Map of national parks and reserves. Nature reserves - National parks

For the first time the idea of creating national parks was proposed in 1832 by the American scientist and artist George Catlin. In 1864, the world's first Yosemite Mountain was established in California. national park. In 1872, Yellowstone National Park was established in the United States, covering a vast territory. Now in 124 countries there are national parks and nature reserves, the purpose of which is to protect unique natural areas and animals.
National parks in Russia began to take shape only in the 1970s. The first of them, “Samara Luka,” was created in the Volga region.
December 5, 1997 in Yucatan (Mexico) Committee world heritage added 37 new sites to the World Heritage List, thereby bringing the list to 506. Of these, 380 World Heritage sites are classified as historical and cultural, 107 as natural and 19 as mixed. They are located in 107 countries, of which 11 are in Russia. Lake Baikal rightfully became one of the new objects declared the property of all mankind. 3 nature reserves and 2 national parks have been created on the shores of Lake Baikal.
The system of state reserves in Russia includes 100 reserves (2000) and 31 national parks (1999), which protect 30 million hectares, or almost 1.5% of the total area of Russia, which exceeds the territory of Belarus, Latvia and Estonia combined. Any human activity except scientific research is prohibited in the reserves. Even people's access there is extremely limited.

Baikal-Lena Nature Reserve.

Baikal-Lensky state reserve, organized in 1986, is located on the northwestern coast of Lake Baikal in the Kachugsky and Olkhonsky districts of the Irkutsk region. Its area is 659.919 hectares. This is the largest environmental protection zone on Lake Baikal (14th place in Russia). The reserve stretches from south to north along the western coast of Lake Baikal for approximately 120 km with an average width of 65 km. The perimeter of its borders is about 520 km, of which 112 km are on the shore of the lake. The reserve includes the coast of Lake Baikal from the river. Heyrema to Cape Elokhin, a difficult section of the Baikal ridge and the upper reaches of the great Siberian river Lena with its tributaries. Lena's length (4400 km) ranks first in Russia and tenth in the world. The border of the Irkutsk region with the Republic of Buryatia runs along Cape Elokhin.
The main part of the reserve's territory is represented by taiga forests of various types. Fragments of ancient relict steppes have been preserved on the coast of Lake Baikal. The flora of higher plants of the reserve includes 920 species, of which 36 species are endemic to Siberia, 10 of them are included in the federal Red Book. Mosses (230 species), lichens (248 species) and mushrooms (about 100 species) are also widely represented.
The reserve is home to 50 species of mammals and about 240 species of birds. The reserve is famous for its high number of bears; it is not for nothing that one of the forest districts is named “Beach brown bears" Rare and interesting birds are found in the reserve: white-tailed eagle, black stork, humpbacked scoter, common scoter, and gray crane.
On the territory of the reserve there are the oldest paleovolcanoes Yuzhno-Kedrovsky and Solnechny, which are among the largest in the world, their age is 1560-1710 million years.
There are many attractive places for tourists on the territory of the reserve: the source of the river. Lena (distance from the shore of Baikal 12 km along the path through the Solntsepad pass), Cape Ryty, sacred to local residents a section of coast with a grandiose gorge, the remains of the oldest volcanoes on Earth - the mountain peaks of the Baikal ridge in the area of the Sredny and Verkhniy Kedrovy capes.

Baikal State Reserve.

The Baikal Nature Reserve is located on the eastern shore in the southern part of Lake Baikal and covers an area of 165.7 thousand hectares of the Khamar-Daban mountain range. The boundaries of the reserve run along the Mishikha and Vydrinnaya rivers. Organized in 1969
The scientific profile of the reserve is the study of the natural mountain-taiga complex of the Khamar-Daban ridge on the coast of Lake Baikal. The list of vascular plants of the Baikal Nature Reserve includes 840 species.
On the river Osinovka, not far from the shore of Lake Baikal, is a picturesque powerful waterfall about 5 m high. The excursion to the waterfall takes about 4 hours along a path passing among tall grasses and ferns along the river bank.

Barguzinsky Biosphere Reserve.

