Preserve Ussuriysk: State Nature Reserve in Primorsky Krai

Ussuriysk State Nature Reserve in Primorsky Krai carries out extensive work to preserve the country's natural wealth. Guests have the opportunity to see all the splendor of these places. They are given a chance to walk along the ecological path. And after visiting the local museum of nature, you will get to know the history and inhabitants of the reserve even closer.

Creature

In 1913, the botanist L. Komarov came here to better study the local vegetation. But it was not immediately possible to create a protected zone on the territory, but only in 1932. This was assisted by the USSR Academy of Sciences. The territory was taken under special control in order to protect and preserve rare species that were already in the Red Book of the country at that time.

General information about the reserve

The reserve occupies the territory of Ussuriysky and Shkotovsky districts. Its area is 40 432 hectares. Here are the basins of the Artyomovka and Komarovka rivers. One of the riches of these places are the lianiferous broadleaf forests, which practically did not become in the Far East.

Relief

Preserve Ussuriysky low-mountain relief. Some mountain peaks can reach 700 m, but mostly the average height is 300-400 meters. Local rocks are schists, sandstones, porous basalts, quartz porphyries. Also there are diabase and andesite porphyrites, which form a narrow watershed crest. On the north side of the reserve there are limestone outcrops, and of these there is a beautiful rock massif known as Zmeinka. In it there is a cave with the poetic name "Sleeping Beauty".

On the territory there are mountain-forest types of soils with different thicknesses. Also here there are sod-alluvial and alluvial-brown types of soils, characteristic for river valleys.

Climate

The reserve Ussuriysk refers to the Amur-Ussuri climate region, which is characterized by a temperate climate with monsoon features. For the year of frost-free days there are about 105-120. If you subtract the average annual temperature, it is 2.5 ^o C. August is the warmest month with an average of 19.7 ^o C. January (the coldest month) is -17.9 ^o C. But on the soil an absolute maximum of 60 ^О С, and a minimum of -32 ^о С. In a year the average falls 700-800 mm of precipitation, but there are dry years (500 mm) and rainy (1200 mm). The average annual humidity is 70-80%.

So, in general, the climate is characterized by: summer warm, wet, winter - little snow, moderately severe.

Vegetation

The flora of the Ussuri Reserve is very diverse, despite the fact that about 98% of the territory is occupied by mixed, coniferous and broad-leaved forests. But the most common here are coniferous-deciduous forests (42% of the total area).

Workers of the reserve conducted a study and counted the number of plant species among them: mushrooms - more than 1000, about 820 species of vascular, 250 mosses, about 200 species of algae, and hundreds of lichens.

Among the tree species that are widespread here is Korean cedar (the same pine is cedar), white fir, whole-leafed fir, yellow birch, hornbeam, walnut Manchurian, Ayan spruce. Also dominated by the lime Takes, limes Amur and Manchurian, elm lobed and valley, small-leaved maple and other species.

In addition, the reserve Ussuriysky is rich in shrubs, among which: honeysuckle, spiraea, Manchurian hazel, Chubushnik tonkolistny, Eleutherococcus. Among the lianas one can mention the Chinese magnolia vine, the actinidia of the colomict and the argument, the Amur grapes.

Many herbs grow on the territory. Of these, the most common are various species of scabbards, sedges, horsetails, queens, qoslits, vasilistniki and others.

But the main value remains plants listed in the Red Book. These include yew spiky ginseng, ginseng present, princepia Chinese, juniper hard, calopanax semilobate and pine gustocvetkovaya.

Ussuriisky reserve: animals and birds

Since the territory is completely under the cover of the forest, this created excellent conditions for many living beings. In these places, animals found typical of forest tracts found shelter. So the Ussuri reserve protects 62 mammal species, more than 160 bird species, 7 reptiles, 6 amphibians, 12 fish and cyclostomes. There are many invertebrates, among which 32 species are found in the Red Book. In the reserve you can meet the biggest beetle of the country - relic mound. Also here fly the large butterflies - the tail-bearer of Maaka, bracea Tankre, Saturnia Artemis.

In the reserve there are many badgers, wild boars, squirrels, red-gray voles, columns, wapiti. Among the birds you can call a woodpecker (gray and white-spiked), oatmeal (gray-headed and yellow-headed), hazel grouses, blackheads and black-bellied tits. But it is worth noting that river birds predominate here.

The purpose of the reserve is to preserve rare species from extinction, therefore, there are many individuals listed in the Red Book. Among the birds to such include hawk sarych, mandarin duck, spiked scoop, crested osoed, black stork and others. In addition to birds, there are such animals as the Far Eastern forest cat, the giant beluga, the Himalayan bear, the East Siberian leopard, the spotted deer and many others, which are protected by the Ussuri reserve. The Amur tiger also managed to increase its population due to living here.

In the reserve there are rare invertebrates, for example, the grasshopper Uvarov, as well as a narrow-chested beetle.

On the territory of the reserve there is a center for raising orphaned cubs, which are being produced with age.

Information for guests of the reserve

Those who want to visit these amazing places should know that there are special routes that are designed to better view the flora and fauna. At the end of the tour there are observation platforms with a view of the forest. In the heart of the reserve is a house where Komarov lived, and nearby - his burial place. Also one of the curious objects is Mount Zmeinka with caves, in one of which you can see interesting relief images, made in ancient times.