Cultural and natural heritage of the territory. Russian World Heritage Sites

30.09.2019 Jurisprudence

Every year on March 3rd World Wildlife Day is celebrated. The date was not chosen by chance: on this day in 1973, the Convention on International Trade in Species of Wild Fauna and Flora was adopted. World Wildlife Day provides an opportunity to celebrate the diversity and beauty of the world around us.

In order to preserve and enhance not only the cultural, but also the natural riches of the planet, in 1972 UNESCO created the List of World Cultural and Natural Heritage, the main goal of which is to make known and protect objects that are unique in their kind. There are now more than a thousand objects on the list.

The entire diversity of World Heritage is divided into three conditional groups: cultural, natural and cultural-natural objects. There are currently 26 monuments on the territory of Russia, 10 of which are unique natural objects.

Virgin forests of Komi

The virgin forests of Komi were the first to be included in the list of World Natural Heritage in Russia. This is a huge and almost untouched natural area located in the northeast of the Komi Republic. The local forests mainly contain spruce, pine, fir, as well as several types of birch, larch and cedar.

This facility includes one of the oldest in Russia Pechora-Ilychsky nature reserve, located on the western slopes of the Northern Urals, and national park"Yugyd va." In general, this entire extended protected area plays a huge role in stabilizing the state of the natural environment. In addition, the pristine nature of the reserve and park is of interest to archaeologists and paleontologists.

Volcanoes of Kamchatka

The volcanoes of Kamchatka are six separate areas that are located in the east, center and south of the peninsula. Together they reflect almost all the main landscapes of Kamchatka, but at the same time each of them also has a bright individuality. In total, there are about 30 active and 300 extinct volcanoes.

The boundaries of this UNESCO monument include the Kronotsky Biosphere Reserve (a unique picturesque mountainous area that includes 26 volcanoes), the little-developed high-mountain Bystrinsky Natural Park, the Klyuchevskoy Natural Park with the Klyuchevskaya Sopka - the highest active volcano in Eurasia - and the Nalychevo Natural Park. The latter includes the famous Nalychevo resort area, where there are about 200 healing springs of thermal and mineral waters.

Lake Baikal

Lake Baikal is one of the largest natural world heritage sites. This is the oldest freshwater body of water on our planet - its age is usually estimated at 25 million years, and also the deepest lake in the world - its maximum depth is 1620 meters. In addition, Baikal contains approximately 20% of all the world's fresh water reserves. The beauty of the lake and its surroundings attract tourists from all over Russia and from many countries of the world.

Golden Mountains of Altai

In the area where the territories of the four largest states of Eurasia—Russia, Kazakhstan, China and Mongolia—converge, are located the Golden Mountains of Altai, one of the most significant mountain systems in Central Asia and Southern Siberia.

Here you can see a wide variety of landscapes - from steppes and taiga to mountain tundras and glaciers. The area is dominated by the double-headed Belukha Mountain, covered with a cap of eternal snow and ice. It reaches 4506 meters in height and is the highest point not only in Altai, but throughout Siberia. And to the west of Belukha, dozens of mountain glaciers are concentrated.

Western Caucasus

The Western Caucasus is a natural massif located in the western part of the Greater Caucasus, approximately 50 kilometers northeast of Sochi. More than 6 thousand species of plants and animals have been recorded in this territory, which makes it a unique center of biodiversity not only on the scale of the Caucasus, but also in Eurasia.

Several tourist routes have been laid across the territory of the reserve, observation decks have been equipped, and a natural museum has been created. The most visited place is the Krasnaya Polyana area, located at the southern borders of the reserve.

Central Sikhote-Alin

This most valuable mountain and forest area is located in the south of the Russian Far East. Here you can see narrow intermountain valleys through which small but fast rapids rivers flow; soaring mountains and rocky cliffs, sometimes plummeting into the waters Sea of Japan. Thanks to the local humid climate, dense forests have formed here, recognized as one of the richest and most original in species composition in the entire Northern Hemisphere.

