The Marcial Waters sanatorium, which began its work in 1719, operates 55 km from the city of Petrozavodsk. Allergy, skin diseases, cardiovascular system, lungs, joints, bone apparatus, nervous diseases, digestive organs are treated here. Vacationers are offered comfortable rooms with amenities, delicious food. Therapeutic and diagnostic procedures are carried out using modern technologies.
Legends and myths
Lake Onega attracts many people with mysterious phenomena that take place in its vicinity.
The local population and tourists often see wandering lights, dark figures. Some even hear bells ringing and voices. These phenomena are most often observed in places of mass graves or where there used to be pagan sanctuaries.
There are also many documented cases that occurred in the vicinity of Lake Onega with people and give rise to assumptions that there are time and energy faults here.
The most sensational occurred in 1073 on the island of Bolshoy Klimetsky with A.F. Pulkin, fleet captain, deviator. He grew up in these places, he knows every path here. While fishing on the island, Pulkin went deep into the forest for firewood. The captain came ashore after 34 days. Pulkin could not explain where he had been all this time, and why the rescue teams could not find him.
Another strange story happened to the students. They came to the island to rest. But as soon as their boat moored to the shore, the guys felt an incredible energy impact in the form of vibration and an unpleasant buzz that caused a headache. All this stopped as soon as the students set sail from the shore.
In 2009, an incredible incident happened to the girl Anya (age 6). Her family arrived at Lake Onega to relax as "savages". Dad pitched a tent, lit a fire. Mom made dinner. Anya was playing nearby, but suddenly disappeared. The parents searched all around. The father rushed into the forest, constantly calling his daughter loudly. Mom stayed near the tent. The girl was nowhere to be found. Imagine the amazement of the parents when, after looking into the tent for the tenth time, they saw their daughter peacefully sleeping there. This story ended happily, except for the fact that Anya's eye color changed, curly hair straightened, old moles disappeared and new ones appeared. Parents are also embarrassed that the girl often speaks in a dream in a language unknown to anyone.
There are many similar stories among the locals. Lake Onega, beautiful and majestic, keeps many secrets and is waiting for their discoverers.
Lake Onega is a lake in the northwest of the European part Russian Federation, located on the territory of Karelia, Leningrad and Vologda regions. The second largest lake in Europe after Ladoga. Belongs to the Baltic Sea basin Atlantic Ocean. The area of \u200b\u200bthe lake without islands is 9690 km 2, and with islands - 9720 km 2; the volume of water mass - 285 km 3; length from south to north - 245 km, maximum width- 91.6 km. Average depth- 30 m, and the maximum - 127 m. The cities of Petrozavodsk, Kondopoga and Medvezhyegorsk are located on the shores of Lake Onega. About 50 rivers flow into Lake Onega, and only one flows out - the Svir.
The average depth of the lake is 31 m, the maximum depth in the deepest northern part of the lake reaches 127 m. The average depth in the central part is 50-60 m, closer to the south the bottom rises to 20-30 m. bottom depressions. In the northern part of the lake there are many troughs, alternating with high bottom rises, forming banks, on which industrial trawlers often fish. Much of the bottom is covered with silt. Typical forms are luds (shallow-water rocky shoals), selgas (deep-water elevations of the bottom with rocky and sandy soils, in the southern part of the lake), underwater ridges and ridges, as well as depressions and pits. Such a relief creates favorable conditions for the life of fish. The regime of Lake Onega is characterized by a spring rise in water, which lasts 1.5-2 months, with an annual water level amplitude of up to 0.9-1 m. The flow from the lake is regulated by the Verkhnesvirskaya hydroelectric power station. Rivers bring up to 74% of the incoming part of the water balance (15.6 km 3 per year), 25% falls on precipitation. 84% of the expenditure part of the water balance falls on the runoff from the lake along the Svir River (an average of 17.6 km 3 per year), 16% - on evaporation from the water surface. Highest Levels lake waters in June - August, lower - in March - April. There are frequent unrest, storm waves reach up to 2.5 m in height. The lake freezes in the central part in mid-January, in the coastal part and in the bays - in late November - December. At the end of April, the mouths of the tributaries are opened, open part lakes - in May. The water in the open deep parts of the lake is transparent, with visibility up to 7-8 m. In the bays it is slightly less, up to one meter or less. The water is fresh, with a mineralization of 10 mg/l.
Lake Onega is the second largest freshwater reservoir in Europe. Its area is impressive, in terms of its size this reservoir is second only to the lake. The lake is located in the Republic of Karelia, as well as in Leningrad and Vologda regions. But most of the lake is still located in the Republic of Karelia (80%), the other two regions account for only 20% of the area of this reservoir.
