In the watershed between the Volga and the Don, there is the Volga Forest-Steppe Nature Reserve. In 1924, it was created to preserve the northern steppes and wooded areas and was called Penza. In 1927, after joining plots from other provinces, the reserve was given the name Sredne-Volzhsky. In 1937 the name was replaced by Kuibyshevsky, and it was considered a reserve until 1951.
Further, by decision of the government, he was transferred to state farms, which led to the loss of most meadow territories. Only in 1989, the reserve was created again on the basis of five large tracts of land: three large steppes - Poperechenskaya, Kucherovskaya and Ostrovtsovskaya, and two forest areas - Borok and Upper Sury. The territory of the reserve is 8373 ha. Around it, the land belongs to the buffer zone, in which its economic use is limited. On such a vast territory of the middle Volga region, naturally, the spectrum of natural conditions is different. These are mainly mixed forests and virgin steppes unique in flora and soil composition.
The soil
Very picturesque view of the reserve due to various landforms. This is an ancient river network, and swampy lowlands, and water bodies. The main wealth of the Penza Region nature reserves is the soil. Behind the buffer zone of the Kuncherovskaya steppe are plowed agricultural fields. If you can get here by transport, the Ostrovets and Poperechenskaya steppes have no dirt roads or water bodies. The soil cover of the steppes and forests is diverse. So-called gray soils prevail in forests. Black soil prevails in the steppe massifs, and the reference meadow soils have a humus layer of 80 to 100 cm.
Flora
The nature of the reserve is forests and steppes. Forest-forming species include pine and oak. Steppes are divided into meadow, shrubby, marshy meadow. The steppe is always associated with the feather grass. It is especially beautiful in June and July, when silver feather-grass hovering in the wind and revitalizing the steppe. At the same time, it is all in the colors of herbs. The flora of the reserve is extensive and represented by horsetails, mocks, gymnosperms and angiosperms, numbering 850 species, eight of which are listed in the Red Book. Lichens in the steppes of the middle Volga region 108 species. Mushrooms, there are 119 species common in the conservation area. In the wooded area there are 72 species of mosses. In the Red Book there were 4 species of feather grass growing in the reserve.
Fauna
The fauna of the Penza Region nature reserves totals over 800 different types of insects. Amphibians are found in rivers and swamps, of which there are 11 species in the reserve. Lizards, vipers, frogs live in forests and meadows of the protected area. The aviafauna of the region is represented by 154 species of birds. Among the rare steppe harrier and bustards are registered. On the territory of the reserve, their nests make quail, coronelles, crested titmouse and three-toed woodpecker.
The world of mammals of the Volga-forest-steppe nature reserve is represented by 44 species. Rare representatives of this class include otter, lynx, and ermine. Fox burrows are found on the slopes of gentle gullies. The forest-steppe zone of the reserve determines the composition of the fauna, including animal species typical of both forests and fields. These include a field vole, mole rat, jerboa. In winter, hundreds of capercaillie and black grouse, wild boars and moose live in the forests. They are hunting and fishing species, and hunting is allowed in winter.
Kucherovskaya and Poperechenskaya steppes
Along the southwestern section of the Kucherovskaya forest-steppe there is an asphalt road connecting the villages of Shatkino and Stary Chirchim. A network of dirt country roads runs along the borders of the forest, which makes it possible for the local population to enter the reserve and makes it difficult to protect this territory. A stream flows along the western border of the Kuncherovskaya forest-steppe, originating from striking springs in beams. There are a couple of swamps on the territory of the steppe. On the southern slopes of the steppe relict grass - desert sheep predominates.
The cross-steppe is far from roads and settlements. There are no reservoirs either. The only primer leads to the village of Transverse. There is a dirt road around it to patrol the reserve. This steppe is located on a plateau between the rivers Archada and Khopyor.
Ostrovtsovskaya forest-steppe
Let's talk about her. Ostrovtsov steppe reserves of the Penza region is considered the most beautiful. She is far from civilization. The southern and eastern parts of the steppe are bordered by a deep beam. The steppe is dotted with many streams that run to the Khoper River. At different times of the year, the steppe has its own unique outfit. In spring, it is colored with pink and white almonds and thorns. In the grass you can see the lilac heads of irises and spring adonis. In summer, the steppe is colored with flowers of wild mallow and lilac marjoram. White daisies look bright spots among the silver waves of the feather grass. Summer is a wonderful time for insects fluttering over meadow flowers. They are just being studied by scientists, and such as the stag beetle and celandine are listed in the Red Book.
Borok and Upper Sura
In the wooded part of Bork, pine prevails. In addition to it, mountain ash, maple, viburnum, buckthorn, bird cherry grow in the conservation area. The territory of the forest belt runs along the floodplain route of the Kadada River. The Borok massif carries the conservation value of the protected area. Massive felling of trees in this area of the forest did not occur due to the assignment of the status of a natural monument to Bork in 1965. The inhabitants of the forest, living on the coast of the rivers - muskrat and river beaver.
Rarely in the forest you can see squirrels, wild boars and roe deer. Birds are represented in the conservation area by a shore swallow, kingfisher,
and river tern. Nests and birds of prey were noticed: kite, goshawk, and cheglok.
The second forest site from the reserves of the Penza region is the Upper Sura, located on the highest part of the Volga Upland. This forest site is the largest of the five related to the reserve. Here, in the forest belt of the oldest pine plantations, the river Sura originates. This forest area is not rich in water bodies. There are keys and a couple of lakes. One of them is Svetloye Lake, to which a hiking trail leads. This excursion route was initiated by the employees of the reserve, and they accompany it. Through the forest stretches a large number of dirt roads designed to patrol the reserve.