Established in 1916, the Barguzinsky Nature Reserve became the first hunting reserve in Russia. His task was to preserve and study sable. Today it is the oldest nature reserve in Russia. In 1986 it received the status of a UNESCO biosphere reserve.
The reserve is located on the northeastern coast of Lake Baikal on the central part of the western slopes of the Barguzinsky ridge ( highest point 2472 m). The height of the snow cover on the loaches exceeds 2.5 meters, which is 5 times more than on the shores of Lake Baikal. More than half of its territory is made up of loaches - rocky peaks (1500-2400 m above sea level). About 60% of the reserve's territory is occupied by the high-mountain char belt, most of which is covered with high-mountain alpine meadows, almost impenetrable thickets of dwarf cedar and dwarf dwarf birch and willow forests. Significant areas are occupied by almost lifeless rocks and rocky placers. A third is occupied by mountain taiga forests, growing at altitudes from 600 to 1250 m. Only a little more than 16% of the reserve’s territory is located on the Baikal coast. The length of the reserve along the coast of Lake Baikal is about 100 km. The area of the reserve is 263.2 thousand hectares.
The fauna of the Barguzinsky Reserve is typically taiga, but with some features caused by mountainous terrain and the close proximity of Lake Baikal. The fauna includes 41 species of mammals, 274 species of birds, 6 species of reptiles, 3 species of amphibians, about 50 species of fish and over 1200 identified species of insects.
The slopes of the Barguzinsky ridge facing Lake Baikal rise to a height of 2652 meters above sea level. They are cut by a dense network of valleys, among which stand out the canyon-shaped valleys of four large rivers: Sosnovka, Tarkulika, Bolshaya and Kabanya, originating on the tops of the Barguzinsky ridge. In total, there are 17 rivers in the reserve that flow into Baikal. Their drainage basins are located entirely within the protected area.
In the valleys of the rivers Ezovka, Bolshoi, Talamusha and Davshi there are thermal springs with water temperatures in some of them above 70 °C.
There are 874 plant species in the reserve. The long-term protection of the Barguzinsky Nature Reserve has had a beneficial effect on the number of animals. In bears it reaches 250 individuals in favorable years, in squirrels - from 5,000 to 10,000 animals.
The reserve contains 39 species of mammals, 243 species of birds, 4 species of reptiles and 2 species of amphibians.

State National Park "Tunkinsky".

Tunkinsky National Park was established on May 27, 1991 within the administrative boundaries of the Tunkinsky district. The territory of the park occupies the Tunkinskaya Valley and the adjacent mountain ranges Eastern Sayan and Khamar-Daban ridge ( maximum height 3172 m). Between the Tunka char and Khamar-Daban lies the intermountain Tunka depression, 200 km long and 20 to 40 km wide. The Irkut River, the left tributary of the Angara, flows along the entire length of the Tunka Valley from south to north. The area of the park is 1183.662 hectares (of which 150,836 hectares of land are occupied by agricultural land). The park area is well developed. Most of the Tunka Valley is occupied by arable land, hayfields and pastures.
Here you can find various species of rare and endangered plants: peony (Maryin root), small red day, Sayan buttercup, sea buckthorn krushinova, Rhodiola rosea, Hummel's mannagettea, etc. More than 10 rare and endangered plant species grow in the park, and more than 40 species of mammals live and 62 species of birds listed in the Red Book of Buryatia.
The Tunkinskaya Valley is famous for its mineral springs. Among the most famous are the resorts at the Arshan, Nilova Pustyn, and Zhemchug springs. These resorts are located close to the A-164 highway, and are connected good roads. The carbon dioxide radon springs of Shumak and the ferruginous springs of Khongor-Uuly are popular.

Transbaikal State National Park.

The territory of the park, organized in 1986, covers the Chivyrkuisky Bay, the Svyatoy Nos Peninsula, the Ushkany Islands archipelago with the largest seal rookery on Lake Baikal. The park is located in the middle part east coast Lake Baikal. The area of the park is 267.17 thousand hectares. Forest lands occupy 158.6 thousand hectares; swamps - 77.0 thousand hectares; sands - 0.4 thousand hectares.
A conservation regime has been introduced on 40% of the park's territory. All economic and recreational activities are prohibited here and a regime of ecological rest is maintained, which allows maintaining animal and bird populations at an optimal level. The territory of the park includes the Ushkany Islands - one of the favorite habitats of the famous Baikal seal, the nerpa. business card Baikal. 5 pedestrians walk through the park tourist routes, among which stands out the route to Mount Markovo, the highest mountain peak the Svyatoy Nos peninsula, from where a 360-degree panorama of the Ushkany Islands opens, northern part Chivyrkuisky Bay and sandy beaches Barguzinsky Bay.
The most picturesque places in the park include Ongokonskaya Bay in Chivyrkuisky Bay, the Cheremshanskaya Grove tract with willow thickets, and Lake Arangutai. There are many grotto caves located in the steep cliffs of the Holy Nose. Three exits are popular among locals and tourists mineral springs: Zmeiny, Kulinye bogs and Nechaevsky.
There are 299 species of animals, 3 species of amphibians and 3 species of reptiles in the park. Birds are represented by 241 species, including such rare ones as the peregrine falcon, black crane, golden eagle, black stork, long-tailed eagle, white-tailed eagle, etc.

Reserve "Vitemsky".

The Vitimsky Nature Reserve (1982, 585 thousand hectares) is located in the northeastern part of the Stanovoy Highlands in the river basin. Vitima. Includes Lake Oron (52.3 km2).

