Ten natural sites of the Russian Federation are on the UNESCO World Heritage List (4 of them are recognized as natural phenomena of exceptional beauty and aesthetic importance), and this is not counting another 15 sites that are cultural objects of protection. This is not at all surprising, because Russia is a truly immense country, with a huge territory, incredibly beautiful and diverse nature, with a rich cultural heritage.
If you want to see the pristine nature of Russia in its original form, then the Russians (and foreign tourists too) will have no difficulty in going to one of the natural reserves or national parks of the country, on the territory of which these ten objects are located that need constant protection at the international level ...
1. Forests of the Komi Republic
The area of these forests is more than 3 million hectares, on which there is a national park and a state biosphere reserve. This object has opened a new page in protection for Russia. the environment at the global level.
The virgin forests of Komi are known as the largest intact forests in Europe. They occupy an area of 32.600 square kilometers in the north of the Ural Mountains, within the Pechero-Ilychsky Reserve and the Yugyd Va National Park. By their composition, Komi forests belong to the taiga ecosystem. They are dominated by conifers. Western part forests fall on the area of the foothills, the eastern - on the mountains themselves. The Komi forest is distinguished by a variety of not only flora, but also fauna. More than two hundred species of birds live here, 40 species of rare mammals, and 16 species of fish live in the reservoirs, which are considered valuable for fishing, preserved since the Ice Age. For example, such fish species include Siberian grayling and char char. Many inhabitants of the virgin forests of Komi are listed in the Red Book of the planet. This natural site of the Russian Federation was included in the UNESCO list in 1995 - the very first in the list.
2. Lake Baikal
For the whole world, Baikal is a lake, for residents of Russia who are in love with a unique natural object, Baikal is the sea! Located in Eastern Siberia, it is the deepest lake on the planet and, at the same time, the largest natural reservoir of fresh water in terms of volume. Baikal has a crescent shape. Maximum depth the lake is 1642 meters with an average depth of 744. Baikal contains 19 percent of all fresh water on the planet. The lake is fed by more than three hundred rivers and streams. Baikal water is characterized by a high oxygen content. Its temperature rarely exceeds plus 8-9 degrees Celsius, even in the summer near the surface. The water of the lake is so clean and transparent that it allows you to see in depth at a distance of up to forty meters.
The oldest and deepest (approximately 1700 meters) on Earth, Lake Baikal covers an area of over three million hectares. The reservoir, which appeared about 25 million years ago, was in almost complete isolation, due to which an amazing ecosystem was formed in its fresh waters, the study of which allows one to obtain information about the evolutionary processes taking place on the planet.
The lake, unique even on a global scale, is about 20% of all the resources of such necessary fresh water on Earth, as well as a delightful sight that inspires with beauty and bewitches with the luxury of amazing landscapes.
Lake Baikal in 1996 was named a wonderful pearl by UNESCO and is included in the list of priceless heritage of the planet.
3. Kamchatka volcanoes .
This site was also included in the World Heritage List in 1996. Five years later (in 2001), the territory of the object subject to international protection expanded due to the movement of the lithospheric plates of the Pacific volcanic ring. Today the territory of the state biosphere reserve is about 4 million hectares. This territory is called " natural museum volcanology ". As exhibits can serve as long extinct, and active volcanoes the Kamchatka Peninsula. Moreover, each of the "exhibits" is an individual object, for the study of which there is not enough life.
In total, the territory of this facility is currently about 300 extinct volcanoes and 30 operating, but the number of the latter changes every year. The most interesting tourist attraction of this region is the Valley of Geysers in the Konotsky Biosphere Reserve. The mountain rivers of Kamchatka abound in huge numbers of salmon fish, and the coastal waters are home to many species of whales and dolphins.
4. Altai mountains
These mountains are called "Golden", as each species of animals, birds and fish is unique here. The Altai cedar forests and mammals with the most valuable commercial fur, which can be equated in value with gold, have been preserved here. The object covers an area of more than 1.5 million hectares, was included in the UNESCO list in 1998. The "golden" Altai mountains at the intersection of the mountain range of Siberia and Central Asia.
The vegetation of this region is unique, there are an abundant territory of alpine meadows, there are steppes, semi-deserts and tundra. Everything is unique here, from snow leopards to forms of mountainous terrain. Teletskoye Lake is called the pearl of the Altai Territory, which is also called "Small Baikal".
5. Natural Park "Lena Pillars"
The fabulously beautiful landscapes of the park are formed by hundred-meter rock formations that pacify the waters of the beautiful Lena River. "Lena Pillars" are located in the very heart of Sakha (Republic of Yakutia).
Such an amazing natural phenomenon owes its appearance to the continental climate, temperature fluctuations within which reach about one hundred degrees (+40 degrees in summer and -60 degrees in winter). The pillars are separated by deep ravines with steep slopes. Their formation took place under the influence of water, which contributes to the freezing of the soil and its weathering. Similar processes led to the fact that the ravines deepened and widened. In this case, water plays the role of a destroyer, posing a danger to the pillars.
The Lena Pillars, included in the list of the planet's heritage in 2012, are of interest not only from the point of view of aesthetic spectacle, it is also a unique archaeological zone, on the territory of which the remains of ancient animals of the Cambrian period were discovered.
This natural site has an area of 1.27 million hectares. If we take into account the geological structure of the soil in the park, then this land can "tell" a lot about the history of the planet's development, about living organisms and vegetation.
Many remains of mammoths, bison, woolly rhinoceroses, Lena horses, reindeer and other remains of ancient mammals have been found in Lena Pillars. The complex is inhabited today by 12 representatives of animals and birds listed in the Red Book of the planet. It is believed that the Lena Pillars have a huge "aesthetic influence" on a person due to its unique beauty of landscapes, bizarre relief with huge caves, fabulous stone statues, rocky spiers, niches and "towers".
6. Sikhote-Alin nature reserve
This territory, included in the UNESCO list in 2001, covers an area of about 0.4 million hectares. The object is valuable in that unique deciduous forests and ancient coniferous forests have been preserved on its territory. There is also an incredible mixture of different species of flora and fauna, among which there are many rare species.
A large biosphere reserve in the Primorsky Territory was originally created to preserve the sable population. It currently represents the most comfortable spot observation of the life of the Amur tiger. A huge number of plants grow on the territory of the Sikhote-Alin Nature Reserve. More than a thousand of the highest species, more than a hundred - mosses, about four hundred - lichens, more than six hundred species of algae and more than five hundred - mushrooms.
The local fauna is represented by a large number of birds, marine invertebrates and insects. Many plants, birds, animals and insects are protected. Chinese schisandra,ginseng,Fori rhododendron and Palibina edelweiss, sika deer and Himalayan bear, black crane and stork, Japanese starling, Sakhalin sturgeon, fish owl and Machaon butterfly - they all found shelter in the Sikhote-Alin nature reserve.
