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"The most significant event was discovery of the never-before-seen monument of religious worship, a sanctuary, on Mt Vottovaara in the summer of 1992. It is located 20 kilometers to the southeast from the settlement of Sukkozero, Muezersky region of the Republic of Karelia…" – Mark Shakhnovich, Head of the Archeology Department of Karelian State Museum of Local Hstory, wrote more 15 than years ago. Since then the scientific community goes on disputing whether the found multiton boulders on 'legs' are natural or artificial constructions. However, scientists are at one in thinking that it is necessary to grant this territory status of a landscape monument of the regional value.

Last year a large group of experts of the Forest Research Institute, Institute of Biology, Institute of Geology, Institute of Northen Water Problems and some other scientific divisions of Karelian Research Center of the Russian Academy of Science was involved in studying the object. Complex inspection of the territory has allowed to come to the unequivocal conclusion that the mountain and its vicinities are valuable natural and recreational object and is worth being granted high security status by virtue of uniqueness of its natural complex.

On October 8, in the administration of Sukkozero rural settlement there have been held public hearings concerning establishing of the Vottovaara nature sanctuary in Muezersky region. Head of the administration of Muezersky region Alexander Koryakovsky, Head of Sukkozero rural settlement Akulina Safonenko, representatives of power-holding structures and public organizations were present at the meeting.

The report on features, preservation and current state of the natural complex of Mt Vottovaara was made by the chief expert of the Department of Environment Protection and Specially Protected Natural Areas of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fish Industry and Ecology of the RK Ivan Kiprukhin.