The most beautiful national parks in the world. Russian reserves
American TV channel CNN has ranked the 30 most beautiful national parks in the world. The evaluation criteria were the beauty of nature and picturesque places, safety and hospitality local residents. The TV channel drew attention to the fact that US parks do not participate in the rating.
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1. First place in the ranking received national park Iguazu Falls in Argentina. Surrounded by tropical nature, the waterfalls on the Iguazu River are considered to be one of the most beautiful and spectacular places on Earth. (Photo: REUTERS/Jorge Adorno). 
2. The second place in the ranking was taken by Los Glaciares National Park in Argentina. 30 percent of the park is covered with ice, which is why it is also called the Glacier Park in Patagonia. (Photo: 123 RF). 
3. Third place: another National Park of Argentina - Nahuel Huapi, which is located in the Andes at an altitude of 767 meters above sea level. (Photo: 123 RF). 
4. Fourth place: Gandoca-Manzanilla National Reserve in Costa Rica. 
5. Fifth place in the ranking: Tikal National Park in Guatemala. It includes one of the largest and most famous archaeological sites in the world - the most important center of the Mayan civilization of Tikal. (Photo: 123 RF). 
6. Sixth place in the ranking: Rapa Nui National Park, which is located on Easter Island (Chile) and is famous for its stone sculptures - moai. It is believed that this is the most geographically distant inhabited island in the world from other islands and lands. (Photo: 123 RF). 
7. Seventh place: Torres del Paine National Park located in the Chilean part of Patagonia. According to scientists, the park is 11 million years old. (Photo: 123 RF). 
8. Eighth place: Canaima National Park, located in the southeast of Venezuela. It is here that the highest waterfall in the world - Angel Falls - is located. (Photo: Flickr/Heather Thorkelson). 
9. Ninth Place: National Park Galapagos Islands in Ecuador. The famous Galapagos tortoises, which gave the name to the islands, are the longest-lived animals - they live for more than two hundred years. (Photo: 123 RF). 
10. Tenth place: Cairngorms National Park in Scotland. The park has vast wastelands where birds nest. (Photo: Flickr). 
11. Eleventh place: Göreme National Park in Turkey, which is also an open-air museum - there are 350 Byzantine churches carved from the rocks. (Photo: 123 RF). 
12. Twelfth place: Tatzhansky or Tatrinsky National Park is the only high-mountain park in Poland created to protect unique mountain landscapes, flora and fauna. (Photo: Marek Podmokly/Agencja Gazeta). 
13. Thirteenth place: Croatian Plitvice Lakes National Park, which includes 16 beautiful karst lakes connected by waterfalls. (Photo: 123 RF). 
14. Fourteenth place: Victoria Falls National Park - located on the Zambezi River in Zambia. (Photo: 123 RF). 
15. Fifteenth place: Kruger National Park is the oldest park in South Africa, which is part of the Kruger-to-Canyons Biosphere Reserve. (Photo: 123 RF). 
16. Sixteenth place: Namib-Naukluft National Park in Namibia. Its area is almost 50 thousand square kilometers, mostly desert, and is one of the largest protected areas in the world. (Photo: 123 RF). 
17. Seventeenth place: Mana Pools National Park in Zimbabwe. Even in the dry season, there is a lot of moisture left here, which is very important for the ecosystem and animals. (Photo: Flickr / ninara). 
18. Eighteenth place: Murchison Falls National Park in Uganda, on its territory there are many water cascades that waterfowl love. (Photo: 123 RF). 
19. Nineteenth place: Halgurd Sakran National Park in Iraq, which includes Mount Halgurd with a height of 3607 meters. (Facebook/press materials). 
20. Twentieth place: the deserted Ein Avdat National Park in Israel, which guards the beautiful territories of the canyon, inhabited in the days of the first Christians by monks and Nabataeans. (Photo: 123 RF). 
21. Twenty-first place: Zhangjiajie National Park in China. It was here that the famous film "Avatar" was filmed. (Photo: 123 RF). 
22. Twenty-second place: Najangsan National Park in South Korea - it is especially beautiful in autumn. The park is hidden in the mountains of Najangsan south of Seoul. (Photo: 123 RF). 
23. Twenty-third place: Pagsanhan Gorge National Park in the Philippines. It includes the largest waterfalls in the country. According to legend, before the appearance of the waterfalls, two twins lived in this place. Once, after a severe drought, one of them died, then the second twin climbed high rocks and began to curse the gods, when suddenly a spring began to beat from under his feet, which laid the foundation for waterfalls. (Photo: 123 RF). 
24. Twenty-fourth place: Minneriya National Park in Sri Lanka, the main pride of which is a large population of elephants. (Photo: 123 RF). 
25. 25th place: Sundarbans National Park - tiger and biosphere reserve in India. (Photo: 123 RF). 
26. Twenty-sixth place: Bannerghatta National Park in India. Part of the park is a nature reserve, where more than a hundred species of birds, many mammals (including elephants, bears, leopards) and insects are under strict protection. There is also an animal rescue center here. (Photo: Flickr / Nisha D). 
27. Twenty-seventh place: Bandhavgarh National Park, the largest population of tigers in all of India lives here. (Photo: 123 RF). 
28. Twenty-eighth place: Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park in Australia. The famous red-brown mountain Uluru (Ayers Rock) changes its color depending on the angle of the light. (Photo: 123 RF). 
29. Twenty-ninth place: Blue Mountains National Park in Australia. The name "Blue Mountains" comes from the blue eucalyptus trees growing on the slopes of the mountains. (Photo: 123 RF). 
30. Thirtieth place: Paparoa National Park in New Zealand, the main attraction of which are pancake limestone rocks, as well as beautiful caves. (Photo: 123 RF).
The nature of planet Earth is surprisingly diverse and rich. However, throughout the existence of civilization, man has interfered with the natural formation and laws of wildlife. Back in the 19th century, people realized that it was necessary to take measures to preserve many natural formations, as well as individual species of flora and fauna. Thus, today we have the opportunity to admire the perfect creations of nature, as well as see rare species endangered animals or plants, and all this - in natural natural conditions where no human intervenes. So, we present to your attention the ten most picturesque national natural parks in the world.
