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NEWS
03/09 2010
Russia was celebrating another wonderful holiday yesterday. That was the International Women’s Day. This time it was women’s turn to get presents, bunches of spring flowers, congratulations, listen to warm pleasant words… Every year plenty of women wait for this holiday not only to find out that they are beautiful and loved. The 8th of March is the very beginning of spring and soon warm and sunny days will start. Besides this was an extra day-off to celebrate the holiday with families and friends.
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KareliaStudents say about Karelia:
Pasi Huttunen, Finland
“The Kivach waterfall is a beautiful place and it is great having lunch by the falls. Valaam monastery is rich with orthodox traditions and great natural beauty. The Kizhi Island is an amazing example of wood-building and the island is very nice. Guided tours (in English!) were great. Rafting also cannot be left out. I wish I could do it all again, so yes I recommend these excursions to other students!”
Caroline Pierce, Ireland
“Kivach is a beautiful place and good fun. Good excursion because it's not too far. Valaam is a lovely monastery and countryside but the journey is long (4 hours one way). Kizhi is my favourite excursion. The journey & island are beautiful.”
 The Republic of Karelia is a federal subject of the Russian Federation. The Republic is located in the north-western part of the Russian Federation, taking intervening position between the basins of White and Baltic seas. The Republic of Karelia is located in the Moscow Time Zone. There are 60,000 lakes in Karelia. Republic's lakes and swamps contain about 2,000 km³ of high-quality fresh water. Lake Ladoga and Lake Onega are the largest lakes in Europe. The most part of the republic's territory 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.
Fifty useful minerals may be found in Karelia. Natural resources of the republic include iron ore, vanadium, molybdenum, and others. According to 2002 general census the population of Karelia is 716,281 people. Ethnic Russians make up 76.6% of the republic's population, while the ethnic Karelians are only 9.2%. Other groups include Belarusians (5.3%), Ukrainians (2.7%), Finns (2.0%), Veps (0.7%), and a host of smaller groups.
The climate of Karelia is mild, as the republic is not far from the White and Baltic seas. The humidity is quite high, about 80%. Average summer temperature is +13 C and winter temperature is -13C. But the difference can be -35 C - +35 C.
It is usually not hot and even chilly here, in summer. The winter is long and there is always much snow. Thus the most popular sport is skiing, here. A lot of traditional ski festivals and competitions are held every winter in Karelia.
You can get info about present temperature here - http://rp5.ru/index.php?r=33
Historically, Karelia was a region to the northwest of Russia, east of present-day Finland, controlled by the Novgorod Republic. From the 13th century and onwards, various parts were conquered by Sweden, and incorporated into Swedish Karelia until they were lost to Russia by the Treaty of Nystad in 1721.
In 1923, the province became the Karelian Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic (Karelian ASSR). From 1940 it was made into the Karelo-Finnish SSR, incorporating the Finnish Democratic Republic created during the Winter War. Annexed territories were incorporated into Karelo-Finnish SSR after the Winter War but after the Continuation War the Karelian Isthmus was incorporated into the Leningrad Oblast. Its status was changed back to an ASSR in 1956. During the Continuation War in 1941 Finland occupied large parts of the area but was forced to withdraw in 1944. Though Finland is not currently pursuing any measures to reclaim Karelian lands ceded to Russia, the "Karelian Question" is still a topic present in Finnish politics.
The autonomous Republic of Karelia in its present form was formed on November 13, 1991.
You can get more information here - http://www.gov.karelia.ru/Info/history_story1.html
 Karelia is famous for its cultural objects. The historical and cultural peculiarity of Karelia differs it from the other regions of Russia. . Living together for more than ten centuries they’ve created a unique and original culture.
Karelia is the place of birth of a famous Karelo-Finnish epos "Kalevala" - a literature monument of world significance. Here ancient Karelian and Vepps settlements, which are of great interest for the fans of ethnic tourism, are still kept protected.
