The Voronezh Reserve. Voronezh State Biosphere Reserve

Tourist routes in Voronezh attract thousands of travelers every year. And it's no accident. Reserves of the Voronezh region are places in which nature has been preserved almost in virgin condition. These picturesque corners are carefully guarded not only by the Russian government, but also by some International organizations. One such site is Divnogorie. This reserve is characterized by a unique natural landscape. It is located at the confluence of the Don River and the Quiet Pines. This museum-reserve annually attracts nature lovers, clean, fresh air. In this unique place are collected various architectural monuments. So, here is the Holy Dormition monastic complex, in which in different years there was a sanatorium, a rest house, although originally it was a monastery. The second popular place is the Voronezh State Reserve. What is rich in this untouched land and what inhabitants inhabit it, we learn further from the article.

History of foundation

The Voronezh Biosphere Reserve is located 40 km from the city center. It was created to preserve the number of river beavers. Thanks to timely care, this species of animals not only did not disappear, but also significantly increased its population. By the way, this natural complex is the only beaver nursery in the world. At the end of the XX century, the reserve received the status of a UNESCO biosphere reserve. And at the beginning of the next century, the Ministry of Natural Resources of the Russian Federation instructed him to guard two reserves. They were "Stone Steppe" and "Voronezh".

Territorial boundaries

The Voronezh Biosphere Reserve from three sides outlines the zone of the ancient Usmansky boron. The natural complex is located on a flat terrain, on the left bank of the river. From the west, the border of the reserve for 5 km runs parallel to the riverbed of water flow. On the south side it runs along the railway line. By the way, only a few kilometers from the station "Grafskaya", which is located on this stretch of the road, is the Central Manor of the Reserve. It focuses the excursion and administrative complex, a beaver nursery of an experimental nature and research laboratories. In addition, here you can visit the famous Museum of Nature.

Reservoirs

The territory of this natural complex is the Voronezh and Usmanka rivers. The first, rather deep, water flow is located near the village of Ramon. The second river is a tributary of Voronezh and consists of a series of weakly flowing lakes - reaches. These objects are connected with each other by narrow streams with marshy bogs and shores. The path of Usmanka predominantly lies along forest ranges. In droughty years, the river channels are very shallow.

Natural wealth

Almost the entire territory, on which the Voronezhsky reserve is located, covers the Usman forests, whose forests are of an island character. In addition, there are representatives of the steppe flora and plants of predominantly northern forests. The name "boron" is not quite applicable to this natural massif. Although here there is mainly pine, but the mixed terrain, the heterogeneity of the soil, the different depths of the location of groundwaters have led to the emergence of a significant diversity in vegetation. A great influence had a man. As a result, today pine forests occupy no more than one third of the reserve area. That is characteristic, in the western part of a natural complex of a pine have non-native for this breed the sizes. That is, the trees do not have a "ship" span, and their trunks are highly curved. Such natural manifestations are associated with the weak water availability of these places and, correspondingly, meager food.

On the territory where the Voronezh Biosphere Reserve is located, depending on the moistening of the soil near the oak, rowan, broom and cherry can grow. The grass cover consists mainly of boron plants. This sedge is scallop and palpate, hawfish hairy, veronica gray and so on. Almost all the soil of the natural complex is covered with lichen and moss. 29% of the territory of the natural complex is covered by deciduous forests. They are mainly located on the slopes of the Voronezh-Usmanka watershed. Also these natural massifs can be found in the eastern part, along the border with the steppe. In this forest area oak, sedge and sedge-snyte oak forests are common. In the first tier of the deciduous massif, long-lived (oaks up to 160 years) predominate. Among them there is also ash. In the second, except these breeds, grow elm and linden. And in the undergrowth there are mainly spindle grass, hazel and bird cherry. The soil of the broadleaf forests of the reserve is covered by sedge hairy, snyt, lungwort and other herbs. In addition to pine and oak forests, birch and aspen are common in the natural complex of Voronezh. Also, almost 2.5% of the territory is marshland.

Water plant world

In the summer period, the smooth surface of the reservoirs of the reserve is covered by flowering water lilies, water-colors and egg-caps. Near the creeks and tributaries of the river Ivnitsa in the shady places you can find a very spectacular plant - a fern-grasshopper common. Also in the territory that the Voronezh reserve occupies, common lzhekamysh grows. According to many botanists, this plant is a relic of post-glacial age. This miracle of nature can be found only in one place of the reserve - near Lake Chistoe.

