The article is dedicated to the 80th anniversary of the Institute of Limnology of the Russian Academy of Sciences and examines its important role in the development of limnological research through the example of the Vologda Region. The background to the study of Vologda lakes, starting with fragmentary data from the 18th century, the historical conditionality of hydrological surveys during the development of waterways in the 19th century, and the priority of fishery research on lakes in the 20th century are briefly described. It is noted that the comprehensive studies of large lakes in the second half of the 20th century were ofapplied naturein view of their technogenic transformation. The importance of expeditions of the Institute of Limnology of the USSR Academy of Sciences (INOZ) in the 1970s to the large Vologda lakes Kubenskoye, Beloe, Vozhe is emphasized as a key step towards adoption of an ecosystem-centered strategy for their research. Therefore, the purpose of this review was to examine the role of INOZ in promoting the efficiency of limnological research with the Vologda Region as the example. The formation of the Leningrad “lake science school” and its main ideas, which contributed to the development of limnological research by Vologda colleagues on the basis of fruitful cooperation, are analyzed from this point of view. The role of L. A. Zhakov, who worked at INOZ in the 1950-1960s, in organizing expeditions during his work at the Vologda Pedagogical Institute in the 1970s, dealingwith the study of the region’s small lakes and Lake Vozhe, is discussed. Materials in commemoration of Professor L. A. Zhakov on the 100th anniversary of his birth, his contribution to the development of limnology and the training of scientific personnel are presented. It is argued that the Institute of Limnology has played a multifaceted role in the development of research in the Vologda Region, related to the development of the methodology for studying lakes, organization of expeditions, scientific leadership, continuity in training and joint activities.