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Petr Kosyh / petr-kosyh.livejournal.com
Petr Kosykh is a Russian photographer who often travels across Russia. He shared his photos from Kizhi Island with RBTH, along with his personal impressions of the journey. “At 4.30 am we set off from St Petersburg along Murmansk Highway. The 400 km route took more than 4 hours and we’re finally in Petrazovodsk, on Lake Onega. There is a boat that in an hour and a half will bring us to Kizhi, one of the most beautiful islands in Russia”.
Petr Kosyh / petr-kosyh.livejournal.com
Kizhi Island is one of Russia's best-known heritage sites, visited throughout the year, but especially in the summer. Visiting the island in June, you will also catch the white nights, when day turns into twilight and then flows into day again.
Petr Kosyh / petr-kosyh.livejournal.com
Located on the northwestern shore of Lake Onega, in the Republic of Karelia, Kizhi is home to various wooden structures that embody the traditional culture of the Russian North.
Petr Kosyh / petr-kosyh.livejournal.com
Kizhi is unique by the range and distinction of its collection, which includes two gated churches and a bell tower made in the 18th-19th centuries, plus original examples of Orthodox wooden architecture.
Petr Kosyh / petr-kosyh.livejournal.com
“The central part of the island is Yamka village. It consists of one street and 10 permanent residents. We spent three hours strolling around, looking at the local way of life, farms, banyas and wooden houses that have been inhabited by native Karelian residents for centuries.”
Petr Kosyh / petr-kosyh.livejournal.com
It was included on the UNESCO list for its beauty and longevity: few wooden structures have lasted this long. And every building here was made without a single nail.
Petr Kosyh / petr-kosyh.livejournal.com
Kizhi is notable not only for its churches, since the territory is also a museum and a national reserve. The old Orthodox log buildings are complemented by structures from different areas of Karelia. There are icons, household goods and buildings from Russian and Karelian villages, including traditional wooden houses, a mill and chapels.
Petr Kosyh / petr-kosyh.livejournal.com
This is an example of a house built for tourists: the interior looks like a traditional house. Here you can travel to the past with a singing, game-playing, story-telling folklore group. “I pictured this Karelian folklore group from Yakovlev house singing traditional lyrical songs.”
Petr Kosyh / petr-kosyh.livejournal.com
“The atmosphere of silence in Yamka is inexpressible; it is full of calmness and pacification. I can hardly imagine that over the hill there are thousands of tourists from different continents, and we are at one of the most popular places in Russia. That is what I was looking for, that is what I was expecting from Kizhi.”
Petr Kosyh / petr-kosyh.livejournal.com
Karelia is situated in the far north of Russia, so summer nights are less black than usual. At dawn the sun appears, spreading warm yellow light all around.
