The voda born from water

The largest lake in Europe and a natural landmark unto itself, Lake Ladoga spans more than 17,000 square kilometers, and about 219 km in length from north to south. The history of this lake could be said to be a crystallized form of Russia's own history: some historians even consider a town on the southern estuary of the lake, Staraya Ladoga (Old Ladoga) to be the first capital of ancient Russia.
Home to some of the softest water on Earth, Lake Ladoga is the source of water for all Russian Standard vodkas.
Located in the glacial north of Russia, Lake Ladoga is only a 40 minute drive from St. Petersburg. But try to get across it in the winter and you could be in for a long haul. In the winter, the lake freezes over and becomes a pristine spot of white-on-white beauty. One reason for Lake Ladoga exceptional purity is its remoteness. Sometimes, it turns out, preservation is as simple as being out of man's reach.