7 Incredible Reserves in Russia Worth Seeing

1. Great Arctic Reserve

The largest of the Russian reserves - its total area is more than 40 thousand square meters. km.

What is famous and who lives here

Firstly, the fact that this is the largest nature reserve not only in Russia, but throughout Eurasia. Its territory covers 1000 km from east to west and 500 km from north to south. The reserve is washed by the waters of the Arctic Ocean, the Laptev Sea and the Kara Sea.

It is located behind polar circle, therefore, plants and animals exist here in permafrost conditions - in the arctic deserts and tundras. Some parts of the territory have been little explored and are still waiting for geologists, biologists and meteorologists.

124 species of birds, 29 species of fish and 16 species of mammals live in the reserve.

Waterfowl are the main inhabitants of these places. In the delta of the Pyasina River, during the molting period, a huge population of white-fronted goose gathers - up to 200 thousand birds. Black and red-breasted geese, white-billed loons, peregrine falcons, lesser swans, gyrfalcons, red-throated sandpipers live in the reserve. Here you can see the unique sea bazaars of kittiwake gulls, guillemots and thick-billed guillemots, as well as one of the largest nesting sites in the world.

white gulls.

In the nature reserve live and animals listed in the Red Book of Russia - the Atlantic and Laptev walrus, wild reindeer, narwhal, wolverine, musk ox, polar bear.

There are more than 240 species of higher plants in the Great Arctic. Among them are lichens, annual and perennial flowers. For example, Rhodiola rosea is a plant that is used by pharmacists to prepare medicinal extracts and tinctures.

What can a tourist see

The Great Arctic is not a territory for out-of-town walks. Tourists can visit only some sites, and only accompanied by instructors.

The tourist season here starts in June and ends in September. At this time, tours along the Efremov River are organized in the reserve. Tourists can simply admire the nature of the Arctic, and go fishing. Omul, grayling, nelma, vendace, Asian smelt are found here.

There are also other group tours. You need to learn about them from the administration of the reserve.

Where is it located and how to get there

The reserve is located on the Taimyr Peninsula, in the Diksonsky district of the Krasnoyarsk Territory and on the islands of the Kara Sea.
The administration is located in Norilsk.

How to go. From Norilsk to Dudinka by train bus or taxi. Buses depart every day, there are morning and evening flights, travel time is 1 hour 45 minutes.

Then by helicopter from Dudinka to the Great Arctic Reserve. Some parts of the reserve can only be reached by air, there are also completely inaccessible areas. All details can be checked with administration.

2. Barguzinsky Reserve

This is the very first reserve that appeared in Russia.

What is famous and who lives here

The oldest Russian reserve appeared in 1916. The purpose of the creation is to stop uncontrolled hunting for sable and save a valuable animal.

The reserve is located on the northeast coast Baikal and became the first research and development center in the region.

Here, in the Baikal waters, taiga forests and on the mountain slopes of the Barguzinsky ridge, 46 species of fish live, 281 bird species, 41 mammal species, amphibians, reptiles and a huge insect community - 800 types.

Among the animals is the same sable, thanks to which the reserve appeared. And also columns, reindeer, musk deer, ermine, weasel, wolverine. Hares, wolves, foxes, brown bears, moose and other inhabitants of the taiga live here.

Birds here are the same ones that live in the Siberian taiga: hazel grouse, cuckoo, nutcracker, various types of owls, crossbills, capercaillie and owls. There are also rare species. This is a white-tailed eagle and a black stork - they are listed in the international Red Book.

In the waters of Lake Baikal there are valuable commercial fish - grayling, taimen, whitefish, omul. As well as pike, burbot and perch.

What can a tourist see

The reserve welcomes tourists from June to September. There are several routes for them along the coast of Lake Baikal and the slopes of the Barguzinsky Range. Tourists can see mountain rivers and lakes, and if they are lucky, local animals and birds. These trails can only be traveled if accompanied by the staff of the reserve.

A museum has been opened in the village of Davsha, where visitors will be told about the history of the environmental enterprise and rare animals, and will be shown collections of minerals and rare herbariums.

You can visit the reserve only with the permission of the administration. All details are on official website Barguzinsky Reserve.

How to get there

The reserve is located on the northeastern coast of Lake Baikal. The administration is located in the village of Ust-Barguzin.

Get there you can get to the village from Ulan-Ude by car or by taxi.

3. Ussuri Nature Reserve

The Amur tiger lives here, as well as the largest beetle in Russia and tropical butterflies.

