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The article introduces the concept of explant state as one of the main factors influencing the initiation of Pinus sylvestris L. somatic embryogenesis. Data on Scots pine zygotic embryo development in trees growing on the territory of South Karelia are presented. Plant material was collected from trees of different age: Petrozavodsk Seed Orchard of the first order (40 years), progeny trial in the Man'ga village (10 years), and the Petrozavodsk Park (20 years). It was found that fertilization and the subsequent formation of zygotic embryos occurred faster in trees growing in the park. For SE initiation, cleavage polyembryony appeared to be the most suitable stage of zygotic embryo development. Less frequently embryogenic tissue was formed at the later stages, i.e., globular and precotyledonary. The in vitro cultivation of 1022 megagametophytes containing immature embryos on DCR medium showed that explants collected from plus tree clones in Petrozavodsk Seed Orchard extruded (8.06 ± 1.33%) and formed cell mass (0.65 ± 0.32%) more actively than younger trees from the park, where extrusion was absent and cell mass was formed in 0.46 ± 0.46% of cases, as well as from progeny trial explants, where embryonic mass extrusion (0.96 ± 0.67%) was observed, but cell mass formation did not occur. It was recorded that only 57.5% of cultured explants contained a zygotic embryo within the megagametophyte. This phenomenon distinctive for conifers is a result of a mechanism to protect against inbreeding, leading to the formation of an embryo homozygous for embryonic lethal genes, which subsequently degenerates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Examines the specifics of the implementation of the North theme in the subgenre of modern domestic folk horror using the example of novels and stories by D. Bobyleva, O. Kozhin, L. Lvova, A. Podolsky, M. Romanova. The geography of the North in folk horror includes Karelia, the Arkhangelsk region, Siberia and Yakutia. The work was carried out using motive, cultural-historical, historical-genetic methods. It turns out that this subgenre is built on the basis of the chronotope of locations remote from large cities (towns, villages, settlements), which are associated with the chthonic world and threaten people (the motif of a cursed place). An obligatory element of the poetics of folk horror is the depiction of heroes who are carriers of a pagan worldview: shamans, priests, sorcerers, and the plot is initiatory: an individual, encountering supernatural beings (whose genesis is folkloremythological in nature), joins the archaic culture and becomes its full-fledged part. The author comes to the conclusion that not only supernatural creatures are dangerous to humans, but also nature itself: heroes risk drowning in a swamp, freezing during a snowstorm, etc. Fulfilling the requirements of the genre, writers frighten the reader and make him feel disgust, but at the same time they convey the special attractiveness of the North, reproducing the customs and rituals of autochthonous peoples.

Introduction. The child health protection system represented a complex of organizational and legal measures aimed at providing the necessary conditions for the full development of a healthy child, which included not only the treatment of diseases but also the implementation of preventive measures. Despite existing challenges in organizing quality medical care for children, the fundamental ideas for protecting children's health were established in the first half of the 1920s and were further developed in the following period. The aim of this research is to reconstruct the measures undertaken by the new government to protect the health of the younger generation in the early years of Soviet power (based on materials from Karelia). Materials and Methods. Based on a collection of archival materials and published sources, measures aimed at addressing the issue of high child mortality and morbidity are demonstrated. The preparation of the article utilized systematic, comparative-historical, and problem-chronological methods. Results and Discussion. The factors affecting the situation of the child population in Karelia have been analyzed; indicators of child mortality and its causes, birth rates, and natural population growth are presented, and the sanitary-epidemiological state of the region is described. The state measures taken to address child health protection issues are examined, including actions aimed at creating and developing a network of institutions providing medical and preventive care to children, which led to a decrease in child mortality and an increase in birth rates. Conclusion. The fundamental areas of focus in the work on protecting children's health were chosen to be screening, prevention, and vaccination. The conclusions drawn by the author contribute to the study of the child healthcare system in the early period of the Soviet era.

New data on the species composition of parasites of the great cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo from the shores of Lake Ladoga are presented. The parasitic fauna of the great cormorant consists of nine species. Four species have been found in the northwestern part of Russia for the first time: the trematode Metorchis xanthosomus and nematodes Cyathostoma microspiculum, Syncuaria squamata, and Eustrongylides mergorum.P. phalacrocoracis, Syncuaria squamata, and Cyathostoma microspiculum are parasites specific to cormorants. Other parasites identified (Contracaecum rudolphii, Petasiger radiatus, P. phalacrocoracis, Paradilepis scolecina, and Ligula intestinalis) are typical and widespread helminths of fish-eating birds that are ubiquitous in the Palearctic. Some species (M. xanthosomus, E. mergorum, C. rudolphii, and L. intestinalis) are of epizootic importance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A general overview of the landforms of the Baltic crystalline shield was made; geologic, tectonic and geomorphological processes which created the modern landscapes were analyzed. The Baltic crystalline shield, composed by Archaean and Proterozoic rocks, is among the most ancient massives on Earth. It has seen numerous periods of tectonic activation, folding and faulting since the Precambrian time, which left numerous veins and intrusions with extreme diversity of minerals. In the Neotectonic time, the existing faults were re-activated and new ones were set, resulting in intense movements of crustal blocks. During the Quaternary, the Baltic shield was covered by ice sheets for several times. The ice left numerous moraines, glacial striae and fluvioglacial landforms. The last glaciation ended by 10–11 ka, and uplift of the Earth's crust driven by glacioisostatic adjustment (GIA) started. The rates of this uplift exceeded the eustatic rise of the World Ocean from meltwater input. Because of this, the eastern part of the Russian territory within the Baltic Shield experience a relative sea level (RSL) fall in the Holocene. Although the general uplift of the Earth-s crust in the last millennia was GIA-driven, local tectonic block movements of the Earth's crust were imposed on this general uplift, creating scatter in the RSL data. Such movements along major faults left numerous traces of ancient earthquakes. The combination of ancient resistant intrusive and metamorphic rocks, long-term uplift, past glaciations and high tides of the White Sea created the unique landscapes of the Baltic Shield with its rocky benches, skerries and sheepback rocks, meromictic lakes in former sea gulf which will later become isolation basins, series of uplifted coastal bars of well-rounded boulders and large tidal flats with boulders displaced by sea ice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

