The most beautiful national parks in the world. National parks and reserves of Russia. Fiordland, New Zealand

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 one really high honor was awarded the unique Yellowstone Plateau, rich in geysers and hot mineral springs, where in 1872 the Yellowstone national park. In 1916, the United States created the Service national parks. National parks in the United States such as the Grand Canyon, Jasper, Olympic and others are now well known outside 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

Yellowstone National Park- 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 - one of the largest high-altitude lakes in North America - is located in the crater of the largest supervolcano on the continent. That's why most of The territory of the park is covered with frozen 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. In addition to Yellowstone, there are only four geyser fields in the world - the Valley of Geysers in Kamchatka, as well as fields in Iceland, Chile and New Zealand.

In addition to geysers, the park has about ten thousand diverse geothermal springs, including hot and hydrogen sulfide springs and mud volcanoes. Half of all geothermal sources in the world are concentrated in Yellowstone. 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 included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. 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, a walk along the shortest of which takes two hours, and along the longest - 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 grows here, which has been preserved since 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 horse riders and 74 km of other 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 most deep canyons in the world is located on the Colorado Plateau, in 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 of the mountainous southwestern part South Island. Here are the deepest lakes in 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, high mountains, lakes, forests, many animals and birds live here, and even orchids can be found among the flowers.

Tatras, Poland-Slovakia

Two Tatra National Parks - one in Poland, the other in Slovakia - have a common border of 64 km. 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 in the park, as well as wolves, bears and lynxes. Due to its diverse relief, the Tatras are a favorite vacation spot for skiers.

The reserve is located in the northeastern part of the Russian Plain. All rivers of the reserve are left tributaries of the Volga, the largest of which are Kostroma and Unzha. Quite extensive areas of the reserve are occupied by swamps and wetlands, which is primarily due to the flat, leveled relief. There are small forest rivers in the reserve and no large lakes and rivers, which causes a significant density of animals whose life is directly connected with water bodies - this is, first of all, the otter, mink, beaver.

The territory of the Katunsky and Altaisky reserves is included in the list of the World Cultural and natural heritage UNESCO titled "Golden Mountains of Altai" (1998). The absolute heights of the Katunsky Reserve range from 1300 to 3280 m above sea level. On the territory there are 135 lakes with an area of ​​151,664 hectares or more. In the highlands there are a large number of glaciers, with a total area of ​​283 sq. km.

State nature reserve Shulgan-Tash in Bashkortostan, which has federal status. Situated in the western foothills Southern Urals, in the mountain-forest belt, within the Burzyansky district. Total area - 225 sq. km. The rich landscape mosaic also determines the high diversity of the plant world. The relief is low-mountainous. Mixed broad-leaved and coniferous-broad-leaved forests occupy 92 percent of the territory.

The natural architectural and archaeological museum-reserve Divnogorye is located on the territory of Russia, in the Liskinsky district Voronezh region. The area of ​​the museum-reserve is more than 11 km². From a geological point of view, the reserve is a Cretaceous deposit on the surface of the earth. Max Height the plateau above sea level reaches 181 meters, relative - 103 meters (the mouth of the Quiet Pine River at the confluence with the Don, which flows at the foot of the plateau, is located at an altitude of 78 m above sea level). Due to a rather significant difference in height between the plateau and the floodplain of the Don and Tikhaya Sosna rivers, its microclimate differs significantly from the surrounding floodplain lowland.

The State Reserve "Kuznetsk Alatau" is located in the south of Central Siberia, at its highest point - on the western slope of the ridge, at the intersection of Mezhdurechensky, Tisulsky and Novokuznetsky districts Kemerovo region. The Kuznetsky Alatau ridge itself extends over almost a third of the Kemerovo region. This ridge is a relief consisting of medium and high mountain ranges dissected by rivers.

The Kedrovaya Pad nature reserve is located in the Khasansky district of Primorsky Krai, between west coast Amur Bay and the border with China, on the spurs of the East Manchurian mountain ranges Sukhorechensky and Gakkelevsky ridges, separating the basin of the Cedar River from the basins of the Barabashevka and Narva rivers flowing near the boundaries of the reserve.

The Lazovsky Reserve is located on the southern spurs of the Sikhote-Alin, between the rivers Kievka and Chernaya. By size and mode of moisture mainland territory of the Lazovsky Reserve, located northwest of the Zapovedny Ridge. Almost the entire territory of the reserve is divided between two independent drainage basins of the Kievka and Chernaya rivers, which flow into the Sea of ​​Japan. The remaining numerous rivers and streams of different size, direction and nature are either tributaries of these rivers, or independently collect water from a narrow coastal strip, the average width of which is about 10 km, and flow directly into the Sea of ​​Japan.

