Our clients often ask what the origin of shungite is. If you do not deal in detail with the Russian language and the region of Karelia, you can quickly get confused. There is much different information on the Internet: one seller writes that shungite is mined in Karelia, the other believes that only stones extracted from Onega Lake are real. In order to clarify the origin of the Karelian shungite, I would like to introduce local notation in the review.

• KareliaRegion, the capital Petrozavodsk

The region of Karelia is located in the north-eastern part of Europe on the territory of the Russian Federation, extends a little further, up to Finland. Shungite is mined exclusively in the part of Karelia that is located on the territory of the Russian Federation. This territory forms its own republic of Karelia inside the Russian Federation, with its own government and the capital of Petrozavodsk. Karelia is a water region with hundreds of lakes and islands. The largest lake is Lake Onega.

• Onega Lake

On the area Onega Lake (area: 9.700 km²) in approx. 18 times more than Lake Constance (536 km²) and because of its northern position it is noticeably colder.

• Zaonezhye

The area around the peninsula of Zaonezhye and the neighboring Kizhi archipelago in the north-east of Onega Lake is called Zaonezhye. In comparison with the Central European territories, this area is not widely populated. That is why it is a favorite place for tourists who are looking for a northern, untouched nature.

• Shunga

It is really a small village, which used to be an important market and a place of exchange for the entire region. The village is located on the shore of Lake Onega in the Zaonezhye region.

• Zazhoginsky

This designation for the quarry is near the village of Shunga. Here, high-quality shungite is extracted with an increased content of carbon and exports it all over the world.

Fig.: KS_1 (Map, Europe in Karelia)

Depending on the English, French or German spelling, the names of places may vary slightly.

Karelia and shungite are very closely related to each other.

Karelia is really a charming country with countless lakes, large and small islands with beautiful, northern, pronounced nature. Due to its special position and relative proximity to major Russian cities Moscow and St. Petersburg, Karelia has always been a favorite place for recreation. Shungite and spring waters always act attractive to people.

It is no accident that in the time of Peter the Great, the first Russian resort appeared in Karelia.

Photo: The sign of the resort

Today in Karelia there is developed a significant tourism industry that can offer rest from extreme sports in the Karelian mountains and on rough rivers, to numerous resorts, among other things also shungite treatment, everything for its guests.

Photo: Walking tour of Karelia

In Karelia, there are no seasons, which one way or another will be suitable for visiting. Many travel companies around the world offer trips to Karelia for all tastes. There are already paid organized trips from Western Europe to the shungite extraction sites.

In cultural terms, Karelia offers something that you do not necessarily expect from the northern remote region. In the capital of Petrozavodsk, for example, you can find both very interesting museums with international exhibitions, as well as theaters in many languages.

Culinary highlights you will find not only in the capital, but also in small villages. The most famous traditional pastry of Karelia is called "wickets".

Fig.: wickets with potatoes

Various fillings with meat, potatoes and, of course, with sweet curd mass, small and thin, or even round - "wickets" are available for every taste. They are sold in expensive restaurants, as well as in kiosks at the corner. I recommend you try these goodies anyway.

Bible of the Stone Age

On the shore of Onega Lake you can see the so-called "Karelian petroglyphs": the pictures carved in the mountains are still a mystery to scientists, what kind of people and for what purpose made these pictures. Even if some pictures show scenes from the everyday life of primitive people, some pictures are also perceived as energetically strong pictures with spiritual assumptions.

Fig: petroglyphs

Karelia is multifaceted and very interesting. The region offers opportunities to learn new and unknown, and probably expand your horizons to things. This applies, of course, to the areas where shungite is mined. This strong energy place is being sought by many people as a magical place to recharge your life energy.

Meetings with people

In Karelia you can meet people of different faiths and nationalities. All these people live peacefully with each other for many years. Most residents of Karelia are visiting groups of the population. Already during the reign of the kings and later under communist rule, many people were forcibly relocated. This greatly affected the indigenous inhabitants of Karelia, the "Karelians" Under the communist planned economy, the most important branch of the economy of Karelia and agriculture was almost completely destroyed. Today, fortunately, those times have passed; a lot of money was invested in the restoration of Karelian culture.

Today there is nothing special to find Karelian TV shows on television or on the radio to hear Karelian songs. There are theaters and exhibitions, which are devoted exclusively to the Karelian culture. According to old traditions, folk festivities are held and the time of harvest is celebrated in the markets.

Fig.: Karelian folk festivals, folklore

I met a lot of people during my trip to Karelia. They were Belarusians and Kazakhs, Jews and Muslims who have lived in Karelia for many generations. It is a country that offers people opportunities, despite different nationalities and confessions, to live peacefully with each other.

I devoted my train to Karelia, mainly shungite.

Shungite in Karelia can be found on the peninsula "Zaonezhye". This is a special place, which for me and many other people is of great importance. After all, on the edge of the village of Shunga is the only known location of the present mineral shungite. From these places began the history of shungite, a special story of a special stone.

Fig: sign of the village Shunga

A couple of kilometers further away is the Zazhoginsky slope for the classical shungite, not far from it is the well-known "source of health" mentioned in many books and beliefs,

"Zarevin the key"

This is a place with special, positive vibrations.

If you are in this area in the summer months, you often meet groups of people who came here from afar to experience a shungite source.

Hence there is the beginning of the history of shungite, until today people are transporting shungite with their vital energy and special information about this place around the world.

Mineral shungite received its name from the nearest village Shunga. Shungite found such high quality only in this area.

Shungite is a composite mineral, which mainly consists of carbon. The origin of the mineral is still not clear. The theory says that the stone appeared from algae deposits. Cosmic origin is also not excluded. It is assumed that this mineral may be remains from the planet Phaeton. One thing is for certain: it is not by chance that shungite is found in this area. He is a special mineral in the special magical and full energy of the area.