The icing did not touch the moist forest-steppes of the Middle Amur Region, due to which the virgin forests remained in their pristine beauty. The East European prairies of the Khingan Reserve are famous for relict species of tall grass, numerous lakes and swampy hollows.
Location
The Khingan State Nature Reserve includes the territory between the Urila and Mutnoy rivers, the total area of which is 97 thousand hectares. The borders of the reserve are outlined by a branch of the Trans-Siberian Railway in the north, and the southern outskirts almost reaches the Amur. The administration is located in the village of Arkhar. Innokentyevka village is the nearest settlement to the reserve.
Territories of forests, lakes and swamps have become the cradle for the nesting of several rare bird species: white stork, Japanese and Daurian cranes.
History of Khingan Reserve
In 1963, a natural corner was created, designed to relax residents of the industrial city of Obluchye. Initially, the protected areas included one plot of 59 thousand hectares. At the end of the 70s of the last century, the territories of the Antonovsky forestry between Arkhara and Bureya were attached to the reserve. In the early 80s, a large cluster was added, located between the Uryl and Gryaznaya channels. The Khingan Reserve of the Amur Region has acquired a modern shape.
Currently, the structure of protected areas includes:
- regional reserve "Ganukan";
- unique natural monument "Lotus of Komarov";
- Federal Reserve “Khingan-Arkharinsky”.
Climate
Summer winds bring heavy rainfall to the reserve. Winters are not snowy, but frosty, the temperature can drop below -40 ° C. Spring brings the long-awaited warmth. This dry season is replaced by long and hot summers with multi-day rains.
The riot of tall grass in the low part affects the diversity of flora, as well as the forests of low mountain slopes. These places are especially beautiful in June-July, when a leotard, irises and flamboyant flashes of bright foci against the backdrop of reed and sedge thickets, interspersed with birch groves and oak groves
The abundance of moisture contributed to the formation of sphagnum bogs and lakes. Here you can find unique types of plants: Komarov lotuses, tetrahedral water lilies, egg capsules.
Fauna and flora of the Khingan reserve
Mongolian oaks prevail throughout the territory ; coniferous-deciduous trees are found. Korean cedar, white fir, Siberian and Ayan spruce, Amur linden, and yellow birch grow in smaller quantities. Almonds are found in the floodplains of the rivers. Wet coasts are covered with thickets of bird cherry and willow.
There are more than 1750 species of insects in the reserve alone. The largest group of wild boars in the Amur Region lives on protected lands. Roe deer, Manchurian deer, sable, squirrel, Himalayan and brown bears, lynxes, wolves, Far Eastern forest cats, raccoon dogs, muskrats, otters are found in the reserve.
The role of the reserve in preserving rare species of birds is invaluable: cranes, storks, white-tailed eagles, spotted eagles, moons.
Unusual inhabitants
One of the most famous animals of the Khingan reserve is the tiger Ilona. Together with four brothers and sisters, she was taken to the reserve as a tiger cub. And the president of Russia himself let her out.
Currently, the young tigress freely walks around the territory, but people unobtrusively monitor her life. It is known that a huge cat is a wonderful hunter. The basis of her diet is wild boar meat. She has not yet found a groom, because there are not many of her brothers in the reserve, but Ilona is ready to create a family.
Recently, for some reason, the tigress ruined one of the tracking cameras, while the flash drive with the recording disappeared without a trace. Why the wild animal decided to prevent surveillance is unknown. The camera has been replaced and now again helps to collect information about the life of tigers in their natural habitat.
sights
Khingan Reserve is famous not only for its beautiful nature. The highest point of the territory is located in it - Mount Eraktich, in which the Tarmanchukansky tunnel is located.
During the construction of the federal highway, 33 km from the reserve, fossilized bones of ancient reptiles, duckbill dinosaurs, were discovered. Skeletons of ankylosaurs were found nearby, by the way, the first in the Russian Federation. The dinosaur cemetery was formed about 67 million years ago. Scientists suggest that the cause of the mass death of the ancient giants was the descent from the mountains of mudflow.
Traveling along the Archar will allow you to see on one of the rocks petroglyphs, which date back to 500 BC. The ancient artist depicted a hunting scene. Innokentyevsky and Arkadyevsky pine forests, the Esaulovsky mineral spring, as well as hot springs are considered natural attractions.
Tourism
About a thousand tourists visit the Khingan Reserve during the season. Lovers of wildlife seek to observe the inhabitants and admire nature. The most popular route is the “White Bird Lake”. Its length is about half a kilometer, the program is designed for an hour.
How to get and where to stay
The easiest and fastest way to get from the capital to the Khingan Reserve involves air travel to Blagoveshchensk. From there, the village of Arkhara can be reached by bus.
You can stay on the shores of Lake Dolgoy. There is a small camp site for up to 40 people. It works only in the warm season (houses are not heated). From the side of the Chita - Khabarovsk highway there is the Vostok Hotel, which is also popular with tourists.