Three countries with national parks. Iguazu National Park. Belovezhskaya Pushcha in Belarus

First National parks , protecting natural societies, appeared in the 16th century. However, the first National was discovered only at the end of the 19th century, in the USA. This really high honor was awarded to the unique Yellowstone Plateau, rich in geysers and hot mineral springs where Yellowstone National Park was opened in 1872. In 1916, the United States created the Service national parks . Such US national parks as the Grand Canyon, Jasper, Olympic and others are now well known outside of North America.

The best reserves and national parks in the world

Since then, many national parks. The first national park in Europe was established in 1914 in the canton of Grisons, Switzerland. Then, in 1922, the Gran Paradiso National Park in Italy was opened. First national park in France there was Vanoise, created in 1963. It borders the Italian Gran Paradiso for 14 kilometers. There are seven national parks in France, three of which are located in the Alpine crescent that stretches from France to Austria. The alpine crescent also contains other famous national parks of the world: Berchtesgaden in Germany, Hohe Tauern in Austria, Stelvio in Italy and Triglav in Slovenia.

Yellowstone - US national park

national park yellowstone- probably the most world famous national park. It is located on the border of the US states of Wyoming, Montana and Idaho. The park, founded on March 1, 1872, is famous for its numerous geysers, and Yellowstone Lake is one of the largest highland lakes in North America- located in the crater of the largest supervolcano on the continent. Therefore, most of the park is covered with solidified lava.

There are almost 3,000 geysers in Yellowstone, which is two-thirds of all geysers in the world. Here is the world's largest geyser Steamboat, as well as one of the most famous geysers in the world - a geyser Old campaigner. The latter throws out jets hot water to a height of more than forty meters, and the interval between eruptions is from 45 to 125 minutes. Besides Yellowstone, there are only four geyser fields- Valley of Geysers in Kamchatka, as well as fields in Iceland, Chile and New Zealand.

In addition to geysers, there are about ten thousand different geos in the park. thermal springs, including hot and hydrogen sulfide springs and mud volcanoes. Half of all geothermal sources in the world. In addition, about two thousand species of plants grow here, there are several hundred species of mammals, birds, reptiles and fish.

Plitvice Lakes, Croatia

Name " Plitvice lakes” was first recorded in 1777, in 1949 the lakes received the status national park, and 30 years later were listed world heritage UNESCO. On the territory of the park there are 16 large karst lakes, 140 waterfalls, 20 caves. Moreover, Plitvice Lakes is one of the few national parks world where new waterfalls are born every year. A characteristic feature of the park is the color of the water. Pictures of the lakes look like a photomontage, but the water here is really azure. You can admire it from wooden decks, the total length of which reaches 18 km.

The park also has hiking trails, the shortest of which takes two hours to walk, and the longest takes eight. A boat also runs on the lakes, and mountain roads can be viewed using an electric train with observation cars. It is strictly forbidden to swim in the lakes of the park, as well as to have picnics, make fires, and bring dogs. In addition, a unique beech and coniferous forest preserved from ancient times and has the ability to self-repair.

Snowdonia, UK

Snowdonia National Park, located in the north of Wales, was created 60 years ago and became one of the first three national parks in England and Wales. The park owes its name to Mount Snowdon (1085 m), which is the highest point in Wales.

Unlike reserves in other countries, Snowdonia, like other national parks in the world, includes both public and private lands. Moreover, about 26 thousand people live in the park, while about 6 million tourists visit it annually. Snowdonia has 2,381 km of open hiking trails, 264 km of trails for walkers and horseback riders and 74 km of other trails. open roads. Moreover, Mount Snowdon can be reached both along a picturesque hiking trail 13 km long and by funicular. At the same time, the routes of several historical railways pass through the park.

Grand Canyon, USA

The Grand Canyon is one of the deepest canyons in the world located in the Colorado Plateau. US state Arizona. Its length is 446 km, and the depth reaches 1600 m. The canyon was cut by the Colorado River in the thickness of limestone, shale and sandstone about 5-6 million years ago. These arguably the most complete geological outcrops in the world represent the history of the Earth over 1.5 billion years. Moreover, the canyon continues to grow today.