New data on dikes of rare metal topaz–"zinnwaldite" granites of the Salmi anorthosite–rapakivigranite complex are presented. The U–Pb (ID-TIMS) isotopic age of Ta–Nb mineralization: the columbite-(Fe)–tantalite-(Fe) series and tapiolite is 1541 ± 2.5 Ma. Conclusions are given on the age limitations of associated rocks, intersected by analogous dikes, and the discreteness of the rare-metal magmatism manifestation in the studied area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article reviews the book “My Kalevala. What? Why? Where from? When? Whose? Discussions About an Epic” by the Finnish writer, researcher, and public figure Markku Nieminen published in Finland in Finnish in 2023. The book is dedicated to the history of the controversy surrounding the poem “Kalevala” created by Elias Lönnrot. Various interpretations of Kalevala — as a national Finnish epic, a Karelian-Finnish folk epic, and an author’s poem — give rise to endless discussions and determine the relevance of the work under review, which also makes its contribution to the modern debate. The article presents a brief description of the work, identifying pairs of the main participants in the discussion over an almost 200-year period: E. Lönnrot — K.A. Gottlund, A. Ahlquist — J. Krohn, T. Rein — J. Aho, K. Krohn — V. Salminen and I. K. Inha, K. Kron — E.N. Setälä, M. Kuusi — V. Kaukonen, A. Tuomi — A. Mishin, M. Nieminen — T. Kondie. Particular attention is paid to the disputes between Russian participants and M. Nieminen’s response to the controversy in Finland at an online seminar in 2022. M. Nieminen consistently reveals the essence of the Kalevala discussions in which researchers, journalists, and public figures occurred in Finland and Russian Karelia. A structured presentation of such extensive material (dozens and hundreds of publications have been analyzed), in which the author’s broad outlook is felt at every step, certainly deserves the attention of readers.

The analysis of the main biogenic elements in the thalli of the epiphytic cephalolichen Lobaria pulmonaria of different ontogenetic stages was conducted. Thallus for research was collected in the spruce forests of the Paanajärvi National Park, which disturbance age varied from 190 to 270 years from the tree trunks (living and dead) of Populus tremula, Salix caprea, Sorbus aucuparia, Betula spp. Chemical analysis of thalli samples showed that N content increased (r = 0.43, p = 0.0039) and K content decreased (r = −0.42, p = 0.0046) in the ontogenetic stages from virginal 1 to senile. We revealed different elements were accumulated in lichen thalli, depending on the elements' content in the substrate: C, K, Mn – in the young thalli, Ca, Cu, Zn – in old ones, Fe – in both groups. The results indicated the necessity to consider the ontogenetic stages of lichen thalli when analysing the element content, because the ignoring of this parameter can lead to results that did not reflect reality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The studies were carried out on the territory of the Kindasovo forest-bog research station of the Karelian Research Center, Russian Academy of Sciences, located in the middle taiga subzone (61°48′ N and 33°35′ E). The experiments were carried out in the Nenazvannoe natural mesoeutrophic bog of the aapa type in seven permanent bog areas located in different ecological and coenotic conditions. The paper presents long-term results (from 10 to 38 years) of studies of the dynamics of annual growth of 11 widespread hygro- and hydrophilic species of sphagnum mosses. Based on fluctuations in the average annual growth data during the years of study, the largest increases were observed for Sphagnum riparium (140 mm) and S. obtusum (93 mm), growing in heavily watered bog areas and not withstanding drying out; medium growths of S. fallax (65 mm), S. subsecundum (57 mm), S. majus (42 mm), S. balticum (36 mm), and S. warnstorfii (28 mm) are found in low-flow watered bogs, hollows, and on carpets; the lowest growth was shown for S. divinum (17 mm), S. centrale (15 mm), S. papillosum (12 mm), and S. fuscum (8 mm), growing on ridges, low hummocks, and carpets under conditions of sharply variable conditions hydration. A correlation analysis to study the influence of precipitation and average temperature on the annual growth of sphagnum mosses did not show any significant dependence of moss growth on temperature during the growing season. For S. fuscum, S. obtusum, and S. warnstorfii, negative dependences on the temperature of individual months are observed in different months of the growing season. Precipitation during the growing season is the main factor determining the dependence of the annual growth of sphagnum mosses. A significant dependence of annual growth on precipitation during the growing season was shown for species S. obtusum, S. papillosum, S. centrale, S. fallax, and S. subsecundum, while the significance was weak for S. divinum, S. fuscum, and S. majus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With its numerous environmental archives stored in lake and peat sediments and relatively low human pressure, the Lake Onega region in eastern Fennoscandia is regarded as a particularly promising area for studying past changes in vegetation and climate since the Lateglacial period. The 885-cm-long sediment core RZ19 (62°27′53″N, 34°26′4″E) was collected from Razlomnoe Peat on the northern shore of Lake Onega in 2019, radiocarbon-dated and analysed for pollen and cryptogam spores. The age-depth model suggests continuous sedimentation since ca. 11,800 a BP (all ages given in years (a) or kiloyears (ka) before present (BP) with BP referring to 1950 CE). The results of pollen analysis and pollen-based biome reconstruction show rapid afforestation of the area in the Early Holocene, although the scores of the tundra biome remain relatively high prior to ca. 11,450 a BP, suggesting that the vegetation was likely more open than today. Between 8300 and 8000 a BP, Betula sect. Albae shows a marked increase in pollen percentage, while Pinus sylvestris experiences a marked decrease. These changes coinciding with the 8.2 ka BP cooling event indicate less favourable conditions for Scots pine while being beneficial for fast-growing birch. The transition from the Early to Middle Holocene (i.e. from Greenlandian to Northgrippian) is marked by an increase in pollen productivity, spread of Picea and further afforestation of the area. The decrease in arboreal and Picea pollen percentages and the abrupt increase in landscape openness after ca. 4000 a BP mark the onset of the Late Holocene (i.e. Northgrippian-Meghalayan transition) and likely reflect the combined effect of insolation-induced temperature decrease and associated paludification and forest retreat rather than a decrease in atmospheric precipitation and/or spread of Late Neolithic agriculture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Archean–Proterozoic transition in the Earth's history is marked by significant changes in the mantle dynamics and temperature regimes. A notable consequence is the disappearance of Al-depleted komatiites in the Late Archean and an almost complete absence of Archean-typical peridotitic komatiites since the Proterozoic. This work presents a study of the 2.41 Ga komatiitic basalts from the Vetrenyi Belt, dating back to the early Proterozoic. Unique data on the compositions of olivine and chromite, as well as on the crystallization temperatures based on Al-in-olivine geothermometry for komatiitic basalts from the Vetrenyi Belt are provided. The temperatures of the earliest stages of crystallization were approximately 1240 ± 25°C, which indicates the occurrence of water in the melt and is consistent with measured water contents of 0.4 ± 0.2 wt % H2O in the melt inclusions. However, during crystallization, the komatiitic basalt melt underwent degassing, resulting in mass crystallization of the system and a temperature rise by ~20°C due to the release of the latent heat of crystallization. The degassing of water from the melt suggests crystallization under surface conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anopheles claviger (Meigen, 1804) (Diptera, Culicidae) is widespread in the western Palaearctic Region, but it was recorded in Karelia (Russia) for the first time. This record is one of the northernmost ones in the Palaearctic Region and Russia, updates the northern border of the An. claviger range. Mosquitoes were collected from July to September 2023 in the southern Karelia (the village of Gomselga, Kondopoga District, and Petrozavodsk) using Krishtal trap (from human) and Mosquito Magnet® trap (Pioneer design, Octenol as attractant). Seven females of An. claviger were collected in Gomselga; one specimen was sampled from Petrozavodsk City parks. Morphological identification of eight females was verified by COI and ITS2 sequences. Phylogenetic analysis of ITS2 and COI sequences confirmed the collected specimens to An. claviger s. s., clustering in both cases in a strongly supported clade clearly differentiated from the closely related species An. petragnani. The high diversity of An. claviger haplotypes from Karelia is in agreement with data from other geographical regions and shows that the records of this species in Gomselga and Petrozavodsk are not accidental. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A helminth fauna study of 398 waterfowl specimens belonging to 43 species living in southern Karelia wetlands (northwestern Russia) was conducted. This is the first time when data on the species composition and the infection of birds that are definitive hosts of Bilharziella polonica Schistosomatidae have been obtained. Bilharziella polonica has been recorded only in seven bird species, namely in the mallard, the Eurasia-n teal, the common goldeneye, the tufted duck, the northern shoveler, and the red-necked grebe; the infestation of the latter is noted in northwestern Russia for the first time. Of the bird species examined, this study describes the role of trematoda-infected birds in maintaining the focus of cercariosis, also known as "swimmer's itch," a disease pathogenic for humans. The data presented in our study indicates that the tremat-ode development cycle occurs successfully in the environment of Karelia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Relevance. The need of new knowledge about the early stages of the Earth. Sulfur isotope analysis of sulfide minerals is a powerful tool to understand the processes during the Archaean and Paleoproterozoic. Combined with other data, isotope geochemistry provides an insight into sulfur sources of sulfides from ancient sulfide volcanosedimentary deposits; geochemical factors affecting Archaean sulfide volcanosedimentary ore formation; adjust genetic models and determine the degree of influence of bacteria on the mineral formation. Aim. To identify the sources of sulfur during the formation of sulfide deposits via isotope analysis, and to evaluate bacteria affect mineral formation. Objects. They were obtained from the core of boreholes of Mesoarchaean volcanosedimentary sulfide Central-Vozhma deposit, being a part of the Sumozersko-Kenozersky greenstone belt of the Karelian craton. Methods. Mineralogical studies of rock and ore samples were carried out using optical microscopy; scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. The ratios of four stable sulfur isotopes were analyzed in sulfide minerals of the deposit (33S/32S, 34S/32S, 36S/32S). Results. The results obtained demonstrated the polygenic source of sulfur in sulfides. The sulfides have both positive and negative Δ33S values, indicating the presence of atmospheric sulfur formed under UV photolysis during mineral formation. Sulfide minerals include the following components: Seawater sulfate sulfur of photolytic genesis showed a negative anomaly Δ33S (∼ –0.4‰). It was the source of authigenic pyrite. Sulfides crystallized as a result of biological sulfate reduction demonstrated a narrow range of δ34S values (–2.64‰˂0˂+4.27‰). Elemental sulfur of photolytic genesis mobilized from the host sedimentary rocks by hydrothermal fluids. This sulfur, with a positive Δ33S anomaly (up to +1.6‰) took part in the massive sulfide ores formation.

