The largest reserves and national parks of the Russian Federation. Natural parks of Russia: list, description and interesting facts

Real heavenly corners of our planet - national parks, included in the UNESCO World Heritage List, protected and protected by man - this is an integral part of the wealth of the natural world. Striking with their relief beauty, they have a large area of ​​plants and animals living in their characteristic territory. Huge squares with picturesque landscapes are open to tourists and travelers who wish to leave in their memory positive emotions and impressions of visiting these amazing places. The most beautiful national parks in the world presented later in the article.

1. Yosemite National Park

Yosemite national park (Yosemite) - a nature reserve with an area of ​​3081 km², located in the western mountain range of the Sierra Nevada in California, USA. A wide and abundant composition of natural attractions, as well as a large number of hiking trails and routes, make it the second most visited park in the country.

Mighty granite cliffs, vast valleys and meadows are combined with fast rivers and blue lakes. Luxurious waterfalls, dense groves and forests are an ideal find for lovers of natural beauty. More than 250 species of vertebrates live on the territory of the park, the most famous of which are: baribal bear, gray fox, black-tailed deer, red lynx. Among the vegetation, conifers predominate in large numbers: fir, sequoia, various pine families.

The most sincere and fabulous view of Yosemite Park attracts tourists on winter days, when frozen rivers and waterfalls along with snow mountain ranges and forests give an unforgettable sense of delight and tranquility.

In the American state of Arizona, this is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful national parks in the world. Since 1979, it has been a center of beauty, peace and scenic grandeur. The asymmetrical shapes of the exposed ancient rocks of the park are one of the prime examples of soil erosion. The area of ​​the Grand Canyon is 4927 km².

The nature of the park is quite diverse, it includes forests and rocky peaks of cliffs, overgrown with small bushes. Single-leaved pine, Utah juniper and mountain oak are numerically dominant among the growing trees. The warm, sunny spots of the canyon are home to desert plants such as bananas, yuccas and cacti. Adapted to favorable living conditions, many species of animals have a wide composition characteristic of a given area. The most common mammals are black-tailed deer, bighorn sheep, lynxes, coyotes, beavers, ground squirrels, chipmunks, rabbits and bats.

The Grand Canyon, with the Colorado River dividing it, is unmatched in panoramic views, impressive size of rocks and unique landscapes. The cliffs are made up of strata of rocks of different ages, are perfectly preserved and clearly stand out in the walls of the canyon.

3. Banff Park

The very first and oldest national park in Canada is a nature reserve Banff with an area of ​​6641 km² and was founded in 1885 in the province of Alberta.

The park is located on the slopes of the Rocky Mountains, which, with their mighty snowy peaks, inspire travelers and tourists from all over the world. Stone cliffs, clean mountain air, waterfalls, dense coniferous forests with crystal-clear lakes Louise, Peita, Bow and Moraine truly attract with their beauty and grandeur. In some places there are several hot springs with mineral water used by visitors for preventive and therapeutic procedures.

For wildlife such as bears, wolverines, goats and chipmunks, forest and mountainous areas have become a permanent habitat. The flora is represented mainly by evergreen trees and shrubs.

The city of Banff itself receives a huge number of fans every year. active rest and extreme sports. The rocky mountains are literally dotted with trails, slopes and roads for snowboarders, skiers, quad bikes, sleds and snowmobilers.

4. Los Glaciares Park

In Argentina, beautiful Los Glaciares National Park known for its eternal ice blocks and massifs, which occupy almost a third of the entire territory. The park has existed since 1937, was founded in the province of Santa Cruz and is located along the border with Chile and the southern part of the mountain range from Argentina.

The picturesque and harsh ice rim covers an area of ​​4459 km² with complex relief cliffs up to 3.5 km. The name of the park comes from a huge ice cap, which is represented by 47 glaciers sliding from the Andes mountains to the coast Atlantic Ocean... Glacial margins usually end with small and large lakes.

The vegetation of Los Glaciares is represented by a variety of grasses, shrubs and trees that have the ability to tolerate fairly low temperatures. The largest population among animals is represented by herbivorous species: llama, Andean deer, guanacos, chinchillas. The mountain cougar is considered the main predator here.

Tourists can visit major sites in the park all year round, such as Mount Fitz Roy, Lago Argentino and Viedma lakes, and the great Patagonian Ice Sheet.