What is famous and who lives here

The reserve is located in Primorsky Krai, on the southern spurs of the Sikhote-Alin mountain system, and 99% of its territory is occupied by forests.

It is the forest that is the main wealth of the reserve. Liana coniferous-broad-leaved trees grow here. There are areas occupied by cedar forests, where 50–60 different plant species live together with cedars. Today, neither in neighboring countries, nor in other regions of the Russian Far East, there are almost no forests where so many rare species of coniferous trees, lianas and shrubs would exist at the same time. This is where ginseng grows.

Many of the animals of the reserve are listed in the Red Book. These are the Amur tiger, the Far Eastern leopard, the Ussuri spotted deer, the giant shrew, the Amur forest cat. Wild boar, musk deer, Siberian Siberian deer, red deer, and many taiga birds live next to them.

Bears also live here. The reserve even has a rehabilitation center for cubs who have lost their parents.

Another well-known inhabitant of the Ussuriysky Reserve is the giant relic barbel beetle, the largest of the Russian beetles. Several species of tropical insects also live here - for example, butterfly with the beautiful name Saturnius Artemis.

What can a tourist see

The employees of the reserve have developed several tourist routes - ecological trails. There are weekend routes, as well as the reserve holds holidays for guests, various environmental events and excursions.

The Museum of Nature is open, where you can see various exhibitions. In addition, many tourists visit the cub rehabilitation center and listen to stories about its inhabitants.

How to get there

From Vladivostok, you can take a regular bus or train to Ussuriysk. Then, by bus or taxi, get to the village of Kaimanovka, from where many excursions begin.

The administration of the reserve is located in Ussuriysk.

Details can be found at official website or call the administration of the reserve.

4. Altai Reserve

Here you can see the most beautiful mountain waterfalls.

What is famous and who lives here

The reserve was created to preserve the unique natural complex around Lake Teletskoye. Here you can see coniferous forests and alpine meadows, visit the tundra, taste the water from clear mountain lakes and admire the Kobra waterfall.

The reserve is located at the junction of mountain systems Altai and Saiyan. Scientists have found more than 1,500 different plant species here, 22 species are listed in the Red Book.

Cedars, spruces, pines, firs and birches grow in the forests. The special pride of the reserve is the unique cedar forests.

Maral, sable, elk, manul, Siberian musk deer, Altai mountain sheep, reindeer and snow leopard live here. And many species of bats, eight of which are listed in the Red Book.

Of the rare birds, you can meet the curly pelican, red-breasted goose, steppe harrier, black stork, Mongolian bullfinch, gyrfalcon, flamingo.

What can a tourist see

Hiking to mountain lakes and waterfalls is very popular among visitors to the reserve. Now two waterfalls are available to tourists - Cobru and Uchar.

Employees have developed several eco-routes that start in the village of Yailyu. One of the most interesting is in the Karagay tract. Tourists can download the mobile application and use the audio guide.

All routes are designed for one day. Information about new destinations, events and promotions is always available at official website reserve. There is also detailed information about the rules that visitors must follow.

How to get there

From Gorno-Altaisk, you can get to the village of Artybash by your car or by regular bus, which departs from the Gorno-Altaisk bus station. There is an information center in Artybash where you can find out all the news of the reserve and get information about free places for tourists.

In Artybash, as well as in the village of Iogach, there is a network of tourist bases and campsites.

But the central estate of the reserve is located in the village of Yailu. There is also a round-the-clock duty service where you can get answers to all questions about promotions and excursions, as well as rules for guests. Therefore, many tourists prefer to start their acquaintance with the reserve from Yaylu. There is a guest house there, and local residents rent out accommodation to tourists.

5. Kronotsky Reserve

The most famous reserve of Kamchatka. On its territory is the Valley of Geysers.

What is famous and who lives here

Kronotsky is the largest nature reserve in Kamchatka. Here you can see Kronotskoye Lake and 16 volcanoes surrounding it and visit Valley of Geysers.

Not far from the valley there is another unique natural object - the caldera of the Uzon volcano, which is sometimes called the "boiling lake". There are many active thermal springs here.

Stone birch, various types of spruces and larches grow in the reserve. There are poplar, alder, willow, bird cherry, mountain ash, hawthorn.

Elk, sable, ermine, wolverine, weasel, bighorn sheep, wild reindeer, lynx, fox, squirrel, and American gopher live in the forests of Kamchatka. About 800 brown bears live here - this is one of the largest protected populations in our country.

In the waters of the Pacific Ocean there are whales - gray and Japanese smooth. There are also killer whales and porpoises. Rookeries of sea lions are arranged on the coast.

