New exhibition “Karelia – History in Stone” to open at the National Library of Karelia in April

Scientists of the Institute of Geology of the Karelian Research Center RAS became the leading partners in the new project “Stone Chronicles of Karelia”, which was launched on January 15 with funding from the Head of the Republic Grant Fund. The aim of the project is to preserve, popularize and use the geological and mining heritage of the region in education and tourism. For scientists, participation in the project provides new opportunities to popularize knowledge about the region's geological heritage. Thus, in April, a new exhibition “Karelia - History in Stone” will open at the National Library of Karelia as part of the project; other plans include school classes, lectures, quizzes and master classes for wide audiences.

Tracking of wild forest reindeer movements will help develop conservation actions for this rare species

Scientists in Karelia track the movements of the nationally red-listed wild forest reindeer using satellite collars and camera traps. This helps understand the current state of the population and what measures are needed to preserve it. Data have already been collected on the movements of reindeer in the north of the republic, and observations of females of the transboundary Kuhmo-Kamenoyeozero subpopulation in the west are underway. The study has shown that the female reindeer consistently use the same summer habitats but change their rutting territories and winter pastures. This information is important for planning the network of protected areas necessary to conserve this rare species.

Scientists presented the first results of a study on carbon pools and fluxes in aquatic ecosystems of Karelia

A model of carbon emission by waterbodies was created by staff of the Northern Water Problems Institute (NWPI) KarRC RAS after their first year of working within the RITM Carbon scientific consortium. In 2024, Karelia became one of the five regions where unified methodological approaches to estimating greenhouse gas pools and emissions from waterbodies are being developed. In the future, this experience may be disseminated across the country.

The Great Russian Encyclopedia web portal supplemented with an entry about the national tourist route «"All of Karelia!" Grand Tour»

The scientific and educational web portal Great Russian Encyclopedia was supplemented with an article about the national tourist route «"All of Karelia!" Grand Tour». The entry was prepared by Svetlana Kondrateva, Senior Researcher at the Institute of Economic KarRC RAS. The scientist researches tourism development in border regions and focuses on the topic of Arctic tourism and issues of regional and spatial economics.

Small water bodies of Zaonezhye area help scientists reveal the mysteries of the Onego Ice Lake

Some 13 thousand years ago Lake Onego was almost three times larger than nowadays. It formed at a glacial margin, being filled by melt water from the north and streams flowing from the south. Gradually, as the ice melted and the topography was reshaped, its size decreased to attain the present-day shape about 2.5 millennia ago. During this time, the planet experienced changes in climatic conditions, the causes of which are debated. The study of ancient sediments, which have been preserved not only in Lake Onego, but also in small basins that have become separated from it, is intended to help restore these events. One of the main mysteries for scientists is the “pink horizon”, which is clearly distinguishable in the sediment column.