KarRC RAS Institute of Geology became of the project’s lead partners. The scientists organized a public science exhibition and a lecture series, and also acted as instructors and experts in a professional further education program organized by the Department of Tourism at Petrozavodsk State University's Institute of Physical Education, Sport, and Tourism.
Two presentations were made at the meeting. Director of the Institute of Geology KarRC RAS Sergey Svetov (right) and Director of ArtDeco workshop Dmitry Kotov presented an ambitious project titled the “GeoWorlds of Karelia”. This is an initiative to create a regional network of geological parks formulated by scientists of the Institute of Geology KarRC RAS and drawn up by the North Territory project group. Geology in this context is the assembly point of science, tourism, culture, education, and business.
Director of the Institute of Geology KarRC RAS Sergey Svetov (right) and Director of ArtDeco workshop Dmitry Kotov
“The project "Geological Worlds of Karelia" emerged from the idea of connecting science, geological heritage, and regional development, turning geology into a language through which the region can tell its story and build its future”, – the authors remark.
The plan is to create geoparks at geological attractions and abandoned mining-industry sites. This would help support small communities and create new jobs, boost entrepreneurship, develop tourism and create a new tourism product, promote the regional identity, and educate the public.
The network is expected to unite around 20 attractions in the region. Given the fairly extensive geographical area, it may be subdivided into clusters. Examples of sites already existing in the planned Southwestern cluster include "Ruskeala," White Bridges, Filin Mount, and the Valley of Waterfalls. Other sites to be added are Lake Janisjarvi, which was formed by a meteorite impact, Kitelya garnets, Salmi agates, and the waste piles and adits of Pitkyaranta.
A slide from the “Geological Worlds of Karelia” project presentation
The project "Geological Worlds of Karelia" involves not only the establishment of actual geoparks, including nature trails, tours, and vista points, but also setting up support centers in settlements, geo-labs, open-air displays and educational programs, and the development of formats for working with schoolchildren and other community groups, including inclusive ones.
Special attention in the project is given to Petrozavodsk - its geological features can form a facet of the city’s contemporary image. Scientists believe the capital of Karelia could become a city-scale landscape nature park, thanks to the natural features located across the city. These are the Kamenny Bor quartzite quarry in Klyuchevaya district, the Lososinka river channel in Drevlyanka and the city center, the glacier-cut sandy delta of an ancient river in Sulazhgora, and volcanic complexes in Solomennoye.
The goal of the project authors is to use natural heritage to modify the urban environment by enriching it with elements of education, local lore, and recreation.
For the project to be implemented, it is necessary to gain support and interest from the regional authorities and the business community.
During the event, Director of the Institute of Geology KarRC RAS also announced the publication of the second part of the geological comic book for children “Educative journeys of Karelian baby animals” which was prepared within the project. The book was authored by Sergey Svetov and artist Anna Danilova. The first part came out in 2022 and became vastly popular among schoolchildren and parents. In the continuation, the kid’s favorites – bear cub Mitya, foxy Lisa, hoglet Igoryok, and baby mole Anton—discover new attractions of the region, including the stromatolites of Sundozero, the Kivach waterfalls, the Uksinskaya esker ridge, and others. In total, the comic book covers 7 routes, 16 sites, and approximately a thousand kilometers of travel. The book is intended to serve as a guide for family tourism. The book is currently in print and is expected to be released within a month.
Pages of the new comic book
The exhibition Karelia. History in Stone, displayed at the Republic of Karelia National Library in April, was introduced by its curator, Senior Researcher of IG KarRC RAS Natalya Nesterova. Scientists coupled the exhibition with a series of lectures: during the three weeks the exhibition was open, six public lectures and four series of family master classes and quests were held. The events attracted over 2,500 participants. Natalia Nesterova added that the exhibition is now available for display in interested schools.
Left: Senior Researcher of IG KarRC RAS Natalya Nesterova; Right: “Karelia. History in Stone” exhibition opening in April 2025
The "Stone Chronicle of Karelia" Project Leader and Executive Director of the Petrozavodsk Foundation Ksenia Chumak presented the NGO-level work of project teams in the field of preserving the mining-industry heritage. The organization’s primary goal in this area is the preservation and promotion of these sites.
– There are over a thousand mining-industry heritage sites in Karelia: open pits and mines, adits, factory ruins. We find it important to preserve them and tell about them to local people and tourism providers, who would convey the information to guests coming to the region, – noted Ksenia Chumak.
[i]“Stone Chronicle of Karelia” Project Leader Ksenia Chumak
In 2025, the foundation's team held over a hundred events – classes, tours, quizzes, and others – in nine districts of the republic, reaching an audience of fifteen hundred people, mostly schoolchildren. Next on the agenda are pilot lessons in schools for developing the teacher’s manual "Stones of Karelia".
