National parks of Russia

Sablinsky Ridge, Yugyd Va National Park, on the west slope of the Northern Ural Mountains

There are currently 64 national parks in Russia. They cover a total of approximately Template:Convert.

Overview

Map of national parks in Russia

Until the 1960s only nature reserves (zapovedniks) and zakazniks existed in the Soviet Union, so international experience in creating a form of protected areas intended for tourists to relax and teach them to take care of nature was very important. In 1961, Soviet geographers, headed by Innokenti Gerasimov, director of the Institute of Geography, USSR Academy of Sciences, visited the United States. This trip was an introduction to the USA experience in environmental protection and Soviet scientists visited the Yellowstone National Park and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

After the trip, Innokenti Gerasimov returned to the idea of creating nature parks in the USSR. In 1965 he proposed the creation of a Baikal nature park. A similar natural park was also designed in the Lake Seliger area on the Valdai Hills. In 1966, the newspaper Komsomolskaya Pravda published an article by Innokenti Gerasimov and Vladimir Preobrazhensky, which discussed the need to create a system of natural parks in the USSR. Natural parks were not just thought of as places for tourists to relax, but also as places to protect animals and plants in areas that park tourists would not be allowed to visit without a guide.<ref>Sobisevich A. V., Snytko V. A. To the history of the creation of biosphere reserves and natural parks in the Soviet Union // IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science. 2020. Vol. 579. P. 1–5.</ref>

The oldest parks in Russia are Sochinsky and Losiny Ostrov (1983); Samarskaya Luka (1984); Mariy Chodra (1985); Bashkiriya, Prielbrusye, Pribaykalsky, and Zabaykalsky (1986).<ref>Russian Nature Press</ref>

According to the law on the protected areas of Russia, national parks are areas of land and water devoted to nature protection, ecological education, and scientific research. They contain sites of particular ecological, historical and aesthetic value. Regulated tourism is permitted.<ref name=law >"About Special Protected Nature Areas", a Russian Federation federal law of March 14, 1995.Template:In lang</ref><ref name="oopt">Biodiversity Conservation Centre Moscow</ref> The area of each park is divided into zones according to various functions. There should be a strictly protected area managed as a zapovednik, and also recreational and buffer zones in which economic activity is allowed, such as tourism, traditional land use, and benign forms of agriculture and forestry. The strictly protected function is sometimes fulfilled by a neighbouring official zapovednik; for instance, Barguzin Zapovednik adjoins Zabaykalsky National Park on the east side of Lake Baikal.<ref name="oopt"/> In 2001 Vodlozersky National Park received UNESCO Biosphere Reserve status, followed by Smolenskoye Poozerye and Ugra National Park in 2002, and two others (Valdaysky and Kenozersky) in 2004.

The national parks are currently the responsibility of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (Russia).<ref name="oopt"/>