Approximately 2 million people visit the Grand Canyon Reserve every year, with the most popular among tourists being rafting down the Colorado on inflatable rafts. The climate on the plateau and at the bottom of the canyon differs sharply - when it is about fifteen degrees of heat above, at the bottom of the gorge, among the red-hot stones, the temperature rises to plus forty. Therefore, most tourists prefer to admire the canyon from observation platforms located on its banks. Indeed, in order to descend to the bottom of the Grand Canyon, it will take more than one hour.

Serengeti, Tanzania

Serengeti National Park is famous for the huge number of animals living in this area. According to scientists, about five hundred species of birds and three million large animals live here. Moreover, a significant part of the animals (wildbeests and zebras) annually migrate from the north of the park, where drought sets in, to the south. With the onset of the rainy season in April-June, animals migrate to the west and north. In addition, the largest population of lions on the planet of all the national parks in the world lives here. The Serengeti is also home to thousands of elephants, gazelles, hyenas, hippos and rhinos. And the name of the park in the Masai language means "endless plains", because most of the territory of the Serengeti is an endless savannah.

Fiordland, New Zealand

Fiordland National Park- the largest in New Zealand, it occupies most mountainous southwestern part South Island. Here are the most deep lakes New Zealand, and the mountains in this part of the island reach a height of 2746 meters. Fiordland is still one of the most inaccessible areas of New Zealand. In addition to picturesque fjords, waterfalls and fast-flowing rivers, the park is famous for its rich flora and fauna.

Rare species of birds live in dense forests, for example, cockatoo parrots. During a visit to Fiordland, you can see a bottlenose dolphin or penguins. One of the most popular places in the park is Milford Sound, which the famous writer Rudyard Kipling called "the eighth wonder of the world." The bay, about 16 km long, is surrounded majestic mountains over a kilometer high. Moreover, this is one of the wettest places on the planet: only every third day is not marked by rain.

Iguazu, Argentina-Brazil

Name Iguazu Falls comes from the Guarani words y (water) and guasu (large). Legend has it that God wanted to marry a beautiful Aboriginal woman, but she ran away with her lover in a canoe. In anger, God cut the river, creating waterfalls, dooming the lovers to an eternal fall.

Today, a complex of 270 waterfalls has formed on the Iguazu River. Par is located on the border of the Brazilian state of Parana and the Argentinean province of Misiones. The border between the countries is marked by the Devil's Throat waterfall, which is 150 m wide and 7000 m long. This is the largest waterfall of the complex. The height of the water fall on Igausa reaches 82 meters, but on most waterfalls it does not exceed 60 meters. You can see the waterfalls thanks to the bridges, the total length of which is about 2 km.

Banff National Park, Canada

The oldest banff national park canada was founded in 1885. Two trans-Canada highways pass through the southern part of the park - the railway and the highway. Just when laying railway in 1883, hot springs were accidentally discovered in caves on the eastern slopes of the mountains. Two years later, these places were recognized as unique and taken under protection.

The park was named rocky mountain park” and became the first national park in Canada and the second created in North America, after Yellowstone National Park. Today it is one of the most visited national parks in the world. After all, here you can find everything that is associated with Canada: landscapes of extraordinary beauty and the smell of fir trees. There are glaciers, hot springs, hiking trails, ski slopes. The center of the park is the highest locality Canada, the city of Banff., Located at an altitude of 1463 m above sea level.

Torres del Paine, Chile

Torres del Paine National Park located in southern Chile, in Patagonia. The name of the park, translated from the language of the Araucan Indians, means "Blue Towers". It is the three needle-like granite mountains, whose height ranges from 2600 to 2850 m, that have become the symbol of the national park. The highest point of Torres del Paine is Mount Paine Grande, whose height is 3,050 m.

