Tunguska Reserve: photos, contacts, flora & fauna

Our unique planet and we, living on it, are the inhabitants of a broader education - the Galaxy. In turn, the Milky Way is in an even more global and absolutely alien to human beings world. It's a dark and cold Cosmos. A person without special adaptations in an inhospitable vacuum can not survive, but various cosmical bodies, such as stars, planets, asteroids and comets in Kosmos are cozy enough. In the pitch darkness and complete silence, stone and ice blocks travel, but sometimes their paths intersect with the earth. Similar guests have already visited our planet. The last visit turned into the death of dinosaurs and dramatic climate change.

Heavenly Guest

On a cool summer morning in 1908, residents of taiga villages saw in the sky a huge bright ball flying at great speed. Then he disappeared behind the treetops, and the ever-busy village people began their usual business. But after half an hour a blinding flash lit up everything around, and a little later there was a terrible explosion. The windows lost their glass, the earth trembled, and the clouds turned blood-red. So the legendary meteorite greeted the earthlings, the traces of which were discovered in the region of the deep river Podkamennaya Tunguska. This mysterious event still stirs the minds of researchers and enthusiasts. Why mysterious, ask the uninitiated? Yes, because the meteorite, as well as the crater, which must necessarily be found at the site of the fall of such a large (judging by the explosion) object, has not yet been found.

Infinite hypotheses

After a monstrous explosion astronomers sighed with relief. The fact is that for several days in Europe there have been suspiciously bright nights and a silvery hue of clouds in the daytime. Therefore, when the event happened, and our world remained the same, the joy overflowed the learned souls. The next outstanding issue was the site of the fall of the object. It was clear that the search should be conducted in the taiga, but where? After all, these are huge squares. It's strange, but in the beginning of the 20th century there were no investors, who are ready to invest in finding a meteorite or what was left of it, in modern terms. While the scientists confined themselves to a poll of eyewitnesses. And only 13 years later, an expedition was organized, which found not the crater, but the epicenter of a large-scale explosion. It was found out that the explosion of the celestial body occurred approximately at an altitude of 5 to 15 km above the earth's surface, in the middle layers of the atmosphere, and equal in power to the detonation of a hydrogen bomb. The great success was the fact that the cataclysm occurred in an absolutely deserted area, otherwise the victims could not be avoided.

A hypothesis about the heavenly body that honored the atmosphere of our planet with its visit is great. But the main ones are:

• meteorite;
• comet;
• The alien ship.

The most plausible version is the ice visitor. After the explosion, metal inclusions were found on the ground, which supports this hypothesis. It is believed that the ice in the earth's atmosphere melted, and a small number of other elements sank to the surface of our planet. Exotic version of the alien ship, which exploded, not reaching the ground, also has the right to exist.

Whatever it was, but such a mysterious story, and beautiful natural species invariably attract tourists to the Tunguska Reserve.

Protected area

On the territory of the Krasnoyarsk Territory, in the Evenk Autonomous District, there is a unique area of about 300,000 hectares, on which the State Nature Reserve Tunguska is organized. Its uniqueness is not only in natural beauties, but also in the "meteoric" history associated with it, which once stirred up the whole world.

Tunguska nature reserve includes practically untouched lands with characteristic biocenosis, picturesque landscapes, clean rivers and lakes. The name of the natural park came from a river flowing along the southern border of the reserved places. It is called Podkamennaya Tunguska.

Science fiction

From the inhabitants of the village of Vanarava, which is located near the site of an old catastrophe, rumors have already turned into legends, about strange anomalies and artifacts that are observed in the vicinity of the explosion. Found the so-called Grail, prolonging life and healing incurable diseases. Not only the Krasnoyarsk Territory, but the whole world was shaken by the history of a man who told that this artifact was brought by his great-grandfather from the expedition to the place where the meteorite fell. His relative lived more than a hundred years and handed the subject of great-grandson, assuring that he drank and ate from the bowl, so he lived for so long. The grandson did not believe until his daughter got into an accident, threatening her with a life-long disability. When she began to use the cup, she recovered in a strange way. The spectral analysis of the "Holy Grail" made reveals its extraterrestrial origin.

Among other things, in the taiga wilderness near Tunguska trees grow faster, various mutations unusual for them earlier are observed. These phenomena are attributed to the action of cosmic "fertilizer". In any case, considering such a mysterious and rich history of this place, its inimitable natural beauty, it's no wonder why people are eager to visit the Tunguska reserve.

Taiga landscape

A low plateau, divided by riverbeds, cone-shaped hills and table mountains, reaching a height of 300 meters - this is the total landscape of the reserved places near Tunguska. The highest point of the reserve is the Lakur mountain range, its height is 533 m. And next to the place of the cosmic cataclysm is Mount Farrington, the second highest in the plateau. Among the hills, the Churgim stream, which forms a ten-meter waterfall, was lost. The area in the interfluve between Hushma and Kimchu is significantly swamped.

The soils in the natural park are marshy or podzolic, depending on the location. In the Mesozoic times, the lands on which the Tunguska Reserve is now located in the Krasnoyarsk Territory were famous for their strong volcanic activity, as evidenced by numerous geological studies and the nature of the relief. The center of the park is a huge, ancient volcanic crater. In the set there are products of turbulent activity of volcanoes, for example, basalt rocks. The glacier spreading around the planet in ancient times did not reach the reserved places. But dry cold contributed to a significant freezing of the soil.

