Large fresh lakes are now a rarity on planet earth; they can be easily counted; such lakes are mainly located on the territory of our state of Russia. The wide and spacious surface of the lake surprises a person who finds himself on its shores for the first time; there are a lot of coniferous forests that approach the shore Lake Ladoga. In pine forests you can find a large number of stone boulders overgrown with moss, these stones may have been brought water element once fell to the ground. There are a lot of islands on the lake, mostly rocky; on the shores there are a large number of Orthodox shrines, temples and monasteries. Wild animals living near the lake use it as a source of drinking, approaching the shore and quenching their thirst.
Features of Lake Ladoga.
On our territory there is the most big lake – Ladoga, it's half the size European state Switzerland. The distance from the northern part of the lake to the southern reaches 230 kilometers, and the width from east to west is 80-85 kilometers, and the depth in some places reaches 200 meters. And this is only approximate data, since the mud layer at the bottom may be different and the depth is correspondingly greater, but even with such data one can judge the majesty Ladoga created by nature itself. To comparison in Lake Ladoga almost three times more fresh water than in Lake Onega, although they are comparable in size, it’s all about the depth of the lakes.
Shores of Lake Ladoga have a different appearance and profile, the northwestern part of the coast has a rocky appearance with many bays that are considered deep. Here the shores have beautiful cliffs rising tens of meters above the surface of the water, on which pine trees grow. Locals The bays in this part of the lake are called lips, and the rocky islands are called skerries; in total there are more than six hundred such islands on the lake. There are also large islands on the lake:
- Valaam Island
- Konevets Island
- Lunkulansaari
- Kilpola
- Riek-Kalansaari
- Mantsinz saari
The most famous is Valaam island, where Orthodox monasteries and churches are located. Other names belong to the Finno-Ugric group, and the names were received from the Finnish language.
Valaam archipelago.
Coniferous forests reign on the islands of Lake Ladoga, the islands of the skerries are rocky and rise high above the water. Traveling across the lake on a ship, approaching them, from afar they resemble hedgehogs, and pine trees look like needles. Basically, most of the islands are located in the northern part of the lake, in the center of the lake is located Valaam archipelago with many islands.
Valaam Island is the largest on Lake Ladoga V archipelago of Valaam, ancient monasteries and temples were founded here back in the 14th century, by Novgorod people, its size is about 60 square kilometers, or in other words, 6 by 10 kilometers, and the depth of the bays near the island reaches 150 meters. In the north of the island is located Monastic Bay, access to which by water can be made through a narrow and elongated strait between high rocks. On the shores of the bay there is a famous holy monastery of monks. On other islands Valaam archipelago, of which there are just over fifty, there are monastery hermitages where the elder monks lived and live, acquiring the Holy Spirit.
One of the centers of Orthodoxy Valaam Monastery became famous in the 15th century for the exploits of hermit monks; everyone in need of God’s guidance and help in curing various ailments flocked here. These places began to be called “Northern Athos”; it is possible to get here by ship in summer and by ice in winter. Those who attended this Holy place remained with their hearts here forever, giving delightful reviews not only of the beauty of the island, but also of the spiritual ascent of the novice monks living here. Famous people who have been here figures of Russian culture dedicated part of their creativity Valaam, in painting, in poetry, in music, in them they tried to convey a piece of the splendor and grace that they felt in these places.
And currently Valaam island, became a place of pilgrimage and tourism, after returning to the control of the monastery and monastic lands, Russian canonical Orthodox Church Moscow Patriarchate. In the years Soviet power atheistic orientation, Balaam survived in prayer and standing, the Holy Spirit never left these places, and the trials that befell only strengthened faith and Holy Orthodoxy.
Fortress Oreshek.
Many rivers and streams flow in, but only one river flows out - the Neva, which is small in length and flows into to the Baltic Sea near city of St. Petersburg(Leningrad). The strategic importance of the place where the Neva River begins has long been known, and in the 14th century a powerful fortification structure appeared at the source of the river - Oreshek fortress, it was erected by Novgorod builders, thereby establishing themselves in these places and on Lake Ladoga. This structure protected the borders of the Novgorod principality from raids by the Swedish armies, there were a lot of sieges and attacks on the fortress, so after each the fortress was improved and completed; already in the 16th century the power of this stronghold was maximum, the walls rose along the entire perimeter of the island. Since that time, little has changed, and now we can see this unique structure as it was in those distant times.
