General information
Nature and climatic peculiarities
Economical peculiarities
Historical and cultural peculiarities
Key lines of tourist development
General information
Pryazhinsky region is 250 km away from the border with Finland and 50 km to the west from Petrozavodsk. It is in the interlake space of the two largest lakes in Europe – Onego and Ladoga.
On the place of Pryazha village there used to be three villages of Terunkula, Keskikula and Suovenkula. Nowadays this is a large village with good infrastructure and huge industrial potential.
Population of the region is about 18 000 people, including 43% of the Russians, 37% - of the Karelians, 7% - of Finns and the representatives of other ethnic groups. The Karelians live mainly in the villages. The economics of the region is developing quite slow, but due to new contacts and knowledge people strong faith for better future. The apartness of the region has some advantages also. Because of it lots of ancient and very interesting traditions are well-preserved on this territory.
Climatic and nature peculiarities
Rich and diverse nature of the region may be attractive for tourists, which like silence and seclusion. The nature of Pryazhinsky region reminds of the nature of Scandinavia countries. The peculiarity of the region’s location is that its territory is crossed with the watershed of the rivers’ basins feeding Ladoga and Onego lakes. That’s why some rivers run to the east and others – to the west. This gives a perfect opportunity for organization of water routes.
The landscape of the region is hilly with lots of bogs and lakes.
The climate is continental and reminds of Scandinavian. The winter is cold and snowy and the summer is warmer and dryer. The weather is changeable.
Economical peculiarities
Pryazhinsky region is called the heart of the South Karelia. The basis of the region are its forests and agriculture. About 25% of the entire milk of the Republic of Karelia is from the region. Pryazhinsky fur is also very famous.
One of the main enterprises of the region is "Shujales" Ltd. This is a logging camp and its stocks about 300 thousand cubic meters of wood a year. The main production of the enterprise is round timber. There are a few smaller logging companies in the region. The territory of the region is a capacious market for investment.
Historical and cultural peculiarities
The age of the most ancient archeological discoveries of the region is 10 thousand years.The region is interesting for its population. The representatives of the Northern Karelians, which speak Livvik dialect inhabit the territory.
Local cuisine is very various. It is mainly based on fish and the gifts of nature. The population of the villages is very kind and hospitable. Ancient crafts are widespread even nowadays. Local holidays are celebrated annually with the participation of various folk ensembles.
There are lots of ancient typical for Karelia peasant’s houses in Pryazha. These are rather high long buildings, in which household and living parts are under one roof. The living part of the house almost always looks on the road or at the lake.
Karelian villages have their own traditional composition. Living houses are placed in rows along the streets and their fronts look at the road. Each house is surrounded with a fence because livestock often pastures freely. Along the shores of the lakes there are small houses, which are used like saunas. Hot sauna is strongly recommended to all the guests.
On the territory of Pryazhinsky region the monuments of traditional wooden architecture are located. These are the Chapel in the village of Manga, complexes of architectural buildings in the village of Rubcheila and historical settlements of Sjamozerje.
Key lines of tourist development
There are more than 350 architectural and historical monuments on the territory of the region. Lakes of Shotozero and Sjamozero have nice sandy beaches along the coastline. All the lakes are rich with fish.
Shuja river is the most important one. It is able to organize water tourism almost on all the length of the river.
Hunting is also organized for the fans of active rest.
Annually in the village of Kindasovo a holiday of humour is hold. The region has very developed recreational zones. Traditionally the territory of the region used to be included into the structure of the routes of water ethnographic tourism. One of the most popular tourist routes is the route "Along the ancient land of the Karelians", which offered to get acquainted with the monuments of traditional wooden architecture (chapel in the village of Manga and historical settlements in the villages of Sjamozerje. This route was renovated nowadays and the objects of tourist interest were also the places of interest of Tulomozerje, Vedlozerje and Kindasovo.
On the whole the tourist potential of the region is rather large because the region is on so-called "Blue Road", which connects the countries of Europe and northwest of Russia. Tourist infrastructure there is developing quickly and the nature if rich with different landscapes.
Key lines of tourist development:
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realization of the project of building tourist complex for 300 people by "Alvi" Ltd.;
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completion of building of a tourist village in Kinerma;
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organization of water tourist routes;
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development of water, ecological and rural tourism.