Kronotsky Reserve and interesting facts about it. Kronotsky natural biosphere reserve

The Kronotsky Reserve was founded in 1934 in the Far East. Its width is on the average 60 km. At 243 km stretches the coastline.

Readers will certainly be interested to know where the Kronotsky Reserve is located. It is located in the south-eastern part of Kamchatka, it is administratively to the Elizovsky district of the Kamchatka region. In the city of Elizovo there is a reserve management.

It takes a variety of natural complexes and its appearance a separate place among similar territories located in the Far East. The description of the Kronotsky Biosphere Reserve will be presented in this article.

To start a little history. These territories were created several centuries before the official status of the reserve was assigned. Long ago, according to eyewitnesses, the tradition of conservation of nature, mainly sable, was spreading, which in large numbers was inhabited and had great importance in the life of the local population. Initially, since 1882, the Sobolinsky Reserve existed here. Then, in 1934, Kronotsky was formed in his place.

The reserve today is a territory that represents an irregular polygon in shape. Its area is about 6 thousand km ² .

Terrain

This area is mountainous, only on the sea coast are flat areas. The Kronotsky Reserve is a natural zone with volcanoes on its south-western boundary, two of which are active (Unana and Taunisic). The extinct Kronotsky (height - 3528 m), which in Kamchatka is second only to the Key Hill, is also distinguished by its conical shape and height. Kronotsky Reserve has many glaciers, which occupy 14 thousand hectares. Some of them are quite impressive in size, and others - an interesting form. For example, the Tyushevsky glacier is 8 km long. Geysers and hot springs are located in lowered areas.

Caldera of the Uzon volcano

The caldera of the Uzon volcano is the main attraction of such an object as the Kronotsky Reserve. It arose due to the fact that the rocks were lowered, forming a low ring frame. There is a large number of cold and warm lakes here. The largest of them are: cold Central and warm Fumarolic. Scalists and steep internal slopes of the caldera. External, on the contrary, canopies. They pass into a vast plateau. Powerful griffins are located in the central part of the caldera, as well as funnels filled with hot water, and mud boilers (for example, the Sculptor, who every 3 seconds "molds" the formations resembling roses). All these are unique natural objects of the Kronotsky Reserve.

Valley of Geysers

The Kamchatka Valley of the Geysers is struck by mystery and beauty. Particularly impressive is the sound of water, as well as many rivers and springs with numerous colorful algae, the color of which varies from black to orange and green. Its beauty is impressive waterfall r. Noisy. Its water falls from a height of 80 meters. To date, in the valley of the river Geysernoy there are 22 operating geysers. They all have their own cycle of activities and name. The fountain (the name of the geyser) is good because it erupts every 17 minutes. But the Giant, the head of the geysers, forces his "performance" to wait until five o'clock. The largest in Kamchatka is the Giant. Kronotsky Reserve is the place where the Unstable, Horizontal geysers, the Pink cone, the New Fountain, the Fountain, the Double, the Pearl, and also such hot springs as the Soaring, the Malachite Grotto and others are located.

The man who hit the Valley of Geysers for the first time, stuns the fantasticness of what he saw. You should visit at least for the sake of this spectacle Kronotsky State Reserve. Description of the Valley of Geysers is difficult to convey in words. Its world is so unreal, that it seems as if you are on another planet. There are paints that are completely uncharacteristic of the landscapes of the Earth - against the background of greenery of the cedar pine tree, as well as the foliage of the trees - purple, red, brown, earth-burned clay. The air is saturated with sulphurous smells and steam. Around everything bubbles, hisses and boils! Small and large boilers, volcanoes under the feet boil clay and earth. You can not go one step off the trail - you'll get scalded. From the cracks and slits rises the steam, which "shoot" small geysers.

The positive role of volcanic processes in increasing the temperature of reservoirs is evidenced, which attracts in winter not only waterbirds and waterfowl, but also bears and snow rams. At the same time, due to poisoning with volcanic gases, a significant number of mammals and birds inhabiting the Kronotsky Reserve die. For example, in the Valley of Death often find dead animals. They attract carrion-eating large predators. However, these animals can not get out of there.