There are two trails in the park. One of them takes 4 days, the second - about a week. At the same time, the park is one of the most visited tourist sites in Chile. After all, there are glaciers here, high mountains, lakes, forests, many animals and birds live, and even orchids can be found among the flowers.

Tatras, Poland-Slovakia

Two Tatra National Parks - one in Poland, the other in Slovakia - have common border 64 km long. This is the most high part Carpathians, the length of which is approximately 60 km. These mountains were formed by glaciers, so the Tatras have many U-shaped valleys, mountain lakes with incredible clean water. Green areas and bare rocks occupy more than a quarter of the national park.

The flora of the Tatras is made up of more than a thousand species of plants, and the chamois can be called a living symbol of the park. This is a small animal from the subfamily of goats weighing 30-35 kg, covered with thick hair. Despite conservation efforts, these animals are still on the verge of extinction. There are also deer, wild boars, roe deer, and also wolves, bears and lynxes in the park. Due to its diverse relief, the Tatras are a favorite vacation spot for skiers.

The nature of planet Earth is surprisingly diverse and rich. However, throughout the existence of civilization, man has interfered with the natural formation and laws of wildlife. Back in the 19th century, people realized that it was necessary to take measures to preserve many natural formations, as well as certain species of flora and fauna. Thus, today we have the opportunity to admire the perfect creations of nature, as well as to see rare species of endangered animals or plants, and all this - in natural natural conditions where no human intervenes. So, we present to your attention the ten most picturesque national natural parks peace.

1. Yellowstone Natural Park

The first national park in history was opened in the United States at the end of the 19th century. It's famous today natural Park Yellowstone, located on the border of three US states at once. This biosphere reserve has international status and is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. The Yellowstone Plateau is rich in thermal springs and geysers, throwing hot streams to a height of over 40 meters. There are only five geyser fields in the world, one of which is Yellowstone. However, it is here that exactly half of all the thermal springs of the planet are concentrated. Yellowstone Lake is located in the crater of the world's largest volcano. Over two thousand different plants grow here, and several hundred species of animals live, among which are the grizzly bear, the American bison, and the cougar. The park is home to hotels, campsites, shops, museums and information centers, several paved roads and about 2 thousand km of marked trails have been laid.

2. Grand Canyon in Arizona

The USA also has one of deepest canyons on the planet - Grand Canyon in Arizona, on the Colorado Plateau. This canyon was formed from the constant flow of the Colorado River in the thickness of limestone and various rocks, sandstone and shale. It was formed more than five million years ago, and represents the geological history of the planet in a section. It is the bewitching beauty of multi-colored rock layers that attracts more than 2 million people annually. The depth of the canyon is more than 1.5 thousand meters, to go down to the very bottom, tourists will need more than one hour of time. Moreover, the climate at the bottom of the canyon and at its top is strikingly different - while at the top it will be about 15-20 degrees of heat, at the bottom the temperature can rise to all 40 degrees. Therefore, tourists prefer to view the beauty of the canyon from observation platforms, and rafting on the Colorado River in inflatable boats or rafts is the most popular.

3. Plitvice Lakes in Croatia

The Plitvice Lakes Nature Reserve in Croatia is considered the most beautiful national park in Europe. And. There are about 16 lakes on the territory of the park, which have an amazing color - bright blue, which is why all the photos of the reserve look like a photo montage. There are also about 20 caves and more than 140 beautiful waterfalls, by the way, there are more and more waterfalls every year. Pedestrian routes are laid on the territory of the park, traffic is prohibited here, and you can admire the amazing underwater world through clear azure water from wooden decks built especially for visitors. It is forbidden to swim in the lakes of the reserve, they are included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. The park also contains rare and unique types of vegetation that have been preserved since ancient times.

