#StudentTourism-2024: Petrozavodsk: A City of Military Glory, Cultural, Educational, and Innovative Center of Karelia. Part 1

As part of the federal program «STUDTOURISM», a delegation of students from the Institute of Management and Information Technologies of UMTE visited Petrozavodsk. The trip took place from July 8 to July 11, led by Anatoly Mordovets, an associate professor in the Department of Management of Socio-Economic Systems.

Petrozavodsk, the capital of the Republic of Karelia, is a land of ancient traditions, unique cuisine, numerous lakes, hospitable locals, Northern charm, and incredible landscapes. The travel program allowed participants to get acquainted with this amazing corner of our homeland.

On the first day, during a meeting with representatives and students of Petrozavodsk State University (PetrSU), several areas of cooperation in educational, scientific, innovative, and project activities were discussed. Representatives of PetrSU introduced UMTE students to the history of the university and the activities of the Artificial Intelligence Center, which focuses on predictive analytics for engineering systems, machines, and equipment, as well as surrounding artificial intelligence systems in the Internet of Things. They also presented the Laboratory of Ecological Problems of the North, which has a special section for educational and research purposes—its aquariums house Lena sturgeons, rainbow trout, and cichlids.

Afterward, a representative from the Department of Tourism at PetrSU conducted a sightseeing tour of Petrozavodsk, introducing the history of the capital of Karelia and emphasizing significant and memorable places.

In conclusion, UMTE students learned about the development of tourism in the Republic of Karelia and were impressed by the extensive work done by Tamara Mikhailovna Glushanok in creating a unique tourism museum at PetrSU.

The second and third days were dedicated to excursions around Karelia. On the way to Karelia's gem—Ruskeala—we stopped at the Valley of Heroes, where fierce battles took place during the Winter War of 1939-1940 between the USSR and Finland. Near the Cross of Sorrow—the first monument in Russia dedicated to the Soviet-Finnish War of 1939-1940—we honored our heroes.

Karelia is home to the largest waterfalls and stunning canyons. We saw the Tohminski or Ruskeala waterfalls. This location was featured in the famous Soviet film «The Dawns Here Are Quiet...». And there was the marble canyon of Ruskeala, breathtaking in its beauty.

Karelian nature has created remarkable landmarks—cliffs, waterfalls, volcanoes, springs. The most important among them are included in the «Golden Ring of Karelia»—Mount «Sampo», where the legendary Soviet fairy tale film «Sampo» was shot, based on the Karelian-Finnish epic "Kalevala"; the very first Russian resort «Marcial Waters», founded by Peter I himself, who visited these lands four times and recommended drinking water from local iron-rich springs for health; the ancient volcano Girvas—a unique natural object over one and a half billion years old; and Girvas's brother—the waterfall «Kivach», celebrated by Karelia's first governor, Russian poet Gavrila Derzhavin: "The mountain sparkles like a diamond.»

On the fourth day, the delegation bid farewell to Petrozavodsk—taking a stroll along the beautiful embankment of Lake Onega, visiting Victory Coastal Park and Culture and Recreation Park, which locals call Peter's Park since it was also founded by Peter I.

We thank representatives of PetrSU—Vice-Rector for Educational and Social Work V.K. Katarov and Associate Professor of Tourism V.I. Maksimov—for organizing the reception, accommodation, and informational support for the UMTE delegation throughout the trip.