The article analyzes four toponymic stems with the meaning of ‘flood, overflow of water’ that have Balto-Fennic and — more broadly — Finno-Ugric origins and are attested in the toponymy of Karelia, as well as beyond its southeastern borders — in the Russian North. The materials were retrieved from of the Card index of toponyms of Karelia and adjacent regions, as well as the Toponymic card index of the Ural University (data related to Russian North). By virtue of semantics, the toponymic stems under consideration primarily occur in the names of water bodies, as well as flood lands. The analysis shows that all stems have verbal nature and thus are deverbal names. For two of them (Tulv- and Pais-/Paiž-) etymons (tulva, paise) are found in modern Balto-Fennic languages. For the third stem — Kost- (Kosht-, Kust-, Kusht-), which is traditionally associated with Balto-Fennic adjective kostea ‘wet,’ the author suggests the possibility of a ‘flood’-related interpretation. This proceeds, on the one hand, from the fact that the waterlogged places during the flood can be characterized as damp, wet, on the other hand, from the meaning of return movement inherent in the verbal stem kosta-. The latter reflects the characteristic movement of water back and forth. Finally, the fourth toponymic stem is based on the Saami linguistic data and their proto-linguistic reconstruction *pēnte- ‘overflow, rise (about the water level)’ which is presumably present in a number of place names. The analysis makes it possible to revise or at least offer new possibilities for the etymological interpretation of some landscape terms (e.g. pendus), as well as toponymic stems that are substratal for the Russian North and toponyms formed from them (Kushta, Pazha, Pindusha). It ultimately advances us in our search for the origins of the substrate toponymy of the Russian North.

