Onezhskoye Pomorye National Park (Russian: Национальный парк Онежское Поморье) is a national park in northern Russia. It is located on the Onega Peninsula in the Onezhsky and Primorsky Districts of Arkhangelsk Oblast. The park was created on February 26, 2013. It helps protect untouched forests and coastal areas. The park covers an area of 2,016.68 square kilometers (778.64 square miles). Of this area, 1,806.68 square kilometers (697.56 square miles) are used for forests, and 210 square kilometers (81 square miles) are designated for water areas.
History
A national park was first planned in 1997, but it took until 2002 for the park's boundaries to be approved. In 2013, the land was set aside for the future national park. On December 22, 2011, the Government of the Russian Federation decided to create a national park on the Onega Peninsula. The park was officially established on February 26, 2013.
Geography
The park covers much of the Onega Peninsula and nearby parts of the White Sea. There are no roads or vehicles that can be used all year to reach the mainland. Most of the area is covered with trees. Moose, Eurasian brown bear, gray wolf, and red fox are often seen in the park. Beluga whales can be found in the White Sea. During the winter, the sea freezes.
Goal
- a large area of ancient taiga forests in Europe that reaches the coastline near the sea,
- a unique cultural history that includes old Pomor settlements, wooden churches built between the 1600s and 1800s, and two lighthouses, Chesmensky and Orlovsky, constructed in the 1800s.
Tourism
To visit the park, a permit must be obtained ahead of time. The longest stay allowed is ten days, except for people who live near the park, who can stay for up to one year.