Climatic features

Tungussky Reserve of Russia is characterized by a continental type of climate, therefore, significant temperature amplitudes. The average annual temperature value is 6 degrees below zero. In summer, the climate becomes arid, and on average a very small amount of precipitation falls during the year. The only month in which there is no frost is July. The temperature can range from 17 to 30 degrees Celsius. Despite the dry periods, summer abounds with precipitation, which nature does not spoil the reserve in the remaining months. The vegetation period lasts no more than 120 days a year.

This is a harsh, but beautiful and original land. Soils are mostly deeply frozen due to the small amount of snow, and the presence of over 250 cold days. Winters are very severe, with winds and extreme temperatures of -60 degrees. Occasionally, atmospheric fronts bring a snowstorm.

Plants of the Natural Park

The Tunguska Reserve is covered with forests and woodlands, bushes and water vegetation, stony slopes and meadows, swampy areas. The Central Siberian variety of taiga flora is determined by the nuances of zoning. The location of the natural park is such that it is located between the southern, coniferous forests of the Angara, and the northern, deciduous Lower Tunguska. Hybridization, which occurs due to this geographical location, creates unique conditions for the development of new plant groups. Forests that prevail in the reserve are made up of hybrid pines and Siberian larch. In the forests and undergrowth there is broad-leaved birch, alder. In spruce forests, spruce and cedar are predominant. The cover consists of mosses, occasionally lichens, and berries: cowberries and blueberries. In the marshes, in the spruce forests the cranberry, sedge grows. On the stony slopes the dog rose, the Sakhalin raspberry, the black currant.

For scientists of the biological community, protected sites provide a wide field for activities: many species are listed in the Red Book, there are 9 endemic plant species, various relicts.

There, on unknown paths: the protected fauna

For those who visit the Tunguska Reserve, flora and fauna is an important part of the unique beauty that opens up to the traveler. As they say, having eyes, let him see. Indeed, in the park you can see more than 30 species of mammals. Not suddenly and not at once, of course. This process is long and scrupulous. But patience will be rewarded: here live moose, deer, chipmunks and hares. There are also several species of muskrats, Altai moles. From predatory animals, brown bears, sable, wolves prevail. Foxes, ermines, mink are also found, but infrequently. Sometimes a lynx comes in, the otter swims. The reserved places are abundantly populated by lizards and vipers.

As for birds living under the shadow of severe taiga trees, this issue has not been sufficiently studied. Presumably, on the territory of the reserve there are about 100 species of birds, and they do not necessarily nest in these places. Waterfowl are represented by river ducks, gogol and croachies. There are swans, terns and river gulls.

Birds of prey also publicize local places with their voices. The Goshawk likes to settle in the Chamba river basin. The black kite prefers forests in the Podkamennaya Tunguska area. Sometimes there is a falcon and a cormorant. Mandatory in the reserve you can meet wood grouse and owl. Reserve "Tunguska" offers to listen to the concert of the nightingale-red-necked and waxed, to see the flight of an owl, eagle or golden eagle. Of the more trivial species of birds you can contemplate crows, of which there are a great many in the park. Many birds are listed in the Red Book.

Sisters Podkamennoy Tunguska

Tungusky Reserve, photo of which pleases the eye, is permeated with rivers. All of them are tributaries of Podkamennaya Tunguska, in the basin of which there is a unique natural park. The marshy Chamba has many dangerous whirlpools and floodplain lakes. In summer the river becomes shallow. Hushma is a fast, mountain river surrounded by steep banks. Following the many streams of the Kimchu River, there is a deep, clean Lake of Cheko. The nutritious diet of the Tunguska rivers is snow and rain. Only a small percentage of water is replenished by underground currents. The rivers of the Podkamennaya Tunguska Basin are characterized by voluminous floods and freezing.

Famous routes

For tourists developed interesting, multidirectional routes:

• 2 mixed: duration of up to 12 days, involving a group of about 15 people;
• Foot: the most popular, leads to a place of long-standing disaster, with the collection of a group of up to 15 persons;
• Water: from the village of Vanavara, the group goes on a campaign for 8 days;
• Air: to the place of the meteorite explosion tourists are transported by helicopter.

The walking route is designed for a group that is perfectly prepared physically, since it will take 87 km to reach the crash site. It is best to overcome this path in the summer months.

Mixed tourist routes involve rafting along rivers on wooden boats or by dropping them to a place of dislocation by means of a helicopter. For such trips it is necessary to have experience of walking with cargo and water alloys.

The water route is organized in the late spring, connected with the passage by boat along the Tunguska and its branches.

The helicopter route assumes a landing on site, a walking tour, with a visit to the mountains and a return to the point of departure also by air.

Tourist information

Where is the reserve "Tunguska", contacts - information, primarily interested in tourists. It is important to know that you can reach the place, that is, before the settlement of Vanavara, only by air transport, which flies three times a week from Krasnoyarsk.

Once you get there, you do not have to worry about living and communication: in the village there is a modern cellular infrastructure, there are two well-equipped hotels. There are modern shops and catering establishments.

If a group of tourists arrives, the reserve administration leaves to meet people at the airport. Friendly staff, headed by the director, Lyudmila Logunova, will do everything possible to choose the best route and provide comfort to the visitors of the reserve. Telephone for inquiries: +7 (39177) 2-27-59.