Six hundred lakes teeming with fish. Red rugged cliffs towering in the sky and virgin Taiga forest as far as the eye can see. Paanajärvi National Park is Karelia’s last frontier: uninhabited, untouched and wild. The reindeer here are not domesticated and the lakes still have crayfish from pre-glacial times, when all of Karelia was covered by the White Sea.
Paanajärvi is ancient Saami land. Old pottery, drums and silver treasures were found in the park. Stunning hiking trails lead up to the “Seids” (Saami ritual sites). The mystic stone formations are located on the top of Paanajärvi’s highest mountains and offer breathtaking vistas as far as Finland.
With a depth of 128 metres, the crystal clear Lake Paanajärvi is the deepest lake in the region and an excellent place for swimming. Lake Paanajärvi lies in a deep canyon, which was formed over 1.5 billion years ago as a result of earthquakes. Later, glaciers rounded the summits of the surrounding mountains.
On the Northern shore of Lake Paanajärvi the Ruskeakallio (Red Rock) Cliffs rise 60 metres in the sky, forming an important habitat for many rare species.
Paanajärvi’s highest waterfall, the Kivakkakoski Rapids, has a drop of 12 metres and falls in two streams. The beautiful five step Mäntykoski Rapids in the West of Lake Paanajärvi is also worth a visit.
Karelia’s three highest mountains - Mount Nuorunen (576 m), Mount Mäntytunturi (542 m) and Mount Kivakkatunturi (499m) lie in Paanajärvi National Park. On top of Mount Nuorunen and Mount Kivakkatunturi are the religious sites of the ancient Saami people.
Traces of the ancient Saami tribes can be found on top of Mount Kivakkatunturi and Mount Nuorunen. The stone compositions, so - called “Seids,” were ancient sacred sites.
In the old Karelian settlement there is a centre for restoring Karelian culture. The cultural events arranged by the national park (in the courtyard of old Karelian style buildings with wooden decorations) bring this ancient culture to life.
The traditional Arola Farm is an old Finnish settlement, located near Lake Paanajärvi’s Eastern side next to the former Russian border. Buildings such as a sauna and a silo, as well as the posts, reveal what living here was like more than 50 years ago.
Watch the whooper swan, the golden eye and the black throated diver play on Paanajärvi’s lakes. There are almost 150 species of birds in the park, many of them water birds.
Hike to the ancient sites of the Saami people or walk to the park’s beautiful cascades. There are four treks of varying length and difficulty that take you to the main attractions.
Catch a brown trout for dinner! The heaviest trophies caught in the park weighed between 10 and 12 kg. Fishing in the national park is only allowed during the fishing season.
Pick a lake and go paddling! From a canoe excellent photos of the rich birdlife on the lakes can be taken.
Take a dip in Lake Paanajärvi, Karelia’s deepest lake! Swimming is also possible in the river Olanga.
In terms of temperature Panaajärvi has a continental climate. The difference between the mean temperature of the coldest and the warmest month is around 30°C. The best period to visit is from April to October.
Boots and other water-resistant shoes are required for hiking. When hiking, warm clothes are preferable, though in summer you may find it unnecessary because of the surprisingly hot weather although mosquitoes are abundant. You should be well prepared and carry a good repellent as well as wearing long sleeved tops and trousers as natural protection. Here, not far from the Arctic Circle, nights may be cool even in summer. Therefore, a good sleeping bag guarantees sweet dreams. You will be more comfortable if you have a tent. On a long walk, it is advisable to take an overcoat. A camera, binoculars and compass are well worth taking.
http://parks.karelia.ru/paanajarvi/kk01.html
The closest airport is located in Kuusamo (Finland) which is 150 km from the park. The closest Russian airport is located in Murmansk, which is 500 km from the park.
There is no bus connection to the park.
By rail you can travel to Loukhi railway station. From Loukhi there is a 110-km road to Pyaozero.
From Pyaozero settlement there is a 59-km dirt road going to the park.
The settlement is accessible from three directions: from the east, south, and west:
From Moscow, St.-Petersburg or Petrozavodsk you can get to the park by following the St.-Petersburg-Murmansk highway to the Loukhi settlement.
