Рассказ о карелии на английском языке

Karelia history

People began to settle in Karelia in the 7th-6th millennium BC. The main occupations of the ancient inhabitants of this land were hunting and fishing. At the end of the 1st millennium AD, various tribes of Finno-Ugric groups lived in this region: Karels — on the Karelian Isthmus and the Northern Ladoga region, Veps — between Lakes Ladoga and Onega, Saami (Lop’) — further north.

In the 9th century, the territory of Karelia went into the sphere of influence of Kievan Rus. In the 12th century, after the collapse of Kievan Rus, Karelia became part of another ancient Russian state — Novgorod Republic. The town of Korela (present Priozersk in the Leningrad region) became its center. In 1227, Novgorod prince Yaroslav Vsevolodovich baptized Karels in the Orthodox faith. Veps also became Orthodox Christians.

At the end of the 13th century, Swedes seized part of the land in the western Karelia, where they founded the fortress of Vyborg (1293). However, their further advance was stopped by Russians and Karels. In 1478, Karelia together with other lands of Novgorod Republic was annexed to the Russian state (the Moscow State). In the late 16th — early 17th centuries, Swedes continued to expand eastward. According to Stolbovsky Treaty of 1617, Russia lost the Karelian Isthmus.

More historical facts…

Pristine nature of Karelia

Karelia features

The Republic of Karelia is situated in northern Europe, in the north-western part of Russia. In the north-east the region is washed by the White Sea. The western border of Karelia (798 km) is the state border of the Russian Federation and Finland, the European Union.

The weather in Karelia is changeable. The climate is mild with plenty of rainfall. Winters are snowy, usually without severe frosts. Summers are short and warm, with plenty of rainfall. The average temperature in February is minus 9-13 degrees Celsius, in July — plus 14-16 degrees Celsius.

Karelia has about 60,000 lakes, including the two largest lakes in Europe — Ladoga and Onega. Other large lakes: Nook, Pyaozero, Segozero, Syamozero, Topozero, Vygozero, Yushkozero. The White Sea-Baltic Canal (228 km) connects the basins of the Baltic and White seas.

The national composition according to the 2010 census: Russians (82.2%), Karels (7.4%), Belarussians (3.8%), Ukrainians (2%), Finns (1.4%), Veps (0.5%). The largest cities in Karelia are Petrozavodsk (275,000), Kondopoga (31,000), Kostomuksha (29,000), Segezha (27,000).

There are about 27,000 rivers in the region. The largest rivers are Vodla (149 km), Kem (191 km), Onda (197 km), Unga, Chirka-Kem (221 km), Kovda, Shuya, Suna with Kivach and Vyg waterfalls.

Forests cover about 85% of the territory of Karelia. The main minerals are iron ore, titanium, vanadium, molybdenum, precious metals, diamonds, mica, building materials. The economy of Karelia is based on metallurgy, mining, wood and paper industries. Because of the low population density, the road network is not much branched.

Historical and cultural identity of Karelia, which distinguishes it from other regions of Russia, is determined by cultural heritage of four indigenous peoples historically living in this region — Karels, Finns, Veps, Russians.

The borderline location of Karelia has often brought it to the foreground of major events in European history. Karelia has always been influenced by Western, in particular Scandinavian countries, which affected the culture and the mentality of its inhabitants. Today, this region can become an economic and cultural bridge between East and West.

The official language in Karelia is Russian. At the same time, there are peoples in the region whose written language is based on the Roman alphabet — these are Karels and Veps.

Karelia tourism

Karelia, having a favorable geographical location, unique natural and recreational resources, centuries-old cultural and historical heritage, is attractive for Russian and foreign tourists. Karelia is one of the most famous Russian territories in international tourism thanks to the presence of unique architectural, cultural and historical sites on the islands of Kizhi, Valaam and Solovki. They are included in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites and are a national treasure of Russia.

Karelia is the birthplace of Karelian-Finnish epic “Kalevala” (literary monument of world importance). There are preserved ancient Karelian, Vepsian, Pomor villages with distinctive architecture that are of great interest for fans of ethnographic tourism.

Almost one million hectares, or more than 5% of the total area of the region, are protected areas: the national parks “Paanajarvi” and “Vodlozersky”, “Kalevalsky”, the natural park “Valaam Archipelago”, preserves “Kivach” and “Kostomukshskiy”, 46 nature reserves, 108 natural monuments.

Karelia attracts tourists with its pristine nature, low population density and competitive prices. In summer this region is popular with lovers of water tourism, travelers on bicycles and cars, fishermen and hunters. Recently equestrian tourism has begun to develop. In winter you have an opportunity to engage in all types of skiing, take part in a safari on dog or reindeer sledding, take a trip on snowmobiles.

Tourists visiting the western part of the republic, declared the border area, should have identification documents in possession for a possible passport control.

Karelia scenery

The main attractions of Karelia

• Kizhi Museum-Reserve on Kizhi Island in Lake Onega — the world famous monument of wooden architecture,
• Valaam Monastery on Valaam Island in Lake Ladoga,
• Solovki historical and cultural complex on Solovetsky Islands,
• The resort “Marcial Waters” — the first Russian spa resort, founded by decree of Peter the Great in 1719,
• Assumption Church (1774) in Kondopoga,
• The architecture of the town of Sortavala — northern Art Nouveau, neo-classicism, functionalism,
  Kivach Falls,
• Staryy Olonets and old Karelian huts in the village of Bolshaya Selga,
• Ancient villages: Sheltozero, Kinerma, Man’ga, Rubcheila, Korza,
• The architectural ensemble of Ilyinsky churchyard and Murom Monastery,
• The sites related to “Kalevala”: Voknavolok, Kalevala (Ukhta), Voinitsa,
• Military and historical attractions: the line of defense “Medvezhyegorsk”, “Mannerheim Line”,
• Kivach waterfall on the Suna River,
• Ruskeala waterfalls on the Tohmajoki River,
• Ruskeala marble quarry,
• Yukankoski waterfall on the Kulismayoki River,
• Kumio waterfall, 70 km north-west of Voknavolok,
• Northern Ladoga skerries,
• Mountain Vottovaara,
• White Sea petroglyphs — ancient pictures carved into the rocks near Belomorsk,
• Onega petroglyphs — images of the Neolithic period near Pudozh.