Ubsunur Basin

Ubsunur is a fairly large shallow salt lake located in the western part of a vast and closed intermountain basin. The northern part of this basin is located on the territory of Russia (Tuva), and the southern part is on the territory of Mongolia. The World Heritage Site itself consists of 12 separate sites, seven of which are located in Russia.

All areas are located in different parts drainage basin of Lake Ubsunur, therefore they differ markedly from each other in natural conditions and, in general, represent all the main types of landscapes characteristic of Central Asia. In addition, cultural heritage monuments were found in the basin: ancient burials, rock paintings, stone sculptures.

Wrangel Island

The area of Wrangel Island is the northernmost among the world natural heritage sites, it is located approximately 500 kilometers above the border of the Arctic Circle, at 71 degrees north latitude. In addition to Wrangel Island, the object includes Herald Island, located 70 kilometers to the east, as well as the adjacent waters of the East Siberian and Chukchi seas.

The island itself is valuable because it represents a distinctly autonomous ecosystem that has developed in conditions of complete isolation over the past 50 thousand years, starting from the time when the island began to separate from the mainland. In addition, this territory is characterized by exceptional biological diversity for the Arctic, with a number of rare and endangered species found here.

Putorana Plateau

The boundaries of this object coincide with the boundaries of the Putorana State Nature Reserve, located in the northern part of Central Siberia, 100 kilometers beyond the Arctic Circle. The World Heritage portion of this plateau contains a full range of subarctic and arctic ecosystems preserved in an isolated mountain range, including pristine taiga, forest-tundra, tundra and arctic deserts, as well as a pristine lake with cold water and river systems.

Natural Park "Lena Pillars"

The Lena Pillars are rock formations of rare beauty that reach a height of about 100 meters and are located along the banks of the Lena River in the central part of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia). The pillars are separated from each other by deep and steep ravines, partially filled with rock debris. On the territory of the site there are the remains of many diverse different types Cambrian period.

The material was prepared by the site editors

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

All these monuments and places are under 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 they do when they come to Moscow is to visit these memorable places. UNESCO took these sites under protection 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 Russian foundry art: the Tsar Bell, which weighs more than 200 tons and has a diameter of 6.6 m, and the Tsar Cannon with its mass of 40 tons.

Lake Baikal

A unique natural monument of Eastern Siberia, Baikal 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. When viewed from above, the lake resembles a crescent moon, 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 a high oxygen content, and thanks to its transparency, it is possible to discern a depth of up to 40 m. The age of the ancient lake is especially impressive - 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 site where priceless finds from the inhabitants of the Cambrian period were discovered. The park is located in the center of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia) near the coast of the Lena River, occupying 1.27 million hectares.

"Lena Pillars" - a unique natural monument

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

Architectural ensemble of the Kizhi Pogost

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

The Kizhi State Historical and Architectural Museum is located here, with many objects of wooden religious architecture, including an eight-wing windmill from 1929 and the Church of the Transfiguration, 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 Znamensky, Antoniev, Yuryev, Zverin monasteries, as well as the churches of the Nativity of Christ, the Savior on Nereditsa, and the Novgorod Detinets Kremlin.

Monuments of Veliky Novgorod - a UNESCO heritage site

Nature Reserve Wrangel Island

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

Wrangel Island is famous for its untouched ecosystem

The territory of the reserve is located beyond the Arctic Circle, including Wrangel and Herald Islands and the waters of the Chukchi and East Siberian seas. Despite harsh conditions Arctic waters are dominated by more than 400 plant species.

Curonian Spit

The famous sand spit stretches for 98 km with a maximum width of up to 3.8 km, located on the dividing line of the Baltic Sea and the Curonian Lagoon. The natural attraction 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 tundras.

