Many people have heard the phrase “national park,” but not everyone knows what it really is. These objects are of particular interest to travelers, especially for those who prefer natural beauty to man-made ones. In this article we will explain, what is a national park, how it differs from the reserve, and we will list the most worth visiting sites from the world natural heritage.
What is a national park
A national park is a special area of natural landscape that is protected to limit human activity. By the way, this name can be used not only for the territory, but also for the water area - i.e. absolutely any area of the planet where efforts are being made to preserve its natural pristine state.
The main thing a traveler needs to know about national parks is that you can travel through them. In fact, they were created precisely for this purpose, so that modern people could see with their own eyes the endless beauty of untouched nature. Also in national parks it is possible to conduct scientific research and conduct some types of economic activities.
Despite the fact that the concept of a national park is universal, each country may have its own characteristics; accordingly, the rules of behavior in natural sites may be different, and the traveler should carefully study them before the trip.
An attempt was made to give a universal definition of the term what a national park is at the tenth session of the General Assembly of the International Union for Conservation of Nature. The common features for such parks were proposed to be:
- pristine nature of the natural system or insignificant human influence on it;
- a sufficiently large area;
- interest in these places from the point of view of science, spirituality or tourism.
In Russia, for example, a clause on the presence of completely untouched areas of nature in a national park is mandatory. Those. if there are none, then the site cannot be considered a national park.
Characteristic features that unite the concept of a national park throughout the world also include:
- Diversity of landscape, flora and fauna. There may also be rare species of plants and animals listed in the Red Book.
- Objective beauty of landscapes;
- The presence of significant cultural and historical events in the area;
- Clearly recognized tourist potential of the place.
Reserve. Definition
A reserve is an area of an ecosystem untouched by humans, access to the territory of which is strictly limited in order to protect the rare species of animals and plants located in it. Thus, the main goal of the reserve is to preserve the natural course of life of all structures that make up the ecosystem.
How does a national park differ from a nature reserve?
The main difference between a national park and a nature reserve is the degree to which human activity is limited. Quite a number of activities are permitted in national parks, from scientific research to organizing hiking trips. It is impossible to enter the reserve without special permission from environmental authorities, and almost all types of human activity are prohibited there. Movement within the territory is strictly limited, and any activities that pose a danger to at least any part of the natural system are suppressed. In this, by the way, reserves differ from nature reserves, in which only certain populations of flora and fauna are “exposed” to protection.
What is the reason for such a strict regime of access to the territory?
With few exceptions, the reserves contain rare and endangered species of plants and animals. The situation is often so serious that only a complete ban on human intervention can save the living population. Tourism in the reserves is practically excluded, but a variety of scientific activities are carried out - monitoring the state of the eco-environment, counting animals, training specialists in environmental protection, etc.
As with national parks, the concept of a nature reserve can vary from country to country. In Russia, nature reserves are strictly protected by federal legislation. Any Russian reserve, the definition of which is quite clearly stated in legislative acts, is a specially protected area.
What is a reserve? Is it significantly different from a national park? In both cases, these are protected areas created with the aim of preserving natural areas in an unchanged form and preserving their flora, fauna, geological or other natural features, as well as the gene pool of animal and plant species. Such zones provide a unique opportunity for observation and scientific research of their natural environment and inhabitants. The main difference: in nature reserves the admission of outsiders and any human activity other than security and scientific activities is prohibited, while in national parks tourism and limited economic activities are allowed.
Jurisdiction
Nature reserves (reserves) can be designated and supervised by government and research institutions, charitable organizations, and in some cases, private landowners. Depending on their level of protection, nature reserves fall into different categories of the IUCN, that is, the International Union for Conservation of Nature, represented by local legislation. In case of unique worldwide significance, the object falls under the protection of UNESCO. In the Russian Federation, 100 nature reserves and 50 national parks are under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Ecology.
