Otradnoye Lake (Priozersky District, Leningrad Region) is the second largest reservoir of the Karelian Isthmus located in the Veseloy river basin. It got its name in 1948. Before this, the lake was called Pyhä-järvi for several centuries, which means “Sacred (or holy) lake” in Finnish.
Scientific experimental station "Otradnoe"
In the northern part of the lake, on the peninsula, since 1946 the scientific experimental station of the Botanical Institute named after Komarova RAS. The station has an area of 54 hectares. On its territory there are a dendrological research park and experimental fields and plantations, where more than four hundred unique plants imported from different parts of the globe grow.
Otradnoe Lake: characteristics
The length of the lake is more than 13 km, and in some places the width can reach 8.5 km. On Otradnoye there are five islands with a total area of almost 3 square meters. km The largest of them are Badger and Triple. The banks are flat, slightly indented, in some places steep. Otradnoe refers to low-flowing lakes. A channel enters from Gusinsky Lake, and the Pionerka River serves as a drain going from Otradnoye to Komsomolsky Lake. Also, the reservoir is fed by several nameless streams and groundwater.
The deep bottom surface is silty, off the coast - sandy, sometimes rocky. Otradnoye Lake is convenient for swimming and fishing. The water has a slightly greenish-yellow color, but not cloudy. Where the coast is sandy, the bottom is visible up to 2 meters. The maximum and minimum depths are 28 and 7.5 meters. Area - 72.6 sq. M. km In recent years, the lake, or rather its western part, has been very actively overgrown, mainly with reeds and reeds, although due to the strong surfs, which are not uncommon, vegetation is rather poorly developed. Only 6 km separates Otradnoye from Lake Ladoga, there are several streams between them, there are swamps, so the ecosystems of the two water bodies are partially interconnected.
Water use
Lake Otradnoe is located in an area with relatively clean ecology, only slightly spoiled in recent years by the construction of coastal cottage villages and roads leading to them. But there is no industry nearby, and this explains the purity of water, soil and air in the area of the reservoir. There are recreation centers all year round , so there is no shortage of vacationers.
Flora and fauna
A large number of conifers contribute to clean air. From almost all sides, the sandy strip of the lake is surrounded by coniferous forests. Most of them are pines. Almost entirely covered with pine trees and the island of Barsuchiy. Due to the fact that Lake Otradnoye is surrounded by mixed and coniferous forests that grow along the entire perimeter of the coastline, foxes and deer, wolves and wild boars, moose and bears, ferrets and hares live here.
The local world is also rich in feathered representatives. Ornithologists count almost 280 of their species. In the swamps, wild geese and ducks are noticed. Capercaillie, hazel grouse and black grouse are often found. The flora of these places is vast and diverse - at least thirty species grow only medicinal plants. The forests surrounding the lake are rich in mushroom and berry places. Some of the species of local vegetation are listed in the Red Book.
Otradnoye Lake: fishing
In Otradnoye a huge number of fish species: from roach and perch to zander, pike and trout. Fans of winter fishing are waiting for whitefish, ruff, burbot and perch. In the spring, roach and scavenger are most caught.
Fishing lovers can easily reach the lake. If you walk on foot, then from the station "Sukhodolye" to the reservoir 2 kilometers. There are also country roads that can be reached by car. Near the lake runs Priozerskoe highway. In order to get to its coastline, you need to turn right at the Gromovo station and move to the village of Yablonovka. Also, the path can be laid through the station "Otradnoe".