For a short period of time in the 17th century, this fortress fell under the rule of the Swedes, but thanks to Peter the Great, Russian troops finally recaptured this place from the Swedes, and the Emperor gave a new name to the fortress - Shlisselburg, or Key City, testifying to the protection of the water entrance to the Neva. Later, from the time of Catherine the Second until the overthrow of the tsarist government as a result of the revolution of 1917, the fortress was repurposed as a prison in which prisoners especially dangerous to the state were kept. Only with the advent of Soviet power did the fortress get rid of the prison on its territory. And in the years Great Patriotic War 1941-1945, faithfully served the wars defending the Motherland from the Nazi invaders, during three years the garrison successfully repelled attempts to capture the fortress by enemy troops. The fortress played a special role in protecting the “Road of Life” during the siege of Leningrad; it made it possible to deliver goods relatively unhindered both by water in the summer and by ice in the winter.
Southern part of Ladoga.
In the southern part Lake Ladoga there is a unique small island, it is of man-made origin; under Peter the Great, stone blocks were brought here, since the sandbank that existed here interfered with navigation on the waters Lake Ladoga, and many ships ran aground on their bellies. A little later on Suho Island- that’s what they called it, they built a lighthouse, which, by the way, is still functioning to this day, making navigation in these places safe.
Coast of the North-Eastern part Lake Ladoga, are distinguished by the presence of sandy areas among the rocky coast. And from the mouth Svir River in the northern direction there is a flat area with sand dunes almost 60 kilometers long, a large number of coniferous trees on the shore make these places incredibly beautiful and pleasing to the eye. Southern part of Lake Ladoga It has a gentle bank, and in some places it is overgrown with reeds and reeds, the depth here is shallow, and the shore itself is covered with small stone boulders and pebbles.
Staraya Ladoga, city and fortress.
At all times Ladoga lake was actively used as part of the trade route going from the North to Constantinople, at the same time it flows into the lake Volkhov River a settlement was founded Ladoga . History says that in the 12th century a stone fortress was already erected here, which has survived to this day, its name Ladoga Fortress. Another fact from history: until the 18th century the lake was called Nevo . And only at this time the lake received its present form. Ladoga title thanks Ladoga fortress.
The chronicles mention a settlement and a fortress (today Staraya Ladoga), known since 922, built near the confluence of the Volkhov River on the right bank. This place is known in connection with the death Prince Oleg bitten by a poisonous snake that crawled into the remains of his war horse, he was told that he would die from his horse. And even the killing of his horse ultimately did not save Oleg from the fate of fate; in these places the grave of Prince Oleg is located.
For many, many years, majestic stone walls and towers have risen on the banks of the Volkhov Ladoga fortress, history has left a memory of the leader of their construction, the Novgorod man Pavel, as mentioned earlier at the beginning of the 12th century. On the territory of the fortress, several churches were built that have survived to this day, and one of which, known as the Church of St. George, was built under Yaroslav the Wise.
All the time since construction Ladoga fortress until the end of the Northern War Peter the Great, the fortress repelled the raids of the conquerors. And the Northern borders of the Russian land had serious protection by a garrison Ladoga fortress . Boris Godunov noted the zeal of the defenders by donating the bell to the city as a sign of gratitude from the Tsar and all Russian lands. After Peter the Great, the border shifted north, and Ladoga Fortress lost its defensive significance, although it always remained a powerful rear during military clashes with its northern neighbors.
Winter on Ladoga.
For a long time in winter period famous for its winds and ice hummocks, when ice floes crack under the force of the wind and rise, freezing in the cold; the height of such piles in some places reaches ten meters, and in the area of the lighthouse artificial island Dry up to twenty meters. The lake freezes completely only in February. With the arrival of warmth, the ice begins to melt, but until summer you can find drifting ice floes on the lake, some of which move along the Neva River to the Baltic Sea. This effect on Neva River called the second ice drift, the river itself is freed from ice in April.
