Cultural Landscape of Kenozero Lake

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Exploring the Cultural Landscape of Kenozero Lake: A Unique Blend of Nature and Culture

The Cultural Landscape of Kenozero Lake, inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2024, offers a captivating glimpse into the rich interplay between human settlement and natural environment in the north-western region of the Russian Federation. Situated within the expansive Kenozero National Park, this cultural landscape showcases a distinctive fusion of Finno-Ugric forest culture and Slavic field culture, dating back to the 12th century.

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UNESCO Description of the World Heritage Site

Located in Kenozero National Park in the north-western area of the European region of the Russian Federation, the property depicts the local cultural landscape that evolved here from the 12th century, following the gradual spread of the Slavic population. It incorporates a number of traditional rural settlements with vernacular wooden architecture. The cultural landscape of Kenozero reflects the communal management of agriculture and nature that developed through the fusion and interaction of the Finno-Ugric forest culture and the Slavic field culture. Wooden churches and other religious buildings, originally decorated with painted ceilings, or “heavens”, are the key social, cultural, and visual landmarks of the area. Their spatial organization, together with sacred sites and symbols, highlight the residents’ spiritual connection with this environment.

Encyclopedia Record: Lake Kenozero

Lake Kenozero is a freshwater lake, located in the south-west of Plesetsky District of Arkhangelsk Oblast in Russia. It is one of the biggest lakes in Arkhangelsk Oblast and the biggest one in Plesetsky District. The area of the lake is 68.6 square kilometres (26.5 sq mi), and the area of its basin is 5,450 square kilometres (2,100 sq mi). Lake Kenozero is the source of the Kena, a tributary of the Onega. The lake thus belongs to the Onega basin and the White Sea basin.

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