One of the world's largest reserves is located in the north-east of Moscow. Losinoostrovsky park starts from Sokolniki and extends to Balashikha, Mytishchi and Shchelkovo. About 12 thousand hectares in the megalopolis are reserved for the nature of central Russia preserved in its natural form.
History of Losiny Ostrov park
From the XV century. the lands near Moscow were the royal hunting grounds. The Russian nobility came here, and Ivan the Terrible himself loved to spend time, so the forest was protected and protected. The name "Losiny Ostrov" appears at the time of Alexei Mikhailovich Quiet, who often came to hunt with hounds and falcons.
At the beginning of the XIX century. "Losiny Ostrov" is recognized as a nature reserve, and a hundred years later it is included in " green belt"Around the capital. Losinoostrovsky Park received the status of a national park in 1983.
What is Losiny Ostrov park
More than 80% of the park area is reserved for forests, with almost a third located in Moscow.
About 5% of the territory is water bodies, swamps, swamps. The rest is sandy and glacial plains, meadows, moraine hills.
As a scientific institution, the park is divided into zones:
- A specially protected area where mammals live and birds nest in natural conditions. Tourists are not allowed access.
- Well-maintained recreational area. Asphalt paths are laid here, there are benches, gazebos, picnic areas, beaches are equipped on 2 reservoirs.
- Walking excursion part of the park, where environmental centers operate. In this area, you can move on foot or on horseback along marked routes.
Unique flora of the park
The natural vegetation of the Central Russian Upland is represented in Losinoostrovsky Park. Of particular importance is the Alekseevskaya Grove, where 40-meter pines up to 220 years old grow, and Lipnyak, where the trees are 160-180 years old.
The Pine Mane has been preserved since 1865; there are also 250-year-old oaks in the park. The system of reed and lowland bogs is represented by the Mytishchi floodplains and the Verkhnyazuzsky wetland complex, rare lichens grow on the Verkhovy bog, and orchids grow in the shallow waters of the Budaika, Ichka, Pekhorka rivers.
Many plants that can be seen in Losinoostrovsky Park in Moscow are listed in the Red Book of Russia. In total, the protected flora includes 600 plant species.
Fauna
About 40 species of mammals, 180 species of birds, 20 fish and 9 amphibians live in the protected area.
Scientists divide the inhabitants of Losiny Island into 3 groups, depending on their habitat:
- taiga;
- European deciduous forests;
- forest-steppe and steppe.
The pride of the reserve is the elk population, which exists freely, but at the same time is capable of self-reproduction. Spotted deer, hares, squirrels, martens live in Losinoostrovsky Park. Wild boars, ferrets, ermines and muskrats found shelter. About 120 bird species have chosen the park as a nesting place, among them the eagle, partridge, kestrel, owl, and snake-eater. Many birds, such as cranes, waders, swans, stop during their wintering flight.
Visiting centers of Losinoostrovsky park
In a popular recreation place among Muscovites, there are an elk station, stables, an arboretum, as well as several environmental educational centers (EPC).
Employees of the EOC conduct excursions along ecological paths, environmental actions, lectures and master classes, game programs, and celebrate national holidays.
In "Red Pine" you can visit the corner of nature and the House of the Fairy Tale, where Baba Yaga is the boss.
Visiting the EOC "Tea drinking in Mytishchi", you can find out where the water came to Moscow from, what samovars were used, how they drank tea. Near the ecological center there is an architectural monument of the XIX century. - a water intake station that is still in operation.
The Museum "Tsarskaya Okhota" is located in the visit-center of the same name and introduces the traditions of Russian hunting, tells how they dressed for the hunt and organized the departure of the tsar, orientated themselves on the terrain. Near the visitor center are the remains of the hunting lodge of Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich.
EPTs "Abramtsevo" is located in the former jaeger cordon of the XIX century.
Each visitor center will give you delicious herbal tea, treat you with bagels, ride horses and lead you along reserved park paths.
Rest at nature
In recreational areas, birthdays and offsite marriage registrations are held, photo shoots and corporate events, promotions and banquets are held, sports activities... Many Muscovites come to Losinoostrovsky Park, post photos of their vacation on various resources.