Lake Onega: depth and area
To talk about this reservoir in more detail, you must first say about its size. The area of Lake Onega is 9600 square kilometers, more precisely - 9690 square kilometers. km. This is an impressive number. And I must say that this area is taken without taking into account the islands. If we take into account the islands, then the area of \u200b\u200bLake Onega in sq. km will reach the figure 9720. To better understand the scale of the lake, let's say that its area is equal to the area of Cyprus, and this is not at all a small republic.
The average depth of Onega is about 30 meters, and the greatest depth is 127 meters. Note that these are very impressive numbers for lakes. About 50 different rivers (and about 1000 different watercourses) flow into Lake Onega, and only one river flows out of the lake - the Svir.
Dimensions of Lake Onega: length and width
The length of the reservoir from north to south reaches 245 kilometers. The largest width of the lake is 92 kilometers. There are three Karelian cities on the banks (Petrozavodsk, which is also Medvezhyegorsk and Kondopoga).
In general, it must be said that the Republic is a large part of the lake, characterized by a large number of rocks. The shores of the lake are really rocky, sometimes it is very difficult to approach the reservoir precisely because of the rocks.
The meaning of the lake
Almost every local resident will always answer your question about the area of Lake Onega, will be happy to tell you some stories about the reservoir or its sights. For the local population, the reservoir is pride. Dimensions of Lake Onega really impressive. The locals have a lot to be proud of. As we have already said, the area Lake Onega in km 2 equivalent to entire countries! Let's get to know him in more detail.
Islands
The total number of islands in Onega is 1650, but not all of them are large. total area of all the islands of the lake is 224 square kilometers. Most famous island- This is Kizhi. It houses a unique museum-reserve of the same name, in which wooden temples of the 18th century have been preserved and restored. Some of them are built without the use of nails or other metal fastening materials.
But Kizhi is not the most big Island lakes, the largest in Lake Onega is Bolshoy Klimenetsky, its area is 147 square kilometers (more than half the area of all lakes of Lake Onega). Bolshoy Klimenetsky Island has its own settlement, there is even a school here.
If you call others major islands, then it is necessary to mention Bolshoy Lelikovsky, as well as the island of Suisar and South Deer. The nature on all the islands is very colorful, bright and special in its own way, like the entire Republic of Karelia, where most of the lake is located (we have already said this).
Flora and fauna of the island
Some shores of Lake Onega are very rocky, but most of the shores of the lake are low and often swampy. They also often flood when the water level in the lake rises. This can explain the fact that there are only three cities on the lake.
Along the banks of Onega, as well as on almost all of its islands, ducks, geese, swans and other water birds often nest in reeds and reed beds. Almost the entire coastal area of the lake is occupied by dense coniferous forests, some of which are still untouched by human hands and are in a virgin state.
There is evidence that seals are sometimes observed in Lake Onega. In general, it must be said that fish, as well as various invertebrates, are represented in the lake in a wide variety. We emphasize that among the invertebrates there are a significant number of relics of the ancient ice age.
Returning to the fish of the lake, we note that they are found here:
- sterlet;
- lake salmon;
- trout (lake and stream);
- palia (ludnaya and pit);
- zander;
- pike;
- perch;
- vendace (including vendace-kilets);
- grayling;
- smelt;
- roach;
- lamprey (river and stream).
And that's not all, because in the lake there are no less than 47 species and varieties of freshwater fish, which belong to 13 families. Fishing on the Onega is a special chic and a way to find inner harmony with nature. Moreover, fishing is possible on the lake at any time of the year.
Ecology
IN modern world with outdated wastewater treatment systems, nothing good can be expected in terms of ecology. In the last decade, the impact on the lake ecosystem has only increased. Special damage is inflicted on the northwestern and northern parts lakes. Petrozavodsk, Kondopoga and Medvezhyegorsk industrial centers are located in this area. It should also be said that about 80% of the population lives in this area, the industrial potential of the basin here generally reaches 90%.
But recently there has been a tendency to modernize treatment facilities and invest serious investments in this business (both from the local budget and from federal funds). I would like to believe that this unique lake will not be left to the mercy of fate and will not become the center of man's neglect of nature.
Economic importance
The lake is navigable, and it is a large part of the waterway, which is included in the Volga-Baltic waterway, as well as the White Sea-Baltic Canal. Also, the lake is a link for the basins of the Baltic, Caspian and northern seas.
