Golden fall in Karelia (PHOTOS)
While the weather hasn't yet turned too cold, winter only makes its presence felt with the first frosts and thick morning fogs. You can stroll the streets in the town of Sortavala, admire the ancient buildings in the Northern Art Nouveau style, descend to the shore of Lake Ladoga, where a ferry regularly departs for the Valaam Monastery, or take an atmospheric hike to the summit of Mount Paaso.
It's not high, only 79 meters in total, but its summit offers magnificent views of the surrounding area. You can also see the famous ‘Ruskeala Express’ chugging along from there.
A must-see destination is the Ruskeala Mountain Park.
People go there to see the famous lake, formed on the site of an old marble quarry, where stone was once mined for the palaces and churches of St. Petersburg.
Wander the park's paths, admire the views from the observation platforms and then descend underground into one of the adits to visit the Great Columned Hall and the Underground Lake.
The fall kingdom of the mountain king has its own charm: The gold of the trees highlights the rugged beauty of nature.
And the local stone carvings look especially impressive, as if placed there by the hand of the world’s greatest magician – nature itself. Feel free to explore, but don't forget to dress warmly!
Continue your route with a trip through the Ladoga skerries, also known as the Karelian fjords.
This archipelago, located in the north and northwest of Lake Ladoga, contains more than 300 rocky islands where pristine nature has been immaculately preserved.
They were formed during the movement of glaciers: the resulting basins filled with water, and the rock outcrops eventually got worn down, turning into mini islands.
Ladoga ringed seals, meanwhile, inhabit the local waters. They can typically be seen in spring – April and May – when the lake's waters have not yet warmed up.
The air there is especially fresh: conifers grow on the skerries and a variety of berries, including cloudberries and lingonberries, can be found, while the cliffs offer fantastic views.
And, in 2017, a national park was established on the Ladoga skerries.