Republic of Karelia
Republic
Республика Карелия
Other transcription(s)
• Finnish	Karjalan tasavalta
• Livvi	Karjalan tazavaldu
• Karelian Proper	Karjalan tašavalta
• Vepsian	Karjalan tazovaldkund
Flag Coat of arms
Anthem: Anthem of the Republic of Karelia
Coordinates: 63°49′N 33°00′E / 63.817°N 33.000°ECoordinates: 63°49′N 33°00′E / 63.817°N 33.000°E
Country	Russia
Federal district	Northwestern[1]
Economic region	Northern[2]
Capital	Petrozavodsk
Government
• Body	Legislative Assembly[3]
• Head[5]	Artur Parfenchikov[4]
Area [6]
• Total	172,400 km2 (66,600 sq mi)
• Rank	20th
Population  (2021 Census)[7]
• Total	533,121
• Estimate  (2018)[8]	622,484
• Rank	70th
• Density	3.1/km2 (8.0/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+3 (MSK [9])
ISO 3166 code	RU-KR
License plates	10
OKTMO ID	86000000
Official languages	Russian[10]
Website	http://www.gov.karelia.ru

The Republic of Karelia (Russian: Респу́блика Каре́лия, romanized: Respublika Kareliya; Russian pronunciation: [rʲɪˈspublʲɪkə kɐˈrʲelʲɪ(j)ə]; Karelian: Karjalan tašavalta; Livvi: Karjalan tazavaldu; Finnish: Karjalan tasavalta; Veps: Karjalan Tazovaldkund, Ludic: Kard’alan tazavald), also known as just Karelia (Russian: Каре́лия, Ка́рьяла; Karelian: Karjala),^[12] is a republic of Russia situated in Northwest Russia.^[12] The republic is a part of the Northwestern Federal District, and covers an area of 172,400 square kilometres (66,600 square miles), with a population of 533,121 residents.^[7] Its capital is Petrozavodsk.

The modern Karelian Republic was founded as an autonomous republic within the Russian SFSR by the Resolution of the Presidium of the All-Russian Central Executive Committee (VTsIK) on 27 June 1923 and by the Decree of the VTsIK and the Council of People’s Commissars of 25 July 1923, from the Karelian Labour Commune. From 1940 to 1956, it was known as the Karelo-Finnish Soviet Socialist Republic, one of the union republics in the Soviet Union. In 1956, it was once again made an autonomous republic and remained part of Russia following the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991.

Etymology[edit]

«Karelia» derives from the name of the ethnic group—Karelians. The name «Karjala» has unknown origins, however, it is theorised that it may come from the Proto-Finnish word karja, meaning «herd», which was borrowed from the Proto-Germanic harjaz («army»); the ending -la means «earth».^[13]

Geography[edit]

The republic is in the northwestern part of Russia, between the White and Baltic Seas. The White Sea has a shoreline of 630 kilometers (390 mi). It has an area of 172,400 km² (66,600 sq mi). It shares internal borders with Murmansk Oblast (north), Arkhangelsk Oblast (east/south-east), Vologda Oblast (south-east/south), and Leningrad Oblast (south/south-west), and it also borders Finland (Kainuu, Lapland, North Karelia, Northern Ostrobothnia, and South Karelia); the borders measure 723 km. The main bodies of water next to Karelia are the White Sea (an inlet of the Barents Sea) to the north-east and Lake Onega and Lake Ladoga both shared with neighboring Oblasts to the south. Its highest point is the Nuorunen peak at 576 m (1,890 ft).

Geology[edit]

As a part of the Fennoscandian Shield’s ancient Karelian craton, most of the Republic of Karelia’s surficial geology is Archaean or Paleoproterozoic, dated up to 3.4 billion years in the Vodlozero block. This area is the largest contiguous Archaean outcrop in Europe and one of the largest in the world.

Since deglaciation, the rate of post-glacial rebound in the Republic of Karelia has varied. Since the White Sea connected to the World’s oceans uplift along the southern coast of Kandalaksha Gulf has totaled 90 m. In the interval 9,500–5,000 years ago the uplift rate was 9–13 mm/yr. Before the Atlantic period, uplift rate had decreased to 5–5.5 mm/yr, to then rise briefly before arriving at the present uplift rate is 4 mm/yr.^[14]

Rivers[edit]

There are about 27,000 rivers in Karelia.^{[citation needed]} Major rivers include:

• Vodla River (Vodlajoki, 149 km)
• Kem River (Kemijoki, 191 km)
• Kovda River (Koutajoki)
• Shuya River (Šuojogi)
• Suna River (Suunujoki) with Kivach Falls (Kivatšun vesiputous)
• Vyg River (Uikujoki)

Lakes[edit]

There are 60,000 lakes in Karelia. The republic’s lakes and swamps contain about 2,000 km³ of high-quality fresh water. Lake Ladoga (Finnish: Laatokka) and Lake Onega (Ääninen) are the largest lakes in Europe. Other lakes include:

• Nyukozero (Nuokkijärvi)
• Pyaozero (Pääjärvi)
• Segozero (Seesjärvi)
• Syamozero (Säämäjärvi)
• Topozero (Tuoppajärvi)
• Vygozero (Uikujärvi)

The lakes Ladoga and Onega are located in the south of the republic.

