Karelian forests what kind of trees. Forest of Karelia: general characteristics and photos. Fauna of Karelia
The vegetation cover of Karelia includes about 1200 species of flowering and vascular spores, 402 species of mosses, many species of lichens and algae. However, a little over 100 species of higher plants and up to 50 species of mosses and lichens have a significant influence on the composition of vegetation. About 350 species have medicinal value, and are listed in the Red Book of the USSR as rare and endangered species in need of protection. Within Karelia, there are boundaries of distribution of a number of species. For example, in the eastern part of the Pudozhsky region there is the western border of the distribution of Siberian larch, in the Kondopozhsky region - the northern border of corydalis, medicinal primrose; the northern limit of the area of the marsh cranberry is located, although in Murmansk region, but not far from the border with Karelia; to the north, only small-fruited cranberries are found.
The woods.
Karelia is located within the subzones of the northern and middle taiga of the taiga zone. The boundary between the subzones runs from west to east somewhat north of the city of Medvezhyegorsk. The northern taiga subzone occupies two thirds, the middle taiga - one third of the republic's area. Forests cover more than half of its territory. The forest is the main biological component of most of the region's landscapes.
The main tree species that form the Karelian forests are Scots pine, European spruce (mainly in the middle taiga subzone) and Siberian (mainly in the northern taiga), downy and drooping birch (warty), aspen, gray alder. Spruce European and Siberian in nature easily interbreed and form transitional forms: in the south of Karelia - with a predominance of signs of European spruce, in the north - Siberian spruce. Within the subzone of the middle taiga, in the stands of the main forest-forming species, Siberian larch (south-eastern part of the republic), small-leaved linden, elm, elm, black alder and the pearl of Karelian forests - Karelian birch are found as an admixture.
Depending on the origin, forests are divided into indigenous and derivatives. The first arose as a result of natural development, the second - under the influence of human economic activity or natural catastrophic factors leading to the complete destruction of indigenous forest stands (fires, windfall, etc.) - At present, both primary and secondary forests are found in Karelia. The primary forests are dominated by spruce and pine. Birch forests, aspen forests and gray alder forests were formed mainly under the influence of economic activity, mainly as a result of clear-cutting associated with logging and slash-and-burn agriculture, which was carried out in Karelia until the early 1930s. Forest fires also led to the change of coniferous species by deciduous ones.
According to the forest fund accounting data as of January 1, 1983, forests with a predominance of pine occupy 60%, with a predominance of spruce - 28, birch - 11, aspen and gray alder - 1% of the forested area. However, in the north and in the south of the republic, the ratio of forest stands of different species differs significantly. In the northern taiga subzone, pine forests occupy 76% (in the middle taiga - 40%), spruce forests - 20 (40), birch forests - 4 (17), aspen and alder forests - less than 0.1% (3). predominance pine forests in the north is determined by more severe climatic conditions and the wide distribution of poor sandy soils here.
In Karelia, pine forests are found in almost all habitats - from dry on sands and rocks to swampy ones. And only in swamps does pine not form a forest, but is present in the form of separate trees. However, pine forests are most common on fresh and moderately dry soils - lingonberry and blueberry pine forests occupy 2/3 of the entire area of pine forests.
Indigenous pine forests are of different ages, they usually have two (rarely three) generations of trees, and each generation forms a separate tier in the stand. Pine is photophilous, therefore each new generation of it appears when the density of the crowns of the older generation decreases to 40-50% as a result of the death of trees. Generations usually differ by 100-
150 years. In the course of the natural development of indigenous forest stands, the forest community is not completely destroyed; the new generation has time to form long before the complete death of the old one. At the same time, the average age of a forest stand is never less than 80-100 years. In primary pine forests, birch, aspen, and spruce can be found as an admixture. With natural development, birch and aspen never crowd out pine, while spruce on fresh soils, due to shade tolerance, can gradually seize a dominant position; only in dry and swampy habitats is pine out of competition.
Forest fires play an important role in the life of pine forests in Karelia. Mounted fires, in which almost the entire forest burns and dies, are rare, but ground fires, in which only the living ground cover (lichens, mosses, grasses, shrubs) and forest litter are partially (less often completely) burned out, occur quite often: they practically affect all pine forests on dry and fresh soils.
If crown fires are harmful from an ecological and economic point of view, then the effect of ground fires is ambiguous. On the one hand, by destroying the living ground cover and partially mineralizing the forest litter, they improve the growth of the forest stand and contribute to the appearance of a large amount of pine undergrowth under its canopy. On the other hand, persistent ground fires, in which the living ground cover and forest litter are completely burned, and the surface mineral layer of the soil is actually sterilized, sharply reduce soil fertility and can damage trees.
There is reason to believe that the rare and undersized so-called "clarified" pine forests, especially widespread in the northern part of the republic, owe their origin to multiple stable ground fires. In habitats with fresh and moist soils, ground fires prevent the replacement of pine by spruce: thin-barked, shallow-rooted spruce is easily damaged by fire, while thick-barked, deeper-rooted pine successfully resists it. Over the past 25-30 years, as a result of the successful fight against forest fires, the scale of replacement of pine by spruce has increased dramatically.
Derivative pine forests that have arisen as a result of economic activity are usually of the same age. The participation of deciduous species and spruce in them can be quite high, up to the replacement of pine by deciduous on rich soils. If undergrowth and spruce thinner are preserved during the felling of plantations, a spruce plantation may form in place of a pine forest. However, both from an economic and environmental point of view, this change is undesirable. Pine forests give more wood, they more berries and mushrooms, they are more attractive for vacationers. Unlike spruce, pine gives resin. Pine forests are distinguished by the best water protection and soil protection properties. The replacement of pine by spruce can be allowed only on the most fertile soils, where spruce plantations both in terms of productivity and resistance to adverse natural factors(winds, harmful insects, fungal diseases) are not much inferior to pine forests.
The productivity of pine forests in Karelia is much less than in the southern and middle regions of the country, which is largely due to unfavorable soil and climatic conditions. However, this is not the only reason. As mentioned earlier, persistent ground fires not only damage trees, but also reduce soil fertility. In tree stands of different ages, pine is subjected to oppression during the first 20-60 years, which negatively affects its growth until the end of its life.
In primary spruce forests, stands of different ages. As an admixture, pine, birch, aspen can be found in them, less often - gray alder. The share of these species in the composition of the forest stand usually does not exceed 20-30% (by stock).
The processes of decay and restoration in spruce forests of absolutely different ages occur simultaneously and relatively evenly, as a result, the main biometric indicators (composition, wood supply, density, average diameter and height, etc.) of such forest stands fluctuate slightly over time. The state of mobile equilibrium can be disturbed by felling, fire, windblow and other factors.
In spruce forests of different ages, the youngest and smallest trees predominate in terms of the number of trunks, and in terms of stock, trees over 160 years old with a diameter above the average. The crown canopy is discontinuous, jagged, and therefore a significant amount of light penetrates to the soil surface, and here grasses and shrubs are quite numerous.
