The Taimyr Nature Reserve is one of the largest nature reserves in Russia. It is located in the north Krasnoyarsk Territory, on the Taimyr Peninsula and its entire territory is located in the zone of continuous permafrost. But, although the weather here does not indulge in warmth, the Taimyr Reserve is unique. natural heritage, and its beauty and species diversity continue to delight tourists and scientists from year to year.
The main attractions of the Taimyr Reserve are natural, archaeological and historical sites, but speaking about it, it is simply impossible to remain silent about the beautiful flora and fauna of this place.
The vegetation, which is rich in the Taimyr Reserve, is very diverse. There are 455 species of plants, 260 species of mosses and lichens here, and 2-3 species are added to this list every year.
And, although the fauna of this reserve is not as rich as the flora, in the Taimyr Reserve there is the world's largest herd of wild reindeer. These graceful animals are listed in the Red Book, but living in the reserve, they are safe and their population is gradually recovering, as well as the population of the polar bear and walrus living in these places.
Also, in the Taimyr Reserve, you can often meet a hare, lemming, arctic fox and ermine. Twenty years ago, an experiment began on the resettlement of the musk ox.
The feathered inhabitants of the reserve are represented by gray cranes and Siberian Cranes, woodpeckers and loons, as well as owls and sparrows. Bird species such as Siberian Crane, Lesser Swan, Eagle Owl, Gyrfalcon, Peregrine Falcon, Golden Eagle are listed in the Red Book. Russian Federation.
The Taimyrsky Reserve is the most visited reserve in Russia. Every year, thousands of scientists from all over the world, ecologists, tourists and fishermen visit East Taimyr.
Dog sledding trips are organized to the reserves, sports and ethnographic tourism is possible. In April, a traditional holiday of reindeer herders is held in national villages. This is a great opportunity to get acquainted with the culture of different ethnic groups, their way of life, ways of hunting, fishing, tasting dishes national cuisine, ride a reindeer and dog sled, or maybe see a shaman perform a ritual.
Reserve "Taimyrsky" difficult story creation. Today it occupies an area of more than 1.5 thousand hectares. Rare representatives of flora and fauna listed in the Red Book are protected in these territories. The official date of foundation is considered to be 1979, it was then that the reserve was created with the aim of a detailed study and conservation of forests, mountain, tundra and lowland ecosystems.
History of creation
Back in 1939, researchers decided to create a large nature reserve on the Taimyr Peninsula. Its opening was planned for 1943, but, unfortunately, the war crossed out all plans. Then the issue of creating a protected zone was raised in 1949, but all the developments of scientists were rejected, since the state was just reducing the area of protected area systems. More than once, the Taimyr Biosphere Reserve has been in the spotlight. The territory was planned to be expanded to 10 million hectares in order to protect not only rare animals and birds, such as wild reindeer, musk ox, red-breasted goose, but also the entire ecosystem of the Taimyr tundra, from the Byrranga Mountains to the Arctic coasts.
In 1979, they still managed to officially register the Taimyrsky Reserve. This included the Logat and Upper Taimyr forestries, the Lukunsky and Ary-Mas branches. In 1994, coastal and foothill arctic tundras were attached to the reserve as a buffer zone. Today, researchers are doing everything possible to expand protected areas.
Natural landscapes of the reserve
The protected zone is located on the Taimyr Peninsula. The organizers managed to cover a wide variety of landscapes: southern, arctic and typical tundra, forest tundra. The reserve "Taimyrsky" is located on the territory of permafrost, reaching about 0.5 km. The buffer zone is mainly located on a flat terrain, it is there that the rivers flow, which are tributaries of the Khatanga. Here is also the most large lake Taimyr, as well as several smaller lakes.
Climate of Taimyr
The climatic features of the Taimyr Reserve largely depend on the phenomenon of the polar night. In this territory, it lasts a little more than two months, persists for 83 days. On the Taimyr Peninsula, winter lasts up to 10 months, sometimes up to 8. But summer mostly comes at the end of June and lasts until August. In winter, in the flat areas, the temperature remains within -45 ° C, and in the mountains, the thermometer drops to -60 ° C. In summer, there is a sharp warming, temperatures up to +30 ° C are possible, but it lasts no more than a week.