Not far from the entrances to the park next to the EPTs "Tea drinking in Mytishchi", "Abramtsevo", "Krasnaya sosna", "Russian life" there are cozy picnic spots. These are wooden houses, sheds, gazebos and tents, which have everything you need:
- tables and benches;
- barbecue;
- firewood.
Log cabin refectory can be rented in the ecological centers.
Horse rides
If you want to better get acquainted with the natural world in Losinoostrovsky Park, how to get inland protected area? There is only one answer - during a horse excursion.
There are 5 horse clubs in the park:
- "Yauza-1";
- "Yauza-2";
- "Losinka";
- "Mytischi";
- "Career".
Walking trails run through national park Losinoostrovsky, Mytishchinsky and Yauzsky forest parks. For 1-1.5 hours of travel, sightseers will see animal tracks, admire the landscapes, get acquainted with the main natural complexes. The routes are 3-5 km long, you can go on horseback riding without a guide, only accompanied by an instructor.
In winter they arrange sleigh rides, in summer - on a cart or tarantass.
Excursion routes in the park
More than 45 km have been laid along Losinoostrovsky Park hiking trails so that tourists can see the various beauty of the nature near Moscow.
Ecological trails "Such a familiar forest", "Mytishchi Plavni" will lead you through unique landscape landscapes and ecosystems. During the trip, you can see not only small rodents and birds, but also meet large mammals, including the owner of the park - the elk. An excursion to the Verkhneyauzskie bogs allows you to learn how beavers live and walk along the dam they have erected.
On the Alekseevskaya Grove route, you will get acquainted with ancient trees and search for a place where the traveling palace of Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich was located. And the excursion "By the path of the Vyatichi", leading through the preserved burial mounds of the XII-XIII centuries, will show the distant past of the Moscow region.
It is extremely interesting to visit Losina biological station, where you can communicate with moose calves, and in winter with deer. However, it should be noted that the excursion is held only at 11 and 13 o'clock, and it is necessary to pre-register. This is due to the way of life of animals.
A fascinating and informative excursion is conducted around the arboretum of Losinoostrovsky Park. Part of the route runs along wooden walkways 6 m above the ground. This allows you to see the forest through the eyes of its native inhabitants. The guide will tell you not only about forest dwellers, but also about foresters, whose profession is to protect forest areas.
There is an excursion dedicated to the old roads of the XV-XVI centuries.
For kids and schoolchildren, excursion programs on ecology, Moscow studies, geography, history, and natural history have been prepared.
How to get there by public transport
Losinoostrovsky Park is easy to get to, because there are many entrances to the park, they are in different areas capital Cities.
- To the EPTs "Tsarskaya Okhota" from the station. m. Shchelkovskaya you need to go bus number 361, minibuses 506k, 485, 447k, 396k, 362k, 1222k and 380k to the stop. "Experimental field".
- To the EPTs "Abramtsevo" from the station. m. Shchelkovskaya bus number 627 follows to the stop with the same name.
- If from Art. m. VDNKh take trolleybus No. 76, bus No. 136, 172, 244 or minibuses 76,144, 244, 344, 675 to the stop. Polygraphic College, you can get into the "Red Pine".
- Can be reached by Elk biological station, if you take a train from the Yaroslavl station and get to the station Los or Perlovskaya, then change to bus No. 547 or 3. They also go to the biological station from the station. m. VDNKh by any bus that goes to the region.
- From st. m. VDNKh to the visit center "Russian life" to go to the stop "Children's Clinic" by buses 136, 172, 903 and 789.
- Along the Yaroslavl railway to the station Mytishchi or from the station. m. VDNKh by minibus to the 4th km of the Moscow Ring Road (20th km of the Yaroslavskoe highway) - this is how you can get to the EPC "Tea drinking in Mytishchi".
- Child Center located in the city of Korolev; go from the Yaroslavsky railway station to the Bolshevo station, then by bus # 7.
How to get there by car
It is even easier to get to the national park by car. The 95th kilometer of the Moscow Ring Road crosses the park area in half. There are exits from the road leading to recreational areas.
