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Great Arctic
State Nature Reserve
1993
Area
4,169,222ha
Water
980,986ha
Protected area
379ha
The Great Arctic reserve is the largest nature reserve in Eurasia and the third largest in the world. With an area of over 4 million hectares, the reserve is surrounded by the Kara Sea and the Laptev Sea. Due to the extreme climate, the main flora species in the reserve are lichens that can survive the harsh conditions of the Arctic. Wildlife is also scarce.
Uyedineniya Island, part of the reserve, hosts one of the world’s largest breeding sites of ivory gulls.
Tourism is well-developed in the Great Arctic reserve. The most popular tours are the Taimyr Labyrinth; Khutudabiga River – Kingdom of Life; and Spring on the Khutudabiga River.
Wrangel Island
State Nature Reserve
1976
Area
2,225,650ha
Water
1,430,000ha
Protected area
795,593ha
The northernmost nature reserve in Russia comprises two islands, Wrangel and Herald, and the surrounding waters. The diversity of plant species and communities, insects and birds makes the nature reserve unique. Wrangel Island ranks first in the world in terms of the number of endemic plants and animals (that is, those found in only one climate zone), surpassing even Greenland. The history of this area is very interesting as well: remains of animals that lived there thousands of years ago were found on the islands, including Pleistocene and Holocene mammals such as woolly mammoths, ancient bison, horses and pygmy mammoths. The reserve is also the site of a Neolithic settlement of marine hunters that dates back about 3,400 years. In 2004, the reserve was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.
The nature reserve is located both in the Eastern and Western hemispheres: the 180th meridian divides Wrangel Island in two parts.
Wrangel and Herald islands also have the largest number of polar bear maternity dens in the world.
Wrangel Island has the largest in Asia colony of snow geese.
In the Chukchi language, Wrangel Island is called Umkilir, “the island of polar bears.”
Putorana
State Nature Reserve
1988
Area
1,887,251ha
Protected area
1,944,300ha
The nature reserve is located in the mountainous area of the Putorana Plateau. Among the reserve’s natural landmarks are unique landscapes, giant tectonic lakes and numerous waterfalls. In 2010, the reserve was put on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
In the Evenki language, the reserve’s name means “country of lakes with steep shores.” In the Yukaghir language, it is “mountains without peaks.”
Taken together, the Putorana lakes (over 25,000 in all) comprise the second largest freshwater reservoir in Russia after Lake Baikal.
The reserve is home to one of the tallest waterfalls in Russia (108 m).
The reserve is known for the seasonal migrations of the largest wild reindeer population in Eurasia.
Taimyr
State Biosphere Reserve
1979
Area
1,781,536ha
Water
49,540ha
Protected area
937,760ha
The reserve was established to protect and study the tundra ecosystem. It is located in the eastern part of Taimyr Peninsula, in an area of permafrost up to 500 m thick. Many rare species under various classifications can be found there, for instance, Castilleja arctica, Artemisia arctisibirica, Draba pohlei, Draba taimyrensis, Puccinellia byrrangensis Tzvelev.
The landmarks include the famous Middendorff Cave, where Russian traveler Alexander von Middendorff stayed during his expedition in 1842.
The length of polar night in the reserve is 65 days; polar day is 83 days long.
The reserve comprises Lake Taimyr, the second largest in Siberia after Lake Baikal.
The Taimyr Peninsula is home to the world’s largest reindeer population.
Ust-Lensky
State Nature Reserve
1984
Area
1,433,000ha
Water
603,883ha
Protected area
1,050,000ha
The nature reserve was established to protect and study the delta ecosystem of the Lena River, one of the largest rivers in Siberia, as well as the Laptev Sea and New Siberian Islands. Lakes, creeks and bays comprise over a half of the reserve. Among its unique natural landmarks is Stolb Island, a 114-meter rocky hill formed of 400 million year old rocks. Mirages resulting from bent light rays where cold air masses meet the warm waters can be seen near Stolb Island.
The Lena River has a narrow section surrounded by cliffs, which is several dozen kilometers in length and is called the Lena Tube.
In November-January, the dazzling northern lights can be seen in the nature reserve.
Several Neolithic settlements were found on the Lena River banks.
The nature reserve offers hunting and fishing tours.
