Objects under the protection of unesco. World natural heritage sites of russia

13.09.2020

In 1994, Greenpeace Russia began work on the World Heritage project aimed at identifying and protecting unique natural complexes that are threatened by a serious negative impact of human activities. Giving natural areas the highest international conservation status for additional guarantees of their safety is the main goal of the work carried out by Greenpeace.

The first attempts to include Russian protected natural areas on the UNESCO World Heritage List were made in the early 1990s. In 1994, an all-Russian meeting " Contemporary problems creation of a system of objects of the world and Russian
natural heritage”, Where a list of promising territories was presented. At the same time, in 1994, experts from Greenpeace Russia prepared Required documents to be included in the UNESCO List of a natural complex named "Virgin forests
Komi ". In December 1995, it was the first in Russia to receive the status of a World Natural Heritage Site.

At the end of 1996, Lake Baikal and the Volcanoes of Kamchatka were added to the List. In 1998, another Russian natural complex, the Golden Mountains of Altai, was added to the List; in 1999, a decision was made to include the fifth Russian natural site, the Western Caucasus.
At the end of 2000, the Curonian Spit became the first international site in Russia (together with Lithuania) to receive the status of a World Heritage Site according to the criterion of "cultural landscape". Later, the "Central Sikhote-Alin" (2001), "Ubsunur Basin" were included in the UNESCO List
(2003, jointly with Mongolia), “Wrangel Island Nature Reserve” (2004) and “Putorana Plateau” (2010).

Virgin Komi forests
2.

Location: the western slope of the Subpolyarny and Northern Urals, Komi Republic
Square: 3.28 million ha

The virgin forests of Komi are a real taiga treasure. There are more than 40 species of mammals (including brown bear, sable, elk), 204 species of birds (including the white-tailed eagle and osprey listed in the Red Book of Russia), 16 species of fish, the most valuable of which are glacial relics - char palia and Siberian grayling.

The territory stretches in the meridional direction along the western slope of the Subpolar and Northern Urals for more than 300 km. The Ural mountain system has a significant impact on the climate. On the eastern slopes, typical Siberian flora abruptly replaces European plant species and forms characteristic of the humid western slopes of the Urals. Natural complexes in some places they form a complex mosaic: along narrow river valleys, taiga vegetation rises high into the mountains.

The main tree species - spruce and fir - are accompanied by Siberian cedar (cedar pine), which is located here at the north-western limit of its distribution. The middle and northern taiga are replaced by forest-tundra. Large areas are occupied by mountain tundra and almost devoid of
vegetation of the curum of the alpine zone. Here the crystal clear tributaries of the Pechora originate and receive.

The territory consists of two protected areas (Pechero-Ilychsky biosphere reserve, national park“Yugyd Va” and their buffer zones), together constituting the largest of the remaining massifs of primary forests in Europe, the appearance of which is almost unchanged by human impact.

6. Yugyd Va National Park

One of the main activities of the park is the development of nature tourism. The most popular tourist routes: mountain, hiking, water, ski.

8. Animals of the Yugyd Va National Park

Reindeer herds, quartz deposits, and the splendor of flowering tundras and meadows are objects of attention. Visitors to the park are offered ethnographic routes introducing them to the sacred places of the ancient Komi and Mansi and the cultural and economic traditions of hunters and fishermen, geological tours dedicated to the history of the development of the resources of the Ural Mountains.

9. Pechora-Ilych biosphere reserve

Since June 1, 1973, the Museum of Nature has been opened in the Pechora-Ilychsky Reserve. The museum consists of two departments, one of which presents the fauna of the reserve, the other (local history) reflects the history of the region, everyday life local residents, history of the reserve.

10.

The reserve has 3 ecological routes in the lowland and foothill landscape areas with a length of 10 km.

11..

Natural and cultural heritage: Uninskaya cave, Paleolithic site, the remains of old villages, traces of the nomads of small peoples, non-Christian religious monuments.

Lake Baikal
12.

Location: on South Eastern Siberia; Irkutsk region, Republic of Buryatia.
Square: 8.8 million ha

Included in the World Heritage List in 1996.
Baikal is one of greatest lakes planet, the deepest (1637 m), the oldest (about 25 million years), with the most diverse flora and fauna among fresh water oem. The lake has a unique in terms of volume and quality reserve of fresh water (23.6 thousand cubic km - more than 20% of the world's reserves).

13.

Of the more than 2630 species and subspecies of animals and plants found so far near the lake, more than 80% are found nowhere else in the world. Who has not heard of the famous Baikal omul or Baikal sturgeon? Two unique species viviparous fish, representatives of the family endemic to Lake Baikal, - large and small golomyanka - are known to ichthyologists all over the world. The pyramid of the lake ecosystem is crowned with a mammal of a typical marine origin - the seal, or the Baikal seal.

