Biosphere Reserve. Biosphere reserves History of the Danube Biosphere Reserve
A reserve is a section of land or water space within which the natural complex is completely and forever removed from economic use and is protected by the state. In Russia there are more than 100 of these unique natural places that are under special protection and protection (11 more are planned to be opened by the end of 2020). In accordance with federal law of the Russian Federation in 1995, reserves belong to the type of specially protected natural areas(SPNA), the condition of their territories, as well as national parks, is of federal importance (247 objects in total). Depending on the area they occupy, reserves are large (giant reserves, S more than 1 million hectares), medium and small.
Large nature reserves in Russia
To the most large nature reserves The Russian Federation includes the following protected areas: Barguzinsky Nature Reserve, Great Arctic Nature Reserve, Wrangel Island Nature Reserve, Taimyr Nature Reserve, Altai Nature Reserve, Baikal Nature Reserve, Caucasus Nature Reserve.
The Barguzin State Natural Biosphere Reserve with an area of 3743.22 km 2 is the first nature reserve in Russia; it was founded in 1917. It is located in Buryatia, in the North Baikal region ( West Side Barguzinsky ridge and the northeastern coast of Lake Baikal). It was created for breeding and preserving the population of such a representative of the class of mammals of the mustelid family as the sable (then there were about 20-30 individuals, now there are 1-2 sables per 1 km 2). Since 1996, the reserve has become part of the Lake Baikal object of the World natural heritage UNESCO and received the status of a biosphere...
The State Nature Reserve "Big Arctic" is an environmental research and environmental educational institution of federal significance. Its area is 41,692.22 km 2, it is the largest nature reserve in Europe. Founded on May 11, 1993, it is located on the territory of the Krasnoyarsk Territory of the Russian Federation (part of the Taimyr Peninsula and some islands in the Northern Arctic Ocean) in the zone arctic tundra, And his Northern part- in the Arctic desert zone. It is home to polar bears, polar gulls and other animals; oil is extracted in some areas on the ocean shore...
The northernmost specially protected natural area Far East, the Wrangel Islands Nature Reserve is located on the territory of the Chukotka Autonomous Okrug of Russia (Iultinsky District) and occupies two islands in the Chukchi Sea - Wrangel and Herald, as well as the water area around them. Area - 22256.5 km 2, foundation date - March 1976. The Arctic fauna and flora, distinguished by high level endemic plants. The most famous and respected inhabitant of these two harsh Arctic islands is polar bear, here it is a large number of their ancestral dens. Also here walruses make their haulouts, a unique nest white goose, lives an acclimatized American musk ox...
The State Natural Biosphere Taimyr Reserve with an area of 17819.28 km 2 is located on the territory of the Taimyr Peninsula (Krasnoyarsk Territory of the Russian Federation). Its foundation date is February 1979, it consists of four cluster areas, since 1995 it has had biosphere status, and since 2013 it has been part of the Federal State Budgetary Institution “Taimyr Nature Reserves”. Most of the territory is a permafrost zone; in the southwestern part there is the Arctic Lake Taimyr. The vegetation of the tundra and forest-tundra zones is widespread, 21 species of mammals and 116 species of birds live. The world's largest herd of wild reindeer lives here and an experiment is being conducted on the resettlement of American musk oxen throughout the eastern part of Taimyr...
The Altai State Natural Biosphere Reserve with an area of 8812.38 km 2 (9.4% of the entire Altai Republic) was founded in April 1932. It is located on the territory Altai mountains, its northern border is the Torot ridge, the southern is the Chikhachev ridge, the northeastern is the Abakan ridge, the eastern is the Shapshalsky ridge, the western is the bed of the Chulyshman River and Lake Teletskoye. The reserve protects 1,500 species of higher vascular plants, 22 species are listed in the Red Book of the Russian Federation, 49 in the Red Book of Altai...