History of modern reserves
The world's first modern nature reserve was created in 1821 by naturalist explorer Charles Waterton around his family estate in West Yorkshire. He spent £9,000 (an incredible amount at the time) building a 3-mile, 9-foot-high wall to keep poachers out of his park. Then for the first time the concept was applied: what is a reserve. In this territory, Waterton created favorable conditions mainly for the life and reproduction of wild birds, of which he made scientific observations.
The first state reserve was Drachenfels, established in Germany in 1836, when the Prussian government bought the site to protect it from mining.
Yellowstone in Wyoming, USA is the first largest national park reserve, established on an area of 8991 square meters. km in 1872. It was followed by: the Royal National Park near Sydney in Australia (1879) and the Barguzin Nature Reserve of Imperial Russia (1916), the first created by the government entirely for the scientific study of nature.
Biosphere reserve
A natural park or reserve can belong to one of three types: biosphere, botanical and mineralogical, or be complex.
There are 669 biosphere reserves created on the planet, of which 564 reserves make up the World Network: a special international project developed and organized under the UNESCO program. Its main task is to preserve a stable ecosystem, plant and animal gene pool of various natural zones of the planet, as well as to comprehensively study the natural environment and biological diversity of these and adjacent territories. Biosphere reserves are created on the basis of existing natural national parks and reserves. 120 countries took part in the program. There are 37 reserves of this kind in Russia.
What is a botanical reserve?
This is an area where it is important to preserve the unique flora: endangered, relict and endemic species listed in the national or international Red Book. For this purpose, the natural landscape and natural conditions for the propagation of these plants are preserved, for example, the Khomutovskaya Steppe Nature Reserve, where 1028 hectares of the steppe zone are preserved in pristine condition.
Mineralogical reserves
These are reserves where the natural state of special natural standards is preserved: valuable from a scientific point of view, geological and mineralogical formations. Such reserves are mainly created in places with karst caves, mineral springs, salt lakes, waterfalls, geyser and volcanic geolandscapes, caves, ore veins with a rich variety of minerals and other interesting geological objects and phenomena. The first specialized object of this kind in the world was Yellowstone, and in Russia - the Ilmensky Nature Reserve (1920) in the Urals.
Complex reserves
The term “museum-reserve” appeared in Soviet Russia; since 1922, it was first applied to the “Pushkin Corner”. And since the 50s, the state form of assigning the status of museum-reserves to some historical and cultural complexes, with their adjacent territories, has been established, which determined their preservation and financing.
Now in Russia there are about a hundred museum-reserves, which can be divided into several types, based on what objects are located on their sites. This can be a combination of objects and territories of historical, architectural, archaeological, artistic, military, and even scientific and technical orientation. But what are complex reserves? Each of these museums, in addition to the main profile, combines several purposes: artistic-historical, architectural-historical, historical-archaeological, military-historical and others. Therefore, all museum-reserves can be considered complex.
Natural national parks and reserves can also be complex, when a scientifically interesting landscape with geological and mineralogical formations forms a special environment for unique flora and habitats of rare species of animals. And such a combination is not often found on the planet.
National (natural) park- a protected area of territory (water area) with an intact natural complex, often with unique objects (waterfalls, canyons, picturesque landscapes, etc.). Combines the protection of landscapes with the admission of visitors for recreation. Considering that their purpose is mass tourism, natural parks have a significant area.
Currently there are more than a thousand national parks in the world.
Greenlandic
The largest national park in the world - Greenlandic- located in the northeast of the island of Greenland. Its area is about 70 million hectares. This unique park in Greenland is also the northernmost of all national parks in the world. The park is home to 40% of the world's musk oxen population. Among the protected animals, the polar bear, walrus, arctic fox, ermine, lemming, arctic hare, various types of seals, ringed seals, narwhals, whales, etc. also live here. Reindeer disappeared from the park back in 1990. Wolves often visit the park.