Navigation along Lake Ladoga starts in May, via constructed waterways you can reach to the White Sea or to the Volga, they were erected during the years of Soviet power, thanks to shock construction projects in which millions of people were involved, both civilians and convicts, the construction was managed by the darkly famous GULAG organization.
LADOGA LAKE
Lake Ladoga, Old Russian name - Nevo, (Ladoga - Karelian Luadogu, Finnish Laatokka) - lake in Karelia (N and E shore) and Leningrad region(W, S and SE coast), the largest freshwater lake in Europe. Applies to the pool Baltic Sea. The area of the lake without islands ranges from 17.6 thousand km² (with islands 18.1 thousand km²); volume of water mass - 908 km³; length from south to north is 219 km, greatest width is 138 km. The depth is uneven 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. More than 30 rivers flow into Lake Ladoga, but only one originates - the Neva. In the southern part of the lake there are three large bays: Svirskaya, Volkhovskaya and Shlisselburgskaya Bay.
The name Ladoga is a river, a lake and a city. However, until recently it was not entirely clear which of the names was primary. The name of the city was derived from the name of Lake Ladoga (from the Finnish *aaldokas, aallokas “worried” - from aalto “wave”), or from the name of the Ladoga River (now Ladozhka, from the Finnish *Alode-joki, where alode, aloe - “low” terrain" and jok(k)i - "river").
In PVL 12th century. referred to as "Lake Great Nevo". Perhaps from the name of the Neva River. Vasmer's etymological Russian-language dictionary:NEVA is a river connecting Lake Ladoga and Fin. Bay, for the first time, ancient Russian. Neva, Zhit. Alexandra Nevsk. (XIII century), p. 2; previously also Nevo - “Lake Ladoga” (in most years and also in the Book of Great Devils). From Finnish Nevajoki, Nevajarvi from neva "swamp", from where Swiss, Middle-German-German. Nu "Neva", perceived by folk. etymology as "New (river)".Krylov's etymological dictionary:NEVA - The name of the river on which Tsar Peter built the new capital of Russia goes back to the Finnish name Nevajoki - "swampy river", derived from the word neva - "swamp".
In the sagas, and later in treaties with Hanseatic cities, the lake is called Aldoga (cf. Finnish aalto - wave). From the beginning of the 13th century, the name came into use - Lake Ladoga, derived from the name of the city of Ladoga, which in turn received its name from the tributary of the same name of the Volkhov River in its lower reaches (Finnish: alodejoki - river in a low area). Other options for the origin of the name of the lake: from the Karelian word aalto (Karelian aalto - wave; hence Karelian aaltokas - wavy). Some researchers consider the primary hydronym Ladoga, from ancient Finnish. *Alode-jogi (joki) “lower river”.
There is also a hypothesis about the origin of the word “Ladoga” - from the dialectal Russian word -hello- meaning open lake, a vast field of water (Mamontova N. Toponymy of Ladoga region). Vasmer's etymological Russian-language dictionary: ALOD - f. “clearing, vast and flat area”, archang., mes., (Dal), also “open lake, vast field of water”, zaon. (Sandpiper). According to Mikkola (JSFOu 23, 11), from Fin. *alode, let's modernize. Finnish aloo, alue "that which is below". Borrowing from Finnish is doubtful. aavo, aavu "steppe, open lake";Explanatory Dictionary by V. Dahl: ALOD - f. arch-mes. clearing, vast and flat area. The alode area is flat and open.
rice. 1 Islands of Lake Ladoga.
rice. 2 Lake Ladoga in the Sortavala region.
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rice. 3 Ladozhskoe-ozero
The basin of Lake Ladoga is of glacial-tectonic origin. In the Paleozoic 300 - 400 million years ago, the entire territory of the modern Lake Ladoga basin was covered by the sea. The sedimentary deposits of that time are sandstones, sands, clays, limestones - they cover a thick thickness (over 200 m) of a crystalline foundation consisting of granites, gneisses and diabases.
The modern relief was formed as a result of the activity of the ice sheet (the last Valdai glaciation ended about 12 thousand years ago). The main factors were: changes in the level of the world's oceans, the water of the glacier and its weight - the rise of the land began (and continues). After the glacier retreated approximately 12,600 years ago, the fresh Baltic Glacial Lake was formed with a level of 25 meters above the ocean. About 10-9.6 thousand years ago, the waters of the lake broke through in the area of central Sweden and the Yoldian Sea was formed, the level of which was 7 - 9 m higher than the modern level of the Baltic Sea.