The reserve is located in a mountain range Kuznetsky Alatau, in its central part, in honor of which it received its name. "Alatau" translated from Turkic languages means "Motley Mountains", called local residents for their contrast and diversity bright colors. Founded by order of the USSR government in December 1989. Administrative location in the Novokuznetsk, Tisulsky districts and Mezhdurechensky urban district of the Kemerovo region. Its territory has an area of 4018 km 2. ...
The Baikal State Natural Biosphere Reserve (S - 1657.24 km 2) is located on the territory of the Republic of Buryatia in the center of the Khamar-Daban ridge (the southern coast of Lake Baikal, Kabansky district and the right bank of the Temnik river, Dzhidinsky and Selegensky districts). Founded in September 1969 to protect unique cedar forests, growing in Southern Siberia. Now forests occupy up to 70% of the reserve's territory, there are many relict and endemic plant species, there are 49 species of protected mammals, 251 species of birds, 6 species of amphibians and reptiles, 12 species of fish...
State Caucasian Natural Biosphere Reserve named after. H.G. Shaposhnikov with an area of 2800 km2 is located on the territory of the Krasnodar Territory (most of it, 1773 km2), the Republic of Adygea and Karachay-Cherkessia. This is one of the oldest Russian nature reserves North Caucasus, he is the full-fledged successor of the Caucasian bison reserve, founded in May 1924. In 1979, it received the status of a biosphere, in 2008 - the name of the outstanding Russian biologist Khachatur Shaposhnikov, its founder, who defended the population of the Caucasian bison. Many representatives of endangered and rare flora and fauna live here: bison, red deer, bears, rare species of Caucasian rhodendrons, ferns, orchids, etc...
Small nature reserves in Russia
Medium-sized reserves include the Astrakhan Reserve, the Far Eastern Marine Reserve, the Stolby Reserve, the Voronezh Reserve, the Ilmen Reserve, the Ussuri Reserve and a number of other reserves.
State Natural Biosphere Reserve of the Astrakhan Red Banner with an area of 679.17 km 2, is located in the lower reaches of the Volga River, where it forms a delta when it flows into the Caspian Sea (Kamyzyaksky, Volodarsky and Ikryaninsky districts Astrakhan region). It was founded in April 1919 with the aim of preserving the natural biodiversity of the Caspian coast...
The Far Eastern Marine Biosphere Reserve (area 643, 16 km2), is located in the Peter I Bay in the Sea of Japan in the Primorsky Territory of the Russian Federation, 98% of its protected area is marine waters. Founded in March 1978, since 2003 it has been given the title of biosphere. Created with the aim of preserving the gene pool of animals and plants, studying and monitoring the life of marine inhabitants...
The Stolby State Nature Reserve with an area of 471.54 km2 is located on the northwestern spurs of the Eastern Sayan Mountains, on the border with the Central Siberian Plateau ( Krasnoyarsk region). Founded in June 1925 by citizens of the city of Krasnoyarsk with the aim of preserving unique natural complexes, picturesquely located around rocky formations, the so-called syenite outcrops - stones and boulders of igneous origin. The main attraction of the reserve are picturesque rocks of bizarre shapes and outlines; rare animals and plants listed in the Red Book also live here...
State Natural Biosphere Voronezh Reserve named after. V.M. Peskova (area 310.53 km 2) was founded on the territory of Voronezh and Lipetsk region in December 1923. It protects the unique rich flora and fauna of the Usman Forest: more than 217 species of birds, 60 species of mammals, 9 amphibians, 39 species of fish live here, and 100 species of plants grow. Animals of the Red Book - muskrat, imperial eagle, short-tailed snake eagle, white-tailed eagle, etc...
Ilmensky State Reserve named after. V.N. Lenin is in the center Chelyabinsk region, nearby is the city of Mias, its area is 303.8 km 2. Founded in 1920 as a mineralogical reserve, it belongs to the Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences. The reserve contains more than 30 lakes, a large number of unique natural minerals of igneous and metamorphic origin, which are found in unique pegmate veins. Scientists here conduct research in geological-mineral and ecological-biological areas...