7. Natural complex of the Wrangel Island reserve
The protected area, which was added to the list of UNESCO treasures in 2004, is located above the Arctic Circle. It includes the relief landscapes of Wrangel Island, whose area is over 7 thousand square meters. kilometers, and the Herald Island, whose area is 11 thousand square meters. kilometers, as well as the coastal waters of the East Siberian Sea and the Chukchi Sea.
This region managed to avoid glaciation, thanks to which the area is distinguished by an amazing biological diversity. The harsh climate of the protected area attracted walruses, who formed here the largest rookery in the Arctic. Polar bears also took a fancy to the picturesque land; the density of their ancestral dens in this region is considered the largest on the planet.
Over fifty species of birds nest here, among which there are both endemics and endangered ones. Gray whales rush here, choosing this place for feeding. Surprisingly, over four hundred species of vascular plants are found on the island, among which there are also endemics.
Here tourists can see the largest bird colonies in the eastern Arctic. Among the plant forms, relics of the Pleistocene prevail. The landscape of the island is unusual, as well as its water area. Many travelers dream of visiting this place.
8. Ubsunur Basin
The area of this unique biosphere reserve is 0.8 million hectares. The object was included in the UNESCO list in 2003. Located salt Lake with a large-scale area on the border of Mongolia and the Russian Republic of Tuva. By the way, on the territory of Russia there are only seven sections of an intermountain basin with a shallow lake (up to 15 meters), the remaining five parts of the Transboundary Facility are located in Mongolia. Each of the seven sections of the basin on our territory is individual in appearance and in the plants that grow there depending on the landscapes.
Inhabitant of the Ubsunur Basin
ZHere you can see foothills with eternal areas of snow-capped peaks, there are also areas of mountain taiga, alpine meadows, wetlands, mountain tundra and even sandy deserts. Outlier mountains with bright vegetation and contrasting landscapes make the Ubsunur Basin especially picturesque. There are endangered species of animals - mountain sheep - argali, snow leopard, as well as many rare species of birds - geese, herons, terns, gulls, waders, etc. During the excavation of ancient burial mounds on the territory of the basin, unique rock paintings, burials and stone sculptures were discovered ...
9. Putorana plateau
Included in the World Heritage List in 2010, this natural site of the Russian Federation covers a total area of more than 1.8 million hectares. This pristine basalt plateau in the north of Eastern Siberia, almost at the Arctic Circle, is invaluable in terms of study by geologists and geomorphologists. The mountainous terrain has a stepped landscape, flat-topped massifs are intersected by deep canyons. The plateau was formed at the turn of the Mesozoic and Paleozoic as a result volcanic activity... Forty-layer deposits make it possible to study the structure of the planet.
Deep cracks in the plateau were formed by glaciers, which were subsequently filled with water, forming lakes with a unique appearance and a depth of up to 400 meters. There are many beautiful waterfalls on the territory of the plateau, one of which (in the valley of the Kanda River) has a height of 108 meters. In total, on the territory of the Putorana plateau, there are 25 thousand small and large lakes with a huge supply of fresh water. There are more than 30 species of mammals in this northern reserve, and they are all rare or relict.
Vegetation is represented by 400 species - mainly woodlands, mountain tundra and larch taiga. The plateau serves as a resting place for thousands of species of migratory birds.
The picturesque landscapes of the beautiful plateau coincide with the boundaries of the reserve of the same name located beyond the Arctic Circle, which adorns the territory of Central Siberia. A special charm of the area is betrayed by the zones replacing each other: virgin taiga, the richest forest-tundra, colorful tundra landscapes and the fabulous beauty of the icy arctic deserts. The real decoration of the plateau: the curly ribbons of the rivers and the crystal saucer of the lake, filled with clear cold water. Through the inhospitable lands of the plateau, a road stretches along which deer migrate. This is an incredible sight, which can be observed less and less often in nature.
10. Territories of the Western Caucasus
The natural reserve with an area of 0.3 million hectares has been included in the UNESCO list since 1999. These territories are almost untouched by human civilization. Today they are protected not only by UNESCO, but also by other all-Russian and international organizations - Greenpeace, the Institute of Geography of the Russian Academy of Sciences, NABU, Dresden Technical University, the North Caucasus working group, etc. The territory of the reserve covers areas that stretch from the upper reaches of the river Kuban to the rivers Belaya and Malaya Laba..
Caucasus. Blooming rhododendron in the valley of the Upper Mzymta
The vegetation in this protected area is represented by coniferous and deciduous forests, crooked forests, mountain meadows, and a nival belt. Every third plant is considered relict here. Rare species of predatory birds nest here - osprey, bearded vultures, golden eagles, griffon vultures, etc. Among the large animals in the reserve you can see West Caucasian tigers, brown bears, wolves, Caucasian red deer, bison, etc. Tourists will be interested to see beautiful karst formations in this natural area with deep gorges, waterfalls, underground rivers, tarn lakes, moraines, circuses and valleys formed by mountain glaciers.
11. Curonian Spit
The Curonian Spit is a sandy spit located on the coast of the Baltic Sea and the Curonian Lagoon. The Curonian Spit is a narrow and long saber-shaped strip of land that separates the Curonian Lagoon from the Baltic Sea and stretches from the city of Zelenogradsk in the Kaliningrad region to the city of Klaipeda (Smiltyne) (Lithuania).
The length is 98 kilometers, the width ranges from 400 meters (in the area of the village of Lesnoy) to 3.8 kilometers (in the area of Cape Bulvikyo, just north of Nida).
The Curonian Spit is a unique natural and anthropogenic landscape and a territory of exceptional aesthetic value: The Curonian Spit is the largest sandy body that is part of the Baltic sand spit complex, which has no analogues in the world. The high level of biological diversity due to the combination of various landscapes - from desert (dunes) to tundra (raised bog) - gives an idea of important and long-term ecological and biological processes in the evolution and development of terrestrial, river, coastal and marine ecosystems and communities of plants and animals. The location of the spit and its relief are unique.
The most significant element of the spit relief is a continuous strip of sandy white dunes 0.3-1.0 km wide, some of them approaching the highest in the world (up to 68 m).
The Curonian Spit contains natural areas that are the most representative and important for the conservation of biological diversity, including those where endangered species are preserved, which are of outstanding global importance in terms of science and nature conservation: due to its geographical position and orientation from the north-east to the south- west it serves as a corridor for migratory birds of many species flying from the northwestern regions of Russia, Finland and the Baltic countries to the countries of the Middle and Southern Europe... Annually in spring and autumn, from 10 to 20 million birds fly over the spit, a significant part of which stop here for rest and feeding.
In the last entry, she posted not all the architectural objects of Russia, marked by UNESCO for their uniqueness and historical value. Today I will add to this list ...