Russian Arctic
National Park
2009
Area
8,800,000ha
Russian Arctic is the youngest Arctic reserve. It comprises the northern part of Severny Island of the Novaya Zemlya Archipelago and the surrounding islands. In 2016, the Franz Josef Land sanctuary was included in the national park. The park aims to preserve the natural, cultural and historical heritage of the western part of the Russian Arctic. It protects valuable polar deserts and Arctic tundra with glaciers. Franz Josef Land is home to a large part of the ivory gull population and the bowhead whale Spitsbergen subpopulation. Evidences of the Pomor sea routes and the expeditions of Arctic pioneers have been found here.
The waters surrounding Franz Josef Land are the only place in the Russian Arctic where narwhals can be seen.
Champ Island in the Franz Josef Land Archipelago is famous for its enigmatic stone spheres.
The Novaya Zemlya Archipelago contains artifacts of the Willem Barentsz expedition of 1596-1597.
Russian Arctic National Park offers guided tours for those who want to see the amazing nature of the national park.
Gydan
State Nature Reserve
1996
Area
878,174ha
Protected area
150,000ha
The nature reserve is located on the Gydan Peninsula and the Kara Sea islands. It was established to protect and study the tundra ecosystems of the northwestern part of Western Siberia, the coastal and marine ecosystems of the Kara Sea, and the breeding sites of waders and seabirds.
The East Atlantic Flyway of water birds and shorebirds that migrate along the northern coast of Eurasia goes through the nature reserve.
The reserve is home to a unique reindeer herd that differs significantly from the Taimyr subpopulation.
Nenets
State Nature Reserve
1997
Area
313,400ha
Water
181,900ha
Protected area
269,200ha
The Nenets Nature Reserve is a sprawling expanse of tundra and swamps. Due to the large water surface, it attracts thousands of birds during the breeding season and tens of thousands during spring and fall migration. The East Atlantic Flyway of birds that build nests in Eastern Siberian and Western Siberian tundra and that winter in Western Europe, as well as the migration route of the Atlantic salmon pass through the nature reserve. The reserve offers birdwatching tours. The Winged Fighters tour includes the mating battles of ruffs. The program The Arctic – Home of the Tundra Swans offers glimpses of pre-migration groups of water birds in the nature reserve.
The nature reserve hosts a large part of tundra swan breeding sites. The swan is the reserve’s mascot and is depicted on its logo.
The famous Pomor route to Mangazeya goes through the reserve.
Lapland
State Biosphere Reserve
1930
Area
276,435ha
Water
8,574ha
Protected area
27,998ha
The Lapland Biosphere Reserve protects the entire nature complex of the western part of the Kola Peninsula. The reserve is known for its pristine nature: this area was uninhabited before the reserve was established. Some forests in this reserve are several thousand years old.
It is the only place in Fennoscandia and on the Kola Peninsula with a reindeer herd of over 1,000 animals.
The northern lights can be observed in the reserve from late August to mid-April.
Kandalaksha
State Nature Reserve
1932
Area
78,608ha
Water
49,583ha
Protected area
78,608ha
The reserve was established to protect commercial bird species, first of all the common eider, a sea duck that is known for its valuable down. The largest part of the reserve is water, so the Kandalaksha reserve can be considered the first marine reserve in Russia. Since 1939, the entire wildlife and natural sites of the reserve have been under protection. The nature reserve is a cultural and education center for Russian ornithologists.
The Kandalaksha Gulf of the White Sea near the Murmansk Region is of global importance as a habitat of water birds.
The reserve includes over 550 islands around the Kola Peninsula.
Pasvik
State Nature Reserve
1992
Area
14,687ha
Water
3,224ha
Protected area
14,687ha
The nature reserve is located along the Russia-Norway border in the far northeast of the Kola Peninsula. Its western border goes along the state border that divides the Paatsjoki River. The nature reserve was established as a result of the two countries’ cooperation to protect unique northern nature. A quarter of the area is occupied by swamps. The Paatsjoki River and the adjacent waters and swamps are the habitat of many bird species, such as the black-throated loon, whooper swan, common goldeneye, smew, mallard and red-breasted merganser.
The reserve has one tourist route, Varlam Island – the Perl of Pasvik.
Evidence of Stone Age settlements has been found in the reserve.