Reserve "Dzhirginsky".

The Dzhirginsky reserve (238.1 thousand hectares) is located in the Kurumkansky district of the republic, at the headwaters of the Barguzin River, and was formed on the basis of the Dzhirginsky complex reserve that existed since 1974.

Pribaikalsky National Park.

Pribaikalsky National Park (PNP) was formed in 1986 on the western shore of Lake Baikal. The protected area of the park in the form of a narrow strip of land adjacent to the shore of the lake, 1 to 8 km wide, stretches almost 470 km of coastline from the village. Kultuk to Cape Kocherikovsky, along which the border with the Baikal-Lena Nature Reserve passes. The park also includes the most big Island Baikal - Olkhon. The total area of the park is 417,297 hectares. There are 10 forest districts here. In terms of protected area, it is one of the five largest national parks in Russia. 284.7 thousand hectares (70% of the park’s territory) are occupied by forests, of which 22 thousand hectares are cedar trees. Pine forests predominate, often with an admixture of larch. On watersheds, a small area is occupied by cedar and cedar-fir forests; on the mountain slopes, spruce forests are less common.
The landscape of the Pribaikalsky National Park is very diverse and picturesque. The mountain-taiga slopes of the Primorsky ridge with heights from 1100 m in the south to 1500 m in the north are dissected by relatively large rivers, flowing into Baikal: Goloustnaya, Buguldeika, Anga, Sarma. These rivers form beautiful rocky gorges and some of them are large deltas. On the territory of the park there is a tourist Mecca - Peschanaya Bay, the peculiar Anga Bay and Aya Bay, the warm bays of the Small Sea. The majestic cliffs and cliffs of the coast often have a distinct individual appearance and bear their own names: Big and Small Bell Tower, Burkhan Cape, Sagan Khushun, Cape Khoboy. The steppe landscape in the middle part of the coast and in the south of Olkhon Island is unique and beautiful. Low rocky ridges, rocky outcrops, basins with salt lakes carry a mysterious charm ancient nature Central Asia.
Relict steppes are of particular interest. On Baikal, large tracts of them are found only in the Pribaikalsky Park. These are the remains of the late Cenozoic tundra steppes, interesting for their preserved biological species of previous eras.
The park's flora includes more than 1,344 species of plants, about 250 species of lichens and 200 species of mosses. This is more than half of the flora of Central Siberia. Scientists note among them a large number of relicts and endemics (31 plant species are included in the federal Red Book, 110 species are included in the Red Book of Plants of the Irkutsk Region (2001). Within the territory of the national park, 21 endemics grow: Olkhonsky astragalus, Zunduksky pennywort, Turchaninov's pike, Popov's cotoneaster, trifoliate, Peshkovoi, Popov, etc.
Animal world also rich and varied. There are 64 species of mammals in the park, of which 14 are predatory, 6 are ungulates, and about 340 bird species. On the small rocky islands of the Small Sea there are the largest herring gull colonies on Lake Baikal and relatively large nesting grounds of ducks (hump-nosed scoter, common and great mergansers). There are 7 species of eagles and sea eagles found in the park; the unique nesting group of the sun eagle Aquila heliaca is of particular value.
The natural attraction of the Pribaikalsky National Park is the largest in Eastern Siberia cold wintering of waterfowl at the source of the Angara. South West Coast Lake Baikal (in the area of the old Circum-Baikal railway) is a route for mass autumn migration of birds of prey. Up to 2 thousand of them fly here every day; for Siberia this is an exceptional phenomenon. You can observe the migration of many rare Red Book species of raptors (eagles, bald eagles, falcons), as well as the black stork.
PNP protects not only natural, but also historical and cultural resources. In count archaeological sites Olkhon and the Olkhon region are superior to any other region of the Baikal region. On Olkhon alone, 143 such objects are known (ancient settlements, remains of stone walls, tiled graves). Gained worldwide fame cave drawings on the Sagan-Zaba cliff. They include images of shamans, running deer, and swans. The age of the drawings is estimated at 2.5 thousand years. There are also small “art galleries” on the rocks in Aya Bay, at the entrance to the Sarma Gorge, on Cape Burkhan. In total, 986 archaeological sites from the Paleolithic era to the present are known on the territory of PNP!
On the territory of the park they have the status natural monuments 52 objects. A network of campsites has been created in the national park, where visitors to the national park can relax. Every year, the construction of a road transport network (about 60 km in 10 years) and the construction of tourist parking lots are carried out (a total of 937 parking lots have been built). Pribaikalsky National Park was one of the first in Russia to introduce a comprehensive Bioecological Monitoring program.
PNP visitor information centers are open in Irkutsk, village. Listvyanka, village Elantsy, Bolshaya Goloustnaya.
Most of the listed natural objects(primarily plants) are available for observation. Wildlife lovers get to know them during periodic ecological tours. The habitats of rare species of plants and animals are visited by a huge number of tourists.

