Kenozyorsky National Park
Encyclopedia
Kenozyorsky National Park is the national park
in the north of Russia
, located in Kargopolsky and Plesetsky Districts of Arkhangelsk Oblast
. It was established December 28, 1991. Since 2004, the National Park has the status of the UNESCO
Biosphere Reserve
.
. In Soviet Union
, after a number of administrative changes, the area ended up in the Arkhangelsk Oblast. In 1950s—1980s, as everywhere in Russian North, the area suffered severely from depopulation, in particular, all villages between Lake Lekshmozero and Lake Kenozero were deserted.
In 1991, the decision was taken to create a National Park in the area. All historical monuments were transferred to the park administration, and some of them have been restored. December 28, 1991 the park was officially created. The staff of the park at the time of creation was 7 persons. In 1992 it was increased to 35 persons, and in 1993 to 153. In 2004, the park became a UNESCO
Biosphere Reserve
.
, at the border with the Republic of Karelia
. The northern part of the Park is centered at the Lake Kenozero
, one of the biggest lakes of the region. The headquarters of the Park are located in the village of Vershinino, on the northern shore of the lake. The Lake Kenozero is the source of the Kena River
, a major left tributary of the Onega
. The upper course of the Kena is located in the park, as well as the Pocha River, the major tributary of the Lake Kenozero, its source, Lake Pochozero, and the lower course of the main tributary of the Lake Pochozero, the Undosha River.
The southern part contains Lake Lekshmozero
and the upper course of the Lekshma River, also the left tributary of the Onega. Lakes Lekshmozero and Kenozero are separated by a number of lesser lakes, including Lake Naglimozero and Lake Vilno.
Some areas along the Karelian border drain into the basin of the Vodla
, and eventually to the Baltic Sea
. Thus, the park contains the portion of the divide between the basins of Atlantic and Arctic oceans.
. A number of trails have been opened in the park.
There are several wooden architecture monuments. One of them is Porzhensky Pogost in the western part of the park, which is the ensemble of St. George church with the bell-tower (both from 18th century) surrounded by the wooden wall with gates and towers (1789). The villages adjacent to Porzhensky Pogost have been deserted, and there is no road heading to it, so that the Pogost is only accessible via a pedestrian trail.
There are two roads into the park. In the southern part, south of Lake Lekshmozero
, there is an unpaved road connecting Kargopol
and Pudozh
. Another road in the northern part of the park branches off from the Onezhsky Trakt, connecting Kargopol via Plesetsk
to Yemetsk. This road runs to the village on Pershlakhta on Lake Kenozero
and then connects to the other villages on and around Lake Kenozero.
National park
A national park is a reserve of natural, semi-natural, or developed land that a sovereign state declares or owns. Although individual nations designate their own national parks differently A national park is a reserve of natural, semi-natural, or developed land that a sovereign state declares or...
in the north of Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
, located in Kargopolsky and Plesetsky Districts of Arkhangelsk Oblast
Arkhangelsk Oblast
Arkhangelsk Oblast is a federal subject of Russia . It includes the Arctic archipelagos of Franz Josef Land and Novaya Zemlya, as well as the Solovetsky Islands in the White Sea....
. It was established December 28, 1991. Since 2004, the National Park has the status of the UNESCO
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
Biosphere Reserve
Biosphere reserve
The Man and the Biosphere Programme of UNESCO was established in 1971 to promote interdisciplinary approaches to management, research and education in ecosystem conservation and sustainable use of natural resources.-Development:...
.
History
Kenozero was always a remote area. In 19th century, the area was divided between Pudozhsky Uyezd (west) and Kargopolsky Uyezd (east) of the Olonets GovernorateOlonets Governorate
The Olonets Governorate or Government of Olonets was a guberniya of north-western Imperial Russia, extending from Lake Ladoga almost to the White Sea, bounded W. by Finland, N. and E. by Arkhangelsk and Vologda, and S. by Novgorod and St. Petersburg...
. In Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
, after a number of administrative changes, the area ended up in the Arkhangelsk Oblast. In 1950s—1980s, as everywhere in Russian North, the area suffered severely from depopulation, in particular, all villages between Lake Lekshmozero and Lake Kenozero were deserted.
In 1991, the decision was taken to create a National Park in the area. All historical monuments were transferred to the park administration, and some of them have been restored. December 28, 1991 the park was officially created. The staff of the park at the time of creation was 7 persons. In 1992 it was increased to 35 persons, and in 1993 to 153. In 2004, the park became a UNESCO
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
Biosphere Reserve
Biosphere reserve
The Man and the Biosphere Programme of UNESCO was established in 1971 to promote interdisciplinary approaches to management, research and education in ecosystem conservation and sustainable use of natural resources.-Development:...
.
Location and geography
Kenozyorsky National Park occupies the south-western part of Plesetsky District and the north-western part of Kargopolsky District of the Arkhangelsk OblastArkhangelsk Oblast
Arkhangelsk Oblast is a federal subject of Russia . It includes the Arctic archipelagos of Franz Josef Land and Novaya Zemlya, as well as the Solovetsky Islands in the White Sea....
