Lake Beloye, Vologda Oblast
Encyclopedia
Lake Beloye is a lake
in the northwestern part of Vologda Oblast
in Russia
. The lake has an approximately round shape with a diameter of 46 kilometres (28.6 mi). Its area is 1130 square kilometre, and the are of its basin is and the area of its basin is 14000 square kilometre. Lake Vozhe drains into the Sheksna River
, which is a tributary of the Rybinsk Reservoir
of the Volga River
. The Sheksna flows out of the eastern corner of the lake. The main tributaries of Lake Beloye are the Kovzha
, the Kema
, and the Megra.
Administratively, the lake is divided between Belozersky District
(south) and Vashkinsky District
(north) of Vologda Oblast. In terms of the area, Lake Beloye is the second natural lake of Vologda Oblast (behind Lake Onega
) and the third lake (also behind the Rybinsk Reservoir
). It belongs to the ten biggest natural lakes in Europe.
The basin of the lake includes parts of Belozersky, Vashkinsky, Babayevsky and Vytegorsky District
s of Vologda Oblast, as well as minor areas in Kargopolsky District of Arkhangelsk Oblast
. Most of the basin lies north of the lake, in the Andoma Hills, and includes smaller lakes, many of them being of glacial origin. These lakes include Lake Kovzhskoye
, Lake Kemskoye, Lake Kushtozero, Lake Sholskoye, Lake Druzhinnoye, and, south of Lake Beloye, Lake Lozskoye.
The lake and the Belozersky Canal
around it are a part of the Volga–Baltic Waterway.
One of the oldest Russian towns, Belozersk
, is located on its coast.
Lake
A lake is a body of relatively still fresh or salt water of considerable size, localized in a basin, that is surrounded by land. Lakes are inland and not part of the ocean and therefore are distinct from lagoons, and are larger and deeper than ponds. Lakes can be contrasted with rivers or streams,...
in the northwestern part of Vologda Oblast
Vologda Oblast
Vologda Oblast is a federal subject of Russia . Its administrative center is Vologda. The largest city is Cherepovets.Vologda Oblast is rich in historic monuments, such as the magnificent Kirillo-Belozersky Monastery, Ferapontov Convent , medieval towns of Velikiy Ustyug and Belozersk, baroque...
in Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
. The lake has an approximately round shape with a diameter of 46 kilometres (28.6 mi). Its area is 1130 square kilometre, and the are of its basin is and the area of its basin is 14000 square kilometre. Lake Vozhe drains into the Sheksna River
Sheksna River
The Sheksna is a river in Belozersky, Kirillovsky, Sheksninsky, and Cherepovetsky Districts of Vologda Oblast in Russia. It is a left tributary of the Volga River. It is long, and the area of its basin...
, which is a tributary of the Rybinsk Reservoir
Rybinsk Reservoir
Rybinsk Reservoir , informally called the Rybinsk Sea, is a water reservoir on the Volga River and its tributaries Sheksna and Mologa, formed by Rybinsk Hydroelectric Station dam, located on the territories of Tver, Vologda, and Yaroslavl Oblasts. At the time of its construction, it was the largest...
of the Volga River
Volga River
The Volga is the largest river in Europe in terms of length, discharge, and watershed. It flows through central Russia, and is widely viewed as the national river of Russia. Out of the twenty largest cities of Russia, eleven, including the capital Moscow, are situated in the Volga's drainage...
. The Sheksna flows out of the eastern corner of the lake. The main tributaries of Lake Beloye are the Kovzha
Kovzha River
The Kovzha is a river in Vytegorsky, Belozersky, and Vashkinsky Districts of Vologda Oblast in Russia. It originates from Lake Kovzhskoye and is a tributary of Lake Beloye. It is long, and the area of its basin . The Kovzha River is a part of the Volga-Baltic Waterway...
, the Kema
Kema River
The Kema is a river in Vytegorsky and Vashkinsky Districts of Vologda Oblast in Russia. It flows out of Lake Kemskoye and is a tributary of Lake Beloye. It is long, and the area of its basin . The main tributary is the Indomanka River ....
, and the Megra.
Administratively, the lake is divided between Belozersky District
Belozersky District
Belozersky District is the name of several administrative and municipal districts in Russia. The name literally means "pertaining to white lakes".*Belozersky District, Kurgan Oblast, an administrative and municipal district of Kurgan Oblast...
(south) and Vashkinsky District
Vashkinsky District
Vashkinsky District is an administrative district , one of the twenty-six in Vologda Oblast, Russia. Municipally, it is incorporated as Vashkinsky Municipal District. It is located in the northwest of the oblast and borders with Vytegorsky District in the north, Kirillovsky District in the east,...
(north) of Vologda Oblast. In terms of the area, Lake Beloye is the second natural lake of Vologda Oblast (behind Lake Onega
Lake Onega
Lake Onega is a lake in the north-west European part of Russia, located on the territory of Republic of Karelia, Leningrad Oblast and Vologda Oblast. It belongs to the basin of Baltic Sea, Atlantic Ocean, and is the second largest lake in Europe after Lake Ladoga...
) and the third lake (also behind the Rybinsk Reservoir
Rybinsk Reservoir
Rybinsk Reservoir , informally called the Rybinsk Sea, is a water reservoir on the Volga River and its tributaries Sheksna and Mologa, formed by Rybinsk Hydroelectric Station dam, located on the territories of Tver, Vologda, and Yaroslavl Oblasts. At the time of its construction, it was the largest...
). It belongs to the ten biggest natural lakes in Europe.
The basin of the lake includes parts of Belozersky, Vashkinsky, Babayevsky and Vytegorsky District
Vytegorsky District
Vytegorsky District is an administrative district , one of the twenty-six in Vologda Oblast, Russia. Municipally, it is incorporated as Vytegorsky Municipal District...
s of Vologda Oblast, as well as minor areas in Kargopolsky District of Arkhangelsk Oblast
Arkhangelsk Oblast
Arkhangelsk Oblast is a federal subject of Russia . It includes the Arctic archipelagos of Franz Josef Land and Novaya Zemlya, as well as the Solovetsky Islands in the White Sea....
. Most of the basin lies north of the lake, in the Andoma Hills, and includes smaller lakes, many of them being of glacial origin. These lakes include Lake Kovzhskoye
Lake Kovzhskoye
Lake Kovzhskoye is a freshwater lake, located in the center of Vytegorsky District of Vologda Oblast in Russia. It is one of the biggest lakes in Vologda Oblast and the second biggest one in Vytegorsky District behind Lake Onega. The area of the lake is , and the area of its basin is . The main...
, Lake Kemskoye, Lake Kushtozero, Lake Sholskoye, Lake Druzhinnoye, and, south of Lake Beloye, Lake Lozskoye.
The lake and the Belozersky Canal
Belozersky Canal
The Belozersky Bypass Canal is a canal around the south-western part of Lake Beloye in Vologda Oblast in north-western Russia. It connects Kovzha River to Sheksna River, and is part of the Volga–Baltic Waterway....
around it are a part of the Volga–Baltic Waterway.
One of the oldest Russian towns, Belozersk
Belozersk
Belozersk , known as Beloozero until 1777 , is a town and the administrative center of Belozersky District of Vologda Oblast, Russia, situated on the southern bank of Lake Beloye, from which it takes the name...
, is located on its coast.