You can enter from the Shchelkovskoye highway, the landmark is the traffic police post. The arboretum is located here.
How to get to Losinoostrovsky park by car so as not to get stuck in traffic jams? In this case, it is worth leaving early in the morning along the Yaroslavl highway.
The recreational part of the park is open around the clock. Ecocenters and museums are open daily, some excursions require an advance registration.
There is a national park in Moscow, which is located on Losiny Island. From him the green massif was named. The first mention of the park dates back to 1406. The green massif, located in the north-east of the capital, was a favorite territory for the royal falconry and chase hunting. Since " Elk Island"(the park) has not lost its appeal. But now the area is being used for other purposes.
History of the park
The Losiny Ostrov National Park begins its history from the 15th century, but acquired its status later. The green massif was first mentioned in written sources during the period when Moscow became the center of northeastern Russia. At that time, the island belonged to the Taininskaya volost, located along the current Yaroslavl highway. Ivan the Terrible was very fond of hunting in the park.
Later, a royal hunting farm was established on the island. The park began to be called the "Sovereign's Trap Route" and acquired the status of a reserve. As before, hunting was organized on this territory, often with foreign ambassadors. The name "Losiny Ostrov" appeared only in 1710. In the 18th century. it began to belong to the state department, and hunting in the territory was prohibited to everyone without exception.
With the emergence of St. Petersburg, attention to the park decreased significantly, and it began to overgrow with thickets, the trees were mercilessly cut down by the peasants for their own needs. In 1804 the position of the island changed. The protection of the forest was resumed again. In 1805, the island again received the status of a reserve.
In 1822 the territory was divided into 55 quarters with one boundary wall encircling their common borders. Organized forestry began only in 1842. Prior to 1912, audits were carried out natural resources, and the island was divided into 4 parts: one operational and three reserved. Losiny Ostrov National Park was established in August 1983. It was based on the decree of the ministry. Since then, the area has been considered a very valuable natural monument.
Description of the park
Today "Losiny Ostrov" (Moscow) has an area of over 116 square kilometers. The forest area occupies 80 percent of the territory. It is divided into three zones. The first is a protected part of the park, where people live rare species birds and animals. This part of the island is closed to the public and is heavily guarded.
The second zone is called educational and excursion. Tourist and ecological routes are laid through this territory, accompanied by professional guides. There are four visiting places in this part. The third area is called recreational. It is designed for mass recreation.
Location of the park
Losiny Ostrov (Moscow) originates from Sokolniki. It borders on cities:
- Korolev;
- Balashikha;
- Mytischi;
- Shchelkovo.
Losiny Ostrov Park is located on an area of 12,000 hectares, but outside the Moscow Ring Road there is only 2/3 of the forest. It is only eight kilometers from the southwestern border of the reserve to the Kremlin. The length of the park from south to north is 10 km, from east to west - 22 km.
Nature
Losiny Ostrov (park) is very beautiful. In the center of the territory there is a small swamp, from which the river begins. Yauza. And also in the reserve there are many more streams and reservoirs that form a large water network. Previously, there were over 100 kilometers of canals in the park. Most of them are now abandoned.
The largest canal is called Akulovsky and has been functioning until now. It appeared in the pre-war years and connects the Pekhorka and Yauza rivers with the Volga. Through the Akulov Canal, water flows to the Russian capital.
We should also pay special attention to the Alekseevskaya Grove, which for a long time also had the status of a reserve. it unique territory, whose age is equal to 250 years. There are many swamps in the park, and they occupy a fairly large area.
Vegetable world
"Elk Island" (park) always, even in war time was under the scrutiny of the country's leaders. Trees were constantly planted on the territory. Thanks to the work of many design volunteers, the reserve has acquired a wonderful appearance, as evidenced by numerous reviews.
Now more than 800 species of various plants grow in the park: lichens, mushrooms, etc. Many plants are included in the Red Book of Russia. Pine mainly grows in the Alekseevskaya grove. The age-old lindens, taiga spruce and oak forests have miraculously survived. The grass cover is also diverse. Growing in the park:
- forester;
- lungwort;
- wintergreen;
- buttercup anemone;
- double-leaf mine;
- sedge;
- Zelenchuk.