4. Iguazu National Park

On the border of Argentina and Brazil is the Iguazu National Park, the main attraction of which is the beautiful waterfall of the same name. The name of the park translates as " big water", and this is not surprising. This real park waterfalls, of which there are more than 270. The nature of the park resembles the tropics of the Amazon, there are several levels of a growing forest, striking in its colorfulness and lush vegetation. You can travel around the park and see the waterfalls right in your swimsuit, because there is no escape from the splashes of the waterfalls. For inspections, special bridges, crossings and viewing platforms. From the height of the waterfalls, you can go down by jeep and boat to their foot.

5. Serengeti Park in Tanzania

There are also quite a few national natural parks on the African continent. One of the oldest and most beautiful is the Serengeti Park in Tanzania. The name of the park is translated as "Endless Plains", and its main attraction is the animal world. It is here that there are more than three million individuals of large animals, many of which are on the verge of extinction, as well as over 500 species of rare birds. The plains and savannas of the park are considered the best place on earth to observe the life of lions and cheetahs, antelopes and giraffes, elephants and rhinos, as well as many other animals in natural conditions. It is in the Serengeti park that the largest population of lions on the planet lives.

6. Snowdonia National Park in Wales, UK

Equally interesting for fans natural beauties and attractions is the Snowdonia National Park in Wales, UK. This is one of the first three national parks in the country, it was created about 60 years ago. The name of the park comes from the name of Mount Snowdon, 1065 meters high, the high point Wales. The park occupies a quarter of the entire territory of Wales, about 20 thousand people live here. On the territory of the park there are many lakes, including the largest in area in the UK, as well as unique flora and fauna. More than 2 km laid here hiking trails, as well as about 200 km of trails for horseback riding. Historic railroads pass through the park.

7. Kakadu National Park

by the most beautiful place The green continent of Australia is Kakadu National Park, which is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. The territory of the park is 100 km wide and 200 km long. Here you can meet thousands of species of animals, birds and reptiles, Kakadu Park is also a real find for entomologists - more than 1000 species of various insects live here. The park is surrounded by high rocky mountains which, as it were, protect it from the world of civilization and allow nature to dominate here. In addition to mountains, there are forests and steppes, caves and waterfalls, rivers and lakes. A lot of interesting things in the park and for lovers of antiquities - on archaeological excavations found ancient writings and rock painting. To date, Kakadu Park is the most visited nature reserve in Australia.

8. In Ulkans in Hawaii

No less interesting will be a visit to the volcanic park Hawaiian volcanoes on the islands of Hawaii. This is where the most active active volcano planet Kilauea, last eruption which began in 1983 and continues to the present. The activity of the volcano is monitored by a scientific observatory, and tourists are allowed to visit the park. Volcanic National Park was founded at the beginning of the 20th century and covers an area of ​​about 1300 square kilometers. Here you can see the results of volcanic activity and the processes of thousands of years ago, which, in fact, formed the islands of Hawaii in the middle of the ocean. Moreover, here is a unique ecosystem, rare species of plants grow, including fern forests, as well as many species of animals and birds.

9. H Komodo National Park in Indonesia

On the territory of Asia there are also many natural attractions that need protection and protection. To this end, the Komodo National Park in Indonesia was created. It includes three large islands and many small ones, as well as a water area. Only here is found an ancient species of Komodo monitor lizards, which are also called Komodo dragons, and the park itself is listed by UNESCO. During the activity of prehistoric lizards, the species of which is included in the Red Book, excursions are organized for tourists to their habitats. Undersea world amazes with its brightness and brilliance, there are many coral reefs and rare species of fish. There are excellent conditions for snorkeling, diving and snorkelling.

10. Belovezhskaya Pushcha in Belarus

It is worth mentioning the oldest nature reserve in Europe - Belovezhskaya Pushcha in Belarus. As a national park or protected natural area, the reserve was known in the 15-16 centuries. The park is included in the UNESCO World Cultural and Natural Heritage List. The main wealth of Belovezhskaya Pushcha is coniferous-deciduous forests, which have retained their original appearance. In addition to natural attractions, there are preserved historical monuments- sites of primitive man, fortresses and even a palace. For tourists, hotels and recreation centers have been built here.