Republican reserve "Tofalarsky".

Republican reserve "Tofalarsky" (1971, 132.7 thousand hectares) is located on the northern slopes of the Eastern Sayan. The smallest people of the Irkutsk region live here - the Tofs (630 people).

In every country local population strive to preserve natural resources and create all favorable conditions for your future generation.

Environmental reserve funds are the welfare and pride of every nation. Such special places are designed to preserve unique natural world and picturesque landscape.

There are several categories of protected areas:

— nature reserves;
- nature reserves;
— national parks.

Nature reserves are spacious areas that are under constant protection.

This includes vast areas of land, forests, water areas where endangered species of rare animals live, as well as places where the rarest combinations of plant communities and unique geological formations are concentrated.

Any type of activity is prohibited within the protected area. Movements that may threaten the integrity of the natural complex or cause harm are also strictly controlled.

Sanctuaries are a natural area under the protection of certain areas where there are temporary bans or restrictions on the use of natural environmental conditions.

Most of them are specially created to preserve one of the rare species of animals or plants.

Most often, a ban is imposed on actions that violate the unified structure of the created ecosystem. Sanctuaries are protected and certain types of activities are prohibited.

National parks are entire natural complexes where protected objects and regulated tourism are harmoniously combined, with the aim of getting up close and personal with rare landscapes, unique plants, animals and birds.

The territory of the national park is divided into zones with varying degrees of protection - reserve, economic, recreational and zone of regulated permanent use.

Like other conservation areas, local landscapes, plants and animals are protected here. There are also separate bans on conducting any economic activity in the parks.

The first park appeared on earth before our era. But even today there are philanthropists alive who do not allow beauty to disappear from the face of the earth. The more people encroached on the values of nature, the more actively the parks grew. They appeared in Europe already in the 10th century, then in the States, and later in Africa.

Countries with nature reserves and national parks make up the majority of all states. A national park or reserve is part of pristine nature, which civilization has not passed through. In the States, parks are created exclusively for recreation, in Russia - for nature conservation, in Asia - a combination of the first and second.

Man is a curious creature. Avoid beauty? No, he's on his way.

Features of ecotourism

Traveling through parks and reserves is very different from other types of tourism. It has a name - ecological tourism. The name is conditional. It is also called “soft”, “green”, “natural”, the essence does not change. Some refer to it as “adventure travel” and, perhaps, come closest to the truth.

Millions travel every day! Few people venture into ecotourism. Sometimes such travelers are called “crazy”. But isn't this praise? A person is alive as long as he is capable of doing crazy things.

The main feature of ecotourism is to give up comfort. The postulate is not to harm nature.

Important Factors

What does nature give people? I would like to say - everything. She makes him understand the meaning of existence, i.e. an opportunity to look inside yourself. The further a person moves, the more his thirst grows, the wider his needs become: to look into every corner, to get to the essence. Few people decide to take such a journey alone, i.e. another opportunity arises - to better get to know the one who is next to you: friend or enemy.

Ecotourism is also our feasible contribution to their preservation.

Countries and continents

Voroninsky Nature Reserve, Russia.
Reserve "Kuznetsky Alatau", Russia.
Belovezhskaya Pushcha, Belarus.
Levens Hall, England.
Berchtesgaden National Park, Germany.
Oulanka Park. Finland.
Swiss ancient park.
Rangel St. Elias, a park in the USA.
Greenland National Park, the largest in the world.
Limpopo Park, Africa.
Kruger Nature Reserve, Africa.
The oldest African reserve, the Serengeti,
Snowdonia, North Wales.
Taman Negara, a park in Malaysia.
Alnwick, poison garden, England.

Will you dare to take such a trip?

Can a child go on such a journey? Quite if there is a reliable person nearby. Even a pensioner can do this, the main thing is to choose the right route. If you are “thirsty”, tired of everyday life, go for it. You will not just relax, you will learn a lot of interesting things, you will look at the world with different eyes! And for myself too.

If you're going on a green trip, do the following:

Leave all care in your native land,
Imagine yourself as Robinson Crusoe
Think about how you will manage without your usual things,
Take what you can't do without,
When traveling, eat the foods that are offered to you.
Be patient, accept other concepts, other language, other rules, remember - you are a guest,
Be sure to keep a diary!

Principles

Why are nature reserves and national parks important? The opportunity to preserve its originality.