Flora and fauna of Taimyr
The vegetation cover of the reserve is very diverse. The buffer zone is divided into southern, typical and arctic tundra. There are not so many plants in the coldest Arctic part. Here you can mainly find mosses, tangled and snow burnt, alpine foxtail, polar willow. The typical tundra is richer, here you can find several varieties of mosses, the Arctic Siberian sedge, and the spotted dryad. The southern territory strikes with the greatest diversity, since there are thickets of dwarf dwarf, alder and willow, there are also red currants and rose hips. On the mountain slopes, one can meet the Dike bladderwort, brittle bladderwort, odorous shieldwort and other northern ferns.
Although the climate is cold and harsh, the Taimyr Reserve is rich in animals. Animals are mainly represented by wild reindeer, musk oxen, ermines, there are also wolves, lynxes. The main food of predators and at the same time the most important living creature in the tundra is the lemming. In the reserve, birds and animals are found in such large numbers that it is not even clear how such poor-looking nature can feed them. Although it only seems so, in fact, there is a high biological productivity of plants, there are a lot of fish in rivers and lakes, mouse-like rodents multiply rapidly, so they are able to feed many snowy owls, arctic foxes, falcons and other mammals and feathered predators.
Animals listed in the Red Book
The Taimyrsky Reserve has sheltered many representatives of the fauna that are on the verge of extinction. Scientists are doing everything to increase their population. Of the mammals, the Laptev subspecies of the walrus, polar bear and a musk ox. There are many more birds: white-tailed eagle, peregrine falcon, lesser swan, lesser white-fronted goose, Siberian eider, gyrfalcon, mud eagle, pink and fork-tailed gulls, Icelandic sandpiper, etc.
What is worth seeing on the Taimyr Peninsula?
You can talk a lot about the reserves of Russia, but it is better to see all this beauty with your own eyes once. Taimyr is far away, but it is still worth taking the time to visit it, because there are a lot of interesting places. First of all, it is recommended to go to museums. The first one is dedicated to ethnography and nature, the second one is devoted to research about mammoths, and the third one is dedicated to the Dolgan poetess Ogduo Aksenova. In the protected zone, you can see the rookeries of walruses of the Laptev subspecies, forests located in the northernmost part of the world. On the Dyabyaka-Tari River there are fossils of marine fauna belonging to the Jurassic period.
Not all nature reserves in the world and Russia have as many interesting places to visit as there are on the Taimyr Peninsula. On the Upper Taimyr River, you can visit the ancient camp of deer hunters, and there are also settlements completely abandoned in the middle of the 20th century. It will be interesting for many to look at the ruins of the winter hut of the expedition of Khariton Laptev and explorers, as well as at the polar stations of the Waiting Bay, which are currently closed. Also of great interest are the inhabitants of the reserve themselves. Here you can watch birds and animals all day long, they are not afraid of people at all, so you can look at them from a close distance.
The main reserves of Russia
The country has a huge number of natural areas under protection. The map of Russian reserves will help everyone to get more information about these unique territories and their sights. Forest lovers can visit the Altai Territory. Many representatives of the fauna live in the reserve, valuable plants grow. There is a dark coniferous taiga complex in Buryatia. covers the Khamar-Daban ridge and the southern coast of Lake Baikal.
It is also worth noting Primorsky Krai. The Kedrovaya Pad reserve is located here, in which there are more than 800 representatives of the flora of southern and northern species. Also in this protected zone, you can see such animals as sika deer, Ussuri pipebills, leopard, Himalayan bear, and others. There are many reserves in Russia, all of them are of great interest both for researchers of flora and fauna, and for ordinary tourists.
The reserve was established in 1979 on the territory of the Taimyr Peninsula in the Krasnoyarsk Territory. The total area is 2.7 million hectares. It has been a biosphere reserve by the decision of UNESCO since 1995. And since 2013 it has become integral part State institution "Reserves of Taimyr".
Taimyrsky is a territory of permafrost, where frosts and snow are constant companions even in July, and the soil temperature does not exceed 0 degrees for millennia.