1. Yellowstone Natural Park
The first national park in history was opened in the United States at the end of the 19th century. It's famous today nature Park Yellowstone, located on the border of three US states at once. This biosphere reserve has international status and is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. The Yellowstone Plateau is rich in thermal springs and geysers, throwing hot streams to a height of over 40 meters. There are only five geyser fields in the world, one of which is Yellowstone. However, exactly half of all thermal springs planets. Yellowstone Lake is located in the crater of the world's largest volcano. Over two thousand different plants grow here, and several hundred species of animals live, among which are the grizzly bear, the American bison, and the cougar. There are hotels, campsites and shops on the territory of the park, there are museums and information centers, there are several paved roads and about 2 thousand km of marked trails.
2. Grand Canyon in Arizona
The United States also has one of the deepest canyons on the planet - the Grand Canyon in Arizona, on the Colorado Plateau. This canyon was formed from the constant flow of the Colorado River in the thickness of limestone and various rocks, sandstone and shale. It was formed more than five million years ago, and represents the geological history of the planet in a section. It is the bewitching beauty of multi-colored rock layers that attracts more than 2 million people annually. The depth of the canyon is more than 1.5 thousand meters, to go down to the very bottom, tourists will need more than one hour of time. Moreover, the climate at the bottom of the canyon and at its top is strikingly different - while at the top it will be about 15-20 degrees of heat, at the bottom the temperature can rise to all 40 degrees. Therefore, tourists prefer to view the beauty of the canyon from observation platforms, and rafting on the Colorado River in inflatable boats or rafts is the most popular.
3. Plitvice Lakes in Croatia
The Plitvice Lakes Nature Reserve in Croatia is considered the most beautiful national park in Europe. and. There are about 16 lakes on the territory of the park, which have an amazing color - bright blue, which is why all the photos of the reserve look like a photo montage. There are also about 20 caves and more than 140 beautiful waterfalls, by the way, it is the waterfalls that are becoming more and more every year. There are routes for pedestrians on the territory of the park, traffic is prohibited here, and you can admire the amazing underwater world through clear azure water from wooden decks built especially for visitors. It is forbidden to swim in the lakes of the reserve, they are included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. The park also contains rare and unique types of vegetation that have been preserved since ancient times.
4. Iguazu National Park
On the border of Argentina and Brazil is the Iguazu National Park, the main attraction of which is the beautiful waterfall of the same name. The name of the park is translated as "Big Water", and this is not surprising. This is a real park of waterfalls, of which there are more than 270. The nature of the park resembles the tropics of the Amazon, there are several levels of a growing forest, striking in its colorfulness and lush vegetation. You can travel around the park and see the waterfalls right in your swimsuit, because there is no escape from the splashes of the waterfalls. For inspections, special bridges, crossings and viewing platforms are equipped here. From the height of the waterfalls, you can go down by jeep and boat to their foot.
5. Serengeti Park in Tanzania
There are also quite a few national natural parks on the African continent. One of the oldest and most beautiful is the Serengeti Park in Tanzania. The name of the park is translated as "Endless Plains", and its main attraction is animal world. It is here that there are more than three million individuals of large animals, many of which are on the verge of extinction, as well as over 500 species of rare birds. The plains and savannahs of the park are considered the best place on earth to observe the life of lions and cheetahs, antelopes and giraffes, elephants and rhinos, as well as many other animals in natural conditions. It is in the Serengeti park that the largest population of lions on the planet lives.
6. Snowdonia National Park in Wales, UK
No less interesting for lovers of natural beauty and attractions is the Snowdonia National Park in Wales, UK. This is one of the first three national parks in the country, it was created about 60 years ago. The name of the park comes from the name of Mount Snowdon, 1065 meters high, the highest point in Wales. The park occupies a quarter of the entire territory of Wales, about 20 thousand people live here. On the territory of the park there are many lakes, including the largest in area in the UK, as well as unique flora and fauna. There are more than 2 km of hiking trails, as well as about 200 km of trails for horseback riding. Historic railroads pass through the park.
7. Kakadu National Park
The most beautiful place in the green continent of Australia is Kakadu National Park, which is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. The territory of the park is 100 km wide and 200 km long. Here you can meet thousands of species of animals, birds and reptiles, Kakadu Park is also a real find for entomologists - more than 1000 species of various insects live here. The park is surrounded by high rocky mountains, which, as it were, protect it from the world of civilization and allow nature to dominate here. In addition to mountains, there are forests and steppes, caves and waterfalls, rivers and lakes. There are many interesting things in the park for lovers of antiquities - ancient writings and rock paintings were found at archaeological excavations. To date, Kakadu Park is the most visited nature reserve in Australia.
8. In Ulkans in Hawaii
No less interesting will be a visit to the Hawaiian volcanoes volcanic park on the islands of Hawaii. It is here that the most active active volcano on the planet, Kilauea, is located, the last eruption on which began in 1983 and continues to the present. The activity of the volcano is monitored by a scientific observatory, and tourists are allowed to visit the park. Volcanic National Park was founded at the beginning of the 20th century and covers an area of about 1300 square kilometers. Here you can see the results of volcanic activity and the processes of thousands of years ago, which, in fact, formed the islands of Hawaii in the middle of the ocean. Moreover, here is a unique ecosystem, rare species of plants grow, including fern forests, as well as many species of animals and birds.
9. H Komodo National Park in Indonesia
On the territory of Asia there are also many natural attractions that need protection and protection. To this end, the Komodo National Park in Indonesia was created. It includes three large islands and many small ones, as well as a water area. Only here is found an ancient species of Komodo monitor lizards, which are also called Komodo dragons, and the park itself is listed by UNESCO. During the activity of prehistoric lizards, the species of which is included in the Red Book, excursions are organized for tourists to their habitats. Undersea world amazes with its brightness and brilliance, there are many coral reefs and rare species of fish. There are excellent conditions for snorkeling, diving and snorkelling.
10. Belovezhskaya Pushcha in Belarus
It is worth mentioning the oldest nature reserve in Europe - Belovezhskaya Pushcha in Belarus. As a national park, or protected natural area, the reserve was known as early as the 15th-16th centuries. The park is included in the UNESCO World Cultural and Natural Heritage List. main wealth Belovezhskaya Pushcha are coniferous-deciduous forests that have retained their original appearance. In addition to natural attractions, historical monuments have been preserved here - the sites of primitive man, fortresses and even a palace. For tourists, hotels and recreation centers have been built here.
Ten the most picturesque reserves of hundreds of parks on the planet, protecting the world's most amazing natural treasures from excessive human activity.