List of national parks of Russia

Name	Photo	Location	Created	Park URL	Area	Description
Alaniya		Template:Plainlist	Template:Dts	Ала́ния	Template:Convert	Alaniya lies on the north slope of the central Caucasus Mountains. The park includes the 13 km long Karaugom Glacier, the deep forest valley of the Urukh River, and steppe grasslands. Archaeological ruins dot the park, from the Bronze Age Koban culture to the medieval Alan people. The host Republic of North Ossetia-Alania takes its name from the Alans.<ref name='alaniya'>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}Template:Dead link</ref>
Alkhanay		Zabaykalsky Krai Template:Coord	Template:Dts	Алханай	Template:Convert	Sacred to the indigenous Buryat people, as well as modern Buddhists, Mt. Alkhanai is the central focus of the park. (The Dalai Lama has made two unofficial visits). The surroundings are a prime example of "Daurian forest steppe", in the transition zone between the Siberian taiga to the north, and the Mongolian steppe just to the south.<ref name='Alkhanay'>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Anyuysky		Khabarovsk Krai Template:Coord	Template:Dts	Анюйский	Template:Convert	The park is important because it creates an ecological corridor - from the low floodplain habitat of the Amur River, up through the forested Anyuy River basin, to the high levels of the Sikhote-Alin mountain range in the Russian Far East. The local indigenous people are the Nanai people, traditionally a fishing and hunting culture.<ref name='Anyuysky'>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Bashkiriya		Bashkortostan Template:Coord	Template:Dts	Башкирия Template:Webarchive	Template:Convert	Bashkiriya covers a large contiguous forest and network of dissected river valleys on the southern end of the Ural mountains. The park is a buffer between the industrialized flat lands to the west, and the mountainous and sparsely populated Shulgan-Tash Nature Reserve and Allyn-Solok ("Golden Bee Tree") entomological reserve to the east.<ref name='Bashkiriya'>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Beringia		Chukotka Autonomous Okrug Template:Coord	Template:Dts	Берингия	Template:Convert	Until 11,000 BCE, the Beringia "land bridge" allowed humans to pass between Asia and North America. Russia's Beringia National Park is the western side of what is now the Bering Strait, with the US Bering Land Bridge National Preserve in Alaska on the eastern side.<ref name='Beringia'>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Bikin		Primorsky Krai Template:Coord	Template:Dts	Бикин	Template:Convert	Created Nov. 3, 2015, Bikin National Park protects the largest remaining old-growth mixed forest in the Northern Hemisphere, as well as the territory of 10% of all Amur tigers in the wild. The park also protects the forest culture of the 600 indigenous inhabitants that remain in the Bikin River basin, the Udeghes and Nanai people.<ref name='letter'>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Buzuluksky Bor		Samara Oblast / Orenburg Oblast Template:Coord	Template:Dts	Бузулукский бор	Template:Convert	Buzuluksky Bor is the largest grove of isolated high pine trees in the world. Surrounded by a sea of steppes on the Eastern Russian Plain between the Volga River (west) and the southern Ural Mountains (to the east), the park is the sandy remains of what was once a river delta into the Caspian Sea. There is oil underneath Buzuluksky, adding pressure to the site.<ref name='Buzuluksky'>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Chuvash Forest		Chuvashia Template:Coord	Template:Dts	Чаваш Вармане	Template:Convert	The Chuvash Forest is a large contiguous (unbroken) forest in the middle Volga River region. The park was created to serve the dual purpose of preserving biological diversity and the protection of a site representative of the Chuvash people.<ref name='Chavash'>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Chikoy		Zabaykalsky Krai Template:Coord	Template:Dts	Чикой	Template:Convert)	The park is at the headwaters of the Chikoy River, which flows west into the Selenga River and Lake Baikal, 250 miles to the northwest. It is in the transition zone between the Siberian taiga to the north and Mongolian steppe to the south.<ref name='Chikoy'>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Crimean		Crimea Template:Coord	Template:Dts	Крымский	Template:Convert)
Curonian Spit		Kaliningrad OblastTemplate:Coord	Template:Dts	Куршская коса	Template:Convert	The Curonian Spit is a 98 km long, thin, curved sand-dune spit that separates the Curonian Lagoon from the Baltic Sea coast. Its southern portion lies within Kaliningrad Oblast, Russia and its northern within southwestern Lithuania. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site shared by the two countries.<ref name='Kurshskaya'>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Gydansky		Tyumen Oblast Template:Coord	Template:Dts	Гыданский	Template:Convert