Approximately 9,500 years ago, rising land blocked the strait in central Sweden and Lake Ancylus was formed. In the north of the Karelian Isthmus, it was connected by a wide strait to Lake Ladoga. The Mga River at that time flowed east and flowed into the lake near the modern source of the Neva.
Approximately 8,500 years ago, tectonic processes open the Danish Straits and the Littorina Sea is formed. The water level, although significantly higher than the current one, was less than in Lake Anzilov. This led to the formation of the Karelian Isthmus and the formation of Lake Ladoga.
How long the lake was completely isolated is unknown - the water level in the lake rises faster than the rise of the land, and when the level of Ladoga exceeded the watershed level, the lake waters, flooding the valley of the Mgi River, broke into the valley of the Tosna River.
Thus, approximately 4 thousand years ago, a new strait arose between Lake Ladoga and the Gulf of Finland, which became the valley of the Neva River. The old strait in the north of the Karelian Isthmus by this time was already above the lake level. Over the past 2.5 thousand years, the relief has not changed significantly.
The northern part of Lake Ladoga lies on the Baltic crystalline shield, the southern part on the East European Platform. In the areas closest to Ladoga southern border The shield runs approximately along the line Vyborg - Priozersk - the mouth of the Vidlitsa River - the source of the Svir River.
The crystalline foundation of the Northern Ladoga region belongs to the ancient primary foundation of Fennoscandia and was formed about 2000 million years ago. These are the oldest geological formations on Earth. Over millions of years, the ancient Svekokarelid Mountains have been flattened into picturesque hills, cliffs and cliffs. The depression of Lake Ladoga was formed in the Tertiary period as a result of a powerful geological fault. At the same time, as a result of faults, the formation of the archipelago and the coastal part of the northwestern shore of Lake Ladoga occurred.
12 thousand years ago, after the departure of the glacier, almost the entire surface of the Ladoga region was under the water of the ancient Baltic glacial lake. The climate, water level and salinity of the lake gradually changed. About 4000 - 3000 years ago, the Neva was formed and the level of Lake Ladoga dropped by 10 meters.At the end of the 9th century AD. a change in the hydrography of the region (a decrease in the level of the Baltic and, accordingly, Lake Ladoga) led to a simultaneous process of shallowing of the rivers of the Ladoga basin, including the Volkhov and its tributaries.
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rice. 4 Ancylus Lake includes Ladoga 9500 years ago. The lake's flow into the ocean is indicated.
32 rivers flow directly into Lake Ladoga - more than 10 km long, the most large rivers flowing into Lake Ladoga include: r. Svir flowing from Lake Onega, river. Vuoksa, originating in Finland, r. Volkhov, flowing from Lake Ilmen, river. Syasya and others.
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rice. 5 Svir River - Podporozhsky district in the northeastern part of the Leningrad region.
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rice. 6 Svir River, rapids.
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rice. 7 Sandy shores Svir River.
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rice. 8 Vuoksa River.
The Vuoksa River is mentioned in the Novgorod Chronicles. People have lived in the vicinity of the river since prehistoric times - sites from the Stone Age period have been discovered here; Vuoksa is mentioned in the ancient epic “Kalevala”. In the distant era of Tsar Ivan the Terrible, the Vuoksa River is mentioned as a place of congress to resolve state issues.
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Fig. 9 Vuoksa near Melnikovo.
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rice. 10 A dam on the Vuoksa River in Imatra.
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rice. 11 Priozersk Vuoksa River.
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rice. 12 Upper reaches of the Volkhov River.
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rice. 13 Volkhov River in the area of St. Ladoga and Lyubsha (Chernavino-5), mounds in the “sopka tract”.
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rice. 14 Volkhov River - not far from the mouth.
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rice. 14 Syasya river.
Lake Ladoga - Nevo.
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rice. 16 ladozhskoe lake.
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rice. 17 Landscapes of Lake Ladoga.
