National parks and reserves of the Irkutsk region: list, description and reviews

Since 1997, on January 11, Russia celebrated the Day of Reserves and National Parks. On this day in the last century (in 1916) created the first in Russia State Reserve - Barguzinsky. It is located on the shore of Lake Baikal. In the Transbaikal are also the reserves of the Irkutsk region. This region is rich in protected areas. Two reserves, the Pribaikalsky National Park and many preserves are in the region.

Features of Irkutsk region

This is one of the largest regions of Eastern Siberia. Its area is almost 5% of the Russian territory. A huge length explains the diversity of landscapes and nature. Most of it is occupied by taiga forests, plateaus, remnants of steppes, river valleys. But the main attraction of the Irkutsk region is Lake Baikal. Thanks to it, tourism is widely developed here.

Baikal is included in the list of world heritage due to unique natural landscapes, clear waters and a huge variety of representatives of flora and fauna.

What are reserves?

The Irkutsk region is located in the basin of Lake Baikal, which is included by UNESCO in World Heritage sites. Therefore, most of it refers to protected areas of federal significance. The list of reserves in the Irkutsk region is small, but their significance is great. The reserve is created with the aim of preserving the natural complex in its original form. It completely prohibits hunting and any economic activity.

The first reserve - Barguzinsky - was created, as mentioned above, in Russia in 1916. The nearest reserves of the Irkutsk region appeared in the 80s. They cover a large territory of the Baikal coastline and were created in order to preserve the uniqueness of the plant and animal life.

Reserves of Irkutsk region: list

There are fragments of relic steppes, beautiful taiga forests, lakes, mountain ranges, ancient paleovolcanoes, waterfalls, gorges. To protect the unique natural landscapes, the reserves of the Irkutsk region were created. The list of names is known to any local resident, since they help save the coast of Lake Baikal in its natural state. This became especially relevant by the end of the twentieth century, when many representatives of flora and fauna began to die due to active economic activities and deforestation.

What are the reserves in the Irkutsk region?

• Vitimsky Nature Reserve was founded in 1982. It is located in the north-eastern part of Transbaikalia. One of the tasks of his appearance was the protection of a snow ram, a sable, rare species of birds of prey, landscapes of the unique mountain lake Oron. Here grow larch, there are pine, cedar and fir. Visiting the Vitim Reserve is possible only on 3 tourist routes along the Vitim River and on Lake Oron.
• The Baikal-Lena State Nature Reserve was established in 1986. It is located in the southern part of the Baikal ridge on the western shore of Lake Baikal. Here, there are preserved taiga forests, relic steppes, 2 paleovolcanoes of 1.5 million years old. In the reserve a huge number of brown bears and other taiga animals. There are rare species such as osprey, black stork, spotted eagle, golden eagle, peregrine falcon and others. Pine, larch and cedar are widespread, many lichens, mosses and fungi. 47 species of endangered plants are protected here.

National parks

These are large areas with unique natural objects. Here all conditions for rest and tourism are created, which preserves the originality of picturesque landscapes and does not harm the flora and fauna. Limited, and sometimes completely prohibited, human economic activity, except for the use of nature for agricultural purposes for the needs of the local population. Unlike reserves, visitors are allowed to enter the territory of the national park. There are parking lots and tourist routes.

The first national park was created in the US in 1872 - it's Yellowstone. The largest in the world - the Northeast Greenland National Park has an area of more than 950 thousand square kilometers. And in Russia the largest national park is located in the Irkutsk region.

The Baikal National Park

This is a protected area of federal significance. It was created to protect the unique world of nature on the western shore of Lake Baikal. It includes almost a quarter of the length of its coastline - about 470 km. The Baikal National Park is the most visited tourist zone in the region. Of all the reserves and national parks of the Irkutsk region, it is most abundant with rare species of plants and animals. The park's area is more than 400 thousand hectares - this is the largest protected territory in Russia. It includes a narrow coastline - from 3 to 20 km, Primorsky Range, Tazheranskaya Steppe, the Bolshaya River Basin and, in part , Olkhon Island.

All reserves and national. Parks of Irkutsk region are characterized by a rich variety of flora and fauna, some of which are not found anywhere else, and magnificent species of nature. But this national park attracts tourists most of all. There are the coves Aya and Peschanaya, majestic cliffs of the Primorsky Range, relic steppes and salt lakes. In the source of the Angara is the largest wintering waterfowl in Siberia.

What are the reserves for?

Certain areas where only certain species or special natural objects are protected are called zakazniki. They are prohibited only some types of human activities, for example, hunting. Now in Russia there are 70 reserves of federal importance, 2 of which are located in the Irkutsk region. Such protected areas are created without time-limits, and zakazniks of local importance may exist for several decades or less. Most of them are designed to preserve several rare or endangered species, but there are also those that are created to protect a single plant or animal.

Both reserves and reserves of the Irkutsk region were created to preserve the unique nature of Lake Baikal. Now in this territory there are two federal reserves - Krasny Yar and Tofalarsky, as well as the Magdan, Chay, Kirei, Irkutny, Boyskie marsh and others.

The most famous sanctuaries

In total there are 16 reserves in the Irkutsk Region. Of these - 2 federal and 3 local, 8 complex zakaznik and 3 species. Of these, several are quite large and famous.

• The Tofalar reserve of federal importance was established in the 70s of the 20th century. It included the natural landscapes of the former Sayan Reserve, for example, the Kosurgasheva Glacier.
• Krasny Yar is a complex reserve of federal significance, as close as possible to the reserve. It is inhabited by sable, brown bear, musk deer, bittern, roe deer and other common species. Protected by a black stork and a gray crane.
• Irkutniy zakaznik occupies the territory of 30 thousand hectares and is created to protect the habitats of wild boar.
• Reserve Boyskie marshes is created along the Boya River and preserves habitats of wild ungulates and nesting birds.
• The Magdan zakaznik is located in the basin of the rivers Magda and Ilga. It was created to protect habitats of wild animals, spawning valuable species of fish and nesting birds.

Monuments of nature

On the territory of the Irkutsk region there are many valuable natural, historical or cultural objects. They are declared monuments of nature. There are 77 objects here. Of these, geological monuments of nature - the cliff of Mir, the glacier Sunny, the cave Winter Tale, Cape Arch, Shaman-stone, Chayachiy Rock, karst caves and much more. Many water monuments of nature: a karst spring, Lake Heart, Udinsk rapids, the source of the Okuinka River, waterfalls and springs.

Complex landscape monuments are shaman pisanitsy, figured stones on the Khan River, Peschanaya Bay, Kai Grove, petroglyphs from ancient caves, Tusham pine forests and others. To the monuments of nature are very rare plants: a water nut, Irkutsk lily of the valley, relict spruce and others.

Reviews of tourists

National parks, reserves and reserves of the Irkutsk region attract the attention of tourists due to the uniqueness of Lake Baikal. Picturesque nature, clean water, fresh air and the presence of rare species of plants and animals - this is what is postponed in the memory of tourists after visiting this territory. Despite the rather harsh climate, a small number of warm days and cold water of reservoirs, tourists love these places. Enjoy the beauty of waterfalls, see ancient volcanoes and relict steppes for every nature lover.