Reserves of the Republic of Komi: description, history and interesting facts

All those who come to the Republic of Komi for the first time are fascinated by the northern beauty of these places. Thanks to the once wise decision, 15% of the territory of this region is protected by the state, as a result of which the virgin nature, which civilization has not touched, is preserved on it.

Reserves of the Komi Republic are the pride of not only local residents, but the country as a whole, as 70% of these places consist of taiga. In the era of industrialization, the destruction of forests was the norm, but their restoration proved to be a long and costly business. Thanks to this region, the unique flora and fauna of the north-eastern European part of Russia is preserved in the country.

History of the region

The Komi Republic was established in 1921, although the land itself belonged to the Moscow principality from the 15th century. This region is rich in natural attractions. Here are located:

• 78 000 lakes, such great rivers as the Volga, Ob, Pechora and Northern Dvina originate;
• Mountains covered with forests;
• Tundra with a conserved ecosystem;
• Unique in its beauty, the natural formations Torre-Porre-Iz and Manpupuner.

But the most important sight is the virgin forest, which many scientists rightly call the lungs of Europe, since there is no greater territory untouched by people in this part of the world.

Once in these places lived such nationalities as Mansi, Khanty and Komi. Here, their ancient sites and temples have been preserved. This area is also known to all archeologists of the world due to the settlement found in the upper Pechora that belonged to people of the Upper Paleolithic period. Before this discovery, scientists did not even assume that the tribes could live so far in the north, so here is the harsh climate, especially in winter.

Even today, the main problem of the protected area is the lack of roads, and in 1931, when the boundaries of the protected area were defined, mail, wages and provisions were delivered on bicycles and boats, and in winter - on skis.

UNESCO heritage

The living conditions in Komi can be called severe. There are only a few large cities, such as Syktyvkar, Vorkuta, Usinsk, Ukhta and Pechora, which make up 5 urban districts, including 15 municipal districts. The average winter temperature here is -17 ° C, although a temperature drop of -57 ° C has been recorded.

Reserves of the Republic of Komi are united into a single network called "Virgin Lands of the Krai". It includes the national park "Yugyd va" and the Pechoro-Ilychsky reserve. Their lands can be conditionally divided into 3 zones:

• The territory of medium elevations, to which the mountain ranges of the Urals belong;
• The region from the slopes of High Parma in the west and up to the foot of the Ural range;
• Plain reserve part belongs to the Timan-Pechora province.

Since 1985, all this territory has become a category "Biosphere Reserves of the Republic of Komi". The list of UNESCO, which includes only a few similar zones on the planet, united these lands, called the property of all mankind, and they are now under the protection of this international organization.

Pechora-Ilychsky nature reserve

It was established on May 4, 1930 on the territory between two rivers - Pechora and Ilycha, its right tributary. Initially, the site occupied 1 135 000 hectares. The rivers became their natural boundary in the west and south. In the north, the reserve borders the Kozhima River, and in the east - with the Tyumen Region.

It was extremely difficult to monitor the state of the forest and its borders at that time, as there were no roads, air transport and radio stations. Much later, helicopters and an An-2 aircraft began to be used here, in which you can fly so large a territory in 4 hours.

Only with the organization in 1978 of five forest districts between which these lands were divided, their protection, borders and scientific study, the territory assumed the form that exists today.

The uniqueness that the Republic of Komi represents in the Europe (the Pechora-Ilychsky Reserve in particular) is that this is the only place that has preserved the old-growth virgin forests. They grow and inhabit representatives of the flora and fauna of Siberian and European species. Some of them are included in the international Red Book.

It was in this reserve that the first loser farm in the world was opened, contributing to the increase in the number of these animals and their distribution.

National park "Yugyd va"

This park was founded in 1994, and it is located in the extreme north-eastern European part of Russia. It is here that unique archaeological finds are found, such as the Ust-Podkremenskaya ancient site, the Podkremen treasure and others.

Over the park towers the highest peak of the Urals - Narodnaya Gora (1895 m).

The reserves, the national parks of Komi (republics) are also not deprived, as well as reservoirs, among which the most picturesque are Lake Torgovoye, Okunevo and Long. Among the rivers, Kozhim, Bolshaya Synya and others are well known for their clean waters and abundance of fish. They are inhabited by 23 species of fish, such as salmon, peled, chir and goldfish.

"Yugyd va" became a part of the "Virgin Komi Forest", and is also protected by UNESCO. Walking along its territory, you can meet a hare, reindeer, flying squirrel, ermine, wolf, fox, moose, white fox and other numerous inhabitants.

In the national park, 190 bird species nest, 19 of which are rare and listed in the Red Data Book of the region. They are the Osprey, the Golden Eagle, the Gyrfalcon, the Peregrine Falcon, and others.

Flora of Komi

According to the latest data published in 1980, the Komi Republic's reserves are home to more than 1,000 plant species, including 11 endangered and rare species, for example Venus shoe, Gelma miniration, Ural swallow, which has survived only 400 here. In the rest of Europe this plant has long since disappeared.

Forests are represented by pine forests, shrubs, such as wild rose, and on wetlands, sphagnum weeds coexist with blueberry and Ledum.

In fact, the reserves of the Komi Republic have not been fully studied until the end, and the plants are not classified completely. This indicates a huge scale and that scientists have a lot of work ahead of them. In order to facilitate their work, the Chernamsky Reserve (the Republic of Komi) was organized, the main task of which is to improve the composition and quality of forest plantations, as well as their preservation. Here the collection and storage of seeds of the most rare or endangered species is organized.

Traditions of the Ancient Land

The greatest interest for folklorists is represented by the legends of the ancient Mansiks about giants, turned into stone idols by the holy old Ural. These boobs, as they are called local, can be seen on the plateau Manpupuner.

No less beautiful is the legend of a golden woman, which can be seen today - this is a luminous female figure, usually appearing against the backdrop of the dark peaks of the mountains. According to legend, this is the Mother of the World, bypassing its possessions.