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rice. 18 Lake Ladoga - shores.
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rice. 19 Lake Ladoga - breakers.
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rice. 20 Lake Ladoga - forest.
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rice. 21 Lake Ladoga - silence.
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rice. 22 Lake Ladoga - autumn.
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rice. 23 Rocky shores of Lake Ladoga.
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rice. 24 Lynx Rock, village. Vyartsilya, Northern Ladoga region.
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rice. 25 Ruskeala, former marble quarry. Rock height: 30 - 40 m, Northern Ladoga region.
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rice. 26 Lake Ladoga - stones.
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rice. 27 Boulder near Vidlitsa - a river in Karelia, Ladoga region.
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rice. 28 On the islands of Lake Ladoga.
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rice. 29 Cape Rahaniemi. Radiance August 18, 2003.
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rice. 30 Gorskii Staraya Ladoga Canal photo 1909
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Fig. 31 Korela Fortress in Priozersk.
Korela (Swedish Kexholm, Finnish Käkisalmi "Cuckoo Strait") is a stone fortress in the city of Priozersk, on an island in the Vuoksa River. Medieval Korela was the most northwestern city of Rus'. The fortress was founded at the turn of the XIII and XIV centuries. Novgorodians on the island of the Uzerve River(Vuokse)to protect the northwestern borders of the republic from the Swedes.
Priozersk - [Karelian. Kägöisalmi, Finnish Käkisalmi - “Cuckoo Strait”, Swedish. Kexholm - “cuckoo island”] - administrative center Priozersky district, Leningrad region. The city is located on the Karelian Isthmus, along the banks of the northern branch of the Vuoksa River, between Lake Ladoga and Lake Vuoksa. Until the beginning of the 17th century, it was the center of the Korelsky land, the Korelsky district of the Vodskaya Pyatina. From the 14th century to 1611 the city was known as Korela. From 1580 to 1595 and from 1611 to 1918 the city was called Kexholm. Since 1918, the city, as part of the newly independent Finland, began to be called Käkisalmi. In 1940, after the Soviet-Finnish war, the city became part of the Soviet Union, and the name Kexholm was returned. In 1941-1944, during the Soviet-Finnish War, the city was occupied by Finnish troops and was called Käkisalmi. In 1944, after the Moscow Armistice, the city became part of the Soviet Union for the second time. In 1948 it was renamed Priozersk.)
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rice. 32 Fortress Oreshek - Orekhovy Island, (Finnish: Pähkinäsaari) - a small island at the source of the Neva. The main attraction is the ancient Novgorod fortress of the 14th century Oreshek.
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Fig. 33 Map of the Brockhaus and Efron encyclopedia. Ladoga lake. (clickable)
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In the European part of Russia, in the Republic of Karelia and the Leningrad region.
The ancient name of the lake is Lake Nevo (Nestor's Chronicle of the 12th century), and in the old Scandinavian sagas and treaties with Hanseatic cities the lake is called Aldoga. Modern name The lake appeared at the beginning of the 13th century; there are several versions of its origin, but none of them is definitely confirmed.
Ladoga is the largest freshwater lake in Europe, the largest lake in Karelia and the Leningrad region and the 3rd lake in Russia (after the Caspian Sea and Baikal) in terms of water surface area. The area of Lake Ladoga with islands is 18.3 thousand km 2, the water surface is 17.9 thousand km 2, the volume is 838 km 3, length 219 km, maximum width 125 km, coastline length 1570 km, maximum depth 230 m in the northern part basins between the Valaam and Western archipelagos of the islands, the height of the water surface above sea level is 5.1 m. Lake Ladoga was formed about 10 thousand years ago, after the filling of the basin stretched from northwest to southeast with water from the melting edge of the ice sheet. Its northern shores are composed of crystalline rocks, high and highly dissected; The peninsulas continue with chains of islands, forming a skerry type of coast. To the south, the coast becomes low and level, bordered by narrow beaches with boulders, and in small bays overgrown with semi-aquatic vegetation. The southern part of the coast consists of three large shallow bays: Svirskaya Bay and Volkhovskaya Bay, into which the largest tributaries flow, and Petrokrepost Bay with the source of the Neva. There are more than 660 islands in Lake Ladoga, the largest are Riekkalansari (55 km 2), Mantinsari (39 km 2), Kilpole (32 km 2), Tulolansari (30 km 2) and Valaam (28 km 2). Lake Ladoga is the main body of water in the European system of great lakes, which includes lakes Saimaa (Finland), Onega and Ilmen. The waters of this system flow down the Neva into the Gulf of Finland of the Baltic Sea. The catchment area of Lake Ladoga is 282.7 thousand km 2, including the catchments of these three lakes and many other small ones, with a small own catchment area equal to 48.3 thousand km 2 (17%).
