The Bologna Reserve is relatively young, created to preserve and further study the wetland complexes occupying the territory of the Lower Amur Region. The most important migration routes of numerous birds and mammals lie in these places. The reserve is included in the List of Wetlands of International Importance. This is an important concentration site for many species of near-water and waterfowl.
History of creation
Bologna Nature Reserve is the youngest in the Far Eastern region. It was founded in 1997.
The history of this conservation area did not start from scratch. Protected natural areas existed in this region since the fall of 1976, when the Selgon seasonal reserve was established in these places, which had local significance. Its area was 48 thousand ha. It included territories from the middle reaches to the mouth of the Selgon River and the shallow lakes Kiltasin and Albite.
The specially protected area in the area of Lake Bologne received further development in August 1984, when a hunting state reserve of regional significance called “Simminsky” was created, which also included Selgon. The main purpose of its creation is the protection of near-water and waterfowl and their habitats near Lake Bologna. The functions of the reserve are the protection of ungulates and migratory birds.
Conservation area today
Over all these years, the Bologna Reserve has taken place as a fairly significant environmental, educational and scientific organization. And today it is the territory of cooperation of many organizations (state and public) and the local population. The office of the reserve is a fairly serious organization, where the departments of science, protection, environmental education and the main activities are working.
The conservation area is occupied by the territory of the wetlands of the Central Amur Lowland with an area of more than 103 thousand ha. Nesting sites of many species of birds, broad-leaved forests, as well as vast swampy areas, mostly covered with endemic vegetation, are protected.
The rivers Symmi and Selgon, as well as Lake Bologna, flowing through the territory of the reserve, are also wetlands of international importance.
Location
The territory of the Bologna Reserve extends in the lowest part of the Middle Amur Lowland and captures the lower reaches (part of the mouth) of the Simmi basin and several other rivers flowing into Lake Bologna.
Administratively, the place is occupied by the territories of Nanai and Amur districts of the Khabarovsk Territory. The entire territory is composed of open landscapes with abundant spring moisture.
Features
The main biotopes of the Bologna Nature Reserve are sedge-reed and sedge-mixed grass meadows. The second most important group of biotopes are numerous rivers, the banks of which mainly consist of birch, larch, oak and aspen. Landscapes adjacent to all water bodies are various associations of shrubs.
The terrain is not very diverse. On average, height fluctuations are about 3.5 meters, and to the maximum they do not exceed 8 meters.
It should be noted that there are few rivers in the conservation area, and the largest of them are Harpy and Simmy. Their basins have a considerable number of tributaries, most of which flow outside the protected zone. The southwestern section of Lake Bologne is part of the reserve. The average depth of the reservoir in summer is 2.5 meters, and its fluctuations largely depend on the state of the water level in the Amur River. In winter, when the water level in the lake is very low, Bologna freezes almost completely.
The climate of the Bologna Reserve is continental monsoon, with relatively little snow and cold winters and warm, humid summers. The average monthly January temperature reaches -28 º, the maximum temperature in summer reaches +40 º.
Variety of flora
As noted above, most of the territory (80%) is occupied by swamps. Other landscapes typical of the Bologna Reserve (photo can be seen in the article) are small forests, birch and aspen, shrubs and swampy meadows. All river banks and the shores of water bodies (lakes and canals) are bordered by powerful thickets of Langsdorf reed grass, which are an excellent refuge for many animals. The Red Book includes a mountain peony growing in these places and a bloody nut.
Due to the fact that the huge protected area is a wetland, a huge variety of birds is observed on the territory of the protected zone and there is a massive concentration of their nesting sites.
Fauna
In spring and summer, the reserve contains numerous flocks of swans, waders, ducks, geese and cranes. There are 24 rare species listed in the Red Books of various ranks. Together with migratory birds, their total number is more than 35 species, among which are the eagle-footed owl, Far Eastern white stork, black and Japanese cranes, black stork, white goose, peregrine falcon, mandarin duck, osprey and others.
It is worth noting that the largest flow of migratory near-water and waterfowl passes through Lake. Albite. In these places, during the spring migration period, up to 150 thousand accumulate on vacation, and in the autumn, up to 250 thousand waterfowl. In the summer, the plains surrounding the lake represent good fodder land for animals of the Bologna Reserve: brown bear, roe deer and elk. A wild boar, a Himalayan bear, a raccoon dog, red deer, badger, muskrat and American mink live here.
sights
The main attraction of the reserve is a wide variety of rare species of migratory birds. Spring clusters of waterfowl on Lake Albite are particularly impressive. For visitors who want to see this stunning picture with their own eyes and learn more about the life of birds, special ecological routes are organized on the territory of the reserve called “Bird Crossroads”.
Recently, an interesting ethnographic complex was built in the village of Juen, which is a kind of Nanai settlement (late XIX - early XX centuries), including a barn, a winter dwelling and hanging. Here you can familiarize yourself with the ancient customs and life of the Nanai people. This is a unique place of amazing history, culture and nature of the Far East.
During the tourist route on Lake Bologna, a stop is made on an island of volcanic origin called Yadasen. It introduces tourists to the legend of the Nanai, telling about the lake and island.
How to get there
Bologna Reserve is a rather interesting object for tourists and travelers. Getting to it is quick and easy.
From the city of Komsomolsk-on-Amur, you can go by bus number 220. From Khabarovsk - by trains No. 351 to the station "Mylki" and No. 667, as well as bus No. 300. You should go to the bus station of the city of Amursk, then take the city bus number 4 to the stop "Embankment of the First Builders". Leaving the bus, you need to go along Amurskaya Street to house number 14.
Start your journey along the interesting routes of the Bologna Reserve - Amursk.
The boundaries of the reserve
The southern border extends from the mouth of the Vakhtar River upstream along the right bank to the mouth of the Left Vakhtar River, and then upstream to the very sources. Then - in a straight line to the spring Yagodny.
In the west, the reserve borders from the Yagodny key downstream to its confluence with the Selgon River. Then the border line runs north in a straight line to the watershed between the two rivers: Harpi and Selgon.
The eastern border of the Bologna Reserve begins from the sources of the river. Khylga southward along the watershed of the tributaries of the Simmi River to the Kirpu Key. Further - downstream to the mouth, and then along the right bank of the Simmi River to the mouth of the Vakhtar River.
The northern border of the reserve goes along the watershed of the Kharpi and Selgon rivers to the tract Relochny chain. Then it passes through the tracts Sopyurun and the chain of rivers to the Harpi River and further along it to its mouth. Further, the border runs through the Khalilga channel to the island of Yersuyn and along its northern coast to the channel Yersuyn. Passing through it, the border extends to the eastern shore of Lake Bologna, and further along this coast goes to the mouth of the Khylga River. Then it goes upstream to the source.
In conclusion
Speaking about the Bologna Reserve, this Far Eastern nature conservation zone is brief, interesting and diverse in terms of natural resources. As noted above, the most important migration routes of mammals and birds pass through the vast territory of the Amur Region. The key role in ensuring the reproduction and survival of near-water bird species belongs to the vast wetlands of the reserve. This is especially true for such vulnerable birds as the Far Eastern Stork, Japanese Crane and White-tailed Eagle.
This region is of no small importance for maintaining at the proper level the population of the Amur elk. The significance of this unique reserve for the biological diversity of the entire region as a whole is great, and it has been noted by many famous domestic researchers.
For many, this reserve is often associated with the Far Eastern stork, since the group of its nests in these places is the largest in the Khabarovsk Territory.