I've tried to choose from my collection of photos the ones that would truely and completely enough represent the region of Karelia and maybe the parts of Russia closest to it by location.
Large part of these pictures below is still easily recognizable for those who have visited Karelia, though other ones maybe new even to some people who live here.
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| Well, the tourist "brand" of Karelia, famous Kizhi Pogost. Two wooden churches: Transfiguration church built in 1714, and Intercession church built in the end of 18th century |
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| A cell of Solovetsky monastery prison, on Solovki islands, severe though beautiful archipelago in the south of White Sea. Only several dozen kilometres from the Arctic Circle. |
To be correct I should mention that Solovki islands are on the territory of Archangelsk region, not Karelia. They are just closer to karelian shore of the White sea
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| Transfiguration Cathedral, inside the thick stone walls of Solovetsky monastery. Made of great stones, mostly |
Solovetsky monastery and Solovetsky fortress, also often called Solovetsky monastery-fortress is united complex of buildings created by russian monks in 15th-16th centuries. The variety of passages, halls and other interior spaces of its architecture is astonishing.
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| That's actually one of the passages in the monastery |
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| View of Solovetsky monastery in the morning (light mist from the sea is still on the domes and on the top of the cathedral) |
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| Kuzova Islands. Located very close to Solovki islands and very close to the seashore. |
Kuzova are nowadays not inhabited. It's a nature reserve. But... Yes, its a great archaeological site also. About 3-4% of the islands' area are occupied by enigmatic stone structures left by ancient saamian tribes, who lived here few thousand years ago
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| A speed motor ship - hydrofoil returns from Kizhi island |
Hydrofoil crosses the distance of 80 kilometres from Petrozavodsk city to Kizhi island in just 1 hour 20 min. Thrice faster than an ordinary ship would do.
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| A newest part of Onego lake embankment in Petrozavodsk |
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| Interior of Assumption church, the highest wooden church in Karelia |
Most of the icons have been preserved from 1774 year, the moment of building
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| Valaam monastery |
Valaam monastery is located on the islands with the same name (Valaam) in lake Ladoga. This monastery was founded more than five hundred years ago, the exact years of the foundation are unknown. Some sources say even about one thousand years. And a legend says that Valaam has been visited by St. Andrew the First Called, an apostle of Christ
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| Again Valaam Islands. Skete of St. Nicholas |
Skete is a set of monastic cells where monks lived, with household buildings and with a church. On this picture you can see such a church of St. Nicholas skete, also in russian "Nicholsky skete"
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| Panorama on lake Konchezero |
Lake Konchezero is a good place for having rest and for fishing. Great amount of wonderful rocky islands of all sizes (from few metres to few kilometres) covered only by forests. By the way, the picture has been made on one of such islands during camping
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| Lake Syamozero |
One more beautiful lake of Karelia, a small bay of it. Syamozero is loved by most fishermen as the best lake for all year round fishing
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| Stone labyrinth |
One of the stone structures created by ancient saamian tribes, partially restored
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| Sea shore of Solovetsky Island during low tide |
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| Kizhi Pogost in winter |
Wooden churches of Kizhi Pogost, that one on the first photo, seen from another point and in winter
