Since 1997, January 11 in Russia celebrate the Day of reserves and national parks. On this day in the last century (in 1916) they created the first State Nature Reserve in Russia - Barguzinsky. It is located on the shores of Lake Baikal. In Transbaikalia there are also reserves of the Irkutsk region. This region is rich in protected areas. Two reserves, Pribaikalsky National Park and many reserves are in the region.
Features of the Irkutsk region
This is one of the largest regions of Eastern Siberia. Its area is almost 5% of Russian territory. The vast extent explains the diversity of landscapes and nature. Most are occupied by taiga forests, plateaus, the remains of the steppes, river valleys. But the main attraction of the Irkutsk region is Lake Baikal. Thanks to him, tourism is widely developed here.
Baikal is listed as a world heritage site due to its unique natural landscapes, clear waters and a huge variety of flora and fauna.
What are nature reserves?
Irkutsk region is located in the basin of Lake Baikal, included by UNESCO in the World Heritage Sites. Therefore, most of it belongs to protected areas of federal significance. The list of nature reserves in the Irkutsk region is small, but their significance is great. The reserve is created to preserve the natural complex in its original form. Here, hunting and any economic activity are completely prohibited.
The first reserve - Barguzinsky - was created, as mentioned above, in Russia in 1916. The nearest reserves of the Irkutsk region appeared in the 80s. They cover a large territory of the Baikal coastline and are created in order to preserve the uniqueness of the flora and fauna.
Reserves of the Irkutsk region: a list
Fragments of relict steppes, beautiful taiga forests, lakes, mountain ranges, ancient paleovolcanoes, waterfalls, gorges have been preserved here. For the protection of unique natural landscapes, reserves of the Irkutsk region were created. A list of their names is known to any local resident, since it is they who help to preserve the coast of Lake Baikal in its natural state. This became especially relevant by the end of the twentieth century, when many representatives of flora and fauna began to die due to vigorous economic activity and deforestation.
What nature reserves are there in the Irkutsk region?
- Vitim Nature Reserve was established in 1982. Located in the north-eastern part of Transbaikalia. One of the tasks of its appearance was the protection of a ram, sable, rare species of birds of prey, and landscapes of the unique mountain lake Oron. Larches grow here, there are pines, cedars and fir. Visiting the Vitim Reserve is possible only on 3 tourist routes along the Vitim River and on Lake Oron.
- The Baikal-Lensky State Reserve was created in 1986. It is located in the southern part of the Baikal ridge on the western shore of Lake Baikal. Here taiga forests, relict steppes, 2 paleovolcanoes with an age of 1.5 million years are preserved. The reserve has a huge number of brown bears and other taiga animals. There are such rare species as osprey, black stork, spotted eagle, golden eagle, peregrine falcon and others. Of the plants, pine, larch and cedar are common, many lichens, mosses and mushrooms. 47 species of endangered plants are protected here.
National parks
These are large areas with unique natural sites. There are all conditions for recreation and tourism, preserving the originality of the picturesque landscape and not harming the flora and fauna. Human economic activity is limited, and sometimes completely prohibited, except for the use of nature for agricultural purposes for the needs of the local population. Unlike nature reserves, tourists are allowed to enter the territory of the national park. There are parking lots and hiking trails.
The first national park was created in the USA in 1872 - this is Yellowstone. The largest in the world - the Northeast Greenland National Park has an area of more than 950 thousand square km. And in Russia, the largest national park is located in the Irkutsk region.
Pribaikalsky National Park
This is a protected area of federal significance. Designed to protect the unique natural world of the western shore of Lake Baikal. It includes almost a quarter of the length of its coastline - about 470 km. Pribaikalsky National Park is the most visited tourist zone in the region. Of all the reserves and national parks of the Irkutsk region, it is most rich in rare species of plants and animals. The area of the park is more than 400 thousand hectares - this is the largest protected area in Russia. It includes a narrow coastline - from 3 to 20 km, the Primorsky ridge, the Tazheran steppe, the basin of the Bolshaya river and partially the island of Olkhon.
All reserves and nat. parks of the Irkutsk region are characterized by a rich variety of flora and fauna, some species of which are not found anywhere else, and magnificent views of nature. But this national park attracts tourists the most. Here are located the bays of Aya and Peschanaya, the majestic cliffs of the Primorsky ridge, relic steppes and salt lakes. At the source of the Angara there is the largest wintering of waterfowl in Siberia.
Why are reserves created?
Certain territories in which only certain species or special natural objects are protected are called sanctuaries. They are forbidden only certain types of human activity, for example, hunting. Now in Russia there are 70 reserves of federal significance, 2 of which are located in the Irkutsk region. Such protected areas are created without statute of limitations, and local reserves can exist for several decades or less. Most of them are designed to preserve several rare or endangered species, but there are those that are designed to protect any one plant or animal.
Both nature reserves and nature reserves of the Irkutsk region were created to preserve the unique nature of Lake Baikal. Now on this territory there are 2 reserves of federal significance - Krasny Yar and Tofalarsky, as well as reserves Magdansky, Chaysky, Kireysky, Irkutny, Boyskie swamps and others.
The most famous nature reserves
There are 16 reserves in the Irkutsk region. Of these, 2 are of federal significance and 3 local, 8 integrated nature reserves and 3 species. Of these, several are quite large and famous.
- Tofalar reserve of federal significance was created in the 70s of the twentieth century. It included the natural landscapes of the former Sayan Nature Reserve, for example, the Kosurgashev Glacier.
- Krasniy Yar is a complex reserve of federal significance, as close as possible to the reserve. Sable, brown bear, musk deer, bittern, roe deer and other common species live here. The black stork and gray crane are protected.
- The Irkutsk Wildlife Sanctuary covers an area of 30 thousand ha and was created to protect the habitats of wild boar.
- The Boysky Marshes reserve was created along the Boya River and preserves the habitats of wild ungulates and bird nests.
- The Magdan reserve is located in the basin of the Magda and Ilga rivers. Designed to protect wildlife habitats, spawn valuable species of fish and nesting birds.
Natural monuments
On the territory of the Irkutsk region there are many ecologically, historically or culturally valuable natural objects. They are declared natural monuments. There are 77 objects here. Of these, geological natural monuments - Mir rock, Solnechny glacier, Winter fairy tale cave, Cape Arka, Shaman-stone, Chayachy rock, karst caves and much more. There are many water monuments of nature: karst spring, Lake Heart, Udinsky rapids, source of the Okuynaki river, waterfalls and springs.
Complex landscape monuments include shamanistic scribbles, curly stones on the Khan River, Peschanaya Bay, Kai grove, petroglyphs from ancient caves, Tusham pine forests and others. Very rare plants also belong to natural monuments: water chestnut, Irkutsk lily of the valley, relic fir tree and others.
Tourists reviews
National parks, reserves and reserves of the Irkutsk region attract the attention of tourists due to the uniqueness of Lake Baikal. Picturesque views of nature, clear water, fresh air and the presence of rare species of plants and animals - this is what is deposited in the memory of tourists after visiting this territory. Despite the rather harsh climate, a small number of warm days and cold water of reservoirs, tourists love these places. Every lover of nature needs to enjoy the beauty of waterfalls, see ancient volcanoes and relic steppes.