Thanks to its shade tolerance, spruce firmly holds the territory it occupies. Fires in spruce forests were rare and did not have a significant impact on their lives. Windblows were not observed in stands of different ages.
Derivative spruce forests arose on clearings, or on the so-called "undercuts", as a rule, through a change of species - open spaces were first inhabited by birch, less often by aspen, spruce appeared under their canopy. By 100-120 years, less durable hardwoods died off, and spruce again occupied the previously lost territory. Only about 15% of fellings are restored by spruce without changing species, and mainly in those cases when viable undergrowth and spruce thinner are preserved during felling.
The replacement of spruce by deciduous species during logging is associated with its biological and ecological features. Spruce is afraid of late spring frosts, so in the first years of its life it needs protection in the form of a hardwood canopy; spruce does not get along well with cereals, which disappear after the appearance of birch and aspen; spruce bears fruit relatively rarely (abundant crops of seeds occur every 5-6 years) and grows slowly in the first years of life, so birch and aspen overtake it; finally, spruce occupies mostly rich soils where hardwoods grow most successfully.
Derivative spruce forests are relatively even in age. Under their closed canopy, twilight reigns, the soil is covered with fallen needles, there are few grasses and shrubs, there is practically no viable undergrowth.
Compared to pine, the range of habitats for spruce is considerably narrower. Compared to pine forests, the productivity of spruce forests under similar growing conditions is noticeably lower, and only on rich fresh soils is it approximately the same (by the age of maturity). About 60% spruce forests Karelia grows within the middle taiga subzone.
Deciduous forests (birch, aspen and alder forests) in the conditions of Karelia arose mainly in connection with human activity, and thus they are derivatives. In the subzone of the middle taiga is about 80% deciduous forests republics. Birch forests make up over 90% of the area of deciduous tree stands.
Most of the birch forests were formed after the felling of spruce plantations. The replacement of pine by birch occurs much less frequently, usually in the most productive forest types of the middle taiga subzone.
Under the influence of economic development, mainly logging, indigenous forests in Karelia are disappearing. They are replaced by derivative plantings of natural and artificial origin, a feature of which is the same age. What are the economic and environmental consequences of this?
Judging by the volume of wood, pine and spruce forests of the same age are preferable. The stock of wood of even-aged blueberry spruce forests aged 125-140 years in the conditions of southern Karelia reaches 450-480 m3 per hectare, while in the most productive spruce forests of different ages under the same conditions this stock does not exceed 360 m3. Usually, the stock of wood in spruce stands of different ages is 20-30% less compared to those of the same age. If we compare the wood products of the same-aged and uneven-aged forest stands not by volume, but by weight, the picture changes noticeably. Since the density of wood in forests of different ages is 15-20% higher, the difference in wood mass is reduced to 5-10% in favor of even-aged forest stands.
However, in terms of the resources of most types of non-timber forest products (berries, medicinal plants, etc.), the advantage is on the side of forests of different ages. They have a more diverse and numerous population of birds and mammals, including commercial species. It should also be noted that forests of the same age, compared to those of different ages, have less wind resistance, worse soil and water protection properties, and are more affected by pests and diseases.
But in the specific natural-geographical conditions of Karelia (short and cool summers, weak autumn and spring floods, dissected relief, which determines a small catchment area, moderate wind regime, etc.), the replacement of forests of different ages with those of the same age, as a rule, does not entail serious environmental impact.
A negative phenomenon from an economic point of view is the replacement of coniferous species with deciduous species - birch, aspen, and alder. At present, the change of species can be prevented by the rational organization of reforestation and thinning. According to the available data, pine successfully regenerates on 72-83% of felled areas, spruce - only on 15%, and only thanks to the preserved undergrowth and thinner. The rest of the clearings are renewed with deciduous species. However, after 10-15 years, more than half of the area of deciduous young stands is formed by the second layer - from spruce, due to which high-performance spruce stands can be formed by thinning or reconstruction cuttings. Change of breeds does not cause noticeable ecological consequences.
When forming the forests of the future, one should proceed from their intended purpose. For forests of the second or third groups, where the main goal is to obtain most wood, preferably even-aged stands. Forests of the first group, designed to perform soil-protective, water-protective, recreational and sanitary-hygienic functions, are more suitable for plantings of different ages.
The dominant importance of the forest as a source of reproducible natural resources (wood, medicinal raw materials, mushrooms, berries, etc.), as a habitat for valuable commercial animal species and as a factor stabilizing biospheric processes, in particular, restraining the development of negative manifestations of anthropogenic impact on the environment, in the conditions of Karelia will continue in the future.
Swamps.
Together with swampy forests, swamps occupy 30% of the republic's area. Their wide development is facilitated by the relative youth of rivers and streams. They cannot wash out the hard crystalline ridges that come to the surface and develop the valleys, therefore, despite the large slopes of the terrain, they weakly drain most of the territory of Karelia. There are many swamps in the Olonets, Ladvinskaya, Korzinskaya, Shuiskaya and other lowlands. But the most swampy is the White Sea lowland. The smallest swamps are in the Ladoga region, on the Zaonezhsky peninsula and in part of the Pudozh region.
The peat deposit of the Karelian marshes contains 90-95% of water. Their surface is abundantly moistened, but unlike the shallow waters of lakes and rivers overgrown with vegetation, the water rarely stands more than 20 cm above the soil surface. The upper soil layer of the swamp is usually composed of loose and very water-intensive, poorly decomposed peat.
Bogs arise by peating of shallow and small water bodies, which appeared in abundance on the territory of Karelia after the retreat of the glacier, or when drained on dry valleys weakened. The boundary between the swamp and wetlands is conventionally assumed to be a peat depth of 30 cm; The 50 cm peat deposit is already considered suitable for industrial development.
As peat accumulates, the soil-ground or groundwater that feeds the swamp after its formation gradually ceases to reach the root layer, and the vegetation switches to feeding on atmospheric waters, which are poor in nutrients. Thus, in the process of the development of swamps, a progressive depletion of the soil with elements of nitrogen-mineral nutrition occurs. There are lowland (rich nutrition) stage of swamp development, transitional (medium nutrition), high (poor nutrition) and dystrophic (superpoor nutrition), in which peat accumulation stops and its degradation begins.
If swamps develop in more or less closed basins or by peating up shallow lakes, the central part of the swamp massif is depleted first. There is also the most intensive accumulation of peat.
The vegetation of the swamps is very diverse, due to the large differences in environmental conditions - from rich to extremely poor, from extremely wet to arid. In addition, their vegetation is complex. With the exception of heavily watered swamps, which are common only for the first stages of development, the surface of swamps is characterized by a microrelief. Microrelief elevations are formed by hummocks (grass, moss, woody), often elongated in the form of ridges and abundantly moistened hollows. Environmental conditions in terms of thermal regime, moisture and nutrition, they are sharply different on bumps and in hollows, therefore, the vegetation on them also varies greatly.
