It is difficult to overestimate the importance of nature reserves and national parks of the Leningrad Region for residents of multi-million St. Petersburg. They constitute the "ecological framework" of the region, act as its green shield. Of course, the close proximity of large natural sites stabilizes the ecological situation in the region.
Karelian Isthmus National Park
National parks of the Leningrad Region can boast of the "Karelian Isthmus", which is located between the Neva River and a section of the border of the Leningrad Region with Karelia. It is the largest in the vicinity of St. Petersburg. This is a kind of small country with its relief, hills (Koltushsky heights), rivers and lakes. On its vast territory there are about 700 lakes, several rivers (the largest of them is Vuoksa with the famous Losevsky rapids).
A variety of landscapes, pleasing to the eye with its picturesqueness, are formed by the activity of ancient glaciers. Boulders, parts of rocks are found throughout the reserve. Its many lakes also owe their origin to glaciers.
Mostly coniferous forests still make up 60% of the reserve. This, perhaps, explains the richness of its fauna. In addition to the usual squirrels, foxes, wild boars, here you can find bears, wolves, lynxes, and among birds - hazel grouse, black grouse, capercaillie. Rare fish species are still preserved in the isthmus lakes: whitefish, grayling, vendace.
Some unique natural phenomena of the national park are allocated to specially protected natural areas (SPNA) - there are thirty-five in all on the Karelian Isthmus.
One of them is a natural monument Lake Yastrebinoye near the Kuznechnoye station. The lake is, as it were, sandwiched between steep granite rocks up to 50 meters high. Particularly famous is the rock of Parnassus, which attracts athletes-climbers.
Among the specially protected zones of the national parks of the Leningrad Region are the well-known Lindulovskaya Grove and Gladyshevsky Reserves, located a short distance from the city.
Natural botanical reserve near the village of Roshchino
The Lindulovskaya grove is another monument to the transformations of Peter 1. The beginning of this famous, the oldest in Europe larch plantings was laid back in 1738 according to the plan of the emperor, who planned to grow trees for shipbuilding.
Along with the oldest unique species of larch, other conifers grow in the grove: Siberian cedar, spruce, fir, as well as oak, ash, elm. Some old trees reach a height of 40-50 meters, in diameter - more than 1 meter. Planting continued and resumed over the past 200 years and became a school of Russian forestry.
The grove has been included in the UNESCO-protected object “The historical center of St. Petersburg and related complexes of monuments”.
Gladyshevsky reserve
This reserve is located almost next to the Lindulovskaya grove. It was created relatively recently, in 1996. It occupies a fairly spacious area of 8400 ha.
The main property of the reserve is the habitat of salmon fish and their constant companions - rare mollusks called European pearl mussel. This inseparable couple lives mainly in the Black River, where research has been carried out for many years by the Institute for the Protection of Fisheries
And moreover, year after year, scientists are trying to restore and increase the salmon population (and this is Baltic salmon and Baltic trout) in the waters of the Black River. Thousands of tagged fry released into the river are under constant surveillance. Contrary to the fact that amateur fishing is prohibited here, poachers still catch some part of salmon.
Naturalist lovers visiting the Gladyshevsky Wildlife Sanctuary note that even in its present neglected state, it has preserved many species of insects (various butterflies, wasps, bees), birds (woodpeckers, jays, hawks). Of the four-legged, you can often find foxes, squirrels, rodents.
Sablinsky natural monument
National parks of the Leningrad region can also be proud of the Sablinsky natural monument. It is located in the Tosno district near the village of Ulyanovka. It attracts many tourists with artificial caves - the result of underground mining of quartz sand in the 2nd half of the XIX - early XX centuries, during the years of the construction boom in St. Petersburg. The rapids on the Tosna and Sablinka rivers are also of interest.
Natural park "Veps forest"
Reserves and national parks of the Leningrad region also have Veps forest on their list. A genuine natural pearl is located three hundred kilometers from St. Petersburg. This is an ecologically clean natural park with a significant area of 189 thousand hectares. In 1999, he received the status of a specially protected natural area (SPNA).