What to photograph: rivers, mountains, relic yew grove. Some of the lakes have unique vegetation and other natural features.

The main part of the territory of the reserve is represented by taiga forests of various types. Fragments of ancient relic steppes have been preserved on the coast of Lake Baikal; 50 species of mammals and about 240 species of birds live. The reserve is also famous for the high number of bears. In addition, here you can meet such rare and interesting birds as the white-tailed eagle, black stork, hook-nosed scoter, ruddy shelduck, gray crane.

What to photograph: the source of the Lena River, Cape Ryty, a section of the coast sacred to local residents with a grandiose gorge, the remains of the oldest volcanoes on Earth - Mountain peaks Baikal Ridge in the area of ​​capes Sredny and Upper Kedrovy. 50 species of mammals, about 240 species of birds. Known for its high population of otters and brown bears.

The national park is located in Greater Sochi: from the borders with the Tuapse region, between the mouths of the Shepsi and Magri rivers in the northwest to the borders with Abkhazia in the southeast and from the Black Sea coast to the watershed line of the Main Caucasian ridge. Most of the territory of the park is occupied by mountains, dissected by river valleys. The foothill zone occupies a narrow strip along the Black Sea. About 40 rivers and streams of the Black Sea basin flow through the park.

What to photograph: diverse landscape, unforgettable views and many exotic animals. A feature is the abundance of rivers and streams that create a huge number of canyons and waterfalls.

The Altai Reserve is located in the mountains of Southern Siberia. This is the land of mountains and swift mountain rivers, the kingdom of giant trees and the country of ancient wild animals. A walk through the mountain-taiga landscapes of the reserve fascinates with its unpredictability. Vertical belts, steppe, forest, subalpine and alpine, replacing each other when climbing the mountains, hide their secrets. Even the forests in the reserve are different. In the north, almost only fir trees grow, to the south - cedars, in the south - deciduous species.

What to photograph: vertices Altai mountains, Teletskoye lake, alpine meadows. Lynxes, bears, wolverines and 323 species of birds also live on the territory.

UK national parks

Brecon Beacons National Park

The Brecon Beacons is located on a mountain range in South Wales, occupies a national park of about 1345 sq. km., in the park is the most high mountain in southern Britain. Brecon Beacons is translated as "Brecon Beacons", the name comes from ancient times, when people signaled to each other about the approach of enemies with the help of fires lit on the tops of the mountains.

What to photograph: The mountains of the park and the moorlands look very breathtaking. In the mountains you will find many waterfalls. The park also houses many ancient monuments and castles.

Norfolk Broads

Broads National Park covers the county of Norfolk and Suffolk. This is a vast, protected wetland area in the UK and is home to some of the UK's rarest plants and animals. This is the third largest park in the UK, which occupies vast expanses of water. The park includes seven main rivers and 63 remains of medieval peat excavations.

What to photograph: the flat terrain makes the Norfolk Broads a very windy place and the countryside is dotted windmills, which are picturesquely located on the edge of the water. The park has small yachts and boats that will take you around the most beautiful areas for a small fee, where you will certainly be inspired by the richness of the wetlands and the variety of birds.

The beautiful expanses of the Dartmoor swamps in Devon cover a huge area of ​​Great Britain. Dartmoor contains the highest concentration of artifacts bronze age Great Britain, there are many ancient stones and other monuments.

What to photograph: beautiful scenery, rocks, granite stones, all this makes the National Park an incredibly picturesque place. famous rock Dartmoor Park attracts the attention of photographers from all over the world.

The largest British national park, with an area of ​​4528 km2. On the territory there is a high and massive mountain range, four of the five highest mountains in Scotland are located within the park, there are 55 peaks over 900 m high. In general, the Cairngorms occupies about six percent of Scotland.

What to photograph: massive mountain landscape cross clean rivers with sparkling water. On the territory of the park is the lake Nestle. Vast forests occupy the lower slopes, and ice lies on the peaks most of the time. The park is home to many rare animals, with about 25 percent of endangered species living in the Cairngorms. Here you can meet red squirrel, deer, osprey, snowy owls, red partridge and eagles.

The Lake District, often compared to the sea, the park is located in a mountainous region in the county of Cumbria, in the north-west of England. The entire territory of England with a height of more than three thousand meters above sea level is located on the territory of the National Park, including Scafell, the highest mountain in England. There are also deep and long lakes England.