The system of channels and rivers allows you to send any cargo from the capital of the republic (the city of Petrozavodsk) to any countries located in the coastal sea zone. These are countries from Germany to Iran. We also mention that there is an artificially dug channel, which is located along south coast Onega (from the Svir River to the river called Vytegra).
There are two ports on the shores of Lake Onega (Petrozavodsk capital port and the city of Medvezhyegorsk), in addition, there are five marinas and several small stopping points for ships.
No regular year-round passenger service in this moment no on the lake. But there is a regular service several times a day during navigation between Petrozavodsk and Kizhi Island, as well as between Petrozavodsk and the Great Bay. Tourist boats and the so-called "meteors" are involved here. Also, according to the latest information, there is a connection between Petrozavodsk and Shala.
Of some interesting events of the lake, we note that since the distant 1972 Lake Onega annually (in summer, in July) receives the country's largest Onega sailing regatta". This is an open national championship sailing among yachts (cruising). There are no other organized competitions, although the area of Lake Onega allows it. This is explained by the weak development of tourism in the region.
Kizhi Island
The main attraction of Lake Onega is Kizhi Island, more precisely, the museum-reserve of the same name, which is located here. On the territory of the museum island, there are currently almost 90 monuments of wooden architecture from the 15th-20th centuries.
The center of Kizhi Island is architecture (built in the 18th century), it is a 20-domed Church of the Transfiguration of the Lord, as well as a 9-domed Church of the Intercession of the Virgin and a bell tower. In 1990, Kizhi Island was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. This is the pride of our entire country!
Onega petroglyphs
Rock carvings, which are called Onega petroglyphs, are located on the eastern shores of Lake Onega. Scientists believe that their age is in the range of 4-2 thousand years BC. Petroglyphs are arranged in groups. In total, they occupy a stretch of coast approximately 21 km long or even more. Their total number is approximately 1200 different figures and signs. Petroglyphs have not been fully studied and from time to time new rock paintings are discovered. It seems that many more secrets are hidden by the shores of Lake Onega. Its area allows it to do so.
To understand the scale of Lake Onega, you need to see it with your own eyes. Come fishing in Karelia or just relax here from the hustle and bustle of megacities, breathe in the clean northern air. You will fall in love with these places forever, and you will come back here again and again. Lake Onega will captivate and enchant. Photographers will also like Karelia. Here are incredibly beautiful landscapes that will impress a creative person. Tourists will also appreciate the lake, especially those who love beautiful open spaces. Rest in Karelia is also a great pastime, clean air, beautiful nature.
Its area with the islands, according to Strelbitsky, is 9751.1 km2
Lake Onega is elongated along the north-north-west line and its greatest length between the Black Sands in the south and the mouth of the Kumsa in the north reaches 220 km, and the greatest width from Logm Lake to the Pudozhsky churchyard is 86 km. The height of the lake is about 45 m. According to the nature of the structure, Lake Onega can be divided into two parts by a line running from Petrozavodsk to the mouth of the Vodla River. The entire southern part of the lake is one vast basin with a slightly winding coastline, while the northern part has the character of skerries: here the lake branches into many narrow and long bays, maintaining a general direction from north-northwest to south-southeast. This nature of the shores significantly increases the length of the coastline of the lake, reaching up to 1,280 kilometers.
The shores of Lake Onega are mostly elevated. In its northern and western parts are covered, the southern part of the banks is low and especially near the mouth of the Vytegra River. The eastern shore in the southern and middle parts is sandy, formed by the deposits of the lake itself; three terraces can be traced inland here; further north East Coast the lake becomes elevated and is composed of solid. The nature of the structure of the northwestern part of the lake, with its narrow bays, elongated from the northwest to the southeast and separated by the same narrow and long ridges, serves as one of the confirmations of the spread of an extensive cover here during the ice age.
Lake Onega in Medvezhyegorsk
Lake Onega receives a number of tributaries, of which the most significant flow into it from the southeast and east - these are the Vodla, Andoma and Vytegra rivers. Taking, in addition, many more rivers and streams that serve as the sources of a whole mass of lakes surrounding Lake Onega, the latter forms a vast water basin, occupying up to 58,328 sq. kilometers. The only source of all this mass of water is the Svir River, which flows out of the southwestern end of the lake and flows into Ladoga, entering, together with the latter, into the system of the Neva river basin. Lake Onega, occupying an intermediate position between and, could play a big role in the inland waterway between and, if there was a navigable connection with the latter.