The Curonian Spit serves as a resting place for migratory birds

The spit is of great importance during 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, a historical museum was founded on the site of the monastery, and in 1980, the residence of the Metropolitan of Krutitsky and Kolomensky was located. In 1994 it was officially approved convent.

Previously, the Novodevichy Convent housed a historical museum.

Komi forest

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

The Komi forest area is famous for its virgin forests

Protected by UNESCO since 1995. The forests are distinguished by the diversity of flora and fauna, with many plant species on the verge of extinction and 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 totals more than a thousand

Ten natural sites of the Russian Federation are on the UNESCO World Heritage List (4 of them are recognized as natural phenomena of exceptional beauty and aesthetic importance), and this is not counting another 15 sites that are cultural objects of protection. This is not at all surprising, because Russia is a truly vast country, with a vast territory, incredibly beautiful and diverse nature, and a rich cultural heritage.

If you want to see the pristine nature of Russia in its pristine form, then Russians (and foreign tourists too) will have no difficulty going to one of the country’s natural reserves or national parks, on the territory of which these ten objects that need constant international protection are located level...

1. Forests of the Komi Republic

The area of these forests is more than 3 million hectares, on which a national park and a state biosphere reserve are located. This object opened a new page in protection for Russia environment at the global level.

The virgin forests of Komi are known as the largest intact forests growing in Europe. They occupy an area of 32,600 square kilometers in the north of the Ural Mountains, within the Pechero-Ilychsky Nature Reserve and the Yugyd Va National Park. In terms of their composition, Komi forests belong to the taiga ecosystem. They are dominated conifers trees. The western part of the forests is in the foothills area, the eastern part is in the mountains themselves. The Komi forest is distinguished by the diversity of not only flora, but also fauna. More than two hundred live here bird species, There are 40 species of rare mammals, and the reservoirs are home to 16 species of fish, which are considered valuable for fishing, preserved since ice age. For example, such fish species include Siberian grayling and palia char. Many inhabitants of the virgin forests of Komi are listed in the Red Book of the Planet. This natural site of the Russian Federation was included in the UNESCO list in 1995 - the very first on the list.

2. Lake Baikal

For the whole world, Baikal is a lake, for the residents of Russia, who are in love with a unique natural object, Baikal is a sea! Located in Eastern Siberia, it is the deepest lake on the planet and, at the same time, the largest natural reservoir of fresh water by volume. The shape of Baikal looks like a crescent. The maximum depth of the lake is 1642 meters with an average depth of 744. Baikal contains 19 percent of all fresh water on the planet. The lake is fed by more than three hundred rivers and streams. Baikal water has a high oxygen content. Its temperature rarely exceeds plus 8-9 degrees Celsius even in summer in the surface area. The water of the lake is so clean and transparent that it allows you to see at a depth of up to forty meters.

Lake Baikal, the oldest and deepest (approximately 1,700 meters) on Earth, covers an area of over three million hectares. The reservoir, which appeared about 25 million years ago, was in almost complete isolation, thanks to which an amazing ecosystem was formed in its fresh waters, the study of which allows us to obtain information about the evolutionary processes taking place on the planet.

Unique even on a global scale, the lake contains about 20% of all available reserves of essential fresh water on Earth, as well as a delightful spectacle, inspiring with beauty and captivating with the luxury of amazing landscapes.

Lake Baikal was named a beautiful pearl by UNESCO in 1996 and included in the list of priceless heritages of the planet.

3. Kamchatka volcanoes .

This site was also included in the World Heritage List in 1996. Five years later (in 2001), the territory of the object subject to international protection expanded due to the movement of lithospheric plates of the Pacific volcanic ring. Today, the territory of the state biosphere reserve is about 4 million hectares. This area is called the “natural museum of volcanology.” Both long-extinct and extinct objects can serve as exhibits. active volcanoes Kamchatka Peninsula. Moreover, each of the “exhibits” is an individual object, for which a lifetime would not be enough to study.