By the end of the 19th century, people began to understand that if they did not protect the environment, but only mercilessly exploit it, then in a fairly short time they would manage to destroy many species of flora and fauna. Some of this dirty work has already been done. In addition, our beautiful and diverse planet may forever lose its unique natural formations. For this reason, nature reserves and national parks of the world appeared. Every state that has national parks strives to preserve their natural splendor and diversity. At the same time, in different countries The forms of national parks may vary, but they are all dedicated to the common idea of preserving nature for future generations to be proud of their country. According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature, there are now 6,555 national parks in the world.

1. Greenland National Park

The world's largest national park (972,000 sq. km) is also the northernmost. Its area exceeds the area of 163 countries of the world! It was founded in 1974. Apart from the national park staff, there are no other residents here. About 10 thousand musk oxen also live here, which is 40% of all these animals remaining in the world. Other inhabitants of the park include reindeer, polar bears, walruses, Arctic hares and stoats. Sparse vegetation here is represented by mosses and lichens, and only here and there you can see dwarf willows and birches.

2. Kruger (South Africa)

In the national park. Kruger presents a typical South African wild nature. This is not only a very popular nature reserve among foreign travelers, but also a profitable business that brings in considerable income. Founded this oldest in South Africa a national park listed as a UNESCO heritage site dating back to 1898 in the northeast of the country. Its area is 19,000 square meters. km, and from end to end the distance is 340 km. It consists of three parts, located in the valleys of the Olifants and Sabie rivers. This reserve practices a curious form of “unarmed” African safari. In a huge national park, most animals are grouped in its central part. Among them: elephants, hippopotamuses, crocodiles, giraffes, white rhinoceroses, leopards, 17 species of antelope and over 400 species of birds.

As for such natural wonders as waterfalls, Europe has not been very successful with them, because the most enormous in power are located on other continents...

3. Serengeti (Tanzania)

Serengeti National Park is one of the largest (15,000 sq. km) and most famous on the planet, containing almost a complete ecosystem. This reserve, the oldest in Africa, dates back to 1929. Its territory is home to almost 500 species of birds and 3 million of the largest mammals. Every year there are spectacular migrations of millions of herds of wildebeest, hundreds of thousands of zebras and gazelles, these living rivers cover a distance of more than 3000 km. The migration of zebras and wildebeest is explained by the fact that a drought begins in the north of the park, burning the grass, and in search of food, herbivorous ungulates rush to the cooler and wetter south. On the contrary, when the rainy season begins, the herds return to the north and west.
The Serengeti also boasts the largest population of lions in Africa. Among its inhabitants we should mention elephants, hyenas, gazelles, rhinoceroses and hippopotamuses. In the Maasai language, the park's name means "endless plains" - and in fact, it is mostly an endless savannah.

4. Yellowstone National Park (USA)

Located in the northwestern United States, Yellowstone National Park is very famous in the world, especially in last years. It includes the territories of several states: Montana, Idaho and Wyoming. The national park was founded here in 1872 due to the huge number of geysers and thermal springs. Large alpine lake Yellowstone is located in the crater of America's largest supervolcano. This volcano has already erupted a long time ago, so the surrounding areas are covered with ancient lava.
Yellowstone is home to two-thirds of all the geysers in the world - almost 3000, among them the largest in the world - "Steamboat". The Old Faithful geyser is very famous for its regular eruptions, which throws boiling water to a height of 40 meters at intervals of 45-125 minutes. There are only five geyser fields known in the world, located in Yellowstone, Kamchatka, Chile, Iceland and New Zealand. Yellowstone is densely packed with a variety of thermal springs, of which there are about 10,000 (that is, half of those in the world), there are mud volcanoes and sources of hydrogen sulfide.
The national park is home to hundreds of species of mammals, reptiles, fish, birds and approximately 2,000 species of vegetation.

For the average person, the difference between “dormant” and “extinct” volcanoes is not obvious. But the differences between them are quite significant,...

5. Snowdonia (UK)

This national park is located in the north of Wales. This is one of the first nature reserves in England and Wales; it was created 60 years ago. They named him after herself high peak Wales - Mount Snowdon, which has a height of 1085 m. The territory of the Snowdonia National Park lies not only on public but also on private lands. 26,000 people live within its borders, and the number of tourists visiting it per year reaches 6 million. For them, the park has 2,381 km of open hiking trails, there are also 264 km of trails for horseback and hikers, and 74 km of other routes. Thus, those who wish can climb to the top of Snowdon by cable car or along a picturesque walking trail that is 13 km long. There are also ancient railway tracks in the park.