14. Baikal seal

Component objects: Barguzinsky and Baikalsky biosphere reserves; Baikal-Lensky Nature Reserve; Zabaikalsky, Pribaikalsky, Tunkinsky (partially) National parks; Kabansky, Frolikhinsky federal reserves.

15. Barguzinsky Biosphere Reserve

16. Baikal Biosphere Reserve

17. Tunkinsky National Park occupies the valley of the Irkut River.

18. Reserve "Frolikhinsky"

Volcanoes of Kamchatka
19.

Location: in the mountains and on the coast of the southern part of the Kamchatka Peninsula, Kamchatka Krai
Square: 4.3 million ha

Included in the World Heritage List in 1996.
The natural complex "Volcanoes of Kamchatka" consists of 6 sites, allowing you to get the most complete picture of the variety of manifestations of volcanic activity in the region.

20. Volcanic eruption in Kamchatka

The Kamchatka Peninsula is located at the junction of tectonic plates in a zone of active volcanism, where modern natural processes and the history of our planet are inseparable. Here, in a limited area, 30 operating and about 300 extinct volcanoes, as well as more than 150 groups of thermal and mineral springs... Dozens of geysers, hot springs, fumaroles, cascades of waterfalls, sharp peaks of ridges, mud pots and turquoise lakes, carpets of colorful algae give a fabulous look to the famous Valley of Geysers.

21. Valley of geysers of Kamchatka

22. Waterfall, Kamchatka

Rare geological objects are accompanied by a kind of wild wildlife that has practically not experienced human impact. Of the 1168 plant species of Kamchatka, 10% are found only here. The peninsula is home to about half of the world population of the Steller's sea eagle, over
10 thousand brown bears (Kamchatka subspecies is one of the largest in the world fauna), as well as bighorn sheep, wild reindeer, sea lion, sea otter.

23. Flora of Kamchatka

24. Kamchatka brown bear

25. Bighorn sheep

26. Steller's sea eagle

Component objects: Kronotsky Biosphere Reserve, South Kamchatka Federal Reserve, natural parks Bystrinsky, Nalychevo, Yuzhno-Kamchatsky and Klyuchevskoy.

27. Kronotsky biosphere reserve

28. South Kamchatka Federal Reserve

29. Natural Park "Nalychevo". Bear tundra

Golden mountains of Altai
30.

Location: in the southeast Western Siberia in the Altai mountains, Altai Republic
Square: 1.64 million hectares

Included in the World Heritage List in 1998
The nature of this mountainous territory, located at the junction of Central Asia and Siberia, is distinguished by its striking originality. There are few places in the world with such a contrasting combination of different landscapes in such a small space.

31.

The flora and fauna of the region are diverse, in many respects unique. In the basin of Lake Teletskoye, Altai cedar forests are still preserved - forests of Siberian cedar pine, which provide food to numerous representatives of the animal world. Here are the most significant meadows in the Siberian mountains.
The color of the vegetation of the Southern Altai is also unique, where semi-deserts, steppes and tundra coexist.
32. Southern Altai. Steppe in the valley of the river. Narym

33. Lake Teletskoye is the most big lake Mountain Altai

It is home to about 60 species of mammals, 11 species of amphibians and reptiles, 20 species of fish. Among the rare species of mammals, the snow leopard, or snow leopard, should be distinguished - this is one of the most beautiful cats in the world fauna. Very few of these animals have survived in Altai.

34. Irbis or snow leopard

The geological history of the region is unique, "recorded" in the uneven-aged rocks that make up it and captured in the extraordinary forms of relief. Such are, for example, the high terraces of the Katun, striking in their grandeur. Mount Belukha is grandiose - the highest peak in Siberia (4506 m).

35. Terraces of Katun

36. Mount Belukha

Crowned with glaciers and snowfields, it rises almost 1000 m above the nearby ridges. The valleys of the Altai rivers, primarily the Katun and Chulyshman, are narrow deep canyons. The Chulyshman valley is picturesque, decorated with numerous waterfalls of side tributaries. The true pearl of Altai is Lake Teletskoye. For the clearest waters, majestic mountain setting and rich animal world it is called Small Baikal.

37. Valley of the r. Chulyshman

The exceptional diversity of nature has left its mark on the culture and religion of the indigenous population of this territory - the Altai. The achievements of Altai folk medicine are highly valued. As H.K. Roerich, “many peoples passed through Altai and left traces: Scythians, Huns, Turks”. Mountain Altai called an open-air museum.

Component objects: Katunsky Biosphere Reserve, Altai Nature Reserve, natural parks "Belukha Mountain" and "Peace Zone" Ukok Plateau ".

38. Altai State Natural Reserve

39. View of the Ukok plateau

Western Caucasus
40.

