The largest area of pristine north-taiga spruce forests in Fennoscandia has survived in the utmost north-west of Karelia (total area more than 200 000 ha). Landscape features of the territory arc described, general patterns in the structure and spontaneous dynamics, including the effects of the natural fire regime, arc reported. The main ccological restrictions on forest use arc defined specifically for the low mountain landscape (outside Paanajarvi NP). However, there have so far been no systematic studies of forest communities there. It is necessary to organise orderly surveys of forests as the main biotic component of the natural spatial complexes and the key environment-forming factor.