Established in 1991, Vodlozersky National Park is one of the biggest national parks in Europe. Its area comes to 4683 square kilometers.
The park is divided into three parts: Vodlozersky, Ileksky and Pudozhskiy.
About 10 per cent of the park area is occupied by lakes and rivers. The main lake of the park is Lake Vodlozero with the total area of 358 square kilometers and with the total length of the coastline of 438 kilometers. The Ileksa River is the main waterway of the park. It flows into Lake Vodlozero. There are many hills in the northern part of the park. The highest peaks reach 300 meters.
In 2001, in accordance with the decree of UNESCO, the park received the status of a biosphere reserve.
Vodlozerky National Park nature
Taiga plant species prevail in the park such as Siberian larch, Tatarian dogwood, Scotch pine, Norway spruce, white birch, aspen, juniper, mountain ash, goat willow. The shrub and grass vegetation is represented by blueberry, red bilberry, heather, two-leaved bead-ruby, starflower, shamrock.Among the mammals the most notable carnivores are bears, foxes, lynxes, martens. The park contains one of the biggest deer populations.
One can observe rare bird species which are included into the Red Data Book, such as white-tailed eagle, fish-hawk, erne, whooper swan, windhover, gray crane, thrush nightingale. Forests are rich in capercaillies, black grouses and partridges.
Cultural heritage
The park is considered to be one of the oldest cultural centers in Russia. There you can get acquainted with the traditions of the local people and with interesting architectural monuments, the most significant of which is the Ilyinsky Pogost (churchyard). It is located on the island of Small Kolgostrov on Lake Vodlozero. The main part of the Ilyinsky Pogost is a wooden church consecrated in honor of Elijah the Prophet, built in 1798.
Vodlozersky National Park trips and activities
On the territory of the park, excursions and various types of outdoor activities are arranged. We have marked the most interesting ones from our point of view.
- Boat trips around Lake Vodlozero with a visit to the Ilyinsky Pogost, as well as acquaintance with the chapels and villages, sites of the Neolithic and Paleolithic eras.
- Water trips - rafting on the rivers Ileksa and Vodla, kayaking on Vodlozero lake.
- 40 km hike along the ecological trail along the Ileksa River, from the village of Varishpelda to the village of Louza.
- Fishing.
- Bird watching.
Park offices
- Head office of the National Park is located in Petrozavodsk. Opening hours: from 09.00 till 17.00. Closed: Saturday and Sunday.
- Vodlozersky branch office is in the village of Kuganavolok. Opening hours: from 09.00 till 17.00, on Friday from 09.00 till 13.00. Closed: Saturday and Sunday.