The Ussuriysk Nature Reserve with an area of 404.32 km2 is located on the territory of the Primorsky Territory (within the Ussuriysk urban district - 40.9%, and the Shkotovsky district - 59.1%). His lands lie on the southern spurs of the Przhevalsky Mountains, in the upper reaches of the Komarovka River. Founded in January 1970 with the aim of comprehensively studying the typical forest vegetation of the southern part of the Sikhote-Alin Mountains and developing measures for their protection. It is found here, listed in the Red Book. Amur tiger, East Siberian leopard and other rare animals, birds and reptiles...
Small nature reserves of Russia
Small nature reserves in Russia include the Kivach Nature Reserve, the Prioksko-Terrasny Nature Reserve, Cape Martyan and some others.
The area of the Kivach State Nature Reserve is 108.8 km2, it is located in the Kondopoga region in the Republic of Karelia, founded in 1931. The center of his conservation activities is the Kivach waterfall with its picturesque spruce and pine landscapes, in which trees grow about 300 years old. 216 species of birds live here, 47 species of animals grow, 569 species of vascular plants grow...
Prioksko-Terrasny State Natural Biosphere Reserve named after. M. Zabolotsky with an area of 49.45 km 2 was founded in 1945 as one of five sections of the Moscow Nature Reserve, later it gained independence and became the only nature reserve in the Moscow region (the left bank of the Oka River). The reserve has a rich flora (960 species higher plants) and fauna (139 species of birds, 56 species of mammals - bison, American steppe bison, 5 species of reptiles, 10 amphibians, 8 fish)...
The Cape Martyan Nature Reserve is located on the cape of the same name ( South coast Crimean peninsula, near Yalta). Its area is 24 km 2, ½ is occupied by the Black Sea. It was created in February 1973 in order to preserve state of nature and the integrity of the natural ecosystems of Cape Martyan, protect from destruction and protect rare species of animals and plants living there, conduct scientific research on this topic. The water area of the reserve contains 129 species of macrophyte algae, 59 forms of diatoms and 65 species of blue-green algae. On land there is a relict juniper grove...
The biosphere reserve is a place of sustainable conservation of nature. World Network of Biosphere Reserves - names of old and new biosphere reserves that are approved by UNESCO.
The first biosphere reserves date back to 1976. In 2014, there were already 631 of them around the world, in 119 countries. About the most amazing biosphere reserves in the world.
1. Mexico: Guadalupe Guadalupe Island
A biosphere reserve with an area of 253.8 km2, which belongs to Mexico. It is 241 km from the coast of Baja California, on the coast Pacific Ocean. An impressive thing is the island and ITS wide variety of marine fauna and flora. Guadalupe is the only refuge for several marine populations birds and mammals that are at the stage of their extinction.
THIS island is ALSO home to the largest colony of elephant seals in the Pacific Ocean, and many marine species The people who live there are unique. Guadalupe is currently considered one of the best places in the World for great white sharks. The island has been a nature reserve since 1975.
2. Spain: Picos de Europa
Picos de Europa National Park is located in the central part of the Cantabrian Mountains with 4,600 inhabitants. Both Beyos gorges are located inside this park, two of the most impressive Oses in the Country.
As for the park's wildlife, there are many protected species such as Cantabrian wood grouse, bearded vultures and brown bears. The most famous animals in Picos de Europa are Cantabrian chamois, Spanish Mountain goat(which had previously disappeared from the area), and the Iberian WOLF.
Regarding flora, we can find several types of forests. This is the Atlantic survival zone mixed forests: oaks and hazelnuts, maples, lime, ash, chestnut and Walnut. The most characteristic inhabitants of the forest are: roe deer (Capreolus Capreolus) and wild boar (Sus SCROFA); badger (Meles Meles); marten (Martes Martes); ermine (Mustela ermine), weasel (Mustela snowy).