Lowland swamps are dominated by herbaceous vegetation in the form of thickets of reeds, horsetail, watch, cinquefoil, sometimes with a moss cover of moisture-loving green mosses. On the outskirts of swamps with abundant flowing moisture, in combination with grassy vegetation, forests with black (glutinous) alder, birch, pine or spruce are developed, occupying microrelief elevations.
In transitional bogs, basically the same species grow as in lowland bogs, but there are always sphagnum mosses, which eventually form a continuous moss cover. Birch and pine grow, but they are oppressed, the tree layer is sparse.
In raised bogs, sphagnum mosses reign supreme on all elements of the microrelief: in hollows - the most moisture-loving (maus, lindbergia, balticum), on elevations - fuscum, magellanicum, capable of surviving droughts, in low-humid hollows and flat places - papillesum. From the higher plants grow sundews, sheikhtseriya, ocheretnik, cotton grass, pukhonos, swamp shrubs, cloudberries. Of the trees - only the oppressed low-growing pine, which forms special swamp forms.
In dystrophic bogs, the productivity of vegetation is so low that the accumulation of peat stops. Secondary lakes appear in large numbers, sphagnum mosses on bumps and ridges are gradually replaced by fruticose lichens (moss reindeer moss, reindeer moss), and in hollows - algae and liver mosses. Since the dystrophic stage occurs primarily in the central part of the swamp massif and peat accumulation does not occur here, then over time the top of the massif from a convex becomes concave and heavily watered, which is the reason for the formation of secondary lakes.
The swampy massifs of Karelia are characterized by a winding coastline and the presence of upland islands; in connection with the features of the relief, a significant part is occupied by hollows. water supply of these massifs is associated with groundwater outlets. central part Such swamps have a surface that is lower than the edges, abundant flowing moisture, heavily watered hollows or even small lakes.
Hollows and lakes are separated from each other by narrow bridges in the form of ridges covered with grass-moss, less often - purely moss vegetation with oppressed pine or birch. The fringes of the swamps, adjoining the uplands, are fed by poor waters flowing down from them, and are occupied by the vegetation of transitional or even raised bogs. Bog massifs of this structure are called "aapa", they are most common in the northern mainland of Karelia.
The marsh massifs of the Shuiskaya, Korzinskaya, Ladvinskaya, Olonets lowlands are of a completely different structure. There prevail fens without a lowered watered central part. They are largely drained and are used in forestry and agriculture. In some places in these lowlands there are swamps that have reached the upper stage of development.
Upland bog massifs predominate on the vast White Sea Lowland, in the central part of which the vegetation of dystrophic type bogs is developed. Along with sphagnum mosses, mosses are abundant, which are the winter food of the reindeer, and in the hollows - liver mosses and algae.
The main national economic significance of the marshes of Karelia is determined by the great possibilities of their melioration for forestry and agriculture. With high agricultural technology, marsh soils are very fertile. But we should not forget that in their natural state, swamps have a certain water protection value. In the swamps, large crops of cranberries, cloudberries, blueberries and many other species ripen annually. medicinal plants. In order to protect berry and medicinal plants, as well as typical and unique bogs for scientific research, a number of bog massifs (mainly in the southern part of the republic) were excluded from drainage plans or declared sanctuaries by the decisions of the Council of Ministers of the Karelian ASSR.
Mountain tundra.
In the very north-west of Karelia, where the spurs of the Maanselkya ridge are located, you can find areas of mountain tundra covered with low shrubs, mosses and lichens with rare small trees of winding birch. Plots of moss and lichen wastelands are also found much to the south, practically throughout Karelia, on the tops and steep slopes of selga, composed of crystalline rocks with thin soil or no soil at all. In the latter case, only scale lichens grow here.
Meadows and hayfields.
Until recently, natural meadows and hayfields on grassy swamps occupied about 1% of the republic's area. Unfortunately, a significant part of them has been overgrown with forest in recent years.
Almost all the natural meadows of Karelia have arisen in places from the clearing of forests and on fallow arable lands. The only exceptions are coastal meadows and swamp hayfields. The latter are in essence not meadows, but grass or moss-grass marshes; at present, they are almost never used for haymaking.
Meadow vegetation is represented by real meadows, as well as hollow, peaty and swampy types of meadows, with peaty ones being the most common.
Among real meadows, large-grass and small-grass meadows, most often associated with fallows, are of the greatest importance. The former are developed on the richest soils, their herbage is composed of the best fodder cereals, among which are usually meadow fescue with an admixture of timothy, meadow foxtail, sometimes hedgehog and couch grass. From other herbs - bluegrass, clover, mouse peas and meadow forbs.
However, there are few such meadows. Most often they can be found in the regions of the northern Ladoga region. They are the most productive, the quality of hay is high. Of the upland (not swampy) meadows, small-grass meadows are widely represented, with a predominance of thin or fragrant spikelets in the herbage of bent grass. They are also confined mainly to fallows, but with depleted soils. Herbs often contain a lot of legumes and meadow forbs, often with a predominance of cuffs. The productivity of such meadows is lower, but the yield and quality of hay are significantly increased with surface fertilization.
A small area is occupied by empty meadows with low-growing herbage, which are dominated by white beetles, sometimes sheep fescue. They are unproductive, but they should not be neglected: white-bearded plants are responsive to surface fertilization. Meadows dominated by pike are confined to poorly drained heavy mineral soils with signs of stagnant moisture or to peaty soils of different mechanical composition. They also develop as a result of excessive grazing and in the absence of care for crops of perennial grasses on drained peat and heavy clay soils. Shchuchniks are distributed throughout Karelia.
In the herbage, in addition to pike, there are bent grass, bluegrass, red fescue, caustic and golden buttercups, and other meadow herbs. Clover are rare and in small numbers. The usual admixture of representatives of marshy meadows - black sedge, filamentous rush, unnoticed weeds, meadowsweet. The yield is quite high, the quality of hay is average, but when haymaking is late, it is low. Surface application of fertilizers noticeably increases the yield, but the composition of the herbage and the quality of hay change little.
Small sedge meadows with a predominance of black sedge in the herbage are developed on peaty or peaty-gley soils with abundant stagnant moisture. Often there is a moss cover of moisture-loving green mosses. The yield is average, the quality of hay is low. The effectiveness of surface fertilization is negligible.
Relatively often, mainly in the southern part of the republic, there are meadows with a predominance of reed grass in the herbage. Coastal aquatic vegetation is of great importance. Row commercial fish lay eggs on parts of plants submerged in water. Waterfowl, including ducks, use this vegetation as food and shelter grounds. The muskrat also feeds here. Widespread thickets of reeds and horsetails should be mowed down and used for green fodder for livestock, for hay and silage.
Until mid-August, cane leaves contain a lot of carbohydrates, sugars and proteins (no less than good hay). There are fewer proteins in horsetail, but their content remains unchanged until late autumn. However, when using coastal-aquatic vegetation for food, pets should be wary of horsetail and sedge, which are found in the thickets singly. poisonous plants from the umbrella family - hemlock (poisonous milestones) and omezhnik. Their poisonous properties are preserved in hay.