The natural zone is the tundra, as well as individual sections of the Arctic deserts, with a poor landscape and a harsh climate. Contributes to the habitation of animals and plants major river Taimyr, about 570 km long. As well as a large lake called Taimyr located on the territory of the reserve.
The development of plants and animals is also helped by 2 forest-tundra sites (“Lukunsky”, “Ary-Mas”). These are unique territories where Dahurian larch grows, reaching a height of 10 meters. Once in this magical forest, it does not occur to you that it is located in the permafrost region. More than 900 species of various plants grow here, including mosses and lichens. The world's largest population of wild reindeer is permanently located.
The uniqueness of the Taimyr Reserve
It was here that a project was launched to return and acclimatize a herd of musk ox brought from Canada and North America. The territory of Eurasia was the historical habitat of this animal. The limits of its distribution reached the Crimean peninsula in the south and France in the west, but then the musk ox was almost completely destroyed, partially preserved only in North America and Greenland. The experiment has been going on for over 20 years. From the initially imported 30 individuals, today the herd has grown to 1.5 thousand of these mighty animals on the territory of the Taimyr Reserve. The musk ox and deer are the only mammal species that survived the warming period of the Late Pleistocene. The purpose of the reserve is to preserve their population for posterity and increase their numbers.
The uniqueness of the fauna of these places is salmon: omul, whitefish, Siberian smelt and grayling, as well as burbot. In addition, rare birds live on the territory of the reserve - this is the red-throated goose, a species under the threat of complete extinction.
Taimyr Nature Reserve Tourism
This institution is known for the site of ancient people who hunted deer, as well as outcrops of rocks of the Jurassic period with the fossilized remains of ancient marine animals. The latter are located on the banks of the Dyabyaka-Tari River. In addition, there are 3 museums on the territory of the reserve:
- Mammoth;
- Nature and ethnography;
- Poetess Ogduo Aksenova.
In addition to the above, ethnographic and sports tours are organized, as well as special tours for observing mammals and feathered inhabitants of the reserve.
Taimyrsky is a unique biosphere reserve where studies of the tundra ecosystem are carried out, the development of the musk ox in historical habitats is observed, as well as the rookery of the walrus subspecies that lives only in the Laptev Sea, but also ecological tourism is developing.
State biosphere reserve"Taimyrsky" is one of the largest nature reserves. This place is definitely not intended for the weak-minded lovers of Turkey and Egypt, who are afraid of frost and eschew extreme tourism. A trip here can cost anyone a pretty penny - it is not surprising that most of the visitors to the Taimyr Reserve, who come to enjoy the amazing, unique flora and fauna, are foreigners. Recently, however, trips to protected areas have become increasingly popular among the inhabitants of Russia. We also went there, being part of a small group of hiking enthusiasts, in order to subsequently compile this detailed guide to the reserve for you.
Did you know? In which natural area is the reserve "Taimyrsky"? Literally the entire territory of this biosphere park is located in the tundra zone, permafrost. Where the Taimyr Nature Reserve is located, swampy lowlands are common in conditions of high relative humidity and strong winds.
Where is the Taimyr Nature Reserve
The Taimyrsky Reserve is located in the tundra of the northern part of the Krasnoyarsk Territory, on the almost deserted Taimyr Peninsula.
How to get to the Taimyr Nature Reserve
Unfortunately, the directorate of the reserve in the village of Khatanga, which issues permits to enter the reserve, can be reached only by plane, which flies once a week from Krasnoyarsk or Norilsk. Without the permission of the administration, entering the territory of the reserve is undesirable, since the workers are required to conduct a detailed briefing and warn you about the possible dangers of staying in the tundra. Due to unpredictable weather conditions, flights to Khatanga may be delayed or even postponed, so be prepared for the fact that you may have to spend a day or two at the airport.
Opening hours of the administration of the Taimyr Reserve
- The administration is open daily, except Saturday and Sunday, from 9:00 to 17:00.
- A visit to the reserve does not require any fee, but do not forget about the special equipment that you should have with you when traveling through the tundra.
