Marble Lake in Karelia. Description and history. Other marble lakes in Russia

Once upon a time there was a mountain. Now - still clean air, blue skies in the daytime, at night star placers above the head, and under this magnificence - the canyon, the result of human intervention. It's about the Marble Lake in Karelia. Although this is not the only reservoir in Russia, which has such a name.

general description

The landscape of these places pleases the eye. The mind forgets about all cares and seeks to study every dash of the landscape. The canyon rises about 20 meters above the surface of the transparent water of an amazing emerald color. The white walls of the canyon are cracked and constantly changing, because in this place high tectonic activity. Stone rocks are covered with trees, everything around them breathes natural wild beauty. It's incredible that a man put his hand to the creation of this landmark. There is such a wonderful lake near the border with Finland in Karelia, twenty kilometers from the village of Ruskeala, in Sortavala district. From St. Petersburg about 300 km along the A-130 highway, the path by car can be overcome in 4-5 hours. The last section of the road is ground, winding and goes through the forest. To overcome this last distance is also an adventure, if you believe the reviews of tourists who visited there. But they do not regret it at all.

The history of the canyon

As already mentioned, the Marble Lake in Karelia appeared on the site of the mountain. The mountain was called White because of its shining whiteness of a marble cap, similar to a snow cap. And the first data on the small settlement, which appeared here, date back to 1500. Then these places belonged to the Swedes, who began to extract marble. By 1632 the village had grown so large that a church was built.

After the conclusion of the Nystadt peace, the area began to be populated by Russians. All this time the developments were not very active. Marble was then mined for laying foundations and burning of building lime.

A breakthrough in production occurred after Catherine II came to power. The village pastor Samuel Alopeus invited specialists from the Academy of Arts to study the samples of marble extracted on the river. Marble aroused admiration, and was necessary for the implementation of royal projects in large numbers. Therefore, since 1768, the quarry has expanded, and mining has intensified. Here, builders, architects, mining engineers gathered , the village flourished. In the same year the construction of St. Isaac's Cathedral was started. The famous architect Montferrand himself came to Ruskeala to select marble for the flooring and walls of the church.

Karelian marble

It is known that the Karelian marble was used in the Kazan Cathedral for laying out the sexes. And also for facing the windows of the Kazan Cathedral and the Marble Palace, facing the facade of the Mikhailovsky Castle. Marble was used to build an obelisk for the victories of Rumyantsev and the pedestal of the monument to Peter the Great, the Orel Gate, the Chesme Column and the pedestal of the Chesme Obelisk, for the columns of the Gatchina Palace, the sills of the Hermitage were also made of it. The latest projects that used Ruskeal raw materials were the Savings Bank building in Helsinki and St. Petersburg during the Soviet time of Primorskaya and Ladozhskaya metro stations.

Such are the fruits of the amazing union of human labor and nature. We have many cultural monuments and a wonderful place on earth. But until now it has not been said how the quarry turned into the Marble Lake. There are two versions. One by one, the Finns, leaving here, flooded the mines, which served as a refuge for them in the war. According to another version, there was a release of groundwater during development, and the elements did their job.

Entertainment on the Sea of Marmara

Now here is the "Ruskeala Mountain Park", perfectly equipped to receive guests. And the Marble Lake is a part of it. Here you can romantically stroll along the shore or go to inspect the grottoes on the water surface on a boat. Or, loudly informing about their impressions, to jump from the stream, or to try to cross from shore to shore using the "Indian bridge". Of course, flooded galleries are of interest to divers, who are frequent guests. In winter, a special entertainment is offered - a skating rink in the cave, illuminated with colored lamps.

Marble Lakes of Russia

The marble lake in Karelia is not the only reservoir in Russia that has such a name. In the Krasnoyarsk Territory, in Yergaki, near the eponymous waterfall there is a second such lake. The third Marble Lake can be seen only once a year, because there and now there are developments. This one time falls on the open day.

It is located in the Astrakhan region, close to Lake Baskunchak. The fourth is in the Crimea, a few kilometers from Simferopol. In Western Siberia, the fifth Marble Lake is located. Novosibirsk is next to him. The last two details will be discussed below.

Marble Lake in Novosibirsk

In the Ordynsky district there is a settlement of Nizhnekamenka, near to it a water reservoir was created by the same hands of man. Officially it is called the Abrashinsky Lake. Twelve-meter deep is this Marble Lake. Novosibirsk has some subway stations that are paved with marble from this quarry.

Here a successful combination of fresh air, Karakan pine forest and water, suitable for bathing. By the way, the lake is rich in roach, perch, trout, yazem, which attracts fishermen. On the beach you can rent a house or a number of tourist center at affordable prices, so you can relax here with the whole family.

Marble Lake in the Crimea

He was awarded one more name - Martian. The reason for this was obvious traces of human activity, rare poplars on whitewashed, lime impregnated banks bordering the azure water.

Holidaymakers come to bathe, admire the fantastic view that the Marmara Lake has. The photo of this object, though of unnatural origin, is fascinating. Its official name is Almina quarry. Near the village of Skalistoy near Simferopol is located this Marble Lake. Crimea is a peninsula, on which there are many sights.

All Marble Lakes are beautiful in their own way. But not all have a title associated with the extraction of marble.