Islands[edit]

White Sea coast:

• Oleniy Island
• Chernetskiye Island
• Kamestrov Island
• Kuzova Archipelago
• Shuy Island
• Kutulda Island
• Perkhludy Island
• Lesnaya Osinka Island
• Kotkano Island
• Vygnvolok Island
• Tumishche Island
• Sum Island
• Razostrov Island
• Sedostrov Island
• Myagostrov Island
• Zhuzhmuy Islands
• Kondostrov Island

In Lake Onega:

• Bolshoy Klimenetsky Island

In Lake Ladoga:

• 

  Vossinoysari Island

• Valaam Island
• Mantsinsaari Island
• Lunkulansaari Island

National parks[edit]

• Vodlozero National Park
• Kalevala National Park
• Paanajärvi National Park

Natural resources[edit]

The majority of the republic’s territory (148,000 km² (57,000 sq mi), or 85%) is composed of state forest stock. The total growing stock of timber resources in the forests of all categories and ages is 807 million m³. The mature and over-mature tree stock amounts to 411.8 million m³, of which 375.2 million m³ is coniferous.

Fifty useful minerals are found in Karelia, located in more than 400 deposits and ore-bearing layers. Natural resources of the republic include iron ore, diamonds, vanadium, molybdenum, and others.

Climate[edit]

The Republic of Karelia is located in the Atlantic continental climate zone. The average temperature in January is −8.0 °C (17.6 °F) and +16.4 °C (61.5 °F) in July. Average annual precipitation is 500–700 mm.^[15]

Administrative divisions[edit]

Administrative and territorial division:16 districts (including 3 national districts), 2 city okrugs. 21 urban settlements, 85 rural settlements (including 3 Vepsian rural settlements).^[16][17][18]

History[edit]

Middle ages[edit]

The Karelian people and culture developed during the Viking Age in the region to the west of Lake Ladoga. Karelians were first mentioned in Swedish sagas around the 10th century. Russians first mentioned Karelians in 1143, they called Karelians «Korela».^[19]

Sweden’s interest in Karelia began a centuries-long struggle with Novgorod (later Russia) that resulted in numerous border changes following the many wars fought between the two, the most famous of which is the Pillage of Sigtuna of 1187. In 1137 the oldest documented settlement was established, the modern-day city of Olonets (Aunus).^[20] Karelians converted to Orthodox Christianity in 1227.^[21] The Karelians’ alliance with Novgorod developed into domination by the latter in the 13th century, when Karelia became a part of Novgorod under the name of Obonezhie pyatina as an autonomy. Later Karelia had anti-Novgorod revolts in the 13th and 14th centuries.

Later Karelia became a part of Muscovy when Novgorod was annexed in the second half of the 15th century.

During the Great Northern War (1700–1712) the modern-day capital of Karelia, the city of Petrozavodsk was founded as a cannon factory by Peter the Great.^[22]

19th century[edit]

On September 9(21) 1801 Olonets Governorate was created by order of Alexander I.^[23]

Early 20th century[edit]

In 1906 the Union of White Sea Karelians (Vienan karjalaisten liito) was created; it advocated for equal rights for minorities and democratization.^[24] It stopped existing in 1911 after its leaders were deported to Siberia. It later influenced Karelian intelligentsia which led to the creation of the Uhtua Republic.

In 1918 White Karelia declared independence from Russia, creating the Uhtua Republic. In 1920 Finnish forces in the south occupied Olonets, creating a puppet government, which was crushed by the Red Army in the same year. The Republic of Uhtua was crushed in December 1920.

Soviet Karelia[edit]

On June 8, 1920 Karelian Labour Commune was created. In 1921 an insurrection was started as a last attempt to restore the Uhtua Republic, but it was crushed by the Red Army, many Karelian, Finnish, and some Russian families left for Finland with only some returning to Soviet Karelia, they were later repressed under Stalin.^[25] In 1923, the KLC became the Karelian Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic (Karelian ASSR).

In the 1930s Finnish communists, who fled to Karelia, were purged. People of Finnish and Karelian nationality were also subject to repressions. Despite being 3% of the population, over 41% of all repressed in Karelia were Finns, 27% were Karelian, and 25% were Russian.^[26] Karelia has one of the biggest burial sites of Stalinist purges in Russia – Sandarmoh, where possibly thousands of victims were executed.

Winter War[edit]

During the Winter War, a Soviet puppet government was created in occupied territories. The Finnish Democratic Republic was to incorporate most of Finland’s pre-war territories plus some western parts of the KASSR. Some members of the FDP government were also members of the KASSR government.^[27]

After the Moscow Peace Treaty territories of the Karelian Isthmus were transferred to the newly created Karelo-Finnish Soviet Socialist Republic. After the evacuation of Finnish Karelia, the new territories were left unpopulated, so migrants from Belarus, Ukraine, Russia, and other Soviet republics moved in. To this day, this area has one of the lowest percentages of Karelian and Finnish populations in the Republic.

World War II[edit]

After the beginning of the Great Patriotic war, mass rallies were held on the territory of the republic, at which the inhabitants of Karelia declared their readiness to stand up for the defense of the Soviet Union. Workers of the Onega Tractor Plant wrote “We will work only in such a way as to fully meet the needs of our Red Army. We will double, triple our forces and crush, destroy the German fascists».^[28]

On 24 June 1941, after the German army crossed Zapadnaya Dvina, Finnish president Risto Ryti announced declaration of war on the Soviet Union.^[28] The Finnish army crossed the Soviet border on 1 July.^[29]

Soon after the evacuation of border regions began, On July 3, a republican evacuation commission was created. At its first meeting, it was decided to evacuate children under 14 out of Petrozavodsk. The same decision also refers to the evacuation of 150 families of leading party and Soviet workers in Karelia. Those residents who could work had to remain in the harvest and defense work.^[30]

By September the Finnish army already reached Petrozavodsk and captured Olonets.^[29] Petrozavodsk offensive began on 20 September. To protect the city, the 7th Army under the command of General K.A. Meretskov was directly subordinated to the Headquarters of the Supreme Commander.^[31]

On September 30, the position of the defenders of the city deteriorated sharply. The Finnish army managed to break through Soviet defenses and cut the highway to Kondopoga in the area of the Sulazhgorsky brick factory. In the south Finns came close to the city outskirts. On October 1, due to the threat of encirclement, an order was received from the command to withdraw the main units defending the city.

