The southern part of the Far East within the borders of the Russian Federation is a place of conservation of the most virgin and one of the largest zones where amazing coniferous-deciduous forests grow. Due to the location of these protected areas along the path of the settlement of plant and animal worlds, passing along the Asian coast of the Pacific Ocean from tropical to temperate latitudes, the interweaving of diverse representatives of the southern and northern flora and fauna is presented here. The reserve is rightfully considered the last habitat of many rare species of plants and animals. There are over a thousand species of all kinds of plants, bird colonies have more than 350 species, while the number of mammals exceeds 70 species.

Separately, it is worth mentioning that the Central Sikhote-Alin is the last refuge for the endangered Amur tiger. There are also other rare species of animals: the white-breasted bear, the black stork, the black and Japanese cranes, the Amur goral, the scaly merganser and many others.

Picturesque landscapes dotted with full-flowing rivers, combined with an outstanding variety of flora and fauna, the presence of exotic species of animals and plants, make the nature of Sikhote-Alin unique. There are also many objects of a recreational nature, such as: massifs of rocks surrounded by taiga, calm lakes, noisy waterfalls and rapids, outlandish stone remains, sandy bays on the coast of the Sea of \u200b\u200bJapan, reefs and other aesthetic elements of local nature.

In 2001, the territory of Central Sikhote-Alin was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

This is a place of volcanic origin in the Far East of Russia. Sikhote-Alin is the territory of the Khabarovsk and Primorsky territories through which the watershed of the rivers of the Amur basins (the valleys of the Ussuri rivers), the Sea of \u200b\u200bJapan and the Tatar Strait passed.

Translated from the Manchu language, Sikhote-Alin means the ridge of large rivers. There really are a lot of mountain ranges, fast rivers with clear water.

The natural world is not comparable with any region of our state in the diversity of animals and plants. The oldest relict species of flora and fauna have been preserved here. The individual peaks of the mountain ranges exceed a height of two kilometers. Their slopes only seem to be velvety from afar, in fact they are covered with impenetrable taiga.

One of the greatest rivers of Russia flows through this area - the majestic, calm and wide Amur. In Amur, there is such a species diversity of fish that is not found in any other river in our country (common carp, bream, silver carp, catfish, burbot, rudd, Friday horse, white and black grass carp, pike, aux, Chinese perch, kaluga, chum salmon - all species can not be counted).

In summer, in the Sea of \u200b\u200bOkhotsk, large beluga whales and small (9 m) whales, minke whales, are close to the coast. And in the area of \u200b\u200bthe Shantar Islands from the shore you can see the fountains of giants - fifty-ton smooth whales. In a word, a natural monument.

Traces of the Ancients in Sikhote Alin

In the floodplains of the Sikhote-Alin River, archaeologists have discovered sites of man of the Neolithic era (V-III centuries BC). There were villages that were located on terraces 4-6 m high. This ancient culture of the southern part of Primorye was called Zaysanovskaya. Interestingly, many of the artifacts discovered by scientists are made of obsidian: knife-shaped plates, punctures, scrapers, double-sided arrowheads, triangular knives with a beveled blade, slate knives and tips.

During excavations on one of the Sikhote-Alin plateaus, archaeologists discovered a skeleton of a huge stone structure. The layout of the structure and the nature of the findings allows us to conclude that this is the palace of the Kingdom of Bohai, which existed in Manchuria, Primorsky Territory and the northern part of the Korean Peninsula more than 1000 years ago. In the Sikhote-Alin mountains, the remains of the buildings of this ancient culture were already found: a signal tower, a castle and several fortifications, which are attributed not only protective, but also religious functions.

Guest from the sky

Another circumstance that attracted the attention of the public and scientists to Sikhote-Alin was the fall of the meteorite that occurred on February 12, 1947. Heavenly guest turned out to be a mass of 70 tons. He flew to the earth in the form of a pile of debris, exploding in the atmosphere ( it turned out so well) Meteorite rain covered an area of \u200b\u200b35 square meters. km According to eyewitnesses, the outbreak was brighter than the sun, a rumble was heard in a radius of 350 km, the earth and buildings shook from powerful blows, dust clouds rose into the air. The largest crater was 6 m deep and 25.5 m in diameter.

An expedition of the Institute of Astronomy and Physics of the Kazakh SSR Academy of Sciences was organized to study the crater field, on which the car left more than 100 funnels. Chemical analysis of fragments of the Sikhote-Alin meteorite showed that it was a giant piece of iron with minor impurities of nickel and cobalt. He is one of the ten largest meteorites in the world.

In 2001, the Sikhote-Alin Nature Reserve was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List as a natural site, thereby becoming the fourteenth World Heritage Site in Russia.