 The most well-known places of interest in Karelia are Kizhi open-air museum, Valaam island monastery, Kivach waterfall, Martial waters spa, Karelian petroglyphs and National Parks.
You can get more information here - http://www.ticrk.ru/en/gallery.php?docId=8091
As the Republic of Karelia is a segment of Russian distinct system its head is appointed by the Russian Federation president. Today Sergey Katanandov occupies this post. There are three benches of power in Karelia. Executive Body includes the Head of republic, his administration, 11 ministries, 6 State Committees, and 3 departments. Parliament of Karelia presents Legislative Assembly in Karelia. All deputies of the Parliament are reelected every four years and work in 10 departments. The Judicial Body consists of The Constitutional Court, Court of Arbitration of the Republic of Karelia, and Supreme Court of the Republic of Karelia.
You can get full information here - http://www.gov.karelia.ru/
Petrozavodsk is the capital of Karelia. Founded in 1703 by Peter the Great it is the biggest and most well-known town of the republic. It is located on the shore of the Onega Lake with the population of 270 000.
  Kondopoga is the second largest town in Karelia with population is about 36000 of people. It is situated on the coast of the Kondopozhskaya gulf of Lake Onega and on 50 km north of Petrozavodsk. There is developed pulp-and-paper industry in Kondopoga. It is also famous for a modern Ice Palace and Arts Palace with Organ Hall. You can learn more about Kondopoga here - http://www.kondopoga.ru
Places to visit: Uspenskaya church, waterfall “Kivatch” and first sanatorium “Martial waters”.
Kondopoga retains a rare monument of Russian wooden architecture the Uspenskaya church, built in 1774. The central column of this church is crowned by a hipped roof, 42 m in total height. The column is based on a central rectangular framework, with adjacent frameworks for the refectory and altar. The church is especially valuable as this type of building was forbidden according the Church reforms of the XVII century. Uspenskaya church - http://russian-church.ru/viewpage.php?cat=wooden_architecture&page=13
The Kivatch waterfall - Kivatch Waterfalls is the second large plane one in Europe. The height of the waterfalls is 10.7 meters. It is located on the river Suna. Next to the waterfall there is also the museum of the nature preserve Kivatch.
Martial waters spa – http://en.karelia-rest.ru/dostopr/marc-water.php
The history of the first Russian resort " Martsialniye Vody" ("Martial Waters") is connected with the activities of Peter the Great. It was opened in 1714. Its site is chalybeate water springs with curative properties and medical mud.
Medvezhyegorsk, formerly known as Medvezhyya Gora, was a village there since the 1600s, and it did not achieve the status of "town" until 1916. The population is 16,551 (2005). It is on the Murmansk railway south of the White Sea, and at the north end of Lake Onega.
You can learn more about Medvezhyegorsk here - http://medgora.ru
Place to visit: Belomoro-Baltiyskiy kanal. More info here http://archives.karelia.ru/nark/exhibitions/bbk
Belomoro-Baltiyskiy kanal - The White Sea-Baltic Sea Canal. The canal was opened on August 2, 1933. During its construction, according to official data 10,933 people died. The total length of the route is 227 km (141 miles). The canal was the first major project constructed in the Soviet Union using forced labor.
Segezha is a town located on 267 km north of Petrozavodsk on the Segezha River and on the west shore of Vygozero Lake. The population: of the city is 34,214 (2002 Census).
You can learn more about Segezha here - http://segezha.onego.ru
Place to visit: Belomoro-Baltiyskiy kanal. More info here http://archives.karelia.ru/nark/exhibitions/bbk
Kem is a historic town in the Republic of Karelia, Russia, located on the railroad leading from Petrozavodsk to Murmansk. Population is14,620 (2002 Census). The town is located on the shores of the White Sea, where the Kem River enters it. Kem was first mentioned as a demesne of the Novgorod posadnik Marfa Boretskaya in 1450, when she donated it to the Solovetsky Monastery (situated in the White Sea several kilometers off shore).