List of plants with useful properties growing on the territory of Karelia
Calamus vulgaris Astragalus danish Ledum marsh Sheep vulgaris Thigh saxifrage Black henbane Belozor marsh Calla marsh Birch drooping (warty) Hemlock spotted Forest spreading North wrestler (high) Siberian cow parsnip Common lingonberry Budra ivy-shaped Mountain bugushnik Initial letter Valeriana officinalis Cornflower meadow, blue Cornflower
dosborolistny, yellow, simple Three-leaved watch Ground reed grass Monetary loosestrife, common. Heather common Veronica long-leaved, oak, officinalis. Veh poisonous Catchment common Crowberry bisexual, black. Voronets spike-shaped. Crow's eye four-leafed Bindweed field Carnation lush, grass Geranium forest, meadow. Blueberry Highlander viviparous, amphibious, snake, cancer necks, pepper, bird, knotweed. Adonis ordinary (cuckoo color) Gravity city, river. Gyrsanka rotundifolia Gryzhanka naked Guljavnik officinalis Two-leafed reed-shaped (canary-reechnik) Elecampane British, high. Loosestrife willow-leaved Sweet clover white, officinalis. Sandman white (white tarragon) Angelica forest Fragrant spikelet common Oregano vulgaris Dymyanka officinalis Angelica (angelica) officinalis. Hedgehog national team Spruce European, Siberian. Zheltushnik levkoy Larkspur high Tenacious creeping Zhyryanka common Starry cereal medium (wood louse) St. John's wort (ordinary), spotted (tetrahedral) Wild strawberry Winter-loving umbrella Common goldenrod (golden rod) Fragrant bison Istod bitter, common. Kalina common Kaluga marsh Iris iris (yellow iris) Fireweed marsh Common sorrel Common clover (red) creeping (white), medium. Cranberry marsh (four-petal) Round-leaved, peach-leaved, onion-shaped (rapunzel-shaped), prefabricated (crowded) bell. Magnificent consolida (field larkspur) European hoof Mullein bear's ear Field barnacle Awnless rump Arctic bramble (brambleberry, polyberry, princess) stony Cat's foot dioecious Nettle dioecious, stinging. Burnet officinalis Yellow capsule Water lily white, small (tetrahedral), pure white Kulbaba autumn European swimsuit Kupena officinalis Kupyr forest Meadowsweet (meadowsweet) vyazolistny May lily-of-the-valley Potentilla goose, upright (galangal), silvery. Spreading quinoa Linnaeus northern Linden heart-shaped Foxtail meadow Burdock large Meadow soddy (pike) Common toadflax (wild snapdragon) Buttercup caustic, creeping, poisonous, Alfalfa sickle-shaped (yellow) stepmother Lungwort ordinary (obscure) Canadian small-scale spurge (common) Cloudberry squat Soapweed officinalis Mylnyanka medicinal Mytnik marsh Mint field Meadow grass meadow Impatiens ordinary Forget-me-not field Auburn ordinary (smolevka) Meadow fescue, red Dandelion officinalis Comfrey officinalis Alder sticky, gray Omaloteka forest ) Common bracken Shaggy sedge Sow thistle garden Stonecrop, hare cabbage Bittersweet nightshade, black Shepherd's purse ordinary
Common tansy Sabelnik marsh Sedmichnik europeanSorrel water Blue cyanosis Common colza, umbellate Susak umbellata Sudweed swamp, marsh Currant black Goatweed commonYaruka field Pine ordinaryWhermweed field Arrowleaf common hawk hairy Meadow heartwood - sour Meadow sivets Shchitovnik male Pikulnik bipartite (gill) andromeda) Soft true odorous bedstraw (fragrant woodruff) Plantain large lanceolate medium bent bent Wormwood common field bitter grass Popovnik (cottonwort) common Motherwort five-lobed Couch grass creeping Agrimony ordinary (burdock) Cattail angustifolia Rhodiola rosea (golden root) Chamomile (medicinal) fragrant (odorous) , green, tongueless, chamomile) odorless (odorless tririb) English round-leaved sundew Common ash Duckweed Timothy grass meadow Thyme ordinary Cumin bull Bearberry a common toritsa field Torichnik red Triostren marsh Reed southern (common) Yarrow ordinary Phallopia curly (highlander bindweed) Violet tricolor (pansies) Chamerion narrow-leaved (willow-tea) Horsetail forest - field Common hop Common chicory Common chicory Hellebore Lobela Three-parted bird cherry ordinary Bilberry ordinary Chernogolovka common Thistle curly China meadow Chistets forest
Sometimes affectionate, but often gray, dank edge of endless taiga and innumerable lakes. Rocks, swamps, rivers, streams. Mosquitoes, midges, berries, mushrooms, fishing. Off-road, abandoned villages, fields overgrown with grass, carved into the living body of the forest, most often under clean. Crazy sunsets and sunrises. Unforgettable white nights. Seagulls over flat water and white steamships.
This is all Karelia. The edge is heavy but beautiful. With your soul.
Which lives by its own laws and rules.
Karelia is located in the northwest of the country and is part of the Northwestern Federal District. This is a republic within Russia: it has its own coat of arms, flag and anthem. About 50% of the territory of the Karelian region is covered with forest, and a quarter is a water surface. Karelia is the "land of lakes", there are more than 61,000 lakes, 27,000 rivers and 29 reservoirs. The largest lakes are Ladoga and Onega, and the largest rivers are Vodla, Vyg, Kovda, Kem, Sunna and Shuya.
On the Ladvinskaya Plain
Karelia is crossed by the "Blue Road" - an international tourist route connecting Norway, Sweden, Finland and Russia. The main types of recreation in the region: sightseeing tours (Kizhi - Valaam - Solovki - Kivach Waterfall - Marcial Waters - Ruskeala marble canyon), outdoor activities (quad bike safaris, rafting on rapids, hunting and fishing, hiking, ski trips, bike tours, jeep tours), children's and youth recreation in camps, event and holiday tours, holidays in cottages and tourist complexes.
waterfall "Yukaknkoski"
Vedlozero
The capital is Petrozavodsk. Large cities and tourist centers: Kondopoga, Kem, Kostomuksha, Sortavala, Medvezhyegorsk, Belomorsk, Pudozh, Olonets. The population is about 691 thousand people.
The fauna of Karelia is relatively young; it was formed after the Ice Age. In total, 63 species of mammals live on the territory of the republic, many of which, for example, the Ladoga ringed seal, flying squirrel and brown earflaps are listed in the Red Book. On the rivers of Karelia, you can see the huts of European and Canadian beavers.
The Canadian beaver, as well as the muskrat, the American mink are acclimatized representatives of the fauna North America. The raccoon dog is also not a native inhabitant of Karelia, it comes from the Far East. Since the late 1960s, wild boars began to appear, and roe deer enter the southern regions. There is a bear, lynx, badger and wolf.