The Sikhote-Alin nature reserve is one of the most important conservation zones of the Far East and bears all the wealth and splendor of the Far Eastern nature.

Location

The reserve was founded in 1935 on the territory of the Red Army, Terney and Dalnegorsky regions of the Primorsky Territory. The total area of \u200b\u200bthe reserve is 387.2 thousand ha, of which 2.9 thousand ha are in the sea and 4 thousand ha in the tract Abrek.
  The reserve is located on the eastern and western slopes of the Sikhote-Alin mountain system and stretches for 1200 km in length, with a width of 250 km.

The relief of the reserve is very diverse - it is the rocky coast of the sea coast, and a number of plateaus, ridges and mountain ranges, separated by deep valleys of many picturesque rivers.
  The initial goal of creating the reserve is to protect and restore the sable population, which was almost completely exterminated at that time. Today, the reserve is a place of protection and scientific observation of the pride of the animal world of the Far East by the Amur tiger.

The Sikhote-Alin nature reserve includes a volcanic field, the last eruption of which was observed 8900 years ago. Today it is a peaceful and quiet place. The pride of the reserve is Mount Tardoki-Yani (2090 m) - the highest peak of the Sikhote-Alin ridge. Among other significant peaks of the mountain reserve: China, Snezhnaya, Shishkina, Tumannaya, Camel and others. The mountain slopes are very steep, and the mountains themselves are composed of quartz porphyry, granites, gabbrodiorites, sandstones, basalts, schists and crystalline limestones.

Numerous mountain rivers and springs flow through the reserve, the most important of which is the Columbus River, a tributary of the greater Ussurka. Three rivers of the reserve flow into the sea: Dzhigitovka, Taiga and Serebryanka. The most significant lakes of the reserve are Golubichnoe, Solonetsovoye and Blagodatnoe.

The main objects of protection in the reserve:

• yew groves and cedar-spruce forests;
• fori rhododendron, Jesuit primrose, Chinese magnolia vine;
• abrek tract ecosystem;
• habitats of the mountain;
• lakes Blagodatnoe, Golubichnoe, Solonetsovye lakes.

Climate

In winter, the reserve is dominated by continental cold air masses, in summer, cool oceanic. In the coastal areas of the reserve there is a foggy rainy summer; lingering cool spring; dry and clear autumn and windy little snowy winter. When cyclones invade the Sea of \u200b\u200bJapan in winter, short-term thaws are possible. Average winter temperatures: 13-20 degrees of frost, summer: 18-30 degrees of heat.

Nature

The vegetation of the reserve has a pronounced altitudinal zonation. From sea level to altitudes of 110-150 meters, Far Eastern herbaceous-shrubby vegetation is observed; oak forests grow to heights of 500 meters. Spruce-cedar-broad-leaved forests prevail at heights of 200-300m (less often at heights of 500-600m), fir-spruce - at heights of 560 to 1200m, stone-birch - from 1150 to 1300m; and at heights of more than 1300 meters thickets of cedar dwarf and sections of mountain tundra are observed.

The river valleys are covered with poplar, chosenia, willow, alder and ash-elm forests.
  Of the tree species, Korean cedar, Mongolian oak, Ayan spruce, white fir, yellow and woolly birch, Amur linden, small-leaved maple, Chosenia, Maximovich poplar, valley elm and Manchurian ash dominate. The species composition of shrubby vegetation is very diverse in the reserve, including: mock marsh, hazelnifolia and Manchurian, prickly eleutherococcus, spirea, honeysuckle, euonymus. From herbaceous plants grow here: sedges, nomads, thyroids, kakali, asters, cornflowers and others. 40 species of plants growing in the reserve are rare. There are also Red Book plants: spiky yew, Short-fruited rhododendron (Fori) and Sikhotinsky rhododendron.

In total, in the Sikhote-Alin Reserve there are:

• higher vascular plants - at least 1149 species;
• bryophytes - about 120 species;
• lichens - about 368 species;
• algae - 670 species;
• mushrooms - about 563 species;
• higher mammals - 63 species;
• 342 species of birds;
• reptiles and amphibians - 15 species;
• river fish-16 species;
• marine inhabitants - about 600 species;
• insects - about 3,500 species.

The objects of special protection in the reserve are the Amur tiger, the rarest representative of the artiodactyl family - the goral, as well as the Red Book animals and birds: sika deer, mandarin duck, wild boar and scaly merganser.

The following are common in the reserve: brown and Himalayan bears, sable, harza, blackheads, American mink, wild boar, roe deer, musk deer, red deer, jay, Ussuri cormorant, white-haired swift, hazel grouse, nuthatch, black-headed gaiter, pine nut, raccoon dog, Far Eastern cat, Far Eastern sika deer, osprey, fish owl, crested eagle, Steller's sea and white-tailed eagles, black stork.