5. Park Goreme

The list of the ten most beautiful natural reserves in the world included the historical and unique place in the Turkish province of Cappadocia, which covers an area of ​​300 km² and is famous for its original landscapes with pointed rock formations resembling stone cones. The Goreme valleys, formed as a result of volcanic eruptions and the influences of natural elements, have amazing and bizarre relief forms. The most famous valleys of Love, Red, Pink and Blue deserve special attention as well as the local shrines of the park. The scattered small cliffs and peaks are made of tuff, a volcanic rock material that is easy to work with.

The collection of churches and monasteries is a Museum under open air with a long history and culture. All religious institutions are accessible to visitors and are comfortable havens for all Christians.

Over the years, residents of other countries, fleeing from state oppression, built many caves with winding passages in the high tuff hills, which later turned into a real city. Small villages and cave structures with their ancient past attract tourists from all over the world.

6. Namib-Naukluft Park

Namib-Naukluft National Park- the fourth largest nature reserve in the world, located in the heart of the African Namib Desert. The territory of the park is about 50,000 km², located between the central high-mountain plateau and a vast plain.

Landscaping is represented by granite rocks of Naukluft with rare vegetation, gypsum and quartz plains, as well as sand dunes and shallow canyons.

Due to the hot climate and lack of rain, which can last for several decades, vegetable world has a small population. However, some species that are endemic, such as the Velvichia tree, have quite adapted to arid areas. Among the animals, the most popular are large mammals: elephants, lions, rhinos and ungulates. Also, reptiles, birds and insects predominate in large numbers.

The main attractions of the park are: the clay plateau of Sossusflei, the Sesrim Canyon, the Welwitschia Plains and the Dead Valley with the skeletons of dried trees. The desert region of Namib-Naukluft attracts tourists insignificantly, as difficult and long routes are combined with lifeless places and unfavorable conditions.

7. Swiss National Park

To the most beautiful nature reserves refers Swiss National Park... It was founded on August 1, 1914 in the canton of Graubünden, and is a protected site with strict visiting rules for tourists. Occupies an area of ​​172.4 km², which is located at an altitude of 1400 to 3175 meters above sea level. The only nature reserve in Switzerland and the first park in Central Europe is located in the foothills of the Alps and the Engadine Valley.

Wide alpine meadows, snowy peaks, clean lakes and pine forests lure connoisseurs of nature from all countries with their splendor. The reserve has 21 footpaths up to about 80 km long each. Tourist routes give the opportunity to see many species of various animals and a rich flora. Among mammals there are brown bears, mountain goats, lynx, martens, marmots. The fauna is represented by deciduous and evergreen forests, wild flowers and grasses, which have favorable conditions for life in the alpine area.

A visit to the park at any time of the year is wonderful in its own way, and walks in the fresh mountain air give an unforgettable portion of positive for any visitor.

8. Torres del Paine Park

Famous for its spectacular landscapes, forests, pointed rocky peaks and scattering of waterways, the most beautiful Torres del Paine National Park deserves the attention of every traveler who comes to southern Patagonia. Located in the Torres del Paine and Cuernos del Paine mountains, the park covers 2,420 km² in southern Chile and is a biosphere reserve.

The granite snow-capped cliffs, as part of the sprawling Andes ridge, are dotted with glaciers, waterfalls, fast-flowing rivers and lakes with iridescent hues from bright sunlight. The most unique features of the park are the Glacier Gray Glacier, the Horns, the French Valley and the Tower Mountains.

Amazing landscapes with stony deserts, grassy tundras and plains, as well as an extensive composition of flora and fauna give a combination of perfect beauty and harmony.

Among the wildlife in the reserve, the most common are cougars, skunks, foxes, guanacos and the Chilean deer, which is depicted on the country's coat of arms. The park is home to many birds, including birds of prey: hawks, condors, owls.

The vegetation here as a decoration of any area is represented by numerous mosses, shrubs, evergreen trees and colorful flowers and herbs.

For tourists, excellent conditions have been created for a wonderful pastime in the reserve. Convenient trails and small wooden holiday houses provide comfort and coziness during long journeys in the park.