From year to year, geese flying north stop to rest in the fields of the Olonets Plain in Karelia
285 species of birds live in Karelia, of which 36 species are listed in the Red Book of Karelia. The most common birds are finches. There is upland game - hazel grouse, black grouse, white partridges, capercaillie. Every spring to Karelia from warm countries the geese are coming. Birds of prey are widespread: owls, hawks, golden eagles, marsh harriers. There are also 40 pairs of rare white-tailed eagles. Of the waterfowl: ducks, loons, waders, many gulls and the largest diving duck in Karelia - the common eider, valuable for its warm down.
Just like the fauna, the flora of Karelia was formed relatively recently - 10-15 thousand years ago. Coniferous forests predominate, to the north - pine forests, to the south - both pine and spruce forests. Main conifers: Scotch pine and Scotch spruce. Less common are Finnish spruce, Siberian spruce, extremely rare - Siberian larch. Small-leaved species are widespread in the forests of Karelia, these are: downy birch, warty birch, aspen, gray alder, and some types of willow.
Karelia is the land of berries, lingonberries, blueberries, cloudberries, blueberries, cranberries grow in abundance here, raspberries grow in the forests - both wild and feral, sometimes moving from village gardens. Strawberries and currants grow abundantly in the south of the republic. In the forests, juniper is common, bird cherry and buckthorn are not uncommon. Occasionally there is a red viburnum.
Museum-Reserve "Kizhi" 
The Kizhi Museum-Reserve is one of the largest open-air museums in Russia. This is a unique historical, cultural and natural complex, which is a particularly valuable object of the cultural heritage of the peoples of Russia. The basis of the museum collection is the ensemble of the Kizhi Pogost, an object of the World Cultural and natural heritage UNESCO.
Church of the Transfiguration
37 meters of unprecedented beauty, 22 domes stretching to the sky!
Undoubtedly, the most famous and outstanding building of the ensemble. The church is the tallest building on the island. It can be seen from almost anywhere on land and water. The architecture is impressive. It doesn’t fit in my head, how is it possible to build such beauty without a modern tool, without nails ?! But the church was indeed built without a single nail in 1714. Just this year, the laying of the altar of the church took place. The history of the church says that it was erected on the site of an old one that burned down from a lightning strike.
Church of the Intercession
The second church of the ensemble - winter, in honor of the Intercession of the Mother of God (Feast of October 14) - was built half a century after the Transfiguration Church. The church is crowned with nine cupolas. In Russian wooden architecture, such a structure is unique. The existing four-domed iconostasis of the Intercession Church consists of genuine icons, many of which were painted specifically for this church. The oldest of them dates back to the 16th century. Divine services are held in the Church of the Intercession during the summer and until the Intercession itself. In 2003, the parish received the status of a stauropegic parish and is under the patronage of His Holiness Patriarch and All Russia Alexy II.
Voitsky Padun
It is located in Central Karelia on the Nizhny Vyg River, 2 km from the village of Nadvoitsy. The waterfall as such is no longer there, only its dried-up bed remains framed by dark rocks, green forests and mighty boulders. But once the waterfall was famous, legends and traditions were composed about it. His fame grew significantly in the 18th century, when the Voitsky copper mine began to work nearby.
One of the last famous people who visited the "acting" waterfall was the writer M.M. Prishvin. He left a description of it, which also includes the following words: "... Rumble, chaos! It's hard to concentrate, it's unthinkable to realize what I see? But it pulls and pulls to look... Obviously, some mysterious forces influence the fall water, and at every moment all its particles are different: the waterfall lives some kind of infinitely complex life of its own ... "
Balaam. Bay "Rocky Coast"
Balaam. Bay "Rocky Coast". Having passed from the pier of Bolshaya Nikonovskaya Bay to the south-west of the Valaam archipelago, we get to the area of the most picturesque bay "Rocky Coast" with unique nature Valaam and Ladoga surrounding it.
Balaam. Bolshaya Nikonovskaya bay
Mountain park "Ruskeala". The pearl of the Mountain Park is the Marble Canyon.
Marble Canyon is a monument of industrial culture (mining) of the late 18th - early 20th centuries, officially included in the list of cultural heritage of Russia in 1998. and drifts, there are no more in Europe. From here, blocks were obtained for facing many architectural creations of St. Petersburg, including the majestic St. Isaac's Cathedral.
This is the oldest of the Ruskeala quarries. Its length is 450 m, width 60-100 m, depth 30-50 m. It is flooded to the level of the upper underground horizon. The Finns flooded the quarry before the start of the Soviet-Finnish war of 1939-40. Most adits of the first third of the last century are under water. Only one of them is located above the water level.
Outwardly, the Marble Canyon makes a tremendous impression: gray-white rocks break off into a turquoise lake with heavily indented shores, and go to a depth of many meters.
Some of the boulders hang above the water at a negative angle, and you can swim in a boat into the grottoes that have formed in sheer cliffs and admire the play of light on the marble ceiling. The grottoes look very beautiful, the white marble of the vaults and walls is wonderfully reflected in calm water.
The combination of the nature of Karelia and human activities have given this quarry a surprisingly picturesque look that attracts travelers not only from Karelia, but also from St. Petersburg, Moscow and other places.
Ruskeala waterfall "Akhvenkoski"
Ruskeala waterfall Ahvenkoski translated from Finnish as "Perch threshold". Locals sometimes call it "the waterfall at the three bridges". At this point, the winding river Tohmajoki crosses the road three times.
The Ahvenkoski waterfall gained particular fame thanks to the film “The Dawns Here Are Quiet” filmed in 1972.
Mannerheim line
The Mannerheim Line (fin. Mannerheim-linja) is a complex of defensive structures between the Gulf of Finland and Ladoga, created in 1920-1930 on the Finnish part of the Karelian Isthmus to deter a possible offensive strike from the USSR 132-135 km long.
This line became the site of the most significant fighting in the "Winter War" of 1940 and received great fame in the international press. Three lines of defense were planned between Vyborg and the border with the USSR. The one closest to the border was called “main”, then there was “intermediate”, near Vyborg “rear”.
The most powerful node of the main line was located in the Summakyl area, the place of the greatest threat of a breakthrough. During the Winter War, the Finnish and Western press named the complex of the main defensive line after the commander-in-chief, Marshal Karl Mannerheim, on whose orders plans for the defense of the Karelian Isthmus were developed back in 1918. On his own initiative, the largest structures of the defense complex were created.
The defenses of the Mannerheim Line were greatly exaggerated by propaganda on both sides.
place of death of the 1217th regiment
From 24.00 6.02.42 Until the outgoing day of February 7, 1942, the enemy defended the taken lines, simultaneously all continuous attacks on the defense sector. The 1217 Infantry Regiment heroically, defending every inch of land with fire and counterattacks, threw the enemy back to their original position. The enemy suffered heavy losses. But, having met strong resistance from the enemy, the units lay down and went on the defensive. Surrounded by 1217 joint ventures, having not received reinforcements with manpower and ammunition, he died in fierce battles with the enemy, 28 people remained from the regiment.