The fighting near Petrozavodsk allowed the authorities to evacuate most of the civilian population and a significant part of the production capacities. In total, more than 500 thousand people were evacuated from the republic to the east. Petrozavodsk University was temporarily relocated to Syktyvkar.^[29]

After the capture of Petrozavodsk, the capital of Soviet Karelia was transferred first to Medvezhyegorsk, then to Belomorsk. Less than 90 thousand people remained in the occupied territory, half of which are representatives of the Finno-Ugric peoples: Karelians, Vepsians, and Finns. The Finnish administration has officially recognized them as a «kindred» population. The rest received the status of «unrelated» people.^[29] Most of them have been put into concentration camps, along with communists and people who could not speak Finnish or karelian.

Former prisoners of the camps recalled that the staff often treated them more harshly than was supposed to according to the instructions. According to them, the Finns in the presence of children shot prisoners, and beat women, children, and the elderly. One of the prisoners told the Finnish historian Helga Seppel that before leaving Petrozavodsk, the invaders shot several young people for unknown reasons.^[29]

During the occupation, Petrozavodsk was renamed to Äänislinna.

Only a few territories of the KFSSR managed to escape the Finnish occupation: the Belomorsky, Loukhsky, Kemsky, Pudozhsky regions, as well as part of the Medvezhiegorsky, Tungudsky and Ukhta regions. By 1942, about 70 thousand people lived here.^[30]

After the end of the Siege of Leningrad Soviet army was ordered to liberate Karelia.

On 21 June 1944 Svir-Petrozavodsk operation started. On 27 June the Finnish army left Petrozavodsk. By August the Soviet army reached pre-war borders.

Post-war[edit]

After the end of World War II, the Karelian Isthmus was incorporated into the Leningrad Oblast and the city of Alakurtti was transferred to Murmansk Oblast.

After normalization of diplomatic relations between USSR and Finland the status of the Karelo-Finnish SSR was changed back to the Karelian ASSR in 1956. After this Karelian, Veps, and Finnish languages began a decline in usage due to the lack of any support from the state and lack of education.^[32]

The transformation of the KFSSR into the Karelian ASSR was supposed to show that the USSR did not have aggressive goals against Finland.^[33]

In 1978 Korean airlines Boeing 707-321B was shot down over Murmansk oblast and landed near Louhi.

Present-day[edit]

In August 1990 KASSR declared its sovereignty as an autonomous part of the Russian Federation.^[34] And later changed its name to the Republic of Karelia in 1991.

In 2004 Veps National Volost was transferred to Prionezhsky District.

In 2006 a racial conflict and later riot started in Kondopoga after a fight between locals and Caucasian immigrants led to 2 deaths.^[35] This caused an exodus of Muslims from Karelia.

In 2011 a plane crashed near the village of Besovets killing 47 people.

Politics[edit]

The highest executive authority in the Republic of Karelia is the Head of the Republic. The acting Head of the Republic is Artur Parfenchikov, who was elected in February 2017 and later re-elected in 2022.

The parliament of the Republic of Karelia is the Legislative Assembly comprising fifty deputies elected for a four-year term.

The Constitution of the Republic of Karelia was adopted on 12 February 2001.

Demographics[edit]

Population: 533,121 (2021 Census);^[36] 643,548 (2010 Census);^[37] 645,205 (2002 Census);^[38] 791,317 (1989 Census).^[39]

Settlements[edit]

Vital statistics[edit]

	Average population (×1,000)	Live births	Deaths	Natural change	Crude birth rate (per 1,000)	Crude death rate (per 1,000)	Natural change (per 1,000)	Fertility rates
1970	714	11,346	5,333	6,013	15.9	7.5	8.4
1975	723	12,748	6,086	6,662	17.6	8.4	9.2
1980	741	12,275	7,374	4,901	16.6	10.0	6.6
1985	770	13,201	8,205	4,996	17.1	10.7	6.5
1990	792	10,553	8,072	2,481	13.3	10.2	3.1	1.87
1991	790	8,982	8,305	677	11.4	10.5	0.9	1.62
1992	788	7,969	9,834	−1,865	10.1	12.5	−2.4	1.46
1993	782	7,003	11,817	−4,814	9.0	15.1	−6.2	1.30
1994	774	6,800	13,325	−6,525	8.8	17.2	−8.4	1.26
1995	767	6,729	12,845	−6,116	8.8	16.7	−8.0	1.24
1996	760	6,461	11,192	−4,731	8.5	14.7	−6.2	1.19
1997	753	6,230	10,306	−4,076	8.3	13.7	−5.4	1.15
1998	747	6,382	10,285	−3,903	8.5	13.8	−5.2	1.18
1999	740	6,054	11,612	−5,558	8.2	15.7	−7.5	1.12
2000	732	6,374	12,083	−5,709	8.7	16.5	−7.8	1.18
2001	725	6,833	12,597	−5,764	9.4	17.4	−7.9	1.25
2002	717	7,247	13,435	−6,188	10.1	18.7	−8.6	1.33
2003	707	7,290	14,141	−6,851	10.3	20.0	−9.7	1.32
2004	696	7,320	13,092	−5,772	10.5	18.8	−8.3	1.31
2005	686	6,952	12,649	−5,697	10.1	18.4	−8.3	1.24
2006	676	6,938	11,716	−4,778	10.3	17.3	−7.1	1.22
2007	667	7,319	11,007	−3,688	11.0	16.5	−5.5	1.28
2008	659	7,682	11,134	−3,452	11.7	16.9	−5.2	1.35
2009	651	7,884	10,599	−2,715	12.1	16.3	−4.2	1.58
2010	644	7,821	10,471	−2,650	12.1	16.2	−4.1	1.58
2011	641	7,711	9,479	−1,768	12.0	14.7	−2.7	1.60
2012	640	8,027	9,804	−1,777	12.6	15.4	−2.8	1.71
2013	636	7,553	9,285	−1,732	11.9	14.6	−2.7	1.65
2014	634	7,816	9,245	−1,429	12.3	14.6	−2.3	1.74
2015	631	7,731	9,648	−1,917	12.2	15.3	−3.1	1.76(e)

Ethnic groups[edit]

According to the 2021 Census,^[40] ethnic Russians make up 86.4% of the republic’s population, ethnic Karelians 5.5%. Other groups include Belarusians (2.0%), Ukrainians (1.2%), Finns (0.7%), Vepsians (0.5%), and a host of smaller groups, each accounting for less than 0.5% of the total population.

