Kenozersky National Park: history, photos, reviews

A particle of ancient primordial Russia was preserved in the northwestern part of the country. There, where dense forests grow and thick fogs hang over mysterious swamps. The name of this amazing place is the Kenozersky National Park.

Reserves and national parks are created in order to preserve something that should by no means disappear from the face of the earth. One of these places will be discussed in our article.

Kenozersky National Park: photo and description

In Russia there are not many places where the identity of Russian culture is so full and many-sided. And one of such objects is the Kenozersky National Park. The photos below will not give you any doubt. This territory is one of the few fragments of authentic, primordially Russian culture and traditions.

Kenozersky National Park occupies a huge area. It stretches within two regions of the Arkhangelsk region - Kargopol and Plesetsk, closely "nestling" to the border with the Republic of Karelia in the west. The territory of the park is stretched from north to south by 72 kilometers, and from west to east - only by 27 kilometers.

The administrative centers of the national park are two settlements: the village of Vershinino in its northern part, and the village of Morshchikhinskaya in the southern part. Kenozersky National Park is about three hundred lakes of different sizes. The largest of them are Kenozero and Lekshmozero.

History of the park

Back in the middle of the twentieth century, among historians, geographers and local historians, an idea arose to take under protection a unique terrain in the southwest of the Arkhangelsk region. This idea was widely approved by the public and, after numerous discussions, it was implemented.

Kenozersky National Park was established on December 28, 1991. Its total area was 1210 km ² . In 2004, the park was included in the list of UNESCO Biosphere Reserves.

Natural and ecological value

At least 70% of the total area of the Kenozersky Park is covered with taiga vegetation. There are also many lakes, marshes and meadows. All these components create a unique and unique landscape design.

Pine and fir plantations of 100-120 years predominate in the forests of the park. The area of indigenous, untouched by human economic activities, forests is low and is about 3%. These sites are located in lowland, marshy areas and are represented by sphagnum pine forests and spruce forests.

About 5% of the territory is occupied by swamps - an integral part of the park. Almost all of their genetic types are represented here. In wetlands, berries such as cranberries and blueberries, blueberries and cowberries are abundantly growing.

The plant world of the park is very rich and has about 700 plant species. The fauna is represented by 300 species of animals and 28 species of fish found in numerous lakes.

Natural monuments and wonders

Perhaps the main natural attraction of the Kenozersky Park are the local lakes. The largest of them is Kenozero. It is surrounded by picturesque hills and is decorated with several small islets. On the shores of the lake are found numerous traces of the past historical epochs - Neolithic sites and other historical monuments.

Twenty kilometers to the south there is another large lake of the park - Lekshmozero. The water in it is unusually clean, there are a lot of fish here. Nearby there is a hill with wonderful views of the lake and its surroundings.

Within the national park, several natural phenomena have been identified. Among them, Maselga - a ridge of glacial relief forms, which is also a fragment of the watershed of the two oceans (the Atlantic and the Arctic Ocean). Another interesting object of the park is the Porzhenka River. On its short journey of 8 kilometers, it managed to pierce a grandiose canyon in the Cretaceous sediments.

A lot of hiking trails and routes are laid on the territory of the park, various thematic festivals and holidays are held here.

Architectural monuments of the Kenozersky park

Kenozersky Park is the only protected territory in Russia, the department of which has such a large number of architectural monuments (there are almost 100 of them here). Basically, these are wooden churches, huts and chapels. Another phenomenon of the park is the so-called "sacred groves". They were created by our ancestors by the pagans. Local residents continue to look after them today.

Several monuments of folk architecture can be visited in the village of Vershinino. These are the chapels of St. John the Divine and St. Nicholas of Myra, as well as the ruins of the stone Assumption Church. In addition, in the village there is a curious museum in which visitors can get acquainted with the peculiarities of traditional local handicrafts - woodworking.

Pochozersky churchyard - another valuable monument of antiquity. It is located in the village of Filippovskaya and is represented by two wooden churches and a bell tower. The buildings date back to the 17th-18th century.

Kenozersky National Park: how to get there? Where to stay?

How to get to the park? Where can I stop to explore the Kenozersky National Park in more detail?

The Arkhangelsk Region is located in the north-western part of the country. The park, in turn, is located in the south-west of the region (the nearest large settlement is Plesetsk). It can be reached by public transport. To do this, you need to board any passenger train that goes to Plesetskaya Station. From Plesetsk you can get to Vershinino village by bus or taxi.

If you travel by private car, you should drive to the village of Konevo along the P1 highway. Then you need to cross the river Onega (by ferry or ice crossing) and drive to Vershinino village. The road from Moscow to the Kenozersky National Park takes an average of about 15 hours (distance - almost 1000 kilometers).

In Vershinino there are mini-hotels and guest houses, where you can stay for several days. Several objects for accommodation of tourists are also in the southern part of the park - in the village of Morshchikhinskaya.

Reviews of tourists about Kenozersky park

What do travelers say by visiting the Kenozersky National Park? Reviews of tourists about this place are extremely positive. "Wonderful place", "beautiful park", "silence and pacification" - that's how the park is estimated by its numerous guests. Almost all of them have no doubt that this is the ideal place for unity with nature. Here, it is madly to please those who have long wanted to take a break from civilization and city life, swim in a boat or simply steam well in a bath.

True, there are drawbacks in this place. First of all, this is a difficult and difficult road to the park, as well as insufficient infrastructure development for tourists.

What can I bring with me from the Kenozero National Park as a souvenir? Many tourists are advised to try the local tea and herbal preparations. Great popularity is also enjoyed by sprats made from local fish - vendace.

Conclusion

Kenozersky National Park is an amazing necklace of lakes, old wooden huts and masterpieces of folk architecture. The atmosphere and color of the Russian North is felt here especially sharply.

On the territory of the park there are almost 700 different kinds of plants, more than 300 species of animals and about a hundred monuments of architecture.