What to photograph: You can shoot landscapes and lakes, they are very breathtaking, especially in autumn.

This park in the west of Scotland is located in the district of Loch Lomond, which is the largest reserve fresh water in the UK mainland. On the territory of the park there are 21 peaks, more than 1000 meters high and 19 peaks, more than 2500 meters high, as well as two forest parks - Queen Elizabeth and Argyle.

What to photograph: numerous small lakes, mountains, beautiful woodlands, small clearings wildlife. Ben Lomond is one of the most photogenic mountain peaks. On the territory of the national park you can meet deer, squirrel, otter and osprey.

The oldest national park in the UK. It attracts about 10 million visitors a year, thanks in large part to its proximity to the major cities V northern England, making it one of the busiest national parks in the UK. Peak District is conditionally divided into the northern Dark Peak, where most of the territory is occupied by swamps and the South Peak, where most of the territory is occupied by limestone rocks.

What to photograph: The hills and cliffs of the park attract the attention of visitors and photographers, there are many valleys, streams, lakes and waterfalls. The Peak District has many interesting objects created during the industrial revolution, artificial fences, roads and the remains of mills will make the photos even more attractive.

US national parks

Grand Canyon, Arizona

The Grand Canyon is one of the iconic places in the United States of America. Grand Canyon extends almost 450 km in length. It was formed as a result of the impact of the Colorado River over thousands of years. The National Park is famous for its picturesque desert landscapes.

Yellowstone, Wyoming

The first national park in the world, famous for its geysers, hot springs burst out of the ground, making a unique impression on the audience. The park is home to many wildlife including grizzly bears and moose.

Rocky Mountain, Montana

On the Canadian border is Rocky Mountain Park, which has about 130 lakes and is home to thousands of plant species and hundreds of animal species.

Everglades, Florida

Everglades Park is a network of wetlands and forests, the park is home to 36 protected animal species, including panthers and American crocodiles.

Bryce Canyon, Utah

Bryce Canyon National Park is famous for its unique geological structures that cut the sky with narrow peaks. The structures were formed as a result of weathering and erosion by the flow of sedimentary rocks.

Death Valley, California-Nevada border

Death Valley is the hottest and dry place in North America. Here you will find a harsh desert landscape that, despite everything, attracts many species of animals.

Denali, Alaska

Denali is located around the highest mountain in North America. The landscape of Denali is a mixture of forest, tundra, glaciers and rocks.

This dramatic landscape includes two active volcano: Kilauea, one of the most active in the world and Mauna Loa.

Yosemite, California

Yosemite is famous for its attractive El Capitan and Half Dome cliffs. There are beautiful steep waterfalls and ancient sequoias.

Carlsbad Caverns, New Mexico

The underground park is a huge cave with an area of ​​1220 m, 191 m wide and 78 m high. Photographers here will be amazed by the beautiful limestone cave landscapes.

National parks of Europe

Saxon Switzerland, Germany

The park features extremely beautiful rocky landscapes and canyons. IN Saxon Switzerland ancient coniferous trees grow.

The Swiss National Park is the oldest park in the Alps and provides protection to many rare animals. Mountain goats, marmots and countless varieties of birds live here.

Teide, Tenerife, Spain

The Teide Volcanic Peak is the most visited national park in Spain. It is known for its surreal landscapes and amazing view to the surrounding Canary Islands.

Plitvice Lakes, Croatia

A series of 16 lakes of different colors amaze the imagination of visitors to the Croatian National Park. The shades of water in the lakes change from crystal green to deep blue.

Vatnajokull, Iceland

Europe's largest glacier is located in Vatnajökull National Park. The glacier occupies about 8% of the entire territory of the country.

Cevennes, France

Cévennes is located in the mountainous region of France. Here you will see picturesque mountain scenery and gorges. There is a chain of cave systems in the park.

Olympus, Greece

Here is famous mountain Olympus, the highest mountain and the legendary home Greek gods. The park has rich history, culture and ecological diversity.

Abruzzo, Italy

On the territory of the Abruzzo Park there are huge granite peaks and beech forests. Brown bear, wild lynx, wolves and royal eagles live in this mountainous wilderness.

Tatras, Slovakia

The oldest national park in Slovakia covers 741 square kilometers. Pine and other coniferous trees grow here. There are many lakes in the park, and lives here big variety wild animals.

The Burren, Ireland

The Burren is the smallest of Ireland's six national parks. The area of ​​the park is only 15 square kilometers, but despite this there is something to see.

