National Park "Paanajärvi" is located in the north-west of Karelia, in Loukhsky district. It got its name from a deep clear lake located in rocky faults.
This park is located in the mountainous part of Karelia,called Fennoscandia, near the ridge Maanselkya. It is a protected natural area of national significance. And since the park is located near Finland itself, it is subject to the regime of the border zone. Next to it is a similar conservation zone of the neighboring country - “Oulanka”.
Paanajärvi National Park: how to get there and when to go
Railway transport in these places goesjust to Louhi station. Further to the park itself, only a rather broken dirt road was laid. You have to get a ride or on your own transport. But in the latter case, tourists are advised to go through Kalevala. The road there is in the best condition, and you will spend less time than from Loukhi, because the condition of the road there is such that more than 40 kilometers per hour you cannot move.
Distance between Kalevala and Conservationzone - about 160 km. You can visit the park all year round. But the weather is very changeable. In the summer it often rains and a lot of mosquitoes, so you need to take into account these nuances.
History
Paanajärvi is a national park in Kareliathe territory of which was settled seven thousand years ago. The sites of ancient people from the Stone to the Iron Age, as well as their tools and pottery, were discovered here. In the Middle Ages, these lands belonged to Novgorod the Great. After the capture of the last by Ivan III, they moved to Sweden.
In the eighteenth century, this area becamesettle Finns. But people lived here a little. And from the 19th century, the lands around Lake Paanajärvi alternately switched to Russia, then to Finland. Since the 90s of the last century, they began to practice industrial logging and rafting, but then the beauty of these places prompted the local government to open a tourist center.
After gaining independence by Finlandthe territory passed first to it, and after World War II returned to the Russian borders (as part of the USSR). The national park was established here in May 1992. Since then, it has been used not only for the protection of landscapes, flora and fauna, but also for tourist, recreational and educational purposes.
Description
National Park "Paanajärvi" has an area of one hundredthousand hectares. On these lands there is no settlement. 20 thousand hectares allocated for the reserve, and 6 thousand hectares - for tourist use.
The warmest time here is July, whenthe average temperature rises to +15 degrees. And the coldest of all is in February, when it drops to –13 ° C. There is usually enough snow here, often more than a meter in height. In addition, in winter there are beautiful northern lights here, and in summer the sun does not shine only two or three hours a day.
The park is exceptionally picturesque.landscape. It has everything - gorges, lakes, mountains, rivers and waterfalls. The forests are very thick and almost virgin. There are about 120 lakes in the park. But not everywhere is open access to tourists.
sights
National Park "Paanajärvi" boaststhe highest mountains in the territory of Karelia. These are Lunas, Kivakka, Mäntyutunturi and Nuorunen. They have a height of about half a kilometer. Their slopes are very steep, and they meet such an interesting phenomenon as “hanging swamps”.
There are over sixty naturalmonuments that are landmarks, including those of world importance. These are the Päjnur mountains, the Ruskeacallio rock, the Olanga river basin and the lake Paanajärvi together with the same fault.
The depth of this reservoir is 128 meters.It is surrounded by mountains and therefore has a specific microclimate. The lake belongs to the deepest reservoirs of this kind. It is unique and clean. And its water is very saturated with oxygen. High waterfalls with numerous steps, bizarre red rocks, ancient Sami sanctuaries - all this can be seen by visitors of the park.
Sixty meter highRuskeacallio rock, as well as the Kivakkakoski cascade waterfall, 12 m high and 100 m long. It remained unconquered by people - no one could make either a rafting or rafting on it. More tourists are attracted by the sacred stones of the Sami - the so-called seids. The ancients considered them a "place of power." According to them, there lived the spirits, the owners of lakes, rivers and mountains.
Excursions
If you want to travel around hereattractions, first register at the Paanajärvi Visitor Center. The national park is often full of travelers, so it’s better to book in advance.
The visitor center is located in a nearby village.Pyaozerskom. It was built in 2002 at the expense of the European Union. This center is very beautiful, comfortable, expedient and functional. When it opened a good hotel with a sauna entering the residence. To register and get a license for fishing, you need to present a passport.
Tours in the park are summer and winter.In the cold season snowmobile tours are very popular. The park has specially designated roads for cars and pedestrian equipped paths with walkways and railings in dangerous places. Tourists most often make raids on the Olanga River, on the Kivakkakoski and Mäntykoski Falls, on the Kivakkatunturi and Nuorunen Mountains.
Of the animals here you can find moose, swans, squirrels and hares. By the way, there are specially equipped “nature trails”, where there are information signs on the local flora and fauna.
Гора Кивакка очень популярна у путешественников, because it is detached, which is atypical for Karelia, and it offers views of the entire park. For some tourists, it even causes associations with Fujiyama. At its top was a temple, but on top of it is now an Orthodox cross.
Entertainment
In the park you can fish, but not in all places, butonly in designated parts of the Olanga River. The catch is usually good. On the shores of Lake Paanajärvi there are sandy beaches, where, thanks to a special microclimate, from the second half of July you can even swim. But if you want to come to the Paanajärvi National Park with a dog, then this, unfortunately, cannot be done. It is forbidden to bring domestic animals into this conservation area, as it can be dangerous both for them and for wild forest dwellers.
On the lake walks pleasure boat "Onanga", which rolled tourists. The park also often hosts various environmental festivals, cultural days of the Sami people, educational seminars.
Where to live
Paanajärvi National Park offersFor tourists who want to spend a few days here, a place to sleep. These are wooden houses and camping. The cost of housing depends on whether you spend the night in a tent and pay only for a place or stay in a cottage. The cottages Float, Paanajärvi and Fairy Tale are located near the lake itself. There are a few cottages near the Olanga River. Some of them are on the way to the lake. Near the cottages are places for tents.
Cabins without amenities, it's just wooden houses withbeds, mattresses, pillows and stoves. Clean linen is provided at the visitor center. There is a place for a bonfire near the buildings, firewood, boilers, and some cottages even have a bath. The campsites have toilets, water, wooden tables, trash cans.
Paanajärvi National Park: reviews
Tourists call traveling to thisconservation area fabulous. After all, nature here in its beauty is unusual even for Karelia. In addition, this is a great place to relax with your family and company.
As travelers say, camping andhouses are very well maintained, albeit simple. There is no electricity, but you can rent a generator. The presence of a bath is a great bonus during the hike. This is an excellent route for those who love nature and fishing.
And what are the opportunities for great picturesgives Paanajärvi National Park! Photos of amazing rocks, waterfalls and beautiful views from the mountains you will keep for a long time. No wonder these places are called Karelian Switzerland. The park is visited by many tourists not only from Russia, but also from European countries.