Location: the western slope of the Subpolar and Northern Urals;
Krasnodar Territory, Republic of Adygea, Republic of Karachay-Cherkessia
Square: 0.30 million ha

Included in the World Heritage List in 1999
The western part of the Greater Caucasus in terms of the diversity of flora and fauna, their safety is unmatched not only in the Caucasus region, but also among other mountainous regions of Europe and Western Asia. This is an area where a large number of threatened
extinction of rare, endemic and relict species of plants and animals. It is especially important that the habitat of the most vulnerable large mammals has been preserved here: bison, Caucasian red deer, West Caucasian tur, chamois, Caucasian subspecies of brown bear, wolf, etc.

Caucasian reserve- practically the only habitat in the world of mountain bison, outside this territory it is almost completely exterminated by poachers.

41. Caucasian mountain bison (bison)

42. Caucasian red deer

43. West Caucasian tur, or Caucasian stone goat

44. Caucasian brown bear

There are 967 species of vascular plants growing in the alpine zone alone.
Ancient and modern mountain glaciers played an important role in the formation of the relief of the Western Caucasus. Trough valleys, tarn lakes, moraines are widespread here.
In the limestone massifs of the northern part of the territory, numerous caves and cavities, including some of the longest and deepest in Russia (up to 600 m deep and 15 km long), form complex underground systems with rivers, lakes and waterfalls.

45. Noise waterfall in the Western Caucasus

The territory is rich in picturesque objects: powerful waterfalls, pointed mountain peaks(up to 3360 m), turbulent mountain rivers with clear water, clean mountain lakes, huge trees (majestic fir up to 85 m high and more than 2 m in diameter), rare plants (orchids, etc.) and many others.
An invaluable unique natural complex has been preserved in the Western Caucasus.

46. Mountains and lakes of the Western Caucasus

Component objects: Caucasian Biosphere Reserve, Bolshoi Tkhach Natural Park, 3 natural monuments.

47. Caucasian biosphere reserve

48. Natural Park "Bolshoi Tkhach"

Russia, of course, is rich in unique natural complexes not affected by economic activity. According to rough estimates, there are more than 20 territories in Russia that are worthy of the status of a World Natural Heritage Site. Among the promising territories, the following natural complexes can be noted: “ Kurile Islands"," Lena Delta "," Volga Delta ".

Ecology of life: Especially for you, we have collected the 10 most beautiful monuments nature, which are among the specially protected ...

The United Nations Specialized Agency for Education, Science and the Arts oversees the preservation of cultural heritage sites around the world. This category includes both the most outstanding architectural structures created by man and natural reserves - in the second case, UNESCO specialists have to exert a lot of effort to protect the unique phenomena of nature from being plundered and destroyed by our freedom-loving race.

Especially for you, we have collected 10 of the most beautiful natural monuments, which are among the specially protected ones.

St Kilda

Scotland

This unique, isolated archipelago was inhabited by a small group of Gaelic people - all were evacuated during the Second World War. Now there is a militarized base and several teams of scientists: St. Kilda is home to the rarest species of birds and animals.

Wulingyuan Mountains

China

This mountain system is located in the north of Hunan province. The mountains owe their appearance to the weathering of sandstones. It was here that Cameron filmed his "Avatar" - one of the peaks was later renamed by the provincial authorities to "Hurray, Avatar!"

Wadden sea

Water area of the North Sea

Watt is a shallow sea area, of which there are dozens. Natural processes function here without the slightest human intervention, almost the entire territory of this unusual sea is covered by three national parks.

Giant's Road

Northern Ireland

The unique area is represented by more than 40,000 basalt columns. They united with each other as a result of a volcanic eruption, and the ancient tribes have already come up with a legend that trolls will go to Ragnarok along these pillars.

Rapanui National Park

Chile

The whole world knows this place thanks to the unique moai statues: Easter Island is considered almost the most mysterious place our planet.

Galapagos Islands

Ecuador

It was here that Charles Darwin first thought about the theory of evolution: the abundance of flora and fauna still makes the Galapagos a place of pilgrimage for every self-respecting natural scientist.

Socotra Archipelago

Yemen

Four islands and a pair of rocks: one of the most isolated archipelagos in the world, located near the pirate Somalia, it boasts an abundance of endemic species of fauna and flora that are not found anywhere else in the world.

Yosemite National Park

USA

Three thousand square kilometers unique mountain landscapes, granite rocks, waterfalls and sequoias: Yosemite is rightfully considered one of the best National Parks in the country.

In Russia, a lot of monuments and cultural heritage are recognized as UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Now we will introduce you to some of them.

All these monuments and places are under the strict protection of the UN, UNESCO and a number of other organizations related to culture, science and education.

Moscow Kremlin and Red Square

Any resident of Russia knows what the Kremlin and Red Square are. Any tourist and resident of our vast homeland, the first thing when he comes to Moscow, visits these memorable places... UNESCO took over the protection of these sites in 1990.