Kalevalsky		Republic of Karelia Template:Coord	Template:Dts	Калевальский	Template:Convert	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Kenozersky		Arkhangelsk Oblast Template:Coord	Template:Dts	Кенозерский	Template:Convert	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref> It was added to the list of World Heritage sites in 2024.
Khibiny		Murmansk Oblast Template:Coord	Template:Dts	Хибины	Template:Convert
Khvalynsky		Saratov Oblast Template:Coord	Template:Dts	Хвалынский	Template:Convert	Khvalynksy NP encompasses a raised plateau of chalk hills of the Volga Uplands, covered in mixed oak-linden and conifer forests, along the west side of the Volga River. It is about 1,000 km north of the Caspian Sea, in Saratov Oblast overlooking the Saratov Reservoir.<ref name='Khvalynsky'>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Kislovodsk		Stavropol Krai Template:Coord	Template:Dts	Кисловодский	Template:Convert	The largest urban park in Europe, Kislovodsk NP stretches from the city center of Kislovodsk up the slopes of the adjacent Dzhinal Ridge. It is located on the foothills north of the Caucasus Mountains. The park supports mineral springs, hiking paths, and a cable car to the top of the ridge.<ref name='Kislovodsk'>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Kodar		Zabaykalsky KraiTemplate:Coord	Template:Dts	Кодар	Template:Convert	Kodar is located in the Kodar Mountains, about Template:Convert northeast of Lake Baikal. The park encompasses extreme variations in terrain: precipitous alpine slopes ("Kodar" in the indigenous Evenks language means "steep"), over 570 alpine lakes, low-altitude glaciers, volcanoes, and an isolated small desert surrounded by taiga forest.<ref name='kodar'>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Koygorodsky		Komi Republic Template:Coord	Template:Dts	Койгородский Template:Webarchive	Template:Convert	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Krasnoyarsk Pillars		Krasnoyarsk Krai Template:Coord	Template:Dts	Красноярские Столбы	Template:Convert	Reclassified as a national park in 2019 (from a nature reserve), Stolby is situated on the northwestern spurs of the Eastern Sayan which is contiguous with the Central Siberian Plateau. Area borders upon the major city of Krasnoyarsk from the northeast. Visitors are able to get to the boundary by a city bus.<ref name="parksite-Stolby">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Kytalyk	Error creating thumbnail:	Sakha Template:Coord	Template:Dts	Кыталык Template:Webarchive	Template:Convert	Kytalyk is a protected area for the Arctic breeding grounds of migratory birds on the East Asian–Australasian Flyway, including a significant portion of sites for the critically endangered Siberian crane. The name "kytalyk" is the Yakut-language word for the Siberian crane. The park is on the low-lying tundra of the delta of the Indigirka River, on the East Siberian Sea in northern Russia.<ref name="kytalyk">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Ladoga Skerries	Ladoga Skerries National Park	Republic of Karelia Template:Coord	Template:Dts	Ладожские шхеры	Template:Convert	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Land of the Leopard	Land of the Leopard NP	Primorsky Krai Template:Coord	Template:Dts	Земля леопарда	Template:Convert	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Lena Pillars	Lenskie Stolby NP	Sakha Template:Coord	Template:Dts	Ленские столбы Template:Webarchive	Template:Convert
Losiny Ostrov	Upper Yauza swamp	Moscow Oblast Template:Coord	Template:Dts	Лосиный Остров	Template:Convert	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Mariy Chodra	The Ilet River, in NP Mariy Chodra	Mari El Republic Template:Coord	Template:Dts	Марий Чодра	Template:Convert	Mariy Chodra (literally, "Mari Forest") was created to protect rare plants: more than 115 rare plant species are documented. There are fourteen tourist routes in the park; the most popular attractions being Yalchik, Glukhoye, and Kichiyer Lakes, the rafting on the Ilet and Yushut Rivers, Pugachov's Oak, and the Maple Mountain.<ref name='Mariy'>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Meshchyora	Wetlands in Meshcheyora NP	Vladimir Oblast Template:Coord	Template:Dts	Мещёра	Template:Convert	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Meschyorsky	Meshcheyorsky NP	Ryazan Oblast Template:Coord	Template:Dts	Мещерский	Template:Convert	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Nechkinsky	Coastline viewed from hill, Nechkinsky NP	Udmurt Republic Template:Coord	Template:Dts	Нечкинский	Template:Convert	Nechkinsky NP is an important biological and cultural reserve of Udmurtia (the Udmurt Republic), situated in the middle valley of the Kama River, its tributary the Siva River, and the coastal part of the Votkinsk reservoir. The territory is mostly forest and river floodplains, with a number of ancient archaeological sites on the grounds. It is near the city of Izhevsk, on the west side of the Ural Mountains.