Karelia, Republic in northwestern Russia
This republic in northwestern Russia stretches between the Finnish border and the White Sea. Thousands of lakes lie among dense coniferous forests, and rivers connect the bodies of water with one another.
The region belonged to Novgorod in medieval times before Sweden and later Russia fought for control. After World War II, borders were redrawn and the territory became part of the Soviet Union.
The name comes from the Finno-Ugric Karelian people, whose language and traditions remain visible in villages today. In settlements along the lakes, women still embroider following old patterns and men build wooden boats using inherited techniques.
Petrozavodsk, the capital, serves as a starting point for trips to the islands and forested areas. From there, trains run regularly to Moscow and Saint Petersburg.
In some places, the forest reaches the shoreline, so trees grow directly at the water and their roots dip into the lake water. These shore zones attract mosquitoes in summer, which breed in the damp areas.
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