3. Colombia: Andean Belt
Situated on the Andean mountain range in southern Colombia, it consists of three national parks: Cueva de los Guácharos National Park, Puracé National Park and Nevado del Huila National Park; includes snow-capped peaks up to 5750 m high.
Andean Belt Biosphere Reserve Particularly RICH in birds: condor, golden eagle and tapir Parc National de Puracé is a volcanic belt - 7 craters, hot springs, waterfalls and lagoons. Several ethnic groups living in this Andean strip (Guambianos, Paeces, Yanconas, Kokonucos, Polindaras and INGAS) have preserved their traditions and culture.
4. Venezuela: Orinoco Delta
This privileged Place in Venezuela has great biological diversity and lands of a unique aquatic ecosystem. There are over 2,000 plant species, 151 mammals and almost 500 bird species.
Mainly from the estuary and coastal mangroves, among the amazing wealth of fauna, we can find wonderful mammals: sea cows and small sea dogs. Among the birds are roseate spoonbills, ospreys, and among the reptiles, Anacondas are very characteristic of this area.
The Orinoco Delta is the land of the indigenous Warao people. Their name means "dwellers of the water" ("Waha", below the river bank and "Arao"). They are considered the oldest population of Venezuela, so respect their culture and traditions - this is their reservation on the banks of the greater Orinoco.
5. Peru: Huascaran
A national park and biosphere reserve since 1977, this area, also known as the "High Park", is one of the most important protected natural areas in Peru. It borders the highest and largest tropical mountain range in the world.
The forests are perfectly preserved. More than 700 glaciers that form lagoons. Seasonal thaws make the area a hub of biodiversity.
6. Germany: Bavarian Forest
Impressive mid-highs mountain systems in the eastern part of Bavaria. The hills expand into the Czech Republic and Austria. The Bavarian Forest National Park was created as the first of its kind in Germany in 1970 and is the most large nature reserve in the country. Outside he joins himself with another national park on the Czech side, and together they form the largest forest reserve in Europe.
7. United States of America: Congaree National Park
In the eastern part of the USA (South Carolina), tall deciduous forests. The Congaree River flows through the entire park - 60.7 km2 (57%) of Wilderness.
It has campsites and offers hiking, canoeing, and kayaking. Bald Cypress is the most common tree in the park. Among the animals are lynx, deer, wild pigs, coyotes, armadillos and turkeys. Its waters contain amphibians, turtles, snakes, alligators, and many species of fish.
8. China: Huanglong
Huanglong is in the northeastern part of Sichuan Province, in the southern part of the Minshan Mountains. The area is known for its colorful pools of calcite deposits, especially at Huanglongou (Yellow Dragon Gully), as well as its diverse forest ecosystems, snow-capped peaks, waterfalls and hot springs.
THIS region is home to the giant panda and the Sichuan golden snub-nosed monkey. Huanglong Biosphere Reserve since 2000.
9. Russia: Lapland
The Lapland Biosphere Reserve, beyond the Arctic Circle, has a subarctic climate - permafrost(permanent ice cover on the surface of the earth)
With breathtaking scenery, mysterious northern lights, white forests and wild reindeer.
10. Indonesia: Komodo National Park
This national park is located in the Indonesian archipelago, and consists of Three big islands: Komodo, Padar Rinca, Gili, and many other small islands. They are of volcanic origin and 4000 people live there.
The national park was created in 1980 to protect the Komodo dragon (Varanus komodoensis).
On November 11, 2011, Komodo National Park WAS declared one of the Seven natural wonders Sveta. The Komodo dragon, the great symbol of this biosphere reserve, is 3 m long and weighs about 70 kg.
Nature reserves are carefully protected areas that have unique or, conversely, fauna and flora typical of a given area, or that differ in some landscape features. Biosphere reserves– these are territories within which nature is not only protected, but also constantly studied.