Yellowstone National Park
The world's first national park was opened in 1872 in the USA. It was Yemstone National Park, located on the Yellowstone Plateau. The area of the park is 898.3 thousand hectares. This is one of the oldest parks in the world. First of all, it is famous for its hot springs. Geysers emit jets of hot water and steam to a height of up to 90 m. Eruptions occur regularly at regular intervals. The water of geysers and hot springs, rich in calcium and silicon, forms bizarre sinter terraces rising to a considerable height.
The park is home to 1,870 plant species, eight of which are coniferous. 80% of all forest areas are occupied by lodgepole pine. Of the deciduous trees, aspens, willows, and birches are most common (mostly in the undergrowth). Of the flowering plants in the park, it is worth noting Abronia sand-loving, or Yellowstone sand verbena. This plant is found in the wild only within the boundaries of the park. The park is home to about 60 species of mammals, including rare ones: wolf, lynx, grizzly bear, American bison, black bear (baribal), wapiti deer, elk, black-tailed deer, bighorn goat, pronghorn, bighorn, puma, etc.
Yellowstone National Park is a wonderful tourist destination. It receives up to 3 million visitors per year. All conditions have been created for them, various excursions and routes have been organized. But areas of untouched nature still remain. They have no roads and access is strictly limited. The park is considered a biosphere protected area. Thanks to Yellowstone National Park, the bison population has been preserved and restored.
Komodo
One of the most interesting national parks in the world - Komodo National Park, which is located on several islands that are part of the Lesser Sunda Islands archipelago (Indonesia). It is home to the world's only population of the world's largest lizard, Komodo dragons. They are covered with strong scales and have a rather long tail. Komodo dragons have five toes on their feet. According to some reports, it was these lizards that became the prototype of the dragons about which Chinese sailors created legends.
The national park currently operates as a strict biosphere reserve. The monitor lizard's habitat is also fully protected.
The world learned about the existence of this huge lizard in 1912, when one of the European pilots made an emergency landing here and told about what he saw in his homeland. The Indonesian monitor lizard really makes a terrifying impression: length - about 3.5 m, weight - up to 150 kg, huge mouth with many teeth. The appearance of the lizard is in many ways reminiscent of extinct dinosaurs. Monitor lizard is a predator. It hunts wild deer and pigs, runs fast and swims well, is extremely voracious, and easily eats 6 kg of meat in one go. The animal is undoubtedly unique, having no analogues in the world.
Serengeti
In the zone African savannah enjoys special fame Serengeti national park in Tanzania. He owes this to the famous biologist, ecologist, writer, and documentary filmmaker Bernhard Grzimek(1907-1986). B. Grzimek wrote about the Serengeti: “Tourists are attracted to Africa only by its virgin nature with its wild animals. If the wild fauna disappears here too, as happened almost everywhere, then there will be no reason for tourists to come here.” Huge herds of various ungulates are typical of the Serengeti. In the vast expanses of the savanna, wildebeest graze along with zebras, gazelles and giraffes, and Cairo buffalo are found in the dense thickets. All these animals are characterized by mass movements (migrations) following the rain front throughout the year. Predators also follow the herds of ungulates. The number of ungulates currently within the park is estimated at hundreds of thousands of individuals, there are several thousand elephants, hundreds of lions, hippos, and rhinoceroses.
Swiss national park
In Europe, the first national park was created in the canton of Grisons. It's called Swiss national park. The park was founded on August 1, 1914 on an area of 172.4 km2. It includes the Alpine area at an altitude between 1400-3174 m above sea level on the border with Austria and Italy. The park is famous for its unique and diverse flora and fauna, as well as its absolutely untouched nature. The predominant landscapes are mountain coniferous forests and alpine meadows. Roe deer and chamois live here, less often - alpine ibex and fox; There are also deer, marmots, ptarmigan, wood grouse and several species of birds of prey.
