General information
Nature peculiarities
Historical and cultural peculiarities
The main tourist centers
Key lines of tourist development
General information
Louhsky region is located in the north of the Republic of Karelia. It has an entrance to the White Sea. In the north the region borders with Murmanskaja region (the northern part of the region sides with the Polar circle), in the south – with Kalevalsky and Kemsky regions and in the north there is the state border with Finland.
The remoteness of the regional center ( Louhi) from the border with Finland (distance till the nearest automobile check-point) is 450 km. The remoteness of the regional center from Petrozavodsk is about 600 km.
The area of the region is 22544 square km. The population is 19 thousand people. Average density of the population is less that 1 person per a square km. There are two cities and 7 villages in the region. The urbanization coefficient is 59,5%.
The region is situated mainly on the plain, but its northwestern lands are more hilly. The highest peak of Karelia – Nuorunen mountain (577 meters) and the second deepest Paanajarvi lake are located here.
Nature peculiarities
A well-developed hydrographic network is typical for the region. It consists of thousands of lakes, including the largest in Karelia Topozero, Pjaozero and Tikshozero. Lakes and rivers are rich with fish:salmon, salmon trout, whitefish and umber.
The shore of the White Sea, so-called Karelian shore, is very picturesque. The southest fiors of Belomoro-Barents region is located here.
There are 4 types of protected territories in the region: national park "Panaajarvi" (104,3 thousand hectares), complex reserve "Polar Circle" (28,3 thousand hectares), hunting reserve "Keretsky" (21 thousand hectares) and a group of small islands, which are included in the structure of "Kandalakshsky" preserve. All of them are the basis for organization of various nature kinds of tourism in the region. It is also possible to build a mountain ski resort in the region.
The territory of the region has the following kinds of nature resources (ultimate reserves):
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wood (more than 75% of the western part of the region, and 50-60% of the eastern part is covered with woods);
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mineral: mica (87% of the republican resources, feldspar (20%), titanic ore(100%);
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cyanite ore (100%), natural and facing stone (12%); fish and sea food;
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recreational resources ("Paanajarvi" reserve).
Historical and cultural peculiarities
It is important to mention that in XVI – XVII centuries a trade way between Swedish territory and Russian Pomorje passed along this places.
The Karelian settlements of the region belong to "Runes villages", where epos "Kalevala" – the monument of the world culture was written. The burial place of a famous fairy narrator M.Korguev is in the village of Keret, the unique museum of fairy tales is in Chupa. There are seids in the hilly part of the region and labyrinths on the coast of the White Sea. The region is poor with monuments of architecture and they are located in the three villages, which are difficult to reach.
The places of fight of the WWII near the village of Kestenga belong to the objects of modern history.
The main tourist centers
National park "Paanajarvi"
The precondition for the development of the tourism activity in this most remote and sparsely populated region of Karelia was the originality of its nature complexes and closeness to the Finnish commune of Kuusamo, which is the sister-region of Loukhy. The mountain ski center "Ruka" and national park "Oulanka", which are located in the commune, attract about a million tourists annually. Some of them make their way to the village of Pjaozerskiy and then to the national park "Paanajrvi" or to "Tsipringa" tourist complex.
Chupa village, Chupa bay and the coastline of the White Sea
Chupa bay is a convenient harbor for the ships’ entry to the White Sea and to Solovetsky islands. The coastal part of the bay is the deposit of different minerals, which provides good opportunities for organization of geological excursions. The coast and the islands of the Karelian part of the White Sea are very picturesque and are of interest of cognitive tourists. Four biologic stations, which belong to Moscow, St. Petersburg and Kazan universities, are located here.
A few miners’ cities and ancient Pomorian village of Keret side with Chupa and Chupa bay. Keret village in in the mouth if the river of the same name. Not long ago river pearls were found here.
The villages of Pjaozerskiy and Chupa are partly connected with a highway, which connects large settlements: Kestenga and Louhi.
The road Suoperja – Pjaozerskiy – Chupa is very prospective for tourism industry for it is the shortest way to numerous Finnish and other foreign tourists to the White Sea and Solovetskie islands and also to the federal hoghway St. Petersburg – Petrozavodsk – Murmansk. So there are good preconditions for the development of cognitive, scientific and nature tourism in Chupinsky region.
On the road Pjaozersky – Chupa with times there may be build two tourist centers in the villages of Kestenga and Louhi.
Ancient Karelian Kestenga village is on the northern shore of one of the largest lakes in Karelia Topozero lake. The village is one of the Runbes villages and has rich traditions, which was the basis for organization of a local folk ensemble. In the picturesque zone of Eletexero lake, 15 km northward Kestenga, a very interesting geological tourist route may be organized. The place is also god for the development of fishing tourism.
The region of Kestenga is attractive for the Germans as a memorable place of the WWII.
The village of Louhi is located near the federal highway “Kola” and is an administrative center of the region. Human services are well developed here so it can be a good place for a short rest of transit tourists. There is a very picturesque Kereti lake near Louhi. Here one can find perfect opportunities for fishing, rafting and canoeing.
Key lines of tourist development
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completion of the building of tourist information center of the national park "Paanajarvi" in the village of Pjaozersky;
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building of international check-point "Suoperja – Kortesalmi";
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organization of nature park "Keretsky";
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development and realization of the project of building a mountain ski resort in the region;
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development and realization of the project of organizing a center of the Pomorian culture in Chupa bay;
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development of ecological, scientific and cultural tourism.
On the whole there are all the preconditions for the development of various kinds of tourism in the region. At the same time the region may be used as a transit territory on the way from Scandinavia countries to the White Sea and Solovki.