9. Jasper Park

Picturesque Jasper National Park, founded in 1907, is located in the Canadian province of Alberta. Occupying a total area of ​​more than 10,878 km², the park combines the mountainous landscapes of the Main and Advanced Ranges, as well as the foothills of the Rocky Mountains.

The main natural resources the parks are snowy mountain ranges, river valleys, glaciers, rustling waterfalls, clean lakes and meadows. Together, the glacier and waterfall, collectively known as Athabasca, complement the colorful picture among the park's main attractions.

The favorable climatic conditions in the Jasper Nature Reserve have created a permanent habitat for a wide range of flora and fauna. The vast forests have varieties of evergreen trees that are quite common for these places, such as larch, yellow and Weymouth pines, Engelman and Douglas spruce, juniper.

Among animals, the largest population is in grizzly bears, wolves, moose, beavers, wolverines, deer, and Canadian lynxes.

The largest natural object Canada pleases its visitors with the opportunity to organize various activities - fishing, sports game events, extreme sports, hiking and horseback riding, cycling and canoeing, rafting, and many other leisure options depending on the choice of visiting guests.

10. Zhangjiajie Park

Zhangjiajie Is one of the most beautiful national parks in China. It is located in the scenic area of ​​Wulingyuan and is China's first national forest reserve, founded in 1982. The park has become world famous for its landscapes with lush subtropical forests, transparent mountain streams, caves and more than 3,000 quartzite rocks resembling tall stone pillars up to 200 m high.

Zhangjiajie's area is about 479.15 km². Due to the humid climate and vegetation, the quartzite rocks scattered throughout the park are the result of centuries of erosion.

National Park "Yugyd va"

This national park, established in 1994, is under the protection of UNESCO. The Yugyd Va National Park is located on the western slopes of the Northern Urals, on the border between two parts of the world - Europe and Asia. The total area of ​​the territory is 1.8 million hectares. It is the largest national park in Russia. On its territory there is the largest natural forest area in Europe, which has practically not been influenced by humans.

More than 50% of the territory of the national park is forest. There are about 30 species of mammals in the national park, including: reindeer, elk, bear, wolf, wolverine and fox. There are also over 120 bird species in the park. The most common wood grouses, black grouse, hazel grouses and partridges. Some species of birds (for example, gyrfalcon and white-tailed eagle) are included in the Red Book of the Russian Federation. Salmon breeds in the sources of rivers located on the territory of the reserve.

Elk Island National Park

The Losiny Ostrov National Park was organized on August 24, 1983 on the basis of the resolution of the Council of Ministers of the RSFSR "On the establishment of the Losiny Ostrov State Natural National Park". Along with the Sochi National Park, it is the oldest in Russia.

The area of ​​the Losiny Ostrov National Park is 128 sq. km, of which 30 sq. km is located within the boundaries of Moscow. Forests occupy 83% of the park's area, swamps - 5%, water bodies - 2%.

Settlements on the territory of Losiny Island: Mosvodokanal settlement, Suponevo, Balashikha (Abramtsevo microdistrict), New World, Dolgoe Ledovo, Korolev (microdistrict Peat enterprise, Pogonny, 12th Switch, Oboldino).

There are three functional zones in the national park:
- specially protected, closed to the public, where natural complexes are preserved in their natural form. It serves as a refuge for large mammals, a nesting place for birds;
- educational and excursion, open for visiting accompanied by a guide along ecological routes;
- recreational, intended for mass recreation.

Uniqueness Losiny Island in the fact that on its territory, surrounded by the metropolis, a natural forest area has been preserved, characterized by exceptional natural diversity. Part of the forests of Losiny Island belongs to primary forests - a special type of ancient virgin forest that has been preserved for a long period of time and is not affected by human activity.

The main feature of the nature of Losiny Ostrov is a wide variety and mosaic distribution of plant communities in its relatively small territory.

On the territory of Losiny Ostrov there are more than 600 species of higher plants, 36 species of lichens, about 90 species of mushrooms, and about 150 species of algae. The species included in the Red Books of Moscow and the Moscow Region are presented.

About 180 species of birds, up to 40 species of mammals (including elks, wild boars, sika deer), at least 13 species of amphibians and reptiles live or appear during migration in the forest area, surrounded on all sides by cities with a multi-million population. About 15 species of fish live in the reservoirs of the park.