Some governments are making great efforts to protect certain areas in order to preserve cultural and cultural heritage for future generations. natural resources of his people.

There are over 160,000 in the world. protected areas. In total, they occupy 10% of the entire surface of the planet. Here are the biggest ones:

The largest nature reserves in the world

1. Papahanaumokuakea (area - 1.5 million km²)

The idea of ​​creating a protected area in Hawaii was first proposed by former US President Theodore Roosevelt back in 1909. But only 100 years later, in 2006, George W. Bush, with the support of the US Department of Commerce and the Interior, who provided funding, created the National maritime monument Papahanumokuakea.

And in 2016, Barack Obama almost quadrupled the protected area, making Papahanaumokuakea the largest nature reserve in the world.

More than 7,000 species of various plant and animal species live here, including the endangered Hawaiian monk seal.

2. Northeast Greenland National Park (area - 972 thousand km²)

Considering that the national park covers the entire northern part Greenland, it is recognized as one of the largest national parks in the world. Its dimensions are larger than the area of ​​163 of the 195 existing states in the world.

This national park is home to polar bears, walruses, arctic foxes, snowy owls and many other species of wildlife, some of which are on the verge of extinction. The park was created in 1974, over time its territory increased, and in 1977 it already received the status biosphere reserve international importance.

3. Marine Protected Area of ​​the Chagos Archipelago (area - 544 thousand km²)

The territory of the world's largest marine conservation area is under the auspices of the UK and is the largest reserve of marine life on the planet.

Territory of the district more France and is located 500 km south of Maldives. The reserve covers seven atolls and coral islands with beautiful and diverse underwater natural world, which plays a key role in the formation of the local ecosystem.

Chagos is home to over 1200 species of corals, various fish and one of the rarest species of sea turtles.

4. Kavango-Zambezi transboundary reserve (area - 444 thousand km²)

The reserve covers the territory of several African countries: Angola, Botswana, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe. It is home to several national parks, including Chobe, Nhai Pan and Bwabwata, the Okavango Delta and Victoria Falls.

The Kavango Zambezi was founded to protect the migration of animals from one country to another. biological resource The region contains one of the largest populations of elephants on the African continent.

5. Protected area of ​​the Phoenix Islands (area - 408 thousand km²)

The protected area is located on the territory of the Republic of Kiribati and is the largest natural reserve marine life in the Pacific Ocean.

These places are connected to the mystery of the disappearance of Amelia Earhart, a famous female pilot whose plane in 1937 is believed to have disappeared in these waters.

Five of the eight protected islands are home to extremely rare endangered bird species that attract the attention of tourists and explorers. Some areas of the reserve can be visited, but only with special permission.

6. Great Barrier Reef (area - 344.4 thousand km²)

One of the most interesting natural attractions in Australia is, of course, the Great barrier reef- the largest accumulation of corals in the world. There are many in one place exotic species marine flora and fauna.

The area was declared a national park due to the fact that corals began to disappear rapidly due to pollution. environment. Now, for example, tourists and surfers visiting the nature park are required to follow strict rules of conduct.

The Great Barrier Reef is located near the state of Queensland and consists of a chain of more than 900 islands and 2,900 individual reefs, stretching 2,600 kilometers in length.

Tourism in this region brings Australia billions of dollars in income.

7. Galapagos Marine Reserve (area - 133 thousand km²)

The islands of the archipelago are located a thousand kilometers from the coast of Ecuador. The reserve is home to many species of sharks, whales, turtles, and fish. Remote location, mixing warm and cold sea ​​currents, fresh and salt water, contributed to the development of an extraordinary animal world.

Charles Darwin studied different kinds animals that lived on these islands, and later, based on the analysis of the data obtained, developed his theory of evolution.

The biggest threat to the region's biodiversity today is illegal fishing, lobster, sea cucumbers (holothurians) and some shark species.

8. Air and Tenere National Reserve (area - 77.36 thousand km²)

The protected area is located in Niger and is under the protection of UNESCO. The name appeared as a result of a combination of the names of the two regions where the reserve is located: East End on the Air plateau, and the western one in the Tener desert (part of the Sahara).