Coastline differs sharply in character in its southern and northern parts. As already mentioned above, in the first part the coasts are slightly indented and there are no deeply protruding bays. On the contrary, the northern and northeastern parts of the lake are replete with bays, and, just as it is seen in Ladoga. A particularly large tortuosity of the coastline begins at Petrozavodsk and ends at Povenets. All the most significant bays are located along this stretch of the coast; of these, the most notable are the following six:
To the north-west of Petrozavodsk, a vast bay of the same name stretches, which, together with Lake Logmo, which forms its continuation, reaches 17 km. length; at the entrance it has about 7 km. width; near the entrance there are several islands from the south and from the north.
Further north is a large bay Kondopazhskaya, extending deep into the mainland for 30 km. The width of the entrance is about 7 km, but it narrows to 5 km. the island of Suisari. Like the Petrozavodsk Bay, Kondopazhskaya Bay also has lakes as its continuation, stretched in that direction. The Suna River flows into the western part of the bay, on which the famous Kivach waterfall flows.
Lizhma Bay- a narrow and long bay, jutting out into the mainland for 35 kilometers; its width at the entrance is about 5 km., in some places it narrows to several hundred meters between the islands, of which there are quite a lot. The river Lizhma flows into it.
Unitskaya Bay, up to 45 km long. and a width of 6 km. up to several hundred meters. Guba is occupied by a whole archipelago of islands.
Guba Velikaya, jutting out for 20 kilometers into the Zaonezhie peninsula; the width at the entrance to the bay reaches 9-10 km. Several islands are located in the southwestern wider part.
Povenets Bay- this is the name of the entire north-eastern part of the lake, separating the Zaonezhie peninsula from the mainland. Its greatest width is opposite the city of Povenets, where it reaches 20 km. Three more very narrow and long bays (up to 20 km long, 2 km wide and less) separate from this bay, extending far into the northeastern part of the Zaonezhie peninsula.
Peninsulas and islands. Due to the long and narrow bays of the northwestern part of the lake, there is no shortage of peninsulas, of which the most significant lies between the Unitskaya Bay and the Povenetsky Bay. Its length, counting from the top of the Unitskaya Bay, is up to 70 km, and its maximum width is up to 32 km. The width of the isthmus connecting it with the mainland is about 10 km. In addition to the Great Bay and three others, separated from the Povenets Bay, the interior of the peninsula is cut by several more narrow and long lakes, stretched parallel to all the bays of this part of the lake.
There are many islands, but they are all located in its northern part: the largest of them is Klimetsky, at the southeastern tip of Zaonezhye. It is about 24 km long. and about 7 km wide. Of the others are remarkable: Kizh, Kerk, Deer, Sennogubsky, Suisari. Some islands, especially Klimets, are quite densely populated.
Onega lake. Great Guba
According to the works, the line is 21 meters deep, following, in general, quite close to the outline of the shores, and is significantly removed from them at the southwestern tip of the lake. Then this line completely leaves aside: the Unitskaya Bay, the strait between the island of Klimetsky and Zaonezhie, the Velikaya Bay and the middle part of the Povenets Bay. Inside this isobath, in the northern part of the southern, wide half of the lake, a vast area is occupied by a basin with depths of 9–12 meters, in the middle of which there are several places with depths reaching 14.2–14.5 meters.
The greatest depths are found north of the line Petrozavodsk - the mouth of the Vodla River. Here is the greatest depth of 124 m. And further to the north there are several more depressions with depths of 111, 115.5 and even 132.5 meters. These depths are located between Zaonezhie and the mainland. It should be noted that all with the greatest depths, both in the northern and southern parts of the lake, are elongated along the direction characteristic of Lake Onega from the north-north-west to the south-south-east. Then significant depths are still found in the northernmost tip of the Povenets Bay, where they reach up to 92.4 meters.
Water level and current. The correct annual fluctuations in the level of Lake Onega are insignificant: the largest level difference measured so far (in 20 years) is 1.8 meters. These studies did not show the existence of any regular currents in the lake. In the middle, pelagic part, they depend on the direction of the blowers, taking on a constant character of the current only at the mouths of the rivers flowing into the lake and against the mouth of the Svir River - the source of the lake.
Opening and freezing. There are very few observations on this issue: at Ascension, the average opening occurs on May 5, at Petrozavodsk, too, and freezing at Ascension on December 22, at Petrozavodsk on November 26. The average number of days of ice-free surface for the first point is 231, for the second - 205. In winter, the lake is covered with a continuous ice cover, along which there is communication across the lake. The duration of navigation is, of course, somewhat less than the number of ice-free days.
