Kenozersky National Park

Kenozersky National Park
IUCN category II (national park)
Sts Peter and Paul Church in the village of Morshchikhinskaya
Location	Russia
Nearest city	Kargopol
Coordinates	62°04′39″N 38°11′39″E / 62.07750°N 38.19417°E / 62.07750; 38.19417Coordinates: 62°04′39″N 38°11′39″E / 62.07750°N 38.19417°E / 62.07750; 38.19417
Area	1,396.63 square kilometres (539.24 sq mi)
Established	1991
Visitors	8896 (in 2008)
Governing body	Federal State Establishment "Kenozersky National Park"

Kenozersky National Park (Russian: Кенозерский национальный парк) is a national park in the north of Russia, located in Kargopolsky and Plesetsky Districts of Arkhangelsk Oblast. It was established December 28, 1991. Since 2004, the National Park has the status of the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve.

Kenozero was always a remote area. In the 19th century, the area was divided between Pudozhsky Uyezd (west) and Kargopolsky Uyezd (east) of the Olonets Governorate. In Soviet Union, after a number of administrative changes, the area ended up in the Arkhangelsk Oblast. In 1950s—1980s, as everywhere in Russian North, the area suffered severely from depopulation, in particular, all villages between Lake Lyokshmozero and Lake Kenozero were deserted.

In 1991, the decision was taken to create a National Park in the area. All historical monuments were transferred to the park administration, and some of them have been restored. December 28, 1991 the park was officially created. The staff of the park at the time of creation was 7 persons. In 1992 it was increased to 35 persons, and in 1993 to 153. In 2004, the park became a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve.

Kenozersky National Park occupies the south-western part of Plesetsky District and the north-western part of Kargopolsky District of the Arkhangelsk Oblast, at the border with the Republic of Karelia. The northern part of the Park is centered at the Lake Kenozero, one of the biggest lakes of the region. The headquarters of the Park are located in the village of Vershinino, on the northern shore of the lake. The Lake Kenozero is the source of the Kena River, a major left tributary of the Onega. The upper course of the Kena is located in the park, as well as the Pocha River, the major tributary of the Lake Kenozero, its source, Lake Pochozero, and the lower course of the main tributary of the Lake Pochozero, the Undosha River.