Reservoirs in the reserve

More than 800 reservoirs are in the reserve. They make up about 3% of the total protected area. The river Old Semyachik flows in the southern part of this reserve. The largest rivers are Bogachevka and Kronotskaya. The length of the latter is 39 kilometers. It flows from the lake Kronotsky and forms a lot of islands and old people. Bogachevka in its length exceeds. Its length is 72 kilometers, and the depth does not exceed 1.2-1.5 meters. This river has a typical mountain character. It is turbulent, cuts in the upper course steep slopes, freezes in winter in the lower one.

Many lakes are located on the territory of the reserve. The deepest is Kronotsky. It resembles an isosceles triangle in shape.

Climate of the reserve

This area belongs to the Pacific coast of Chukotka in the climatic region. The climate is formed under the influence of the Pacific Ocean. Its formation is also influenced by the mountainous terrain of this territory. Summer in the reserve is cool and humid, with thick fogs and frequent drizzling rain, and also with southern weak winds. In autumn there is warm and dry weather with plenty of sun. However, in November, winter begins. It is characterized by cold strong winds, sometimes hurricane force, as well as snowfalls. Under the influence of warm weather in the spring, avalanches begin to descend. This is especially true for the narrow valleys of mountain rivers, as well as steep slopes.

Soils

On the territory of the reserve, the soils were formed under the influence of volcanic activity. The permanent rejuvenation of the soil is facilitated by the ingress of ash into it. Due to this, it is also saturated with minerals. Such soils have high water permeability and loose build, which is very favorable for the growth of various plants.

Types of plants in the reserve

600 species of higher vascular plants were found on the territory of the reserve, as well as 113 species of lichens. To the number of rare is the diphasistrum Sitha, lichen, found on rocks. In the reserve there are 85 species of bryophytes, 6 - fern-like. Among them you can find such rare species as tellytis marshland growing in wet meadows, in the Valley of Geysers - a cut-out crown, at the cliffs of the Pacific coast - a green palm, and also a written cryptogram growing on stony sites.

Cedar pine tree forms thickets over a vast area. In places in the reserve you can find fir elegant and spruce Ayan. The latter reaches 25 meters in height, and its age can be 300 years. She is also interested in shadowing. Fir fine can be found on the south-eastern territory. It is an ornamental plant with a beautiful conical crown.

Medicinal plants, flowers

On the territory of the reserve from medicinal plants were found: wax felt, having a tarry smell, and nettle flat. In the pelvic zone also grows the famous rhodiola rosea, which is also called the golden root. Thunberg's Thumbler, a rare species, grows in the stone-birch forests. Here, too, there is a wooden liana covered with azure blue and purple flowers. In the marshes and reservoirs there is a yellow-flowered caluga floating. Koptis trehlistniy with snow-white flowers and dark green leaves dwell on mossy marshes. Bright flowers in various parts of mountain tundra, pebbles, rocks, stony placers, peat bogs and marshes are poppy plants. Blossoms on the open slopes of clove creeping. Numerous in the territory of the reserve are heather plants, which are distinguished by their bright colors in various parts of it. Also common are 4 species of violets, the colors of which are from white to blue. You can find among the berry plants blueberry and cranberry marsh, cranberries small and ordinary.

Only one species among the willow trees in height reaches 25 meters. This is a Sakhalin willow. The rest of the trees are bushes.

Standing out in the tall grass is the bear, which reaches a height of 2-3 meters. The poisonous milestone grows right in the water.

Representatives of the lily are characterized by a special beauty. There are black-purple, violet-red and bright-white lilies in the reserve. Here you can also find ornamental plants belonging to the Orchid family. For example, in the upper reaches of the river. Geysernoy was found a unique flower. This is a Chinese spinner. His inflorescences are twisted spirally, there are small bright pink flowers.

In the reserve among rare species listed in the Red Book, there are: fir elegant and a large-flower slipper.

Animals living in this area

Kronotsky Reserve, the fauna of which is very diverse, still inferior to the species composition of the rest of Kamchatka. This is due to its location. For example, the fauna of amphibians in the reserve is represented only by the Siberian snail. In general there is no reptile in this territory.

Some species have a very interesting history of penetration into the Kronotsky state natural biosphere reserve. For example, a small black coniferous barbel accidentally got here with wood. He appeared in Caldera Ozone because of the delivery of the fin there by helicopter. The fin is used as fuel by tourist parking.

