Samara Luka is a unique region. The area is formed by the bay (Usinsky) of the Kuibyshev reservoir and the bend of the majestic Volga River. It has a very special microclimate, amazingly beautiful mountains, the blue-blue expanses of the Volga, a unique flora and peace. All beauties have gained worldwide fame for Samara Luka.
History of the Samarskaya Luka National Park
Not so long ago, at the end of the eighteenth century, dense forests of centuries-old trees grew on the territory of Samara Luke. These were mainly pine-oak and oak-linden forests. However, later trees underwent massive felling, which led to a significant reduction in arrays.
Samarskaya Luka National Park was founded in 1984. The purpose of its creation was to preserve natural complexes, to promote the development of national culture, and also to create all the necessary conditions for the development of tourism in the region. The park has built many holiday homes and tourist camps, laid winter and summer routes. Next to it is the city of Zhigulevsk, or rather, it directly adjoins it from the south side. So we can say that the inhabitants of this city are very lucky. For them, getting out for a walk in the park is not difficult.
Historic sites in the park
It should be noted that the Samarskaya Luka National Park is interesting not only for its flora and fauna, there are many archaeological sites on its territory. One of them is the Murom town. Once it was one of the largest settlements of the Volga Bulgaria (from the ninth to the thirteenth century). Also here are the settlements of the Bronze and Iron Ages. All of them need further study, because they can tell a lot more.
In 2011, a remarkable exposition of archaeological finds entitled “Antiquities of Samara Luke” was opened in the park. Just imagine that there are exhibits belonging to different eras: the Stone, Bronze, Iron Ages and the Middle Ages. How interesting to see live objects of the Golden Horde!
Since the city of Zhigulevsk is located nearby, this exposition was opened with the support of its local history museum. Locals do not always have the opportunity and time to visit museums. But those who come to the park on vacation just might imagine that very convenient case when it’s quite possible to combine entertainment with informative excursions.
In general, the whole history of this region is closely intertwined with the names of such historical figures as Stepan Razin, Ermak, Emelyan Pugachev, Alexander Menshikov and the Orlov brothers.
Nature of the national park
The nature of Samara Luke is rich in a variety of plants that cover the steppes with all kinds of flowers from spring to autumn. The vegetation of this area has deep scientific significance. Here, once, for the first time, six species of plants were discovered, three of which are generally not found anywhere else. This sunflower is monolithic, Euphorbia zhigulevsky, swing zhigulevsky. Many plants of the Samara Luke are quite rare and are found only in these places.
Relict trees that have survived to the present from ancient eras (preglacial, glacial, postglacial periods) are very interesting for research. Oddly enough, but the glacier could not reach the Zhiguli Mountains, and therefore practically did not affect the nature of Samara Luke. The greatest number of relics can be found precisely in the rocky mountain steppe.
Fauna
The fauna of Samara Luke is quite peculiar. This is reflected in the fact that at least thirty percent of vertebrates live here on the border of their ranges. These include: a viviparous lizard, an ordinary viper, a long-tailed owl, a leggy owl, a hazel grouse, and a capercaillie. All of them are representatives of Siberian and taiga species. And at the same time, typical representatives of the southern steppe species live next to them: a marsh turtle, a patterned snake, a golden bee-eater, and a waterbird.
There are also relict species. It is interesting that they are separated from the main habitat by a sufficiently large distance. This is a patterned snake , common mole rat, beetle Alpine barbel.
The modern animals of Samara Luke are also diverse: roe deer, elk, wolf, wild boar, lynx, marten, hare, fox, muskrat and many others. All of them live here in comfortable natural conditions.
Mountains of Samara Luke
On the northwestern part of Samara Luka is Molodetsky mound. From it begins the Zhiguli Mountains, which stretch over a 75-km ridge. The mound is shrouded in many legends and legends. Its height is a little more than two hundred meters. It hangs over the waters of the Volga reservoir near the Usinsky Bay.
One of the fabulous legends tells that once a fellow fell in love with a beautiful girl Volga. But the beauty did not like him. Her heart was occupied by the Caspian. And so the fellow decided to block her path, not to let her to the opponent. Then the Volga tricked him. She lulled with her sweet speeches both the young man and his squad. And she fled to her beloved. Much time has passed since then, the fellow and his warriors petrified, turning into the Molodetsky mound. And since then the Volga has always lulled them with the murmur of its waters. Here is such a beautiful story of the emergence of Samara Luke and the Zhiguli Mountains. However, this is just a legend.
In fact, once a river was blocked by a fold formed due to the movement of earth layers. The Volga had no choice but to rush its waters around an obstacle. And so the legendary and bizarre bend of the river was formed.
The Molodetsky mound has long been of interest to many scientists. This is a unique, in fact, place. It seems very severe, this view is given to it by sheer cliffs. And only one of the slopes is covered with dense forest, and relict pines grow on the very top of the mound. The whole beauty of this place cannot be expressed in words. On Molodetsky Kurgan you can meet completely rare representatives of the fauna: a steppe hawk, white-tailed eagle, swallowtail butterflies and apollo.