A lot of wild strawberries, blueberries and sour cherry grows in the park, which is popular with visitors. Since it abounds in swamps, there is also an abundance of lingonberries on the territory.
Animal world
The animals of the Losiny Island are also very diverse. There are over 280 species of birds and animals in the park. Among them:
- 180 - birds;
- 8 - amphibians;
- 4 - reptiles;
- 40 - mammals;
- over 20 - freshwater fish.
"Losiny Ostrov" (park) got its name for a reason. Since the earliest times, many horned artiodactyls have lived on the territory. The number of elk has survived to this day. V post-war period sika deer have also appeared in the reserve.
Wild boars began to breed, and now their population has increased significantly. The number of beavers has been fully restored. There are many fur animals in the reserve:
- ermine;
- squirrel;
- black ferret;
- marten;
- mink.
Owls and bats reign in the park at night. Rodents get along well with animals, harmoniously complementing the reserve with their presence.
Biostation on Losiny Island
The biological station in the Losiny Ostrov park is located next to the huntsman site. This is the place where it is allowed not only to look at artiodactyls. You can iron and feed not only adults, but also cubs. Elks are calm about this. They are very careful animals and in wildlife always try to avoid meeting people.
At the biological station, artiodactyls are already accustomed to the presence of humans and willingly make contact. The staff of the reserve tell those who wish about the behavior of animals, their domestication and nutrition. There are separate individual excursions. In winter, you can even spot sika deer. A visit to the biological station is carried out by appointment.
How to get to the biostation?
It will take a long time to get to the biological station. There are many regular buses going from the VDNKh metro station towards the region. You need to take any of them and get to the first stop after the Moscow Ring Road. Exit before the turn towards the village of Druzhba. Then walk along the main road for another 40 minutes. The path will take approximately 4 kilometers and will pass through the village.
When the road runs into a forest, you must turn left. From there you will see a barrier with a checkpoint. Go straight all the time, turn left at the fork and get to the biological station, which is equipped with a gate.
Losiny Ostrov (park): how to get there?
This can be done in several ways. The entrance to the park is from the side of Prokhodchikov and Roterta streets. Nearby are the Babushkinskaya and Medvedkovo metro stations. You can quickly get to the park from the Los railway platform.
Or you can take buses No. 136 and 172, which depart from the VDNKh metro station. Trams No. 29, 36 and 12 go to the other part of the park. They leave from the station. m. "Podbelskogo Street".
The first mentions of Losiny Island fall in 1406, when these lands were part of the Taininsky volost and princes and kings hunted them. In 1799 the territory national park transferred to the state treasury and the first topographic survey is made.
Losiny Ostrov is the first national park in Russia.
Generally creating was discussed back in 1909, but then this issue could not be resolved. And in 1934 the territory of Losiny Island was included in the so-called "Moscow green belt". Played a very bad role in the history of the park Great Patriotic War 1941-1945... Huge areas of forests were cut down and used for the needs of the front, and in the post-war period, unauthorized seizures of land and grazing of livestock greatly damaged the environment.
In 1979, the Council of People's Deputies on the territory of Losiny Island was created nature Park, and on August 24, 1983 it was transformed into Elk Island National Park- the first national park in Russia.
To date, Losiny Ostrov has been transferred to the jurisdiction of Mosleskhoz, which, due to a small budget, practically does not follow it. And this has a bad effect on the nature of the park - trees are sick, stray dogs are destroying wild animals, the number of fires has increased.
Uniqueness Elk Island National Park lies in the fact that it is the only park within a large metropolis in the world. where you can see wild animals and rare plants. For example, 10 km from the Kremlin you can see beavers, elks, birds of prey.
General information, climate and relief of the Losiny Ostrov National Park.
The park is a single territorial space with a total area of 116 km2, with forests occupying about 89%, reservoirs - 4% and swamps - 7%. According to its functions, Elk Island can be divided into three zones:Specially guarded - 54 km2;
Sports and walking area - 31 km2;
Recreation area - 31 km2.