TOP 10 most beautiful nature reserves in the world: Yellowstone, USA
The very first, most famous, highest geysers and the largest alpine lake in North America All of this is Yellowstone National Park. Yellowstone Lake is one of the largest high-altitude lakes in North America - located in the crater of the largest supervolcano on the continent.
Video TOP 10 most beautiful nature reserves in the world - Yellowstone
Plitvice Lakes, Croatia
In the territory the most beautiful reserve there are 16 large karst lakes, 140 waterfalls, 20 caves. Moreover, new waterfalls are born here every year.
A characteristic feature of the reserve is the color of the water. Pictures of the lakes look like a photomontage, but the water here is really azure.
Video TOP 10 most beautiful nature reserves in the world - Plitvice Lakes
TOP 10 most beautiful nature reserves in the world: Snowdonia, UK
Unlike reserves in other countries, Snowdonia, like other national parks in England and Wales, includes both public and private lands.
Snowdonia has 2,381 km of open hiking trails, 264 km of trails for walkers and horseback riders and 74 km of other open roads.
TOP 10 most beautiful nature reserves in the world:Grand Canyon, USA
The Grand Canyon is one of the deepest canyons in the world. Located on the Colorado Plateau, Arizona, USA, on the territory of the Grand Canyon National Park. It is cut by the Colorado River in the thickness of limestones, shales and sandstones. The length of the canyon is 446 kilometers. The width (at the level of the plateau) ranges from 6 to 29 kilometers, at the bottom level - less than a kilometer. Depth - up to 1600 meters.
The canyon was cut by the Colorado River in the thickness of limestone, shale and sandstone about 5-6 million years ago. These arguably the most complete geological outcrops in the world represent the history of the Earth over 1.5 billion years.
: Grand Canyon
TOP 10 most beautiful nature reserves in the world:Serengeti, Tanzania
The name Serengeti, Tanzania's oldest and most popular game reserve, comes from the annual migration when six million hooves pass through the open plains - 200,000 zebras and 300,000 Thomson's gazelles join the antelope crossing in search of fresh pasture. And even when migration subsides, the wildlife viewing opportunities in the Serengeti are the most magnificent: huge herds of buffalo, small groups of elephants and giraffes, thousands upon thousands of eland, topis, congas, impalas and Grani gazelles.
The main show in beautiful nature reserve in Tanzania- hunting predators.
Prides of golden-maned lions feast on the open spaces of flat pastures. Lonely leopards prowl between the acacias along the Seronera River, and many cheetahs roam the southeastern plains in search of prey. An almost unique case: all three species of African jackals are found here, along with spotted hyenas and a host of less visible small predators, from the insects of the earthwolf to the red serval.
Video TOP 10 most beautiful nature reserves in the world:Serengeti
TOP 10 most beautiful nature reserves in the world: Fiordland, New Zealand
The largest park in New Zealand occupies most of the mountainous southwestern part of the South Island.
Here are the deepest lakes in New Zealand, and the mountains reach a height of 2746 meters. The park is known for its unique fauna birds, including the rare kea parrot, kaka forest parrot or green nestor living in burrows owl parrot, best singer New Zealand forests - the thuja bird (shrub robin) and the takahe shepherd, until recently considered extinct and found only in one of the Fiordland valleys, as well as the symbol of the country - the flightless kiwi bird and the yellow-eyed penguin. Dolphins and fur seals are found in the waters off the coast. The exceptionally picturesque landscape of the coast, cut by deep fjords, to which mighty glaciers descend from the mountains, sometimes reaching a height of 300 m, gives a special flavor to the park.
TOP 10 most beautiful nature reserves in the world: Iguazu, Argentina-Brazil
Iguazu is a whole water complex located on the river of the same name. The waterfalls are located on the border of Brazil and Argentina, the Devil's Throat waterfall separates the two countries - the largest of the entire complex.
Iguazu refers to 275 separate waterfalls. The height of the water fall of some reaches 82 meters, but most of the waterfalls are a little more than 60 meters. According to legend, after the first lady of the United States, Eleanor Roosevelt, first saw Iguazu, she exclaimed: "Poor Niagara!" A surprised woman can be easily understood: the Brazilian-Argentine waterfall is four times wider than the North American Niagara.
Video TOP 10 most beautiful nature reserves in the world: Iguazu
TOP 10 most beautiful nature reserves in the world: Banff, Canada
Banff is the oldest Canadian national park, it was organized back in 1885. But, despite its status as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Banff is a major tourist center with a developed infrastructure. Here you can find everything that is associated with Canada: the extraordinary beauty of landscapes and the smell of firs, glaciers and hot springs, hiking trails and ski slopes.
The center of the reserve is the highest settlement in Canada, the city of Banff, located at an altitude of 1463 m above sea level.
Video TOP 10 most beautiful nature reserves in the world:banff
TOP 10 most beautiful nature reserves in the world:Torres del Paine, Chile
The highest point of the park, located in the south of Chile, in Patagonia, is Mount Paine Grande, whose height is 3050 m.
The park is one of the most visited tourist sites in Chile. This world's most famous national park in Chile is located almost 3 hours from Puerto Natales. After all, there are glaciers, high mountains, lakes, forests, many animals and birds live here, and even orchids can be found among the flowers.
TOP 10 most beautiful nature reserves in the world:Tatras, Poland-Slovakia
More than a quarter of the national park is occupied by green areas and bare rocks. The flora of the Tatras is made up of more than a thousand species of plants, and the chamois can be called a living symbol of the park.
There are also deer, wild boars, roe deer, and also wolves, bears and lynxes in the park.
The reserve is located in the northeastern part of the Russian Plain. All rivers of the reserve are left tributaries of the Volga, the largest of which are Kostroma and Unzha. Quite extensive areas of the reserve are occupied by swamps and wetlands, which is primarily due to the flat, leveled relief. There are small forest rivers in the reserve and no large lakes and rivers, which causes a significant density of animals whose life is directly connected with water bodies - this is, first of all, the otter, mink, beaver.
The territory of the Katunsky and Altaisky reserves is included in the UNESCO World Cultural and Natural Heritage List under the name "Golden Mountains of Altai" (1998). The absolute heights of the Katunsky Reserve range from 1300 to 3280 m above sea level. On the territory there are 135 lakes with an area of 151,664 hectares or more. In the highlands is a large number of glaciers with a total area of 283 sq. km.