The bodies of the dead Soviet soldiers, according to the descriptions of an eyewitness, lay in 2-3 tiers, and during an artillery raid, parts of the bodies scattered throughout the forest. In total, encircled from the division went missing - 1229 people died.
From the memoirs of the former private of the 8th Finnish Infantry Division Otto Koinvungas from Oulu: “The first thing we saw when we arrived at the front line was a soldier carrying a whole cartload of corpses of Russian soldiers on a horse. In early January, the Russians went on the attack, but were defeated. On both sides of the road there were so many Russian soldiers, dead and frozen, that the dead, standing, supported each other.
From Onega - to Ladoga. Svir river.
Svir - a large river in the northeast Leningrad region Russia, near its administrative border with the Republic of Karelia, an important link in the Volga-Baltic waterway. The Svir originates in Lake Onega and flows into Lake Ladoga. There were rapids in the middle reaches of the Svir, but after the construction of a cascade of power plants on the river, the dams raised the water level, flooding the rapids and creating a deep waterway along the entire length of the river.
The Svir has two significant tributaries - the Pasha and Oyat rivers, used for timber rafting. Perch, bream, pike, roach, burbot, catfish, salmon, grayling, etc. are found in the river.
The originality of the river is given by the many islands. The river flows in the lowlands, which in the past were occupied by glacial reservoirs. Perch, bream, pike, roach, burbot, catfish, salmon, grayling, etc. are found in the river.
WINTER IN KARELIA
Kivach waterfall in winter
Ice hummocks on Lake Onega
Russian and foreign tourists have long had their eyes on the Karelian region. And the point here is not only in its virgin nature and unique architectural monuments. The main reason is simple: tourist season in the republic is not at all limited to three summer months - people go to Karelia continuously throughout the year. Both fans of active tourism and those who love calm travel the whole family.
Photos are not mine. A huge number of Yandex sites and pages have been used. Sorry for not naming anyone in particular.
The Karelian Territory is located in the very north of Russia. From the west it borders on Finland, and its eastern shores are washed by the White Sea. This region is famous for its amazing fauna and flora, which has largely retained its original appearance. keeps many secrets, it is dotted with rivers, and a huge number of lakes are hidden in its bowels.
Today these places are protected by the state. Hunting and deforestation are strictly controlled. The forest plays an important role in the development of tourism infrastructure, and is also of great industrial importance.
encyclopedic data
Forests cover more than half of the territory of the Republic of Karelia. Another 30% is occupied by swamps. In total, the forest of Karelia occupies 14 million hectares, 9.5 million of which are covered with continuous dense forest. A third of this territory is protected, the rest of the forests are used industrially.
Geographic features
Karelia is distinguished by its peculiar relief. Its territory is like a patchwork carpet, on which you can see coniferous forests, swamps, wastelands, birch groves, hills. In prehistoric times, the landscape was shaped by the movement of glaciers. Today, as a memory of the events of bygone eras, "sheep's foreheads" rise above the region - a kind of white smooth rocks carved by giant ice.
The southern regions are completely covered with dense and tall pine forests. The northern forest of Karelia is distinguished by its lower height and density.
Coniferous and deciduous trees of Karelia
Sandy soil explains the fact that pine reigns in Karelia. It owns almost 70% of the forests. Spruce grows on clay and loamy soils, mainly in the southern region of the middle taiga zone.
Some isolated areas of the coast of Lake Onega are covered with spruce forest, combined with linden and maple. coniferous forests Karelia in the south-east of the republic are mixed with Siberian larch.
From deciduous trees in the region grows gray alder, aspen. The famous wood with variegated coloration, high density and extraordinary graininess, is found only in the southern edges of the region.
These places are also rich in medicinal plants. Wild plants grow here: bearberry, lily of the valley, orchis, watch.
Climate
The forest of Karelia was formed under the influence of the harsh northern climate. The northern region is adjacent to the border of the Arctic Circle, and a very small part is located even in its limit.
The forest is characterized by a typical taiga ecosystem, but the surroundings of Levozero, located in the very north of Karelia, are tundra.
White nights and seasonal features of the region
Winter in these parts is long. In the northern regions, there are 190 days with sub-zero temperatures a year, in the southern regions - about 150. Autumn begins in August and ends around mid-October. Reservoirs freeze, winds intensify, intensity and duration of precipitation increase.
If you are attracted autumn forest Karelia, sung by many artists and poets, go there at the end of August or at the very beginning of September, otherwise you will have the opportunity to admire the taiga winter.
However, the winter in these parts is not so terrible. Even in the middle of autumn, an impressive amount of snow falls in Karelia, which either melts or falls in flakes again. Snow cover it remains for almost half a year at the level of 60-70 cm (in especially snowy winters - even up to a meter). For winter, thaws are not uncommon, when the sun shines like spring.
Another feature that you should know about these places is the white nights. In summer, daylight hours exceed 23 hours. Darkness practically does not occur, and the peak of the white night falls on June, when there is not even twilight. But there is, of course, the other side of the coin - the polar night, which descends to the earth for almost 3 months. True, in the south of the republic this phenomenon is weakly expressed. For white nights, you need to go further north - about 66 degrees north latitude.
Karelian lakes
Forests are not the only natural wealth of Karelia. This region is also famous for its lakes. There are two largest lakes in Europe - Ladoga and Onega. Lakes play a very important role in the life of the forest ecosystem. Since ancient times, the indigenous inhabitants of the region, the Karelians, have settled on their banks. They were engaged not only in hunting, but also in fishing. The lakes are also important for the animals that inhabit the forests of Karelia. Photos of these places attract tourists. Even today people prefer to settle near forest lakes.
The total number of Karelian lakes reaches 60 thousand. There are many rivers in these parts - about 11 thousand. All reservoirs of the region belong to the basins of the White and Baltic Seas.
Animal world of forests
Very varied. Among mammals, lynxes, martens, American and Russian minks, otters, ferrets, weasels, wolverines, ermines, badgers, brown bears, wolves, raccoon dogs, moose, foxes, wild reindeer, moles, shrews, squirrels, mice. Hedgehogs are less common and only in the south. Muskrats settled in many reservoirs of southern and middle Karelia. The white hare has a wide commercial value. Of the reptiles, there are many snakes and vipers. But snakes can be found only in the southern regions, in the north there are almost none.
The forests of the Republic of Karelia are home to 200 species of birds, most of which are migratory. Capercaillie, black grouse, hazel grouse, partridges constantly live here. Diverse waterfowl: loons, grebes, ducks, geese, swans. There are sandpipers, hawks, bitterns, ospreys, buzzards, cranes and corncrakes in the forests, and many different species of owls. Woodpeckers and thrushes are also not uncommon here, and waxwings flock to these parts in autumn. A particularly attentive tourist can meet even a golden eagle in the Karelian forests. Black grouse and capercaillie settle everywhere.
The islands on the White Sea are famous for the settlements of the eider, which has high-quality down. On her, like on others rare birds hunting is prohibited.