, at the border with the Republic of Karelia
Republic of Karelia
The Republic of Karelia is a federal subject of Russia .-Geography:The republic is located in the northwestern part of Russia, taking intervening position between the basins of White and Baltic seas...
. The northern part of the Park is centered at the Lake Kenozero
Lake Kenozero
Lake Kenozero is a freshwater lake, located in the south-west of Plesetsky District of Arkhangelsk Oblast in Russia. It is one of the biggest lakes in Arkhangelsk Oblast and the biggest one in Plesetsky District. The area of the lake is , and the area of its basin is . Lake Kenozero is the source...
, one of the biggest lakes of the region. The headquarters of the Park are located in the village of Vershinino, on the northern shore of the lake. The Lake Kenozero is the source of the Kena River
Kena River
The Kena is a river in Plesetsky District of Arkhangelsk Oblast in Russia. It is a left tributary of the Onega River. It is long, and the area of its basin . The source of the Kena is at Lake Kenozero....
, a major left tributary of the Onega
Onega River
The Onega is a river in Kargopolsky, Plesetsky, and Onezhsky Districts of Arkhangelsk Oblast in Russia. The Onega connects Lake Lacha with the Onega Bay in the White Sea southwest of Arkhangelsk, flowing in the northern direction. The discharge at the source is and at the mouth is . The river is ...
. The upper course of the Kena is located in the park, as well as the Pocha River, the major tributary of the Lake Kenozero, its source, Lake Pochozero, and the lower course of the main tributary of the Lake Pochozero, the Undosha River.
The southern part contains Lake Lekshmozero
Lake Lekshmozero
Lake Lekshmozero is a freshwater lake, located in the north-west of Kargopolsky District of Arkhangelsk Oblast in Russia. It is one of the biggest lakes in Arkhangelsk Oblast and the second biggest in Kargopolsky District . The area of the lake is , and the area of its basin is . Lake Lekshmozero...
and the upper course of the Lekshma River, also the left tributary of the Onega. Lakes Lekshmozero and Kenozero are separated by a number of lesser lakes, including Lake Naglimozero and Lake Vilno.
Some areas along the Karelian border drain into the basin of the Vodla
Vodla River
Vodla is a river in the south-east of Republic of Karelia, Russia. The town of Pudozh is located along Vodla....
, and eventually to the Baltic Sea
Baltic Sea
The Baltic Sea is a brackish mediterranean sea located in Northern Europe, from 53°N to 66°N latitude and from 20°E to 26°E longitude. It is bounded by the Scandinavian Peninsula, the mainland of Europe, and the Danish islands. It drains into the Kattegat by way of the Øresund, the Great Belt and...
. Thus, the park contains the portion of the divide between the basins of Atlantic and Arctic oceans.
Tourism
The park contains natural as well as cultural monuments, and is also oriented at ecotourismEcotourism
Ecotourism is a form of tourism visiting fragile, pristine, and usually protected areas, intended as a low impact and often small scale alternative to standard commercial tourism...
. A number of trails have been opened in the park.
There are several wooden architecture monuments. One of them is Porzhensky Pogost in the western part of the park, which is the ensemble of St. George church with the bell-tower (both from 18th century) surrounded by the wooden wall with gates and towers (1789). The villages adjacent to Porzhensky Pogost have been deserted, and there is no road heading to it, so that the Pogost is only accessible via a pedestrian trail.
There are two roads into the park. In the southern part, south of Lake Lekshmozero
Lake Lekshmozero
Lake Lekshmozero is a freshwater lake, located in the north-west of Kargopolsky District of Arkhangelsk Oblast in Russia. It is one of the biggest lakes in Arkhangelsk Oblast and the second biggest in Kargopolsky District . The area of the lake is , and the area of its basin is . Lake Lekshmozero...
, there is an unpaved road connecting Kargopol
Kargopol
-Culture and recreation:Today, Kargopol is a sleepy historical town adjoining the Kenozyorsky National Park. It is best known in Russia for Kargopol toys , which are small, simple clay figures painted in traditional style....
and Pudozh
Pudozh
Pudozh is a town and the administrative center of Pudozhsky District of the Republic of Karelia, Russia, located on the Vodla River east of Petrozavodsk. Population: 8,000 ....
. Another road in the northern part of the park branches off from the Onezhsky Trakt, connecting Kargopol via Plesetsk
Plesetsk
Plesetsk is an urban locality Plesetsk is an urban locality Plesetsk is an urban locality (a work settlement and the administrative center of Plesetsky District, Arkhangelsk Oblast, Russia, situated about northeast of Moscow and south of Arkhangelsk. Municipally, it is the administrative...
to Yemetsk. This road runs to the village on Pershlakhta on Lake Kenozero
Lake Kenozero
Lake Kenozero is a freshwater lake, located in the south-west of Plesetsky District of Arkhangelsk Oblast in Russia. It is one of the biggest lakes in Arkhangelsk Oblast and the biggest one in Plesetsky District. The area of the lake is , and the area of its basin is . Lake Kenozero is the source...
and then connects to the other villages on and around Lake Kenozero.