12. Citadel, old town and fortifications of Derbent .
The citadel, old town and fortifications of Derbent are the collective name under which UNESCO in 2003 included the medieval architectural heritage of the city of Derbent in the list of World Heritage Sites.
The history of ancient Derbent, located on the shores of the Caspian Sea, on the territory of modern Dagestan, has, according to archaeologists, five thousand years. This one of the oldest cities in Russia was originally a small settlement founded at the foot of the spurs Caucasus mountains, which later acquired impressive city fortifications.
However, the first documentary evidence of this place as a large city dates back to the 5th century. At this time, the Persian king Ezdegerd II ruled here, who appreciated its strategic location. This, incidentally, is reflected in the name, because Derbent translated from Iranian means "mountain outpost" or "mountain pass". Approximately 100 years later, another king, on the remains of former defensive structures, erected a fortified city, which is called the Old, with an impregnable fortress and powerful fortifications. Between these fortifications, stretching more than 40 kilometers deep into the Caucasus Mountains, a city was formed, which still retains its medieval character.
Citadel of Nary-kala
It continued to be a strategically important site until the 19th century. Derbent has experienced many dramatic events in the entire history of its existence: wars, assaults, periods of decline and prosperity, times of independence and subordination to other peoples. Nevertheless, this place has preserved many monuments from all these turbulent periods.
It: the citadel of Naryn-kala, with thick and high walls, the ruins of the palace of the Derbent khan, baths and a guardhouse;
13. Struve Geodetic Arc
The Struve arc is a network of 265 triangulation points, which are stone cubes laid in the ground with an edge length of 2 meters and a length of more than 2820 kilometers. It was created to determine the parameters of the Earth, its shape and size. It is named after its creator - the Russian astronomer Friedrich Georg Wilhelm Struve (Vasily Yakovlevich Struve).
Struve's geodetic arc was measured by Struve and the staff of the Dorpat (Tartu) and Pulkovo observatories (whose director was Struve) for 40 years, from 1816 to 1855, for 2820 km from Fuglenese near Cape Nord-Kap in Norway (latitude 70 ° 40′11 ″ N) to the village of Staraya Nekrasovka, Odessa Region, near the Danube (latitude 45 ° 20′03 ″ N), which formed a meridian arc with an amplitude of 25 ° 20′08 ″.
Struve geodetic arc, "Point Z", about. Gogland, Leningrad region
Currently, points of the arc can be found in Norway, Sweden, Finland, Russia (on the island of Gogland), Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Belarus, Moldova (the village of Rud) and Ukraine. On January 28, 2004, these countries applied to the UNESCO World Heritage Committee with a proposal to approve the 34 preserved points of the Struve Arc as a World Heritage Site. In 2005 this proposal was accepted.
A story about other architectural monuments of Russia included in the UNESCO World Heritage List, Around the world
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The World Heritage Sites included in the special UNESCO list are of tremendous interest to the entire population of the planet. Unique natural and cultural sites make it possible to preserve those unique corners of nature and man-made monuments that demonstrate the richness of nature and the capabilities of the human mind.
As of July 1, 2009, the World Heritage List - 890 sites (including 689 cultural, 176 - natural and 25 - mixed) in 148 countries: individual architectural structures and ensembles - the Acropolis, cathedrals in Amiens and Chartres, the historical center of Warsaw (Poland) and St. Petersburg (Russia), the Moscow Kremlin and Red Square (Russia), etc .; cities - Brasilia, Venice together with the lagoon, etc .; archaeological reserves- Delphi, etc .; National parks - Marine park Great Barrier Reef, Yellowstone (USA) and others. The states on whose territory the World Heritage sites are located undertake obligations for their preservation.
1) Tourists visiting Buddhist sculptures Longmen Grottoes ("Dragon Gate") near the city of Luoyang in the Chinese province of Henan. More than 2,300 caves are located in this place; 110,000 Buddhist images, more than 80 dagobas (Buddhist mausoleums) containing relics of Buddhas, as well as 2,800 inscriptions on rocks near the Yishui River, a kilometer long. For the first time, Buddhism in China was introduced in these places during the reign of the Eastern Han Dynasty. (China Photos / Getty Images)
2) The Bayon Temple in Cambodia is famous for its many giant stone faces. There are more than 1,000 temples in the Angkor region, ranging from plain heaps of bricks and rubble scattered among rice paddies to the magnificent Angkor Wat, considered the world's largest single religious monument. Many of the temples in Angkor have been rebuilt. More than a million tourists visit them every year. (Voishmel / AFP - Getty Images)
3) One of the parts of the Al-Hijr archaeological site - also known as Mada'in Salih. This complex located in the northern regions Saudi Arabia was added to the List world heritage UNESCO July 6, 2008. The complex includes 111 rock burials (1st century BC - 1st century AD), as well as a system of hydraulic structures confined to the ancient Nabatean city of Hegra, which was the center of caravan trade. There are also about 50 rock inscriptions dating back to the pre-Babatean period. (Hassan Ammar / AFP - Getty Images)
4) Waterfalls "Garganta del Diablo" ("The Devil's Throat" is located in the Iguazu National Park in the Argentine province of Misiones. Depending on the water level in the Iguazu River, the park has from 160 to 260 waterfalls, as well as over 2000 varieties of plants and 400 bird species Iguazu National Park was inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1984. (Christian Rizzi / AFP - Getty Images)
5) Mysterious Stonehenge is a stone megalithic structure, consisting of 150 huge stones, and located on the Salisbury Plain in the English county of Wiltshire. This ancient monument is believed to have been built in 3000 BC. Stonehenge was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1986. (Matt Cardy / Getty Images)
6) Tourists stroll by the Bafang Pavilion in the Summer Palace, the famous classical imperial garden in Beijing. Summer palace, built in 1750, was destroyed in 1860 and rebuilt in 1886. It was inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1998. (China Photos / Getty Images)
7) Statue of Liberty at sunset in New York. "Lady Liberty", donated to the United States by France, stands at the entrance to the harbor of New York. It was inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1984. (Seth Wenig / AP)
8) "Solitario George" (Lone George), the last live giant tortoise of this species, born on the island of Pinta, lives in the Galapagos National Park in Ecuador. She is now about 60-90 years old. The Galapagos Islands were originally inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1978, but were marked as Endangered in 2007. (Rodrigo Buendia / AFP - Getty Images)
9) People skate on the ice of the canals in the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Kinderdijk Mills near Rotterdam. Kinderdijk is home to the Netherlands' largest collection of historic mills and is also one of the main attractions in South Holland. The decoration of the holidays taking place here with balloons gives a certain flavor to this place. (Peter Dejong / AP)
10) View of the Perito Moreno glacier located in the Los Glaciares National Park, in the southeast of the Argentine province of Santa Cruz. The site was listed as a World Natural Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1981. The glacier is one of the most interesting tourist sites in the Argentinean part of Patagonia and the 3rd largest glacier in the world after Antarctica and Greenland. (Daniel Garcia / AFP - Getty Images)
