The National Park "Samarskaya Luka". Protected areas

Samara Luke is a unique land. The area is formed by the Bay (Usinsk) of the Kuibyshev Reservoir and the bend of the majestic Volga River. There is a very special microclimate, amazing beauty of the mountain, blue-blue expanses of the Volga, a unique plant and the world. All the beauties have earned Samara's world reputation.

The history of the national park "Samarskaya Luka"

Not so long ago, at the end of the eighteenth century, in the territory of Samara Luke grew dense forests of ancient trees. These were mainly pine-oak and oak-linden forests. However, later the trees underwent mass felling, which led to a significant reduction in the massifs.

The Samarskaya Luka National Park was founded in 1984. The purpose of its creation was to preserve natural complexes, promote the development of national culture, and create all the necessary conditions for the development of tourism in the region. A lot of rest houses and tourist bases have been built on the territory of the park, winter and summer routes have been laid. Near to it there is a city Zhigulevsk, to be exact, it directly adjoins to it from the south side. So we can say that the inhabitants of this city are very lucky. For them to get out for a walk in the park is easy.

Historical sites in the park

It should be noted that the national park "Samarskaya Luka" is interesting not only for its flora and fauna, there are many archaeological sites on its territory. One of them is the town of Murom. Once it was one of the largest settlements of Volga Bulgaria (from the ninth to the thirteenth century). Also there are fortifications of the Bronze and Iron Ages. All of them need further study, because they can tell a lot more about new things.

On the territory of the park, in 2011, a remarkable exposition of archaeological finds was opened under the name "Antiquities of Samara Luke". Just imagine that there are exhibits belonging to different epochs: stone, bronze, iron centuries and the Middle Ages. How interesting to see live objects of the Golden Horde time!

Since the city of Zhigulevsk is very near, this exposition was opened with the support of its local history museum. Local residents do not always have the opportunity and time to visit museums. But those who come to the park for rest can just imagine the most convenient opportunity, when entertainment can be combined with cognitive excursions.

In general, the whole history of this region is closely intertwined with the names of such historical personalities as Stepan Razin, Ermak, Emelyan Pugachev, Alexander Menshikov and the Orlov brothers.

Nature of the National Park

The nature of Samara Luke is rich in various plants, which from spring to autumn cover the steppe with all sorts of flowers. The vegetation of this area is of profound scientific importance. Here, for the first time, six species of plants were discovered, three of which are nowhere else found anywhere. This is sunflower monotonous, spurge Zhigulevsky, shake Zhigulevsky. Many plants of Samara Luke are rare enough and are found only in local places.

Very interesting for research relict trees, preserved to date from ancient eras (preglacial, glacial, postglacial periods). Ironically, the glacier was unable to reach the Zhigulevskie Mountains, and therefore practically did not affect the nature of Samara's Luke. The greatest number of relicts can be found in the stony mountain steppe.

Fauna

The fauna of Samara Luke is quite distinct. This is reflected in the fact that at least thirty percent of vertebrates live here on the border of areals. These include: a viviparous lizard, an ordinary viper, a long-tailed owl, an owl owl, a hazel grouse and a wood grouse. All of them are representatives of Siberian and taiga species. And at the same time, near them live typical representatives of the southern steppe species: the marsh tortoise, the patterned skid, the golden calf, the water one.

There are relic species here. It is interesting that they are separated from the main habitat by a sufficiently large distance. It is a patterned skid, an ordinary mole rat, an Alpine beetle beetle.

Varied and modern animals of Samara Luke: roe deer, elk, wolf, boar, lynx, marten, hare, fox, muskrat and many others. All of them live here in comfortable natural conditions.

Mountains of Samara Luke

In the north-western part of Samara Luke is Molodetsky mound. From it, the Zhiguli Mountains begin , which stretch out a 75-kilometer-long ridge. The mound is shrouded in many legends and legends. Its height is slightly more than two hundred meters. It hangs over the waters of the Volga Reservoir near the Usinskii Gulf.

One of the fabulous legends tells of the fact that once a beautiful young woman fell in love with the Volga. But he did not like the beauty. Her heart was occupied by the Caspian Sea. And so the young man decided to block her way, not to let him into the rival. Then the Volga deceived him. She lulled with her sweet speeches both the young man and his squad. And she ran to her lover. A lot of time has passed since then, the young man and his warriors petrified, turning into Molodetsky mound. And ever since then, the Volga lulls them with the murmur of its waters. Here is such a beautiful story of the emergence of Samara Luke and Zhiguli Mountains. However, this is just a legend.

In fact, once the river was blocked by a crease formed due to the motion of the earth's layers. The Volga had no choice but to channel its waters around the obstacle. That's how the legendary and bizarre bend of the river was formed.

Molodetsky mound has long been interested in many scientists. This is a unique, in fact, place. It seems very harsh, this kind of it gives absolutely steep rocks. And only one of the slopes covers a dense forest, and at the very top of the mound relic pine trees grow. All the beauty of this place can not be expressed in words. At the Molodytsky burial mound, you can find quite rare representatives of fauna: steppe apron, white-tailed eagle, mahao butterflies and apollo.