Ethnic group	1926 census	1939 census	1959 census	1970 census	1979 census	1989 census	2002 census	2010 census	2021 census1
Number	%	Number	%	Number	%	Number	%	Number	%	Number	%	Number	%	Number	%	Number	%
Russians	153,967	57.2%	296,529	63.2%	412,773	62.7%	486,198	68.1%	522,230	71.3%	581,571	73.6%	548,941	76.6%	507,654	82.2%	407,469	86.4%
Karelians	100,781	37.4%	108,571	23.2%	85,473	13.0%	84,180	11.8%	81,274	11.1%	78,928	10.0%	65,651	9.2%	45,570	7.4%	25,901	5.5%
Belarusians	555	0.2%	4,263	0.9%	71,900	10.9%	66,410	9.3%	59,394	8.1%	55,530	7.0%	37,681	5.3%	23,345	3.8%	9,372	2.0%
Ukrainians	708	0.3%	21,112	4.5%	23,569	3.6%	27,440	3.8%	23,765	3.2%	28,242	3.6%	19,248	2.7%	12,677	2.0%	5,579	1.2%
Finns	2,544	0.9%	8,322	1.8%	27,829	4.2%	22,174	3.1%	20,099	2.7%	18,420	2.3%	14,156	2.0%	8,577	1.4%	3,397	0.7%
Vepsians	8,587	3.2%	9,392	2.0%	7,179	1.1%	6,323	0.9%	5,864	0.8%	5,954	0.8%	4,870	0.7%	3,423	0.5%	2,471	0.5%
Others	2,194	0.8%	20,709	4.4%	29,869	4.5%	20,726	2.9%	19,565	2.7%	21,505	2.7%	25,734	3.6%	16,422	2.7%	17,434	3.7%
1 61,498 people were registered from administrative databases, and could not declare an ethnicity. It is estimated that the proportion of ethnicities in this group is the same as that of the declared group.[41]

Languages[edit]

Currently Russian is the only official language of the republic. Karelian, Veps, and Finnish have been officially recognized languages of the republic since 2004, and they are de jure supported by the government.^[42] In early 2000s Karelian and Veps language nests were created in Petrozavodsk, Kalevala, Tuksa and Sheltozero,^[43] but were later shut down.^[44] Now native languages of Karelia have little support from the government.^[32]

Finnish was the second official language of Karelia from the creation of the Karelian Labour Commune up until the dissolution of the Soviet Union.^[45] Thereafter there were suggestions to raise Karelian as the second official language, but they were repeatedly turned down.^[46][42]

Religion[edit]

The Karelians have traditionally been Eastern Orthodox. Lutheranism was brought to Karelia during Sweden’s conquest of Karelia and was common in regions that then belonged to Finland. Nowadays Lutherans can be found in most big settlements but they remain a minority.^[49]

Catholics have one parish in Petrozavodsk.^[50]

The Petrozavodsk Jewish Religious Community was registered in 1997.^[51]

Karelian Muslims were organized into Karelian muftiate in 2001.^[52]

According to a 2012 survey,^[47] 27% of the population of Karelia adheres to the Russian Orthodox Church, 2% are unaffiliated Christians, and 1% are members of Protestant churches. In addition, 44% of the population declared to be «spiritual but not religious», 18% is atheist, and 8% follow other religions or did not answer the question.^[47]

Economy[edit]

Karelia’s economy is based on forestry, mining, tourism, agriculture, fishing^[53] and the paper industry.

Despite being 0,4% of Russia’s population, 65–70% of all Russian trout is grown in the Republic, 26% of iron ore pellets, 20% of paper, 12% of wood pulp and cellulose.

Karelia’s gross regional product (GRP) in 2007 was 109.5 billion rubles.^[54] The Karelian economy’s GRP in 2010 was estimated at 127733.8 million rubles.^{[citation needed]} Karelia’s GRP in 2021 was 176 billion rubles.^[53] This amounts to 291,841 rubles per capita, which is lower than national average.

The largest companies in the region include Karelsky Okatysh ($1319755601 of revenue in 2021), Segezha Pulp and Paper Mill ($86897488 of revenue in 2021), OAO Kondopoga ($20366599 of revenue in 2021).^[55]

In the structure of the gross regional product in 2017, the main types of economic activity were:mining – 17.6%; manufacturing industries – 16.9%; transportation and storage – 11.8%; wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles – 9.8%; public administration and military security; social security – 8.7%.^[56]

A fast fiber-optic cable link connecting Finnish Kuhmo and Karelian Kostomuksha was built in 2007, providing fast telecommunications.^[54]

Industry[edit]

Forestry[edit]

The forest and wood processing sector dominates industrial activity in Karelia. A large number of small enterprises carry out timber logging whereas pulp and paper production is concentrated in five large enterprises, which produce about a quarter of Russia’s total output of paper.^[57] Three largest companies in the pulp and paper sector in 2021 were: OAO Kondopoga (sales of $369314325), Segezha Pulp and Paper Mill ($221317040) and RK-Grand (Pitkäranta Pulp Factory) ($78750849).^[55]

The timber industry complex of Karelia produces 28% of the republic’s industrial output.^[58]

Mining[edit]

Karelia is a region with a lot of natural resources, from gold to metals.^[59][60]

