Lake Onega Reservoir has an area of and volume of , i.e. almost the same as those of Onega Lake. Its construction raised the water level of the lake by . The lake contains a well-developed navigation system which is part of the Volga–Baltic Waterway and White Sea – Baltic Canal, connecting the basins of Baltic, Caspian and the northern seas. These canals allow water transport of goods from the lake to the countries from Germany to Iran; most traffic goes to Finland, Sweden, Germany and Denmark. The Onega Canal running along the southern shore of the lake there is not used
Port of Arkhangelsk sends and receives lumber, pulp, coal, machinery, metals, industrial and consumer goods. Arkhangelsk seaport - the main base of the Northern Company, performing the maritime transport of the White, Barents and Kara seas, the Northern Sea Route and overseas lines. Originate from Arkhangelsk regular passenger line to Murmansk, Dikson, Onega, Mezen, Kandalaksha and Novaya Zemlya. As part of the port has 3 cargo area, a container terminal, shipping company "Portoflot" sea-river station. The total length of wharfage - 3.3 km. Berths allow you to take and put handle vessels with a draft of 9.2 m and a length of 175–200