State nature reserve Shulgan-Tash in Bashkortostan, which has federal status. It is located in the western foothills of the Southern Urals, in the mountain-forest belt, within the Burzyansky district. Total area - 225 sq. km. The rich landscape mosaic also determines the high diversity of the plant world. The relief is low-mountainous. Mixed broad-leaved and coniferous-broad-leaved forests occupy 92 percent of the territory.
The natural architectural and archaeological museum-reserve Divnogorye is located on the territory of Russia, in the Liskinsky district of the Voronezh region. The area of the museum-reserve is more than 11 km². From a geological point of view, the reserve is a Cretaceous deposit on the surface of the earth. Max Height the plateau above sea level reaches 181 meters, relative - 103 meters (the mouth of the Quiet Pine River at the confluence with the Don, which flows at the foot of the plateau, is located at an altitude of 78 m above sea level). Due to a rather significant difference in height between the plateau and the floodplain of the Don and Tikhaya Sosna rivers, its microclimate differs significantly from the floodplain lowland surrounding it.
The Kuznetsky Alatau State Reserve is located in the south of Central Siberia, at its highest point - on the western slope of the ridge, at the intersection of Mezhdurechensky, Tisulsky and Novokuznetsky districts of the Kemerovo region. The Kuznetsky Alatau ridge itself extends over almost a third of the Kemerovo region. This ridge is a relief consisting of medium and high mountain ranges dissected by rivers.
The Kedrovaya Pad Reserve is located in the Khasansky District of the Primorsky Territory, between the western coast of the Amur Bay and the border with China, on the spurs of the East Manchurian mountain ranges of the Sukhorechensky and Gakkelevsky ridges, which separate the basin of the Kedrovaya River from the basins of the Barabashevka and Narva rivers flowing near the borders of the reserve.
The Lazovsky Reserve is located on the southern spurs of the Sikhote-Alin, between the rivers Kievka and Chernaya. In terms of size and moisture regime, the mainland part of the territory of the Lazovsky Reserve, located northwest of the Zapovedny Ridge. Almost the entire territory of the reserve is divided between two independent drainage basins of the Kievka and Chernaya rivers, which flow into the Sea of Japan. The remaining numerous rivers and streams of different sizes, directions and nature are either tributaries of these rivers, or independently collect water from a narrow coastal strip, the average width of which is about 10 km, and flow directly into the Sea of Japan.
What to photograph: rivers, mountains, relic yew grove. Some of the lakes have unique vegetation and other natural features.
The main part of the territory of the reserve is represented by taiga forests of various types. Fragments of ancient relic steppes have been preserved on the coast of Lake Baikal; 50 species of mammals and about 240 species of birds live. The reserve is also famous for the high number of bears. In addition, here you can find such rare and interesting birds, like the white-tailed eagle, black stork, hook-nosed scoter, shelduck, gray crane.
What to photograph: the source of the Lena River, Cape Ryty, a section of the coast sacred to local residents with a grandiose gorge, the remains of the oldest volcanoes on Earth - the mountain peaks of the Baikal Range in the region of the Sredny and Upper Kedrovy capes. 50 species of mammals, about 240 species of birds. Known for its high population of otters and brown bears.
The national park is located on the territory of Greater Sochi: from the borders with the Tuapse region, between the mouths of the Shepsi and Magri rivers in the northwest to the borders with Abkhazia in the southeast and from the Black Sea coast to the watershed line of the Main Caucasian ridge. Most of the territory of the park is occupied by mountains, dissected by river valleys. The foothill zone occupies a narrow strip along the Black Sea. About 40 rivers and streams of the Black Sea basin flow through the park.
What to photograph: diverse landscape, unforgettable views and many exotic animals. A feature is the abundance of rivers and streams that create a huge number of canyons and waterfalls.
Altai Reserve is located in the mountains Southern Siberia. This is the land of mountains and swift mountain rivers, the kingdom of giant trees and the country of ancient wild animals. A walk through the mountain-taiga landscapes of the reserve fascinates with its unpredictability. Vertical belts, steppe, forest, subalpine and alpine, replacing each other when climbing the mountains, hide their secrets. Even the forests in the reserve are different. In the north, almost only fir trees grow, to the south - cedars, in the south - deciduous species.
What to photograph: vertices Altai mountains, Teletskoye lake, alpine meadows. Lynxes, bears, wolverines and 323 species of birds also live on the territory.
UK national parks
Brecon Beacons National Park
The Brecon Beacons is located on a mountain range in South Wales, it occupies a national park of about 1345 square meters. km., in the park is the highest mountain in southern Britain. Brecon Beacons is translated as "Brecon Beacons", the name comes from ancient times, when people signaled to each other about the approach of enemies with the help of fires lit on the tops of the mountains.
What to photograph: The mountains of the park and the moorlands look very breathtaking. In the mountains you will find many waterfalls. The park also houses many ancient monuments and castles.
Norfolk Broads
Broads National Park covers the county of Norfolk and Suffolk. This is a vast, protected wetland area in the UK and is home to some of the UK's rarest plants and animals. This is the third largest park in the UK, which occupies vast expanses of water. The park includes seven main rivers and 63 remains of medieval peat excavations.
What to photograph: the flat terrain makes the Norfolk Broads very windy and countryside dotted with windmills, which are picturesquely located on the water's edge. The park has small yachts and boats that will take you around the most beautiful areas for a small fee, where you will certainly be inspired by the richness of the wetlands and the variety of birds.
The beautiful expanses of the Dartmoor swamps in Devon cover a huge area of Great Britain. Dartmoor contains the largest concentration of British Bronze Age artefacts, with many ancient stones and other monuments.
What to photograph: beautiful landscapes, rocks, granite stones, all this makes the National Park an incredibly picturesque place. The famous rock of Dartmoor Park attracts the attention of photographers from all over the world.
The largest British national park, with an area of 4528 km2. There is a high and massive mountain range on the territory, four of the five highest mountains of Scotland are located within the park, there are 55 peaks over 900 m high. In general, Cairngorms occupies about six percent of Scotland.
What to photograph: The massive mountainous landscape is crossed by clear rivers with shining water. On the territory of the park is the lake Nestle. Vast forests occupy the lower slopes, and ice lies on the peaks most of the time. The park is home to many rare animals, with about 25 percent of endangered species living in the Cairngorms. Here you can meet red squirrel, deer, osprey, snowy owls, red partridge and eagles.