Sochi National Park

The Sochi State Natural National Park is one of the first national parks in Russia. The area is 191 thousand hectares. Created by the Decree of the Council of Ministers of the RSFSR in May 1983 with the aim of preserving and restoring unique natural complexes on the territory along the Black Sea coast from the Shepsi River to the Psou River. But in the northeast, the border of the park runs along the watershed of the Main Caucasian ridge... The territory of the national park is served by about 200 people of the state forest protection in 15 forest districts.

All villages and cities of Greater Sochi are located within the territory of the national park.

According to the forest-vegetation zoning, the territory of the park is included in the Colchis province of subtropical forests.
The most widespread are the stand with a predominance of beech - 41%. Beech forests, the only ones in Russia, amaze with their beauty and grandeur, silvery-gray columns of trunks rise to the sky to a height of 50 meters.
Oak stands occupy 25% of the forested area and are found mainly on the dry and warm southern slopes of the mountains.
But the share of chestnut trees falls 13% of the forested area. Sowing chestnut is a representative of the Tertiary flora and is classified as a relict species. This is the only place in Russia where the sowing chestnut (European) grows in natural conditions.
Hornbeam stands occupy an area of ​​about 7%, alder - 3%, fir - 5%, boxwood - 1%.
The rest of the territory is occupied by plantations of maple, ash, aspen, linden, walnut, berry yew, pine, Himalayan cedar and other species.

A total of 165 species of wild woody plants grow here.

Boxwood stands - aliens from the Tertiary period - are of great scientific, educational and aesthetic interest. Delicate "lace" of small, black-green, glossy foliage of boxwood and everywhere hanging from trunks and branches fluffy, long as a beard fairytale heroes, moss gives the forest a fantastic look of a green kingdom.

The fauna of the national flogging includes about 70 species of mammals: brown bear, badger, deer, lynx, Caucasian and European roe deer, marten, otter, jackal, wild cat, wild boar, hare, squirrel, etc.
Of the large variety (about 120 species) of birds, there are red-headed kinglet, black-headed nuthatch, eagle owl, jay. Migratory birds appear in the forest, on water bodies in spring and autumn (great spotted woodpecker, geese, swans, pigeons, common quail). There are also 11 species of reptiles and 7 species of amphibians.

About 40 rivers and streams of the Black Sea basin flow through the territory of the national park, three of them are over 50 km long - Mzymta, Shakhe, Psou.

Rivers and streams have a large number of waterfalls and canyons. Waterfalls are mainly located in the upper reaches big rivers, on rivers of the second order and their tributaries: Bezymyanny (72 m) on the Psou River, Orekhovsky (33 m) on the right tributary of the river. Sochi at the confluence of the brook. Madmen. Agursky waterfalls and Eagle rocks are a single natural complex located to the west of Mount Akhun. This complex, located next to the sea, is striking in its grandeur. River bed Agura, cutting through the western slope of Akhun, has formed a canyon-like gorge with a depth of over 200 m. A picturesque Agur trail is laid along the river.

On the territory of the national park there are 48 republican routes that pass along numerous interesting place: Vorontsovskie caves, Dzykhrinskoe gorge, Atskhu gorge, Krasnaya Polyana, Akhshtyrskaya cave and much more.
The preservation of mineral resources is largely determined by the state of the Black Sea mountain forests. Being unique natural formations, they perform water protection and soil protection functions. Matsesta waters, springs of Lazarevskaya and Sochi mineral waters, iodine-bromine waters of Kudepsta and many others originate in the bowels of the national park.

The economic activities of the national park are aimed at protecting green spaces from forest violations, fires and pests, and fighting poaching.

The workers of the national park take care of the forest annually on an area of ​​1.5 thousand hectares, create recreational centers for tourists to visit, put in order tourist routes, look after 7 forest parks on an area of ​​about 5 thousand hectares.

The wood processed in the workshops of the national park is used for its own needs in forest parks, in the construction and maintenance of forest guard offices and cordons, and for the production of consumer goods.

By the efforts of the workers, plantations of hazelnuts - 150 hectares, cork and changeable oak on an area of ​​120 hectares, plantations of laurel noble and mimosa were created. In the national park there are bee houses, planting of horticultural and wild fruit crops.

