Sampo Mountain is located 40 kilometers north of Petrozavodsk. This mountain rises on the isthmus between two lakes: Konchozero and Ukshozero. At the top, there is an observation deck where you can admire beautiful views of the Karelian forests and lakes.
Mount Sampo is a rock ridge left after the Ice Age. The highest mountain in Karelia, Nuorunen (577 meters), is located in the Paanayarvi Nature Reserve. In the central part of the region, the highest mountain is Vottovaara (416 m). For mountains, such a height is not great, but against their background, the height of Mount Sampo at 40 meters seems too low.
In the Karelo-Finnish epic Kalevala Sampo was called a magical object that was a source of well-being and abundance. The abduction of Sampo by an evil sorcerer is the central plot of the epic Kalevala. He took him away by boat. He was chased and during the struggle Sampo crashed and drowned in the sea. Most often, Sampo was depicted in the form of a mill that gave its owners flour, salt and even gold.
In 1959, a Soviet-Finnish cinematographic group was shooting a film about the epic Kalevala in Karelia. The stories about Sampo were filmed on this mountain. Since then, it has been called Sampo, and the mountain has become an attraction of Karelia.
Near Mount Sampo there is a road that leads from Petrozavodsk to the balneological resort of Marcial Waters and then to the ancient volcano Girvas. At the foot of Sampo Mountain there is a small parking lot where you can park your car and climb a simple trail.
At the top of Mount Sampo there is a rocky platform with a view of Lake Konchosero. The surface of the rocks is covered with moss in many places. Low pine trees grow here. Go down to the opposite side of the mountain, where the rocky slope of Sampo, overgrown with moss, looks most picturesque.
Some people consider Mount Sampo a Place of Power, where various wishes come true. They even tie ribbons and other objects on the branches of trees. Ecologists ask not to do this.
