Loukhskiy District: White Sea, Lakes and Sámi Sites

The White Sea, an extensive network of waterways and Paanajärvi National Park shape the nature-related attractions of Loukhskiy District. They are joined by traces of the ancient Sámi and regional cultural heritage. If you are looking for a vacation rental, you can choose a location based on whether you want your trip to focus on the coast, lakes, protected areas or cultural history.

Coastal Areas and Waterways

The “Arctic Circle” landscape reserve lies on the northwestern coast of the White Sea. It includes adjacent marine areas, from the shore to the boundary of Murmansk Oblast. Its habitats include waters, islands, shallow-water areas and coastal zones of the Kandalaksha Gulf. Eider ducks breed and molt there, and other seabirds and waterbirds pass through. In this reserve, the coast also means islands and shallow-water zones with their diverse bird habitats.

The Kandalaksha State Nature Reserve includes islands and coastal stretches along the Barents Sea and the White Sea, including areas in Loukhskiy District. Another protected area is the Keretsky landscape reserve near Polunga. It was established to protect large breeding populations of eider ducks and support their population; other threatened waterbird species are also a focus. Its total area is 21,000 hectares, of which up to 16,000 hectares are water. Ringed seals and belugas are among the species found there.

Water also shapes the landscape away from the coast. The water network of Loukhskiy District includes thousands of lakes. Topozero, Pyaozero and Tikshozero are among the largest lakes in Karelia. There are also hundreds of rivers and streams, as well as numerous rapids and waterfalls. The lakes and rivers give the district a distinctive natural diversity, clearly different from its protected coastal and marine areas.

Paanajärvi and Mount Nuorunen

Paanajärvi National Park was established on May 20, 1992, to preserve the natural areas of Lake Paanajärvi and the Olanga River basin. Its total area is 104,473 hectares. The park is considered an important protected area for a viable otter population. Paanajärvi thus combines the protection of a large landscape with the preservation of a species that has almost completely disappeared from Karelia.

Mount Nuorunen rises within the national park. At 576 meters, it is the highest point in the Republic of Karelia and one of the region’s largest granite massifs. Its summit is home to mountain tundra and relict vegetation; it is also the southernmost and largest mountain tundra in Europe by area. The mountain, its summit vegetation and the protected area offer a different focus from the district’s coastal landscapes.

Sámi Sites and Regional Heritage

The mountainous part of Loukhskiy District is home to seids, sacred stones of the ancient Sámi. Stone labyrinths, considered cultural monuments of the ancient Sámi, are found on the White Sea coast. The two types of sites belong to different landscapes: the seids are in the mountainous part, while the labyrinths are on the coast.

The legacy of storyteller Matvey Korguyev is also part of the region’s cultural heritage. The storyteller M. M. Korguev is buried in Keret. The collection of the Matvey Korguyev Museum in Chupa includes materials about the storyteller’s life and work, as well as historic household items, tools and clothing. These objects illustrate the everyday life of Pomor Karelians in earlier times. Thus, alongside the landscapes, storytelling traditions and everyday history offer distinct interests to consider when planning a trip.

Choosing the Right Location for Your Vacation Rental

The nature and cultural attractions described here are associated with different places in Loukhskiy District. First decide which landscapes or cultural themes interest you most, then look for a vacation rental in the places you want to include in your plans. The coastal areas, lake landscape, Paanajärvi and cultural sites are separate points of interest; the information here does not combine them into a single route.

A permit from the park administration is required for a stay in Paanajärvi National Park, including when passing through. Before your trip, check the current procedures directly with the park administration.

Places in Loukhskiy District

Places in Loukhskiy District also include Chkalovskiy and Plotina.

Discover more destinations: Sortavala City, Pryazhinskiy District, Pitkyarantskiy District, Belomorsky District, Sortavala City, Olonetskiy District.

Go to the main travel overview: Republic of Karelia.