Vepssky forest has preserved pristine forests, ecological systems almost untouched by economic activity. The unique territory has a hilly relief, dozens of mountain lakes at an altitude of 200-250 m above sea level, and many rivers. Almost half of it is covered with very old, age-old spruce and pine forests, which are very rare in the northwest, which have sheltered many endangered, "red-book" plants under their cover. Vepsian forests and marshes boast the presence of 57 species of rare birds. Among them are gray heron, capercaillie, field harrier, googol, black kite.
Marshes occupy more than a third of the area of the Veps forest, and this is perhaps its most valuable asset. This is one of the few in the area of marshes that has not been irrigated and has preserved the traditional bird nesting sites intact. Perhaps the Vepsian forest reminds everyone of the Meshchera National Park.
Meschera National Park
The nature conservation complex, created in order to preserve the natural potential of the Meshchera lowland, is located in the south-west of the Vladimir region (adjacent to the borders of the Moscow and Ryazan regions). Numerous rivers and lakes are located on 118 thousand hectares, with swamps occupying 5 thousand hectares, and forests occupy 70% of the entire territory. These statistics alone indicate the exceptional uniqueness of the reserve.
Environmental experts emphasize the outstanding importance of the Meshchera, as it is here that the European species of coniferous-deciduous forests are most fully represented. Thanks to this rare forest-bog symbiosis, many large animals and birds survive and preserve the offspring. Only in the Meshchera forests is there a Russian desman, a relict species of the mole family.
The abundance of birds nesting in the reserve includes many endangered species: white stork, gray heron, bittern, curlew.
Therefore, it would not be an exaggeration to say that the Meshchera National Park is a true gem of natural heritage.
Lower Svir nature reserve of federal significance
National parks of St. Petersburg and the Leningrad region boast the Lower Siversky Nature Reserve. It is located in southern Ladoga, covers an area of 41 thousand hectares, with land only 36 thousand hectares, the rest is the water spaces of Lake Ladoga and the Svir River Delta .
The plain landscapes of the natural complex are not amazing, its distinctive feature is the wealth of flora and fauna.
The abundance of waterfowl is impressive . Their concentration is especially great during the seasons of spring and autumn flights. At this time, if you are lucky, you can observe flocks of swans, mallards, teal, gray geese on the water. And in total, ornithologists count here 260 species of birds.
The “livestock" of animals living on land is not inferior to them in terms of diversity - only mammals, there are 44 species: elk, brown bear, beavers, lynx, wolverine, and others. Ladoga's water has long been inhabited by the so-called endemic that lives exclusively in a certain area - the Ladoga seal. And in fresh water there is lamprey, well known to many as a fish delicacy.
Swan reserve
National parks of St. Petersburg and the Leningrad region can also be proud of the Swan Reserve. This is another specially protected natural area. The reserve, which received the additional status of a water-balance land of international importance, is located along the southern coast of the Gulf of Finland in the Lomonosov district.
Recognized as the standard of coastal landscapes of the southern shore of the bay. Despite the fact that the occupied area is not so big - 6400 hectares, the reserve has a high conservation value. It is believed that in terms of the diversity of plants, birds and animals, he has no equal in the Leningrad region. 200 species of its inhabitants are already listed in the Red Book of the Russian Federation.
The originality of its location (coast and shallow water) determined the glory of this reserve, which is reflected in its name - Lebyazhy. In spring and autumn, thousands of migratory birds flock here to make a massive flight along the coastline. Every year, up to 30 thousand diverse species of these birds count on swan sites.
A unique reserve currently exists in rather difficult conditions. Almost the entire coast is built up; increased shipping and water pollution leads to the death of rare animals such as ringed seals and gray seals.
National parks of the Leningrad region, and not only, are of great value. Each person’s duty is to preserve them and pass them on to future generations!