It is the third largest reserve in the Murmansk region.It was created in 1992 according to the decision of the Russian Government for the study and preservation of pine forests in the northern limit of distribution.In addition, the reserve must be carried out general monitoring of northern ecosystems.An important argument in favor of the protected zone is the story of these places.
In some areas, archaeologists discovered traces of ancient man.In ancient times, these places lived Sami, who were engaged in fishing, reindeer herding, wandering along the river valley.Much later there were Russian, Norwegians, Finns.This land before 1918 belonged to the Arkhangelsk province, then moved to Finland and the Soviet Union came after the Second World War.
Reserve "Pasvik" - a buffer zone for aquatic lands numerous waterfowl - whooper swans, geese, ducks and wading birds as well as conservation of the river bed Paz.
This region has a rich culture and history.Reserve "Pasvik" - the result of joint work of Russian and Norwegian experts.It consists of two unequal parts of the occupied area.They lie on either side of the boundary extending along the river groove.
"Pasvik" State Nature Reserve
swamps and lakes occupy a large part of this area.Pine forests cover 40% of the protected area.In the center, over the plains, towering mountains up to 380 meters.
"Pasvik" - nature reserve with unspoilt nature.This natural geographical location of contact between the western species of animals and plants from the eastern.There seemed jumbled mountains and plains, swamps and the taiga and tundra.
River Paz and Lake
Reserve "Pasvik" located along the river.It flows through the entire protected area.The river originates in Inari (Finland) and flows into the Varanger Fjord (Barents Sea).Its length - 147 km, the maximum height difference - about 119 meters.Before the river was composed of large lakes, rapids and waterfalls combined.Then they were built 2 5 Norwegian and Russian power.Only a small area of preserved natural river bed.Today it is considered an ideal place for waterfowl.This area is called Fyarvann, translated from Norwegian as a "feather lake."
Lakes occupy most of the territory, "Pasvik", a significant part of their focus on the north of the reserve.Most of them are shallow, silty have, sandy or peaty shores.There are lake and mountain hollows.The biggest of them - Kaskamayarvi.It is located in the heart of the reserve.Its area is 188 hectares, maximum depth of more than 20 m, rocky shore.
Varlam Island
On this site there is a small island nature reserve.More than a hundred years ago, there lived and worked Hans Skonning - student ornithologist from Norway.He first introduced the world of science to the area and wrote a book about his time on the island.This work brought him worldwide fame.The book was so popular that many have sought to come to this region.
recently H. Skonniga house was rebuilt on the lake.Today it is used as a field base for the observation of nature.In addition, on the island in 1995, the old frontier tower was reconstructed and rebuilt in the ornithological, which allowed bird watching.At the grand opening of its Prince Philip came - President of WWF.
Reserve "Pasvik" - animals
Most of the fauna of the reserve is represented by species typical of the taiga.The number of mammals in the area - 34 species, 14 of which are rare.A large share of them are in rodents.
to these places typical of such animals as ordinary protein, ermine, fox ordinary, hare, marten, brown bear, elk.In ponds rather large populations of muskrats.Brown bear and moose are found in the territories belonging to the two neighboring countries.Wolverine, weasel and otter are found, but rarely.
"Pasvik" - reserve, which has its own native animal species.This reindeer - it is common domesticated species.Wild deer can be found in the center of the Kola Peninsula.Reindeer herding is widely developed in Lapland (Finland) and Finnmark (Norway).In these regions, it has been preserved in a radical way.
invertebrate fauna of the reserve is only being studied.By the beginning of the last century, there were officially registered 776 species of insects, which belong to 8 orders.Today, the most studied are Hymenoptera and Diptera.
spider species reach 68 species of the thirteen families.It should be noted that it is not the final data.Research scientists are continuing.
Birds
Reserve "Pasvik" photo which we put in this article, is rich in birds.They are 229 recorded species.
River Paz, as well as the nearby wetlands - an important habitat of birds such as whooper swan and black-throated diver, smew and goldeneye, red-breasted merganser and mallard.Common snipe in the marshes (Wood Sandpiper, Common Snipe, fop) and gray crane.
predators are white-tailed eagle, osprey, goshawk, kestrel, buzzard, rough-legged buzzard, short-eared owl.For forest species, nest in the reserve include the tree pipit and the woodpecker, redstart and snowbird, warbler and the Yurok, oatmeal and flycatcher.
These birds like grouse, capercaillie, hazel grouse, partridges, sparrows, chickadees and many others, spend the winter in the woods.As you can see the mountain tundra ordinary stove, prairie ridge, Whimbrel.
Flora
Reserve "Pasvik" is located in the zone of northern taiga, passing in the forest.On the banks of the River Paz grow the northernmost pine forest in Europe.
Siberian fir is widespread in territory of Pechenga.It is found in the center of the reserve at Mount Kalkupya.There is also a land of unique pine forest, which is not touched upon cutting his age exceeds 200 years.
second most common in the reserve is birch.On the banks of rivers and streams are common shrub birch.In plain areas you can see the white birch.The elfin birch distributed winding.Quite rare, but common silver birch, mainly along the banks of streams, rivers and lakes.