The study of behavioral practices of children in borderlands intersects two pivotal historical-anthropological research domains: childhood history and border studies. This article delves into unattended border crossings by children in the Karelian region of the Russian-Finnish borderlands during the 1920s. We present the results from an analysis of the two source sets housed in the Republic of Karelia National Archives. These sources comprise formal documents: questionnaire forms completed by teenagers upon their return from Finland and records from interrogations conducted by children’s social security bodies and national security agencies. We identified the factors and circumstances surrounding the illegal movements of underage citizens across the Russian-Finnish borderlands. Our findings reveal that the majority of these young border trespassers were ethnic Karelian teenage boys from borderland villages. The reasons and motivations for crossing the border from Russia to Finland, and subsequently returning home, evolved over time. While personal survival was the primary motivation during the civil war, in more peaceful times, the prevalent drive to go to Finland was economic – to earn money to improve living conditions for both the individual and their parents, reflecting a family survival strategy. We also detail how authorities addressed these transgressions. We conclude that the behavioral practices of these children, in violating national borders, depict them as autonomous actors on one side, yet also highlight their profound dependence on the immediate environment, shaped by its unique political, social, and geographical nuances, on the other.

The article delves into reconstructing the religious-philosophical worldview of the Decembrist Fyodor Nikolaevich Glinka, set against the backdrop of his frontier experiences during his exile in the Olonets province. His poems, “The Maiden of the Karelian Forests” and “Karelia, or the Captivity of Marfa Ivanovna Romanova,” created during his residency in Petrozavodsk, are compelling blends of the era’s literary trends, Glinka’s personal religious beliefs, and ethnographic portrayals of Karelia. Consequently, the Karelian frontier is viewed through the diverse prism of F. N. Glinka, a Russian officer, Decembrist, poet, and religious thinker, who bequeathed an extensive literary oeuvre. This research is aimed to undertake an exhaustive analysis of F. N. Glinka’s literary contributions as a Decembrist and to historically and philosophically interpret his worldview, particularly focusing on frontier themes. The study meticulously perused Glinka’s artistic pieces, ethnographic entries, religious-philosophical writings, and his epistolary body of work. Insights were gleaned on the various dimensions of his perspectives and artistic endeavors. This article may captivate those researching the history of the Karelian frontier, the artistic and philosophical imprints of the Decembrists, and scholars intrigued by the nuances of Russian public discourse in the 19th century.

Introduction. The language situation in Russia is unique with a fair number of languages spoken on its territory and all of them having different status and scope of use. This implies the relevance of the study that focuses on the analysis of code-switching in the spoken language of the bilinguals speaking Komi and Russian and Karelian and Russian. The novelty of the study is implied by the analysis of the code-switching in the language pairs mentioned above. This contributes to the development of the code-switching theory.Methodology and sources. The methods of language data collection and processing are sociolinguistic methods of interviewing, questionnaire, observation, quantitative and descriptive methods. The research material are scripted dialogues with bilinguals as well as the “Komi mu” and “Parma gor” 2022 issues.Results and discussion. The study of the Komi-Russian and Karelian-Russian code-switching was conducted using P. Muysken’s topology of code-mixing. P. Muysken sees code-switching as alternation, insertion, and congruent lexicalization according to the degree of the foreign word assimilation in the matrix language. The features of the spoken language of the Komi-Russian bilinguals are the frequent use of Russian discursive and introductory lexical items and adverbs; the nouns and the adjectives usually following the grammatical rules of Komi; the respondents giving preference to Russian versions when using numerals. For the spoken language of the Karelian-Russian bilinguals it is typical to address to Russian vocabulary, especially when mentioning dates, numbers, and using introductory words and phrases; Russian words are also being quite easily transformed according to the Karelian grammar through its case system.Conclusion. Spontaneous speech of the bilingual interviewees contains a great number of code-switching, that could be a convincing demonstration of the language shift and is conditioned by a number of extralinguistic and linguistic factors, such as language prestige, language functionality, language situation, the native language of the interlocutor, and the willing of the respondent to use a certain language.

We studied the geochemistry of Paleoproterozoic siliceous rocks (lydites) from the North Onega synclinorium (Karelia). The study objects are represented by 16 lydite samples taken from one stratigraphic level in the geological sections of two sites–Tetyugino and Shunga. Their structural characteristics and mineral composition were studied using a scanning electron microscope equipped with an energy-dispersion microanalyzer. The trace element composition was determined by the inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). The contents of most trace elements are below the Clarke concentrations. The Tetyugino lydites contain mainly biophile elements (P, Co, Cu, Mo, V, Ba), while the Shunga lydites are dominated by lithophile elements (Li, Rb, Cs). The trace element composition of lydites indicates that their formation took place on the periphery of the hydrothermal system, whereas the Tetyugino site was closer to the hydrothermal discharge zone than the Shunga site. The chemical peculiarities of the lydites allow us to consider them as a raw material for very pure quartz. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the article, the development of the Tver' Karelian dialect is discussed. This new dialect has emerged from a mix of regional dialects of Karelian immigrants from the seventeenth century onwards. Characteristics of a new dialect in Tver' Karelian are examined on the basis of demographic data and linguistic descriptions. In addition, the unity and internal variation of Tver' Karelian as well as its relation to other Karelian dialects are taken into consideration. In regard to this kind of comparative study, the article reveals some significant regional shortcomings in the linguistic research material available. A discrepancy could also be found between the areal distribution of certain linguistic features of Tver' Karelian and the main region of origin indicated by historical documents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article provides an overview of the Russian origin of Karelian cow names. It explores what the Russian-origin names mean, what the most common principles of naming are, and whether Russian names have Karelian equivalents. Attention is also paid to the spatial and temporal variation of the names. The data were collected in the 2010s by means of interviews. The data are compared with the name data recorded in the Dictionary of Karelian (KKS). The KKS data reveal extensive adaptation to the Karelian language, whereas in the interview data there is less adaptation to Karelian and the names are often thoroughly Russian. In the KKS data the most common principle of naming is the time of birth, and names based on colouration are also common. According to both data sets, the principles of naming have remained relatively consistent, and the data reveal no great spatial differences in the occurrence of names. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article deals with the history of research on the biological productivity of forests in Republic of Karelia as a methodological basis for the modern field of research into the components of carbon balance in forests. Particular attention is paid to the review of the studies of the researchers of the Forest Institute of the Karelian Research Center of the Russian Academy of Sciences from the moment of its formation to the present. The studies of the structure and stocks of phytomass, organic matter and carbon in different components of forest ecosystems, as well as biological aspects of the productivity of the republic’s forests are considered. Some results and prospects of studying the carbon balance in the forests of Eastern Fennoscandia at the current stage of the Institute’s activities are discussed. The references list the main studies in this research field.

