Nature generously endowed Dagestan, in a not so large territory there are many climatic zones. What are the famous dune Sarykum and relict forest. In our article we want to talk about what is the Samur forest.
Amazing land
The Caucasus has long attracted tourists, travelers, climbers and ordinary lovers of exotic to its lands. It cannot be said that there are few beautiful places in the world, but in Dagestan there is a unique collection of rare species of animals and plants, some of which are listed in the Red Book. The warm and bright world of contrasts, the mountains of the eastern part of the Caucasus Range, the unique nature and proximity of the Caspian have long attracted vacationers. That is why in the summer period the population in Dagestan doubles.
Healing mud and magnificent beaches, plenty of sun and clean air - these are excellent conditions for a good rest. However, Dagestan is interesting not only as a health resort. Here you will find true natural monuments well preserved from ancient times. The Samur forest in Dagestan is interesting in that along with the most valuable species ordinary apples, pears grow, and cork trees are braided by vines. Isn't this a miracle?
Real jungle in Russia
Samur forest in Dagestan is located in the delta of the Samur River. This is about two hundred and twenty kilometers from Makhachkala (Derbenet district). Currently, the Samur Forest is the territory of the reserve of the same name. Here lianas braid tree trunks, and the grass is so tall that it seems as if a human foot had never stepped here. Meanwhile, linden, walnuts, apple trees, pears, hornbeams, poplars and other trees that are adjacent to flexible vines have been growing for centuries. An interesting fact is that all liana varieties absolutely need sunlight. Over the centuries, they have developed the ability to hold thin tendrils for the branches of surrounding trees and thus rise higher, delighting with beautiful flowers and leaves.
It seems that people simply can not live in such a forest, but this is not entirely true. There is even a leshoz in the reserve. A sad fate would have awaited the Samur forest if the locals had not taken up the matter together with public organizations involved in the protection of natural monuments.
Relic reserve
The Samurian liana forest is completely dependent not on rains, but rather on underground keys, which are its power sources. Not in the best way human activity is reflected in this territory. The fact is that every year people take more and more water from the Samur River.
But to our times ancient legends have come down, telling about how carefully the ancestors treated the liana forest. Some trees, birds, and animals were considered sacred. Those who dared to break a twig or injure a bird were sentenced to serious punishment.
All this information is gathered by contemporaries from ancient sources dating from the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. It is unfortunate that now, at an incredible speed, everything that has been guarded by ancestors for centuries has been wasted. The struggle to protect the Samur forest has been going on since the seventies of the last century, and it gained the status of a national park only in 1991.
Description
The Samur Forest is a valuable array of nature located along the Samur River, on the territory of which animals live and the rarest migratory birds nest. Environmentalists believe that the liana national park is one of the last relict forests in the Russian Federation. Specialists are trying to carefully monitor bird, migratory, and wintering populations, since many of them are on the verge of extinction due to the fact that people destroy their usual nesting sites.
The unique liana forest in Dagestan has long been known around the world. Thousands of different types of vegetation grow in it, some of which have long been listed not only in the Red Book of Dagestan, but also in Russia. It is difficult to imagine, but on an area equal to two thousand hectares, live, breed and produce offspring of more than 450 species of vertebrates. And why are the herbaceous plants of the Samur forest standing, they are so tall that the impression of the absolute savagery of the region is created, as if it were in a place where people had never set foot.
Rarest species
In the Samur forest live animals and plants that are no longer found anywhere in the world:
- Nelumbo nucifera, yellow steinbergia, winged lapin, three-foot nectarosodium, Shirvan Orchis, or northern orchid, and many other plants.
- Only in these parts Capspian and long-toed crayfish live in abundance, a large stag beetle that can fly vertically, a barbel beetle, sailing butterflies, pinpoint red bear and unusual bolivaria.
- Among the rarest mammals in the liana forest you can find a Caucasian otter, a wide- billed European otter , a reed cat, and a forest cat. And of the rarest birds on the earth there are a white-tailed eagle, a curly pelican, a loaf, a snake-eater, a peregrine falcon, steppe and meadow tiruks, and others.
- And closer to the sea you can see the Mediterranean turtle, red-bellied snake, the Syrian garlic.
Creepers
In the thick of the amazing rainforest, in which about seventy varieties of trees and shrubs grow, more than a dozen species of vines live. Actually, for this reason, this wonderful place is called a liana forest. Here you can see the amazing variety of such plants that braid the branches of trees, decorate them with whole bunches of unprecedented flowers, giving an indescribable aroma. Variegated butterflies and bird singing complete the incredible picture. Such a number of vines is far from everywhere to be found.
Healing lakes
The uniqueness of the Samur forest is not limited only to animals and plants, there is a network of small healing lakes on the shores of the Caspian Sea. And these reservoirs are formed precisely due to the waters of the underground rivers of the liana forest. Small lakes warm well and are a great breeding ground for kutum and salmon.
Millions of migratory birds, as well as those birds that nest in the liana forest, feed on these ponds. The fact is that Dagestan has rather severe winters, so birds always flock to those places where there is fresh water and food. Sometimes tens of thousands of birds from the marshes of the reserve flock to the lower reaches of Samur. It was such an abundance of birds that turned this place into an ornithological laboratory, moreover, of world significance. In these places, constant monitoring of the migration of birds.
Samur Forest: recreation center
Samur has long been a favorite vacation spot for tourists. There is a subtropical liana forest in the river delta, and on the sea coast there are absolutely wonderful places to relax.
Pensions have been built on the shore of the Caspian Sea for a long time, offering relaxation in their apartments. Among them are Golden Sands, Kizlyar Lagoon, Surf, and The Seagull. You can stay in any of them if you want to see the Samur Forest. The recreation center (any of them) offers pastime at sea. Tourists can take walks and excursions to the sights of Dagestan. A mandatory item in the program is Samur Forest. Rest and walk in such an amazing place will be remembered for a long time. The Dagestan pearl is worth a look.
A recreation center in the Samur forest could become a very popular place visited by tourists. It is necessary to draw people's attention to the problems of this region. However, it must be understood that the liana forest is a protected area, and any unnecessary presence of a person can adversely affect it. And without that, the leshoz is constantly engaged in cutting down unique trees, violating the integrity of everything that has come down to us from our ancestors. The activity of the border outposts located on the territory of the forest, which contribute to the destruction of the environment, is not in the best way.
Tourists reviews
Samur forest is one of the attractions of Dagestan. According to the tourists who visited it, this is an amazing sight. The amazing contrast of these places is striking. It’s hard to imagine when the ordinary trees that are familiar to us are entwined with outlandish vines. You only need to see it. Therefore, visiting Dagestan, you definitely need to go to the Samursky reserve. You will get a lot of impressions and discover this amazing land.