This monument reflects the entire centuries-old history of Moscow and Russia in general. Also on the territory of the Kremlin there are unique objects of the foundry art of Russia: the Tsar Bell, which weighs more than 200 tons and is 6.6 m in diameter, and the Tsar Cannon, with its weight of 40 tons.

Lake Baikal

Baikal, a unique natural monument of Eastern Siberia, was included in the UNESCO heritage list in 1996. The lake is the deepest in the world and contains 19% of the planet's fresh water reserves. When viewed from a height, the lake resembles a crescent, covers an area of over 3 million hectares and is fed by more than 300 rivers and streams.

Lake Baikal is one of the most picturesque

The water in the lake has an increased oxygen content, and due to its transparency, it is possible to discern a depth of up to 40 m. Age is especially impressive ancient lake- more than 25 million years, the complete isolation of which contributed to the development of a unique ecosystem in it.

Natural Park "Lena Pillars"

Included in the UNESCO National Heritage List in 2012, the Lena Pillars Park is the place where invaluable finds of the inhabitants of the Cambrian period were discovered. The park is located in the center of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia) near the Lena River, occupying 1.27 million hectares.

Lena Pillars is a unique natural monument

The park is inhabited by 12 species of fauna, listed in the Red Book. Due to its antiquity, the park is of particular interest for geology: the natural monument is distinguished by its relief, dotted with caves, stone spiers, towers and niches.

The architectural ensemble of the Kizhi churchyard

The unique architectural complex of wooden architecture of the 18th-19th centuries was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1990 and is an ensemble of two wooden churches and a bell tower in Karelia.

Kizhi Pogost is the embodiment of Russian architecture

It houses the State Historical and Architectural Museum "Kizhi" with many objects of wooden religious architecture, including an eight-winged windmill 1929 and Transfiguration Church built without a single nail.

Novgorod historical monuments

The architectural complexes of Veliky Novgorod and its environs were included in the UNESCO National Heritage List in 1992. The number of cultural sites includes such significant Orthodox buildings of antiquity as the monasteries of Znamensky, Antoniev, Yuryev, Zverin, as well as the churches of the Nativity of Christ, the Savior on Nereditsa, the Kremlin Novgorod Detinets.

Monuments of Veliky Novgorod - a UNESCO heritage site

Wrangel Island Nature Reserve

The reserve was included in the UNESCO list in 2004. The unique protected area is known for its almost untouched natural ecosystem with the predominance of the largest population of polar bears, walruses, more than 50 species of birds.

Wrangel Island is famous for its pristine ecosystem

The territory of the reserve is located beyond the Arctic Circle, including Wrangel and Herald Island and the water area of the Chukotka and East Siberian seas... Despite the harsh conditions of the Arctic waters, more than 400 plant species prevail.

Curonian Spit

Famous sand spit stretches for 98 km with a maximum width of up to 3.8 km, is on the dividing line Baltic Sea and the Curonian Lagoon. The natural landmark was included in the UNESCO heritage list in 2000 and is interesting for its unique anthropogenic landscape, which is represented by a variety of reliefs - from deserts to swampy tundra.

The Curonian Spit serves as a resting place for migratory birds

The spit is of great importance for the migration of 10 to 20 million birds and serves as a haven for them during rest. Only here you can find dunes up to 68 m in height, the width of which sometimes reaches 1 km.

Novodevichy Convent in Moscow

Since 2004, the monastery has been included in the UNESCO list, which since 1524 has been one of the defensive structures of Moscow. In 1926, on the site of the monastery, a historical, household and historical museum was founded, and in 1980, the residence of Metropolitan Krutitsky and Kolomenskoye was located. In 1994, the convent was officially approved.

Previously, a historical museum was located in the Novodevichy Convent.

Komi forest

Recognized as the most virgin forests in Europe with a total area of 32,600 sq. km, which belong to the territory of the Pechero-Ilychsky Reserve and occupy part of the YugydVa National Park.

The Komi forest is famous for its virgin forests

Protected by UNESCO since 1995. The forests are distinguished by a variety of flora and fauna, and many plant species are on the verge of extinction and are listed in the Red Book.

Kamchatka volcanoes

The volcanoes of Kamchatka are considered part of the planet's Pacific volcanic ring of fire and have been protected by UNESCO since 1996. The surrounding landscapes with unique nature and biological diversity are especially impressive.

The number of volcanoes in Kamchatka is more than a thousand

Unique natural and cultural landscapes, monuments of history and culture, which are designated as "natural and cultural heritage" and are declared by many countries to be a national treasure. Of particular importance are the sites included by UNESCO in the list of World Cultural and Natural Heritage.

The list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites began in 1972, when the Convention for the Protection of Eminent Cultural and natural sites... This includes archaeological sites, unique cultural landscapes, historical city centers and individual architectural monuments that have become the property of all mankind, monuments that represent an example of the traditional way of life, monuments associated with teachings and beliefs of worldwide importance, nature reserves, etc.

