Sights
What to See by the Big Water
The real draw of a big lake is the shore itself and everything people have left on it over the centuries. Islands with wooden churches, cliffs with ancient rock carvings, capes, trails along the water's edge and town waterfronts turn up at many different lakes, and you can explore them in much the same way. Below are five types of places by the water and four things worth stopping for. You won't find opening hours, prices or ratings here: those are set by the museums and protected areas themselves.
By the big water, a sight isn't just a building; it's also the light on the waves. Linger a minute longer than you planned, and the lake will show you more.
How this section works: it covers types of places, and the specific examples come only from Lake Onega and Lake Baikal. Visitor rules are set by museums and protected areas.
What to see by the big water
Five types of places you'll find on the shores of big lakes.
An island with wooden architecture
Where: Islands reached by boat during the navigation season
Wooden churches, chapels and houses gathered or preserved on an island. The best-known example is Kizhi on Lake Onega, with its twenty-two-domed Church of the Transfiguration.
Tip: Check visitor rules and schedules on the museum-reserve's official website. Stay on the open paths.
Cliffs with ancient rock art
Where: Shoreline rocks, usually right at the water's edge
Ancient images carved into the rock right by the water. The Petroglyphs of Lake Onega and the White Sea were added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2021.
Tip: Don't touch the carvings, trace them with chalk or walk on them. View them according to the rules of the museum that manages the site.
A lighthouse or a cape
Where: Where the shore juts far out into the lake
A cape opens up a sweeping view of the water, and a lighthouse serves as a landmark for vessels and a recognizable silhouette on the shore.
Tip: Stay back from the edge of the bluff and don't enter fenced-off areas. On an exposed cape it gets especially cold in the wind.
A shoreline trail
Where: Along the water's edge and on the slopes above it
The simplest way to get to know a lake is to walk along it: bays, boulders, pine trees and constantly shifting light.
Tip: Decide where you'll turn around and head back while it's still light. Wet rocks by the water are easy to slip on.
A town waterfront
Where: Towns that sit right on the shore
The waterfront is where the lake meets town life. Petrozavodsk, for example, stands on the shore of Lake Onega.
Tip: It's a convenient place to start getting to know the lake, and a good place to come back to if the weather keeps you off the water.
What to watch for
Four things worth lingering by the water for.
Sunsets over the water
Where: West-facing shores
Over open water, the sunset lasts a long time and turns the lake from silver to copper.
Tip: If you're staying for the sunset, figure out ahead of time how you'll get back to your lodging at dusk.
White nights
Where: Northern lakes in early summer
Up north in early summer, night barely falls, and a soft, pale twilight lingers over the water for hours.
Tip: The bright sky is deceptive: keep track of the time and don't set off on a trail late in the evening without a flashlight.
Ice pressure ridges
Where: A frozen lake, seen from the shore
Piles of ice near the shore and out on the open lake build up into strange, jagged ridges.
Tip: Admire pressure ridges only from the shore. Go out on the ice only where it's officially allowed.
Migrating birds
Where: Quiet bays and islands in spring and fall
During migration season, flocks of waterfowl stop over at big lakes.
Tip: Watch through binoculars from a distance, stay away from nesting areas and keep the noise down.
Read next
- Routes
Three routes built from types of places: a day on the shore, a weekend with an island, and a week by a big lake.
- Local guide
Shoreline etiquette for travelers, cold water, life jackets, ice safety and the 112 emergency number.
- Lake Onega (in Russian)
Lake Onega: where it is, what it's known for, how to plan a trip and what to see on a first visit.
Sources
- UNESCO World Heritage Centre: "Kizhi Pogost" property description
- UNESCO World Heritage Centre: "Petroglyphs of Lake Onega and the White Sea" property description
- Kizhi Museum-Reserve: visitor rules
- Encyclopedic sources on Lake Baikal and Lake Onega
This guide covers lake trips in general terms. Boat schedules, visitor rules at museum-reserves and protected shorelines, ice conditions and weather on the water all change, so check them against official sources shortly before you go.