From the top of the mound there is a beautiful view of the reservoir, the mountains and the Usinskii Gulf. Even before flooding in front of the Kurgan, Kalmyk Island was located, and behind it, on the opposite bank of the river, is the one-story wooden city of Stavropol. But after the flooding of the territories, naturally, the water level rose by almost thirty meters, and the lower part of the shallow Us river turned into Usinsky Bay.

Molodetsky mound is very popular with tourists. And on the shore of the bay often conduct environmental actions, sports competitions, all sorts of meetings. The mound is included in the tour route of the national park.

Maiden Mountain

The maiden mountain is located next to the Molodytsky mound. She is also called the younger sister. After flooding, the Kuibyshev reservoir concealed more than half of the mountain under its waters. The maiden mountain is also shrouded in legends, like the entire Samara Luke.

Mount Camel

This quaint mountain is located not far from the Cross Glade (Shiryaevo village). Its name she received because of the bizarre shape of the top, which seems to hang over the Volga and really reminds this animal. From the top of the mountain offers a beautiful view of the surroundings and banks of the Volga, Tsarev Kurgan and the Zhiguli Gate. Tsarev Kurgan once was a single whole with a mountain massif.

As for the Zhigulevskie gates, this is the narrowest place in the valley of the Volki, here the river flow is the strongest.

The bowels of the Camel Mountain are permeated with a network of tunnels, in them it is cool even in hot summer. Here, even the rails preserved, along which the trolleys passed at the beginning of the century. At present, the tunnels have become the haven of the largest colony of bats in all the Volga lands.

Near the mountain there is the village of Shiryaevo. Repin once worked here. Mount Camel has long been chosen not only by tourists, but also by climbers who equipped a climbing wall on it.

Zhigulevsky mountains end near the village of Podgora, passing into a plateau. It rises above the river for about forty meters. Its surface is dissected by ravines, hollows alternating with rocks and forests.

Rock of the Wailing Stone

Rock is another local landmark. It consists of limestone rocks. And on its slopes grow limes, oaks, maples, as well as violets, lilies of the valley, a beaver. The top of the rock is like a small platform. From it opens a wonderful view of the Serpent's Creek, Shelekhmeti Mountains.

Snake's backwater

At the foot of the cliff there is Lake Wislokamenka (Snake). Although now it is more correct to call it a bay (after the construction of a cascade of reservoirs). People say that the lake got such a name, because there were always a lot of snakes here. And up to the present time these places are considered the most that neither is a snake in the whole of Samara's Luka. Do not think that here it is directly teeming with them. More often you can meet snakes and runners, but poisonous snakes are rare.

In these places there lives the white-tailed eagle, which is listed in the Red Book. They are planted on the surrounding lands of a backwater and wild boar, roe deer, and kites. Here there are stony steppes and meadows, coniferous and deciduous forests. All this together perfectly combines and creates an indescribable beauty that attracts many tourists.

On the lands of Samara Luke is not only the national park Samara Luke, but also Zhigulevsky National Park named after. I. I. Saprygin, who is one of the oldest in Russia.

Birds of the edge

Many birds of Samara Luke are listed in the Red Book. In general, there are more than two hundred species of birds. Unfortunately, in the last century the diversity of species has decreased. The Black Stork can be attributed to the disappeared. This situation is primarily associated with human influence. After all, they built roads, extracted oil, built up the banks of the Volga. All this to some extent affected the nature.

Most of the species of birds that inhabit the Samara Luka nest here regularly or they live settled. But there are some species that fly into the territory during the migration.

Particularly interesting are wood grouse, black grouse and hazel grouse. Once there were a lot of them. Now everything has changed. But, on the other hand, the white-tailed eagle became a settled resident of these places.

The combination of floodplain and mountain landscapes creates unique conditions for numerous representatives of the animal world, many varieties of bats that have chosen the local tunnels. To bats no one bothered in the winter, the entrances to the caves are blocked by lattices.

Instead of an afterword

Samara Luke is a rare natural phenomenon. The Ministry of Natural Resources had a reason to create a national park. The local places are unique in the composition of the flora and fauna. Not so long ago, on the basis of the Zhigulevsky Reserve, biosphere reserves were opened. Their goal was to protect the lands of the Volga region and the Zhiguli landscapes. Most reserve lands are located on the territory of Samara Luke. This is due primarily to the fact that on these lands not so much affected the influence of man. So, there is still a chance to somehow preserve all that is at the present time. On the territory of the bioreserve, there are absolutely unique ecosystems: the plateau of Samara Luke, the stone steppes, mixed forests, etc. The Ministry of Natural Resources must carry out environmental measures aimed at protecting human influence on nature. Because not all human actions are for her good.

The National Park "Samarskaya Luka" is a unique place, amazing with its beauty. Visit it and plunge into the wonderful world of nature.