What can a tourist see

Ecological and educational tourism is developing in the reserve. Employees have developed about 10 tourist routes. One-day trips to the Valley of Geysers and the Uzon caldera and a three-day hike in the central part of the reserve are very popular.

You can find out about current tourist routes and excursions at official website Kronotsky nature reserve. Tickets can be purchased in advance from tour operators - their list is also on the website.

How to get there

From Petropavlovsk‑Kamchatsky to Elizov by taxi. Here is the department of educational tourism of the Kronotsky Reserve.

In Yelizovo, tourists gather in groups and fly to the reserve by helicopter.

6. Caucasian Reserve

The symbol of the reserve is the bison. There are many tourist routes with a total length of 450 km.

What is famous and who lives here

This is the largest mountain and forest reserve in Europe - its territory exceeds 280 thousand hectares.

The Russian Academy of Sciences declared the need to protect the animals of the North Caucasus back in 1909, and even then the first projects of the reserve appeared. But it received the status of a state protected area only in 1924.

The reserve is located in the western part of the Caucasus Mountains on the territory of three regions of Russia: the Krasnodar Territory, the Karachay-Cherkess Republic and Adygea.

Plants from several climatic zones have gathered here at once. At foothills forests grow, plants of the alpine and high-mountain belts settled higher. On the slopes you can see fir groves, alpine meadows with junipers and rhododendrons, and snow-covered highlands where lichens grow.

The mountains are very beautiful in spring and summer, when dozens of mountain and meadow plants bloom in turn. The flowering period ends only in autumn, when frosts begin.

Among the inhabitants of the mountain slopes there are lynx, chamois, badger, wild boar, Caucasian forest cat, brown bear and red deer. Here you can also see fur-bearing animals - mink, marten, fox.

The pride of the reserve is the population of bison and bison. They were brought here in the middle of the twentieth century. Animals settled in the reserve, began to bear offspring and became an important part of the local ecosystem.

The bird world of the reserve is also diverse. The steppe eagle, snow finch, harrier and pygmy eagle live here. During periods of migration, flocks of black and white storks and curly pelicans arrive.

What can a tourist see

Several excursion routes are constantly operating here. You can visit a yew-boxwood grove, visit the valley of the Achipse River and see waterfalls, descend into tracts and overcome passes. There are routes for people with different sports training. You can go on a walking tour or go hiking for a few days.

On official website There is information about all active routes. There you can also find out about the living conditions in guest houses and tourist camps and leave a request.

How to get there

The Directorate of the Caucasian Reserve is located in Sochi. Tourist routes start at different cordons, their location must be specified when ordering an excursion. From Sochi, Adler and Khosta, tourist cordons can be reached by fixed-route taxis or by a rented car.

On contact page The site of the reserve has all the necessary addresses and phone numbers.

7. Astrakhan Nature Reserve

Tourists are offered to choose when to come - during the lotus blossom or during the period of bird migration.

What is famous and who lives here

The reserve is located where Volga flows into the Caspian Sea, exactly in the river delta. Once its area was a little more than 20 thousand hectares. But then the Caspian Sea became shallow, and the coastline moved a lot. Therefore, the territory of the reserve has increased three times.

Here, both the inhabitants of the land and the marine fauna are protected and studied.

In the reserve you can see the willow forest and elm thickets, find out what Pennsylvania ash and white mulberry look like.

The special pride of the reserve is the Caspian lotus. Due to the drop in the level of the Caspian, the area of ​​shallow waters has increased, and the population of this rare aquatic flower has greatly increased. Tourists often come here to see the fields stretching beyond the horizon. covered with noble white and pink flowers.

During periods of migration, huge concentrations of birds appear in the Volga delta. And migration lasts here for 9 months - from March to November. During this time, swans, ducks, geese and storks have time to stay on the Caspian coast. Pelicans, white-tailed eagles, peregrine falcons, cormorants, flamingos nest in the reserve itself.

What can a tourist see

In the Astrakhan Reserve there are tours and excursions for every taste. These are ecological trips, educational excursions, trips to protected areas. There are even special photo tours that attract both amateurs and professionals who take pictures of nature.

In addition, you can go on an art tour and draw. Or try yourself in sapsurfing. Or go on a quest in kayaks.

All information is on official website reserve.

How to get there

The administration of the reserve is located in Astrakhan. All issues related to visiting, accommodation, organization of tours and excursions are resolved there.

For those who want to visit the reserve without a group, walking tours are also offered. All information can be found in section for tourists on the website of the Astrakhan Reserve.