It is located on the border of the Klinsko-Dmitrovskaya ridge and the Meshchera lowland. The terrain is mainly flat, Through the territory of the national park there are rivers Yauza and Pekhorka... Considerable damage was caused to the channels of these rivers in the 1960s, when the Akulovskaya hydroelectric power station was being built and peat was extracted from the swamps.
Climatic conditions are moderately continental in nature, which is typical for the region. The temperature in winter drops to -10.2 ° С. and in summer the air warms up to + 18 ° С. The average annual temperature is 3.8 ° C. The amount of precipitation that falls per year is different and ranges from 550-650 mm. Thanks to the Klinsko-Dmitrovskaya ridge, the winds mainly blow from the northwest and southwest.
Vegetation of the Losiny Ostrov National Park.
As we already know, in flora the national park is dominated by forests - about 89%. Moreover, the most widespread were coniferous forests - 38%, birch forests - 42% and deciduous forests a little more than 16% of total area... Of the trees, the dominant position is occupied by pines, spruces, larch, birch, oak and linden.
On Losiny Island herbaceous plants are widespread. For example, in pine forests the common wolfberry, lily of the valley, peach-leaved bell and European swimsuit grow. In broad-leaved forests, you can see nettle-leaved bell, green-flowered and two-leaved, real nesting. In swamps and near water bodies, marsh dremlik, spotted fingercorns, two-horned kokushnik and Fuchs have become widespread.
Talking about the flora of the Losiny Ostrov National Park, one wonderful object cannot be ignored - Alekseevskaya grove... This grove is almost more than 250 years old and the protected regime is preserved here in order to protect the centuries-old pine tree from cutting down.
Though Elk Island and is located in the area of human activity, plants that would be included in the Red Book of the Russian Federation have not yet been recorded.
Fauna of the Losiny Ostrov National Park.
At all times it was distinguished by a wide variety of fauna. The latest inventory of animals shows here about 39 species of mammals, 160 species of birds, 5 species of reptiles, 9 species of amphibians and about 15 species of fish.
Yauza river creates excellent conditions for the habitation of many wild animals. These places are well suited for mammals - sika deer, elk, wild boar, muskrat, mink, fox, white hare, squirrel. Of reptiles, snakes, lizards, spindles and vipers are well distributed, and of amphibians, newts, toads and frogs. There is wonderful places in the floodplain of the river for spawning of many fish - crucian carp, perch, pike, roach, burbot and bream.
After analyzing bird migrations, the staff identified about 100 bird species that nest on Losiny Island. Of nesting birds can be distinguished crested grebe, red-necked, black-necked and small toadstools, spinning top, bittern, gray heron, black stork, gogol, lapwing, blackie, small plover and snipe. Of the predatory The nesting birds are inhabited by the buzzard, wasp eater, marsh harrier, black kite, goshawk, hobby, common kestrel and red falcon.
The negative impact of humans has led to the disappearance of beavers, but over the past 10 years, their numbers have been restored.
Targets and goals.
The main areas of research are monitoring and collecting information on the state of forests, assessing damage from human impact for last years and the creation of forest edges along the Moscow Ring Road.
Losiny Ostrov natural park is the only one on the territory of Russia national reserve, which is located within the metropolis, just 15 kilometers from the Kremlin.
A bit of history
The territory on which the Losiny Ostrov park is located today once belonged to the palace Taininskaya volost. Ivan the Terrible also loved to arrange hunting in these places. The park got its name "Losiny Ostrov" during the reign of Alexei Mikhailovich, who also loved hunting and used to set hounds on elk here.
Already at the beginning of the 18th century, a forest guard was organized here. On large areas, deforestation, drainage of swamps, and construction of roads were carried out. Work was carried out on the laying of coniferous trees. Shortly before the revolution, they wanted to turn Losiny Ostrov into a national park. The plans were not implemented - it began World War... Losiny Ostrov Park was able to acquire this status only in 1983.
general information
Today this territory, 90% consisting of forests, occupies 116 square meters. kilometers. It includes three zones:
- Specially guarded. The area is 54 sq. km. The area is closed to the public.