The Lake District, often compared to the sea, the park is located in a mountainous region in the county of Cumbria, in the north-west of England. The entire territory of England with a height of more than three thousand meters above sea level is located on the territory of the National Park, including Scafell, the highest mountain in England. There are also deep and long lakes of England.
What to photograph: You can shoot landscapes and lakes, they are very breathtaking, especially in autumn.
This park in the west of Scotland is located in the district of Loch Lomond, which is the largest reserve fresh water in the UK mainland. On the territory of the park there are 21 peaks, more than 1000 meters high and 19 peaks, more than 2500 meters high, as well as two forest parks - Queen Elizabeth and Argyle.
What to photograph: numerous small lakes, mountains, beautiful woodlands, small clearings wildlife. Ben Lomond is one of the most photogenic mountain peaks. On the territory of the national park you can meet deer, squirrel, otter and osprey.
The oldest national park in the UK. It attracts around 10 million visitors a year, thanks in large part to its proximity to a number of major cities in northern England, making it one of the UK's busiest national parks. Peak District is conditionally divided into the northern Dark Peak, where most of the territory is occupied by swamps and the South Peak, where most of the territory is occupied by limestone rocks.
What to photograph: The hills and cliffs of the park attract the attention of visitors and photographers, there are many valleys, streams, lakes and waterfalls. The Peak District has many interesting objects created during the industrial revolution, artificial fences, roads and the remains of mills will make the photos even more attractive.
US national parks
Grand Canyon, Arizona
The Grand Canyon is one of the iconic places in the United States of America. The Grand Canyon stretches for almost 450 km in length. It was formed as a result of the impact of the Colorado River over thousands of years. The National Park is famous for its picturesque desert landscapes.
Yellowstone, Wyoming
The first national park in the world, famous for its geysers, hot springs burst out of the ground, making a unique impression on the audience. The park is home to many wildlife including grizzly bears and moose.
Rocky Mountain, Montana
On the Canadian border is Rocky Mountain Park, which has about 130 lakes and is home to thousands of plant species and hundreds of animal species.
Everglades, Florida
Everglades Park is a network of wetlands and forests, the park is home to 36 protected animal species, including panthers and American crocodiles.
Bryce Canyon, Utah
Bryce Canyon National Park is famous for its unique geological structures that cut the sky with narrow peaks. The structures were formed as a result of weathering and erosion by the flow of sedimentary rocks.
Death Valley, California-Nevada border
Death Valley is the hottest and driest place in North America. Here you will find a harsh desert landscape that, despite everything, attracts many species of animals.
Denali, Alaska
Denali is located around the highest mountain in North America. The landscape of Denali is a mixture of forest, tundra, glaciers and rocks.
This dramatic landscape includes two active volcanoes: Kilauea, one of the most active in the world, and Mauna Loa.
Yosemite, California
Yosemite is famous for its attractive El Capitan and Half Dome cliffs. There are beautiful steep waterfalls and ancient sequoias.
Carlsbad Caverns, New Mexico
The underground park is a huge cave with an area of 1220 m, 191 m wide and 78 m high. Photographers here will be amazed by the beautiful limestone cave landscapes.
National parks of Europe
Saxon Switzerland, Germany
The park features extremely beautiful rocky landscapes and canyons. Ancient trees grow in Saxon Switzerland coniferous trees.
The Swiss National Park is the oldest park in the Alps and provides protection to many rare animals. They live here mountain goats, marmots and countless variety of birds.
Teide, Tenerife, Spain
The Teide Volcanic Peak is the most visited national park in Spain. It is known for its surreal landscapes and amazing views of the surrounding Canary Islands.
Plitvice Lakes, Croatia
A series of 16 lakes of different colors amaze the imagination of visitors to the Croatian National Park. The shades of water in the lakes change from crystal green to deep blue.
Vatnajokull, Iceland
Europe's largest glacier is located in Vatnajökull National Park. The glacier occupies about 8% of the entire territory of the country.
Cevennes, France
Cévennes is located in the mountainous region of France. Here you will see picturesque mountain landscapes and gorges. There is a chain of cave systems in the park.
Olympus, Greece
Here is the famous Mount Olympus, the highest mountain and the legendary home of the Greek gods. The park has rich history, culture and ecological diversity.
Abruzzo, Italy
On the territory of the Abruzzo Park there are huge granite peaks and beech forests. Brown bear, wild lynx, wolves and royal eagles live in this mountainous wilderness.
Tatras, Slovakia
The oldest national park in Slovakia covers 741 square kilometers. Pine and other coniferous trees grow here. There are many lakes in the park, and a wide variety of wild animals live here.
The Burren, Ireland
The Burren is the smallest of Ireland's six national parks. The area of the park is only 15 square kilometers, but despite this there is something to see.
National parks of the world
Fiordland, New Zealand
The snow-capped mountain peaks of the national park will inspire any photographer. Most of the plots of the film The Lord of the Rings were filmed here. Dolphins, fur seals and penguins live in the park.
Kruger National Park, South Africa
This park is one of the best places, which are worth visiting to see all the flavor African continent. Lions, African elephants, buffaloes, leopards and rhinos live here.
Banff, Canada
It is Canada's oldest National Park and impresses with rich mountain ranges, densely wooded regions, glaciers and ice fields. Banff is home to grizzly bears, moose and bighorn sheep.
Goreme, Turkey
Turkey's National Park inspires photographers all over the world with its surreal landscapes, caves and oddly shaped hills.
Galapagos Islands, Ecuador
The island's wildlife has evolved in isolation over millions of years, resulting in the park being home to unique animals and rare plant species.
Most of the park is occupied by mountains, one of which is the highest point on our planet - Mount Everest. The territory of the park strikes the imagination with rivers, glaciers and beautiful mountain landscapes.
Torres del Paine, Chile
The Torres del Paine National Park is home to the spectacular Andean peaks. Lakes, glaciers and mountain glades are presented to the attention of photographers. Here you can meet guanacos, cougars and rare birds.
Kakadu, Australia
Kakadu National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The territory of the park is rich in spectacular waterfalls, rivers and swamps, and is home to many wild animals, including saltwater crocodiles.