National parks of the world

Fiordland, New Zealand

The snow-capped mountain peaks of the national park will inspire any photographer. Most of the plots of the film The Lord of the Rings were filmed here. Dolphins, fur seals and penguins live in the park.

Kruger National Park, South Africa

This park is one of the best places, which are worth visiting in order to see the whole flavor of the African continent. Lions, African elephants, buffaloes, leopards and rhinos live here.

Banff, Canada

This is Canada's oldest National Park and is impressive for the wealthy. mountain ranges, densely wooded regions, glaciers and ice fields. Banff is home to grizzly bears, moose and bighorn sheep.

Goreme, Türkiye

Turkey's National Park inspires photographers all over the world with its surreal landscapes, caves and oddly shaped hills.

Galapagos Islands, Ecuador

The island's wildlife has evolved in isolation over millions of years, resulting in the park being home to unique animals and rare plant species.

Most of the park is occupied by mountains, one of which highest point our planet - the top of Everest. The territory of the park strikes the imagination with rivers, glaciers and beautiful mountain landscapes.

Torres del Paine, Chile

The Torres del Paine National Park is home to the spectacular Andean peaks. Lakes, glaciers and mountain glades are presented to the attention of photographers. Here you can meet guanacos, cougars and rare birds.

Kakadu, Australia

Kakadu National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The park area is rich spectacular waterfalls, rivers and swamps, it is home to many wild animals, including saltwater crocodiles.

Iguazu, Argentina / Iguazu, Brazil

We are talking about two Iguazu parks at once, one of which is located in Brazil, and the second in Argentina. calling card parks is a chain of beautiful waterfalls surrounded by jungle. The huge variety of birds living around the Iguazu Falls impresses the attention of visitors.

Serengeti, Tanzania

The Serengeti National Park is famous for the annual wildebeest, zebra and gazelle migration that passes through the park.

Fuji Hakone Izu, Japan

The most popular national park in Japan includes views of the dormant Mount Fuji, located in the center of the park. fuji Hakone Izu shrouded in clouds in spring and summer.

Zhangjiajie, China

Unique and inimitable mountain landscapes open to the eyes of visitors to Zhangjiajie Park in China. Within the park are tall pillars made of sandstone, resulting from many years of erosion caused by the expansion of ice.

The national park is named after a hunter who gave up his job and began to protect nature in order to save the Bengal tiger. It is the oldest national park in India and is home to Himalayan bears, leopards and elephants.

Canaima, Venezuela

Nature has created natural corners where peace and complete balance reign. There are many such places on Earth and all of them are beautiful and interesting in their own way. Anyone who can feel this beauty and harmony has the right to consider himself truly happy. It is becoming increasingly difficult to preserve the integrity of nature and leave it untouched. Man and his economic activity upset this balance. Those corners that have remained untouched are protected and called reserves. The most beautiful nature reserves in the world are presented in this article.

yellowstone nature reserve

This place on Earth can be called one of the most beautiful. The Yellowstone Preserve is located in the United States. For a long time, the existence of such a corner on the planet could not be believed. At that time, the lands of North America had not yet been fully explored. This reserve includes 3000 geysers of incredible beauty and height. These are two thirds of all sources in the world. There are also about 300 waterfalls, the height of which exceeds 4.5 meters.

The reserve is located among two huge canyons. Here you can find a large number of representatives of flora and fauna. Such parks and reserves of the world are included in the list of natural sites of the UNESCO World Heritage Site. This unique park striking in its beauty. Rivers, ravines, waterfalls, rocky mountains, thermal springs- all this together is a magnificent ensemble created by nature. Here is the most big geyser, which bears the name Steamboat. One of the springs, the Old Faithful, is notable for the regularity of its eruptions. The height of the pillar reaches 40 meters. Most beautiful waterfall The Lower Reserve has a height of 94 meters, which is twice as high as Niagara. Most big lake has an area of ​​350 square meters. Its depth exceeds 115 meters.

Karst lakes in Croatia

The natural reserves of the world are places of unusual and amazing beauty. Plitvice refers to unique corners planets created by nature. It consists of a huge woodland with 16 interconnected lakes. The park is located in the karst mountainous region of Croatia. The territory of the reserve is 297 square kilometers. Lakes are located on the Plitvice plateau between two mountains.