Corbett
Corbett- the oldest national park India, it was founded during British colonial rule in 1935 and occupies about 52 thousand hectares in the valley of the Ramganta River, flowing down from the southern slopes Himalayas. The park's hilly plain (altitude ranges from 400 to 900 m) is covered with forests. During the wet monsoon, vast reservoirs often form in the valley, overgrown with aquatic vegetation. This is the habitat of the giant gharial, or swamp crocodile. The crocodile family has lived on Earth for about 150 million years. For many years, these reptiles were actively exterminated in order to obtain valuable leather. Now crocodiles are bred for industrial needs in special nurseries, but in nature they are protected almost everywhere.
The main conservation site in the national park is tiger. Number of tigers in India in the 1930s-1950s. sharply decreased due to uncontrolled shooting by both colonialists and local poachers. Back in the 1960s. The Indian government launched a large-scale Operation Tiger aimed at preserving and restoring the number of this animal. The main events were held in Korbst Park. Now the number of tigers is close to optimal.
The park is also home to several species of Asian deer, sloth bear, and more than 400 species of birds. For a long time, the park was rarely visited by tourists due to difficult transport accessibility.
At the end of the 1970s. A modern highway has been built from the capital of India, Delhi, and the park is visited by thousands of tourists from around the world.
Central Kalahari Nature Reserve
In the desert zone we will call the Central Kalahari Nature Reserve in South Africa. It was founded in 1957. Its area is 5 million hectares. Unlike national parks, which can be visited by tourists, only scientific workers are allowed in the reserves. In the Central Kalahari Reserve live local Bushmen tribes who lead their traditional economy. The main object of protection in the reserve is a unique plant - Velvichia.
Velvichia has a thick woody trunk 30 cm long and looks like a giant flower with huge petals, which are actually the leaves of this plant. In the hot desert, where water is life, Velvichia absorbs moisture from the air with its huge leaves, collects dew, and “drinks” the fog.
Yosemite National Park
Yosemite National Park was created in USA in 1890, has an area of more than 300 thousand hectares, located on the western slopes of the mountains Sierra Nevada. The mountain peaks rise here to almost 4 thousand meters. There are many waterfalls on the mountain rivers. With an abundance of precipitation, ancient dark coniferous forests consist of many species of spruce, pine, and fir. More than 250 species of typical taiga mammals and birds are represented. But the main glory of the national park came from the preserved areas of the giant sequoia. Individual trees of this species, several thousand years old, reach a height of 150 m with a trunk diameter of 10 m. Sequoia wood is reddish in color, very light, but at the same time hard, durable, and slightly susceptible to rotting. It is believed that in the Tertiary period, sequoia was widespread throughout the Earth, but now, after many years of predatory extermination, areas of virgin forests are very rare and are strictly protected. It is found in botanical gardens almost all over the world.
Banff and Jasper
In the south Canadian Rockies there are two large national parks Banff And Jasper. Banff Park, with an area of about 700 thousand hectares, was created in 1885. To the north of it begins Jasper Park (an area of more than 1 million hectares), founded in 1907. The height of the Rocky Mountains within the parks reaches 3700 m. This is a region of harsh mountain taiga. In the strongly dissected Slope Mountains there are glaciers, snowfields, and frequent waterfalls and hot springs (they began to be used for bathing in the 19th century).
Coniferous forests are dominated by mountain spruce, maritime pine, and Douglas fir (up to 45 m in height). The most common large animals in mountain forests are deer, black bears, black-tailed deer, mountain sheep, and many birds.
One of the most unusual animals of the Rocky Mountains is the bighorn goat, found only here. It is an animal with a thick, long white six, similar to a domestic goat. Lives in the alpine belt, rarely descending into the forests. Well adapted to life in the mountains, capable of jumping 6-7 m on barely noticeable mountain ledges. The animal is very rare; work is currently underway to increase its numbers and, in the future, to domesticate it. Both national parks are biosphere reserves and successfully combine wildlife conservation with tourism.
Virunga
Almost in the very center of Africa, right on the equator, is located Virunga National Park. It was created in 1915, covers an area of more than 20 thousand hectares and is located in the north-west of a small African state Rwanda, on the southern slopes of the volcanic mountains Virunga. The park is home to several cones of extinct volcanoes up to 4,500 m high. Virunga is located just south of the equator, and its landscapes are dominated by humid equatorial and mountain forests and shrubs. The main object of protection is the mountain gorilla - the largest ape.