Iguazu, Argentina / Iguazu, Brazil
We are talking about two Iguazu parks at once, one of which is located in Brazil, and the second in Argentina. calling card parks is a chain of beautiful waterfalls surrounded by jungle. The huge variety of birds living around the Iguazu Falls impresses the attention of visitors.
Serengeti, Tanzania
The Serengeti National Park is famous for the annual wildebeest, zebra and gazelle migration that passes through the park.
Fuji Hakone Izu, Japan
The most popular national park in Japan includes views of the dormant Mount Fuji, located in the center of the park. Fuji Hakone Izu is shrouded in clouds in spring and summer.
Zhangjiajie, China
Unique and inimitable mountain landscapes open to the eyes of visitors to Zhangjiajie Park in China. The park contains tall sandstone pillars that have been formed as a result of years of erosion caused by the expansion of the ice.
The national park is named after a hunter who gave up his job and began to protect nature in order to save the Bengal tiger. It is the oldest national park in India and is home to Himalayan bears, leopards and elephants.
Canaima, Venezuela
My publication is a response to the topic "25 photos of amazing places that you should see at least once in your life."
Lord! Love your country first! Study its history, nature, get acquainted with unique, unrepeatable beauties and protect them!.
I did not set myself the task of showing and describing the famous national parks and reserves of Russia. It is impossible, and it is not necessary here on the site. But to remind, to acquaint with some of them, to interest, attract attention, I would like, and then you yourself ...
GO...
In Russia, there are a little more than a hundred nature reserves and national parks. This is hardly enough for such a vast territory as Russia, as some species of plants and animals continue to disappear. To draw attention to the problem, 2013 was declared the year of environmental protection in Russia. As part of the program, it was planned to equip about two dozen more nature protection zones.
Each Russian region, from Kaliningrad (Curonian Spit with a dancing forest) to Kamchatka (hills and volcanoes), has something to surprise.
Studying the nature of Russia is a very exciting activity. Eh, we practically don’t know anything about our Motherland, and at school something little attention is paid to our unique nature. It is unlikely that anyone will set out to visit all the national parks of Russia, but when traveling around the country, it is worth looking into these natural corners. Delving into geography, you can find out that “Manpupuner” is, it turns out, not an overseas curse, but a wonder of the world in the Komi Republic, Tanais is a disappeared trading city in the Rostov region, the Krasnoyarsk and Lena pillars are not pillars at all, but amazing rocks. And many more discoveries await those who want to learn more about the amazing nature of our country.
The Zabaikalsky National Park is one of the few national parks in Russia that fully meet the UNESCO recommendations for this category of specially protected natural areas.
The Zabaikalsky National Park is located within a typical mountain-taiga region. The relief is mountainous. Within the boundaries of the park, large orographic units are distinguished: the Svyatonossky Range, the Barguzinsky Range, the Chivyrkuisky Isthmus and the Ushkany Islands.
Two mountain ranges stretch across the territory of the park in the direction from northeast to southwest: the Barguzinsky Range - gradually lowering from the Barguzinsky Reserve to Lake. Barmashovoye (the highest elevation of the ridge within the park is 2376 m above sea level) and the Sredinny Ridge of the Svyatoy Nos Peninsula (the highest elevation approximately in the middle part of 1877 m), gradually lowering to the north and south. The Chivyrkui Isthmus connects the Svyatoy Nos Peninsula with the eastern shore of Lake Baikal. The Ushkany Islands (Bolshoy Ushkany Island and Small Ushkany Islands) are the peaks of the Academic Ridge, which divides the Baikal depression into two basins - northern and southern.
Altai Reserve has been a UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site since 1998. Included in the World Network of Biosphere Reserves of the UNESCO Man and the Biosphere Program (MAB) - May 26, 2009. Included in the list of "Global-200" (WWF) - virgin or little changed ecoregions of the world, in which 90% of the planet's biodiversity is concentrated.
Occupied Altai Reserve the territory includes five physiographic regions of three natural provinces. In the spectrum of altitudinal zonality, almost all natural belts are distinguished Gorny Altai: taiga low and middle mountains, subalpine and alpine meadow middle and high mountains, tundra-steppe high mountains, tundra middle and high mountains, glacial-nival high mountains. Forests occupy 34% of the total area of the main zone. They are located in the lower and middle parts of the mountains, on the steep slopes of the valleys, as well as on the lower parts of the sloping crests. The lower border of the forest begins at the level of 436 meters (the level of Lake Teletskoye), and the upper one is different in different parts. So, if in the southeast it is at an altitude of 2000–2200 m above sea level, then in the northwest it drops to a level of 1800–2000 m.
Of particular value to the protected area is a unique grove of relic yew pointed on about. Petrov, thickets of endemic microbiota of a cross-pair population of such rare animals as the Amur goral, the Amur tiger, the Ussuri spotted deer.
The Lazovsky Reserve is located on the southern spurs of the Sikhote-Alin, between the rivers Kievka and Chernaya. Ridge Zapovedny divides the territory of the reserve into two parts - northern continental and southern coastal. Average Height mountains is 500–700 m, some peaks reach 1200–1400 m above sea level. The slopes of the mountains have different steepness, on average 20-25 degrees, their crests are narrow but flat. Significant areas are occupied by stony placers. The height of the spurs decreases in the east towards the sea, watershed ranges pass into small hilly ridges up to 100 m high.
The territory of the reserve includes two small islands - Petrova and Beltsova, located at the southern border of the reserve. The islands are covered with forest.
The very first reserve in the Far East and one of the oldest reserves in Russia, formed to preserve and study the undisturbed liana coniferous-deciduous forests of Southern Primorye, unique for Russia, characterized by a high proportion of rare and endemic species of flora and fauna. The reserve and its environs is the only place in Russia where the Far Eastern leopard lives.
In 2004, the Kedrovaya Pad Nature Reserve received the status of a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve.
The most valuable are black fir-broad-leaved forests or black fir forests, the Far Eastern leopard, on Mount Chalban plants are common that are very rare in other places of the Far East - currant bloater, Komarov's currant. In the reserve, for the first time, a rocky primrose was found (on Mount Chalban) and species new to science were described - the Far Eastern violet and the Ussuri corydalis. The Kedrovaya River flows on the territory of the reserve - its length does not exceed 25 kilometers. It is she who is the ideal of a clean river for scientists all over the world.
The Samarskaya Luka National Park was created in 1984 by decision of the Council of Ministers of the RSFSR, and is one of the first three national parks in Russia.