In 2007, extractive industries (including extraction of metal ores) amounted to 30% of the republic’s industrial output.^[54] There are about 53 mining companies in Karelia, employing more than 10,000 people.^[61] One of the most important companies in the sector is AO Karelian Pellet, which is the 5th largest of Russia’s 25 mining and ore dressing enterprises involved in ore extraction and iron ore concentrate production. Other large companies in the sector were OAO Karelnerud, Mosavtorod State Unitary Enterprise, and Pitkjaranta Mining Directorate State Unitary Enterprise.^[15]

Energy[edit]

As of 2021, there were 29 powerplants, of them 21 were hydroplants and 8 thermal power plants.^[62]

Agriculture[edit]

Due to Karelia’s climate, only 1,2% of the land is used for farming. Most of the farmland is located on podzol.^[63]

20 agricultural organizations employing 2.3 thousand people. Animal husbandry is the leading branch of agriculture in the Republic, the main areas of which are dairy cattle breeding, pig breeding, broiler poultry farming, and fur farming.^[64]

Annually agricultural enterprises of the region produce up to 59 thousand tons of milk. Based on its natural and climatic conditions, the plant growing industry is focused on the production of feed for livestock, the bulk of potatoes and vegetables are grown in small forms of management.^[64]

Fishing[edit]

Fishing enterprises of Karelia produced 91.9 thousand tons of aquatic biological resources in 2021.

In the Barents Sea and the Atlantic Ocean, 89.9 thousand tons of aquatic biological resources were caught, of them 34.6 thousand tons of cod and haddock, 34.1 thousand tons of blue whiting, 18 thousand tons of mackerel and 1.1 thousand tons of northern shrimp. 306 tons of fish were caught in the White Sea and 612 tons of kelp and fucus were harvested. The catch of freshwater fish amounted to 1.1 thousand tons.^[65]

Tourism[edit]

Karelia is popular for international and domestic tourism.

Traditional, active, cultural and ecological types of tourism are popular among tourists.^[66]

Karelia attracts ecotourists with its nature and wilderness^[67] and low population density. During the summer water tourism is also popular among many tourists.

Cultural tourism is also a big part of Karelia’s tourism economy. The region attracts many tourists with its wooden architecture, local culture, and traditions.

Karelia also has the first Russian health resort – Martial Waters (1719).

Foreign trade[edit]

The economy of Karelia is export-orientated. By the volume of exports per capita, Karelia is among the leading regions of Russia. More than 50% of manufactured products (and up to 100% in several industries) are exported.^[53]

The Republic’s main export partners in 2001 were Finland (32% of total exports), Germany (7%), Netherlands (7%), and the United Kingdom (6%).^[15] Main export products were lumber (over 50%), iron ore pellets (13–15%) paper and cardboard (6–9%) and sawn timber with (5–7%). Many of Karelia’s companies have received investments from Finland.^[15]

Transportation[edit]

Railroad[edit]

Karelia is a strategically important railroad region due to the fact that it connects Murmansk with the rest of Russia by Kirov Railway, which was electrified in 2005.^[68]

There are also railways connections with Finland in Värtsilä and Kostomuksha, but they are not electrified.

All Karelian district capitals are connected by railroad, except for the Kalevalsky district and Prionezhsky district, which do not have a capital.

In total, Karelia has 1915 km of railways.^[69]

Water communications[edit]

Water communications connect Karelia with the Barents, Baltic, Black, White and Caspian Seas.

Whitea sea-Baltic Canal was built in the 1930s to connect the Baltic and White seas. The 227 km long canal was built by the prisoners. Even though it has 19 locks, the canal cannot pass vessels with a draft of more than 5 meters.^[70] The canal is a part of the Volgo-Baltic Waterway.

There are also river ports on the coast of the White Sea, there were plans to upgrade them to ocean ports but they were deemed too expensive.^[71]

Highways[edit]

Automobile highway R-21 «Kola» crosses Karelia and connects Murmansk Region and Murmansk seaport with St. Petersburg and Moscow.

E105 European highway also goes thru Karelia.

Other highways connect with Finland in Louhsky district Värtsilä and Kostomuksha.

Many of Karelian roads are still unimproved.^[72]

Air transportation[edit]

Petrozavodsk Airport is the only working airport in Karelia as of 2022.^[73]

There are other airports, such as Kalevala or Kostomuksha, but they are not used or used by firefighters.^[74]

Culture[edit]

Karelia is very culturally diverse region that was influenced by Finno-Ugric, Slavic and Scandinavian cultures.

Literature[edit]

Karelia is sometimes called «the songlands», as Karelian poems constitute most of the Karelo-Finnish epic Kalevala and many of Russian Bylinas were documented in Pudozh.^[75]

The written literature of Karelia was formed at the beginning of the 20th century. In the 1930s Karelian and Veps languages gained a writing system, but during the Stalinist repressions many books in veps and Karelian were burned and cultural figures were deported.^[76]

After the creation of the Karelian Labour Commune many American and Canadian finns moved to Karelia and began creating new literature. Many Karelians could understand Finnish so some authors, such as one of the most famous Karelian writers Antti Timonen, started to write in Finnish.^[77]

Art[edit]

Karelian art history begun with Petroglyphs, which were created around 6,500 years ago.^[78] They became a UNESCO World Heritage Site, listed in 2021.^[79]

Icon painters were the first professional artists of Karelia.^[80]

Karelia has become a source of inspiration for many famous artists of the 19th–20th century such as: Ivan Shishkin, Arkhip Kuindzhi, and N. K. Roerich.

• 

  Ivan Shishkin, In the wild north… (1891)

• 

  Arkhip Kuindzhi, Ladoga (1873)

• 

  N. K. Roerich Pomors. Evening (1907)

Architecture[edit]

Karelia is famous for its wooden architecture. Karelian architecture developed under the strong influence of Novgorod architecture.^[81] Examples of Karelian architecture are collected in the Kizhi Pogost Museum.

Later Karelian architecture was influenced by Finns, especially after the creation of the Karelian Labour Commune.

Music[edit]

Kantele is the most famous traditional Karelian musical instrument. In Kalevala the mage Väinämöinen makes the first kantele from the jawbone of a giant pike and a few hairs from Hiisi’s stallion.