In total, there are currently about 300 extinct volcanoes and 30 active volcanoes on the territory of this object, but the number of the latter changes every year. The most interesting attraction for tourists in this region is the Valley of Geysers in the Konotsky Biosphere Reserve. The mountain rivers of Kamchatka abound with huge numbers of salmon fish, and the coastal waters are home to many species of whales and dolphins.

4. Altai Mountains

These mountains are called “Golden”, since every species of animal, bird and fish here is unique. Altai cedar forests and mammals with the most valuable commercial fur, which can be equated in value with gold, have been preserved here. The site covers an area of more than 1.5 million hectares and was included in the UNESCO list in 1998. The "golden" ones are located Altai mountains at the intersection of the mountain systems of Siberia and Central Asia.

The vegetation of this region is unique; there is an abundance of alpine meadows, steppes, semi-deserts and tundra. Absolutely everything is unique here, from snow leopards to mountain landforms. Pearl Altai Territory called Lake Teletskoye, which is also called “Small Baikal”.

5. Natural Park “Lena Pillars”

The fabulously beautiful landscapes of the park are formed by hundred-meter rock formations that pacify the waters of the beautiful Lena River. The Lena Pillars are located in the very heart of Sakha (Republic of Yakutia).

Such an amazing natural phenomenon owes its appearance to the continental climate, temperature fluctuations within which they reach about one hundred degrees (+40 degrees in summer and -60 degrees in winter). The pillars are separated by deep ravines with steep slopes. Their formation occurred under the influence of water, which contributed to soil freezing and weathering. Such processes led to the fact that the ravines deepened and widened. Water in in this case plays the role of a destroyer, representing a danger to the pillars.

The Lena Pillars, included in the list of world heritage in 2012, are of interest not only from the point of view of an aesthetic spectacle; it is also a unique archaeological zone, on the territory of which the remains of ancient animals of the Cambrian period were discovered.

This natural site has an area of 1.27 million hectares. If we take into account the geological structure of the soil in the park, then this land can “tell” a lot about the history of the development of the planet, about living organisms and vegetation.

In the Lena Pillars, many remains of mammoths, bison, woolly rhinoceroses, Lena horses, reindeer and other remains of ancient mammals were discovered. Today the complex is home to 12 representatives of animals and birds listed in the Red Book of the Planet. It is believed that the Lena Pillars have a huge “aesthetic influence” on people due to their unique beauty of landscapes, bizarre terrain with huge caves, fabulous-looking stone sculptures, rocky spiers, niches and “towers”.

6. Sikhote-Alin Nature Reserve

This territory, included in the UNESCO list in 2001, covers an area of about 0.4 million hectares. The object is valuable because unique broad-leaved forests and ancient coniferous forests have been preserved on its territory. There is also an incredible mix of flora and fauna, including many rare species.

A large biosphere reserve in the Primorsky Territory was originally created to preserve the sable population. Currently it represents the most comfortable spot observing the life of the Amur tiger. Grows on the territory of the Sikhote-Alin Nature Reserve great amount plants. More than a thousand higher species, more than a hundred - mosses, about four hundred - lichens, more than six hundred species of algae and more than five hundred - fungi.

The local fauna is represented by a large number of birds, marine invertebrates and insects. Many plants, birds, animals and insects are protected species. Schisandra chinensis,ginseng,rhododendron Fori and edelweiss Palibina, spotted deer and Himalayan bear, black crane and stork, Japanese starling, Sakhalin sturgeon, fish owl and swallowtail butterfly - they all found shelter in the Sikhote-Alin Nature Reserve.

7. Natural complex of the Wrangel Island reserve

The protected area, which was added to the list of UNESCO treasures in 2004, is located beyond the Arctic Circle. It includes the relief landscapes of Wrangel Island, whose area is over 7 thousand square meters. kilometers, and Herald Island, whose area is 11 thousand square meters. kilometers, as well as the coastal waters of the East Siberian Sea and the waters of the Chukchi Sea.