The reserve is home to various endangered animal species, and only some of its parts are accessible to tourists.

A distinctive feature of this territory are dunes, caves, canyons, underwater caves, various in shape and appearance. geographic features found only in this part of the world.

There is a mountain of real marble, as well as sand dunes with an ever-changing appearance.

9. Rangel St. Elias (area - 53.3 thousand km²)

This national park and sanctuary was created in 1980 and is located on the territory of southern Alaska and nine states of the USA.

The 16 mountain peaks of this park are the highest in the United States, and the local landscapes are reminiscent of the Swiss Alps.

10. Transfrontier Park Big Limpopo (area - 37.6 thousand km²)

protected area The park continues to expand and currently covers land in Mozambique, South Africa and Zimbabwe, bringing together several national parks.

Animals inhabiting the area: African elephants, giraffes, leopards, hyenas, white rhinos, cheetahs, mongooses, etc.

Tourism is developed here, various safaris are held. Apart from standard tours by jeeps, there are canoe tours, walking tours, and various events and festivals are held for guests.

At the end of the 19th century, the world community came to the conclusion that if no measures are taken to protect the environment, then the earth may lose many species of flora and fauna. Our planet may lose most of the natural formations that have adorned the earth for centuries. The national park serves to preserve the reserves of natural lands owned by the sovereign state.

No matter how different national parks are selected countries, they have a common idea - to keep wildlife for future generations - as a symbol of national pride. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) today states that there are 6,555 national parks in the world.

For the first time, Mackinac National Park, northern Michigan, became an officially designated national park; then the Royal National Park, in 1875 - Australia. The largest national park in the world, according to the IUCN, is the Northern Greenland National Park, established in 1974.

The main national parks and reserves of the world

Yellowstone National Park

• Yellowstone National Park is the first public park in the world. Discovered in the Rocky Mountains in the United States back in 1872. Millions of tourists come to see the beauty of pristine nature with bizarre hot geysers. The park is home to an almost lost species of bison;

In 1971, clear criteria were established for evaluating the national park:

Minimum size 1000 ha in zones;

Regulatory legal protection;

Budget and sufficient staff to provide effective protection;

Prohibition on the exploitation of natural resources.

The main national parks and reserves of the world that fall under the special criteria of the IUCN - TOP category

1. Swiss National Park, Switzerland: IUCN Ia - Strict Nature Reserve

2. National everglades park, USA: IUCN Ib - Wilderness Area

13. Serra dos Órgãos - National Park.

14. Guanacaste National Park, Costa Rica

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National parks and reserves are one of the few places with almost untouched nature. virgin forests, the purest lakes, rare and endangered species of animals - all this can be seen with your own eyes for a small price or even free of charge. We want to tell you about the largest and most remarkable natural parks and nature reserves in different natural areas ah Russia.

• Square: 269 ​​thousand ha
• Location: The Republic of Buryatia
• Foundation date: September 12, 1986
• Average temperature: in January −18…−19 °С, in July +12…+14 °С
• Animal world: hare, muskrat, squirrel, brown bear, elk, ermine

There are animals listed in the Red Book here - there are more than 40 rare and endangered species in the Zabaikalsky Park. The world of birds is also diverse: a black crane, a black stork, a whooper swan can be found in the park. Vegetation is of particular value: many pine, cedar and fir forests are over 200 years old. The park has many unique natural monuments- capes, islands, caves, water sources, as well as archaeological sites, such as traces of ancient settlements.

The park includes several natural complexes: Svyatoy Nos peninsula, islands of the Chivyrkuisky Gulf, Ushkany Islands. The latter, by the way, were especially chosen by ants: there are more than six thousand anthills on the islands, some of them reach the height of human growth! The Ushkany Islands are also famous for seals: in summer, hundreds of individuals gather on large stones. Seals are shy animals, so the park administration protects them from excessive attention of visitors - it will not be possible to get to the islands without special permission.

