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Karelia

Karelia > Karelia
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Republic of Karelia (Russian: Республика Карелия) is one of the federal subjects of Russia, part of the Northwestern Federal District.

Karelia
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Information
Country:
Flag of Russia
 Russia
State: Karelia
Population: 643,548
Major roads: M18, R21
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The western border of Karelia coincides with the state border of Russia and Finland, stretching for 798.3 km and also serving as a border with the European Union. Karelia borders Arkhangelsk Oblast to the east, Vologda Oblast and Leningrad Oblast to the south, and Murmansk Oblast to the north.

The capital of the Republic of Karelia is the city of Petrozavodsk (population: 280,000).

Contents

Hitchhiking and Traveling Specifics

  • During Soviet times, much of Karelia (the entire area west of the M18 highway and railway) was a border zone. In the 1990s, the border zone was reduced to 5 km, but now there are attempts to restore it to its former size. Be prepared for document checks at checkpoints and villages in Western Karelia!
  • Areas with regulated access for foreign citizens (you must obtain a permit from the authorities in advance!): Certain coastal and border areas.
  • Along major highways, there are operating zones and penal colonies. Hitchhiking near them can become very difficult. Avoid such spots, and if you end up there, use public transport to at least reach the nearest police checkpoint.
  • The most dangerous animal for hitchhikers in Karelia is the mosquito. They appear as soon as the puddles warm up and disappear after the first frosts.
  • In summer, you can experience "white nights" (and round-the-clock hitchhiking), while in winter you might see the Northern Lights.

Nature Reserves and Contacts

Cities

Roads

The roads of Karelia are part of the Russian highway corridors:

  • No. 2: Murmansk—Petrozavodsk—Saint Petersburg—Novgorod—Tver—Moscow—Tula—Voronezh—Rostov-on-Don—Krasnodar—Novorossiysk—Sochi
  • No. 9: Saint Petersburg—Kargopol—Kotlas—Syktyvkar—Kudymkar—Perm, with connections Pudozh—Medvezhyegorsk.

The road network in Karelia is 12,463.2 km in total: public roads 7,869.2 km, departmental 4,594 km. Roads with hard surfaces total 9,347.8 km.

The international tourist route "Blue Road" passes through Karelia, from Mo i Rana (Norway), via Sweden, Finland, and the cities of Sortavala, Pitkyaranta, Olonets, Pryazha, Petrozavodsk, Medvezhyegorsk, Pudozh and on to Arkhangelsk Oblast.

Border Crossings

Within the control zone of the Border Service of the FSB of Russia in Karelia are international automobile checkpoints:

Other useful info

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