Alania National Park

Alania State Park in North Ossetia It is surrounded by mountain ranges, at an altitude of 800 to 4645 m (Wilpat) in the Urukh River basin. Glaciers, mountains and talus are a large part of the entire parkland. The main waterway of the park is the Urukh River, created by the confluence of the two rivers Kharesidon and Karaugomdon. About 70 solid streams and rivers flow in the park. In the lower part of the slopes of the Vodorazdelny and Bokovoy ridges and at their foot, you can see areas of the community of upland xerophytes and mountain steppes, subalpine meadows occupy the upper areas. The vegetation of the Alania Park is quite diverse. On its terrain, pine-birch forests, mountain pine forests, broad-leaved beech-hornbeam forests, juniper woodlands, and alpine and subalpine meadows are shown. The forests in the park cover a fifth of its entire area. The area of ​​the state park is rich in medicinal, edible, melliferous and ornamental plants. Among these plant species, you can see a large-flowered initial letter, bracts larkspur, valley saffron, monotonous lily, narrow-leaved snowdrop, Caucasian scabiosa, Olympic catchment, and so on. The distinctive agents of the animal world that live in the park are the pine marten, stone marten, forest pussy, chamois boar, roe deer, ermine and others. Many historical monuments have been preserved in the area of ​​the park. There are quite a few caves, rocky grottoes and sheds on the Rocky Ridge, which have been used by humans as camps since the bottomless antiquity. The Alanian catacomb burial grounds in Kumbult and Donifars are very famous. In addition, the park organizes trips to the Tana glacier and the largest mountain bog in the Main Caucasus, Chifandzar. Unforgettable memories can be gained from visiting Galdoridon Falls, medieval towers, old tombs and shrines.

National Park "Shushensky Bor"

The foundation of the national park took place in 1995. Its location is the South of the Krasnoyarsk Territory, the territory of the Shushensky District, the junction of the Western Sayan mountain system and the Minusinsk foothill basin. This is the center of the Asian continent. This park includes two plots, the area of ​​which is 34.8 thousand hectares and 4.4 thousand hectares, these plots directly belong to the national park.
The motive that prompted the creation of the park was the need for an agreement between some of the parties to the activity. These are: protection of the unusual landscape of the area; current economic work; the use of this nature for recreation. It became necessary to balance all these sides with each other. It was also necessary to preserve the exclusivity of natural ecological systems that have one definite zone.

In the northern half of the park, there is a very beautiful landscape, consisting of a pine forest, colorful meadows, grassy plains. The southern half is distinguished by mountainous terrain and taiga landscape, and coniferous forests grow in front of the mountains. In addition to conifers, there are forests with different types of trees: cedar, pine, aspen. Black taiga - more of the area is occupied by fir, dark coniferous taiga - spruce and fir. At the highest point of the terrain, there are subalpine meadows with perennial herbaceous plants.

There are enough stunning places on our planet that have preserved their pristine beauty for centuries, despite all human attempts to destroy it.

Almost every country has its own examples of nature reserves and national parks, but few of them can boast of being listed as the largest on earth.

Greenland national park

The largest national park in the world is located closest to all its competitors from the North Pole. Its territory is 972 thousand km². As an example, one hundred and sixty-three countries of the world have a smaller area than this reserve.

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It was founded in 1974. Ordinary people don't live here, only staff. It is inhabited by about 10,000 musk oxen - at least 40% of the total world population. In addition, here you can meet a walrus and a polar bear, reindeer, ermines, arctic white hares, etc. The flora of the area is represented mainly by lichens and mosses. In some places there are even birches and dwarf willows.

Rangel St. Elias (USA)

The list is continued by the largest nature reserve in America, which is located in Alaska, protected by UNESCO. Occupies 53 thousand km² - 9 states could be located on the lands of St. Elias.

Founded in 1980. It is home to nine of the sixteen highest mountain peaks in the United States, and the 2nd highest mountain in Canada. Rangell St. Elias is visited by 60,000 tourists a year. They are attracted by spacious snow-covered plains Mountain peaks, glaciers, of which there are more than one hundred and fifty.

Limpopo Transboundary Park

The territory covers the lands of several African countries (Zimbabwe, Mozambique, South Africa) and consists of ten different zones that form one of the largest national parks in the world (37,000 km²). To date, the territory of the reserve has not yet been fully established, the 2nd phase of its development involves expansion to 100 thousand km².