- For sports and walking, 31 sq. km.
- The recreation area is 31 sq. km. and borders on the residential areas of the capital.
And the Yauza originates here. More than three ponds add a pleasant variety to Losiny Ostrov. The national park has a significant area of marshland. The flat relief prevails here. The Klinsko-Dmitrovskaya ridge determines the north- and south-western wind rose over the forest.
Vegetable world
More than 60% of the vegetation is represented by deciduous trees, of which oak prevails. There are also birch groves. Linden is common. The rest of the forest is represented by pine, spruce and larch trees. Alekseevskaya grove, located in the complex, is more than 250 years old. Some of the pines in this grove are over 200 years old. The unique trees were preserved thanks to the protected regime. The grove is rightfully considered unique and adorns the Losiny Ostrov.
The park pleases visitors with an abundance of herbaceous plants. Lilies of the valley, bells, fuchs, marsh dremlik and many others grow here. At the same time, there are no flora representatives on the territory of the reserve, which are included in the Red Book of Russia.
Animal world
More than 40 species of mammals, 170 species of birds, 14 species of reptiles and amphibians inhabit Elk Island.
The park has become a haven for moose and wild boars, martens, hares and many others. The brown hare lives in the swampy meadows, the population of which is steadily declining due to the reduction of the range and the urban factor. More than 15 species of fish live in the waters of the Yauza.
Rest zone
There are always vacationers in the recreational part of the park, especially from the nearest residential areas. In the middle of the forest, you can find numerous benches for relaxation, a meadow with a children's playground and a place for sports.
Sports equipment in the park can be rented. Excellent multi-kilometer trails attract cyclists, skaters and joggers to Losiny Ostrov. The national park is unique place for hiking... Here you can wander into the same one that is described in Russian fairy tales.
There is also a stable. Horse-riding enthusiasts adore Elk Island. The park is just made for leisurely horseback riding.
Walking along the trails, you can feed the squirrels. There are many animals here, and he is not afraid of people - he is ready to take food from his hand.
Winter gives the reserve a special charm. Skiing in untouched forest and the freshest air make this a popular destination even in the winter cold. Ice skating enthusiasts can satisfy their impulse on the frozen mirror of one of the reservoirs.
The sanitary maintenance service of the reserve daily removes more than 2.5 hectares of the recreational zone from various rubbish, dead wood. Also, it is necessary to eliminate the consequences of illegal picnics and spontaneous dump sites. More attention is paid to places of greatest congestion - playgrounds, reservoirs, popular walking routes. No matter how hard the sanitary services try, their work is not diminished. The situation can only change with an improvement in the quality of the cultural education of citizens.
sights
In the estate of the forestry of the reserve there is a cultural and educational center "Russian life". The expositions on display tell about the life of the Slavic people in the period of the 19th - 20th centuries. There is a large collection of clay folk toys.
There are also archaeological artifacts found during excavations of burial mounds from the times of the Vyatichi. The place where these burials were discovered in 1989 was the Losiny Ostrov park. Photos of some of the items on display are presented below.
There is an elk station next to the huntsman's site. Here you can not only see moose or wild boars - you can communicate with animals and feed them from your hands. Just walking in the park, it is problematic to meet a moose. He is a very sensitive animal and, at the slightest noise, moves into the depths of the protected area.
Elk Island National Park, located in the northeast of Moscow and the Moscow region, is an ideal place for those lovers of the forest and fresh air who does not want to leave the city. Here there is a unique opportunity to be one on one with nature, without leaving the metropolis. But it will not work here to cook a barbecue or bake potatoes over a fire, the territory of the park is strictly guarded.
Elk Island is a paradise for families with children, athletes and history buffs. It will also be good for those who just want to relax, wander along the forest paths and be alone with themselves.
About the park
The territory of the park is over 116 km2. Forest occupies about 80% of the total area, 25% of which are located on the territory of Moscow. Losiny Ostrov is one of the first national parks in our country. Water bodies (ponds) occupy 2% of the territory, and 5% - swamps. Several rivers flow through the park. Here Yauza and Pekhorka originate. There is also a tiny stream called Elk.