At the beginning of 2010, the list of cultural and natural heritage sites included 890 sites, incl. 689 cultural, 176 natural and 25 mixed (natural and cultural). In fact, there are much more of them (over a thousand), tk. some of them include whole complexes and architectural ensembles like the castles of the Loire Valley in or palaces and temples in historic center St. Petersburg. UNESCO World Heritage Sites are located in 148, the top twenty of which are presented in Table. 4.

Table 4.

There is a clear disproportion in the distribution of World Cultural and Natural Heritage sites by parts of the world: 44% of UNESCO sites are in Europe, and another 23.5% - in Asia (Table 5). The noted contrast is even more noticeable in the distribution of cultural monuments - 3/4 of the world cultural heritage is concentrated (50% - in Europe and 25% -). This phenomenon is explained by the Eurocentricity of modern world culture, and the preserved heritage of the ancient civilizations of the East, on the one hand, and the youth of European civilization in America, Australia, and the almost non-preserved heritage of ancient African civilizations, on the other hand.

Table 5.

America is the leader in natural monuments in the world, being significantly ahead of Europe in this regard. At the expense of natural monuments in the general list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites, Africa and Australia are also noticeably "catching up".

We also note that in the distribution of UNESCO World Heritage sites by three structural elements, there is no such disproportion as in geography. international tourism... The World Heritage sites are divided approximately in equal proportions between the post-industrial “core”, the industrial “semi-periphery” and the agrarian “periphery” (Table 6).

Table 6.

Distribution of UNESCO World Heritage Sites by structural
elements of the world economic hierarchy

However, additional (relative) indicators of the spread of UNESCO-recognized natural and cultural monuments nevertheless indicate their greater concentration in the post-industrial "core". In terms of the number of UNESCO World Heritage sites per unit area, the "core" is almost twice the world average, and in terms of the number of natural and cultural monuments in proportion to the population, it is almost three times.

By the density of UNESCO World Heritage sites (ie by their number per unit area), the leading positions in the world are occupied by small in area, but densely populated:, etc. (Table 7, Fig. 4). In most cases, these countries act as the most famous centers of attraction for foreign tourists in Europe and the world.

Table 7.

Top 20 countries and Russia in terms of the number of World Heritage sites
UNESCO per unit area and proportion to population

It is quite natural that large countries, such as Russia, USA, Brazil, Australia, etc., occupy rather low positions in the density of UNESCO World Heritage Sites. For this reason, let us propose a different relative indicator characterizing the location of natural and cultural monuments in the world: the number of UNESCO World Heritage sites in proportion to the population of states (Table 7, Fig. 5).

Rice. 5. The number of UNESCO World Heritage sites per 10 million inhabitants.

Apparently, the relatively more even distribution of UNESCO World Heritage sites across countries and continents in comparison with the current world tourist flows should in the near future affect the increase in the weight of the "semi-periphery" in the tourism industry of the world economy, and in the more distant perspective - and "periphery". Tourism can play the role of a locomotive of post-industrial development in the countries of the "semi-periphery" and "periphery".

At present, the human environment is changing rapidly and at an increasing rate. The task of humanity is to maintain nature on the globe in a condition necessary for life, health and well-being. It is also necessary to preserve, as far as possible, at least the most unique places in nature, which are of particular value with scientific point view, areas that make up the habitats of valuable or endangered species of plants and animals. There are many unique places in nature, the disappearance of which would be an irreplaceable loss not only for the country in whose territory they are located, but also for all mankind as a whole.In most countries of the world, networks of so-called "specially protected natural areas" (SPNA) have been created for these purposes. These include the following natural objects:

Nizhnesvirsky Nature Reserve, Leningrad Region

Zakazniks are created with the aim of preserving or restoring some or all of the components of nature and to maintain the overall ecological balance. Certain types of economic activities are limited in these territories.

Gladyshevsky nature reserve, Leningrad region

Monuments of nature - small areas, including naturally valuable objects: caves, rocks, waterfalls, groves of rare tree species, river valleys, lakes, etc.

Natural monument "Yastrebinoe Lake", Leningrad Region

Natural parks serve to protect natural complexes of ecological, historical and aesthetic value. They are staffed with special staff.

Natural park "Veppsky forest", Leningrad region

B Have you ever been to one of the protected areas? How do you remember this place?

In these territories, people preserve both rare, unique and typical areas of forests, swamps, meadows, water bodies and other natural ecosystems, rare and widespread species of plants and animals in their natural habitat, bird migration routes, fish spawning routes and others. natural objects and processes.

The entire nature of our planet is priceless and unique. Of course, of those subject to special protection natural areas it is difficult to single out some of the most outstanding and valuable corners of nature of "exceptional importance", which are vitally important to preserve for the present and future generations. A special UNESCO program is dedicated to this, making up the so-called World Heritage List.