The article evaluates the ecological status of five small lakes on Valaam Island (Igumenskoe, Chernoe, Ossievo, Nikonovskoe, Krestovoe) using macrophytes as bioindicators. The methods proposed by Finland, Sweden, and Norway were used, to assess the state of eutrophication, the change in the composition of specific species, the change in the water level, and the state of acidification, according to different indexes (Reference index (RI), Trophic Macrophyte Index (TMI), Trophic Index (TIc), the Proportion of Type– Specific Taxa (PTST), the Percent Model Affinity (PMA), Water level Index (WIc), and Acidification Index (SIc)). An analysis of the floristic composition for the period 2011 – 2020 was realized, including taxonomic analysis, ecogroup, and macrophyte diversity. The dominant taxon was Elodea canadensis Michx. in Igumenskoe, Chernoe, Ossievo lakes and Calla palustris L. in Nikonovskoe and Krestovoe lakes. The ecogroup hygrohelophyte was the most diverse in all lakes studied. The ecological status of the lakes according to each assessed parameter reflects that all lakes are characterized by a mesotrophic to eutrophic state, there is a variation in species composition of macrophyte and no water level change or acidification processes are presumed to occur in any of the lakes. In general, each method has its limitations, but it is suggested to continue studies for the RI, TMI, PTST, and PMA indices, and to integrate them with other national physicochemical or biological indices.

Introduction. The article presents the first results of a historical and sociological study on the impact that the inclusion of several regions of Karelia in the Arctic zone of the Russian Federation has on the identity of its inhabitants, using the example of Loukhsky district, the northernmost region in the Republic. Material and Methods. The authors proceed from the interrelatedness of the territory, traditions and identities, which never lose their significance but evolve over time. The methodology included the comparative historical method, content analysis, qualitative study and field survey methods. An integrated analysis of the sources is applied, which mostly includes published and unpublished historical, journalistic, and sociological data. The field material is in-depth interviews with the residents of Louhsky district collected in July 2022. Results and Discussion. A brief overview of the history development of Louhsky district is provided; the results of analyzing materials from mass media and online sources are described. The methods of formalized text analysis, coding, categorization of interview transcripts, cross-interpretation of data by researchers helped distinguish the most typical variants of identities and features characteristic of the district. The differences were detected in the dominant types of identities between the western and the eastern parts of the district, especially in what concerns official representation. Conclusion. The paper concludes that the ethnic identity is preserved and manifested in the current public discourse within a so-called “festival project of ethnicity”. The interviews show that ethnic identity is giving way to civic or regional identities. Arctic identity is not firmly rooted in the perception of the respondents. The northern identity, i.e., being “northerners”, is more congeneric and easier to comprehend for people in the Karelian Arctic.

Situated amidst the revolutionary spirits of 19th-century Europe, Finnish nationalists sought to bring an end to roughly half a millennium of foreign rule for their land and their people. According to the German philosopher Johann Gottfried Herder, a community must have a common language and a common history in order to constitute a nation. At this time, Finland had neither. Although Herder’s political philosophy is considered crucial to understanding the nationalist movements that took place in Europe during this period, Finland’s peculiar success in attaining and sustaining independence has until this point remained unexplained relative to a Herderian framework. This study consists primarily of a distillation of Herder’s philosophy and an investigation of Finland’s history, with a particular focus on the music of the composer Jean Sibelius and the Kalevala, a collection of Finnish mythological stories. The findings of this investigation suggest that the emergence of the Finnish nation can be understood within a Herderian framework because the music of Sibelius and the Kalevala fulfilled the roles of a common language and common history. This provides a more nuanced understanding of both Herder’s philosophy and the relationship between music and language.

The results of the comprehensive study (diatom and pollen and spore analysis, and 14С-dating) of Holocene bottom sediments from a lake on the shore of Kandalaksha Bay, White Sea, at the Keret' River mouth, are reported. Three stages in the evolution of the lake basin: marine, transitional, and lacustrine, were recognized. Diatom complexes, typical of each facies, were described. Pollen, spores and non-pollen palynomorphs were shown to indicate marine, transitional, and freshwater sedimentation conditions. Sea level was found to decrease 7200 cal. y.a. A marine sedimentation environment was succeeded by a lacustrine environment ca.6700 cal. y.a. The position of the sea shoreline in the study area at that time was determined. Data obtained by pollen and spore analysis were used for relative dating of postglacial strata. Vegetation, evolving from the end of the Early Holocene to the present, was reconstructed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article tackles the problem that is topical for all areas of Russia with ethnic minority populations: how local toponyms are presented in the State Index of Place Names. SIPN was initiated by the Federal Service for State Registration, Cadaster, and Cartography (Rosreestr) to become a comprehensive registry of designations for topographic objects that must be used in all formal situations. For the territory of Karelia, SIPN includes over 16,000 placenames, nearly a half of which are ethnic Karelian names, the ones in use in the Karelian language milieu, in Karelian-speaking territories of the Republic. The paper gives an overview of the strategies used in the Index to adapt Karelian place names, the dominant being phonetic transcription. Analysis proves it to be highly inconsistent and contradictory due to the lack of an ad hoc manual on representation of Balto-Finnic place names of Karelia in Russian as well as their linguistically incorrect recording by cartographers and post-processing. The authors provide a classification of the main types of phonetic mistakes made in SIPN (inconsistent rendering of the sounds lacking direct equivalents in Russian — long vowels, diphthongs, umlauts, geminates), and highlight problems such as disregard of the complex structure characteristic of Balto-Finnic toponymy, linguistically arbitrary processing of names by collectors, trying to link the Karelian toponymic base to Russian word, as well as liberal treatment of the dialect map and unfortunate slips and typos. Almost a third (for some areas even a half) of Karelian placenames in SIPN are misspelled. The issue becomes more relevant in view of the recent renovation and ramification of the road network and advancement of tourism and other activities, which make the formalized toponymy ‘visible’. The authors provide recommendations for eliminating the inconsistencies and flaws in visual representation of place names and argue that Rosreestr must collaborate with researchers who have access to the fieldwork files of the Scientific Card Index of Place Names of Karelia and Adjacent Regions, which can bring the data in order.