Every year an average of 83 km 3 of water enters Lake Ladoga, 70% of which is lake water masses flowing along the river. Sviri from Lake Onega, along the river. Vuokse from lake. Saimaa and along the river Volkhov from lake. Ilmen. The flow of each of them is regulated by hydroelectric power stations and is about 20 km 3 /year. Another 16% comes from the influx of 16 small rivers and 14% from precipitation falling on the reservoir. 9% of the water in the discharge part of the water balance evaporates, the rest of the water is the river runoff. Not you. The water exchange time is about 10 years. The average range of intra-annual changes in water level in Lake Ladoga is 69 cm (from 21 in the low-water year 1940 to 126 cm in the high-water year 1962).
Main tributaries of Lake Ladoga (large and medium rivers)
| Inflow | Length | Basin area (km 2) |
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| Svir | 220 | 83200 |
| Volkhov | 224 | 80200 |
| Vuoksa | 156 | 68700 |
| Sitting | 260 | 7330 |
| Janisjoki | 70 | 3900 |
| Olonka | 87 | 2620 |
In the spring, after the southern coastal bays are cleared of ice at the end of April - the first half of May, intense heating of the coastal shallows occurs with warm air and solar radiation, as well as with the relatively warm water of the flood of small rivers. The water temperature in the southern area of the water area usually becomes above 4°C by May 15, and on the surface of the deep-sea area it is 2.5–3°C. A thermal bar () appears between warm and cold water masses. With further heating of the water, the thermobar moves to the center slowly along the northern steep slope (0.05–0.1 km/day) and faster over the southern gentle slope at a speed of 1.3–1.5 km/day. It prevents the mixing of river water masses with the main water mass itself. Therefore, the Volkhov flood waters and Svir waters move north along the eastern shore, and the least mineralized Saimaa waters from the mouth of the river. Vuoksi along the western bank to the south and further to the Neva. The thermal bar disappears at the end of June - the first ten days of July near the Valaam archipelago, when the surface layer of water 20–40 m thick warms up to 10–15°C. Under the underlying temperature jump layer, water in summer from a depth of 30–40 m to the bottom heats up to only 5°C. During autumn cooling, its upper layer cools down, the temperature jump layer sinks until October, and then disappears at a temperature close to 4°C. The time of disappearance of the thermal bar is variable, because when windy weather sets in in summer, drift currents and waves mix river water masses and the main lake water mass in the upper layer, updating its chemical composition and leveling the distribution of plankton across the water area. In summer, this water mass dominates the Neva flow, and during the freeze-up period, the most mineralized Volkhov waters are added to it. With a wind of 18 m/s near the Valaam Islands, the wave height reached 5.8 m, surges on the windward sections of the coast raise the water by 0.2–0.5 m. Shallow waters freeze in October, and the edge of the ice cover gradually shifts to the deepest central region until mid-January, when frosty winters cause complete freeze-up, lasting until the end of February. In winters with frequent thaws, the lake partially freezes, and 20–40% of its surface above the greatest depths remains open. In such winters, the heat reserve of the main water mass is minimal, and its spring-summer heating is longer.