Insects
If you are planning to visit the fabulous Karelian forests and consult with seasoned tourists, for sure, you have to periodically listen to horror stories about sparrow-sized mosquitoes, which are simply teeming with wild thickets, and even large cities of this northern region.
Information about the size, of course, is exaggerated, but there is no smoke without fire. There are a huge number of mosquitoes here, and they are quite large. And besides mosquitoes, the forests and swamps of Karelia are inhabited by an unthinkable number of various bloodsuckers, which are especially active during the flowering period of cloudberries. But by the end of August, activity weakens, and with the first September frosts, it completely disappears.
Karelia Tourism
Two-thirds of the republic is open to tourists. It is unlikely that it will be possible to get into the reserve, since entry into all protected zones is simply prohibited. Yes, and there is nothing special to do there, in the taiga cold and pristine wilderness.
It is better to go to regions with a more or less developed tourist infrastructure. And it is worth mentioning that it is everywhere still in its infancy. There is no need to talk about a high level of service yet. But do tourists go to the taiga for this?
The leader in the top is Valaam - an ancient monastic complex on one of them. You can go here on your own or as part of an excursion group. The monastery in the city of Kizhi deserves no less attention. Both of these places are located outside the Karelian forest, however, those who travel to these parts from afar try to visit not only the wild wilderness of primeval nature, but also visit holy places.
Many researchers claim that there are many geoactive anomalies in Karelia, called places of power. By the way, Valaam and Kizhi are also among them and are considered one of the most powerful. In the wilderness of the forest, there are many ancient pagan temples built by the Sami and Lapps - the indigenous inhabitants of these places, who were later supplanted by the ancestors of modern Karelians and Slavs. Some daredevils go to the Karelian forests just for the sake of these mystical places. Think carefully: are you ready to face the unknown?
If you decide to see with your own eyes what kind of forest is in Karelia, plan your trip for any time of the year. Travel agencies offer guests wild summer vacations, Christmas tours, rafting on obstinate rivers, and many other programs that maximize the beauty of lakes and forests. Of course, in terms of tourism business in Karelia, there is still room for growth, but even the current level will satisfy the discerning vacationer. It offers rental of any water transport, horseback riding, safaris (in season, of course), fishing. You can go on vacation even without equipment and gear - everything can be rented.
Camping in the forest
Well, if a civilized, organized by a team of professionals vacation in the forests of Karelia is not your thing, you can visit these places in the company of the same avid hikers. Ideally, if there is at least one person in the group who has experience of hiking in Karelia. Not everywhere you can pitch tents and burn fires, and some amazing places are not on the maps at all. For example, it is almost impossible to get to the Island of Spirits along the Okhta on your own - you will need an experienced guide here.
Camping sites are organized in large numbers on the shores of forest lakes and rapids. These places are especially attractive for lovers of water sports. Kayakers are not uncommon in Karelia.
In order not to have problems with the law and your own conscience, follow the safety rules when organizing bonfires. Do not leave any traces of your stay in the wild forest in the form of food and drink packages and household garbage. This can result in a large fine.
Folk forest crafts
The forest of Karelia is ready to generously share its wealth all summer long. Here you can collect cranberries, lingonberries, cloudberries, blueberries, raspberries, blueberries. There are many mushrooms in these parts. Locals are engaged in quiet hunting all season long. If you are not lucky with either mushrooms or berries, ask the inhabitants of any roadside settlement. Surely there are many who want to offer you local delicacies for a moderate fee.
In ancient times, people also hunted. A valuable fur-bearing animal, which even today abounds in Karelian forests, was valued far beyond the borders of the region. The ancestors of the Karelians were active in trade, selling their goods to merchants from all over Europe.
The industrial value of the forest
Today, the main areas are not only the extraction of furs, the collection of berries, mushrooms and medicinal plants, but also the pulp and paper, as well as the woodworking industry. Procurers produce standing timber in Karelia and send it to many regions of Russia. A large part of the forest is exported. To maintain a balance, the state strictly controls deforestation and planting young trees.
Karelia is traditionally called the forest and lake region. The modern terrain was formed under the influence of a glacier, the melting of which began thirteen thousand years ago. The ice sheets were gradually decreasing, and melt water filled in the hollows in the rocks. Thus, many lakes and rivers were formed in Karelia.
Virgin forest
Karelian forests are the real wealth of the region. For a number of reasons, forestry activities miraculously bypassed them. This applies to massifs located along the Finnish border. Thanks to this, islands of virgin nature have been preserved. Karelian forests can boast of pine trees that are five hundred years old.
In Karelia, about three hundred thousand hectares forest areas are in the status national parks and reserves. Virgin trees form the basis of the Pasvik, Kostomukshsky reserves, and the Paanayarvsky national park.
Green wealth: interesting facts
Green moss pine forests settled on more fertile soils, which are represented tall trees. In such a dense forest, the undergrowth is very rare and consists of juniper and mountain ash. The shrub layer is made up of lingonberries and blueberries, but the soil is covered with mosses. As for herbaceous plants, there are very few of them.
Lichen pine forests grow on depleted soils of slopes and rock tops. Trees in these places are quite rare, and the undergrowth is practically absent. The soil covers are represented by lichens, reindeer moss, green mosses, bearberry, cowberry.
Spruce forests are typical for richer soils. The most common are green mosses, consisting almost exclusively of spruce trees, sometimes aspen and birch can be found. On the outskirts of the swamps there are sphagnum spruce forests and long mosses. But for the valleys of streams, marsh-grass with mosses and frail alder and meadowsweet are characteristic.
mixed forests
On the site of clearings and conflagrations, once primary forests are replaced by secondary mixed forest areas, on which aspens, birch, alder grow, there is also a rich undergrowth and grassy layer. But among hardwoods, conifers are also quite common. As a rule, it is a spruce. Exactly at mixed forests in the south of Karelia there are rare elm, linden, maple.
swamps
Approximately thirty percent of the entire territory of the republic is occupied by swamps and wetlands, which form a characteristic landscape. They alternate with forests. Wetlands are divided into the following types:
- Lowlands, the vegetation of which is represented by shrubs, reeds and sedges.
- Horses that feed precipitation. Blueberries, cranberries, cloudberries, rosemary grow here.
- Transitional swamps are an interesting combination of the first two types.
All marshes are externally very diverse. In fact, these are reservoirs covered with intricate mosses. There are also swampy pine areas with small birches, between which dark puddles with duckweed glisten.
Beauty of Karelia
Karelia is a land of extraordinary beauty. Here swamps overgrown with mosses alternate with virgin forests, mountains give way to plains and hills with amazing landscapes, a calm lake surface turns into raging rivers and a rocky seashore.
Almost 85% of the territory is Karelian forests. Coniferous species predominate, but there are also small-leaved ones. The leader is a very hardy Karelian pine. It occupies 2/3 of all forests. Growing in such harsh conditions, it, according to the local population, has unique healing properties, energizing those around it, relieves fatigue and irritability.
Local forests are famous for Karelian birch. In fact, this is a very small and nondescript tree. However, it has gained worldwide fame due to its very durable and hard wood, which resembles marble due to its intricate pattern.
