Karelia is often called the lake and forest edge. No wonder that such a place has become popular among tourists, and the locals do not mind to travel on their land. For example, traveling to the northeast of the city of Pudozh, you can find underdeveloped and almost uninhabited area with the protected and untouched nature.

Twenty years ago, this land was created reserve. Founded in April 1991, he became the first national park in the north of Russia. This event played a significant role in environmental protection activities throughout the country. The total area of ​​the reserve is about 5000 square meters. km, and covers two regions: Pudozh district (eastern part of the Republic of Karelia) and Onega region (Arkhangelsk region).

Vodlozersky National Park is considered one of the largest reserves in the world with pristine nature. The local fauna is very diverse. The park is home to about 38 species of mammals, 22 species of fish, and 5 species of reptiles. Only thanks to a weak influence on the part of the person in the park survived such a variety of species. In remote places in the depths of the national park have found a shelter, endangered animals and birds. For many rare birds of prey such as the golden eagle, white - tailed eagle and osprey, remote places have become a reliable home. Also protected land became a shelter for land animals. Frequent meetings with the reindeer, moose and brown bear and more small animals: badgers, martens, foxes, lynx, wolverine, muskrats and even the wolf.

The park runs rough and abounding river called Ileksa, and there is a picturesque lake Vodlozero, stretching more than 400 km. They called it a national park in honor of the lake. Vodlozero extremely popular with local anglers, and is considered one of the best fishing places, and in the Karelian region. No fisherman will not refuse to try a delicious soup of fish species such as bream, burbot, whitefish, pike, which is found in ponds full of reserve. The water area of ​​more than 10% of the total area of ​​the park, water spaces, which give peace and blue landscape, if you look at the nature reserve with a bird's eye view.

But more interesting, not only for scientists in the reserve are the marshes. And it's not only in the diversity of wetlands, and that more than 40% of the national park waterlogged. Here, in a swampy area, not only to grow cranberries and cloudberries, but also herbs such as rosemary and Potentilla. There are also under the special protection of plants and mosses.

As for the flora of the park is, in fact, the entire territory of the reserve - an array of taiga, untouched by human hand. In Vodlozersky National Park grow everlasting fir, larch and pine. The whole forest, fortunately not suffered from fires and not subjected to logging.

Apart from the pristine nature of the park preserved and rich cultural heritage. So, here you can find architectural monuments of XVIII-XIX centuries in the form of peasant houses and chapels. The most prominent monument of ancient Russian recognized Ilyinsky. It consists of: the Church of Elijah the Prophet and the Assumption of the Virgin, a small bell tower and nicely chopped fences. Though, there is an official and the date of construction of the churchyard (04.16.1798 years), there are also earlier data on it. Temple complex than once restored and rebuilt. And after 1995 Ilyinsky was the current temple and the spiritual center of all Vodlozerie.

Every year Volozersky National Park receives a large number of guests, offering a huge range of varied holiday. It is possible and rafting, fishing quietly in silence, walking through the ecological paths. In addition, the Reserve has been actively involved in cooperation with educational institutions, conducting special tours for schoolchildren and students.