Ladoga and Onega lakes are connected by the Svir river. These reservoirs are the most important links on the Volga-B altic waterway. It is along this river that tourists are usually carried along the route Moscow-St. Petersburg.
General characteristics
The Svir River is 224 kilometers long. The source of the river is Lake Onega. In the area of the location of the village of Voznesenskoye - the mouth, Lake Ladoga. The area of the river basin is 84,400 thousand square meters. km. The width of the river is from 100 meters to 12 km. The entire course of the reservoir is located in the Leningrad region.
The average depth of the reservoir in the lower and upper reaches is up to 4 meters. In the lower reaches it reaches 7 meters.
The river and the Ivinsky spill have many tributaries, about 30. The largest:
- Shut up;
- Vazhinka;
- Pasha;
- Ivina;
- Yandeba.
Staro-Svirsky and Novo-Svirsky channels are located on the left side of the river.
The mouth of the river has about 30 islands of different sizes.
History of the Svir River
The reservoir has always been not deep and with multiple rapids, so there was no navigation here. With the advent of Soviet power, around the 30s of the last century, it was decided to create a cascade of hydroelectric power stations. This iswould meet the needs of the area in electricity and create a deep waterway to allow ships to pass along the entire length of the river.
As a result, the Nizhne-Svirskaya HPP is being built near Ladoga. Not far from Onega, the Verkhne-Svirskaya hydroelectric power station was erected. As a result of the construction of this station, the Ivinsky spill, or the Upper Svirsky reservoir, appeared. The reservoir reaches the very Onega Lake, which raised it to its level.
Both stations are equipped with access locks, which allows ships to move in both directions.
River Rest
In addition to electricity, residents and guests of Moscow and St. Petersburg can go on excursions. There are three stops along the river cruise:
- Svirstroy.
- Lodeynoe field.
- Mandrogi.
From the Svirstroy parking lot, which is located near Lodeynoye Pole, bus tours to holy places depart, namely, to the Holy Trinity Alexander Svirsky Monastery. By the way, the temple was built in 1484 and contains the relics of Alexander Svirsky.
But the Svir River is famous not only for spiritual sightseeing tours. At the service of vacationers - a visit to the Veps fair. And at the Mandrogi stop, the so-called Green parking lot is organized. Here, in the village of Upper Mandrogi, an ethnic settlement has been organized where you can see the life of the ancient Slavs and try Russian entertainment. Despite the formidable rapids, in the village there is a place for swimming, the opportunity to ridehorses, taste traditional Slavic cuisine, visit a mini-zoo and a museum of Russian vodka.
And this is not all the entertainment that the river is famous for. This body of water is very popular with fishermen.
Flora and fauna
There are several ebb and flow on the Svir River in one day, so the level of the reservoir is constantly changing. Despite this, the underwater inhabitants have adapted here, and the river itself is famous for its species diversity of fish. In its waters live:
- zander;
- chub;
- burbot;
- perch;
- pike;
- Buster;
- bream;
- roach;
- asp and others
Catch bans
There are some restrictions on fishing on the Svir River.
Fishing for whitefish is prohibited throughout the entire area of the water basin.
You can catch near settlements. There are also certain catch limits. They are listed in the table below.
| What can you do | What not to do |
| Salmon | |
| Catch 500 meters from the end of the restricted area of the Nizhne-Svirskaya HPP. You can use donk or floats as gear |
It is forbidden to fish on spinning from 01.10 to 30.11 and from 15.05 to 15.06. No more than 5 units per person |
| Burbot | |
| Everywhere, except for the 500-meter zone near dams and bridges | Ice fishing is allowed, but subject to the use of no more than two single-necked lines (2 meters, from a hoop diameter of 50 centimeters) |
You can fish from the shore, or you can use a swimming facility. Naturally, the second method is preferable, since the probability of getting a good catch increases several times.
Catching any fish on the shore near the Nizhne-Svirsky Reserve is prohibited.
Winter fishing
Freezing on the reservoir begins from the end of November-December. And the ice breakup occurs from the end of April to the end of May, depending on the location and the presence or absence of currents. In some places, where there is a particularly strong current, the river is not covered with ice at all. In the lower part of the river, jams can be observed that raise the water level up to 3.3 meters. And at the mouth, polynyas of various sizes are often observed, so you should be careful.
Perch lovers in the winter season arrive at the mouth of the river near the riverbed near the red building. Here you can only fish with a vertical bait, preferably heavy, as the current is strong. Also, the second popular place is the exit near Fox Island. In addition to perch, you can catch bream. At the exit from the channel, where the depth is already 4 meters, you can catch mormyshka. And you can already catch a pike. By the way, pike is also well caught on the left bank of the river in Zagubskaya Bay in winter. Other places are also full of fish, but these are the most popular.
Spring and summer
The Svir River in the Leningrad Region is famous for its excellent fish trophies brought from its tributaries. So, roach, ide and salmon always peck at Oyati. In early June, the river goes well for the baitzander, even though the water is still cloudy. In July, perch and pike begin to peck, which are also actively caught in August. It is in this month that the rainy season begins. And pike perch is no longer so active and is a rarity.
Ide, catfish, asp and grayling are caught in the tributary of the Syas River.
The rule that experienced fishermen follow: if the fish does not bite on the river, then you should immediately go to the tributaries.
In the area of the Gakruchia tract there are many bays, coves and creeks, there are islands, including floating ones. Ide, perch, roach and bream are well caught here. The ide on the Svir River, the photo of which is in the article, can reach 1.5 kilograms. And the pike comes across up to 10 kilograms.
Below Gakruchia, about 3-4 kilometers, perch is well caught and you can meet a large hunchback weighing up to 600 grams.
In the area of the settlement Plotichno and near the tributaries of the rivers Selga and Rzhanoy you can catch bream and roach, rudd. There are many so-called perch boilers here. It is in these places that the perch catches small things and there is a chance to catch individuals up to 800 grams.
In the area of the village of Nikolskoye, by the way, many people come here for the whole summer, roach, large bream and perch are caught. And in the forests near the village it is very beautiful and there are many berries and mushrooms.
In the place where the village of Nizhnyaya Mandroga is located, in the area of the confluence of the Sarke and Mandroga rivers, there are many beautiful whirlpools. And you can catch trout and grayling.
However, even if you don't use advice and a map, the Svir River is always great fishing and recreation.
Recreation and fishing
On the banks of the Svir River there are manyrecreation centers where you can have a great vacation or weekend, go fishing, visit holy places and take a walk in the forest.
4 kilometers from Lake Ladoga, on the Svir, there is a recreation center "Svirskaya". The main direction of the institution is the organization of fishing. Also at the service of vacationers are comfortable cottages and "Hunting with a huntsman". This is seasonal hunting in the tracts of Gornyak, Zagubskaya Bay, Mezhkanalie and so on. for wild boar, ducks, hares. The base is located in the Volkhov district, in the village of Sviritsa.
Not far from the village of Upper Mandrogi on the banks of the river, in the village of Svirstroy (240 km from St. Petersburg), there is a cottage complex "Cozy Pier". There are 3 cottages at a distance from the river from 10 to 60 meters. In addition to fishing, here you can make barbecue, sunbathe, ride a bike and go mushroom picking.
In the village of Kondratyevo in the tract of Zagubskaya Bay there is a fishing base "Coast of Good Luck". There are several comfortable cottages on the banks of the Svir River.
The Russian North and the Svir River are inextricably linked. Even despite the anthropogenic impact, the river is still one of the most fishy in Russia.