The Limpopo Transboundary Park was established relatively recently, in 2000. And representatives of the fauna began to appear here a year later. Here you can see leopards, giraffes, African elephants, spotted hyenas, cheetahs and other, no less exotic, animals.

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Kruger (South Africa)

Kruger National Park is a typical example of African wildlife. One of the most favorite nature reserves among travelers (one million guests a year) brings quite good profit. Founded in 1898, it is the oldest in South Africa, located in the northeastern part of the country. Length - 340 km, total area - 19 thousand km². It is formed of three parts located between the rivers Sabi and Olifants. Included in the UNESCO heritage list.

Kruger Nature Reserve boasts an interesting variety of African "unarmed" safari. Most of the animals can be seen in the central part of the huge national park. Here you can meet hippos, giraffes, elephants, leopards, crocodiles, white rhinos, as many as 17 species of antelope, more than 400 different birds.

Serengeti (Tanzania)

One of the most famous and largest national parks in the world is considered an example of perhaps the most complete ecosystem on the planet. The oldest nature reserve in Africa was established in 1929. The territory is almost 15,000 km².

It is home to 3 million individuals of large animals and nearly 500 species of birds. The Serengeti is also famous for the annual migrations of a million wildebeests, two hundred thousand gazelles and zebras - during the time of resettlement, animals overcome over 3,000 km.

Yellowstone (USA)

The next of the largest and oldest national parks in the world was founded back in 1872 in the American Rocky Mountains. First of all, it is known for its geothermal springs, geysers and eruptions. About 3 million tourists visit Yellowstone annually from different countries all the conditions have been created for this.

On the vast area of ​​the reserve, you can see rivers, waterfalls, lakes, caves, mountains, canyons, and even a volcano. Almost 2000 different plants grow here. The local fauna is no less diverse: 311 bird species, nearly 60 examples of mammals, including pronghorns, elks, deer, grizzly bears, bison ...

Snowdonia (UK)

The next reserve on the list is located in the north of Wales. Named after the most high place Wales - Snowdon Mountains (1085 meters). Created in 1951. The area is over 2,000 km². Snowdonia has a population of 26,000 and is visited by 6 million tourists annually.

One of the largest national parks in the world has over 2,000 km of open hiking trails and 260 km of hiking and horse riding trails. The summit of Mount Snowdon can be reached either by cable car or by hiking trail, 13 km long. Several historic rail routes run through Snowdonia.

Bwindi (Uganda)

The area of ​​the reserve is 331 km², it is the "smallest" of the list of the largest national parks in the world. Located in the jungle in the southwest of the country. You can only travel on it on foot. Consists of forests located in the mountains and plains. Included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

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This reserve is the largest example of an African ecosystem. It is home to about 340 gorillas (almost half of their population), 120 species of mammals, 346 different birds. Bwindi is famous for its exotic butterflies, of which there are over 200 varieties. The fauna is also multifaceted - 163 types of trees and more than a hundred species of ferns grow on the local land.

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Different parts of Russia impress with their beauties: from volcanoes and hills of Kamchatka to a dancing forest Curonian Spit... In such places, reserves and national parks of Russia are located, the number of which has exceeded a hundred. Although this is clearly not enough for such a huge country like ours, therefore rare species of fauna and flora continue to disappear. It is unlikely that anyone will master a visit to all Russian reserves, but when traveling around the country, it is always worth visiting the nearby corners of untouched nature.

1. Altai reserve

Since 1998, the Altai Reserve has been included by UNESCO in its list World heritage He has also been present since 2009 in the World Network of Biosphere Reserves of the Man and the Biosphere Program. It is also included in the list of 200 little changed or virgin world regions, where 90% of the Earth's biofund is represented. Altai Nature Reserve includes three natural zones and five physical and geographical regions.
Almost all of them are represented here altitude zones Mountain Altai: subalpine middle mountains and alpine meadow highlands, low and middle mountains, overgrown with taiga, tundra highlands and middle mountains, high mountains covered with ice and snow, tundra-steppe highlands. 34% of the territory of the reserve is covered with forests located in valleys and mid-mountains, in the lower reaches of sloping ridges. The lower border of the forest starts from the level of Lake Teletskoye (436 m), and the upper one differs in different places: if in the southeast it falls at an altitude of 2000-2200 m, then in the north-west it drops to 1800-2000 m.