<ref name='Nechkinsky'>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Nizhnyaya Kama	Sign at border of Nizhnyaya Kama NP	Tatarstan Template:Coord<	Template:Dts	Нижняя Кама	Template:Convert	Literally translated as "Lower Kama National Park", Nizhnyaya Kama is a national park in the center of Russia, located in Tukayevsky and Yelabuzhsky Districts of Tatarstan. It was established April 20, 1991, to protect coniferous (mostly pine) forests at the banks of the Kama River.<ref name='Nizhnyaya'>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Onezhskoye Pomorye	Onezhskoye Pomorye NP	Arkhangelsk Oblast Template:Coord	Template:Dts	Онежское Поморье	Template:Convert	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Orlovskoye Polesye		Oryol Oblast Template:Coord	Template:Dts	Орловское полесье	Template:Convert	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Paanajärvi	Paanajärvi NP	Republic of Karelia Template:Coord	Template:Dts	Паанаярви Template:Webarchive	Template:Convert	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Lake Pleshcheyevo	Pleshcheyevo Ozero NP	Yaroslavl Oblast Template:Coord	Template:Dts	Плещеево озеро	Template:Convert	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Pribaikalsky	Shaman Rocks, Pribaikalsky NP	Irkutsk Oblast Template:Coord	Template:Dts	Прибайкальский	Template:Convert	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Pripyshminskiye Bory	Pripyshminskiye Bory NP	Sverdlovsk Oblast Template:Coord	Template:Dts	Припышминские Боры	Template:Convert	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Prielbrusye	Prielbrusye NP	Kabardino-Balkaria Template:Coord	Template:Dts	Приэльбрусье	Template:Convert	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Russian Arctic	Russian Arctic NP	Arkhangelsk Oblast Template:Coord	Template:Dts	Русская Арктика	Template:Convert	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Russian North	Russky Sever NP	Vologda Oblast Template:Coord	Template:Dts	Русский Север	Template:Convert	The park protects natural and cultural landscapes of the Russian North around Kirillo-Belozersky Monastery and Ferapontov Monastery, places of great historical significance.<ref name='Russky'>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Salair	Samarskaya Luka NP	Altai Republic Template:Coord	Template:Dts	Салаир Template:Webarchive	Template:Convert	Salair is located on the west slope of the Salair Ridge, which separates Altai Krai (west side) from Kemerovo Oblast (east side). The low mountains are covered with coniferous forest. Because of its warm, humid summers, scientists have referred to Salair as the "rainforest of Siberia". <ref name="salair">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Samarskaya Luka	Samarskaya Luka NP	Samara Oblast Template:Coord	Template:Dts	Самарская Лука	Template:Convert	The park (in English, "Samara Bend") is on the 180-degree bend of the Volga River as it flows south by the City of Samara. It is on the shore of the Kuibyshevskoye water reservoir, and on the north it has a border with Zhigulevsky Zapovednik. Most of the bedrock is karst (limestone) formation. <ref name='Samarskaya'>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Samursky	Samar Forest	Dagestan Template:Coord	Template:Dts	Самурский Template:Webarchive	Template:Convert	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Saylyugemsky	Saylyugemsky NP	Altai Republic Template:Coord	Template:Dts	Сайлюгемский Template:Webarchive	Template:Convert	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Sebezhsky	Sebezhsky NP	Pskov Oblast Template:Coord	Template:Dts	Себежский	Template:Convert	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Sengileev Hills	Sengileevskie Mountains NP	Ulyanovsk Oblast Template:Coord	Template:Dts	Сенгилеевские горы	Template:Convert	The park is located in the Sengiley Hills area of the Volga Uplands, along the middle Volga River in Russia. The 'mountains' are technically plateau with deep ravines and river cuts, about three-quarters forested.<ref name=" Mtn smnp">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Shantar Islands	Shantar Islands NP	Khabarovsk Krai Template:Coord	Template:Dts	Шантарские острова	Template:Convert	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Shorsky	Shorsky NP	Kemerovo Oblast Template:Coord	Template:Dts	Шорский	Template:Convert	Shorsky National Park is a forested, mountainous area in southwestern Siberia, where the West Siberian Plain meets the South Siberian Mountains . It is representative of areas with dark taiga tree cover (92% of the park is forested).<ref name='Shorsky'>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Shushensky Bor	Shushensky Bor NP	Krasnoyarsk Krai Template:Coord	Template:Dts	Шушенский бор Template:Webarchive	Template:Convert