The mineralization of the main water mass is low (64 mg/l), the Svirskaya is even less, the Vuoksinskaya is half as much, and the Volkhovskaya is 1.5 times more. Over the last 30 years of the 20th century. The salinity of the lake waters increased by 16% due to natural causes and wastewater pollution. The composition of the water is hydrocarbonate-sulfate-calcium, the water is transparent, due to which the development of plankton is possible to a depth of 8–12 m. In the Volkhov Bay, the transparency of polluted water is half as much. The oxygen content in Ladoga water is high, and in its surface layer there was even a supersaturation with oxygen released during the proliferation of microalgae. Self-purification of water masses is facilitated by coastal thickets of higher aquatic vegetation (more than 100 species), mainly reeds, occupying about 5% of the area of shallow waters. In total, about 600 species of aquatic plants and 400 species of aquatic animals were found in Lake Ladoga, many of which feed on phytoplankton, bacteria and other organic particles that pollute the water. The ichthyofauna is very diverse (53 species and varieties), consisting of salmon, lake trout, lake whitefish, pike perch, vendace, etc., the total biomass is estimated at 140 kg/ha. Atlantic sturgeon and Volkhov whitefish are listed in the Red Book of Russia. The most fish-producing shallow waters to a depth of 10–15 m in the southern region, where fishing is carried out, and the least fish-producing northern skerries. There are no commercial aggregations of fish deeper than 40–50 m.
Lake Ladoga serves as a source of water supply for St. Petersburg, a waterway to the White Sea-Baltic and Volga-Baltic shipping canals. In 1976–1983 The anthropogenic impact on the lake has sharply increased due to the development of industry and agriculture in the territory of Lake Ladoga’s own catchment area and its coast. In order to reduce pollution of lake waters in 1986, north of the mouth of the river. In Vuoksi, the large Priozersk pulp and paper mill was closed, after which there was a tendency to reduce the content of polluting organic substances and phosphorus in the water, which causes water blooms - the proliferation of blue-green algae. Regular studies of the water regime, chemical composition of water and ecological state lake water masses are underway.
On the shores of Lake Ladoga are the cities of Priozersk, Novaya Ladoga, Shlisselburg in the Leningrad region, Sortavala, Pitkyaranta, Lakhdenpokhya in the Republic of Karelia.
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. Lake Ladoga is 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 been working on the artistic and aesthetic design of this corner for thousands of years. 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. Their permanent 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 at two last month 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.
Lake Ladoga: description, photo, video
The size of Lake Ladoga in the Leningrad region is amazing. It covers an area of 18 thousand square kilometers. Due to its glacial origin, the reservoir has low thermal conductivity - the water warms up slowly and also takes a long time to cool down. The low level of mineralization, in turn, ensures high transparency of the lake, which is especially noticeable in good weather.
Lake Ladoga has been formed over centuries, so its water area is devoid of monotony and boring. There are 650 islands on its territory. The largest of them is located at a distance of 22 kilometers from the coast, and its area is 36 square kilometers. This island on Lake Ladoga is called Valaam. It is part of the archipelago of the same name and is famous for the Spaso-Preobrazhensky Monastery.
The northern shores of the reservoir are rocky and high. They are cut by a large number of small peninsulas and straits. In the south, the coastal zone is low-lying and swampy, and coastline smoother. The reservoir has three large bays called lips. On the eastern side of the lake there are bushes and forests, mixed with stone deposits and sand beaches.
In the west you can see many stone ridges going deep into the reservoir. Visiting this shore of Lake Ladoga and taking a photo is the task of every tourist. A large number of rivers flow into Ladoga. The lake is home to 58 species of fish - from trout and perch to salmon and burbot. The main advantage of the reservoir is the Ladoga seal; it is slightly smaller and darker than the sea seal. Also worth mentioning are dolphins, which quite often swim here and the Baltic.
Where is Lake Ladoga located?
Lake Ladoga is spread over the territory of two administrative regions of Russia - the Republic of Karelia and the Leningrad Region. Its length from north to south is 219 kilometers, and its width between the most distant points is 138 kilometers. The bottom of the reservoir has an uneven structure, so the depth in the north varies between 70-130 meters, and in the south – 20-70 meters. Anyone who wants to visit Lake Ladoga and find out where it is located should look for it near settlements located on its shore:
- Priozersk, Shlisselburg and Novaya Ladoga - Leningrad region;
- Olonets, Sortavala, Lakhdenpokhya - Republic of Karelia.
The reservoir is the main source of fresh water feeding St. Petersburg. The distance from the Northern capital of Russia is only 47 kilometers. This is where the Neva has its source.