The UNESCO organization has united 564 national natural biosphere reserves into a single worldwide network, which also includes Russian biosphere reserves.
Biosphere reserves of the European part of Russia
Lapland State Nature Biosphere Reserve located in the north of Russia, in the center Kola Peninsula. The main value of the reserve is virgin northern forests, whose trees are from 3 to 5 thousand years old, and wild reindeer. The Lapland Nature Reserve was founded in 1930, and in 1985 UNESCO awarded it biosphere status. The territory area is 2784 square kilometers.
Prioksko-Terrasny State Biosphere Reserve was founded in 1945 to preserve the flora and fauna of the region. The terrace-like steps of the reserve's relief were created 10 thousand years ago by the surf of the Oka River, on the left bank of which it is located about 100 kilometers south of Moscow. Today, the area of the Prioksko-Terrasny Biosphere Reserve is 49 square kilometers.
Oka State Natural Biosphere Reserve was created in 1935 with the aim of preserving the Russian muskrat living in the middle reaches of the Oka River. Its location is the Ryazan region of the Russian Federation, its area is 557 square kilometers.
Central Forest State Nature Reserve was founded in 1931, and in 1985, by decision of UNESCO, it was awarded biosphere status. The reserve is located near the sources of three rivers - the Volga, Dvina and Valdai, at the foot of the Valdai Hills in the Tver region. The uniqueness of the reserve lies in its centuries-old spruce forests. The territory area is 244 square kilometers.
Voronezh State Natural Biosphere Reserve takes northern half two-thousand-year-old Usman forest on the border of the Voronezh and Lipetsk regions. The reserve was founded in 1927 to preserve the beaver population living there. In 1985, it received biosphere status. Today the area of the Voronezh Biosphere Reserve is 310 square kilometers.
Central Black Earth State Nature Reserve was created in 1935 with the aim of preserving virgin lands northern steppes in combination with forests, and their comprehensive study. The reserve is located in Kursk region Russian Federation, in the southwestern part Central Russian Upland and consists of five sections with a total area of 52 square kilometers.
Astrakhan State Natural Biosphere Reserve. The reserve was organized in April 1919 in the delta of the Volga River (in the Volga-Akhtuba floodplain), 80-120 kilometers below the city of Astrakhan. The total area of the reserve is 679 square kilometers.
State Nature Reserve "Black Lands"» is located in the northwest Caspian lowland, in Kalmykia. It was created in 1990, the area is 1219 square kilometers
Caucasian State Natural Biosphere Reserve is the largest mountain forest reserve in Europe. It is located on the northern and southern slopes of the western part Greater Caucasus on the territory of Adygea, Karachay-Cherkessia and Krasnodar Territory of the Russian Federation. The area of the reserve is 2800 square kilometers; it was founded in 1924, and in 1979 it received biosphere status.
Teberda State Biosphere Reserve was created in Karachay-Cherkessia in 1935. The reserve is high mountain and occupies top part swimming pool mountain river Teberda, between the ridges of the Central and Northern Caucasus. Its territory of 850 square kilometers is home to many glaciers, alpine lakes, rivers and waterfalls.
Biosphere reserves of Russia, the Urals and Siberia
Pechora-Ilychsky State Biosphere Reserve is located in the southeast of the Komi Republic, occupies part of an area of 7213 square kilometers between the river Upper Pechora and its tributary Ilych. The reserve was created in 1930, and in 1996 it was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. common name « Virgin forests Komi".
Taimyr State Nature Reserve was founded in 1979 and received biosphere status in 1995. The area of its territory is 17,819 square kilometers and the creators of the reserve sought to ensure that it covered all the diversity natural landscapes the northernmost peninsula of the world: from forest-tundra to arctic tundra.
Central Siberian State Nature Reserve was created in 1985 at the junction of the West Siberian Lowland and the Central Siberian Plateau, on the territory of the Krasnoyarsk Territory, in the Yenisei basin. The area of the reserve is 9720 square kilometers.