Introduction. The article considers the description of the geographic information system for toponyms of Karelia, which is developed by the Linguistics sector of the ILLH KarRC RAS as a deliverable of a grant of the Russian Science Foundation. It reviews the structure, features of the database and the toponymic material; it discusses the parameters for presenting various information about geographical objects (linguistic, historical, ethnographic, folklore), and reveals the possibilities and prospects for using the resource. Materials and Methods. The main material is the field toponymic data stored in the collections of the Card index of place names at ILLH KarRC RAS, information from the Register of the State Catalog of Geographical Names for the Republic of Karelia and the GIS “Catalogue of settlements in Karelia and adjacent areas of the XV–XX centuries”. The article employs a number of methods such as descriptive, structural derivational, etymological, comparative, statistical. Results and Discussion. The paper analyzes the toponymic electronic resources presented in the public domain. It considers the structure of the created database of the geographic information system and the main parameters of the presentation of toponymic material in it. The following features that distinguish the new resource are described: the use of open source code, the presence of the fields “Mention in historical sources”, “Folk interpretation, legend”, binding the names of objects to electronic maps. It presents the examples of toponym descriptions. It has been established that, in addition to the tasks of preserving and systematizing the toponymic heritage of the peoples of Karelia, displaying the desired geographical objects on maps, the created resource provides the access to the field materials of toponymists not only in linguistic research, but also for solving ethnohistorical and historical and cultural problems. Conclusions. The project deliverable can make a significant contribution to the development of onomastics, ethnology, history, folklore and can be in demand by a wide audience. The information entered into the system, in future, can serve as the basis for interdisciplinary research, the preparation of a series of dictionaries, catalogs, collections of toponymic legends.

Introduction. Based on archival documents introduced into research for the first time, the article shows the changes in the content and forms of state policy on the prevention of juvenile delinquency in Karelia during the 1920s – the first half of the 1960s. The focus is on the reconstruction of the conformity of the program for the protection of children and adolescents proclaimed by the Soviet state to the realities of that time. Materials and Methods. It used the materials of the National Archive of the Republic of Karelia, which sufficiently reflect various aspects of the problem. The research was conducted on the basis of interdisciplinary approach, using not only historical, but also pedagogical science, social and political history, psychology, jurisprudence, etc. Systemic, comparative-historical, and problem-chronological methods were used in the preparation of the work. Results and Discussion. Various aspects of the preventive work of the governing bodies and administrative institutions of Karelia on the prevention of child and juvenile delinquency have been representatively studied. The experience of formation and transformation of the system of children’s institutions for juvenile delinquents is summarized, public initiatives in the issue of improving the lives of children in need are noted. The main stages of the activities of state and administrative bodies for the prevention of crime in children and adolescents are identified. In the first half of the 1920s there was a partial mitigation of the criminal liability of minors and use of “medical and pedagogical” measures, however, from the mid-1930s the development of state policy changed in the direction of tightening and expanding the authorities of NKVD. In the post-war period, significant emphasis was placed on the re-education of difficult adolescents, and the prevention of juvenile delinquency. Conclusion. The article identifies the causes and describes the measures to prevent child and juvenile delinquency in Karelia during the that period. The experience of solving the problems of its prevention, accumulated in the 1920–1960s, was widely used later, which confirms the effectiveness of the developed system.

The origin of the anorthosite-rapakivi granite-bearing rock complexes was a topic of research for geologists for more than a century. Magmatic systems that produce these complexes were widely developed in the Precambrian and have no direct analogues in modern times. The main goal of this study was to characterize the conditions under which primitive granitoids formed and to shed light on the history of ore matter transport during these stages. The object of the research was granite porphyry dikes—a subeffusive analogue of rapakivi granite from the Salmi batholith in the Fennoscandian Shield. Characteristic solid-phase inclusions of a mineral paragenesis of mafic rocks, as well as inclusions of sulfide melts, were found in zircon from this type of rock. These sulfide inclusions were homogenized by heating, and subsequently, the trace element composition was determined by the LA-ICP-MS method. The geochemistry of zircons was studied by the SIMS method, and the temperature of their formation was determined using a Ti-geothermometer. The temperature of the studied zircon grain formation varied from 925 to 765 °C. The values of ƒO2 for the early stages of the rock formation were in the region below the boundary of the FMQ buffer. The presence of two sulfide melts at the time at which the sulfide inclusions were captured by the zircon, pyrrhotite-chalcopyrite, and sphalerite-chalcopyrite compositions was established. The capture of sulfide inclusions from the pyrrhotite-chalcopyrite composition occurred above 841 °C, while in sphalerite-chalcopyrite, they occurred at a lower temperature of 765 °C. The connection between the formation of granite porphyry with mafic melts that form rocks of the gabbro and anorthosite types was established. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Excavations of the Eneolithic workshop site for making stone chopping tools the Fofanovo XIII on the western shore of Lake Onega (second half of the IV Millennium calBC) provided representative and faunistic assemblage consisting of relatively well preserved bones for the frst time in the Karelian archaeology. The assemblage makes it possible to study different aspects of the activity of the ancient population related to the exploitation of faunistic resources. The article presents the results of a seasonality estimation that is based on the analysis of the bone remains (vertebrae) of the absolutely prevailing in the assemblage specie – the zander. The authors’ analysis testifes that zander capturing was taking place during the snow-less season. This result confrms interpretation of the site as a specialized complex for seasonal specifc activities and for year-round habitation.

Статья посвящена более чем шестидесятилетней истории изучения Беломорской Карелии сотрудниками Русского музея. Приводятся основные этапы экспедиционных исследований начиная с 1950-х годов. Их целью было общее обследование территории, выявление сохранившихся памятников старины и вывоз наиболее ценных и пострадавших из них в Ленинград. Дается описание наиболее интересных находок: икон, книг, поклонных крестов, в том числе деревянного резного Распятия из Муезерского монастыря. Характеризуются методы работы с найденными артефактами: идентификация древесины, рентгенографирование и съемка в УФ-лучах; анализ химического состава авторского и поновительского живописных слоев и металлизированного покрытия икон. Отмечается, что благодаря появлению современных технологий проводимая работа выходит на новый уровень исследований.