2. National Park "Curonian Spit"

This national park is located in the border zone of the Republic of Lithuania in the Kaliningrad region. The Curonian Spit is a very long and narrow strip of land dividing salt waters Baltic Sea and fresh water Curonian Lagoon. In the north, the park abuts the Russian-Lithuanian border. The uniqueness of the nature of this territory lies in the fact that the Curonian Spit is the largest sand dump in the world.
The local dune landscapes are amazingly beautiful, make an indelible aesthetic impression on a person, so this place has a unique potential for the development of the now fashionable ecological tourism. This unique landscape of sand dunes is exceptional not only for its beauty, but also for its fragility, as it is constantly threatened by the forces of the natural elements of water and wind.
At one time, man had a destructive effect on the local ecosystem, which put the very existence of the Curonian Spit under threat, but, fortunately, in the 19th century, work began to stabilize it, which continues to this day, as a result of which the spit was restored. Now its territory has been included in the UNESCO World Heritage List with appropriate protection.

There are areas on our planet where a person experiences special sensations: a surge of energy, euphoria, a desire to improve or spiritually ...

3. Baikal-Lensky nature reserve

This state reserve covers an area of ​​660,000 hectares and is located in the Irkutsk region on the territory of the Olkhonsky and Kachugsky districts. It stretches along the western Baikal coast from north to south for almost 120 kilometers, and its average width is 65 kilometers. FSBI "Zapovednoe Pribaikalye" has a total length coastline almost 590 kilometers, stretching along west coast Baikal from Cape Elokhin in the north to the village of Kultuk in the south. In 1996, UNESCO included the Baikalsky, Baikal-Lensky and Barguzinsky reserves in the World Heritage List. To date, the Pribaikalsky National Park and the Baikal-Lensky Nature Reserve have merged into a single scientific, nature conservation and tourist complex - the Federal State Budgetary Institution "Zapovednoe Pribaikalye".

4. National Park Samarskaya Luka

In 1984, this national park was founded by order of the Council of Ministers of the RSFSR, thus, it became one of the first three national parks organized in our country. The territory of the Samarskaya Luka is unique, it is formed by the bend of the Volga - the largest European river in its middle reaches and the Usinsky Bay of the Kuibyshev reservoir. At this point, the Volga lays a large arc in an easterly direction, after which it turns to the southwest. The length of this arc is about 200 kilometers. Here, ancient carbonate deposits are quite elevated and form a kind of island.
A peculiar microclimate, unusual forms of relief, reminiscent of low mountains, a unique natural world and a blue ribbon of the Volga enveloping them - all this made Samarskaya Luka and Zhiguli famous all over the world. There are a lot of cultural historical monuments associated with the former inhabitants of the forest-steppe belt - from the Bronze and Early Iron Age to the present day. In total, there are about two hundred natural or historical monuments on the territory of the reserve. For archaeologists, these places are the Klondike.

Russia is huge, Russia is beautiful, Russia is diverse. It is the largest country in the world with an area of ​​over 17 million square meters. km. Thanks to the occupied common ...

5. Lazovsky reserve

The special value of this reserve lies in the presence of a grove of relict now pointed yew, located on Petrov Island. In addition, there are thickets of endemic - cross-paired microbiota and such rare species of animals as the Amur tiger, Amur goral, Ussuri sika deer.
Lazovsky Nature Reserve is located on the southern spurs of the Sikhote-Alin, it is limited by the Chernaya and Kievka rivers. The Zapovedny ridge divides its territory into a continental northern part and a seaside southern part. On average, local mountains have a height of 500-700 meters, only a few peaks rise to 1200-1400 m. The average steepness of local mountains is 20-25 degrees, they have flat but narrow ridges. There are a lot of stony placers in the mountains. In the east, the mountain spurs gradually descend to the sea, and the watershed ridges turn into low (no more than 100 meters) shallow ridges. On the territory of the Lazovsky Reserve, closer to its southern border, there are a couple of small islands - Beltsova and Petrov, both of which are overgrown with forest.