Blue Mountains Park
northwest of Sydney, on a mountain plateau dissected by deep gorges, one of the largest national parks in the southeastern Australia - Blue Mountains Park(“Blue Mountains”) with an area of 200 thousand hectares. It was created in 1959. The “Blue Mountains” are part of the Great Dividing Range, the highest altitudes here do not exceed 1200 m. In some places, tower-shaped columnar remains of sandstone have been preserved, and waterfalls are not uncommon on small rivers. Along the river valleys there are dense forests of blue eucalyptus, acacia, mint, and tree ferns.
Platypuses, possums, giant gray kangaroos are preserved here, among the birds are Wong's pigeon, lyrebird, fantail, and yellow flycatcher. It should be noted that the flora and fauna of Australia is not rich, but very unique: 9/10 of the flora and fauna of the continent cannot be found in any other area of the globe. It is this uniqueness that arouses great interest among scientists and requires the most stringent protection measures. Blue Mountains Park has done just that. There are many places left there that are inaccessible, completely untouched, where no tourist has ever set foot.
Rancho Grande
Rancho Grande- the first national park Venezuela- was created in 1937. It occupies an area of about 90 thousand hectares on the spurs of the Venezuelan Andes, facing the Caribbean Sea, absolute heights are up to 2500 m. The altitudinal zone with an abundance of various tropical forests is well represented here. High humidity (about 1700 mm of precipitation per year) determines the richness of fauna, especially dwarf palms, orchids, ferns, and lianas. The national park is famous for its rare birds: more than 30 species of hummingbirds (the weight of the largest individuals of these tiny birds does not exceed 5 g), parrots, guajaros (a rare bird of the nightjar family, usually nest in deep caves in numerous colonies, active at night). The largest venomous snake on Earth is found here - the giant rattlesnake, reaching 3.5 m in length. Among mammals, peccaries, sloths, capuchin monkeys (so named for the black crest on their head), raccoons, and jaguars are common.
Galapagos Islands
Galapagos Islands located directly on the equator in the Pacific Ocean, west of South America and owned by the state Ecuador. All islands with a total area of about 10 thousand hectares were declared a national park in 1934. The archipelago has about 15 volcanic islands, of which there are five large ones, the highest points of which rise to a height of 1700 m. Volcanic activity continues to this day. The islands are washed by a cold current, and the water and air temperatures here are relatively low for the equator +21...+25°C. The vegetation is poor: mainly cacti and thorny bushes. Nevertheless, the Galapagos are extremely interesting for science, and it was here that he began to conduct his research Charles Darwin in 1835
There are many amazing animals on the islands: penguins that came here from Antarctica thanks to the cold current; flightless cormorants, giant turtles, marine iguanas, Galapagos sea lion.
Galapagos tortoises - huge animals with a shell length of up to 1.5 m and a weight of 200 kg - were exterminated by humans for their tasty and nutritious meat. Now the turtles are under protection, their numbers are increasing.
The marine iguana is the only species of lizard whose entire life is associated with a narrow coastal zone of shallow water and a strip of shore. This large reptile, up to 1.5 m long, swims well, feeds on algae and more.
Galapagos National Park has a strict regime: visiting the islands by tourists, all economic activities, and the import of foreign plants and animals is prohibited. The International Biological Station has been operating here since 1964. Thus, the Galapagos Islands are more correctly considered a biosphere reserve.
national park
NATIONAL PARK (natural national park) is a territory (water area) in which landscapes and unique natural objects are protected. It differs from the reserve in allowing visitors for recreation. The world's first Yellowstone National Park was founded in 1872 in the USA. By 1982, more than 1,200 national parks and other protected areas similar to them in organization had been created in the world, an area of more than 2.7 million km2, incl. Banff, Gauja, Kaziranga, Corbett, Lahemaa, Serengeti, Tsavo.