11) Terraced gardens in the north Israeli city Haifa is surrounded by the gold-domed Shrine of the Bab, the founder of the Bahá'í faith. Here is the world administrative and spiritual center of the Bahá'í religion, the number of which worldwide is less than six million. The site was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site on July 8, 2008. (David Silverman / Getty Images)
12) Aerial view of St. Peter's Square in the Vatican. According to the World Heritage website, within this small state there is a unique collection of artistic and architectural masterpieces. The Vatican was inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1984. (Giulio Napolitano / AFP - Getty Images)
13) Colorful underwater scenes of the Great Barrier Reef in Australia. This thriving ecosystem houses the world's largest collection of coral reefs, including 400 coral species and 1,500 fish species. The Great Barrier Reef was inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1981. (AFP - Getty Images)
14) Camels rest in the ancient city of Petra in front of the main monument of Jordan, Al-Khaznah or the treasury, presumably representing the tomb of the Nabatean king, carved out of sandstone. This city, located between Red and By the dead seas, is located at the intersection of routes from Arabia, Egypt, Syria and Phenicia. Petra was listed as a World Heritage Site in 1985. (Thomas Coex / AFP - Getty Images)
15) Sydney Opera House is one of the most famous and easily recognizable buildings in the world, which is the symbol of Sydney and one of the main attractions of Australia. Sydney Opera theatre included in the World Heritage Program in 2007. (Torsten Blackwood / AFP - Getty Images)
16) Rock carvings made by the San people in the Drakensberg Mountains in eastern South Africa. The San people lived in the Drakensberg area for thousands of years, until they were destroyed in clashes with the Zulus and white settlers. They left behind incredible cave paintings in the Drakensberg Mountains, which were declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 2000. (Alexander Joe / AFP - Getty Images)
17) General form to the city of Shibam, located in the east of Yemen in the province of Hadhramaut. Shibam is famous for its incomparable architecture, which is included in the UNESCO World Heritage Site. All houses here are built of mud bricks, about 500 houses can be considered multi-storey, since they have 5-11 floors. Shibam is often called " the oldest city skyscrapers in the world "or" Deserted Manhattan ", it is also the oldest example of urban planning based on the principle of vertical construction. (Khaled Fazaa / AFP - Getty Images)
18) Gondolas off the coast of the Grand Canal in Venice. The church of San Giorgio Maggiore is visible in the background. Island Venice - seaside resort, Centre international tourism of world importance, the venue for international film festivals, art and architecture exhibitions. Venice was listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site in 1987. (AP)
19) Some of the 390 abandoned huge statues of compressed volcanic ash (moai in Rapa Nui) at the foot of the Rano Raraku volcano on Easter Island, 3,700 km off the coast of Chile. Rapa Nui National Park has been included in the UNESCO World Heritage Program since 1995. (Martin Bernetti / AFP - Getty Images)
20) Visitors walk along the Great Wall of China in the Simatai area, northeast of Beijing. This largest architectural monument was built as one of the four main strategic strongholds in order to defend against the invasion of tribes from the north. The 8,851.8 km long Great Wall is one of the largest construction projects ever completed. It was added to the World Heritage List in 1987. (Frederic J. Brown / AFP - Getty Images)
21) Temple in Hampi, near the southern Indian city of Hospet, north of Bangalore. Hampi is located in the midst of the ruins of Vijayanagar, the former capital of the Vijayanagar Empire. Hampi and its monuments were inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1986. (Dibyangshu Sarkar / AFP - Getty Images)
22) A Tibetan pilgrim rotates prayer mills at the Potala Palace in the Tibetan capital of Lhasa. The Potala Palace is a royal palace and Buddhist temple complex that was the main residence of the Dalai Lama. Today, the Potala Palace is a museum actively visited by tourists, remaining a place of pilgrimage for Buddhists and continuing to be used in Buddhist rituals. Due to its enormous cultural, religious, artistic and historical significance, it was included in the 1994 UNESCO World Heritage Site. (Goh Chai Hin / AFP - Getty Images)
23) Inca Citadel Machu Picchu in the Peruvian city of Cuzco. Machu Picchu, especially after receiving UNESCO World Heritage status in 1983, has become a center of mass tourism. The city is visited by 2,000 tourists a day; in order to preserve the monument, UNESCO demands to reduce the number of tourists per day to 800. (Eitan Abramovich / AFP - Getty Images)
24) Kompon-Daito Buddhist Pagoda on Mount Koya, Wakayama Province, Japan. Mount Koya, located east of Osaka, was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2004. In 819 the Buddhist monk Kukai, the founder of the Shingon school, an offshoot of Japanese Buddhism, was the first to settle here. (Everett Kennedy Brown / EPA)
25) Tibetan women walk around the Bodhnath Stupa in Kathmandu - one of the most ancient and revered Buddhist shrines. On the sides of the tower crowning it are depicted "Buddha's eyes" inlaid with ivory. Kathmandu valley with a height of about 1300 m - mountain valley and historical area Nepal. There are many Buddhist and Hindu temples here, from the Bodnath stupa to tiny street altars within the walls of houses. Locals say that 10 million Gods live in the Kathmandu Valley. The Kathmandu Valley was inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1979. (Paula Bronstein / Getty Images)
26) A bird flies over the Taj Mahal - a mausoleum-mosque, located in the Indian city of Agra. It was built by order of the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan in memory of the wife of Mumtaz Mahal, who died in childbirth. The Taj Mahal was inscribed on the World Heritage List by UNESCO in 1983. The architectural marvel was also named one of the "New Seven Wonders of the World" in 2007. (Tauseef Mustafa / AFP - Getty Images)
27) Located in northeastern Wales, the 18 km long Pontkisillte Aqueduct is a civil engineering feat from the Industrial Revolution, completed in the early years of the 19th century. More than 200 years after its opening, it is still in use and is one of the busiest sections of the UK canal network, handling around 15,000 boats a year. In 2009, the Pontkisilte aqueduct was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site as “a milestone in the history of civil engineering in the era of the industrial revolution”. This aqueduct is one of unusual monuments plumbers and plumbing (Christopher Furlong / Getty Images)
28) A herd of elk grazes in the meadows of Yellowstone National Park. Mount Holmes to the left and Mount Dome are visible in the background. In Yellowstone National Park, which covers almost 900 thousand hectares, there are more than 10 thousand geysers and thermal springs. The park was included in the World Heritage Program in 1978. (Kevork Djansezian / AP)
29) Cubans drive an old car along the Malecon promenade in Havana. UNESCO inscribed Old Havana and its fortifications on the World Heritage List in 1982. Although Havana has expanded and has a population of over 2 million, its old center retains an interesting mixture of Baroque and neoclassical monuments and homogeneous ensembles of private houses with arcades, balconies, wrought iron gates and patios. (Javier Galeano / AP)
Surely you have seen at least once majestic mountains and tranquil valleys, winding rivers and endless forests that were breathtaking? There are many such places on Earth. Unique territories that are important to preserve in their original form are included in the list of the World Natural Heritage. Now it has 203 objects, 11 of which are located in Russia. It just seems that this is quite a bit: among all countries, Russia ranks fourth in the number of objects after China, America and Australia.