Animals and plants of the Taimyr Reserve
On a total area of 1781928 hectares, you can meet a wide variety of representatives of the tundra fauna, since they have at their disposal many reservoirs and quite long river Taimyr. What specific animals live in the Taimyr Reserve?
Sports and ethnographic tourism of the Taimyr Reserve
If you are inquisitive and curious enough, but not hardy enough, it is best to wander around the outskirts of the reserve with a guide, take a few photos and be known as the conqueror of the Far North on Instagram. However, if you are famous for endurance, courage and have saved up some money for an extreme vacation, two separate tours are offered for you.
- Fascinating rafting on the Upper Taimyr River is called "In the footsteps of Urvantsev"- it will suit those who like to tickle the nerves of themselves and instructors.
- The second route is on foot, and it is called "Mountains of Byrranga".
Arriving in the reserve in the fall, you won't go wrong either. At this time, the administration organizes not too much large groups tourists and lets them into the snowy distance on dog sleds. Interesting? And how!
After all, at the end of the road they will be waiting for you authentic settlements of the peoples of the Far North- Nganasans and Dolgans. In addition, in the spring take part in the traditional festival of reindeer herders. In general, you will have every chance to get to know the life, culture and characteristics of small, but ancient peoples.
Museums of the Taimyr Reserve
- In the territory protected area there are several very interesting, unique museums. First things first, you should definitely visit Museum of mammoth and musk ox them. Vereshchagin, which was opened relatively recently - in 1999. The museum collection contains a lot of materials, scientific papers and photos of mammoths collected throughout the history of the reserve. A sister museum has also been created here, which is carved inside ice cave, in permafrost. Going inside this impromptu "glacier", you will immediately feel how comfortable the temperature is there - it remains even when there are severe frosts outside. Also in the museum you can see a lot of very interesting items, including mammoth tusks.
- Another museum you should definitely visit is Natural and Ethnographic Museum of the Taimyrsky Reserve. This museum was founded long before the official opening of the reserve - in 1953. The exhibits collected over such a long time tell about the fauna and flora of the protected area, the life and traditions of the indigenous peoples of Taimyr, as well as the diverse nature of the Autonomous Okrug as a whole. Stuffed animals and birds, photo exhibitions by ornithologists, works by photographers from all over the world, a paleontological collection - all this was carefully collected by generations of scientists and travelers. Also in the museum you can attend lectures, participate in discussions and conversations, meet very interesting people.
Museum of mammoth and musk ox them. Vereshchagin
History of the Taimyr Reserve
The reserve founded in 1979, at the moment is the oldest in Russia. In 1995, according to the decision of UNESCO, the reserve received an honorary biospheric status- this means that its territory is protected in order to preserve the gene pool and natural ecological systems of this region. There are only 564 natural biosphere reserves in the world, so you and I, like prospective tourists, have a great chance to see something that is not accessible to everyone.
In 1994 the Arctic section and the buffer zone were attached to the reserve "Bikada". So if you ever hoped to visit the Arctic someday, visit Taimyr, which is not as far away as it seemed.
Today protected area receives about three thousand tourists annually, and in the administration's guest book "Taimyrsky" you can really see unique records, written by hundreds of travelers, scientists and explorers who have ever conquered the North Pole.
Interesting facts about the Taimyr Reserve
- When planning a trip to the reserve, be prepared for surprises, as frosts and snow can be found there even in July.
- In winter, the reservoirs of Taimyrsky are covered with a layer of ice, the thickness of which can reach up to 2 meters.
- To the north of Khatanga is the lake "Taimyr", the bottom of which is covered with an ancient glacier.
- Hunting is prohibited in the reserve, but free fishing is allowed in almost all water bodies - there are a lot of fish, especially salmon.
- Throughout the reserve, you can often see the Northern Lights.
Video of the Taimyr Reserve
Probably, this is all that can be told about the Taimyr Reserve to someone who has only recently visited this exceptionally unusual place for the first time. Watch the video!
I really hope that those who are interested in going there will write a few reviews about the article and ask questions that arise during the reading - I tried very hard to convey my delight and thirst to return to Taimyr. I also encourage experienced travelers to share their own impressions, especially if I made some inaccuracy in the description of the reserve. Happy travels!