National Park
a protected area of territory (water area) with an intact natural complex, often with unique objects (waterfalls, canyons, picturesque landscapes, etc.). In some cases, a national park is an analogue of a nature reserve, from which it fundamentally differs in the admission of visitors for recreation. At first, natural resource areas were created as areas protected by the state (nation) from private entrepreneurs who predatorily exploited natural resources. The first National Park, Yellowstone (USA), was created in 1872. By 1973, there were over 1,000 National Parks in 98 countries (see the map at the Reserve station). In many countries, N.P. are established by the highest legislative body of the state. In a number of countries (USA, Japan, etc.), excessive visits to the village create a threat to unique natural objects, therefore measures are being taken to appropriately organize the territory of the village and adjacent areas. In the USSR, the villages of Lahemaa in Estonia (1969) and Gauja in Latvia (1973) were created by resolutions of the Council of Ministers of the Estonian SSR and the Latvian SSR. Lit.: United Nations List of National Parks and equivalent reserves, 2 ed Brux., 197
V. L. Borisov.
Wikipedia
National Park
National Park- a territory where human activity is limited for environmental protection purposes.
Unlike nature reserves, where human activity is almost completely prohibited (hunting, tourism, etc. are prohibited), tourists are allowed into the territory of national parks, and economic activity is allowed on a limited scale.
For example, the definition of the Moscow National Park is given in Moscow Law No. 48 “On Specially Protected Natural Areas in Moscow” dated September 26, 2001: National Park is a specially protected natural area of federal significance, located on the territory of the city of Moscow and having special environmental protection, ecological, educational and recreational significance as a unique natural complex, exceeding 500 hectares in area, characterized by high natural diversity and the presence of rare or well-preserved typical natural communities, rare and vulnerable species of plants and animals. The use of the territory of the national park is permitted for environmental, educational, scientific purposes and for regulated recreation of the population in places specially designated for this purpose.
Yellowstone, established in 1872, is considered the first national park, although specially protected areas have been known since the Middle Ages. The largest is Northeast Greenland National Park, with an area of 972 thousand km², which exceeds the area of 163 countries in the world. This is approximately a fourth of the European part of Russia. At the same time, the area of Hot Springs National Park in the USA is only 22 km².
National Park "Yugyd Va"
This national park, created in 1994, is under the protection of UNESCO. The Yugyd Va National Park is located on the western slopes of the Northern Urals, on the border between two parts of the world - Europe and Asia. The total area of the territory is 1.8 million hectares. It is the largest national park in Russia. On its territory there is the largest natural forest in Europe, which has been practically unaffected by human influence.
More than 50% of the territory of the national park is forest. There are about 30 species of mammals in the national park, including: reindeer, elk, bear, wolf, wolverine and fox. The park is also home to more than 120 species of birds. The most common are wood grouse, black grouse, hazel grouse and partridge. Some species of birds (for example, the gyrfalcon and the white-tailed eagle) are listed in the Red Book of the Russian Federation. At the headwaters of the rivers located within the reserve, salmon breed.
Losiny Ostrov National Park
Losiny Ostrov National Park was organized on August 24, 1983 on the basis of the resolution of the Council of Ministers of the RSFSR “On the creation of the Losiny Ostrov State Natural National Park.” Along with Sochi National Park, it is the oldest in Russia.
The area of the Losiny Ostrov National Park is 128 square meters. km, of which 30 sq. km located within Moscow. Forests occupy 83% of the park's area, swamps - 5%, ponds - 2%.
Settlements on the territory of Losiny Island: the village of Mosvodokanal, Suponevo, Balashikha (Abramtsevo microdistrict), Novy Svet, Dolgoe Ledovo, Korolev (Torfopredpriyatie microdistrict, Pogonny, 12th Switch, Oboldino).
The national park has three functional zones:
- specially protected, closed to visitors, where natural complexes are preserved in their natural form. It serves as a refuge for large mammals and a nesting site for birds;
– educational excursion, open to visitors accompanied by a guide along ecological routes;
– recreational, intended for mass recreation.
