Onego is the second largest lake in Europe. It is half the depth (maximum depth - 126 m.) and contains three times less water than Ladoga. But water of Lake Onego is of a very high quality: it is more pure than Ladoga and even Baikal water. There is a project of supplying southern regions of the Russian Federation with water from Lake Onego as a drinking water.
 |
 |
 |
Lake Onego stretches for 290 km from north-west to south-east with maximum width of 82 m. The coastline, especially in the north, is very indented. There are a lot of capes, bays, inlets and islands here. The total amount of islands in Onego is 1650, which is two and a half times more than in Ladoga. The architectural monument of the world level - Kizhi Pogost, which is a calling card of Karelia, is situated on one of the islands.
The shores of the lake are mostly sandy and stony, but rock outcrops can also be found. Some rocky capes and small islands polished with Onego waves have signs made by a prehistoric man. The most popular one is Besov Nos Cape, which gave its name to a huge group of petroglyphs on the east coast of the lake.
Lake Onego, especially its north half, has an extremely difficult and contrasting bottom relief: deep cavities (90-100 m.) alternate with rocky eminences. This combination of chines and eminences gives great opportunities for elite sporty fishing.
Lake Onego becomes popular among yachtsmen and tourists. Annual All-Russian sailing regatta of cruiser yachts "Onego", festival of wooden vessels "Blue Onego" are held here.
