Skitsky Island
island in Russia

Skitsky (Russian: Скитский, Finnish: Erakkosaari - "island of the hermits") is an island that is part of the larger Valaam archipelago in Lake Ladoga in the Republic of Karelia, Russia. Situated directly on the northwestern shore of the island of Valaam, Skitsky is separated from Valaam by Sredneosrovsky Strait on its eastern and southeastern coastlines and by Moscow Strait on its southwestern coastline. The area of the island of Skitsky is 4 km2 (1.5 sq mi), which is the second largest in the Valaam archipelago after Valaam island.
Skitsky Island is high, hilly and covered with pine forest. The northern part of the island is mountainous. Big Skete is 52 meters (171 ft) high, and the stone is visible from a distance of 31 kilometres (19 miles). The island shores are predominantly rocky with deeply indented bays that do not have navigational significance.
There is a bridge and road that connects Skitsky island to the island of Valaam.
History
Skitsky island got its name because it is the Skete of All Saints (a.k.a. the White monastery).
“Skitsky Island” enters the record as island in Russia. Crown Archives preserves that source wording while asking what Skitsky, Island and island can confirm, complicate or overturn.
Why this record matters
“Skitsky Island” is worth following because a concise public description often conceals a longer documentary argument. Here, Skitsky, Island and island provides the most credible route into that argument.
The strongest evidence will usually combine a dated visual record with documents produced by the authority responsible for the place. The source revision retrieved here is dated Jul 15, 2026. The linked authority identifier is Q18400762. Authority coordinates are 61.392, 30.917. None of the 1 selected statements returned an explicit reference.
A single description cannot reconcile every naming convention, rebuilding phase or administrative transfer associated with a place. The lead is largely declarative, so disagreement and counter-evidence require a deliberate search beyond the opening account. Authority statements aid reconciliation but still require their own references, qualifiers and ranks to be checked.
How to read it
Treat names, boundaries and functions as historically changeable. Maps, plans, inventories and administrative records can clarify what the place meant at different dates.
- Historic place names
- Jurisdictional context
- Routes into maps and plans
Contemporary maps, plans, listed-building records, estate papers and the responsible local or national archive.
Three-step research path
- Establish the record: confirm the title “Skitsky Island”, its source revision and the description used here.
- Expand the search: follow Skitsky Island primary sources, Skitsky Island archive and Skitsky research across catalogues and specialist indexes.
- Test the account: compare the strongest cited source with the responsible institution’s current record and note any disagreement.
Questions for further research
- Which source most directly establishes the central claim about “Skitsky Island”?
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- Which earlier names or jurisdictions may reveal additional records?
Search terms from this dossier
This entry incorporates text from “Skitsky Island” on English Wikipedia. Contributors are listed in the page history. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Selected authority identifiers and statements are retrieved from Wikidata under CC0; their references and qualifiers remain part of the verification path.