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{{Short description|Archipelago in Republic of Karelia, Russian Federation}}
{{Infobox islands
| name             = Valaam
| native_name      = Валаам
| image_name       = ValaamArchipelago.jpg
| image_size       = 
| image_caption    = satellite view (NASA)
| image_alt        = 
| map = Russia Karelia
| map_caption      = location in  [[Republic of Karelia]]
| location         = 
| archipelago      = Valaam archipelago
| waterbody        = [[Lake Ladoga]]
| total_islands    = approx. 50
| major_islands    = Valaam
| area_km2         = 36<!-- or area m2 or area ha -->
| area_footnotes   = 
| length_km        = <!-- or length m  -->
| length_footnotes = 
| width_km         = <!-- or width m  -->
| width_footnotes  =
| country = [[Russia]]
| population       = 600
| website          = {{URL|valaam.ru/en}}
}}
[[File:Priroda Valaamskogo arhipelaga.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Rugged nature of Valaam]]
[[File:Valaam Church.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Church of the St. Nicholas Skete at the mouth of the Monastery Bay, Valaam]]
'''Valaam''' ({{langx|ru|Валаам or Валаамский архипелаг}}; {{langx|fi|Valamo}}) is an [[archipelago]] in the northern portion of [[Lake Ladoga]], lying within the [[Republic of Karelia]], [[Russia]]. The total area of its more than 50 islands is 36&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>. The largest island is also called Valaam. Other named islands are: [[Skitsky Island|Skitsky]] (second by size), Lembos, Sviatoy, Bayonny, Moskovsky, Predtechensky, Nikonovsky, Divny, Emelyanov, Oboronny, Goly, Savvaty's, Zosima's, Skalisty, Lukovy, Ovsiany, Rzhanoi, Nikolsky.

It is best known as the site of the 14th century [[Valaam Monastery]] on Valaam Island and for its natural environment.<ref name="auto">Selby p. 175</ref>

==Etymology==
{{citation needed span|The name of the island is from the Finnic word ''valamo'', which means "the high, mountain, ground".|date=January 2023}}

In historical references, the island has also been referred to by the name Walamo, particularly in early European accounts and during the period of geographic exploration.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Bayley |first=Annie Margaret Clive |title=Vignette from Finland; or, Twelve months in Strawberryland |publisher=London, Low, Marston and Company, ltd. |year=1895 |pages=13–321 |language=}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Georgi |first=Johann Gottlieb |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=wgYEAAAAYAAJ |title=Geographisch-physikalische und naturhistorische Beschreibung des Rußischen Reichs zur Uebersicht bisheriger Kenntnisse von demselben |publisher=Friedrich Nicolovius |year=1797 |isbn= |volume=3 |location=[[Königsberg]] |pages=494 |language=de}}</ref> This alternative name may have been used in certain cultural contexts, particularly in relation to the region's broader connections with surrounding areas.{{Citation needed|date=March 2025}}

The name "Valaam" and similar variants, such as "Valamo, [[Salla]], and [[Ukko]], appear in both Finnish traditions and certain regions of sub-Saharan Africa, particularly around [[Lake Victoria]]. Some researchers have noted these similarities and speculated about potential historical or cultural connections between these regions. However, these claims remain speculative and are not widely supported in mainstream scholarship.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Vuorio |first=Eetu |title=Suomalaiset Välimeren auringon alla |year=1931 |pages=129–132}}</ref>

Additionally, parallels are found in historical colonial records, such as the names "Susi" and "Tapio," which were used by both Finnish and African communities, documented by European explorers like [[David Livingstone]]. Finnish researcher [[:fi:Eetu Vuorio|Kalle Eetu Vuorio]] explored such connections in his 1931 work ''Suomalaiset Välimeren auringon alla'', where he proposed links between Finnish and Mediterranean cultures. However, Vuorio's theories, including the idea of Finnish people having ancient Mediterranean origins, have been largely dismissed by contemporary scholars and are not widely accepted in modern academic discourse.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Koskinen |first=Inkeri |title=Villi Suomen historia: Välimeren Väinämöisestä Äijäkupittaan pyramideihin |publisher=[[Tammi (company)|Tammi]] |year=2015 |isbn=978-951-31-8392-9 |location=Helsinki |language=fi |trans-title=The Wild History of Finland}}</ref>

==History==
In the 12th century, the islands were a part of the [[Novgorod Republic]]. In the 17th century, they were captured by [[Sweden]] during the [[Time of Troubles]], but [[Russia]] reconquered them less than a century later. When the [[Grand Duchy of Finland]] was set up in the early 19th century as an autonomous part of the Russian Empire, [[Alexander I of Russia]] made Valaam a part of Finland. In 1917, Valaam became a part of newly independent [[Finland]], but it was annexed by the [[USSR]] after the [[Winter War]] and [[Continuation War]].

