Sandal Lake is located in the Kondopoga district of the Republic of Karelia and belongs to the Onega Lake basin .Currently, Sandal is an energy reservoir, which serves as a source of water for the Kondopoga Hydroelectric Power Station .In the year 1928 ., because of the construction of the first stage of the Kondopoga HPP, the Sandalka River flowing out of the lake was blocked by a dam .The water flow was directed through Lake Nigozero and an artificial canal to the hydroelectric station .In 1936 year ., for the purpose of creating large water reserves, at p .Sune, above the Girvas waterfall, a dam was built .As a result, the bulk of the Sun water began to flow into Palozero, and then along the Nivka and Tivdiks to Sandal rivers, thus the water level of the Sandal Reservoir was raised by 1, 5-2 m, and part of the coastal zone was flooded with .

Previously, the independent Lake Gabozero became a lake bay. Sandal. The stream flowing out of the Wixalampa turned into a strait connecting the dam with the reservoir. The shallow water zone of the lake has increased significantly. In connection with the transformation of the Sandal Lake into a reservoir, new conditions for fish habitation have been created, the reserves of some have decreased, the ratio between fish has changed. Currently, the following fish are known for the Sandal Lake: salmon, trout, rylad, seagull, grayling, smelt, pike, roach, minnow, sticks, bream, burbot, perch, ruff, stalk.

In 1928 there were about 79 islands on Sandal, one of the largest islands is the island of Lychniy. Photo by Sandala (10)