This region managed to avoid glaciation, thanks to which the area is characterized by amazing biological diversity. The harsh climate of the protected area attracted walruses, who formed the largest rookery in the Arctic here. Polar bears have also taken a liking to the picturesque land; the density of their dens in this region is considered to be the highest on the planet.

Over fifty species of birds nest here, some of which are endemic and endangered. Gray whales rush here, choosing this place for feeding. Surprisingly, over four hundred species of vascular plants are found on the island, among which there are also endemics.

Here tourists can see the largest bird colonies in the eastern Arctic. Relics of the Pleistocene predominate among plant forms. The landscape of the island is unusual, as is its water area. Many travelers dream of visiting here.

8. Ubsunur Basin

The area of this unique biosphere reserve is 0.8 million hectares. The object was included in the UNESCO list in 2003. A salt lake with a large area is located on the border of Mongolia and the Russian Republic of Tyva. By the way, on the territory of Russia there are only seven sections of the intermountain basin with a shallow lake (up to 15 meters), the remaining five parts of the Transboundary Site are located in Mongolia. Each of the seven sections of the basin on our territory is individual in appearance and the plants that grow there depending on the landscape.

Inhabitant of the Ubsunur Basin

ZHere you can see foothills with eternal areas of snow-capped peaks, there are also areas of mountain taiga, alpine meadows, wetlands, mountain tundra and even sandy deserts. The remnant mountains with bright vegetation and contrasting landscapes make the Ubsunur basin especially picturesque. Endangered species of animals are found here - mountain sheep - argali, snow leopard, as well as many rare species of birds - geese, herons, terns, gulls, waders, etc. During excavations of ancient mounds on the territory of the basin, unique rock paintings, burials and stone sculptures were discovered .

9. Putorana Plateau

Included in the World Heritage List in 2010, this natural site of the Russian Federation has a total area of more than 1.8 million hectares. This virgin basalt plateau in the north of Eastern Siberia, almost at the Arctic Circle, is invaluable for study by geologists and geomorphologists. The mountainous terrain has a stepped landscape, with flat-topped massifs intersected by deep canyons. The plateau was formed at the boundary of the Mesozoic and Paleozoic as a result of volcanic activity. Forty-layer deposits make it possible to study the structure of the planet.

Deep cracks in the plateau were formed by glaciers, which were subsequently filled with water, forming lakes with a unique appearance and a depth of up to 400 meters. There are many beautiful waterfalls on the plateau, one of which (in the valley of the Kanda River) has a height of 108 meters. In total, on the territory of the Putorana Plateau there are 25 thousand small and large lakes with a huge supply of fresh water. There are more than 30 species of mammals in this northern reserve and all of them are rare or relict.

The vegetation is represented by 400 species - mainly open forest, mountain tundra and larch taiga. The plateau serves as a resting place for thousands of species of migratory birds.

The picturesque landscapes of the beautiful plateau coincide with the boundaries of the reserve of the same name located beyond the Arctic Circle, which adorns the territory of Central Siberia. The changing zones give a special charm to the area: virgin taiga, rich forest-tundra, colorful landscapes of the tundra and the fabulous beauty of the icy arctic deserts. A real decoration of the plateau: curly ribbons of rivers and a crystal lake saucer filled with clean cold water. A road along which deer migrate runs through the inhospitable lands of the plateau. This is an incredible spectacle, which can be observed less and less in nature.

10. Territories of the Western Caucasus

The natural reserve with an area of 0.3 million hectares has been included in the UNESCO list since 1999. These territories are almost untouched by human civilization. Today they are protected not only by UNESCO, but also by other all-Russian and international organizations - Greenpeace, the Institute of Geography of the Russian Academy of Sciences, NABU, Dresden Technical University, the North Caucasus working group, etc. The territory of the reserve covers areas that stretch from the headwaters of the river Kuban to the Belaya and Malaya Laba rivers..