В 2022 году исполнилось 110 лет со дня кончины известного заонежского художника-иконописца из с. Космозеро Михея Ивановича Абрамова. Иконописная мастерская Абрамовых, славившаяся по всему Заонежью, действовала на протяжении целого столетия. Иконы, писанные Абрамовыми, можно было встретить как в домашних крестьянских иконостасах, так и во многих храмах Олонецкой губернии. В настоящее время большая часть абрамовских икон утрачена либо хранится в собраниях музеев республики без атрибуции. Наиболее полное собрание иконописных работ космозерских иконописцев хранится в фондах музея-заповедника «Кижи». В статье рассматривается история формирования музейной коллекции, характеризуются иконы, написанные в этой мастерской, в том числе и уникальные подписные иконы заонежских изографов; приводятся воспоминания односельчан и членов семьи об организации работы и жизненном пути последнего иконописца Заонежья Ивана Михеевича Абрамова; поднимается вопрос о судьбе коллекции икон и оборудования мастерской Абрамовых, вывезенных в Финляндию в период финской оккупации советской Карелии в 1943 г.; рассматриваются возможности пополнения коллекции в настоящее время. Исследование опирается на документы Национального архива Республики Карелия, Национального архива Финляндии (Хельсинки), материалы Научного архива музея-заповедника «Кижи», в том числе экспедиционные записи.

Situated amidst the revolutionary spirits of 19th-century Europe, Finnish nationalists sought to bring an end to roughly half a millennium of foreign rule for their land and their people. According to the German philosopher Johann Gottfried Herder, a community must have a common language and a common history in order to constitute a nation. At this time, Finland had neither. Although Herder's political philosophy is considered crucial to understanding the nationalist movements that took place in Europe during this period, Finland's peculiar success in attaining and sustaining independence has until this point remained unexplained relative to a Herderian framework. This study consists primarily of a distillation of Herder's philosophy and an investigation of Finland's history, with a particular focus on the music of the composer Jean Sibelius and the Kalevala, a collection of Finnish mythological stories. The findings of this investigation suggest that the emergence of the Finnish nation can be understood within a Herderian framework because the music of Sibelius and the Kalevala fulfilled the roles of a common language and common history. This provides a more nuanced understanding of both Herder's philosophy and the relationship between music and language. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the help of gradient analysis and Ellenberg eco-scales, factors of differentiation of vegetation cover (moisture, illumination, soil acidity, and soil richness in mineral nitrogen) were revealed. Using nonmetric scaling, an ordination diagram of the distribution of geobotanical descriptions was created for 50 years of research (from 1971 to 2021). Correlation of ordination axes and ecological factors was carried out. On the ordination diagram and according to the results of cluster analysis, geobotanical descriptions form three distinct groups corresponding to certain time periods. Changes in the species composition in plant communities are caused by changes in illumination, moisture, and trophicity. Under the influence of drainage and successions of the vegetation cover for 50 years, on the site of a mesotrophic hummock-flark herb sphagnum mire, represented by mesotrophic hydrohygrophilous mire species, an oligotrophic hummock lawn dwarf-sphagnum pine forest was formed, formed by oligotrophic, mesohygrophilic forest-mie species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While studies of Finnish Kaale pioneer men within the process of Roma mobilization in Finland have become more common in recent years, little to no information or discussion has thus far focused on the role of Roma women within these processes, their visions for the future of their communities, and their connection to the shaping of Roma civic emancipation in Finland. Based on recently discovered archival sources, this article addresses these gaps by exploring the lives of two key Roma women: Ida Blomerus and Sofia Schwartz. This article also analyzes the ways in which their engagement can only be understood by considering the dynamics occurring in a particular region of the country, Karelia. Through this, the aim of this article is to demonstrate that Romani women´s involvement constitutes a crucial aspect of the civic emancipation movement in Finland and that Roma women were neither passive subjects nor silent voices within the history of Roma mobilization. This article was published open access under a CC BY licence: https://creativecommons.org/licences/by/4.0. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In modern conditions, classical approaches to urbanization need to be supplemented. The concept of rural agglomerations based on the development of inter-territorial cooperation of local governments arose. The question about new criteria for the formation of agglomerations was raised. The concept of actual urban settlements, which involves taking into account the modern characteristics of environmental processes is proposed. The territorial base is the southern part of the Republic of Karelia.