Baikal State Natural Biosphere Reserve is located in Buryatia, on the eastern shore of the southern part of Lake Baikal. Its borders are the Mishikha and Vydrina rivers, and the total area of the reserve is 1,657 square kilometers. The Baikal Biosphere Reserve was founded in 1969.
Barguzinsky State Natural Biosphere Reserve was organized back in 1916. It is also located in Buryatia, on the northeastern coast of Lake Baikal on the western slopes of the Barguzinsky ridge. The area of the Barguzinsky Biosphere Reserve is 3,743 square kilometers.
Daursky State Natural Biosphere Reserve located in Transbaikalia, in the south of the Chita region. It was established in 1987 with the aim of protecting the fauna of the Torey lakes. Today the pride of the reserve is the white-naped crane, listed in the Red Book. The area of the protected area is 457 square kilometers.
Sayano-Shushensky State Natural Biosphere Reserve located in the central part of Western Sayan, in the south of the Krasnoyarsk Territory. It was created in 1976, and in 1985 UNESCO awarded it biosphere status. The territory area is 3904 square kilometers.
State Natural Biosphere Reserve "Ubsunur Basin" was created in Tyva in 1993. The territory of the reserve covers an area of 9251 square kilometers, and its main part is located in the Tuva Basin. The main object of observation in the reserve is the rare endangered bird, the white-headed duck.
Far Eastern Biosphere Reserves of Russia
Kronotsky State Biosphere Reserve is located in Kamchatka. Of the 11,420 square kilometers of its territory, 1,350 are occupied by sea waters. On the territory of the reserve there is the famous Valley of Geysers, five volcanoes, the largest mountain lake in Kamchatka, glaciers and coastal beaches. The Kronotsky Biosphere Reserve was founded in 1934.
Sikhote-Alin State Natural Biosphere Reserve includes both slopes of the Sikhote-Alin ridge, its area is 4014 square kilometers. It was created in 1932 to preserve the Far Eastern sable, but today the Amur tiger is actively monitored within the reserve.
Sokhondinsky State Natural Biosphere Reserve founded in 1973 in the Chita region to preserve 400 thousand hectares forest areas the western slope of the Kuznetsky Alatau ridge, the so-called “lungs of Kuzbass”. The area of the reserve is 2109 square kilometers.
And one of oldest reserves Russia. Founded on May 12, 1924. Large role in the organization Caucasian Nature Reserve belongs to Khristofor Georgievich Shaposhnikov, a former forester of the Belorechensky forestry of the Kuban hunt.
The reserve occupies the lands of the Krasnodar Territory, the Republic of Adygea and the Karachay-Cherkess Republic of the Russian Federation, and is closely adjacent to state border with Abkhazia. Separated from the main territory, in the Khostinsky district of Sochi, the subtropical Khostinsky section of the reserve is located - the world famous yew-boxwood grove, with an area of 302 hectares. The total area of the reserve is 280,335 hectares. It is surrounded by a protected zone, numerous reserves and natural monuments, and to its southern border adjacent to Sochi National Park.
The reserve is located on the border of temperate and subtropical climatic zones. The warm and humid climate in the lowlands is subtropical with positive average temperatures in January (+4.2°) and high average temperatures in July and August (20° and 21°).
In the mountains snow cover lasts five months or more. Summer is moderately warm (average July temperatures are from 16 to 22°), the annual precipitation is 700-1200 mm, the maximum occurs in early summer.
Mountainous terrain causes altitudinal climate zonation, which determines the zonal distribution of landscapes and their integral components - soils and vegetation. For every 100 meters of elevation above sea level, the temperature drops by 0.5° C. Soils change from subtropical yellow soils in the foothills to primitive mountain soils in the highlands. The main soils of the reserve are brown mountain-forest and mountain-meadow.