The uniqueness of Losiny Ostrov is that on its territory, surrounded by a metropolis, a natural forest has been preserved, characterized by exceptional natural diversity. Part of the forests of Losiny Ostrov belongs to primary forests - a special type of ancient virgin forest that has been preserved for a long period of time and is not affected by human activity.
The main feature of the nature of Losiny Ostrov is the great diversity and mosaic distribution of plant communities on its relatively small territory.
More than 600 species of higher plants, 36 species of lichens, about 90 species of fungi, and about 150 species of algae are found on the territory of Losiny Ostrov. Species included in the Red Books of Moscow and the Moscow region are presented.
In the forest area, surrounded on all sides by cities with millions of people, about 180 species of birds, up to 40 species of mammals (including elk, wild boar, sika deer), and at least 13 species of amphibians and reptiles live or appear during migration. About 15 species of fish live in the park’s reservoirs.
Sochi National Park
Sochi State Natural National Park is one of the first national parks in Russia. Area - 191 thousand hectares. Created by a Resolution of the Council of Ministers of the RSFSR in May 1983 with the aim of preserving and restoring unique natural complexes in the territory along the Black Sea coast from the Shepsi River to the Psou River. But in the northeast, the park’s border runs along the watershed of the Main Caucasus Range. The territory of the national park is served by about 200 people from the state forest guard in 15 forest districts.
All villages and cities of Greater Sochi are located inside the national park.
According to forest zoning, the park territory is included in the Colchis province of subtropical forests.
The most widespread forest stand is dominated by beech - 41%. Beech forests, the only ones in Russia, amaze with their beauty and grandeur; silver-gray columns of trunks rise into the sky to a height of 50 meters.
Oak plantations occupy 25% of the forested area and are located mainly on the dry and warm southern slopes of the mountains.
But the share of chestnut trees falls to 13% of the forested area. Chestnut sowing is a representative of the tertiary flora and is classified as a relict species. This is the only place in Russia where chestnut (European) grows naturally.
Hornbeam plantations occupy an area of about 7%, alder - 3%, fir - 5%, boxwood - 1%.
The rest of the territory is occupied by plantations of maple, ash, aspen, linden, walnut, yew, pine, Himalayan cedar and other species.
In total, 165 species of wild woody plants grow here.
Boxwood plantations, newcomers of the Tertiary period, are of great scientific, educational and aesthetic interest. The delicate “lace” of small, black-green, glossy boxwood foliage and the fluffy, long moss hanging from the trunks and branches, like the beards of fairy-tale characters, gives the forest a fantastic look of a green kingdom.
The fauna of the national flock includes about 70 species of mammals: brown bear, badger, deer, lynx, Caucasian and European roe deer, marten, otter, jackal, wild cat, wild boar, hare, squirrel, etc.
Among the wide variety (about 120 species) of birds are the red-headed wren, the black-headed nuthatch, the eagle owl, and the jay. Migratory birds appear in the forest and on reservoirs in spring and autumn (great spotted woodpecker, geese, swans, pigeons, common quail). There are also 11 species of reptiles and 7 species of amphibians.
About 40 rivers and streams of the Black Sea basin flow through the territory of the national park, three of them have a length of over 50 km - Mzymta, Shakhe, Psou.
There are a large number of waterfalls and canyons on rivers and streams. Waterfalls are mainly located in the upper reaches of large rivers, on second-order rivers and their tributaries: Bezymyanny (72 m) on the Psou River, Orekhovsky (33 m) on the right tributary of the river. Sochi at the confluence of the stream. Madness. Agur waterfalls and Eagle Rocks are a single natural complex located west of Mount Akhun. This complex, located next to the sea, amazes with its grandeur. River bed The Agur river, cutting through the western slope of Akhun, formed a canyon-like gorge over 200 m deep. A picturesque Agur trail was laid along the river.