Birds

Kronotsky State Biosphere Reserve is the territory where 69 seabird colonies have been identified. Numerous axes prevail, the Pacific gull, the Pacific sweep, the Cormorant birch berin. There are also representatives with a much smaller population such as the gray-winged seagull, the thin-bellied guillemot, and the Ipatka. The ax is especially interesting. It is a bird of brown color, medium size with a red beak, strongly flattened on the sides. Behind her eyes are white long feathers. Nests this interesting bird in the holes that it digs in the soft soil on the tops of the rocks. In the rocks also nest crows, white-haired swifts, the Steller's sea eagle and the mockhorn horse.

In the Kronotsky Bay, in the bay of Olga, which never freezes, there are 1.5 thousand birds. Numerically among them prevail: the Pacific sigga, sailor, gaga-Grebenushka, hump-nosed turpan, Kamenushka. There are also many ravens and gulls here.

Marshy tundra with lakes inhabit: greyishchek grebe, red-throated diver, pintail, wig, teal-whistle, hump-nosed kurpan, singa, glaucous and gull gull. Nests in a small number of swan-swan, which has become rare.

Steller sea lions and sea otters

At Cape Kozlov in 1942 there were more than one and a half thousand Steller's sea lions, and a few hundred more west of the cape. The number of these animals today is only 700 individuals. They are referred to a rare species, Steller's sea lions are included in the Red Book of Russia. They are now under special protection.

The sea otter is an aboriginal inhabitant of Eastern Kamchatka, its coasts. In the 19 th century, the abundance of this species was very high, but at the beginning of the 20th century it completely disappeared. Now the sea otters have returned independently to Kronotsky state reserve. There are only about 120 animals.

Ringed seal and common seal live in the coastal waters of this reserve. They are listed in the Red Book.

Large animals of the Kronotsky Reserve

The northern reindeer lives in the lowlands of the coastal strip. They are found from predatory fox, wolverine, ermine. In Kamchatka there is a bright coloration and a large fox. On the berry tundra in late July fed bears. Dwell in the coastal strip of snow sheep that feed on accessible shrubs and herbs, feed on the shore with seaweed. The number of reindeer meeting on Kamchatka is now at a critical level. One of the main tasks of the reserve is its restoration. Kamchatka marmot is another inhabitant of the highlands, which lives on low-grass plots.

Species that live in stone basins

Common among the species that inhabit the stone-birch trees, nuthatch, puhlyak, small motley woodpecker, Chinese zelenushka, bullfinch, yurok, motley-chested and small flycatchers, pale thrush, bluebird, deaf and common cuckoo, stone capercaillie, three-toed woodpecker. Here the nest of predators is a goshawk, goshawk, eagles. The Okhotsk cricket lives in large numbers.

Sable, brown bear

Of predators, a sable is allocated, which feeds on voles, a white partridge, small passerines, rowan berries, blueberries and shiksha, and nuts of cedar elfin. Sable with a decrease in the amount of food begin to starve and wander in his search. Sometimes it turns into a migration to vast territories. In search of food in recent years, animals are so exhausted that they go into villages, losing fear of people, and in the dumps they look for food. Kronotsky Biosphere Reserve - the territory on which the brown bear is distributed. It differs from other species in particularly large sizes.

Other animals

Olive thrush lives in the large-barren valley forests of the Kamchatka Peninsula. The Kronotsky Reserve is also inhabited by a white hare inhabiting river valleys. Nest in the larch forests are Dubonos and Moscow. There is also a large motley woodpecker and shrimp-rogue here. This is the only place in the reserve where the protein lives.

A fish

Practically bezrybny clean rivers of this territory to the mass flow of salmon. This move is a beautiful sight, as a huge amount of fish shining in the sun, floats in crystal clear water. This attracts birds such as gogol, stone, large and long-nosed crumbling, sea blackness.

Ground squirrel and marmot

The Bering gopher reaches a high population at the foot of the volcano cones. Kamchatka marmots live on lava flows.

Accession of the Koryak Reserve

Most recently, in April 2015, the Koryak Reserve was added to Kronotsky. Thus, the latter expanded the boundaries. There is a Koryaksky reserve in Olyutorsky and Penzhinsky districts of the region. It was created in 1995 to protect nesting places, the passage of waterfowl and the whole complex of ecosystems located in Northern Kamchatka. Its rivers are large spawning grounds for salmonids. Preserved in the territory of this reserve is one of the most numerous in Russia populations of the falcon Falcon, whose protection is carried out at the international level.