6. Plitvice Lakes (Croatia)

The term “Plitvice Lakes” was first mentioned in documents in 1777. The site became a national park in 1949, and 30 years later UNESCO added it to its heritage list. On its territory there are 16 large karst lakes, 20 caves and 140 waterfalls. This place is unique in that new waterfalls appear here every year and in general the landscape is constantly changing. The water in the lakes here has an amazingly beautiful azure color, so photographs here turn out to be unusually spectacular. Along hiking trails 18 kilometers long along the shores of the lakes there are wooden decks, from which it is convenient to observe the surrounding beauty and photograph it.
There are several routes throughout the park walking routes, travel along which can take either a couple of hours or 8 hours. There is a boat plying the lakes, and you can look at the mountains from an electric train with special cars adapted for better review. But it is forbidden to swim in local lakes, bring dogs here, or have picnics with bonfires. Plitvice Lakes are also famous for their unique coniferous and beech forests, which have been growing here for many centuries and are able to recover.

The territory of Russia is huge, so it is not surprising that dozens of waterfalls are scattered across it, in its most diverse corners. Some of them are so...

7. Fiordland (New Zealand)

This is the name of New Zealand's largest national park, which occupies most of the southwestern mountainous area of the South Island. Here are located deepest lakes countries and quite high and picturesque mountains, reaching 2746 m. And now Fiordland remains a difficult-to-reach area. There are many beauties here: fast-moving rivers with waterfalls, picturesque fjords, rich and unique wildlife and vegetable world. The local dense forests are home to beautiful birds such as cockatoos. In local waters Pacific Ocean you can meet penguins or bottlenose dolphins.
The famous British writer Rudyard Kipling glorified the local Milford Sound, calling it “the eighth wonder of the world.” Along its entire 18-kilometer length, the bay is framed by high peaks mountains This place is one of the wettest on the planet - it rains here every two days out of three.

8. Kavango-Zambezi Transfrontier Reserve

This reserve is unique in many ways. Spread over a vast area of 444,000 sq. km, it covers the territories of five countries at once: Botswana, Angola, Namibia, Zimbabwe and Zambia. There are no boundaries on the territory of the reserve itself, so animals can move freely throughout its entire territory. This largest African reserve includes a number of parks of individual states, for example, the Okavango Delta and Chobe.
In addition to the rich wildlife, the territory of this reserve contains world-famous attractions, for example, the magnificent Victoria Falls. The transboundary reserve appeared recently - in 2011. The most important task of the five states that organized it was to provide the opportunity for free migration for animals. But it has also become a very important and profitable tourist attraction, because literally every day a new tourist group appears in one place or another of the endless reserve. First of all, travelers are attracted here by African elephants, of which almost half of all savannah elephants living in Africa live here. Over 600 species of flora, including unique ones, also grow on the lands of the reserve, and 300 species of birds can be seen in the sky above the luxurious landscapes.

North American relief can be divided into several types: in the central and northern parts you can admire the delightful plains, ...

9. Papahānaumokuākea Marine Sanctuary (USA)

This reserve is located in the middle of the Pacific Ocean in Hawaiian archipelago, including a group of its small islands and atolls. It has an area of approximately 360,000 sq. km, making it the largest protected marine reserve in the world. The Papahanaumokuakea Nature Reserve was founded recently - in 2006. Its islands contain exotic animals and plants, but not only these land-dwelling living objects are valuable, but also the luxurious coral reefs hidden under the water layer, forming a unique system.
This name of the reserve did not appear immediately, but only a year after its formation - this is how they decided to celebrate the married couple of the patrons of nature - the local gods Uakea and Papahanaumoku. For the native Hawaiians, these places have been sacred since ancient times; according to their beliefs, the souls of their dead relatives went here.
Archaeologists have explored these islands and discovered that some of them were inhabited by humans in prehistoric times. For example, on the islands of Nihoa and Makumanamana there are remains of ancient settlements in which people lived who were engaged in agriculture. Within Papahānaumokuākea is a tenth of the tropical shallow-water coral reefs owned by the United States.

10. Limpopo Transfrontier Park

This park also occupies the territories of several African countries - South Africa, Mozambique and Zimbabwe. Its area is this moment is about 37,000 sq. km, it has 10 different zones. To date, the final border of the reserve has not yet been established, especially since it is expected to expand almost three times. This transboundary park appeared only in 2000, and a year later the first animals appeared in it. Now elephants, giraffes, cheetahs, spotted hyenas and other African wildlife already live there.

Ecotourism, or ecotourism, is travel to places with relatively untouched nature. The main principle for such a journey is to do no harm. environment, therefore, ecological routes mainly run through national parks and nature reserves. Here are ten of the most famous and interesting protected places in our country, where you can go to admire the magnificent nature in its original form.

Transbaikalsky National Park

Transbaikal National Park is one of the few national parks in Russia that fully meet UNESCO recommendations for this category of specially protected natural areas.

The Zabaikalsky National Park is located within a typical mountain taiga region. The relief is mountainous. Within the boundaries of the park there are large orographic units: the Svyatonossky ridge, the Barguzinsky ridge, the Chivyrkuisky isthmus and the Ushkany Islands.