On the territory of the national park there are 48 republican routes that pass through numerous places of interest: Vorontsov caves, Dzykhrinsky gorge, Atskhu gorge, Krasnaya Polyana, Akhshtyrskaya cave and much more.
The preservation of mineral resources is largely determined by the state of the Black Sea mountain forests. Being unique natural formations, they perform water and soil protection functions. Matsesta waters, sources of Lazarevskaya and Sochi mineral waters, iodine-bromine waters of Kudepsta and many others originate in the depths of the national park.
The economic activities of the national park are aimed at protecting green spaces from forest violations, fires and pests, and combating poaching.
Workers of the national park annually take care of the forest with an area of 1.5 thousand hectares, create recreational centers for tourists to visit them, put tourist routes in order, and look after 7 forest parks on an area of about 5 thousand hectares.
The wood processed in the workshops of the national park is used for its own needs in forest parks, in the construction and maintenance of forest guard offices and cordons, and for the production of consumer goods.
The workers created hazelnut plantations - 150 hectares, cork and oak oak on an area of 120 hectares, plantations of noble laurel and mimosa. The national park has bee apiaries and plantings of garden and wild fruit crops.
Alanya National Park
Alania State Park in North Ossetia is located surrounded by mountain ranges, at an altitude of 800 to 4645 m (Uilpata) in the Urukh River basin. Glaciers, mountains and talus make up a large part of the entire parkland. The main waterway of the park is the Urukh River, created by the confluence of two rivers Kharesidon and Karaugomdon. There are about 70 substantial streams and rivers flowing through the park. In the lower part of the slopes of the Vodorazdelny and Bokovoy ridges and at their foot, you can see areas of the community of mountain xerophytes and mountain steppes; subalpine meadows occupy the upper areas. The vegetation of Alanya Park is quite diverse. Its terrain shows pine-birch forests, mountain pine forests, broad-leaved beech-hornbeam forests, juniper woodlands, as well as alpine and subalpine meadows. Forests in the park cover a fifth of its entire area. The area of the state park is rich in medicinal, edible, melliferous and ornamental plants. Among these plant species you can see grandiflora capitol, larkspur bract, valley saffron, lily, angustifolia snowdrop, Caucasian scabiosa, Olympic columbine, and so on. Distinctive agents of the animal world living in the park are the pine marten, stone marten, pine marten, chamois boar, roe deer, ermine and others. Many historical monuments have been preserved in the park. On the Rocky Ridge there are quite a few caves, rock grottoes and shelters that have been used by humans as camp sites since ancient times. The Alanian catacomb burial grounds in Kumbulta and Donifars are very famous. In addition, the park organizes trips to the Tana glacier and to the largest mountain swamp in the Main Caucasus, Chifandzar. Unforgettable memories can be gained from visiting Galdoridon waterfalls, medieval towers, old crypts, tombs and sanctuaries.
National Park "Shushensky Bor"
The national park was founded in 1995. Its location is the south of the Krasnoyarsk Territory, the territory of the Shushensky district, the junction of the Western Sayan mountain system and the Minusinsk foothill basin. This is the center of the Asian continent. This park includes two plots, the area of which is 34.8 thousand hectares and 4.4 thousand hectares; these plots directly belong to the national park.
The motive that prompted the creation of the park was the need for an agreement between certain parties to the activity. These are: protecting the unusual landscape of the area; current economic work; use of this nature for recreation. It became necessary to balance all these aspects. It was also necessary to preserve the exclusivity of natural ecological systems that have one specific zone.
The northern half of the park has a very beautiful landscape consisting of pine forests, colorful meadows, and grassy plains. The southern half is distinguished by mountainous terrain and taiga landscape, and coniferous forests grow in front of the mountains. In addition to coniferous trees, there are also forests with trees of different types: cedar, pine, aspen. Black taiga - most of the area is occupied by fir, dark coniferous taiga - spruce and fir. At the highest point of the area there are subalpine meadows with perennial herbaceous plants.