Caucasus. Blooming rhododendron in the Upper Mzymta valley

The vegetation in this protected region is represented by coniferous and broad-leaved forests, crooked forests, mountain meadows, and the nival belt. Every third plant here is considered relict. Rare species of birds of prey nest here - ospreys, bearded vultures, golden eagles, griffon vultures, etc. Among the large animals in the reserve you can see Western Caucasian tigers, brown bears, wolves, Caucasian red deer, bison, etc. Tourists will be interested to see the beautiful karst formations in this natural area with deep gorges, waterfalls, underground rivers, tarn lakes, moraines, cirques and valleys formed by mountain glaciers.

11. Curonian Spit

The Curonian Spit is a sand spit located on the coast of the Baltic Sea and the Curonian Lagoon. The Curonian Spit is a narrow and long saber-shaped strip of land separating the Curonian Lagoon from the Baltic Sea and stretching from the city of Zelenogradsk in the Kaliningrad region to the city of Klaipeda (Smiltyne) (Lithuania).

The length is 98 kilometers, the width ranges from 400 meters (in the area of the village of Lesnoy) to 3.8 kilometers (in the area of \u200b\u200bCape Bulviko, just north of Nida).

The Curonian Spit is a unique natural-anthropogenic landscape and a territory of exceptional aesthetic value: the Curonian Spit is the largest sand body included in the Baltic complex of sand spits, which has no analogues in the world. High level biological diversity caused by a combination of different landscapes - from desert (dunes) to tundra (raised bog) - provides insight into important and long-term ecological and biological processes in the evolution and development of terrestrial, river, coastal and marine ecosystems and communities of plants and animals. The location of the spit and its relief are unique.

The most significant element of the spit's relief is a continuous strip of white sand dunes 0.3-1.0 km wide, some of them approaching the highest in the world (up to 68 m).

The Curonian Spit contains natural habitats that are the most representative and important for the conservation of biological diversity, including those where endangered species are preserved that are of outstanding global importance from the point of view of science and nature conservation: due to their geographical location and oriented from northeast to southwest, it serves as a corridor for migratory birds of many species flying from the northwestern regions of Russia, Finland and the Baltic countries to the countries of Central and Southern Europe. Every year in spring and autumn, from 10 to 20 million birds fly over the spit, a significant part of which stop here to rest and feed.

In the last post I did not include all the architectural objects of Russia, noted by UNESCO for their uniqueness and historical value. Today I will add to this list...

12. Citadel, old town and fortifications of Derbent .

The citadel, old town and fortifications of Derbent is the collective name under which UNESCO in 2003 included the medieval architectural heritage of the city of Derbent on the list of World Heritage Sites.

The history of ancient Derbent, located off the coast of the Caspian Sea, on the territory of modern Dagestan, dates back, according to archaeologists, five thousand years. This one of the oldest cities in Russia was initially a small settlement founded at the foot of the spurs of the Caucasus Mountains, which later acquired city fortifications of impressive size.

However, the first documentary evidence of this place as a large city dates back to the 5th century. At this time there were rules Persian king Yazdegerd II, who appreciated its strategic location. This, by the way, is reflected in the name, because Derbent translated from Iranian means “mountain outpost” or “mountain pass”. About 100 years later, another king, on the remains of previous defensive structures, erected a fortified city, which is called Old, with an impregnable fortress and powerful fortifications. Between these fortifications, stretching more than 40 kilometers deep into the Caucasus Mountains, a city emerged that still retains its medieval character.

Citadel of Nara-kala

It continued to be a strategically important place until the 19th century. Derbent has experienced many dramatic events throughout the history of its existence: wars, assaults, periods of decline and prosperity, times of independence and subjugation to other nations. But still, this place has preserved many monuments from all these turbulent periods.

