The Syamozero is located an hour away from Petrozavodsk in the Pryazhinskiy and Suoyarvskiy regions of the Republic of Karelia. By size, it is among the top ten of the Karelian lakes: its area is 266 square kilometers, its length is 25 km and the width is up to 15 km. The average depth of the lake is 7 meters. The deepest water is 25 meters.
This is an ice water reservoir with 17 branches. Syamozero refers to the Shumsky basin of the Lake Onega and is considered one of the purest in Karelia. There has never been any industrial factory near this lake beside a fact that a hundred years ago iron ore was mined on one of the creeks. However, now there are mushroom and berry forests, many islands, the abundance of fish and migratory birds, sandy beaches and picturesque cliffs here. All this together makes the lake very attractive for tourists especially for fishermen.
The name "Syamozero" comes from the Karelian "Seamarvi" and Sami "Saamayarvi" meaning a land of the Sami. There is also one more meaning: "Weather Lake", as the climate is complicated here and it defines the live of fishermen. Rugged lake shores with lots of bays and capes appeared long time ago here.
Syamozero has the status of historical and cultural territory. Two dozens of historic villages of Syamozero Livvik Karelians remain here. A local historical museum and cultural and ethnographic center of Livvik Karelians was opened on the southern shore of the lake in the village Essoila.
As already mentioned, the Syamozero Lake is rich in fish, including valuable varieties of fish. Here is salmon, grayling, whitefish, perch and other. Pike, roach and ide is also caught here. Fishermen come to the lake round the year. At the end of the winter they arrange Ice Fishing Festival. The ice on the lake appears in November and lasts until May. The climate in the region of the Syamozero is the most important factor for tourists, and that was proved by a tragedy happened in the "Syamozero" camp. It is mostly cloudy and humidly on the lake and the winds often raise a large wave. In case of worsen of the weather, the fishermen are recommended to wait out the waves on the islands.
The water is not good for bathing: in July it warms up to 15C and the maximum is 20C. In August it is colder again. Hypothermia is the main cause of death in the Syamozero Lake. Any water trip must be agreed with the rescuers of EMERCOM on a mandatory basis. Communication with the rescuers, strict implementation of recommendations of trainers is a guarantee of your safety.
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Author: Anna Dorozhkina