The UNESCO Convention on the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage entered into force in 1975. Its main goal is to attract the forces of the world community to preserve the unique objects of culture and nature. By mid-2012, the total number of countries participating in the Convention had already reached 189. Among the international programs of UNESCO, this program is the most representative. To enhance the effectiveness of the Convention, a World Heritage Committee and Fund were formed in 1976.

The World Natural Heritage is made up of mountains, volcanoes, lakes, rivers, islands, forests, caves, reefs, national parks, nature reserves, reserves.

Of course, it is honorable and prestigious to be on a par with the generally recognized world pearls of nature and culture, but, at the same time, it is also a great responsibility. To receive World Heritage status, an object must be of outstanding human value, undergo a thorough expert assessment. In this case, the nominated natural object must meet at least one of the following four criteria:

Include unique natural phenomena or areas of exceptional natural beauty and aesthetic value;

Provide outstanding examples of the main stages in the history of the Earth, including traces of ancient life, serious geological processes that continue to occur in the development of forms of the earth's surface, significant geomorphological or physical-geographical features of the relief;

Provide outstanding examples of important ongoing ecological and biological processes in the evolution and development of terrestrial, freshwater, coastal and marine ecosystems and communities of plants and animals;

Include natural habitats of great importance for the conservation of biological diversity, including habitats of endangered species that are of outstanding world heritage in terms of science or nature conservation.

The status of a World Natural Heritage site provides additional guarantees for the safety and integrity of unique natural complexes, increases the prestige of territories, promotes the popularization of sites and the development of alternative types of nature management, and provides priority in attracting funds.

The first cultural and natural sites were included in the UNESCO World Heritage List two years after the creation of the program. From natural areas, heritage status received Galapagos Islands(Ecuador), National Parks "Yellowstone" (USA), "Nahanni" (Canada) and "Seaman" (Ethiopia). Over the past years, the List has become very representative both in terms of the regions of the planet represented and in terms of the number of objects: by mid-2012 it already included 188 natural objects. Most of them are located in the USA and Australia (more than 10 objects in each country). The protection of the Convention includes such worldwide famous monuments nature as big Barrier reef, Hawaiian Islands, Grand Canyon, Mount Kilimanjaro. Video 62.

In Russia, the initiator of the inclusion of natural sites in the World Heritage List is primarily Greenpeace. By joining this UNESCO program, a new page has been opened in the protection of nature in Russia.

Objects of the World Natural Heritage of Russia

There are inaccuracies on the map, since at the moment 11 objects are already included in the list, including the Putorana plateau and nature Park"Lena Pillars". The first in our country to receive the status of a World Natural Heritage Site in 1995 was a natural complex called "Virgin Komi Forests".

The territory of this object is the largest of the remaining massifs of primary forests in Europe, the appearance of which is almost unchanged by human impact. Video 63.

This territory stretches along the western slope of the Subpolar and Northern Urals for more than 300 km. The Ural mountain system has a significant impact on the climate. In places, natural complexes form a complex mosaic: along narrow river valleys, taiga vegetation rises high into the mountains.

The main tree species - spruce and fir - are accompanied by Siberian cedar. Here the crystal clear tributaries of the Pechora originate and receive. Now the territory of the World Heritage Site "Virgin Komi Forests" is in danger due to illegal gold mining unfolding here (1).Greenpeace Russia and other non-governmental organizations will fight to stop any nature-destroying activity on its territory.

Lake Baikal

Baikal is one of the greatest lakes on the planet, a lake of "superlatives": the deepest (1637 meters), the oldest (about 25 million years), with the most diverse flora and fauna among fresh water bodies. Video 64.

The lake has a unique in terms of volume and quality reserve of fresh water - more than 20% of the world's reserves). The Baikal depression is the central link of the Baikal rift zone, one of the largest ancient fault systems on Earth. The lake, together with its entire basin, is a peculiar and very fragile natural ecosystem that ensures the natural process of the formation of the purest waters. For Siberia, the climate of the Baikal coasts is relatively mild. For example, the amount sunny days in the year is higher here than in many Black Sea resorts.One of the richest and most unusual freshwater fauna in the world, which is of exceptional value for the study of evolutionary processes, has been formed in the ancient isolated Baikal depression.

Of the more than 2,630 species and subspecies of animals and plants found to date in the lake, more than 80% are found nowhere else in the world. Who has not heard of the famous Baikal omul or Baikal sturgeon? Two unique species of viviparous fish, representatives of a family endemic (2) for Lake Baikal, - large and small golomyanka - are known to ichthyologists all over the world. The pyramid of the lake ecosystem is crowned with a mammal of a typical marine origin - the seal, or the Baikal seal.

Unfortunately, the unique nature of Lake Baikal is under threat (3).

WITH Have you heard about the actions that the public is taking in order to protect Baikal from pollution by a pulp and paper mill?