Limnocalanus macrurus Sars 1863 (Calaniformes, Centropagidae Giesbrecht 1892) is a glacial marine relict species. In the pelagic zone of Lake Onego, one of the European Great Lakes, this copepod is part of the zooplankton dominant complex all year round. Limnocalanus macrurus is a monocyclic species with one generation and winter reproduction. Based on the analysis of long-term data, the main features of the life cycle of the copepod have been studied in Petrozavodsk Bay and in the central part of Lake Onego. Thus, during the growing season the average values of abundance are two times lower in the bay compared to the central part of the lake (2700 vs. 5500 ind./m2, respectively). The same tendency was observed in relation to biomass (0.82 vs. 1.36 g/m2, respectively). A comparison of the average long-term maximal values of abundance and biomass in these parts of the lake also shows that the values of abundance are 1.6 times (5600 vs. 9000 ind./m2), while the biomass values are twotimes lower (1.41 vs. 2.83 g/m2) in Petrozavodsk Bay compared to the central part. A shift in the timing of the spring development of L. macrurus in Petrozavodsk Bay has been found; here the development begins 2–3 decades earlier due to the difference in the thermal regimes of the areas compared. Despite the climatic changes observed in recent decades, no significant changes in the abundance of L. macrurus have been detected in the lake. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article gives the results of isotopic analysis of the composition of Karelian snow cover, which formed in winter of 2015/2016, and atmospheric precipitation in Petrozavodsk. It is shown that snow composition varies from –15.7 to –21.1‰ for δ18О and from –118 to –158‰ for δ2Н, and the isotopic composition becomes lighter in the direction from south to north in accordance with air temperature drop. The isotopic composition of winter precipitation can be approximately reconstructed by the isotopic composition of snow cover. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The modern seismological network of Karelia consists of four seismic stations. The number of network stations is small, and they are unevenly distributed over the territory of Karelia. Therefore, this seismological network is not efficient enough, and seismic events (earthquakes and quarry blasts) with different minimum magnitudes and different accuracies are recorded at different points in the territory. In order for events occurring at different points of Karelia to be recorded with the same accuracy and the same minimum magnitude, it is necessary to arrange the system's seismic stations more evenly throughout the territory; i.e., the observing system must have the optimal configuration. Calculation of the minimum magnitudes of recorded seismic events for the optimal seismological network from 65 new and 4 currently functioning seismic stations shows that with an amplification in recording channels of 50 000, the network will reliably record earthquakes with a magnitude of 1.0 or more throughout Karelia. At the same time, the position of the seismic stations of such a network in Karelia is determined up to a parallel shift and arbitrary rotation of the entire observation system. Errors in determining the epicentral coordinates in latitude and longitude within the network will not exceed 0.5 km. The errors in determining the depths of earthquake sources recorded by the system throughout Karelia do not exceed 1.0 km at the center of the network and can reach 2.0 km only on its periphery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gabbro-dolerite dikes were studied in the junction zone between two structures of different ages of the Fennoscandian shield: the Archean Fenno-Karelian craton and the Raakhe–Ladoga zone. Their composition was analyzed and U-Pb baddeleyite and zircon age was determined for the first time for the Russian territory. The Paleoproterozoic age has been established both for the gabbroic rocks of the Fenno-Karelian craton (previously considered Archean) and for the gabbro-dolerites of the Raakhe–Ladoga zone. The dike swarms within the Fenno-Karelian craton were formed in two stages: within 2091 ± 9–2086 ± 6 Ma near the Raakhe–Ladoga zone and in the central part of the studied area and within 1938 ± 6–1933 ± 26 Ma in the northern part. Sills of the Raakhe–Ladoga zone (2081 ± 7 Ma) were formed simultaneously with the earlier dikes of the Fenno-Karelian Craton (2091 ± 9–2086 ± 6 Ma). Primary magmas were derived from different sources. Most of the bodies of the Fenno-Karelian craton have high (La/Lu)N, negative niobium anomalies, predominantly negative εNd values, which suggests a contribution of a metasomatized lithospheric mantle. Some dikes of the Raakhe–Ladoga zone have the same source, but most rocks were obtained by mixing of depleted mantle and more primitive mantle source. The studied gabbrodolerite dikes were likely formed in a rifting tectonic setting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The paper addresses the problem of improving reliability of onomastic etymologies using the example of historical and modern personal and place names of southeastern Lake Onega region. The issue is pertinent, as specialists form other fields (c.f. historians and ethnologists) take little account of onomastic research where serious studies and quasi-scientific works presenting unverified data are sometimes difficult to separate. The paper provides examples of erroneous etymologies of personal and place names. Wrong etymologization can occur due to the neglect of written sources (the person named Shestak living in the village of Shestovo, or Terenty living in Terovo) or processes of phonetic adaptation in language contacts (Tyug- from Vepsian tühj ‘empty,’ not from tuug ‘spring sowing’). Another cause is the use of unverified written sources that might include invalid variants of names due to their misspelling or incorrect rendering (Kosach instead of Kagach, Saminskoye instead of Salminskoye). Tangly ethnic and linguistic contexts, such as heterogeneity of topobases (Goik-) or the widespread prevalence of appellatives (Kubas), can also result in etymological mistakes as some name variants may be underinformative and misleading. The author offers a complex approach for improving reliability of onomastic etymologies based on 1) expanding the source base and making comparative research of the collected data, 2) using the data of historical phonetics and phonetic adaptation in contacting languages, 3) emphasizing the so-called “exact” etymologies, 4) comparing local toponymic and anthroponymic data with onomastic evidence from other regions, 5) identifying toponyms with a greater differentiating linguistic potential, 6) eliminating bias which include etymologies accommodated to a specific language.

In modern conditions, classical approaches to urbanization need to be supplemented. The concept of rural agglomerations based on the development of inter-territorial cooperation of local governments arose. The question about new criteria for the formation of agglomerations was raised. The concept of actual urban settlements is proposed, which involves taking into account the modern characteristics of environmental processes.

For the first time, a regional study of the isotopic composition (δ18O and δ2 H) of the snow cover in Karelia was performed using a sub-meridional and two sub-latitudinal profiles (March 2016). Snow nutrition does generally prevail here in the river and underground runoff. Integral snow samples were taken at 45 sites, three horizons were studied at 39 of them. Monitoring of the isotopic composition of atmospheric precipitation is carried out in the Petrozavodsk city from 2012 to the present. The isotopic composition of snow on the territory of Karelia varied through the following range: for δ18O it is from −15.7 to −21.1 ‰, and for δ2 H – from −118 to −158 ‰, which is significantly less than the isotopic composition of atmospheric precipitation for the same period: δ18O = −8.7 ÷ −30.9 ‰, δ2 H = −77 ÷ −239 ‰. The exception is snow in the valleys of the large Shuya and Suna rivers with light isotopes δ18O (down to −21 ‰). According to two sublatitudinal profiles in southern and central Karelia, there were no obvious trends in the isotopic composition of snow. The decrease in the contents of deuterium (δ2 H) and oxygen-18 (δ18O) in the sections of snow cover corresponds to an almost complete loss of snow at the beginning of winter due to the December thaws of 2015 and its intensive accumulation in abnormally cold January 2016. According to trajectory analysis data, air masses containing isotopically heavy moisture come mainly from the west and southwest, and those containing isotopically light moisture come from the north and east. The results of this research demonstrate that the reconstruction of the isotopic composition of winter precipitation can be approximately performed by the isotopic composition of snow cover.

On the basis of archival sources, the experience of the evacuation of socially disadvantaged children of Karelia to the Kharkov province in 1919—1920 is revealed, the life support system of the “state child” in the Giev colony is analyzed. The study of this specific method of providing social assistance to children, used in the extreme conditions of the Civil War, made it possible to reveal the complexity and riskiness of such activities. The central place in the article is devoted to the study of the food issue, the supply of uniforms and other problems of providing for the colonists. The organizational component of the process of evacuation and re-evacuation of children is characterized, changes in the material base of the colony are shown, problems in the implementation of educational work within the institution are identified. Particular attention is paid to the characteristics of the medical and sanitary services for the inmates of the Giev colony with the definition of the sanitary and hygienic conditions of life in the institution, the availability of personal hygiene items for the children, as well as their examination by doctors. It is shown in the article that the supply of food and clothing for the inmates of the colony almost completely fell on the shoulders of its employees, who had to independently attract additional funding, improve the material living conditions of children, and look for the necessary resources for the development of subsidiary farming and workshops.