Coordinates of Lake Ladoga on the map:
- Latitude — 60°50′3″
- Longitude — 31°33′10″
Lake Ladoga on the map
How to get to Lake Ladoga
The region around Lake Ladoga has a well-branched transport infrastructure, which makes it accessible to tourism. You can get to the reservoir in various ways. Excursions are organized to Lake Ladoga, and ferries also go here. The last option is the most expensive, but allows you to completely immerse yourself in the wonderful atmosphere of Ladoga.
How to get to Lake Ladoga by car:
- It is best to start the movement from St. Petersburg;
- After leaving the city, you should take the Ryabovskoe Highway or the Road of Life.
How to get to Lake Ladoga by public transport:
- You can come to St. Petersburg by car, train or by plane;
- a minibus runs regularly to the reservoir from the Dybenko metro station;
- Electric trains constantly run from the Finlyandsky Station in the direction of the lake, and a train also runs in this direction from the Baltic Station, exact schedule You can check on the stations' websites.
When is the best time to visit Lake Ladoga
The coastal zone of the reservoir freezes at the beginning of winter, and in the middle - in February. Moreover, the lake is covered with solid ice only in the coldest winters. Strong and prolonged cooling in winter means that even in summer, the water warms up well only on the surface and near the shore. The reservoir thaws completely in April-May.
The warmest water is in August. During this period, it can warm up to +24 degrees at the surface and +4 at the bottom. The most favorable weather for water tourism on Lake Ladoga is in June-July. With the onset of autumn, a stormy period begins, so you can only admire the power of the elements from the shore.
Peculiarities
Family hotels operate on the territory of the reservoir throughout the year, guest houses and peasant estates. You can come here either alone or with a group. The cost of accommodation for 1 night varies from 1.5 thousand rubles in a budget double room to 25 thousand rubles for renting a cottage. However, you can also stay in the Ladoga area with tents.
At recreation centers and rental stations you can rent rowing boats, bicycles, and motorboats. In winter, skis and snowmobiles are available. Winter swimming enthusiasts are provided with equipped ice-holes. As for souvenirs, the St. Petersburg shore of the lake is not particularly rich in them - typical sets of postcards, wooden products and magnets. More interesting from this point of view is the Karelian coast.
In Sortavala, Pitkyaranta and Lakhdenpokhya you can buy bracelets, beads and cosmetics made of shungite. Karelia is rich in deposits of this mineral. They also sell such famous tinctures as “Karelian Collection” and “Karelian Balsam”. Those who go on a visit to Valaam should definitely bring with them local gingerbread cookies, candles, icons, and crosses from the monasteries. Of course, you shouldn’t forget about the goodies – herbs, various mushrooms, berries and smoked lake fish.
What to see in the area
There are a large number of museums on the territory of Ladoga. They talk about folk crafts, local outstanding people, the history of their cities, etc. Separately, we can highlight the Kronid Gogolev Museum, located in Sortavala. Here you can see the work of various wood craftsmen. The Road of Life Museum is also a must-see. It is located in the village of Lake Ladoga and contains exhibitions military equipment various times. 5 kilometers from here there is a memorial called “The Broken Ring”.
One of the main places of pilgrimage to Ladoga is the island of Valaam. Its main attraction is the Spaso-Preobrazhensky Monastery. You can get to the island by boat, which goes from Priozersk. In the city itself you can see the Korela fortress, built in the 13th century. Not far from Priozersk there is the island of Konevets. It is famous for the ensemble of religious buildings with the Konevsky Nativity of the Theotokos Monastery.
If you travel by car, you should set aside at least two weeks for your vacation. We advise you to visit, as well as the beautiful one in Karelia.
In the south of Ladoga in Shlisselburg there is the majestic Oreshek fortress, which was built by the grandson of Alexander Nevsky. Co observation deck Indescribable views of the lake and the Neva River open up. A little to the east is Novaya Ladoga with a group of memorable places and cathedrals.
Video: Karelia. Ladoga lake. Koyonsaari Island
– this is the sea in miniature. Even if it’s not as warm and sunny here as on, it is rich in scenic spots and suitable for amateurs varied recreation. Cozy beaches, clean air, churches, cathedrals and rich history will not let you get bored. It’s worth escaping here at least for a day to recharge with positive energy.
