Karelia is famous for its islands that are protected by UNESCO; in particular, Kizhi and Valaam. People come here to experience the wonderful dawn. Visitors to Karelia can see the largest plain waterfall in Europe – Kivach, stay at the Martial Waters health resort which opened during the reign of Peter the First, and discover the Karelian-Finnish epic poem The Kalevala.
UNESCO sites include unique monuments preserved on the islands of Kizhi and Valaam. The most impressive ancient wooden monument in the North is Kizhi Pogost on Kizhi Island. The ensemble of the Kizhi Pogost was the basis for founding a world famous museum-reserve on the island. This includes architecture, everyday items and icons that have been created for over three hundred years in Russian, Karelian and Vepsian villages in various districts in Obonezhiе, in Northern and Southern Karelia. The museum covers 10,000 hectares.
Karelia's uniqueness was also formed by the four indigenous peoples living in this region: Karelians, Finns, Veps and Russians, who have lived together for centuries creating an original culture. The region has preserved ancient Karelian, Vepsian, and Pomor settlements with original architecture built several centuries ago.
Karelia is the home of the Karelian-Finnish epic poem The Kalevala, home to poem singers and epic storytellers. More than five thousand years ago, petroglyphs, rock carvings, were created by the hands of ancient people. These are familiar symbols representing one of the first examples of writing and human culture. The petroglyphs can be found in two places: in the north – in Belomorsky district, and in the south east of the republic – in Pudozhsky district, on the eastern coast of Lake Onega.
More than a million hectares of land in the region is protected; Paanajärvi, Vodlozersky and Kalevalsky national parks, Valaam Archipelago nature park and Kivach and Kostomuksha nature reserves. The Kivach Waterfall, the largest plain waterfall in Europe, can be seen on the Suna River.
Fifty kilometers from Petrozavodsk is the first Russian health resort, Martial Waters, founded 280 years ago by Emperor Peter the First. The resort has unique healing mineral water, which, in terms of iron content, has no equal in the world.Wonderful events are held in Karelia. Every year, in late July, the Onega Sailing Regatta of cruiser yachts, the national sailing championship and the largest in Russia, is held on Lake Onega. The annual Ded Moroz Olonets Games gather Ded Moroz's from all over Russia on December 1 to celebrate the birthday of Pakkaine, the Karelian Grandfather Frost. Thanks to Pakkaine, the national hero of winter entertainment, Olonets has become Karelia's winter capital. A museum of old new year toys has opened. The main exhibit is Pakkaine himself, made using paper art.