Biosphere Reserves - a specially designated protected areas designed to preserve the natural self-regulating natural systems.Nature in these areas generally untouched, "wild" or slightly altered by human activity.Biosphere reserves of Russia, as well as all other types of protected areas, fully rendered beyond any economic activity.These organizations operate within the framework of the World program, designed to demonstrate the optimal relationship between man and nature.
Among Russian biosphere protection zone plays an important role Darwin Reserve.The history of its creation and development demonstrates the care of the reserve, which shows the state.
In 1941, at the junction of three regions - Yaroslavl, Tver and Vologda - Rybinsk reservoir was built.The Great Patriotic War is not allowed immediately to begin the study of its impact on climate change.But immediately after, in the summer of 1945, directly to monitor changes in the nature under the influence of the reservoir was created Darwin Reserve.
Today, this protected area covers 112,000 ha, only half of them in the land: the rest of the occupied coastal waters.
winter of 2002 Darwin Reserve was included in the international list of important biosphere reserves.
territory of the reserve - it is mostly lowland on the shore of the Rybinsk Sea, alternating dunes and elongated, gentle, as if receding into the distance hills: traces of a prehistoric glacier.In marshy lowlands often found the lake, the largest of which is considered Morotskoe holding about 700 hectares.
Darwin Reserve is remarkable for its temperate continental climate.It is very nice in the summer, when the average temperature is + 18 °, not too cold in winter because cold weather more than -10 ° are rare.
biosphere reserve is valuable for its swampy forests and swamps, was born more than 17 thousand years ago.Scientists have found that these were formed as early as the Late swamps and post-glacial time.
Today, this protected area annually nest and breed more than 15 species of rare birds, has long included in the Red Book.Evidence of effective work of the reserve have become almost extinct in Russia, whooper swans, which some time ago began to nest and breed in the territory of the reservation.In addition to them in the reserve set of nesting grouse, capercaillie and birds of prey population density is higher than anywhere else in the world.
There are also plants listed in the Red Book.Paltsekornik Traunshteynera, a real shoe, epipogium aphyllum and some other species thrive in the protected zone.The main vegetation - pine forests.However, the shallow water warms up well in the summer, so there grow a lot of different herbs and shrubs: hornwort, sparganium, pondweed and so forth. Rich reserve berries: cloudberry, cranberry, blueberry.
Tourists on the periphery of the organized sightseeing tour.During the walk on it from a distance you can see the flying squirrels, wild boars, foxes, and sometimes brown bears.However, such meetings are quite dangerous: the animals feel at home and do not like guests.
The reserve is organized Museum of Nature.It - the richest collection of "Russian" of butterflies, the world's first farm capercaillie.
But perhaps the most unique of the island are the peat reserve.After the opening of the Rybinsk reservoir peat bogs were flooded.For many years, the pieces of peat floated to the surface and drifted until they were not quenched bushes or other obstacles.Over time, these peat islands of vegetation there, and now even the trees grow there.
Darwin Reserve since 2000 belongs to the World Biosphere Reserve System.
