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Segezha — a city on the edge of Vygozero

Segezha stands on the northwestern shore of the vast Vygozero — one of the largest lakes in Europe. The city emerged in 1914 as a railway station on the Murmansk line, and by 1943 it had gained city status. Today about 22,500 people live here, and Segezha remains an important industrial center of Karelia. Live webcams allow you to see its atmosphere from afar — from the embankment to the central streets.

How the city appeared on the Karelian shore

The territory around Segezha originally belonged to the Saami, and from the 12th–13th centuries Karelian and Russian communities settled here. In 1694, a monastery with several sketes arose on a neighboring island. But the real history of the city began with the railway: in 1914–1915, the Segezha station appeared, named after the river flowing into Vygozero. The name is Karelian — from the word sees, meaning "clean, bright."

In 1928, the Segezha district was formed, and in 1932 construction of the White Sea-Baltic Canal began. The water level in Vygozero was raised by 6–7 meters, causing part of the Mayguba settlement to go underwater. The sawmill and other enterprises were relocated to Segezha, and that was when rapid industrial growth began here.

Segezha Pulp and Paper Mill — the heart of the city

In November 1933, prisoners of the White Sea-Baltic camp began construction of the Segezha pulp and paper mill. By 1939 the enterprise was operational, and since then the Segezha PPM has remained the city-forming enterprise. Today it is part of Segezha Group and ranks third in the world in sack paper production, exporting products to more than 70 countries. About 2,000 people work at the mill — a significant portion of Segezha's population.

During the war, the equipment was evacuated, and workshops began producing mortars, automatic rifles, and external aircraft fuel tanks. After restoration by 1948, production had doubled compared to the pre-war level, and the collective received the Order of Lenin.

The White Sea-Baltic Canal and its mark on Segezha

The idea of connecting the White Sea with Lake Onega belongs to Peter the Great — back in 1702 he personally participated in the passage of two frigates through these lands. But the canal was only built in 1933, and in a record 20 months. Transit navigation opened on June 30, 1933, and the canal gave impetus to the development of the entire region — Medvezhyegorsk, Nadvoitsy, and Segezha appeared.

In the Segezha district, locks No. 10 and 11, dams, the NKVD administration building, and memorial sites reminding of the forced labor of the builders have been preserved. The Shavanskaya wooden spillway dam still attracts history enthusiasts.

Nature of the Segezha district: lakes, forests, and waterfalls

The Segezha district is a vast territory where forests occupy 46%, bogs 34%, and water bodies 20% of the area. Vygozero, on which the city stands, is the largest lake in Karelia and the tenth in Europe. During the construction of the White Sea-Baltic Canal it turned into a reservoir: the water level rose by 7 meters, and the area almost doubled. The shores are rocky, there are more than 250 islands, and in 2014 an unidentified object, presumably a meteorite larger than the Chelyabinsk one, fell into the lake.

In the vicinity of Segezha is the Voitsky Padun — a former four-meter waterfall on the Nizhny Vyg River, of which only one branch remains today. A copper mine operated nearby, where in 1742 the first Russian industrial gold began to be mined. The district also features the lakes Segozero, Ondozero, Kuchozero, and Lindozero.

What to see in Segezha

The city center is built in the Stalinist style — the so-called socialist town has been preserved in the old part. On Peace Square stands the massive Paper Workers' Palace of Culture from the late 1940s, and along Boulevard of the Soviets the main city life is concentrated. The Vygozero embankment offers picturesque views of the water and forests, especially at sunset.

Among the churches, the Trinity Church stands out — 30 meters high, built in 2009, accommodating about 450 people. The Church of Nicholas the Wonderworker is also active. In 2019, a "Medical Nurse" monument was installed near the Culture Center in honor of the feat of medical workers during the war years.

The local history museum, opened in 1999 on the basis of a 1983 collection, tells about the history of the region, the "Osudar Road," the construction of the White Sea-Baltic Canal, and the Karelian GULAG. There are numismatic and ethnographic collections.

Climate and best time to visit

The climate in Segezha is moderately continental with maritime features. In winter, the average January temperature is −12.1 °C, although frosts can drop to −46 °C. Summer is cool: in July the average is +16.6 °C, but it can reach +35 °C. The best time to visit the city and its surroundings is the summer months with their white nights or early autumn, when the forests turn golden. In winter, Segezha attracts lovers of skiing and snowmobile routes.

How to get to Segezha

Segezha is located 267 km from Petrozavodsk and 670 km from St. Petersburg. The city stands on the Murmansk railway line, and in 2006 a new station building was opened here — before that, passengers used the old wooden building of pre-revolutionary construction. Road communication is maintained via the road from Petrozavodsk through Medvezhyegorsk. The time zone is UTC+3:00.

Surroundings: where to go from Segezha

From Segezha it is convenient to reach Belomorsk with its petroglyphs and White Sea-Baltic Canal museum (about 100 km north), Medvezhyegorsk on Lake Onega (50 km), and the Vodlozersky National Park with its pristine forests. Longer trips lead to Petrozavodsk, the Kivach waterfall, Marcial Waters, Kizhi Island, or the Solovetsky Islands. Fishing on Vygozero yields pike, perch, and whitefish.

What the cameras show in the city

Segezha webcams online broadcast the central streets, the Vygozero embankment, and the railway station. You can watch the Segezha webcam at any time of day — during the day you can see the traffic along Boulevard of the Soviets and Peace Square, in the evening the lights of the embankment come on. The online broadcast of Segezha allows you to check the weather before your trip or simply observe the life of a northern city by a large lake. Choose a camera and watch Segezha in real time.