Fauna: 89 species of mammals, 248 birds, including 112 nesting, 15 species of reptiles, 9 amphibians, 21 fish, 1 cyclostome, more than 100 species of mollusks and about 10,000 species of insects. The exact number of worms, crustaceans, arachnids and many other groups of invertebrate animals remains unclear.
Representation of mammal species of the reserve by family: hedgehogs, moles, shrews, horseshoe bats the bats, smooth-nosed bats, mice, hares, squirrels, dormouse, jerboas, hamsters, mice, canines, bears, raccoons, mustelids, cats, pigs, deer, bovids.
From large mammals The reserve includes bison, red deer, brown bear, Western Caucasian tur, chamois, lynx, roe deer and wild boar.
Many animals of the reserve have a limited distribution (endemics) or are living witnesses of past geological eras (relicts). There are especially many of them among invertebrate animals, as well as fish, amphibians and reptiles.
Endangered species of our planet have found their last refuge in protected areas. Of the vertebrate animals of the reserve, 8 species are listed in the IUCN Red Book, and 25 species are listed in the Red Book of the Russian Federation. And along with invertebrate animals, 71 species are included in the state and regional Red Books.
The fauna of the reserve is heterogeneous; representatives of the Mediterranean, Caucasian, Colchian and European faunas are found.
Flora: has 3000 species, of which more than half are vascular plants. The predominant families are asteraceae (223 species), bluegrass (114), cutaceae (108), legumes (82), etc. The forest flora includes more than 900 species, some of which are also found in the mountain meadow belt. Total number There are more than 800 species of alpine plants. Trees and shrubs comprise 165 species, including 142 deciduous, 16 evergreen deciduous and 7 coniferous.
The flora of the reserve is characterized by the presence of ancient species and representatives of limited distribution. Every fifth plant in the reserve is endemic or relict.
The uniqueness of the flora of the reserve is given by ferns (about 40 species), orchids (more than 30 species), evergreen and wintergreen species, and a large number of ornamental plants.
Most of the reserve's territory is covered with forest vegetation, and only in the highlands are subalpine and alpine meadows developed.
55 species of plants growing on the territory of the Caucasus Nature Reserve are listed in the Red Book of Russia.
Numerous lakes give a special uniqueness to the mountain landscape of the reserve. There are more than 120 of them. They are small in area and are often completely free of ice only by mid-summer. The most big lake reserve - Lake Silence, with a water surface area of 200 thousand square meters.
Some areas of the reserve (Lagonaki Highlands, the cities of Fisht, Oshten, Pshe-ha-Su, Acheshbok, Tryu, Akhun, etc.) are karst landscapes with very big amount caves Thus, on the Lagonaki Highlands there are over 130 of them.
Glaciers are also not uncommon in the reserve. There are about 60 of them, and the total area is 18.2 square kilometers.
The Caucasus Nature Reserve is the main part, the core, of the UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site. The nomination "Western Caucasus" was adopted on November 30, 1999 at the XXIII Session of the Committee World Heritage UNESCO. The reserve became the fifth site in Russia to be awarded this status (UNESCO World Natural Heritage Certificate dated December 4, 1999).
The material was prepared based on information from open sources
World Network of Biosphere Reserves in Europe and North America- regional division World Wide Web biosphere reserves created under the UNESCO Man and the Biosphere program. The European Network of Biosphere Reserves is the largest of the regional networks. Meetings of representatives of the European network have been held almost every two years since 1986. The most recent conference, EuroMAB 2009, was held in the village of Stara Lesna, Slovakia, from October 26 to November 1, 2009. The conference was attended by 113 delegates from 22 countries. At the beginning of 2011, there were 162 biosphere reserves in Europe and North America (Table 5).