6. Reserve "Kedrovaya Pad"

This is the very first Far Eastern nature reserve and, in general, one of the oldest in the country. It was founded for the sake of studying and preserving the undisturbed coniferous-deciduous liana forests, unique for our country, located in the southern Primorye. They are home to many endemic and rare species of animals and plants. In particular, the Far Eastern leopard lives only in and around this reserve. In 2004, UNESCO granted the status of a biosphere reserve to the reserve.
The local "black fir forests" are especially valued - black fir and broad-leaved forests. Here, on Mount Chalban, species grow in large numbers, which are extremely rare in other Far Eastern regions, such as Komarov's currant and currant-leaved blob. On the same mountain, a rocky primrose was first found, as well as species unknown to botany - the Ussuri corydalis and the Far Eastern violet. The Kedrovaya river, no more than 25 kilometers long, flows through the reserve, but it is its world scientific community that recognizes the ideal of a clean river.

The territory of Russia is huge, so it is not surprising that there are dozens of waterfalls scattered across it, in its various corners. Some of them are like this ...

7. National Park "Smolenskoe Poozerie"

This national park was formed in 1992 on the territory of the Smolensk region, in the Dukhovshchinsky and Demidovsky districts with the task of preserving natural complexes in scientific, educational, cultural and recreational purposes... In 2002, it received the status of a biosphere reserve according to the UNESCO Man and Biosphere Program. The name Smolenskoe Poozerie appeared due to the presence of 35 glacial lakes of different sizes here, and each of these lakes is beautiful in its own way. On the map, the territory of the national park resembles a regular square: it stretches 50 kilometers from north to south, and 50 kilometers from east to west. Its geographical center was in the village of Przhevalskoe. Smolenskoe Poozerie has a total area of ​​over 146,200 hectares, in addition, there is also a 500-meter protective zone framing its borders.

8. Valdai National Park

This national park was created with the task of preserving the unique forest and lake complex on the Valdai Upland and at the same time creating conditions here for the development of organized recreation in this region. There is an incredibly rich composition of natural components and their unique combination, they have a good degree of preservation, there is an opportunity to maintain ecological balance. In addition, the local landscapes are so beautiful that they leave no one indifferent. Therefore, on the territory of the Valdai National Park, the protection operates in a differentiated mode, taking into account the historical, cultural and natural features of these places.
Several functional zones were identified here: a specially protected nature reserve, a recreational one, where the controlled use of lakes and rivers is permissible, as well as a zone where visitors are allowed to be served. The national park is located in the north of the Valdai Upland, stretching 45 kilometers from east to west, and 105 kilometers from south to north. Its boundaries practically coincide with the boundaries of the catchment area of ​​the Seliger, Valdai, Borovno, Velye lakes and the upper reaches of the Polomet river.

Rivers entangle the whole of Russia like a spider web. If you count them all down to the smallest, you get over 2.5 million! But the vast majority of them ...

9. Ilmensky reserve

This one of the oldest reserves in the country was founded in 1920 with the aim of preserving rare mineral deposits. In 1935, it was made complex, adding to the protection of minerals also the fauna and flora of the eastern slope. South Urals... Then in 1991 it was joined by "Arkaim" - a historical and archaeological branch, which has now become the forestry "Stepnoy". With this, the task of studying and preserving the Arkaim settlement, built during the Bronze Age in the Bolshekaragan valley, was added. Ilmensky Reserve has remained the only mineralogical reserve in Russia, of which there are very few in the world.

10. Trans-Baikal National Park

This national park fully complies with the UNESCO recommendations for the regulation of activity in specially protected natural enclaves, which is not typical for Russia. It is located in a typical mountainous taiga area with mountainous terrain... The Barguzinsky ridge, the Svyatonosky ridge, the Ushkany Islands and the Chivyrkuisky Isthmus are located within it. From the southwest to the northeast, two mountain ranges stretch across the territory of the park. If the Barguzinsky ridge gradually decreases from the reserve of the same name to Lake Barmashovoe, having highest point within the park is 2376 meters, then the Sredinny ridge, which runs along the Svyatoy Nos peninsula, gradually decreases from the middle with a maximum elevation of 1877 meters in the north and south direction. The Svyatoy Nos Peninsula is connected by the Chivyrkuisky Isthmus with east coast Lake Baikal. The Big and Small Ushkany Islands are nothing more than the peaks of the Akademichesky Ridge, dividing the Baikal Depression into northern and southern basins.