There are three zones in the park:
- Specially protected area, slightly less than half of the entire territory
- Zone for walking and doing sports,
- Recreation area for mass visits.
From one thousand four hundred and sixth year, the territory of the present Losiny Island was part of the Taininskaya palace volost, the lands of which served as hunting grounds for the Russian tsars and princes.
Since 1800, the first forestry areas appeared here, and the ordering of the territory began. And in 1937 Losiny Ostrov became part of the “green ring” around the capital.
In one thousand nine hundred and eighty-three, Elk Island became known as the National Park. In 2004, there was an attempt to reduce the area of forest plantations for the construction of the fourth transport ring. Fortunately, this idea did not materialize.
What is remarkable about Losiny Ostrov park
Connoisseurs of wildlife will find many rare plants on the territory of the reserve, as well as a wide variety of animals. Elk Island is known for the fact that moose still live here, which from time to time go out onto the carriageways of the streets adjacent to the park.
Twenty years ago, sika deer could be seen in recreational areas. Now they were taken deep into the regional part of the forest to avoid the extermination of these rare animals by poachers.
One of the favorite entertainment for families with children is hand-feeding squirrels. In the park, they are apparently invisible, they are not afraid of people, and readily take nuts and seeds from their hands.
Elk Island was chosen by cyclists. Here they have plenty of space - many wide and comfortable trails make it possible to ride through the forest without hindrances.
By the way, one of the main attractions of the park is Paper Prosek. It was cut in time immemorial to transport timber, which was used to make paper.
Now it is a wide, well-paved road that cuts through the forest from north to south, where in summer you can ride a bike or roller-skate without fear of being hit by a car. After all, the entry of vehicles into the park is strictly limited.
Losiny Island has several playgrounds decorated with wooden figures of animals from favorite children's fairy tales. In general, animal figurines carved from wood are found in the park all the time, in the most unexpected places: they stand along the paths, and some look out from under the bushes. Kids are delighted to find a teddy bear or a bunny made of wood near the path.
Ecological centers and excursions
In the northern part of the park (not far from Prokhodchikov Street) there is an equestrian club where you can rent a horse and ride through the forest along safe routes. Nearby there is the Museum of Russian Life, the "Bird Garden" reserve of rare birds and a biological station.
In environmental and historic centers the park, which includes "Russian life", "Red pine", "Abramtsevo", "Tea drinking in Mytishchi", excursions are organized that will be of interest to children and adults. The main topics are history, Moscow studies, ecology. For example, an excursion for children called "The Path of Fairy Tales" takes place in such interesting forest places as Bear Corner, Pine Mane and others. Children get acquainted with different plants, learn to understand bird and animal tracks, observe the habits of small animals. During the excursion, you can relax in one of the ecological centers, where you will always be treated to tea from a samovar, they will tell many fascinating stories about Russian hunting in ancient times, about the first water supply and many others.
It is believed that the hunting lodge of Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich is lost somewhere in the park, or rather what is left of it. Historians say that the house may be of cultural and historical value. There are also rumors that treasures are hidden in it. But most likely, this is just idle gossip.
Elk Island is a huge forest with ancient history... A few weeks will not be enough for an ordinary person to explore the entire territory of the park. Any visitor will find something to their liking here. History lovers can visit fascinating excursions, athletes ride bicycles in summer and ski in winter, children play and learn to understand and appreciate nature. Tourists take pedestrian crossings to the sources of the famous Moscow rivers. It is good to have a rest here with the whole family at any time of the year.
How to get there from the metro:
You can get to the park in different ways. One of them is the entrance from the street. Roterta, st. Drivers. The nearest metro stations are Medvedkovo and Babushkinskaya, you can also walk from the Los platform of Yaroslavskaya railroad or from metro VDNKh by buses No. 172, 136. In addition, from the Ulitsa Podbelskogo metro station, you can get to another part of the park by trams No. 36, 12, 29.
