Pitkyaranta District between the Ladoga skerries and history

Pitkyaranta District links the coastal area of Lake Ladoga with a landscape of taiga, rocky and sandy elevations, waterfalls, lakes, rivers, the Ladoga skerries and ravines. Nature and geology sit alongside long waterways and places whose history was shaped by Finnish settlement and the wars of the 20th century. This offers different themes to focus on when planning your trip: landscapes, a longer water route, or cultural history and remembrance.

The Ladoga landscape and geological features

The district lies in the coastal area of Lake Ladoga. Its landscape includes taiga, rocky and sandy elevations, waterfalls, lakes, rivers, the Ladoga skerries and ravines. The region’s diversity extends beyond the lakeshore, making nature and geology distinct themes for a trip. Ladoga Skerries National Park spans the districts of Lahdenpohja, Sortavala and Pitkyaranta in the Republic of Karelia.

The Uksinskaya Esker Ridge offers another perspective on the region’s geology. It is located in Pitkyaranta District, is designated a geological monument, and is visited by geologists on field trips. Plantings of mountain pine (Pinus mugo) are also of interest to ordinary tourists for their ornamental value.

A water route on the Uksunjoki

A longer water route with numerous rapids runs along the Uksunjoki River through remote, uninhabited areas. It can start at Lake Ukshyarvi near Raikonkoski or at Lake Kyasnyasenyarvi near Kyasnyaselkya. The respective routes are approximately 100 and 50 kilometres long. These approximate distances give you two different scales to consider when planning; check local conditions before setting out.

Impilahti and the memory of the war years

Impilahti has historic-site status and features a Finnish settlement layout. Preserved architectural landmarks include a bank building, a clergyman’s house with its summer residence, and several historic homes. A memorial cemetery commemorates Finnish soldiers who fell in the wars of 1939–1940 and 1941–1944.

The Valley of Heroes, also known as the Valley of Death, lies 19 kilometres from Pitkyaranta. Some of the fiercest fighting of the Soviet–Finnish War of 1939–1940 took place there. The “Cross of Sorrow” monument was erected in 2000 at the site of mass graves. The memorial sites also differ in their historical scope: the cemetery covers two periods of war, while the fighting in the valley dates to the 1939–1940 war.

Museum and travel focus

The “U Master” Museum in Rautalahti displays minerals and rock samples from the northern Ladoga region and other parts of Karelia. It also features historical everyday and craft objects collected in Zaonezhye and the Sortavala area. The museum’s subject matter thus ranges from the region’s rocks to the history of everyday life and crafts. Check the current opening and exhibition information before visiting.

When choosing a holiday rental, you can start by considering what you want your trip to focus on: the landscape and geology, the water route on the Uksunjoki, or the historic places and memorial sites. These themes can guide your search without requiring you to choose a specific location within the district.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Rautalakhti, Segezhsky District, Belomorsky District, Loukhsky District, Belomorsky District, Suoyarvsky District, Medvezhyegorsky District, Prionezhsky District.

For the main travel guide: Republic of Karelia.