Karelian forests are also rich in medicinal and food herbaceous and shrubby plants. There are blueberries, blueberries, raspberries, strawberries, cloudberries, cranberries and lingonberries. It would be unfair not to mention the mushrooms, of which there are a great many in Karelia. The earliest of them appear in June, and already in September the period of picking mushrooms for salting begins - there are waves, bruises, milk mushrooms.
tree varieties
In the Karelian open spaces, pines grow, whose age is at least 300-350 years. However, there are also older examples. Their height reaches 20-25 or even 35 meters. Pine needles produce phytoncides that can kill microbes. In addition, this is a very valuable breed, its wood is good for shipbuilding and just for construction works. And rosin and turpentine are extracted from the sap of the tree.
A completely unique long-lived pine grows in the Marcial Waters, whose age is about four hundred years. It is included in the lists of the rarest trees. There is even a legend that the pine was planted by those close to Peter I, but if we take into account its age, then most likely it grew long before that period.
In addition, Siberian and common spruce grows in Karelia. In these conditions, she lives two or three hundred years, and some specimens live up to half a century, reaching 35 meters in height. The diameter of such a tree is about a meter. Spruce wood is very light, almost white, it is very soft and light. It is used to make the best paper. Spruce is also called a musical plant. She received this name not by chance. Its smooth and almost perfect trunks are used for the production of musical instruments.
In the Karelian forests, a serpentine spruce was found, which is a natural monument. It is of great interest for cultivation in park areas.
Larches, common in Karelia, are classified as coniferous trees, but they shed their needles every year. This tree is considered a long-liver, as it lives up to 400-500 years (height reaches 40 meters). Larch grows very quickly, and is valued not only because of its hardwood, but also as a park culture.
In dry spruce and pine forests, there is a lot of juniper, which is a coniferous evergreen shrub. It is interesting not only as an ornamental plant, but also as a medicinal breed, since its berries contain substances used in folk medicine.
In Karelia, birches are quite widespread. Here, this tree is sometimes also called a pioneer, since it is the first to occupy any free space. Birch lives for a relatively short time - from 80 to 100 years. In the forests, its height reaches twenty-five meters.
Upper Lampi, we were intrigued by the fact that we could not really see it from the trail. Karelian forest It turned out to be very dense and looked like a fairy-tale jungle with old moss-covered trees, or a jungle with flowers taller than human height. But it is curious what the Karelian forest hides. And therefore, as it was decided the day before, my daughter and I went back to the forest to see what kind of mysterious rock it was. You need to walk through such thickets only in closed clothes and be sure to use repellents from ticks, and by the way, there were not very many mosquitoes.
Ivan tea is taller than human growth.
So, we again go along the third path path from. After some time of the way, one gets the impression that the path goes along the slope of a mountain overgrown with forest. On the left is an elevation, and on the right is a lowland and it seems quite deep.
After walking about 1 km, we reached the rock, but it looks more like a stone ridge stretching along the path and overgrown with moss and trees. Just like that, through the thickets of grass and bushes, you can’t get close to the rock, however, in one place from the health path route, a barely noticeable path leaves to the rock to the left. We would not have noticed it at all if it were not for the red cloth on a tree branch by the path. Someone's label.
We turned onto the path and began to slowly climb up the mossy stones.
Suddenly Nastya exclaims: “Oh, mom, look!” And points back down. Turning back, I was taken aback by surprise. A snag in the form of a mythical buffalo was looking at us with its mouth open. Mystic some. I even got goosebumps. Wow, we passed by this driftwood and did not notice its unusual shape.
But we did not look at the snag for a long time, we were attracted by the more pleasant gifts of the Karelian forest. The slope is full of red currant bushes. Oh, how beautifully these berries sparkle in the sun.
Having risen to the ledge of the ridge, they found a blueberry. Mm, so many blueberries, yummy.
And the Karelian forest, as if inviting us to go forward, revealing its beauty to us. There are so many beautiful bluebell-like flowers here. I wonder what they are called?
We rise after these blue flowers even higher. What bizarre outlines of boulders overgrown with moss and grass. It's like an owl watching you with one eye.
We climbed up. Oh, a birdhouse on a birch. How nice. True, it seems to me that he was nailed a little low.
Yes, there is a whole field different colors! Straight bouquet. And there are strawberries here too.
My daughter loves macro photography. I think she's good at it.
It looks like someone comes here to the mountain quite often. There are traces of a fire and some boards, poles, and it seems like cardboard. As if they were going to build something here, or they are just sitting on these boards by the fire. We did not go there, walked around this place, and ... another birdhouse. Painted this time. Interesting.
We did not have time to go a few steps, two more painted birdhouses. Strange somehow, on a small patch in the forest, 4 birdhouses were counted.
Passed by them to the cliff. I wanted to look down to take photos from the top of this rocky ridge, but the stones overgrown with moss and grass on the edge of the cliff seemed to me a very unreliable support, it was easy to stumble and fall down. Therefore, it turned out only such a photo. At eye level, mountain ash, birch, and spruce rise from behind the edge of the cliff. The height of the ridge in this place is probably 8-10 meters. It is difficult to determine by eye in such wilds.
On the edge of a cliff.
Returning from the cliff, we decided to see the birdhouse, which seemed to us of an unusual shape. Wow, he has a face. And more it looks not like a house for birds, but like an idol, well, a forester. Or goblin?
Interesting, of course, and even funny, but somehow it became uncomfortable. What is this place? Again mystical. And thoughts about the witch's mountain, and about shamanic dances, got into my head. Ugh, it's probably the village boys having fun here.
So, what else is a birdhouse? We need to get out of here, otherwise they completely circled us.
They started going down. We passed next to our recent acquaintance, who at the beginning of the journey struck us with her mystical appearance. There she is to the left of Nastya, from this angle the view of the driftwood is not at all intimidating. An ordinary old log, uprooted.
They didn’t go down the path right away, they walked through the Karelian forest along the foot of the stone ridge, enjoying the riot of greenery and fabulous wilds. Admiring how the rays of the sun break through the crowns of trees.
Here our attention was attracted by a tree trunk, covered with a lichen we had never seen before. Lichen leaves are so large, almost half the size of a palm. By the way, the next day we saw exactly the same lichen in the exposition. It is a type of foliose lichen.
The tree turned out to be a rowan. She leaned over, either from old age, or some kind of mountain ash. There are also Karelian birches, maybe it's Karelian mountain ash. From this mountain ash, one can probably study all types of lichens growing in Karelia. Above the leaf lichen, the rowan trunk is covered with fruticose lichens, epiphytes and moss. Here is an instance! It was like being in a museum.
Having marveled at Karelian forest and thinking to myself a bit of mysticism , began to get out to the path. And by the path, what a beauty - thickets of ferns and flowering meadowsweet.
Here is such a mysterious, informative and tasty acquaintance with Karelian forest. And they ate berries, and admired the flowers, and as if plunged into a fairy tale.