• Square: 881 thousand ha
• Location: Republic of Altai, Altai mountains
• Foundation date: April 16, 1932
• Average temperature: in January -8.3 °C, in July +16.8 °C
• Animal world: bear, sable, wolverine, deer, ermine, squirrel, roe deer

Thinking about what reserves there are in Russia, one cannot but recall the Altai Reserve. It has a rather difficult fate: twice, in 1951 and 1961, it was disbanded, but invariably restored. Its main goals are the preservation of Lake Teletskoye, the protection of forests, the rescue of sable, deer, snow leopard and other animals that are on the verge of extinction. There are many streams and springs with clean water on the territory of the reserve. The pride of the reserve is cedar forests: their age reaches 450 years.

The territory of the reserve is practically impassable, only occasionally there are narrow paths, which are guided only by foresters and some employees. This is one of the most large nature reserves Russia, its area is 9.4% of total area Republic of Altai. The reserve is included in the list of virgin or little changed ecological regions of the world.

• Square: 121 thousand ha
• Location: Primorsky Krai, Lazo village
• Foundation date: February 10, 1935
• Average temperature: in January −5.1…−12.5 °C, in August +17.4…+23.5 °C
• Animal world: spotted deer, red deer, goral, Amur tiger

The Lazovsky State Nature Reserve of Russia is named after its second director, Lev Georgievich Kaplanov. He was one of the first to study the Amur tigers, which to this day are the pride of the reserve. In 1943, Kaplanov was killed by poachers who spread to the territory of the reserve during the Great Patriotic War.

Lazovsky Reserve is the second largest in Primorye. Forests occupy 96% of the territory of the reserve. It is the preservation and study of coniferous-deciduous forests that is one of the main goals of creating the reserve. In addition, employees are trying to preserve populations of animal species listed in the Red Book. For example, on the territory of the reserve there are 14 adult Amur tigers and more than 200 gorals, an artiodactyl animal of the goat subfamily.

• Square: 17 thousand ha
• Location: Primorsky Krai
• Foundation date: 1916
• Average temperature: in January -13 °C, in August +21 °C
• Animal world: Far Eastern leopard, Amur tiger, Far Eastern forest cat, Himalayan bear, roe deer, wild boar, exotic butterflies

Kedrovaya Pad is one of the oldest nature reserves in Russia. At the beginning of the 20th century, after the creation of the Trans-Siberian railway line and the strengthening of Vladivostok as trading port intensive development of Primorye began. The development was accompanied by deforestation, forest fires, random hunting, including for rare animals. In 1910, a forestry was organized on the site of the reserve, which sought to preserve the unique virgin forests. Thanks to the foresters, deforestation, mining, and hunting stopped in Kedrovaya Pad, and soon the reserve itself was created.

More than 900 species of plants grow here; some of them are not found anywhere except the "Kedrovaya Pad". Forests occupy 73% of the area of ​​the reserve. Particularly noteworthy are black fir forests, which are almost impossible to find anywhere else. The black fir, which got its name from its dark bark, is the largest tree in the world. Far East. The fauna of the reserve is also diverse - from the flying squirrel to the Far Eastern leopard, listed in the Red Book.

• Square: 134 thousand ha
• Location: Samara Region
• Foundation date: April 28, 1984
• Animal world: bat, golden eagle, elk, roe deer

On the territory of the park there are about 200 natural and historical monuments, among them mounds, mountains and caves. The park is also rich in archaeological finds. For example, in the territory Samara bow”found burial mounds of the 7th–8th centuries and traces of the Murom town, settlements of the 9th–13th centuries.

More than 30,000 bats live in old adits in the park - 15 species in total, some of which are listed in the Red Book. Many tourists, when visiting the galleries, made noise, kindled fires, took pictures of animals. Since bats are very sensitive, human intervention ended in death for many. To preserve the animal population, park officials have limited access to adits. However, the Park Science and Technology Council decided to create a "Bat Museum" so that visitors can still get to know the lifestyle of bats and their role in nature.

