Russia is known in the world for its vast territories. There are many beautiful places on them, striking with natural greatness, who saw them, it seems that a person’s foot has never stepped there.
The state is trying to protect such corners of Russia, assigning them the status of reserves (that is, areas of terrestrial or water space within which nature completely ceases to be used for economic or industrial purposes and is taken under protection).
Each of them is amazing in its own way. In our article you can read about the most famous reserves of Russia.
List
- 10. Altai Nature Reserve, Altai Republic
- 9. Khakassia Reserve, Khakassia
- 8. Ubsunur Basin, Tuva
- 7. Tunguska Reserve, Krasnoyarsk Territory
- 6. Taimyr Nature Reserve, Krasnoyarsk Territory
- 5. Putoransky Reserve, Krasnoyarsk Territory
- 4. Caucasus Reserve, Adygea, Karachay-Cherkessia, Krasnodar Territory
- 3. Barguzinsky reserve, Buryatia
- 2. Baikal Reserve, Buryatia
- 1. Wrangel Island, Chukotka Autonomous Okrug
10. Altai Nature Reserve, Altai Republic
Date of foundation: April 16, 1932.
Area: 8 812.38 km².
The idea of creating a reserve arose in 1929.
The territories are practically impassable, there are only trails that were laid by foresters and employees. You can get to this place only with the permission of the administration when applying for a pass.
For reference: The reserve is one of the largest in the Russian Federation, its area is 9.4 percent of the entire territory of the Altai Republic.
The climate here is continental, mountainous. Flora is represented by more than 1,500 species of plants. Also here you can see at least 50 species of animals belonging to rare or endangered species.
9. Khakassia Reserve, Khakassia
Date of foundation: September 4, 1999.
Area: 2 675.65 km².
Consists of several sections:
- Bele Lakes;
- Sub-bog swamps;
- Itkul Lakes;
- Hall Bogaz;
- The Lykovs' houses;
- Lakes of the Shira;
- Kamyzyak steppe
and some others.
At least 50 species of mammals live here. Also, there are about several species of amphibians, about 10 species of fish.
More than 290 species of birds can be found. Some of their representatives are on the verge of extinction.
8. Ubsunur Basin, Tuva
Date of foundation: January 24, 1993.
Area: 9 251.36 km².
The climate is continental. The coldest month is January and the warmest is July. In 1997, the reserve was given the status of a biosphere.
The location of the reserve is such that its area includes:
- Alpine tundra;
- Treeless steppes;
- Taigu;
- Forest steppes;
- Alpine meadows;
- Sand dunes;
- Glaciers.
About 350 species of birds and more than 80 species of representatives of the animal world live on its territories.
The Ubsunur Basin, due to the small population of neighboring territories and the lack of industrial facilities on them, is a unique natural laboratory.
Also in this place are numerous cultural heritage sites, for example, archaeological sites, some of them older than the pyramids discovered in Egypt.
7. Tunguska Reserve, Krasnoyarsk Territory
Date of foundation: October 9, 1995.
Area: 2 965.62 km².
The climate is continental. The average annual temperature on its territory adheres to a mark of 6 degrees with a “-" sign. In winter, the temperature can reach -55-58 degrees.
Interesting fact: In 1908, a meteorite fell in this place, as a result of which 2000 square meters were burned. m. taiga, over a hundred years the forest was able to recover.
The marshland occupies about 15-20 percent of the reserve, the forest is about 70 percent. More than 140 species of birds and 15 species of fish live here.
Among the representatives of the animal world you can meet:
- moose
- squirrel;
- Bear
- Wolverine
- fox
and many other mammals.
6. Taimyr Nature Reserve, Krasnoyarsk Territory
Date of foundation: February 23, 1979.
Area: 17 819.28 km².
The weather here is cold, snow and frost can be observed even on summer days. Flora is represented by 430 species of plants, more than 220 species of mosses and 250 species of lichens.
Natural zones have the form of a tundra. In the summer, they are soft and bright, and in the winter they are harsh, arctic. The fauna is represented by more than 20 species of mammals, a large number of wild reindeer live here.
In addition, at least 100 species of birds and more than 15 species of fish are found in this area.
Interesting fact: In the 70s. of the last century in the reserve, an experiment was carried out on the resettlement of a musk ox on its lands. Currently, about 8,000 individuals of this animal live here.
5. Putoransky Reserve, Krasnoyarsk Territory
Date of foundation: December 15, 1988.
Area: 18 872.51 km².
In these territories numerous rivers flow, forming slopes and rapids, here they form quite large waterfalls. The largest of them has a height of 108 meters. In winter, almost all water bodies here freeze.
The fauna is represented by more than 30 species of mammals, among which it is worth noting the wolf, bighorn sheep, ermine, wolverine, elk, brown bear, sable.
Also on the lands of the reserve there are more than 180 species of birds, at least 35 species of fish. Many representatives of the animal and plant world are very rare and do not live in other protected areas of the country.
4. Caucasus Reserve, Adygea, Karachay-Cherkessia, Krasnodar Territory
Date of foundation: May 12, 1924.
Area: 2 800 km².
There are at least 80 species of mammals. You can see 15 species of reptiles, more than 20 species of birds, 100 species of mollusks, about 9 species of amphibians.
Also, more than 240 species of birds and approximately 10,000 species of insects live on these lands. The number of animals belonging to the group of invertebrates has not been precisely determined.
The plant world is represented by more than 3,000 species, and about 700 species of mushrooms grow on these lands.
3. Barguzinsky reserve, Buryatia
Date of foundation: January 11, 1917.
Area: 3 743.22 km².
Interesting fact: The Barguzinsky Reserve is the only one that was created on the territory of the country in pre-revolutionary times.
Here you can find:
- protein;
- foxes;
- sables;
- roe deer;
- wolves;
- Wolverine
- reindeer
and some other animals.
Representatives of the flora are more than 8000 species of plants. Also, more than 150 species of mushrooms, 140 species of mosses and a huge number of lichen species grow here.
2. Baikal Reserve, Buryatia
Date of foundation: September 26, 1969.
Area: 1,657.24 km².
Ideas for the creation of the famous reserve began to arise back in 1958. On its lands is the Museum of Nature, founded in 1971. Tourists can familiarize themselves with its exhibits. Also in the reserve there is a popular ethno-town where excursions are held.
Flora is represented by more than 1000 species of plants, forests occupy about 70 percent of the territory.
Also, about 40-50 species of mammals live in this place. Found at least 6 species of fish, more than 250 species of birds and 12 fish.
1. Wrangel Island, Chukotka Autonomous Okrug
Date of foundation: March 23, 1976.
Area: 22,256.50 km².
It is the northernmost protected area in the Far East, located on two islands. The climate here is arctic.
On the territory of these huge protected lands, about 150 rivers and streams flow, about 900 lakes are located. At least 400 plant species grow in this area. The island is a haven for more than 160 species of birds.
The world of mammals is represented by lemmings, arctic foxes, ermines, wolverines, wolves and polar bears.