Another danger for Lake Baikal is posed by the planned development of deposits, illegal logging, Forest fires, poaching, oil spills.

Volcanoes of Kamchatka

The Kamchatka Peninsula is located at the junction of tectonic plates in the zone of active volcanism, where modern natural processes and the history of our planet are inseparable. Video 65.

Here, in a limited area, there are concentrated 30 active and about 300 extinct volcanoes, as well as more than 150 groups of thermal and mineral springs. Dozens of geysers, hot springs, fumaroles (4), cascades of waterfalls, sharp peaks of ridges, mud pots and turquoise lakes, carpets of colorful seaweed give a fabulous look to the famous Valley of Geysers

The richest life is presented in the seas washing the coast of Kamchatka. There are zones of growth of Kamchatka crab larvae, places of salmon fish spawning entry and their fry rolling into the sea. From summer to the beginning of winter, an amazing natural phenomenon can be observed on the rivers of the peninsula: millions of salmon move in a continuous mass along the rivers upstream to their spawning grounds.

Golden mountains of Altai

The nature of this mountainous territory, located at the junction of Central Asia and Siberia, is distinguished by its striking originality. There are few places in the world with such a contrasting combination of different landscapes in such a small space. Video 66.

The flora and fauna of the region are diverse, in many respects unique. Here are the most significant subalpine and alpine meadows in terms of area in the mountains of Siberia. The color of the vegetation of the Southern Altai is also unique, where semi-deserts, steppes and tundra coexist. The variety of landscapes contributed to the emergence and preservation of endemics in Altai, often occupying very small areas. Among the rare species of mammals, the snow leopard should be distinguished; this is one of the most beautiful cats in the world fauna. Very few of these animals have survived in Altai.

The geological history of the region is unique, "recorded" in the uneven-aged rocks composing it and captured in the extraordinary forms of relief. Such are, for example, the high terraces of the Katun River, striking in their grandeur. Mount Belukha is grandiose - the highest peak in Siberia (4506 meters). Altai river valleys are narrow deep canyons.

The diversity of nature has left its mark on the culture and religion of the indigenous population of this territory - the Altai. The achievements of Altai folk medicine are highly valued. As the eminent philosopher, writer, traveler H.K. Roerich, “many peoples passed through Altai and left traces: Scythians, Huns, Turks”. Gorny Altai is called an open-air museum.

Western Caucasus

The western part of the Greater Caucasus in terms of the diversity of flora and fauna, their safety is unmatched not only in the Caucasus region, but also among other mountainous regions of Europe and Western Asia. Video 67.

This is a territory where a large number of endangered rare, endemic and relict plant and animal species are concentrated. It is especially important that the habitat of the most vulnerable large mammals has been preserved here: bison, Caucasian red deer, West Caucasian tur, chamois, Caucasian subspecies of brown bear, wolf and others.

The Caucasian Reserve is practically the only habitat of the mountain bison in the world; outside this territory it has been almost completely exterminated by poachers.

The territory is rich in picturesque objects: powerful waterfalls, peaked mountain peaks (up to 3360 meters), turbulent mountain rivers with clear water, clear mountain lakes, huge trees (majestic fir trees up to 85 meters high and more than 2 meters in diameter), rare plants (orchids, etc. .) and many others. An invaluable unique natural complex has been preserved in the Western Caucasus.

Curonian Spit

The relief of this territory, located in the Kaliningrad region, is unique. Solid strip sand dunes 0.3 - 1 km wide, some of which are close to the highest in the world (up to 68 m), stretches along the peninsula for 70 km. Video 68.

Thanks to its geographic location and orientation from northeast to southwest, the spit serves as a "guiding line" for birds of many species migrating from the northwestern regions of Russia, Finland and the Baltic countries to the countries of Central and Southern Europe. Annually in spring and autumn 10 - 20 million birds fly over the spit, a significant part of which stop here for rest and feeding. Among the birds flying here, there are many rare and endangered species listed in the Red Data Books of Russia, Europe and the world.

It is especially interesting that the spit is rich in cultural heritage objects. They are unique in scale protective structures extremely valuable from the point of view of history, science and art; fishermen's settlements harmoniously integrated into the landscape; archaeological sites and monuments of religious architecture. Many-sided dune relief Curonian Spit combined with the green of the forests, whiteness sandy beaches and the endless blue of the Baltic Sea has a high aesthetic value.

Central Sikhote-Alin

This territory, located in the south of the Far East within Russia, is one of the largest and least human-altered foci for the conservation of communities of ancient coniferous-deciduous and deciduous forests. Video 69.

It presents a lot of rare and endangered animal species, a significant part of which is preserved only within its limits. Mountain country Sikhote-Alin is the last large integral territory in the world inhabited by the Amur tiger. Many other rare and endangered species of plants and animals that are endemic to the region need protection.