This: the Naryn-Kala citadel, with thick and high walls, the ruins of the palace of the Derbent Khan, baths and a guardhouse;

13. Struve geodetic arc

The Struve Arc is a network of 265 triangulation points, which were stone cubes embedded in the ground with an edge length of 2 meters, with a length of more than 2820 kilometers. It was created to determine the parameters of the Earth, its shape and size. Named after its creator, the Russian astronomer Friedrich Georg Wilhelm Struve (Vasily Yakovlevich Struve).

The Struve geodetic arc was measured by Struve and the staff of the Dorpat (Tartu) and Pulkovo observatories (of which Struve was the director) over 40 years, from 1816 to 1855, over a distance of 2820 km from Fuglenes near the North Cape in Norway (latitude 70° 40′11″N latitude) to the village of Staraya Nekrasovka, Odessa region, near the Danube (latitude 45° 20′03″N latitude), which formed a meridian arc with an amplitude of 25° 20′08″.

Geodetic arc Struve, “Point Z”, o. Gogland, Leningrad region

Currently, arc points can be found in Norway, Sweden, Finland, Russia (on the island of Gogland), Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Belarus, Moldova (the village of Rud) and Ukraine. On January 28, 2004, these countries approached the UNESCO World Heritage Committee with a proposal to approve the surviving 34 points of the Struve Arc as a World Heritage Monument. In 2005, this proposal was accepted.

A story about other architectural monuments of Russia included in the UNESCO World Heritage List, Around the world

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About UNESCO World Heritage

The Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage was adopted at the XVII session of the General Conference of UNESCO on November 16, 1972 and entered into force on December 17, 1975. Its main goal is to attract the forces of the world community to preserve unique cultural and natural objects. In 1975, the Convention was ratified by 21 states, over the 42 years of its existence, another 172 states joined them, and by mid-2017 total number The number of states parties to the Convention has reached 193. In terms of the number of state parties, the World Heritage Convention is the most representative among other international UNESCO programs. To improve the effectiveness of the Convention, the World Heritage Committee and the World Heritage Fund were established in 1976.

The first cultural and natural sites were included in the UNESCO World Heritage List two years after the formation of the program. Of the natural areas, the Galapagos Islands (Ecuador) received heritage status, National parks"Yellowstone" (USA), "Nahanni" (Canada) and "Siman" (Ethiopia). Over the past years, the List has become very representative both in terms of the represented regions of the planet and in the number of objects: by mid-2017, it included 206 natural, 832 cultural and 35 mixed natural-cultural sites in 167 countries. Italy, Spain, Germany and France and China have the largest number of cultural sites on the List (more than 30 each), while the USA, Australia, China, Russia and Canada have the most a large number of natural World Heritage areas (more than 10 sites each). Under the protection of the Convention are such world-famous natural monuments as the Great Barrier Reef, the Hawaiian and Galapagos Islands, the Grand Canyon, Mount Kilimanjaro, and Lake Baikal.

Of course, being on a par with the generally recognized world pearls of nature and culture is honorable and prestigious for any object, but at the same time, it is also a great responsibility. To achieve World Heritage status, a property must be of Outstanding Human Value, undergo rigorous peer review and meet at least one of 10 selection criteria. In this case, the nominated natural object must comply at least one of the following four criteria:

VII) include unique natural phenomena or an area of exceptional natural beauty and aesthetic value;

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

ix) present outstanding examples of important ongoing ecological and biological processes in the evolution and development of terrestrial, freshwater, coastal and marine ecosystems and plant and animal communities;

X) include natural habitats of great importance for the conservation of biological diversity, including habitats of endangered species that represent an outstanding global asset from a scientific or conservation perspective.

The security, management, authenticity and integrity of a property are also important factors that are taken into account when assessing it before inclusion on the List.

The status of a World Natural Heritage site provides additional guarantees of the safety and integrity of unique natural complexes, increases the prestige of the territories, promotes the popularization of objects and the development of alternative types of environmental management, and ensures priority in attracting financial resources.

