Vodlozero National Park
Encyclopedia
Vodlozersky National Park is the national park
in the north of Russia
, located in Onezhsky District
of Arkhangelsk Oblast
and Pudozhsky District
in the Republic of Karelia
. It was established April 20, 1991. Since 2001, the National Park has the status of the UNESCO
Biosphere Reserve
. The national park was created to protect coniferous forests (taiga
) of the Northern Russia.
The park covers 4280 square kilometre, additionally 400 square kilometre are used by the park but belong to the third parties. At the time of creation, Vodlozersky National Park was the second largest national park in Europe after Yugyd Va National Park
. The park area includes Lake Vodlozero
, the river basin of the Ileksa
, the main inflow of the lake, and the upper course of the Vodla
, the outflow.
colonized the lake area when they were looking for trade routes leading to the White Sea
. Lake Vodlozero was one of the points on the route which further lead to the Onega River
, and it was colonizes in 14th-15th century. There are several dozens monuments of wooden architecture (18th-19th century) located in the park. The most prominent one is Ilyinsky Pogost, an ensemble of a wooden church surrounded by a wall. In the beginning of 20th century, there were about 40 villages around Lake Vodlozero, most of which are currently deserted.
The national park was created in 1991 and became one of the first national parks in Russia. In 1996 the park was considered for inclusion as a World Heritage Site
but was rejected.
The reason for the rejection was that it was not a "natural" site. Currently, it is being resubmitted under the criteria of a "cultural landscape."
. The northern part has the climate typical for the northern taiga, with long and cold winters (the minimum temperature recorded in the park was -45 C). The climate of the southern part is more mild.
The northern part is hilly, with the hills up to 20 metres (65.6 ft) high. In the northern part, there is Vetreny Poyas Ridge / The southern part is almost flat.
There are many lakes in the park. By far the biggest one is Lake Vodlozero, however, there are also lakes in the Ileksa river basin, including Lake Monastyrskoye, Lake Nelmozero, Lake Luzskoye. Swamp
s cover about 40% of the area of the park.
Almost the whole area of the part is covered by woods. Of these, 53.5% are spruce forests, 44.1% are pine forests, and about 2% are birch
(Betula pubescens and Betula pendula) and aspen
forests.
. There is a visitor center in the village. There are also some recreation facilities as well as camping places elsewhere in the park.
All visitors of the park need to buy a permit at a visitor center (in the park or in Petrozavodsk
).
The Ileksa and the Vodla are popular for whitewater rafting. There are birdwatching
and fishing
facilities.
National park
A national park is a reserve of natural, semi-natural, or developed land that a sovereign state declares or owns. Although individual nations designate their own national parks differently A national park is a reserve of natural, semi-natural, or developed land that a sovereign state declares or...
in the north of Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
, located in Onezhsky District
Onezhsky District
Onezhsky District is an administrative district , one of the twenty-one in Arkhangelsk Oblast, Russia. Municipally, it is incorporated as Onezhsky Municipal District...
of Arkhangelsk Oblast
Arkhangelsk Oblast
Arkhangelsk Oblast is a federal subject of Russia . It includes the Arctic archipelagos of Franz Josef Land and Novaya Zemlya, as well as the Solovetsky Islands in the White Sea....
and Pudozhsky District
Pudozhsky District
Pudozhsky District is an administrative district , one of the fifteen in the Republic of Karelia, Russia. Municipally, it is incorporated as Pudozhsky Municipal District. Its administrative center is the town of Pudozh. District's population: 27,538 ; Population of Pudozh accounts for 44.8% of...
in the Republic of Karelia
Republic of Karelia
The Republic of Karelia is a federal subject of Russia .-Geography:The republic is located in the northwestern part of Russia, taking intervening position between the basins of White and Baltic seas...
. It was established April 20, 1991. Since 2001, the National Park has the status of the UNESCO
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
Biosphere Reserve
Biosphere reserve
The Man and the Biosphere Programme of UNESCO was established in 1971 to promote interdisciplinary approaches to management, research and education in ecosystem conservation and sustainable use of natural resources.-Development:...
. The national park was created to protect coniferous forests (taiga
Taiga
Taiga , also known as the boreal forest, is a biome characterized by coniferous forests.Taiga is the world's largest terrestrial biome. In North America it covers most of inland Canada and Alaska as well as parts of the extreme northern continental United States and is known as the Northwoods...
) of the Northern Russia.
The park covers 4280 square kilometre, additionally 400 square kilometre are used by the park but belong to the third parties. At the time of creation, Vodlozersky National Park was the second largest national park in Europe after Yugyd Va National Park
Yugyd Va National Park
Yugyd Va National Park is a national park in the Komi Republic, a constituent republic of the Russian Federation, in Northeastern Europe. It is Russia's and Europe's largest national park.- Location :...
. The park area includes Lake Vodlozero
Lake Vodlozero
Lake Vodlozero is a large freshwater lake in the southeastern part of the Republic of Karelia, Russia. It is located at and has an area of 322 km². It is 36 km long and 16 km wide. There are more than 190 islands on the lake. Vodlozero is used for fishery. It freezes up in early...