Samarskaya Luka is a unique area formed by the bend of the largest European river Volga in its middle course and the Usinsky Bay of the Kuibyshev reservoir. The Volga in this place makes a large arc facing east, and then turns to the southwest. Its length is more than 200 km. Highly elevated ancient carbonate rocks here form a semblance of an island.
Unique landforms, a peculiar microclimate, amazing beauty of the mountains, the blue necklace of the Volga framing them, unique flora and fauna have earned the Zhiguli and Samarskaya Luka as a whole world fame.
There is an unusually high concentration of monuments of almost all cultures of the European forest-steppe known to science, from the Bronze Age and Early Iron Age to the present. There are about 200 natural and historical monuments on the territory of Samarskaya Luka. It is also rich in archaeological finds.
The Smolenskoye Poozerye National Park was established on the territory of the Demidovsky and Dukhovshchinsky districts of the Smolensk region in 1992 "to preserve natural complexes for recreational, educational, scientific and cultural purposes." In November 2002, it was awarded the status of a biosphere reserve of the UNESCO Man and the Biosphere (MAB) program. The name "Smolenskoye Poozerye" is due to 35 large and small glacial lakes located in the park. Each of these lakes is beautiful and unique in its own way.
By configuration, the territory of the park is almost a regular rhombus. The maximum distance from west to east is 55 km, from north to south - 50 km. The geographical center of the park is located in the area of the village. Przhevalskoye. The total area of the park within the boundaries approved by state acts is 146,237 hectares. The security zone is 500 m of territory adjacent to the border of the park.
The Curonian Spit National Park is located in the part of the Kaliningrad region bordering Lithuania on a narrow strip of land between the salty by the Baltic Sea and freshwater Curonian Lagoon. The northern borders of the park run along the Russian-Lithuanian border.
The natural uniqueness of the territory of the national park is that it is the largest sand bar in the world. The dune landscapes of the spit are distinguished by their exceptional beauty and aesthetic impact on humans and represent a unique object for the development of ecological tourism.
The Curonian Spit was regarded as “an exceptional example of a landscape consisting of sand dunes and under constant threat from natural forces such as wind and water. After the destructive intervention of a man who threatened the existence of the spit, it was restored through stabilization and protection work begun in the 19th century and continuing to this day. Currently, the territory of the Curonian Spit is officially under the protection of the UNESCO Convention for the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage.
The Valdaisky National Park was established to preserve the unique lake-forest complex of the Valdai Upland and create conditions for the development of organized recreation in this area. The basis for the creation of the park was the unique combination and richness of natural components, the degree of their preservation and the possibility of maintaining ecological balance, the huge aesthetic impact of natural landscapes. A differentiated regime of special protection has been established on the territory of the park, taking into account its natural, historical and cultural features. In accordance with this, the following functional zones have been identified: reserved, specially protected, recreational, regulated use zone around lakes and rivers, as well as a visitor service zone.
The national park is located in the northern part of the Valdai Upland, its length from north to south is 105 km, from west to east - 45 km. The boundaries of the Park approximately correspond to the boundaries of the watersheds of lakes Borovno, Valdaiskoye, Velye, Seliger and the upper reaches of the Polomet River.
The Baikal-Lensky State Nature Reserve is located on an area of 659.9 thousand hectares. Located on the territory of Kachugsky and Olkhonsky districts Irkutsk region. The reserve stretches from south to north along the western coast of Lake Baikal for about 120 km with an average width of 65 km.
The total length of the coastline of the Federal State Budgetary Institution "Zapovednoe Pribaikalye" is about 590 km and covers West Coast Baikal from the village of Kultuk in the south to Cape Elokhin in the north. In December 1996, the Baikal-Lena Reserve (along with Barguzinsky and Baikalsky) was included in the list of UNESCO World Cultural and Natural Heritage Sites.
At present, the process of merging the Baikal-Lena Reserve and the Pribaikalsky National Park into a single nature protection, scientific and tourist complex has been completed: the Federal State Budgetary Institution "Reserved Pribaikalye".
One of the oldest reserves in Russia, established in 1920 to preserve unique mineral deposits. Since 1935, it has been transformed into a complex reserve for the conservation and study of mineral wealth, flora and fauna of the eastern macroslope of the Southern Urals. In 1991, the Arkaim historical and archaeological branch (now the Stepnoe forestry) was attached to the reserve to preserve and study the unique monument of the early urban civilization of the Bronze Age - the Arkaim settlement and the archaeological complex in the Bolshekaraganskaya valley. The reserve is the only mineralogical reserve in the country and one of the few mineralogical reserves in the world.
Karadag Reserve
Not far from Feodosia, there is an amazing nature reserve, with which many legends are associated. Kara-Dag ("Black Mountain") is a volcanic massif, the last eruption of which occurred 150 million years ago. The Karadag nature reserve itself, occupying an area of more than 2870 hectares, was founded in 1979. Moreover, part of its area falls on the Black Sea.
Wonderful landscapes of Kara-Dag attracted tourists to old times. So that the unique nature would not be destroyed, it was decided to establish a nature reserve. Walking in this zone is allowed only if accompanied by employees strictly along the "ecological path".
Since its founding, the fauna and flora of the Karadag Reserve have been restored to a large extent. 125 species of animals living on the slopes of the mountain range, 79 species of plants are listed in the Red Book.
According to the legends, in one of the underwater caves near Kara-Dag there lives a giant Karadag monster, similar to a snake.
Alien views of Kara-Dag are the result of the work of sea waves, sun, wind and time. The symbol of the reserve is recognized as a rock in the form of an arch, born directly from the water. She is called Shaitan-Kapu, which means "Devil's mouth." Other rocky ledges also deserve unusual names - "Dragon", "Ivan the Robber", "King" and others.
Manpupuner
Ural mountains... more than 200 million years ago they stood proudly on the young planet Earth and witnessed many grandiose events. Over long millennia, water and wind gradually destroyed them. And today the Ural Mountains are one of the lowest in the world. But there were places in the Urals where nature could not cope with the stone. One of them is known to us under the name Manpupuner.
First of all, under the influence of the environment, soft rocks were destroyed, and stronger ones were able to reach our days. Geologists call them remnants. On Manpupuner, the remains are huge stone pillars 30 to 42 m high.