The territory of the World Heritage includes state nature reserves and national parks. Landscapes change from alpine lakes, glaciers, arctic tundras to alpine meadows, taiga, endless steppes and even volcanoes.
It's not only incredible Beautiful places, but also home to many species of animals and plants, rare and even endemic - those that are not found anywhere else in the world. One of the examples is the Amur tiger and the Daurian gingerbread. Some plants on the territory of natural monuments are more than one hundred years old. The age of the cedar in the taiga is more than six centuries.
An object is included in the list if it meets at least one of the criteria:
(Vii) is a natural phenomenon or space of exceptional natural beauty and aesthetic importance.
(VIII) reflects the main stages of the history of the Earth, symbolizes geological processes in the development of the relief or its features
(IX) reflects ecological or biological processes in the evolution of animals, plants and other organisms
(X) includes significant natural habitats for the conservation of biodiversity and endangered species of exceptional global value
4 out of 11 sites in Russia were selected according to criterion VII: Komi forests, Lake Baikal, Kamchatka volcanoes and the Putorana plateau. Therefore, travelers from all over the world strive to see them.
Read the mini-guide to all UNESCO natural heritage sites in Russia to see them live someday.
1. Virgin Komi forests
The largest untouched forests in Europe stretch over 32,600 km². This is about 3 km² more than the area of Belgium. Komi Forests is the first Russian site to be included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. It is inhabited by brown bear, sable, elk, more than 200 species of birds, including those from the Red Book, and valuable fish species - char char and Siberian grayling.
In the thicket of virgin forests and on the banks of rivers, you can see bizarre stone sculptures, unusual outliers and other forms of weathering, reminiscent of either the ruins of castles or mythical creatures.
Lush taiga stretches to the Ural Mountains, flowing into the tundra, where there are almost no plants, and crystal rivers descend from the ridges and merge into the Pechora, giving rise to amazing landscapes.
2. Lake Baikal
A slightly smaller area, 31,722 km², is occupied by the deepest lake on the planet. All of Malta, even if enlarged 100 times, would fit on its surface. It is one of the largest World Heritage Sites. The maximum depth of the lake is 1642 meters. This means that if the Eiffel Tower was installed at the bottom, and four more were placed on top, the latter would still not appear out of the water.
The reservoir of the largest lake in Russia is almost 19% of the world's fresh water. The water in Lake Baikal is so clean that some stones at the bottom are visible even at a depth of 40 meters. In many respects, purity is ensured by Epishura - a unique crustacean that consumes organic matter. In general, about 2600 animals live in Lake Baikal, more than half of which are endemic. On the shores of the reservoir there are forests and swamps, glacial lakes, circuses and canyons. There are more than 800 species of higher plants here.
A special phenomenon and a real attraction of Lake Baikal is ice. At the end of winter, in the bays, its thickness reaches two meters. On different parts of the surface, it freezes in different ways: it is covered with a web of cracks, then it is speckled with bubbles, it looks like a mirror, then like frosted glass. Ice splashes formed by frozen waves several meters high and grottoes that cannot be reached in summer are striking. You can go ice-skating on a huge lake, float on an ice floe and fill the camera's memory with cool shots.
In summer, Baikal is also interesting: you can go to around this natural monument or arrange with rafting, jeeping and trekking.
3. Volcanoes of Kamchatka
Kamchatka resembles a cake with candles: there are so many here, and 28 out of 29 are in the eastern part. Klyuchevskoy is the highest volcano not only in Russia, but throughout Eurasia (4750 m), Mutnovsky is famous for smoking fumarole fields, and in the crater of Maly Semyachik there is a piercing lake, like a blue eye wide open into the sky. That is why six separate sections of Kamchatka were included in the UNESCO list.
Another unique place is the Uzon caldera. 40,000 years ago, due to several eruptions in a row, a huge volcano collapsed, and in its place a caldera with a diameter of 10 km was formed. It is located on the territory of the Kronotsky Nature Reserve and combines rivers, hot springs, tundra, forests and lakes in one landscape.
See also:
4. Golden mountains of Altai
The Altai nature reserve and the buffer zone of Lake Teletskoye, the Katunsky nature reserve and the buffer zone of Mount Belukha, as well as the Ukok plateau are World Heritage Sites. On their territory - taiga, steppe, mountain tundra and glaciers, meadows and plateaus. If in one trip to Altai you want to see all the most picturesque places, then choose. Especially suitable for those who love comfort, because you will spend the night in hotels.
Altai is no less interesting in winter. Going to, you will see mountain lakes, snow-covered passes, natural boundaries and cedar forests. After spending here, get energized for many months to come. And after visiting this natural UNESCO site, you will photograph the panoramas of the North Chuisky ridge and see a unique turquoise lake that does not freeze even at very low temperatures.
5. Western Caucasus
The Western Caucasus was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1999. This definition includes the Krasnodar Territory, Adygea, Karachay-Cherkessia and part of the Main Caucasian Range from Mount Fisht to Elbrus. On the territory of the object there are mountains - "three thousand meters", bizarre rocks, deep gorges, caves, glaciers and alpine lakes.
Adygea has probably the largest number of natural beauties per square meter. There are only two cities in the republic, and the rest of the territory is mountains and waterfalls, alpine meadows and untouched forests, deep canyons and turbulent rivers. This makes it possible to practice different kinds outdoor activities, and even. Climbing and hiking, horseback riding - why not, for example?
6. Central Sikhote-Alin
Sikhote-Alin in the east of Russia is a mix of coniferous and broad-leaved trees, taiga and subtropics, southern and northern animal species. Here, for example, you can find both Himalayan and brown bears. Primorye is a whole world of relics and endemics, where groves of relict yews grow, carpets of Red Book lotuses bloom and rhododendrons - the local sakura - bloom. Protected coves with white beaches hide starfish and schools of colored fish. At high altitudes, the tundra extends, while in the lowlands the grass grows up to 3.5 meters.
Sikhote-Alin is the birthplace of the Amur tigers. Over the past 100 years, their number in the world has decreased 25 times. Moreover, 95% of the entire population lives in the Far East, and 5% in China. There, killing a tiger is a crime that threatens the death penalty... And the Far Eastern leopard remained only in Primorye.