In 1939, the Symphony Orchestra of the Karelo-Finnish State Philharmonic was founded.^[82]

Throughout the years, many Karelian, Russian, Veps, Finnish and Pomor choirs were created, such as the Karelian choir «Oma pajo» in 1990, which is still active.^[83]

Museums[edit]

State Historical, Architectural and Ethnographic Museum-Reserve «Kizhi»^[84]

National Museum of the Republic of Karelia^[85] (including Sheltozero Veps Ethnographic Museum, Museum «Marcial Waters» and Museum of the Karelian Front in Belomorsk^[86])^[84]

«Valaam Research, Church-Archaeological and Natural Museum-Reserve»

Museum of Fine Arts of the Republic of Karelia^[85][87]

Museum of the History of Public Education of the Republic of Karelia

Theaters[edit]

Musical Theater of the Republic of Karelia

National Theater of the Republic of Karelia

State Puppet Theater of the Republic of Karelia

Drama Theater of the Republic of Karelia «Creative Workshop»^[85]

Non-state author’s theater «Ad Liberum»^[88]

• 

  Musical Theater of the Republic of Karelia

• 

  National Theater of the Republic of Karelia

• 

  State Puppet Theater of the Republic of Karelia

• 

  Drama Theater of the Republic of Karelia «Creative Workshop»

• 

  Non-state author’s theater «Ad Liberum»

Holidays[edit]

Along with Russian holidays, Karelia has its official public holidays as well as unofficial holidays.

Official[edit]

Date	Name	Russian name	Remarks
April 18	Day of firefighters of the Republic of Karelia	День пожарной охраны Республики Карелия	Holiday celebrating Karelian fire defense became official in 1998.[89]
May 31	Day of cultural workers of the Republic of Karelia	День работника культуры Республики Карелия	Holiday celebrating Karelian workers in the culture industry, became official in 2000[90]
Summer[91] (Official June	Republic of Karelia day (Republic Day)	День Республики Карелия	Holiday celebrating creation of the Karelian Labour commune, became official in 1999[92]
September 16	Day of formation of the trade union movement in Karelia	День образования профсоюзного движения в Карелии	Holiday celebrating Karelian trade unions and worker’s rights, became official in 2011[93]
September 30	Day of the liberation of Karelia from fascist invaders	День освобождения Карелии от фашистских захватчиков	Holiday celebrating liberation from Finnish occupation during WW2[94]

Unofficial[edit]

Religious[edit]

Date	Name	Karelian name	Russian name	Remarks
January 7 to January 18	Winter religious Holidays	Vierissänkesk, Sv’atkat, Sunduma	Зимние святки	Celebrations after Christmas
January 19	Baptism	Vieristä, Vieristy, Vederis	Крещение	Prelude to Maslenitsa
May 6	Saint George’s Day	Jyrin päivä, Jyrrinpäivy, Kevät Jyrgi	Егорьев день
May 22	Nikola Veshny	Pyhä Miikkula, Miikkulan päivä, Miikkulanpäivy, Mikula	Никола Вешний	Day celebrating Saint Nicholas
End of July	Bowl of Ukko	Ukon vakka	Чаша Укко	Ancient pre-Christian agricultural holiday
July 7	Ivan’s Day	Iivnanpäivä, Iivananpäivy, Ivananpäivä	Иванов день	Holiday celebrating summer solstice
From the end of Ivan’s day before Saint Peter’s day	Summer religious holidays	Kezäsv’atkat, Kesäsvätkat	Летние святки	Prelude to Saint-Peter’s day
July 12	Saint Peter’s day	Petrunpäivä, Pedrunpäivy, Pedrunpäivä	Петров день	Celebrations before harvest
August 2	Elijah’s day	Il’l’anpäivä, Il’l’anpäiväy	Ильин день
August 31	Frol’s Day	Frolan päivä	Фролов день	Local holidas of livestock protection
End of October	Kekri	Kekri, Kegri	Кегри	Ancient autumn festival
December 25	Christmas	Rostuo	Католическое Рождество	Western Christmas is celebrated by Karelian Finns
References[95]

Cultural[edit]

Region	Date	Name	Russian name	Remarks
All of Karelia	April	Day of Karelian and Vepsian writing	День карельской и вепсской письменности	Cultural holiday of karelians and vepsians[96]
February	Kalevala Day	День Калевалы	Day celebrating national epic Kalevala[97]
February	International Mother Language Day	Международный день родного языка
Autumn	Kegri	Кегри	Gained government support in 2022[98]
Belomorskyi	November	Holiday of Pomors of the Karelian coast «Nikola Zimniy»	Праздник поморов Карельского берега «Никола Зимний»	Pomor holiday
Kalevalskyi	June	International holiday of Ukhta Karelians	Международный праздник Ухтинских карел	North Karelian holiday
Kemskyi	August	Indian Summer in the Kem Pomorye	Бабье лето в Кемском поморье	Pomor holiday
	Day of the Dead Poduzhemsky villages	День погибших подужемских деревень	Day remembering abandoned villages of North Karelia
May	Holiday of men’s craft «Oars on the water»	Праздник мужских ремесле «Весла на воду»
Louhskyi	June	Interregional holiday «Hello, Kestenga!»	Межрегиональный праздник «Здравствуй, Кестеньга!»	North Karelian holiday
August	Holiday «Fairytale ship Korguev»	Праздник «Сказочный корабль Коргуева»	Holiyday in Chupa
August	Holiday «Old Woman Louhi’s Day»	Праздник «День старухи Лоухи»	Holiday celebrating Kalevala
August	Kanšallenen puku ompelos	Каншалленен пуку омпелуш	Holiday in Sofporog
Muyezerskyi	March	Interdistrict cultural and sports festival «Winter fun»	Межрайонный культурно-спортивный праздник «Зимние забавы»	Holiday in Muyezersky
	Karelian-Finnish friendship holiday of the village of Ondozero and the village of Yolyolä (Finland)	Карело-финский праздник дружбы села Ондозеро и деревни Ёлёля (Финляндия)
Olonetskyi	May	Ecological festival «Olonets – goose capital»	Экологический фестиваль «Олония-гусиная столица»	Holiday in Olonets
December	Olonets Father Frost Games	Олонецкие Игры Дедов Морозов	Holiyday challening people pretending to be Ded Moroz or Talviukko
Petrozavodsk	February	Международный зимний фестиваль «Гиперборея»	International winter festival «Hyperborea»	Ice sculpture festival[99]
Prionezhskyi		Prionezhsky song wreath	Прионежский песенный венок
	Elonpuu (Tree of life)	Древо жизни	Veps holiday[100]
Pryazhinskyi	March	«Kulyan kižat»	«Кюлян кижат»	Holiday in Vedlozero
	Holiday of Karelian culture	Праздник карельской культуры	Holiday in Kinerma
Pudozhskyi	June	Interregional holiday «Dawns of Pudozh»	Межрегиональный праздник «Зори Пудожья»	Holiday in Pudozh
June	Holiday of Russian epic culture «In the land of the epic»	Праздник русской эпической культуры «В краю былинной»	Holiday in Semenovo
Segezshky	June	Ethnocultural holiday «Voitsk festivities»	Этнокультурный праздник «Воицкие гуляния»	Holiday in Nadvoitsy
References[95]

