National Park "Paanajärvi" is located in the north-west of Karelia, in the Louhi region. It got its name from a deep clean lake located in rocky faults.
This park is located in the mountainous part of Karelia called Fennoscandia, near the ridge of Maanselkä. It is a protected natural area of national importance. And since the park is located near Finland itself, the border zone regime extends to it. Next to it is a similar conservation area of a neighboring country - Oulanka.
Paanajärvi National Park: how to get and when to go
Rail transport in these places runs only to Louhi station. Further to the park itself, only a rather broken dirt road was laid . You will have to travel in passing or on your own transport. But in the latter case, tourists are advised to go through Kalevala. The road there is in better condition, and you will spend less time than from Louha, since the condition of the path there is such that you cannot move more than 40 kilometers per hour.
The distance between Kalevala and the conservation area is about 160 km. You can visit the park all year round. But the weather here is very changeable. In summer, it often rains and a lot of mosquitoes, so you need to consider these nuances.
History
Paanajärvi is a national park in Karelia, the territory of which was inhabited seven thousand years ago. Here, the sites of ancient people from the Stone Age to the Iron Age were discovered, as well as their tools and pottery. In the Middle Ages, these lands belonged to Veliky Novgorod. After the capture of the latter by Ivan III, they retreated to Sweden.
In the eighteenth century, Finns began to settle on this territory. But few people lived here. And since the 19th century, the lands around Lake Paanajärvi have alternately passed between Russia and Finland. Since the 90s of the century before last, industrial logging and timber rafting began to be practiced here, but then, nevertheless, the beauty of these places prompted the local government to open a tourist center.
After Finland gained independence, the territory first passed to it, and after World War II it 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
Paanajärvi National Park has an area of one hundred thousand hectares. There is not a single settlement on these lands. 20 thousand hectares are allocated for the reserve, and 6 thousand hectares - for tourist use.
The warmest time here is July, when the average temperature rises to +15 degrees. And the coldest thing is in February, when it drops to –13 ° . There is usually enough snow here, often more than a meter in height. In addition, beautiful northern lights are observed here in winter, and in summer the sun does not shine for only two to three hours a day.
The park is exceptionally picturesque landscape. It has everything - gorges, lakes, mountains, rivers and waterfalls. Forests are very dense and almost virgin. In total, there are about 120 lakes in the park. But not everywhere is open access to tourists.
sights
Paanajärvi National Park boasts the highest mountains in Karelia. These are Lunas, Kivakka, Mäntiuntunturi and Nuorunen. They have a height of about half a kilometer. Their slopes are very steep, and they encounter such an interesting phenomenon as “hanging swamps”.
There are more than sixty natural monuments, which are sights, including those of world significance. These are the Pyanur Mountains, Ruskeakallio Rock, the Olanga River Basin and Lake Paanajärvi itself, 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 in cleanliness. And his water is very oxygenated. High waterfalls with numerous steps, bizarre red rocks, ancient Sami sanctuaries - all this can be seen by visitors to the park.
The sixty-meter-high rock of Ruskeakallio, as well as the cascading Kivakkakoski waterfall, 12 meters high and 100 meters long, are especially beautiful. He remained unconquered by people - no one could make rafting or rafting on it. Still tourists are attracted by the sacred stones of the Sami - the so-called seids. The ancient peoples considered them a "place of power." According to them, there lived spirits, the owners of lakes, rivers and mountains.
Excursions
If you want to make a trip to the local attractions, first register in the Paanajärvi Visitor Center. The national park is often crowded with travelers, so it is best to book in advance.
The visit center is located in the neighboring village of Pyaozersky. It was built in 2002 at the expense of the European Union. This center is very beautiful, comfortable, practical and functional. When it opened a good hotel with a sauna. To register and obtain 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 equipped walking paths with walkways and railings in dangerous places. Tourists most often take trips along the Olanga River, to the Kivakkakoski and Mäntyukoski waterfalls, to the Kivakkatunturi and Nuorunen mountains.
From animals here you can meet moose, swans, squirrels and hares. By the way, there are specially equipped "nature trails" where there are information signs about the local flora and fauna.
Mount Kivakka is very popular with travelers because it is freestanding, which is not typical 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 an Orthodox cross is now installed on top of it.
Entertainment
You can fish in the park, but not in all places, but only in designated sections of the Olanga River. The catch is usually good. On the shores of Lake Paanajärvi there are sandy beaches where, thanks to the special microclimate, you can even swim from the second half of July. 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 pets into this conservation area, as this can be dangerous both for them and for wild forest residents.
On the lake there is a pleasure boat “Onanga”, on which tourists ride. The park also often hosts various environmental festivals, cultural days of the Sami people, and educational seminars.
Where to live
Paanajärvi National Park offers tourists who want to spend several days here, places to stay. These are wooden houses and a camping. The cost of housing depends on whether you spend the night in a tent and pay only for the place or settle in the cottage. The houses “Float”, “Paanajärvi” and “Fairy Tale” are located near the lake itself. There are several more cottages near the Olanga River. Some of them are on the way to the lake. Near the cottages there are places for tents.
The houses without amenities are just wooden log cabins with bunks, mattresses, pillows and stoves. Clean linen is provided at the visitor center. Near the structures there is a place for a fire, there is firewood for kindling, boilers, and some cottages even have a bathhouse. Campsites have toilets, water, wooden tables, and trash bins.
Paanajärvi National Park: reviews
Tourists call travel to this conservation area fabulous. After all, nature is unusual in its beauty even for Karelia. In addition, this is a great place to relax with both family and company.
According to travelers, campsites and houses 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 trip. This is a great route for those who love nature and fishing.
And what opportunities for wonderful shots gives the Paanajärvi National Park! You will keep photos of amazing cliffs, waterfalls and beautiful views from the mountains for a long time. No wonder these places are called Karelian Switzerland. There are many tourists in the park not only from Russia, but also from European countries.