V.K. Arseniev is a researcher of the Far East. On the expedition, he was together with his friend and guide Dersu Uzala, a local hunter. Today you can follow in their footsteps during
7. Ubsunur Basin
This object includes Lake Ubsu-Nur, which belongs to both Mongolia and Russia (Republic of Tuva). On the territory of Mongolia, this lake is the largest, and its Russian part is only 0.3% of the total area. There are contrasting landscapes - highlands, mountain taiga, forest-steppe, steppe and semi-desert areas. There is even a real sandy desert... The surroundings of the lake were inhabited several thousand years ago. This is evidenced by the petroglyphs on the rocks, stones and mounds, of which there are about 40,000.
8. Wrangel Islands and Herald
In the very north of Russia, where the Chukchi Sea meets the Arctic Ocean, the gloomy and mountainous islands of Wrangel (7.6 thousand km²) and the Herald (11 km²) are located. In a harsh environment where a hectic life seems impossible, there are hundreds of plant species - more than on any other Arctic island. Among the blackening rocks, walruses have settled on the largest rookery in the Arctic, and thousands of birds have made nests. Gray whales swim in the waters here during their migrations. The island of Vragnel is called the "maternity hospital of polar bears" - there are so many of its ancestral dens here. And in Chukchi it is called Umkilir - “the island of polar bears”.
It is worth visiting at least once to see really rare animals. For example, musk oxen, which, like reindeer, survived the late Pleistocene extinction. Their wool is eight times warmer than sheep's! , you can also try whale meat, learn the Eskimo dance and walk along the whale bone alley.
Ecology of life: Especially for you, we have collected 10 of the most beautiful natural monuments, which are among the specially protected ...
UN Specialized Agency for Education, Science and the Arts oversees the conservation of monuments cultural heritage around the world. This category includes both the most outstanding architectural structures created by man and natural reserves - in the second case, UNESCO specialists have to exert a lot of effort to protect the unique phenomena of nature from being plundered and destroyed by our freedom-loving race.
Especially for you, we have collected 10 of the most beautiful natural monuments, which are among the specially protected ones.
St Kilda
Scotland
This unique, isolated archipelago was inhabited by a small group of Gaelic people - all were evacuated during the Second World War. Now there is a militarized base and several teams of scientists: St. Kilda is home to the rarest species of birds and animals.
Wulingyuan Mountains
China
This mountain system is located in the north of Hunan province. The mountains owe their appearance to the weathering of sandstones. It was here that Cameron filmed his "Avatar" - one of the peaks was later renamed by the provincial authorities to "Hurray, Avatar!"
Wadden sea
Water area of the North Sea
Watt is a shallow sea area, of which there are dozens. Natural processes function here without the slightest human intervention, almost the entire territory of this unusual sea covered by three national parks.
Giant's Road
Northern Ireland
The unique area is represented by more than 40,000 basalt columns. They united with each other as a result of a volcanic eruption, and the ancient tribes have already come up with a legend that trolls will go to Ragnarok along these pillars.
Rapanui National Park
Chile
The whole world knows this place thanks to the unique moai statues: Easter Island is considered almost the most mysterious place on our planet.
Galapagos Islands
Ecuador
It was here that Charles Darwin first thought about the theory of evolution: the abundance of flora and fauna still makes the Galapagos a place of pilgrimage for every self-respecting natural scientist.
Socotra Archipelago
Yemen
Four islands and a pair of rocks: one of the most isolated archipelagos in the world, located near pirate Somalia, it boasts an abundance of endemic species of fauna and flora that are not found anywhere else in the world.
Yosemite National Park
USA
Three thousand square kilometers of unique mountain landscapes, granite rocks, waterfalls and sequoias: Yosemite is rightfully considered one of the best National Parks in the country.
At present, the human environment is changing rapidly and at an increasing rate. The task of humanity is to maintain nature on the globe in a condition necessary for life, health and well-being. It is also necessary to preserve as much as possible, at least the most unique places in nature, which are of particular value from a scientific point of view, areas that make up the habitats of valuable or endangered species of plants and animals. There are many unique places in nature, the disappearance of which would be an irreplaceable loss not only for the country in whose territory they are located, but also for all mankind as a whole.In most countries of the world, networks of so-called "specially protected natural areas" (SPNA) have been created for these purposes. These include the following natural sites:
Nizhnesvirsky Nature Reserve, Leningrad Region
Zakazniks are created with the aim of preserving or restoring some or all of the components of nature and to maintain an overall ecological balance. Certain types of economic activities are limited in these territories.
Gladyshevsky nature reserve, Leningrad region
Monuments of nature - small areas, including naturally valuable objects: caves, rocks, waterfalls, groves of rare tree species, river valleys, lakes, etc.
Natural monument "Yastrebinoe Lake", Leningrad Region
Natural parks serve to protect natural complexes of ecological, historical and aesthetic value. They are staffed with special staff.
Natural park "Veppsky forest", Leningrad region
B Have you ever been to one of the protected areas? How do you remember this place?
In these territories, people preserve both rare, unique and typical areas of forests, swamps, meadows, reservoirs and other natural ecosystems, rare and widespread species of plants and animals in their natural habitat, bird migration routes, fish spawning routes and others. natural objects and processes.
The entire nature of our planet is priceless and unique. Of course, it is difficult to single out some of the most outstanding and valuable natural areas of "exceptional value" from the natural areas subject to special protection, which are vitally important to preserve for the present and future generations. A special UNESCO program is dedicated to this, making up the so-called World Heritage List.
The UNESCO Convention on the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage entered into force in 1975. Its main goal is to attract the forces of the world community to preserve the unique objects of culture and nature. By mid-2012, the total number of countries participating in the Convention had already reached 189. Among the international programs of UNESCO, this program is the most representative. To enhance the effectiveness of the Convention, a World Heritage Committee and Fund were formed in 1976.
The World Natural Heritage is made up of mountains, volcanoes, lakes, rivers, islands, forests, caves, reefs, national parks, nature reserves, reserves.
Of course, it is honorable and prestigious to be on a par with the generally recognized world pearls of nature and culture, but, at the same time, it is also a great responsibility. To receive World Heritage status, an object must be of outstanding human value, undergo a thorough expert assessment. In this case, the nominated natural object must meet at least one of the following four criteria:
Include unique natural phenomena or areas of exceptional natural beauty and aesthetic value;
Provide outstanding examples of the main stages in the history of the Earth, including traces of ancient life, serious geological processes that continue to occur in the development of forms of the earth's surface, significant geomorphological or physical-geographical features of the relief;
Provide outstanding examples of important ongoing ecological and biological processes in the evolution and development of terrestrial, freshwater, coastal and marine ecosystems and communities of plants and animals;
Include natural habitats of great importance for the conservation of biological diversity, including habitats of endangered species that are of outstanding world heritage in terms of science or nature conservation.
