Losiny Island is a national nature park, located in the Moscow region (including in the city of Moscow). The total area of the reserve is 128 km 2 . Today Losinoostrovsky Park is a place where wild animals live in the natural environment and a huge number of plants grow, including those listed in the Red Book.
The centuries-old tradition of taking care of nature
The reserve zone was established in 1983. Earlier in this territory were the hunting grounds of the last representatives of the Romanov family. The idea of creating a natural park in the area appeared much earlier. It is believed that in this area coniferous trees are deliberately planted for 115 years. Losinoostrovsky park-reserve is one of the oldest in our country and one of the largest forest-park massifs on the territory of the Moscow region. Why did the green zone get such a strange name? The thing is that in the old days forests, located between villages and fields, were often called islands. In addition, Elk Island was indeed dug, and mere mortals were not allowed to visit this place, intended for walks and hunting royalty.
The modern territory of Losiny Island
Today the reserve is divided into three zones. The heart of the natural kingdom is a protected area, which is closed to tourist visits and carefully guarded. This is the place where wild animals live permanently in the natural environment, and research work is conducted here. Losinoostrovsky Park also has a protected area open to tourists. This is a natural area, which you can visit with a guide. During this walk you can learn more about the animals and plants of the reserve, the history of Losiny Island, and if you are lucky, you can even see with your own eyes wild animals, including "tame" moose. There are also museums, sightseeing trails. The scheme of Losinoostrovsky Park allows you to notice that there is a third zone in the reserve as well - open to tourists on a free-of-charge basis.
Flora and fauna
It's hard to believe, but the park did not remain without care and care even during the Second World War. In those difficult years new trees and shrubs were planted on the territory. Today, the reserve has more than 700 plant species, 36 lichen species, 90 species of mushrooms and 150 algae. Losinoostrovsky park boasts trees that have celebrated their centennial anniversary. An interesting place is Alekseevskaya grove, in it pine pines grow , whose age is at least 250 years old. There are rare species of grass in the reserve, there are a lot of berries and flowers throughout the summer. Equally impressive is the fauna of the park. According to experts, about 280 species of animals live here in the natural environment. The park is inhabited by moose, which once gave him the name, as well as wild boars, spotted deer, roe deer, beaver, fur-bearing animals. In local water bodies fish and amphibians are found. You can meet in the reserve and a variety of reptiles, a variety of birds, many varieties of insects.
Excursions to the reserve
If you want to spend a day in the wildlife, learn something new, or go on an interesting cognitive walk with children, the best place in the capital for you is Losinoostrovsky Park. The reserve area is 128 square kilometers, a variety of tourist routes are laid across its territory. Visitors are offered several options for ecological travel. In addition, on the territory of the reserve you can visit the museum of peasant life, royal hunting and children's zoo. To order an excursion, contact one of the Visit Centers of the park.
Independent rest
In the part of the park, open for mass visits, there are no amusement rides and cafes habitual for many recreation areas. It is a place for quiet walks and bicycles. It is not forbidden to organize picnics in the park. Just do not forget to clean up all the garbage behind you, let's save the Losino-Ostrovsky park! Shish kebabs in the area, accessible for mass visits and walks, can also be fried. However, this should be done strictly in designated areas, on special sites, using barbecues. Remember - the future of the natural zone depends on the behavior and care of each visitor. In addition, for a failure to comply with simple rules for nature conservation in the reserve faces a serious penalty.
How to get there?
Many residents of the capital do not even believe that a clean and beautiful natural place can exist in the immediate vicinity of a large city. In order to dispel such doubts, it is enough to see the Losinoostrovsky park once with your own eyes. How to get to this reserve? The park has a lot of entrances, and, remarkable, some of them are from Moscow, and others - from the side of the region. You can get to the park from Korolev, Balashikha, Shchelkovo, Mytishchi. From Moscow, the most convenient way to get to VDNH, and then drive a few more stops by ground transport. If desired, you can go and by private car to any of the entrances to the recreation area. We bring to your attention a detailed map of Losiny Island and the surrounding area, which will help you to create the most convenient route for you. The reserve is open all year round, but, according to many tourists, it is most beautiful and interesting here in the summer.