A dirt road goes from the town of Kostomuksha through the Kalevala settlement to the settlement of Pyaozero (253 km). From Finland the border can be crossed at the Suoperyä-Kortesalmi cross-border checkpoint (60 km to the settlement), or at the Vartius-Lutta cross-border checkpoint. Vartius-Lutta cross-border checkpoint. The visitor centre of the Paanajärvi National Park is located in the Pyaozero settlement
In the visitor centre of the park:
- theatrical excursions in the museum of the visitor center (three languages)
The visitor centre of the Paanajärvi National Park is located in the Pyaozero settlement.
- Group and individual visits to the park, routes are indicated in one-time passes that can be obtained at the office of the park in Pyaozero
- Overnight stay in a rental cabin supplied with firewood
- Use of a sauna
- Camping and campfires are allowed in designated places only
- Mushroom and berry picking, if a permit is available
- Instructor-led boating trips
- Snowmobiling and skiing trips - according to indicated trips
- Licensed fishing on lakes and rivers inside the Park
- Instructed services, water or land transportation services according to set rates
- Admission with accommodation in a log house
- Rental of a boat with engine
- Canoeing
- Guided tours in the park are available both in Finnish and English
- Guided tours in the visitor center
- Excursions on a traditional replica boat along Paanajärvi lake
One-day route: Pyaozrsky settlement - Paanajärvi Lake - Pyaozrsky settlement
Two-day route: Pyaozrsky settlement - Jungojarvi Lake -Neris Lake - Pyaozrsky settlement
Three-day route: Pyaozrsky settlement - Paanajärvi lake - Kivakkakoski waterfall - Kivakka mountain - Pyaozrsky settlement
Four-day route: Pyaozrsky settlement - Paanajärvi lake - Kivakkakoski waterfall - "Asteronjarvi"path- Kivakka mountain - Pyaozrsky settlement
For more info: http://paanajarvi.onego.ru/eng/
In Paanajärvi National park, it is possible to rent boats with or without an engine: canoes as well. You can learn more about these possibilities by contacting the visitor centre.
There is a rescue department in Pyaozerski, the telephone numbers are 01 and 03 (first aid).
The visitor centre in Pyaozero can be accessed by the disabled.
The following activities are prohibited in the Park:
- Driving or parking of any motor vehicles
- Hunting or transporting weapons by car without permission from the park administration
- Collection of plants or herbs, disturbing and digging the land
- Collection of minerals or mountain rocks
- Damaging monuments of nature, history and culture, information stands and signs
- Unauthorised drawing on dwellings, trees or stones
- Felling or damage to trees and underbrush, cutting firewood
- Making a fire in non-designated places
- Domestic animals and birds
- Net fishing, unauthorised sports and amateur fishing
- Placing trash in non-designated places
In Paanajärvi you can stay in log houses, tourist shelters and tents. There are 15 log houses in the park, located mostly along the river Olanga. You can book them by conatcting the park directorate either by phone: +7 814 39 38504 or email paanajarvi.tur@onego.ru
Camping is only permitted in specialy marked places.
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Paanajarvi National Park Hosts Tourism Seminar
25 September 2007
From 27 to 29 of August, Paanajarvi NP hosted a seminar on opportunities for nature-oriented tourism and how to guarantee sustainability of nature-oriented tourism in protected areas. This event was organised by the TACIS project (Paanajarvi - Oulanka cooperation) and by Metsahallitus. Some 30 people involved in conservation and tourism in the...more |
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Paanajärvi gets TACIS Funding
30 April 2006
Paanajärvi National Park in Russia has just received confirmation that it it together with its sister park Oulanka National Park in Finland has been successful in a bid to the European Union for TACIS funding. The opening of a new international border crossing point between Finland and Russia at Kuusamo later this year will result in a potentially...more |
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Three parks apply for verification
03 March 2005
Russian Paanajärvi, Bulgarian Rila and Italian Majella National Parks have recently applied for PAN Parks verification. Field verification of the parks is expected this year.Russian Paanajärvi, Bulgarian Rila and Italian Majella National Parks have recently applied for the PAN Parks verification. For each park a verification road map has been...more |