The mountain range off the coast of the Sea of \u200b\u200bJapan remained undeveloped by people for a long time until an event occurred that turned the views of the entire planet to the Sikhote-Alin ridge.

About 9 thousand years ago, volcanoes raged on the site of the mountains, an erupting lava hissing crawled into the present Sea of \u200b\u200bJapan, earthquakes displaced the earth's crust, forming a characteristic folded shape of the relief.

"The Range of the Great Western Rivers"

The chain of peaks stretches from the south of Primorye to the north of the Khabarovsk Territory for 1200 km, reaching a width of 250 km. The height of most mountains exceeds the mark of 1,500 m, the highest point of the Sikhote-Alin - Tordoki-Yani (2090 m), crossed the two thousandth line, as well as Mount Ko - 2003 m above the sea.

The eastern slopes are steep and steeper than the western, more hollow descending inland. Therefore, the rivers for which the ridge acts as a watershed run to the Sea of \u200b\u200bJapan and the Tatar Strait quickly and along a short path - Samarga, Koppi, Tumnin, and the water flows Anyui, Bikin, Khor, clinging westward to Ussuri and Amur, are slower and longer . It is probably no coincidence that the name of the mountains is: Sikhote-Alin, translated from Manchurian, “the ridge of the great western rivers.”

"Great Forest" intermountain

This definition was awarded to the flora and fauna of Sikhote-Alin by the famous Russian geographer and traveler V. Arsenyev, who visited these places with several expeditions at the beginning of the last century. The scientist admired the diversity of species, their uniqueness and the mosaic of the forests inhabiting the mountain slopes. White fir and spruce Ayanska prevail in the northern part of the ridge, at high altitudes they pass into the tundra. In the foothills of the picturesque microbiota - an unusual coniferous shrub, endemic Sikhote-Alin, as well as another endemic species - Olginsky larch. For the southern regions of Primorye, oak forests are characteristic.

The abundance of lianas in the forest, especially wild grapes, and lush carpets of grassy vegetation in the valleys of mountain rivers more than two human tall in height affects the imagination. In this pristine civilization of the idyll, small individuals of endangered animals - the Amur tiger and the Far Eastern leopard - have been preserved.

To preserve the unique ecosystem of the mountainous country, several conservation areas have been created - Anyui National Park, Botchinsky, Lazovsky and Sikhote-Alinsky nature reserves, the latter has recently been included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Ancient civilizations on the ridge

Primitive people have lived in river valleys since the Neolithic. This is evidenced by the finds of the remains of villages located on ledges 4-6 m high. Scientists called this culture Zaysanovskaya, its main distinguishing feature is most household items, weapons for hunting made of igneous rock - obsidian: knives, scrapers, arrowheads, etc. .

A later civilization belongs to the buildings of about VI – IX centuries, most likely of the Bohai period, discovered on one of the plateaus. By all accounts, the building was used as the palace-residence of one of the rulers of the Kingdom of Bohai, which existed more than a thousand years ago in the territory of Manchuria, northern Korea and the Primorsky Territory.

The modern development of the Sikhote-Alin ridge began already in Soviet times with the discovery of minerals and the appearance of the first mines, until an event occurred that stirred up the entire scientific world and attracted a lot of people curious in search of a “cosmic stone” in the taiga.

Meteor shower Sikhote Alin

In February 1947, at about 11 pm, a cosmic catastrophe occurred near the village of Beitsuhe in the Primorsky Territory: a meteorite fell into small and not very fragments when entering the layers of the Earth’s atmosphere. An amazing sight was observed by the artist Peter Medvedev, who got out on sketches that day. A reproduction of a painting with a Sikhote-Alin landscape and a falling cosmic body soon circled the whole world and became the hallmark of the event. In total, it is assumed that from 60 to 100 tons of space iron fell in the taiga, only 27 tons were collected, officially calculated and stored in various museums and collections in the world.

However, hunters came to the forest to get rich at the trade in pieces of meteorite, many even opened firms. There are still many who wish to purchase a part from the space alien. The largest block weighed 1745 kg, the remaining finds were smaller - from 350 to 1000 kg, up to 3,500 pieces were found in all small and medium fragments. Many left after the fall of the depression to 6 m, and in diameter from 1 to 28 m.

The Sikhote-Alin meteorite is certainly an interesting phenomenon for science, and its fragments stored in the taiga should be protected, and not greedy taken away from home collections abroad.

Tourist Attractions

A lot of laudatory words have been written about the beauty of the natural landscapes of Sikhote-Alin, but perhaps none of them can replace what they saw with their own eyes - the bright colors of the valley meadows, twined vines of taiga, waterfalls with intriguing names, such as the Black Shaman and the Star of Primorye, the outliers and hills - Cloudy, Yakut Mountains, Camel, Bald and Dragon Park. Trackings to many of them are organized by travel agencies of Vladivostok and other cities of Primorye.

