Northern slope of Mount Vottovaara

The northern slope of Mount Vottovaara is located from the village of Sukkozero. Tourists who come from the village of Gimoly climb the mountain on the southern slope. The northern slope is usually visited when they go to the Stairway to Heaven. 

From the top of Mount Vottovaara, you can admire the views of the surrounding lakes and go down the northern slope to Echo Lake. In this place, you can see many seids, but they are of natural origin. Huge megalithic blocks stand on small boulders, which, in turn, stand on the ground. They are lapped together. It is very likely that they moved in glacial masses. 

Echo Lake is a small pond among the rocks. In dry periods, it can even dry out. To go to the Stairs to the Sky, you need to bypass the lake on the left. There is also a path to the right of the lake, but then it gradually ends in a deep forest. You will not be able to walk along it to the Stairs to the Sky. 

Next to Echo Lake there is another lake of quite large size. There are many camping sites on its shore. In summer, you can even swim in it. After a large lake, you need to go through a swampy area to a group of 3 boulders, one of which has the shape of a pyramid. After it, you will go to the shore of another small lake. Stairway to Heaven is located 400 meters from this lake. 

As you descend to the lakes, you will see how the bare rocky terrain with withered trees on the top of Vottovaara changes. The trees gradually acquire a healthy appearance. Some of them grow without tops, but at the foot of Vottovaara on the shores of lakes, the trees have a completely healthy appearance.