See also[edit]

• Karelian Isthmus
• Music of Karelia
• Sami music
• Pegrema

References[edit]

Sources[edit]

• Верховный Совет Карельской АССР. №473-ЗРК 30 мая 1978 г. «Конституция Республики Карелия», в ред. Закона №1314-ЗРК от 16 июля 2009 г «О внесении изменений в Конституцию Республики Карелия». Опубликован: отдельной брошюрой. (Supreme Soviet of the Karelian ASSR. #473-ZRK May 30, 1978 Constitution of the Republic of Karelia, as amended by the Law #1314-ZRK of July 16, 2009 On Amending the Constitution of the Republic of Karelia. ).

External links[edit]

• (in English, Russian, and Finnish) Official website of the Republic of Karelia
• (in English, Russian, and Finnish) Karelia.ru web server
• (in English, Russian, and Finnish) Heninen.net – various information about Karelia
• Information about Karelians
• Tracing Finland’s eastern border-thisisFINLAND
• Saimaa Canal links two Karelias-thisisFINLAND
• ProKarelia (also available in other languages)

Презентация на тему: » Karelia is the tourist region. Information about Karelia Karelia is region of lakes, forests and bogs. There are many towns and countries in Karelia.» — Транскрипт:

---

---

«WELCOME

TO KARELIA»

The tourist route

Anyone who visits Karelia will always be tempted to come back. Karelia is a country of one thousand lakes, and more than 23 thousand rivers. Almost all of them are less than 10 km long.

About half of Karelia’s territory is covered with woods, mostly pine and fir.

— Let’s start on a voyage by the Neva River and Ladoga and Onega Lakes to the famous islands of Valaam and Kizhi, to see the charming nature of the northern land.

The island Valaam

Belfry and the Church

of the Transfiguration

Kizhi is a small island (7 km long and about one and a half km wide) in lake Onega, Europe’s second largest. The Kizhi is called «Russian Wonder.»

The most precious thing in Kizhi is 22-cupola Cathedral of the Transfiguration built in 1714. Its walls, ceilings and roof were made of pine trees without any nails, using only an axe. The twenty-two cupolas are of different size which gives the cathedral a fairy-tale look

The walls of northern structures were always made of pine. The carpenters always tried to make the building stand as long as possible. 22 domes are reliable protection against the wet. When it rains, water falls from the upper to the lower domes, which throw water far away from the walls. That is why the wooden church has managed to survive so long.

We don’t know anything about the man of genius who built the it. There is a legend on Kizhi that this church was created (built) by Master Nestor. Having built it, he threw his axe into Lake Onega with the words, «There has never been, there isn’t and there will never be anything like it.»

The island Valaam is the biggest on the Ladoga. There is a monastery on the island. It was founded by Novgorod townsfolk and stood to defend Russian land borders, and many times repelled Swedish attacks. The monastery was ruined in the early XVII century, but restored in the XVIII century. Along with trees that are common to these latitudes, you can see oak, cedar groves, alleys of silver fir and fruit gardens.

The magnificent nature of these parts has inspired many Russian painters:

I.I. Shishkin, F. A. Vasilyev, A. I. Kuindzhi.

One will never forget the vast, deep rivers and lakes as great as the sea.

There are also other interesting wooden constructions, small chapels, living houses, etc.

Kizhi! People from every corner of the world keep coming here. They speak different languages but all agree on one point: Kizhi is incomparable!

Источники:

• Автор шаблона для презентации: Погодаева Оксана Викторовна, педагог дополнительного образования МБУ ДО СЮН г. Новокузнецка
• Ветка. http://photoshopia.ru/clipart/data/1319/medium/1442769904315_photoshopia_ru.png
• Планета Земля. https://r.mtdata.ru/r480x-/ u19/photo0F6F/20890808034-0/original.jpg
• Флаг России. http:// www.molokovsem.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/rusca-seo1-300×260.png
• Красивые места: Карелия http :// krasivye-mesta.ru/kareliya
• Валаам. Википедия. https://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki /
• Церковь Преображения на острове Кижи. http:// www.mandalay.ru/cerkov-preobrazheniya-gospodnya
• 10 лучших достопримечательностей в республике Карелия. https:// www.tripadvisor.ru/Attractions-g298504-Activities-Republic_of_Karelia_Northwestern_District.html

Данная презентация содержит основную информацию о местоположении Республики Карелия, ее столице и главных достопримечательностях. Может быть использована в средней школе. На одном из слайдов представлена информация о Карелии в цифрах (протяженность, площадь и т.п.), что позволяет повторить числительные. Презентация может быть использована в рамках проведения тематической недели.

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