You can learn more about Kem here - http://kem.onego.ru
Place to visit: Solovetskiy monastery. More info here http://www.solovki-monastyr.ru
Solovetsky monastery is the greatest citadel of Christianity in the Russian North. Monastery was founded in the late 1429 by monks Gherman (Herman) and Savvatiy (Sabbatius). In the first part of the XX century it turned into a special Soviet prison and labor camp, which served as a prototype for the GULAG system. Solovetsky camp was mainly used for cutting trees, and when the trees were gone, the camp was closed. Before the Second World War, a sea cadet school was opened on the island. Today, the Solovetsky monastery is a historical and architectural museum. It was one of the first Russian sites to have been inscribed in the UNESCO World Heritage List.
Kostomuksha (Russian: Êîñòîìóêøà, Finnish: Kostamus) is a town located in the northwestern part of the Republic of Karelia, Russia, 30 kilometers from the border with Finland and on the shore of lake Kontoki. Population is 31 600 of people. Every summer there is a chamber music festival to which musicians, orchestras and theater groups come from Moscow, St. Petersburg and other parts of Russia.
You can learn more about Kostomuksha here - http://www.kostomuksha-city.ru
Sortavala is a town located at the northern tip of Lake Ladoga. Population is 21,131 (2002 Census). It is an important station of the Vyborg-Joensuu railroad. The district of Sortavala was first recorded in Swedish documents dating to 1468. Russian documents first mention it as "Serdovol" or "Serdobol" in 1500. You can learn more about Sortavala here - http://sortavalasiti.ru
Place to visit: Valaam monastery. More info here - http://valaam.ru/en/
 Valaam monastery is a stauropegic Orthodox monastery. It is not clear when the monastery was founded. As different dates - from 10th to 15th centuries - have been expounded. The monastery has a long and complicated history. It was attacked by Lutheran Swedes; it used to be a part of Finnish Orthodox Church, and even a Soviet sanatorium. Today it is a Russian Orthodox Church monastery.
Pitkyaranta is a town located on the north-eastern coast of Lake Ladoga, the biggest lake in Europe. Population of the town is 13,347 (2002 Census). The town was founded in the 19th century.
You can learn more about Pitkyaranta here - http://pitkaranta.onego.ru
Olonets is a town in the Republic of Karelia, Russia, situated on the Olonka River, to the east from Lake Ladoga. It is the administrative centre of Olonetsky District. According to the 2002 Russian Census, the population of the town is 10,240. Olonets is the oldest documented settlement in Karelia, mentioned by Novgorodian sources as early as 1137. Modern Olonets is ranked among historical towns of Karelia, and it is the only city in the republic where Karelians are in majority (over 60% as of 2004).
You can learn more about Olonets here - http://www.olonets.info
  Lakhdenpokhya is a town in the Republic of Karelia, located some 330 km west of Petrozavodsk on the Aurajoki River, and a railway station of the Vyborg-Joensuu railroad. Population: 8,751 (2002 Census). Town status since 1945.
You can learn more about Lakhdenpokhya here - http://lahdenpohja.onego.ru
Suoyarvi is a town, located on 140 km north-west of Petrozavodsk. Population is 11,600 (2002 Census). Town status since 1940. Suojärvi was the largest town (by area) ceded by Finland to the Soviet Union after the Continuation War in 1944.
You can learn more about Suoyarvi here- http://suoyarvi.narod.ru
Pudozh is a town in the Republic of Karelia, located on the Vodla River some 352 km east of Petrozavodsk. Population: is10,632 (2002 Census). Pudozh was first mentioned in 1382 as a settlement of Pudoga, which would later be called Pudozhsky Pogost. It was granted a town status in 1785.
You can learn more aboutPudozh here - http://www.pudozh.info
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