The status of a World Natural Heritage site provides additional guarantees for the safety and integrity of unique natural complexes, increases the prestige of territories, promotes the popularization of objects and the development of alternative types of nature management, and provides priority in attracting funds.
The first cultural and natural sites were included in the UNESCO World Heritage List two years after the creation of the program. From natural territories, the Galapagos Islands (Ecuador), Yellowstone National Parks (USA), Nahanni (Canada) and Seaman (Ethiopia) received the status of heritage. Over the years, the List has become very representative both in terms of the regions of the planet represented and in terms of the number of objects: by mid-2012 it already included 188 natural objects. Most of them are located in the USA and Australia (more than 10 objects in each country). Under the protection of the Convention are such world famous natural monuments as the Great Barrier Reef, Hawaii, Grand Canyon, Mount Kilimanjaro. Video 62.
In Russia, the initiator of the inclusion of natural sites in the World Heritage List is primarily Greenpeace. By joining this UNESCO program, a new page has been opened in the protection of nature in Russia.
Objects of the World Natural Heritage of Russia
There are inaccuracies on the map, since at the moment 11 objects are already included in the list, including the Putorana plateau and the Lena Pillars natural park. The first in our country to receive the status of a World Natural Heritage Site in 1995 was a natural complex called "Virgin Komi Forests".
The territory of this object is the largest of the remaining massifs of primary forests in Europe, the appearance of which is almost unchanged by human impact. Video 63.
The virgin forests of Komi are a real taiga treasure. There are more than 40 species of mammals (including brown bear, sable, elk), 204 species of birds (including the white-tailed eagle and osprey listed in the Red Book of Russia), 16 species of fish, the most valuable of which are glacial relics - char palia and Siberian grayling.
This territory stretches along the western slope of the Subpolar and Northern Urals for more than 300 km. The Ural mountain system has a significant impact on the climate. In places, natural complexes form a complex mosaic: along narrow river valleys, taiga vegetation rises high into the mountains.
The main tree species - spruce and fir - are accompanied by Siberian cedar. Here the crystal clear tributaries of the Pechora originate and receive. Now the territory of the World Heritage Site "Virgin Komi Forests" is in danger due to illegal gold mining unfolding here (1).Greenpeace Russia and other non-governmental organizations will fight to stop any nature-destroying activity on its territory.
Lake Baikal
Baikal is one of the greatest lakes on the planet, a lake of "superlatives": the deepest (1637 meters), the oldest (about 25 million years), with the most diverse flora and fauna among fresh water bodies. Video 64.
The lake has a unique in terms of volume and quality reserve of fresh water - more than 20% of the world's reserves). The Baikal depression is the central link of the Baikal rift zone, one of the largest ancient fault systems on Earth. The lake, together with its entire basin, is a peculiar and very fragile natural ecosystem that ensures the natural process of the formation of the purest waters. For Siberia, the climate of the Baikal coasts is relatively mild. For example, the number of sunny days per year is higher here than in many Black Sea resorts.One of the richest and most unusual freshwater fauna in the world, which is of exceptional value for the study of evolutionary processes, has been formed in the ancient isolated Baikal depression.
Of the more than 2,630 species and subspecies of animals and plants found to date in the lake, more than 80% are found nowhere else in the world. Who has not heard of the famous Baikal omul or Baikal sturgeon? Two unique species of viviparous fish, representatives of a family endemic (2) for Lake Baikal, - large and small golomyanka - are known to ichthyologists all over the world. The pyramid of the lake ecosystem is crowned with a mammal of a typical marine origin - the seal, or the Baikal seal.
Unfortunately, the unique nature of Lake Baikal is under threat (3).
WITH Have you heard about the actions that the public is taking in order to protect Baikal from pollution by a pulp and paper mill?
Another danger for Lake Baikal is posed by the planned development of deposits, illegal logging, Forest fires, poaching, oil spills.
Volcanoes of Kamchatka
The Kamchatka Peninsula is located at the junction of tectonic plates in the zone of active volcanism, where modern natural processes and the history of our planet are inseparable. Video 65.
Here, in a limited area, 30 active and about 300 extinct volcanoes are concentrated, as well as more than 150 groups of thermal and mineral springs. Dozens of geysers, hot springs, fumaroles (4), cascades of waterfalls, sharp peaks of ridges, mud pots and turquoise lakes, carpets of colorful seaweed give a fabulous look to the famous Valley of Geysers
The richest life is presented in the seas washing the coast of Kamchatka. Here are the growth zones of Kamchatka crab larvae, places of salmon fish spawning entry and their fry rolling into the sea. From summer to the beginning of winter, an amazing natural phenomenon can be observed on the rivers of the peninsula: millions of salmon move in a continuous mass along the rivers upstream to their spawning grounds.
Golden mountains of Altai
The nature of this mountainous territory, located at the junction of Central Asia and Siberia, is distinguished by its striking originality. There are few places in the world with such a contrasting combination of different landscapes in such a small space. Video 66.
The flora and fauna of the region are diverse, in many respects unique. Here are the most significant subalpine and alpine meadows in terms of area in the mountains of Siberia. The color of the vegetation of the Southern Altai is also unique, where semi-deserts, steppes and tundra coexist. The variety of landscapes contributed to the emergence and preservation of endemics in Altai, often occupying very small areas. Among the rare species of mammals, the snow leopard should be distinguished; this is one of the most beautiful cats in the world fauna. Very few of these animals have survived in Altai.
The geological history of the region is unique, "recorded" in the uneven-aged rocks that make up it and captured in the extraordinary forms of relief. Such are, for example, the high terraces of the Katun River, striking in their grandeur. Mount Belukha is magnificent - highest peak Siberia (4506 meters). Altai river valleys are narrow deep canyons.
The diversity of nature has left its mark on the culture and religion of the indigenous population of this territory - the Altai. The achievements of Altai folk medicine are highly valued. As the eminent philosopher, writer, traveler H.K. Roerich, “many peoples passed through Altai and left traces: Scythians, Huns, Turks”. Mountain Altai called an open-air museum.
Western Caucasus
The western part of the Greater Caucasus in terms of the diversity of flora and fauna, their safety is unmatched not only in the Caucasus region, but also among other mountainous regions of Europe and Western Asia. Video 67.
This is a territory where a large number of endangered rare, endemic and relict plant and animal species are concentrated. It is especially important that the habitat of the most vulnerable large mammals has been preserved here: bison, Caucasian red deer, West Caucasian tur, chamois, Caucasian subspecies of brown bear, wolf and others.
The Caucasian Reserve is practically the only habitat of the mountain bison in the world, outside of this territory it is almost completely exterminated by poachers.