The island was visited repeatedly by emperors Alexander I, [[Alexander II of Russia|Alexander II]], and other members of the imperial family. Other famous visitors include [[Tchaikovsky]] and [[Dmitri Mendeleev|Mendeleyev]].

The island is permanently inhabited by monks and families. In 1999, there were about 600 residents on the main island; including army service personnel, restoration workers, guides and monks.<ref name="auto"/> There is a kindergarten, an arts and sports venue, a school, a small museum and a medical centre. The community on Valaam at the moment has no official administrative status.

During the summer, the main island can be reached by tour boats which leave St. Petersburg at night and arrive at the island the following morning.<ref name="auto"/>

The [[president of the Russian Federation]] has a [[dacha]] on one of the islands of Valaam, but its precise location is not publicly known.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.iltasanomat.fi/ulkomaat/art-1288682534205.html?pos=ok-nln | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140429124227/http://www.iltasanomat.fi/ulkomaat/art-1288682534205.html?pos=ok-nln | url-status = dead | archive-date = April 29, 2014 | title = Tässä on Putinin vaiettu huvila Valamon saaressa ('Here is Putin's secret dacha in Valaam') | last = Paananen | first = Arja | date = 2014-04-28 | work = [[Iltasanomat]] | publisher = [[Sanoma|Sanoma Oyj]] | access-date = 2014-05-02}}</ref>

==Geography==
The climate and natural history of the island are unique because of its position in Lake Ladoga. Spring begins at the end of March and a typical summer on Valaam consists of 30–35 sunny days, which is more than on the mainland. The average temperature in July is {{convert|17|°C|°F}}. The winter and snow arrive in early December. In the middle of February the ice road to the nearest city of [[Sortavala]] ({{convert|42|km|mi|abbr=on|disp=comma}}) is traversable. The average temperature of February is {{convert|-8|°C|°F}}.

More than 480 species of plants grow on the island, many of which have been cultivated by monks. The island is covered by coniferous woods, about 65% of which are pine. Ten species of mammals and more than 120 avian species call the archipelago home.<ref>{{Cite book|title = Valaam Tourist Map|last = |first = |publisher = discus|year = 2003|location = St. Petersburg|isbn= 5-94059-038-1}}</ref>

==Gallery==
<gallery widths="190" heights="127">
File: St. Nicholas Skete on island Valaam on Ladoga lake and little ship..jpg|Saint Nicholas Skete on island Valaam on Ladoga lake  and little ship.
File: The Skit of Smolensky on the Valaam (Valamo),.jpg|The Skete of Smolensky on the Valaam (Valamo)
File: Rocks on Valaam Island in Lake Ladoga..jpg|Rocks on Valaam Island in [[Lake Ladoga]]
File: The Skete of St. Nicholas on island Valaam.jpg|The bridge on the road to Saint Nicholas skete.
File: The Skete of All Saints.jpg|The Skete of All Saints on the Valaam island
File: The archipelago in Ladoga Lake with the Monastery of the Transfiguration of the Saviour..jpg|The archipelago in Ladoga Lake with the Monastery of the Transfiguration of the Saviour.
</gallery>

==References==
{{Portal|Russia}}
{{Reflist}}

==Sources==
* Selby, N. ''St. Petersburg'', 2nd. edition, 1999, Lonely Planet Publications {{ISBN|0-86442-657-7}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Valaam Archipelago}}
*http://nordictravel.ru/page/valaam.html
*https://web.archive.org/web/20130404201414/http://valaam.ru/en/
*http://www.brill.com/oldest-one-russia

{{Coord|61|22|27|N|30|57|39|E|region:RU-KR_type:isle_source:dewiki|display=title}}

[[Category:Landforms of the Republic of Karelia]]
[[Category:Archipelagoes of Europe]]
[[Category:Lake islands of Europe]]
[[Category:Lake islands of Russia]]
[[Category:World Heritage Tentative List]]
[[Category:Sortavala]]
[[Category:Museums in the Republic of Karelia]]
[[Category:Prison islands]]
[[Category:Lake Ladoga]]