Table 5 - Biosphere reserves in Europe and North America
The largest reserves are:
Northeast Greenland National Park is the only national park in Greenland. It is also the northernmost national park, and the largest national park in the world. Its area - 972,000 km² - exceeds the area of 163 countries (individually). It occupies the territory in the north of East Greenland, the east of North Greenland and part of the territory of West Greenland, including the northern and northeastern coast of Greenland with hinterlands. In the extreme southwest, near the border with the community of Kaasuitsup, in a strait near several kilometers of the coast of the region, the end of the border with Canada passes. The park was founded on May 22, 1974, and took on its current form in 1988. In 1977, it received the status of an international biosphere reserve. It is not included in the territory of any municipality and is managed by the Greenland Department of Nature and Environment. From 5 to 15 thousand musk oxen live in the park - 40% of the world population. You can also find many polar bears and walruses in coastal areas. Other mammals include Arctic fox, stoat, reindeer, lemming and Arctic hare. Reindeer and wolves disappeared from the park in 1900 and 1934. accordingly, although wolves periodically visit the park. Among other mammals different types seals, seals, narwhals and whales. Among the birds that breed their offspring in the park are the polar loon, different kinds geese, tundra partridge, snowy owl, polar falcon, crows. The flora of the park is quite poor, represented for the most part mosses and lichens. Flowering plants include dwarf willows and birches.
Kronotsky State Nature Biosphere Reserve is one of the oldest nature reserves in Russia. It was established as a state reserve in 1934 on the site of the Soboliny Nature Reserve that existed since 1882. The Kronotsky State Reserve is located in the eastern part of the Kamchatka Peninsula and covers an area of 1,147,619.37 hectares, including 135,000 hectares. (1,350 sq. km) of the adjacent three-mile area of the Pacific Ocean. There are 8 active volcanoes (including Kronotskaya Sopka, height - 3,528 m), thermal lakes, geysers (the famous Valley of Geysers), waterfalls. On the territory of the reserve there are forests of stone birch (Erman's birch), thickets of cedar and alder. In the basin of Lake Kronotsky, coniferous forests of Okhotsk larch with the participation of Ayan spruce and Tausha white birch are widespread. Floodplain forests are distributed along rivers; the main forest-forming species are Maksimovich poplar, choicenia, Sakhalin willow, and hairy alder. In the second tier of floodplains and coniferous forests Asian bird cherry, green hawthorn, and Kamchatka rowan are found. In the undergrowth of stone birch forests, elderberry, which has large sweet fruits, and rosehip are common; in the extreme south of the reserve, Kamchatka elderberry is found, where the northern border of the distribution of this species lies. The caldera of the Uzon volcano is a unique area of complex manifestation of modern geological and microbiological processes: thermal springs and reservoirs create unusual conditions for the development of thermophilic organisms. Lake Kronotskoye is the largest freshwater lake in Kamchatka. The lake is home to a freshwater form of sockeye salmon (kokanee) and three endemic species of mountain char. This unique ecosystem can serve as a reference for monitoring studies. Among the mammals found here are sable, elk, ermine, bighorn sheep, brown bear, lynx, squirrel, fox, wolverine, etc. Pinniped rookeries are also located here. There are no reptiles, there is only 1 species of amphibians - the Siberian salamander. The most important role of the reserve in preserving brown bear: Russia’s largest protected wild population of these animals (more than 700 individuals) lives here, which ensures their stable preservation on the peninsula. Wild reindeer are currently preserved only on the territory of the reserve, and the fate of this species depends on the safety of the population in the reserve area.
Polesie is a national park in eastern Poland. Created in 1990 with an area of 48.13 km². Currently, the area of the park is 97.62 km², of which 47.8 km² are occupied by forests. Polesie National Park and surrounding areas form the Western Polesie Biosphere Reserve, recognized by UNESCO in 2002. The park is also adjacent to the reserve on the Ukrainian side of the border. The park is recognized as an important wetland by the Ramsar Convention. The territory of the park is flat, with numerous lakes and peat bogs. The fauna includes 21 species of fish, 12 species of amphibians, 6 species of reptiles and 150 species of birds. Of the 35 species of mammals, we can distinguish moose, otters, beavers and bats.