The territory is rich in picturesque objects: powerful waterfalls, pointed mountain peaks(up to 3360 meters), turbulent mountain rivers with clear water, clean mountain lakes, huge trees (majestic fir up to 85 meters high and more than 2 meters in diameter), rare plants (orchids, etc.) and many others. An invaluable unique natural complex has been preserved in the Western Caucasus.
Curonian Spit
The relief of this territory, located in the Kaliningrad region, is unique. A continuous strip of sand dunes 0.3 - 1 km wide, some of which are close to the highest in the world (up to 68 m), stretches along the peninsula for 70 km. Video 68.
Due to its geographical position and orientation from north-east to south-west, the spit serves as a “guiding line” for birds of many species migrating from the north-western regions of Russia, Finland and the Baltic countries to the countries of Central and Southern Europe. Annually in spring and autumn 10 - 20 million birds fly over the spit, a significant part of which stop here for rest and feeding. Among the birds flying here, there are many rare and endangered species listed in the Red Data Books of Russia, Europe and the world.
It is especially interesting that the spit is rich in cultural heritage objects. These are defense structures, unique in their scale, extremely valuable from the point of view of history, science and art; fishermen's settlements harmoniously integrated into the landscape; archaeological sites and monuments of religious architecture. The many-sided dune relief of the Curonian Spit, combined with the green of the forests, the whiteness of the sandy beaches and the endless blue of the Baltic Sea, has a high aesthetic value.
Central Sikhote-Alin
This territory, located in the south of the Far East within Russia, is one of the largest and least human-altered foci for the conservation of communities of ancient coniferous-deciduous and deciduous forests. Video 69.
It presents a lot of rare and endangered animal species, a significant part of which is preserved only within its limits. The mountainous country of Sikhote-Alin is the last large integral territory in the world inhabited by the Amur tiger. Many other rare and endangered species of plants and animals that are endemic to the region need protection.
Picturesque relief forms, full-flowing rivers, combined with an exceptional variety of flora and fauna, the presence of exotic plants and animals, reminiscent of the tropics, give the nature of Sikhote-Alin absolutely unique features. There are many objects of aesthetic and recreational importance here: rock massifs, picturesquely standing out among the taiga, waterfalls, lakes and rapids, reefs, sandy bays on the coast of the Sea of Japan.
Ubsunur pool
The Ubsunur Basin, located on the territory of Mongolia and Russia, is one of the most original and unusual places in Central Asia. Video 70.
This region has preserved a unique complex of neighboring, closely interacting, extremely contrasting ecosystems - from taiga to desert. Glaciers, snowfields, mountain tundra of the alpine belt and subalpine meadows turn into a vast mountain-taiga belt, which is replaced by forest-steppe, steppe, semi-desert and even loose sandy ridges, creating a natural phenomenon of exceptional beauty and diversity. It is impossible to see such diverse landscapes in such close proximity anywhere else in Eurasia. This territory has an unusually high species richness for temperate latitudes.
The relatively sparsely populated territory, the absence of industrial facilities allow the pool to be preserved as a natural laboratory for the study of biospheric processes
However, the value of the territory lies not only in the unique nature of the Ubsunur basin. The objects of cultural heritage located here are of great importance - archaeological monuments, many of which have not yet been studied. Nowhere else in Central Asia mounds are found in such a concentration as here (according to a rough estimate, there are up to 20 thousand of them); most of them are older Egyptian pyramids... Thousands of rock paintings and stone statues, the remains of medieval settlements and Buddhist chapels form a unique natural and cultural landscape.
Natural system of the reserve "Wrangel Island»
The Wrangel Island Nature Reserve is located on the border of the East Siberian and Chukchi Seas on the Wrangel and Herald Islands with an adjacent 12-mile sea area. Video 71.
The 180th meridian passes through Wrangel Island, so that the island lies in both the Western and Eastern Hemispheres. The relief is predominantly mountainous, highly dissected, with coastal lowlands in the north and south. The island has 1400 rivers and streams, about 900 small lakes. The unique combination of natural-historical and landscape-climatic conditions, as well as the inaccessibility, led to a large number of endemic, rare and relict plant species on the islands. On the islands, as part of the ancient land that once united the Eurasian and North American continents, both Euro-Asian and American species of flora and fauna are widely represented.
Putorana plateau
The plateau is located in the Krasnoyarsk Territory. It is a large basalt plateau located on the northern limit of the taiga and almost completely unaffected by human economic activity. Video 72. Trap landforms (5), crossed by huge canyons, are unusual and extremely interesting. The scale and number of waterfalls are impressive (the largest concentration is on the territory of Russia). There is a 108 m high waterfall - one of the highest in our country. There are many lakes on the plateau with depths of up to 400 m; lake fjords are very picturesque.More than 1300 plant species have been recorded on the Putorana plateau. Here is the northern limit of the distribution of flying squirrel, lynx, sable, wood grouse. The migration route of the world's largest population of wild reindeer, the Taimyr, runs through the plateau. It is also home to a little-studied, extremely interesting local form of the bighorn sheep.
Lena Pillars
The natural park "Lenskie Stolby" is located in Central Yakutia, in the middle reaches of the Lena River. Video 73.
The park got its name because of the unique ridge of rocks - fabulous stone statues in the form of pillars and towers stretch along the banks of the Lena for tens of kilometers. Some are up to 100 meters high. This natural monument is composed of Cambrian limestones - a rock formed over 500 million years ago.
In addition, in the park there are small areas of the desert landscape - unique permafrost ecosystems, as well as waving sands-tukulans - isolated and independently developing sandy ridges with slopes that are practically not fixed by vegetation. In the area of the Lena Pillars, scientists have discovered burials of bone remains of ancient fauna: mammoth, bison, Lena horse, woolly rhinoceros.
The park is home to 21 species of rare and endangered "Red Book" plants. In the basin of the middle reaches of the Lena River, the fish fauna includes 31 species. There are 101 bird species nesting in the park. There are such animals as sable, brown bear, squirrel, elk, red deer, chipmunk, musk deer, mountain-forest form of wild reindeer.
Work to continue to include new territories on the World Heritage List continues. According to the rules, nominations for consideration by the World Heritage Committee must first be included in the national Tentative List. They are presented on the map of the World Natural Heritage of Russia (see above).
It is obvious that effective protection of such territories is impossible without the active involvement of public organizations, as many citizens of the country as possible. Let us remember that we are individually and collectively responsible for the preservation of natural complexes.
Read the resolution of the International Forum of Non-Governmental Organizations on World Heritage Sites (6).
What can we, the people of Russia, do to support the conservation and development of specially protected natural areas?
Each of these places is unique in its own way, and all together they function, making up the unity and integrity of the life support system on the Planet. They create its unique, still far from fully unraveled and cognized appearance.