From the top of the mound offers a beautiful view of the reservoir, mountains and Usinsky Bay. Even before the flooding, Kalmyk Island was located opposite Kurgan, and behind it, on the opposite bank of the river, was the one-story wooden city of Stavropol. But after the flooding of the territories, of course, the water level rose by almost thirty meters, and the lower part of the shallow river Us turned into Usinsky Bay.
Molodetsky mound is especially popular among tourists. And on the shore of the bay often hold environmental events, sporting events, all kinds of gatherings. The mound is included in the excursion route of the national park.
Maiden mountain
Maiden’s Mountain is located next to the Molodetsky Barrow. She is also called the younger sister. After flooding, the Kuybyshevskoe reservoir hid more than half of the mountain under its waters. Maiden’s Mountain is also shrouded in legends, like the whole Samara Luke.
Mount Camel
This bizarre mountain is located near Krestovaya Polyana (Shiryaevo village). It got its name because of the bizarre shape of the peak, which seems to hang over the Volga and really resembles this animal. From the top of the mountain offers a beautiful view of the surroundings and the banks of the Volga, Tsarev Kurgan and Zhiguli Gate. Tsarev Kurgan was once a whole with the mountain range.
As for the Zhiguli Gate, this is the narrowest point in the Volki Valley, here the river flow is the strongest.
The bowels of Mount Camel are penetrated by a network of adits; they are cool even in hot summers. There are still preserved rails along which trolleys walked at the beginning of the century. Currently, adits have become the haven of the largest colony of bats in all Volga lands.
Near the mountain is the village of Shiryaevo. Repin once worked here. Mount Camel has long been chosen not only by tourists, but also by climbers who equipped a climbing wall on it.
The Zhiguli Mountains end near the village of Podgora, turning into a plateau. It rises above the river by about forty meters. Its surface is cut by ravines, hollows, alternating with rocks and forests.
Rock Saggy Stone
Skala is another local attraction. It consists of limestone rocks. And on its slopes grow linden, oak, maple, as well as violets, lilies of the valley, bobovnik. The top of the cliff looks like a small platform. It offers a wonderful view of the Serpentine Gulf, the Shelekhmet Mountains.
Snake backwater
At the foot of the cliff there is Lake Vislokamenka (Snake). Although now it is more correct to call it a bay (after the construction of a cascade of reservoirs). People say that the lake got its name, because there were always a lot of snakes. And to date, these places are considered the most snake-filled in all of Samara Luka. Do not think that it is directly teeming with them. More often you can find snakes and snakes, but poisonous snakes are rare.
In these places there lives a white-tailed eagle, which is listed in the Red Book. They are found in adjacent lands of backwaters and wild boars, roe deer, and kites. Stony steppes and meadows, coniferous and deciduous forests predominate here. All this combined perfectly and creates an indescribable beauty that attracts many tourists.
On the lands of Samara Luka is not only the Samara Luka National Park, but also the Zhiguli National Reserve named after I.I. Saprygin, who is one of the oldest in Russia.
Edge birds
Many birds of Samara Luke are listed in the Red Book. In general, there are more than two hundred species of birds. Unfortunately, species diversity has declined over the past century. The disappeared include the black stork. This situation is associated primarily with human influence. After all, roads were built here, oil was extracted, the banks of the Volga were built up. All this to some extent affected nature.
Most species of birds living on Samara Luka nest here regularly or live settled. But there are also species that fly into the territory during migrations.
Capercaillie, black grouse and hazel grouse are especially interesting. Once upon a time there were a lot of them. Now everything has changed. But, on the other hand, the white-tailed eagle became a settled permanent resident of these places.
The combination of floodplain and mountain landscapes creates unique conditions for numerous representatives of the animal world, many varieties of bats that have chosen local adits. To prevent bats from bothering in the winter, the entrances to the caves are blocked by bars.
Instead of an afterword
Samara Luka is the rarest natural phenomenon. The Ministry of Natural Resources has created a national park at one time. The local places are also unique in the composition of the plant and animal world. Not so long ago, biosphere reserves were opened on the basis of the Zhigulevsky Reserve. Their goal was to ensure the protection of the lands of the Volga region and the landscapes of the Lada. Most of the lands of reserves are located on the territory of Samara Luke. This is due primarily to the fact that human influence is not so much affected on these lands. And that means that there is still a chance to somehow preserve all that is at present. On the territory of the bioreservice there are completely unique ecosystems: the Samara Luka plateau, stone steppes, mixed forests, etc. The Ministry of Natural Resources should carry out environmental measures aimed at protecting the human influence on nature. Since not all human deeds are for her good.
Samarskaya Luka National Park is a unique place that impresses with its beauties. Visit it and plunge into the wonderful world of nature.