Two mountain ranges stretch across the park in the direction from northeast to southwest: the Barguzinsky ridge - gradually descending from the Barguzinsky reserve to lake. Barmashovoye (the highest elevation of the ridge within the boundaries of the park is 2376 m above sea level) and the Sredinny Range of the Svyatoy Nos Peninsula (the highest elevation is approximately in the middle part of 1877 m), gradually descending to the north and south. The Chivyrkuisky Isthmus connects the Svyatoy Nos Peninsula with the eastern shore of Lake Baikal. The Ushkany Islands (Big Ushkany Island and Small Ushkany Islands) are the peaks of the Academichesky Ridge, which divides the Baikal depression into two basins - northern and southern.

Altai Nature Reserve

Altai Nature Reserve - a World Heritage Site natural heritage UNESCO since 1998. Included in the World Network of Biosphere Reserves of the UNESCO Man and the Biosphere Program (MAB) - May 26, 2009. It is included in the "Global-200" (WWF) list - pristine or little-changed ecoregions of the world, which contain 90% of the planet's biodiversity.

The territory occupied by the Altai Nature Reserve includes five physical-geographical regions of three natural provinces. Almost all natural zones are distinguished in the spectrum of altitudinal zones Gorny Altai: taiga lowlands and midlands, subalpine and alpine meadow midlands and highlands, tundra-steppe highlands, tundra midlands and highlands, glacial-nival highlands. Forests occupy 34% of the total area of the main zone. They are located in the lower and middle parts of mountains, on steep slopes of valleys, as well as on lower parts of sloping ridges. The lower border of the forest begins at 436 meters (level of Lake Teletskoye), and the upper border varies in different parts. So, if in the southeast it is at an altitude of 2000–2200 m above sea level, then in the northwest it drops to a level of 1800–2000 m.

Lazovsky Reserve

Of particular value in the protected area is the unique grove of relict pointed yew on the island. Petrov, thickets of endemic cross-paired microbiota, populations of such rare animals as the Amur goral, Amur tiger, and Ussuri sika deer.

The Lazovsky Nature Reserve is located on the southern spurs of the Sikhote-Alin, in the interfluve of the Kievka and Chernaya rivers. The Zapovedny Ridge divides the territory of the reserve into two parts - northern continental and southern coastal. Average height mountains are 500–700 m, individual peaks reach 1200–1400 m above sea level. The mountain slopes have varying steepness, on average 20–25 degrees, their ridges are narrow but flat. Significant areas are occupied by rocky placers. The height of the spurs decreases in the east towards the sea, the watershed ridges turn into small hilly ridges up to 100 m high.

The territory of the reserve includes two small islands - Petrova and Beltsova, located at the southern border of the reserve. The islands are covered with forest.

Nature Reserve "Kedrovaya Pad".

The very first reserve Far East and one of the oldest reserves in Russia, formed to preserve and study undisturbed liana coniferous-deciduous forests, unique for Russia Southern Primorye, characterized by a high proportion of rare and endemic species of flora and fauna. The reserve and its surroundings - the only place in Russia, where the Far Eastern leopard lives.

In 2004, the Kedrovaya Pad Nature Reserve received the status of a UNESCO biosphere reserve.

The most valuable are black fir-broad-leaved forests or black fir forests, the Far Eastern leopard; on Mount Chalban, plants are common that are very rare in other places of the Far East - currant-leaved carp, Komarov currant. In the reserve, rock primrose was found for the first time (on Mount Chalban), and species new to science were described - Far Eastern violet and Ussuri corydalis. The Kedrovaya River flows through the reserve; its length does not exceed 25 kilometers. It is the ideal of a clean river for scientists all over the world.

Samarskaya Luka National Park.

The Samarskaya Luka National Park was created in 1984 by decision of the Council of Ministers of the RSFSR, and is one of the first three national parks in Russia. Samara Luka is a unique area formed by the bend of the largest European river Volga in its middle course and the Usinsky Bay of the Kuibyshev Reservoir. The Volga in this place makes a large arc facing the east, and then turns to the southwest. Its length is more than 200 km. The ancient carbonate rocks raised high here form something like an island.

The unique forms of relief, the peculiar microclimate, the amazing beauty of the mountains, the blue necklace of the Volga that frames them, the unique flora and fauna have earned Zhiguli and Samarskaya Luka generally worldwide fame.

There is an unusually high concentration of monuments of almost all cultures of the European forest-steppe known to science, from the Bronze Age and Early Iron Age to the present. There are about 200 natural and historical monuments on the territory of Samarskaya Luka. It is also rich in archaeological finds.