Smolenskoye Poozerye	Smolenskoye Poozerye NP	Smolensk Oblast Template:Coord	Template:Dts	Смоленское Поозерье	Template:Convert	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Smolny	Smolny NP	Republic of Mordovia Template:Coord	Template:Dts	Смольный	Template:Convert	The park has a representative lowland river environment, with a slow current. The lakes and swamps are mainly concentrated in the floodplain of the Alatyr River. Marshes are mainly lowland. A few bogs are located in the southern and central parts of the park. There are many springs. <ref name='Smolny'>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Sochi	Sochi NP	Krasnodar Krai Template:Coord	Template:Dts	Сочинский Template:Webarchive	Template:Convert	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Taganay	Taganay NP	Chelyabinsk Oblast Template:Coord	Template:Dts	Таганай	Template:Convert	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Tarkhankut	Tarhankut NP	Autonomous Republic of Crimea Template:Coord	Template:Dts	Тарханкутский	Template:Convert	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Tokinsko-Stanovoy		Amur Oblast Template:Coord	Template:Dts	Токинско-СтановойTemplate:Dead link	Template:Convert	Tokinsko-Stanovoy is located at the mountainous headwaters of the Zeya River, in the Stanovoy Highlands of the Russian Far East. It was created in 2019 to protect important natural features - particularly the Siberian snow sheep, and also the cultural heritage of the reindeer-herding indigenous Evenki people.<ref name="tokinsko">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}Template:Dead link</ref>
Tunkinsky	Tunkinsky NP	Buryatia Template:Coord	Template:Dts	Тункинский	Template:Convert	Tunkinsky is in south central Siberia, and covers a mountainous region centered on the Irkut River valley (also referred to as the Tunka Valley) that continues from the rift valley of Lake Baikalsouthwest to the border of Mongolia. To the north and west of the valley is the eastern edge of the Sayan Mountains.<ref name='Tunkinsky'>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Udegeyskaya Legenda	Udegeyskaya Legenda NP	Primorsky Krai Template:Coord	Template:Dts	Удэгейская легенда	Template:Convert	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Ugra	Ugra NP	Kaluga Oblast Template:Coord	Template:Dts	Угра	Template:Convert	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref> The park's highlights include the Optina Monastery and the Nikola-Lenivets art park.
Yugyd Va	Yugyd Va NP	Komi Republic Template:Coord	Template:Dts	Югыд ва Template:Webarchive	Template:Convert	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Valdaysky	Valdaysky NP	Novgorod Oblast Template:Coord	Template:Dts	Валдайский	Template:Convert	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Vodlozersky	Vodlozersky NP	Arkhangelsk Oblast Template:Coord	Template:Dts	Водлозерский	Template:Convert	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Zabaykalsky	Zabaykalsky NP	Buryat Republic Template:Coord	Template:Dts	Забайкальский	Template:Convert	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Zavidovo	Zavidovo NP	Tver Oblast Template:Coord	Template:Dts	Завидово	Template:Convert	Zavidovo is a complex of forests and wetlands located in Tver Oblast and Moscow Oblast, Russia. The area is abundant in game animals and has historically been a notable hunting reserve for government officials.<ref name="zavidovo">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Zigalga	Zigalga NP	Chelyabinsk Oblast Template:Coord	Template:Dts	Зигальга	Template:Convert	Zigalga is located on the high Zigalga Ridge of the Southern Ural Mountains in Russia, on the transition between Europe and Siberia.<ref name="parksite">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Zov Tigra	Zov Tigra NP	Primorsky Krai Template:Coord	Template:Dts	Зов Тигра	Template:Convert	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Zyuratkul	Zyuratkul NP	Chelyabinsk Oblast Template:Coord	Template:Dts	Зюраткуль	Template:Convert	Notable features include Lake Zyuratkul, a rare mountainous body of water for the Urals 754 m above sea level, with a surface area of 13,2 km2 and a maximum depth of 8 m. Water is slightly mineralised (≈50 mg/L). Because of its clear water and spectacular landscape around, Zyuratkul' is often called "Ural Ritsa".<ref name='Zyuratkul'>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>

See also

• Protected areas of Russia
• Nature Reserves (Zapovedniks) of Russia

External links

• Biodiversity Conservation Center/Tsentr dikoy prirody, Moscow: page and map on each park, in Russian.
• Centre for Russian Nature Conservation/Russian Conservation News.