Lakes are two groups that are interconnected by runoff. The total area of ​​the lakes is 2 square kilometers. Between the lakes there are dams created by nature. Plants and bacteria accumulate to form barriers. These natural barriers are growing at a rate of 1 centimeter per year. The lakes have an unusual color, from azure to blue. Their color may change depending on the incidence of sunlight and the activity of microorganisms. Like many nature reserves in the world, this park is included in the World Heritage List.

snowdonia

Snowdonia National Park UK is an amazing corner of our planet. On its territory, an area of ​​2 square kilometers, is the highest mountain in Wales - Snowdon. Unique in their beauty places do not leave indifferent any tourist. There are 2381 kilometers of trails in the park. 264 kilometers of them are for hiking, horse riding and cycling. The fauna and flora of the reserve is striking in its diversity. There are very rare birds and animals.

Serengeti National Park

The area is home to the Serengeti National Park. It is located between two attractions: Lake Victoria and Mount Kilimanjaro. If we consider everything, then the Serengeti is the most beautiful pearl in this necklace.

The uniqueness of this park lies in the fact that a large number of animal species are represented here, including unique ones. It is considered a great rarity if a buffalo, a lion, a giraffe, an elephant and a leopard are found on the territory. During the rainy season, herds of hundreds of thousands of zebras and wildebeests gather in the savannas in the east of the park. in search of water and food in such quantities is an unforgettable and majestic sight. The landscape in the park is also varied, from desert lands to green hills and wooded areas. The reserves of Africa are among the most ancient on Earth.

Canadian Park Canada

Canada's Banff National Park is one of the most beautiful places on the ground. There is everything here: rocky mountains, eternal glaciers, picturesque landscapes, turbulent rivers with crystal clear water, coniferous forests, mountain lakes, and many representatives of flora and fauna. Nature here is virgin and untouched by man. Therefore, animals here feel free and safe. The park is located in the eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains.

This is the largest nature reserve American continent. Its area is about 6.6 thousand kilometers. Rocky mountains of various origins alternate with deep valleys that are covered with glacial formations. Here are divided into three climatic zones: forest mountain, alpine and subalpine. In every corner of this park open beautiful landscapes that delight the eye of the tourist. All nature reserves in the world can be called unique in their own way. These are corners untouched by man, in which their own laws and rules reign.

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

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

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.

• Read also:

It was founded in 1974. Ordinary people do not 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 walrus and polar bear, reindeer, stoats, arctic hare, etc. Vegetable world The area is represented mainly by lichens and mosses. In some places there are even birches and dwarf willows.

Wrangell St. Elias (USA)

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

Formed in 1980. Here are nine of the sixteen highest mountain peaks in the United States, and the 2nd highest mountain in Canada. Wrangell St. Elias is visited by 60,000 tourists a year. They are attracted by spacious plains, snow-capped 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 expanding to 100 thousand km².

The Limpopo Transfrontier Park was created 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 equally exotic animals.

• It can be useful:

Kruger (South Africa)

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

The Kruger Reserve boasts an interesting variation of the African "unarmed" safari. Most 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 antelopes, 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. Africa's oldest nature reserve was established in 1929. The territory is almost 15,000 km².

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

Yellowstone (USA)

The next of the largest and oldest national parks in the world was founded in 1872 in the American rocky mountains. First of all, he is known for his geothermal springs, geysers and eruptions. About 3 million tourists from different countries visit Yellowstone every year, since all conditions have been created for this.

On huge area In 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 species of birds, almost 60 examples of mammals, including pronghorns, elk, deer, grizzly bears, bison ...

The next reserve on the list is located in the north of Wales. It is named after the highest place in Wales - Mount Snowdon (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 every year.

One of the largest national parks in the world has more than 2,000 km of open hiking trails, as well as 260 km of trails for hiking and horseback riding. The summit of Mount Snowdon can be reached both by funicular and by a 13 km long hiking trail. 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. It is located in the jungle in the southwest of the country. It can only be traveled on foot. Consists of forests located in the mountains and on the plains. Included in the list world heritage UNESCO.

• Do not miss:

This reserve is largest example African ecosystem. About 340 gorillas live here (almost half of their population), 120 species of mammals, 346 different birds. Bwindi is famous for 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.

National parks and nature reserves are one of the few places with almost untouched nature. Virgin forests, pristine 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 reserves in different natural zones of 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. Black fir, which got its name from the dark bark, is the largest tree in the 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, including burial mounds, mountains and caves. The park is also rich in archaeological finds. For example, burial mounds of the 7th-8th centuries and traces of the Murom town, settlements of the 9th-13th centuries were found on the territory of the Samarskaya Luka.

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 of the 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, and 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 of 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.