• Square: 1,462.37 km2
• Location: Smolensk region
• Foundation date: April 15, 1992
• Animal world: beaver, squirrel, mink, golden eagle

The park has 35 glacial lakes- hence the name "Smolensk Lakeland". This national park seeks not only to protect nature, but also to engage in environmental education. "Smolenskoye Poozerye" gladly accepts tourists, organizes cultural events: bard song festivals, marches, excursions. For example, in spring and autumn, a competition in sports ornithology is held among the guests of the park - this, roughly speaking, is a photo hunting for birds.

Sixty-five plant species of the "Smolensk Poozerie" are listed in the Red Book Smolensk region, 10 of them - in the Red Book of Russia. Also rare are 26 species of birds and six species of mammals in the park.

• Square: 6,621 ha
• Location: Kaliningrad region
• Foundation date: November 6, 1987
• Animal world: elk, wild boar, roe deer, fox, badger, finch, starling

In the north, the Curonian Spit Park adjoins the Russian-Lithuanian border. This is a favorite vacation spot for Kaliningraders and guests. Kaliningrad region: despite its small size, the Curonian Spit is one of the most visited national parks in the country. Once upon a time, Scandinavians, Germans, and Balts lived on its territory. Therefore, the "Curonian Spit" keeps a lot of archaeological monuments from different eras: burial grounds, sites, traces of ancient settlements.

« curonian spit” can be called a “museum of natural areas” - after all, on its territory you can find a variety of landscapes, from birch forests to sand dunes. And only here you can see dancing forest»: pines planted in the park in the 60s of the XX century are fancifully bent, resembling the figures of dancing people.

• Square: 1,585 km²
• Location: Novgorod region
• Foundation date: May 17, 1990
• Average temperature: in January -10 °C, in July +16…+17 °C
• Animal world: elk, marten, lynx, otter, bear, hare, badger, fox

Valdai National Park got its name from the city of Valdai, which is over 500 years old. In addition to 82 archaeological sites, the park is notable for architectural and architectural monuments - these are ancient estates, a monastery of the 17th century, a church of the 18th century. Since the park is located close to Moscow and St. Petersburg, it is one of the most visited in Russia. Eighty-six percent of the area is occupied by forests, where spruce, birch, and pine mainly grow.

Valdai National Park holds many exhibitions and environmental education events, for example, game quests for schoolchildren. During the competition, children must carefully study the information about the park in order to find the treasure.

• Square: 659 thousand ha
• Location: Irkutsk region
• Foundation date: December 5, 1986
• Average temperature: in January -15 °C, in July +14 °C
• Animal world: bear, deer, lynx, wolf, white-tailed eagle, black stork

You can get to the Baikal-Lena Reserve only by water, by boat. The attraction of the reserve is the coast of brown bears. In May, from a ship or an observation tower, you can see how the owners of the taiga walk along the coastline. On the territory of the reserve there are also the oldest volcanoes in the world - they are more than a thousand million years old!

More than 300 species of vertebrates, more than 240 species of birds and 100 species of butterflies live in the reserve. In the administrative building of the Baikal-Lena Reserve, which is located in Irkutsk, there is a museum of nature and a visitor-information center.

• Square: 303.8 km²
• Location: Chelyabinsk region
• Foundation date: May 14, 1920
• Average temperature: in January -21 °C, in July +18 °C
• Animal world: stoat, forest polecat, hare, brown bear, flying squirrel, wolf

The Ilmensky Reserve is interesting not only for tourists, but also for geologists. On its territory there are deposits precious stones and rare minerals: sapphire, zircon, topaz, aquamarine. It was here that 16 minerals were first discovered. Since 1930, a mineralogical museum has been open to visitors, which presents more than 200 minerals found in the reserve.

Since 1935, not only minerals, but also plants and animals have been protected in the reserve. You can get to the Ilmensky Reserve by car from Chelyabinsk or by public transport from Miass.