The article deals with research methods, which have permitted to classify the coasts of Lake Onego, develop a morphogenetic classification of the coasts, and to identify the inherited connections of the history of the region’s topographic development and the current dynamics of Lake Onego shores as related to a variety of human activities. The various materials of previous researches, including specialized and general geographical maps, and remote sensing data have been analyzed as well as the results of field research in 18 key areas. The research took place in 2014–2015, the key areas represent a majority of regions of Lake Onego coasts, including all sites exposed to heavy human pressure. Ground penetrating radar (GPR) and acoustic profiling was used on the surface and on underwater coastal slope, which allowed to specify the thickness of loose Quaternary deposits (it ranges from several meters to dozens of meters), to identify strata and determine their number. The bottom was investigated by underwater photography and side-scan sonar surveys. Seven types of coast and their spatial distribution have been determined. Recommendations in relation to human use have been formulated for each type of coast. An oral presentation of the material contained in this article was made in Petrozavodsk at the 5th International young scientists conference "Water Resources: Research and Management" (WRRM) (Limnological school-practice) on September 5, 2016.