, the river basin of the Ileksa
Ileksa River
The Ileksa is a river in Onezhsky District of Arkhangelsk Oblast and Pudozhsky District of the Republic of Karelia in Russia. It is the principal tributary of Lake Vodlozero, and thus belongs to the basins of Lake Onega and of the Baltic Sea. It is long, and the area of its basin...
, the main inflow of the lake, and the upper course of the Vodla
Vodla River
Vodla is a river in the south-east of Republic of Karelia, Russia. The town of Pudozh is located along Vodla....
, the outflow.
History
First people settled in the Lake Vodlozero area in the prehistoric time, around 6-8 thousands years BC. Russians (NovgorodiansNovgorod Republic
The Novgorod Republic was a large medieval Russian state which stretched from the Baltic Sea to the Ural Mountains between the 12th and 15th centuries, centred on the city of Novgorod...
colonized the lake area when they were looking for trade routes leading to the White Sea
White Sea
The White Sea is a southern inlet of the Barents Sea located on the northwest coast of Russia. It is surrounded by Karelia to the west, the Kola Peninsula to the north, and the Kanin Peninsula to the northeast. The whole of the White Sea is under Russian sovereignty and considered to be part of...
. Lake Vodlozero was one of the points on the route which further lead to the Onega River
Onega River
The Onega is a river in Kargopolsky, Plesetsky, and Onezhsky Districts of Arkhangelsk Oblast in Russia. The Onega connects Lake Lacha with the Onega Bay in the White Sea southwest of Arkhangelsk, flowing in the northern direction. The discharge at the source is and at the mouth is . The river is ...
, and it was colonizes in 14th-15th century. There are several dozens monuments of wooden architecture (18th-19th century) located in the park. The most prominent one is Ilyinsky Pogost, an ensemble of a wooden church surrounded by a wall. In the beginning of 20th century, there were about 40 villages around Lake Vodlozero, most of which are currently deserted.
The national park was created in 1991 and became one of the first national parks in Russia. In 1996 the park was considered for inclusion as a World Heritage Site
World Heritage Site
A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a place that is listed by the UNESCO as of special cultural or physical significance...
but was rejected.
The reason for the rejection was that it was not a "natural" site. Currently, it is being resubmitted under the criteria of a "cultural landscape."
Location and geography
The two parts of the National Park — the southern part, around Lake Vodlozero, and the northern part, in the river valley of the Ileksa — are characterized by different climateClimate
Climate encompasses the statistics of temperature, humidity, atmospheric pressure, wind, rainfall, atmospheric particle count and other meteorological elemental measurements in a given region over long periods...
. The northern part has the climate typical for the northern taiga, with long and cold winters (the minimum temperature recorded in the park was -45 C). The climate of the southern part is more mild.
The northern part is hilly, with the hills up to 20 metres (65.6 ft) high. In the northern part, there is Vetreny Poyas Ridge / The southern part is almost flat.
There are many lakes in the park. By far the biggest one is Lake Vodlozero, however, there are also lakes in the Ileksa river basin, including Lake Monastyrskoye, Lake Nelmozero, Lake Luzskoye. Swamp
Swamp
A swamp is a wetland with some flooding of large areas of land by shallow bodies of water. A swamp generally has a large number of hammocks, or dry-land protrusions, covered by aquatic vegetation, or vegetation that tolerates periodical inundation. The two main types of swamp are "true" or swamp...
s cover about 40% of the area of the park.
Almost the whole area of the part is covered by woods. Of these, 53.5% are spruce forests, 44.1% are pine forests, and about 2% are birch
Birch
Birch is a tree or shrub of the genus Betula , in the family Betulaceae, closely related to the beech/oak family, Fagaceae. The Betula genus contains 30–60 known taxa...
(Betula pubescens and Betula pendula) and aspen
Populus tremula
Populus tremula, commonly called aspen, common aspen, Eurasian aspen, European aspen, trembling poplar, or quaking aspen, is a species of poplar native to cool temperate regions of Europe and Asia, from the British Isles east to Kamchatka, north to inside the Arctic Circle in Scandinavia and...
forests.
Tourism and infrastructure
There is only one settlement in the limits of the park, the village of Kuganavolok. It is connected by road with the town of PudozhPudozh
Pudozh is a town and the administrative center of Pudozhsky District of the Republic of Karelia, Russia, located on the Vodla River east of Petrozavodsk. Population: 8,000 ....
. There is a visitor center in the village. There are also some recreation facilities as well as camping places elsewhere in the park.
All visitors of the park need to buy a permit at a visitor center (in the park or in Petrozavodsk
Petrozavodsk
Petrozavodsk is the capital city of the Republic of Karelia, Russia. It stretches along the western shore of the Lake Onega for some . The city is served by Petrozavodsk Airport. Municipally, it is incorporated as Petrozavodsky Urban Okrug . Population:...
).
The Ileksa and the Vodla are popular for whitewater rafting. There are birdwatching
Birdwatching
Birdwatching or birding is the observation of birds as a recreational activity. It can be done with the naked eye, through a visual enhancement device like binoculars and telescopes, or by listening for bird sounds. Birding often involves a significant auditory component, as many bird species are...
and fishing
Fishing
Fishing is the activity of trying to catch wild fish. Fish are normally caught in the wild. Techniques for catching fish include hand gathering, spearing, netting, angling and trapping....
facilities.