This place is truly mystical, because the Pillars of weathering, as the remnants are also called, are so ancient that even the Mansi worshiped them during the pagan period, and in translation from their language Manpupuner means “small mountain of idols”. Mansi, unlike geologists, know the true origin of stone pillars.
Russian North Park
Vologda Region.
Located in the north of the Russian plain, the "Russian North" became one of the first national parks to appear on the territory of the Russian Federation completely officially.
The peculiarity of this protected area is that in a relatively small area in this area of the Russian Plain, it was possible to simultaneously collect the most complete "collection" of plants and trees, comfortably accommodate a huge number of mammals, fish and birds, many of which have long been listed as endangered species. not only on the territory of the Russian Federation, but also on a global scale.
As for historical and architectural monuments, their number in the Russian North National Park cannot but amaze. Primarily, special meaning among other buildings, there are several monasteries built during the 14th-15th centuries of national history.
Barguzinsky Reserve
The oldest in Russia, the Barguzinsky Nature Reserve is located on the northeastern coast of Lake Baikal, on the western slopes of the Barguzinsky Range. His task was to preserve and study the sable. 39 species of mammals and 243 species of birds are known in the reserve. Permanent inhabitants of the reserve: sable, Siberian weasel, lynx, fox, wolf, bear, reindeer, elk, squirrel, hazel grouse, capercaillie nutcracker, Baikal seal.
Here you can see all the high-altitude belts of the Barguzinsky Range, trace the change of vegetation from the shore of Lake Baikal to high-mountain lakes.
Great Arctic Reserve
The reserve is located beyond the Arctic Circle - on the Taimyr Peninsula and small islands, where there is permafrost, which can only be reached by air, and even then in summer weather. But the impressions even from one trip will definitely be enough for you for a lifetime.
In the Great Arctic Reserve, a relatively new type of ecological tourism for Russia is gaining popularity - birdwatching, bird watching.
Reserve "Ubsunur Hollow"
The unique state natural biosphere reserve "Ubsunur Hollow" is one of the key areas of the Altai-Sayan Ecoregion. Which, in turn, is included in the Global 200 list - a list of virgin or little changed ecoregions of the world, in which more than 90% of the planet's biodiversity is concentrated. Simply put, this is one of the few places on the planet where you can feel like 500-1000 (or even more) years ago.
The Ubsunur basin is characterized by the rarest combination of different elements of the fauna; 83 species of mammals are found here. The red wolf is included in the Red Book of Russia and the reserve, Snow Leopard(irbis), Altai Mountain sheep(argali) and gazelle. In 2003, the basin was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.
Caucasian State Biosphere Reserve
Organized in 1924, one of the largest not only in Krasnodar Territory but also in Russia. A nature reserve has been established to protect the unique natural complex Russian subtropics, restoration of the number of animals and birds living on its territory. Many species grow in the reserve. southern plants, including fruit; above 1900-2000 m above sea level there are subalpine meadows, characterized by a large number of flowers that make this area especially beautiful. The most valuable species of animals, birds and plants living in the reserve are listed in the Red Book. Any economic activity human on the territory of the reserve is prohibited.
Kivach
The nature reserve Kivach is one of the oldest in Russia, founded in 1931. It is formed around the waterfall of the same name, which is its main attraction. A visit to the reserve and the waterfall is included in almost all excursions in Karelia.
Derzhavin, the first governor of Olonets and an outstanding poet, wrote the famous ode "Waterfall", after which Kivach took a prominent place in the work of many poets, artists, prose writers. The waterfall is beautiful at any time of the year: the waters of the river compressed by basalt rocks. Suns from an eight-meter height fall down in heavy cast streams, forming a powerful whirlpool in shreds of foam and producing an impressive noise. The most famous visitor to the waterfall is Emperor Alexander II. On the occasion of his arrival in 1868, a good road was laid to Kivach, a gazebo was built on the right bank and a house for overnight stay on the left, and below the waterfall - a bridge over the Suna River.
Klyuchevskiy Natural Park
Klyuchevskoy natural park (Kamchatka region) is located on the territory of the forest fund of Klyuchevskoy forestry. The territory of the natural park is unique in its relief and has no analogues in the whole world: on an insignificant territory there are 13 volcanic structures of different ages, among which rises the most active in the world and the highest active volcano in Asia, Klyuchevskoy with an absolute mark of about 4800 meters above sea level. Its height, due to frequent eruptions, is constantly changing due to the solidifying lava flows.
Krasnoyarsk pillars
Krasnoyarsk pillars is a state nature reserve located in the spurs of the Eastern Sayan Mountains, on the right bank of the Yenisei. Local rocks are called pillars because of their shape. They are tall - from 60 to 600 meters - and narrow. The age of the pillars is worthy of respect: according to various sources, from 450 to 600 million years have passed since the day they appeared. According to scientists, the pillars were formed due to the powerful pressure of magma, which could not break through to the surface of the earth. And their bizarre outlines were formed due to the influence of wind and precipitation.
The reserve has about a hundred pillars of gray-pink granite, each of which has its own name. Names were assigned not by chance, but depending on what or to whom this or that stone looks like. One of the most famous is the Grandfather pillar, as it resembles a formidable old man with a huge thick beard. Next to him are his relatives - Great-grandfather, Granddaughter, Grandmother, Gemini. There are animals, birds and everything in general. For example, the Chinese Wall, Feathers, Lion's Gate, Tusk.
National Park "Call of the Tiger"
Located in Primorsky Krai.
The national park was established in 2007 in the southeastern part of Primorsky Krai, and the main goal of its creation was to preserve the endangered Amur tiger population. Of course, other rare animals also live here - the Far Eastern forest cat, spotted deer, goral, roe deer, red deer, Himalayan and brown bears.
its landscape is mountains and valleys, so that the elevation difference can reach more than 1700 km. There are more than 50 mountains alone, more than a kilometer high, on the territory and on the borders. Thanks to the difference in height, an amazing diversity of the flora of the park is achieved, which has no equal in the whole world. Here you can see many plants listed in the Red Book, dense spruce and tundra forests, as well as relic plants. Lianas (schizandra, wild grapes) that wrap around coniferous trees give a unique look to the landscapes of the park. Here you can also find many medicinal plants and flowers: lilies, peonies, slippers and so on.
Around 250 live in the Call of the Tiger park. different types birds and more than fifty mammals. There is nothing else like it in Russia.