It is extremely interesting to travel around the reserve with a hike in the Udege Legend park, the program of which includes a visit to a medieval settlement, a crater field near the village of Meteoritny (former Beitsuhe), Bohai fortresses near the village of Terney, as well as the Old Believers of Dersu, rafting on the Armagh River and fishing, a walk along the Laulinsky Prikot ecotropic, a tour of the mineral collection in the museum of the village of Roshchino and others.

The average cost of a tour of the Sikhote-Alin is from 22,000 rubles.

Where to stay

In hotels of Vladivostok it is quite possible to stay for the night in rooms with an acceptable daily charge - from 1400 to 3500 rubles, for example, in the hotel Pearl, Equator, Granite, Meridian, Teplo, Relax, Ostrovok and others.

On the route, tourists stop for the night, setting up a campground. All camping equipment is usually included in the price of the tour.

How to get there

Russia, Khabarovsk and Primorsky Krai, Vladivostok, the villages of Novopokrovka, Terney

Flights from Moscow to Vladivostok will cost an average of 12,000 rubles to a traveler, but with a certain amount of luck you can buy at a discount for 7-8 thousand rubles. The train ride is long in time and takes up to 7 days, the ticket price is slightly more than 9000 rubles.

For travel by bus to the village of Terney from Vladivostok, you will have to pay 2,600 rubles, although independent trips in the Primorsky Territory are not as popular as in organized groups, when tour operators are responsible for all transport problems.

Sikhote-Alin Reserve  - Sikhote Alin Reserve. Sikhote Alin Reserve, in the Primorsky Territory, on the eastern and western slopes of the Sikhote Alin Ridge (altitude up to 1600 m); includes the coast of the Sea of \u200b\u200bJapan. Area 347.1 thousand ha. It was founded in 1935; biosphere. Forests occupy ... Dictionary "Geography of Russia"

In Russia, Primorsky Krai, on the eastern slopes of the middle Sikhote Alin; the southeastern part overlooks the coast of the Sea of \u200b\u200bJapan. It was founded in 1935. The area is 347052 hectares. Cedar broad-leaved forests, dark coniferous taiga (spruce, fir). A tiger dwells, ... ... encyclopedic Dictionary

In the Russian Federation, Primorsky kr., On the eastern slopes cf. Sikhote Alin; the southeastern part extends to the coast of the Japanese metro. Founded in 1935. Area 347,052 ha. Cedar broad-leaved forests, dark coniferous taiga (spruce, fir). Tiger, ... ... Big Encyclopedic Dictionary

SIKHOTE ALIN RESERVE, in the Primorsky Territory, on the eastern slopes cf. Shot Alin; the southeastern part overlooks the coast of the Sea of \u200b\u200bJapan. It was founded in 1935. Pl. 347.1 thousand ha. Cedar broad-leaved forests, dark coniferous taiga (spruce, fir). ... ... Russian history

Located on the eastern and western slopes of the Sikhote Alin, its southeastern part extends to the coast of the Sea of \u200b\u200bJapan. It was founded in 1935. The area is 310112 hectares (1974). To a height of 700 m, cedar broad-leaved forests prevail; higher (up to 1300 m) ... Great Soviet Encyclopedia

In the south of Primorsky Krai. It was created in 1935 on Sq. 390.2 thousand ha for the protection of unique virgin forests preim. east the slope of the Sikhote Alin (altitude 500–1600 m), includes the coast of the Sea of \u200b\u200bJapan. Seaside meadows and shrubs, oak, ... ... Geographic Encyclopedia

Sikhote Alin - Sikhote Alin Reserve. SIKHOTE ALIN, a mountainous country in the Far East, in the Khabarovsk and Primorsky Territories. The length is 1200 km. The highest point is Mount Tordoki – Yani (up to 2077 m). The relief of the midlands with traces of ancient glaciation prevails. In the north -… … Illustrated Encyclopedic Dictionary

Autumn in Sikhote Alin ... Wikipedia

Mountain country; Khabarovsk and Primorsky Territories. From Nanaisk. sihte, sikte needles, spruce and alin mountain range, that is, a mountain range covered with coniferous forest. Geographical names of the world: Toponymic dictionary. M: AST. Pospelov E.M. 2001. Sikhote Alin ... Geographic Encyclopedia

Sikhote Alin  - Sikhote Alin. Sikhote Alin, a mountainous country in the Khabarovsk and Primorsky territories; the watershed of the rivers of the Amur basin, Sea of \u200b\u200bJapan and the Tatar Strait. Length is about 1200 km, width is up to 250 km, average height is 800-1000 m, the greatest - up to 2077 m ... ... Dictionary "Geography of Russia"