Smolensk Poozerie National Park

The Smolensk Poozerye National Park was formed on the territory of the Demidovsky and Dukhovshchinsky districts of the Smolensk region in 1992 “to preserve natural complexes for recreational, educational, scientific and cultural purposes.” In November 2002, it was awarded the status of a biosphere reserve under the UNESCO Man and the Biosphere (MAB) program. The name "Smolensk Poozerie" owes its name to 35 large and small glacial lakes located in the park. Each of these lakes is beautiful and unique in its own way.

In terms of configuration, the park's territory is an almost regular rhombus. The maximum distance from west to east is 55 km, from north to south - 50 km. The geographical center of the park is located in the area of the village. Przhevalskoe. The total area of the park within the boundaries approved by state acts is 146,237 hectares. The security zone is 500 m of territory adjacent to the park border.

Curonian Spit National Park.

The Curonian Spit National Park is located in the part bordering Lithuania Kaliningrad region on a narrow strip of sushi between salty Baltic Sea and the freshwater Curonian Lagoon. The northern boundaries of the park run along the Russian-Lithuanian border.

The natural uniqueness of the territory of the national park is that it is the largest sand bar in the world. The dune landscapes of the spit are distinguished by their exceptional beauty and aesthetic impact on humans and represent a unique object for the development of eco-tourism.

The Curonian Spit has been regarded as “an exceptional example of a sand dune landscape under constant threat from natural forces such as wind and water. After the destructive intervention of man, which threatened the existence of the spit, it was restored through stabilization and protection work that began in the 19th century and continues to this day.” Currently the territory Curonian Spit is officially protected by the UNESCO World Cultural and Natural Heritage Convention.

Valdai National Park.

Valdai National Park was formed with the aim of preserving the unique lake-forest complex of the Valdai Upland and creating conditions for development organized holiday in this zone. The basis for the creation of the park was the unique combination and richness of natural components, the degree of their preservation and the ability to maintain ecological balance, and the enormous aesthetic impact natural landscapes. A differentiated regime of special protection has been established on the territory of the park, taking into account its natural, historical and cultural features. In accordance with this, the following functional zones have been identified: reserved, specially protected, recreational, zone of regulated use around lakes and rivers, as well as a visitor service zone.

The national park is located in the northern part of the Valdai Upland, its length from north to south is 105 km, from west to east - 45 km. The boundaries of the Park approximately correspond to the boundaries of the drainage basins of lakes Borovno, Valdayskoye, Velye, Seliger and the upper reaches of the Polomet River.

Baikal-Lena Nature Reserve.

The Baikal-Lensky State Nature Reserve is located on an area of 659.9 thousand hectares. It is located on the territory of the Kachugsky and Olkhonsky districts of the Irkutsk region. The reserve stretches from south to north along the western coast of Lake Baikal for approximately 120 km with an average width of 65 km.

Total length coastline The Federal State Budgetary Institution “Reserved Baikal Region” is about 590 km and covers the western coast of Lake Baikal from the village of Kultuk in the south to Cape Elokhin in the north. In December 1996, the Baikal-Lena Reserve (along with Barguzinsky and Baikalsky) was included in the list of UNESCO World Cultural and Natural Heritage Sites.

Currently, the process of unifying the Baikal-Lena Reserve and the Pribaikalsky National Park into a single nature conservation, scientific and tourist complex: Federal State Budgetary Institution “Reserve Baikal Region”.

Ilmensky Nature Reserve.

One of the oldest reserves in Russia, founded in 1920 to preserve unique mineral deposits. Since 1935, it has been transformed into a complex reserve for the preservation and study of mineral wealth, flora and fauna of the eastern macroslope Southern Urals. In 1991, the historical and archaeological branch "Arkaim" (currently the forestry "Stepnoye") was added to the reserve to preserve and study the unique monument of the early urban civilization of the Bronze Age - the settlement "Arkaim" and the archaeological complex in the Bolshekaragan Valley. The reserve is the only mineralogical reserve in the country and one of the few mineralogical reserves in the world.

The Natural Science Museum is one of the five largest geological and mineralogical museums in Russia and has on display one of the largest biological dioramas in the country. The first collections of minerals and rocks of the reserve began to be created in 1925. In 1936, the first wooden building of the museum was built, and since 1990 the museum has been housed in a three-story building with six halls with a total area of 2050 square meters. m. The museum's fund includes about 30 thousand storage units, 9 thousand exhibits are exhibited. The museum is a major regional center for education in the field of natural sciences, receiving 50 thousand visitors annually.

The territory of the reserve is a kind of “mineralogical museum in nature”: about 270 species and 94 varieties of minerals were discovered here, and 18 of them were discovered for the first time in Ilmeny.

Of course, national parks, nature reserves, and just places with beautiful nature There are a great many in our country. I suggest you tell us in the comments about your favorite natural region, I think many will find it interesting and useful to know.