Picturesque landforms, deep rivers, combined with an exceptional variety of flora and fauna, the presence of exotic plants and animals, reminiscent of the tropics, give the nature of Sikhote-Alin absolutely unique features. There are many objects of aesthetic and recreational importance here: rock massifs, picturesquely standing out among the taiga, waterfalls, lakes and rapids, reefs, sandy bays of the coast of the Sea of Japan.

Ubsunur pool

The Ubsunur Basin, located on the territory of Mongolia and Russia, is one of the most original and unusual places in Central Asia. Video 70.

This region has preserved a unique complex of neighboring, closely interacting, extremely contrasting ecosystems - from taiga to desert. Glaciers, snowfields, mountain tundra of the alpine belt and subalpine meadows turn into a vast mountain-taiga belt, which is replaced by forest-steppe, steppe, semi-desert and even loose sandy ridges, creating an exceptional beauty and diversity natural phenomenon... It is impossible to see such diverse landscapes in such close proximity anywhere else in Eurasia. This territory has an unusually high species richness for temperate latitudes.

The relatively sparsely populated territory, the absence of industrial facilities allow the basin to be preserved as a natural laboratory for the study of biospheric processes

However, the value of the territory lies not only in the unique nature of the Ubsunur basin. The objects of cultural heritage located here are of great importance - archaeological monuments, many of which have not yet been studied. Nowhere else in Central Asia mounds are found in such a concentration as here (according to a rough estimate, there are up to 20 thousand of them); most of them are older Egyptian pyramids... Thousands rock paintings and stone statues, the remains of medieval settlements and Buddhist chapels form a unique natural and cultural landscape.

Natural system of the reserve "Wrangel Island»

The Wrangel Island Nature Reserve is located on the border of the East Siberian and Chukchi Seas on the Wrangel and Herald Islands with an adjacent 12-mile sea area. Video 71.

The 180th meridian passes through Wrangel Island, so the island lies in both the Western and Eastern Hemispheres. The relief is predominantly mountainous, highly dissected, with coastal lowlands in the north and south. The island has 1400 rivers and streams, about 900 small lakes. The unique combination of natural-historical and landscape-climatic conditions, as well as the inaccessibility, led to a large number of endemic, rare and relict plant species on the islands. On the islands, as part of the ancient land that once united the Eurasian and North American continents, both Euro-Asian and American species flora and fauna.

Putorana plateau

The plateau is located in the Krasnoyarsk Territory. It is a large basalt plateau located on the northern limit of the taiga and almost completely unaffected by human economic activity. Video 72. Trap landforms (5), crossed by huge canyons, are unusual and extremely interesting. The scale and number of waterfalls are impressive (the largest concentration is on the territory of Russia). There is a 108 m high waterfall - one of the highest in our country. There are many lakes on the plateau with depths of up to 400 m; lake fjords are very picturesque.More than 1300 plant species have been recorded on the Putorana plateau. Here is the northern limit of the distribution of flying squirrel, lynx, sable, wood grouse. The migration route of the world's largest population of wild reindeer, the Taimyr, runs through the plateau. It is also home to a little-studied, extremely interesting local form of the bighorn sheep.

Lena Pillars

The natural park "Lenskie Stolby" is located in Central Yakutia, in the middle reaches of the Lena River. Video 73.

The park got its name because of the unique ridge of rocks - fabulous stone statues in the form of pillars and towers stretch along the banks of the Lena for tens of kilometers. Some are up to 100 meters high. This natural monument is composed of Cambrian limestones - a rock formed over 500 million years ago.

In addition, in the park there are small areas of the desert landscape - unique permafrost ecosystems, as well as waving sands-tukulans - isolated and independently developing sand ridges with slopes that are practically not fixed by vegetation. In the area of the Lena Pillars, scientists discovered burials of bone remains of ancient fauna: mammoth, bison, Lena horse, woolly rhinoceros.

The park is home to 21 species of rare and endangered "Red Book" plants. In the basin of the middle reaches of the Lena River, the fish fauna includes 31 species. There are 101 bird species nesting in the park. There are such animals as sable, brown bear, squirrel, elk, red deer, chipmunk, musk deer, mountain-forest form of wild reindeer.

Work to continue to include new territories on the World Heritage List continues. According to the rules, nominations for consideration by the World Heritage Committee must first be included in the national Tentative List. They are presented on the map of the World Natural Heritage of Russia (see above).

It is obvious that the effective protection of such territories is impossible without the active involvement of public organizations, as possible more citizens of the country. Let us remember that we are individually and collectively responsible for the preservation of natural complexes.

Read the resolution of the International Forum of Non-Governmental Organizations on World Heritage Sites (6).

What can we, the people of Russia, do to support the conservation and development of specially protected natural areas?

Each of these places is unique in its own way, and all together they function, making up the unity and integrity of the life support system on the Planet. They create its unique, still far from fully unraveled and cognized appearance.