Animal world

The fauna of the reserve is mostly forest species. Out of the number of ungulates, boars predominantly populate the deciduous forests. The number of roe deer is also quite high. Their habitats are places densely overgrown with trees or shrubs. There are few elks here, representatives of the taiga zone, and noble deer. The highest point of growth in their number occurred in 1970. Then their number reached 1200 individuals. But the wolves that appeared in the forest practically exterminated the deer population. Currently, there are only a few dozen. A raccoon dog and a fox are common in the area.

The river beaver, thanks to which the Voronezhsky reserve began its existence, settled comfortably on various water bodies. He developed an active activity there, building dams and digging deep pits. On the heights of deciduous forests are badger "towns." In solid holes, connected by a system of complex passages, these animals live for more than one decade. Usual for the reserve are ermine, weasel and marten. Near the ponds, the American mink tracks down its prey. From here she drove her European "relative" back in the thirties of the 20th century. Island forest-steppe burs are inhabited by mouse-shaped rodents. The habitat of secret forest dormouse are oak forests. There are more of them than protein. In the wide steppes there live jerboa and speckled ground squirrel, but their numbers have fallen considerably over the years. The hollows of the old trees serve as houses for various species (there are 12 of them) bats. Popular brown ears, batts (forest and dwarf). Some of these types of mammals differ in frequency and limited distribution.

Birds

137 species of birds inhabit the Voronezh Reserve. Owners of oak forests and mixed forests are passeriform, accounting for almost half of the total number of all types of birds. On wet meadows, overgrown with bushes, in the floodplains of rivers settle varacones with a multi-colored "apron" and yellow-wool wagtails. Coastal cliffs near the water choose an ordinary kingfisher as a dwelling. This small, but snappy diver for fish can be distinguished from other birds by a red breast and a blue-green back. Shrike-shrimp prefer glades with shrubs. Here you can also find a greenskin with green plumage and a hawkish warbler. Such an original name the bird received for its resemblance to the hawk. Yellow eyes and a light chest with dark pestrinami it is very similar to this predator. Gray cranes choose for their shelter a thicket of black alder in the lower reaches of rivers. The number of couples living there varies from 6 to 15. The Ivnica River sheltered around a large colony of these birds (150 pairs). In the swampy areas, a large bittern is settled, while the small one prefers only steppe water bodies. The white stork is one of the most graceful and beautiful birds - recently it also has nests here. Small toadstool, a very rare species of birds, can be seen on a forest pond, and on a steppe - big or black-earth. A variety of species of waders have chosen their rivers and streams for their habitat.

Predator birds

Their fauna is estimated by fifteen species. Along with the usual representatives of the middle belt, rare species live here. We are talking about the serpent, the eagle-dwarf, the seaweed, the great eagle, the burial ground, the golden eagle, the white-tailed eagle. Widespread such birds as the owl, eared and swamp owl. The latter creates semi-colonial settlements in the meadows. In autumn and spring, the Voronezh Reserve, a photo of which can be seen in the article, and 39 species of birds migrate from it. Some stop there in flocks numbering several hundred individuals. In the spring time it is rooks, and in the autumn days - geese (white-fronted beans and bean-goose).

Reptiles

In the deep reservoirs live marsh turtles. They are not so many, because there are few places suitable for laying eggs. It used to be thought that fish is the main food of this species of reptile. Therefore, the turtle was considered harmful to the water industry. But in fact, it feeds on worms, insects and their larvae, tadpoles, newts, small fish, caterpillars, different species of locusts. In the ecological system, the turtle occupies the place of a kind of orderly and a selector who removes sick or dead insects.

Amphibians

It is often possible to meet an ordinary newt. There are five species of frogs. The most common of these is the common garlick. It is called so casually. Living near water bodies, this light gray with brown spots of a toad gives off a smell, similar to the aroma of garlic, through the glands. With the help of the hind legs, it deftly digs into the soil in a practically vertical position. Feeling danger, she can meet her face to face. Puffing, issuing warning sounds, the toad will strike the enemy with his head.

Fish

Variety of their species can be proud of the Voronezh River. It is rich as large representatives of the animal world of water bodies (pike, burbot, catfish), and medium and small. One of them is the bull-tsutsik. Such a ridiculous title he owes his appearance. The nostrils stretched out in the tubes, similar to the ears of the spaniel, hang over the upper lip. Appearance and a peculiar manner of moving underwater, as if sniffing everything - these are the main reasons why the fish got a funny name.