World Heritage Project

In 1994, Greenpeace Russia began work on the World Heritage project, aimed at identifying and protecting unique natural complexes that are seriously threatened Negative influence human activity. Giving natural areas the highest international conservation status to further ensure their safety is the main purpose 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 was held “ Contemporary issues creating a system of world and Russian natural heritage sites,” at which a list of promising territories was presented. At the same time, in 1994, Greenpeace Russia experts prepared Required documents for inclusion in the UNESCO List of a natural complex called “Virgin Komi Forests”. 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 “Volcanoes of Kamchatka” were included in the List. In 1998, another Russian natural complex, the “Golden Mountains of Altai,” was included in the List; in 1999, a decision was made to include a 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 “cultural landscape” criterion. Later, the UNESCO List included “Central Sikhote-Alin” (2001), “Ubsunur Basin” (2003, together with Mongolia), “Natural complex of the Wrangel Island reserve” (2004), “Putorana Plateau” (2010) , “Natural Park “Lena Pillars” (2012) and “Landscapes of Dauria” (2017, jointly with Mongolia).

Nominations for consideration by the World Heritage Committee must first be included in the national Preliminary list. Currently, it contains such natural complexes as the “Commander Islands”, “Magadan Reserve”, “Krasnoyarsk Pillars”, “Big Vasyugan Swamp”, “Ilmen Mountains”, “Bashkir Ural”, “Protected Kenozerie”, “Oglakhty Ridge” " and "Bikin River Valley". Work is underway to expand the territory of the Golden Mountains of Altai object (by including the adjacent territories of China, Mongolia and Kazakhstan). Negotiations are underway with Finland and Norway about the joint nomination “Green Belt of Fennoscandia”.

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

Russian cultural sites included in the UNESCO World Heritage List include such recognized historical and architectural monuments as the historical center of St. Petersburg, the Kremlin and Red Square, Kizhi Pogost, Solovetsky, Ferapontov and Novodevichy monasteries, Trinity Lavra of St. Sergius, Church of the Ascension in Kolomenskoye , monuments of Veliky Novgorod, Vladimir, Suzdal, Yaroslavl, Kazan, Derbent, Bolgar and Sviyazhsk, Struve geodetic arc (together with Norway, Sweden, Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Belarus, Ukraine and Moldova).

Currently, the human environment is changing rapidly and at an increasing speed. The task of humanity is to maintain nature on the globe in the state 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 that are of particular value from a scientific point of 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 irreparable loss not only for the country in which they are located, but also for all of humanity 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

Wildlife sanctuaries are created to preserve or restore some or all of nature's components and to maintain the overall ecological balance. Some types of economic activity are limited in these territories.

Gladyshevsky reserve, Leningrad region

Natural monuments are small areas that include naturally valuable objects: caves, rocks, waterfalls, groves of rare tree species, river valleys, lakes, etc.

Natural monument “Yastrebinoye Lake”, Leningrad region

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

Veppsky Forest Nature Park, Leningrad Region

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

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

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

The UNESCO Convention for the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage came into force in 1975. Its main goal is to attract the forces of the world community to preserve unique cultural and natural objects. By mid-2012, the total number of countries participating in the Convention had already reached 189. Among UNESCO's international programs, this program is the most representative. To improve the effectiveness of the Convention, the World Heritage Committee and the World Heritage Fund were established in 1976.

The World Natural Heritage consists of mountains, volcanoes, lakes, rivers, islands, forests, caves, reefs, national parks, nature reserves, and wildlife sanctuaries.

Of course, being on a par with the generally recognized world pearls of nature and culture is honorable and prestigious, but at the same time, it is also a great responsibility. To receive World Heritage status, a property must be of Outstanding Human Value and undergo a thorough peer review. 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;

Present outstanding examples of the major stages of Earth's history, including traces of ancient life, significant geological processes that continue to occur in the development of the forms of the earth's surface, significant geomorphological or physiographic features of the relief;

Present outstanding examples of important ongoing ecological and biological processes in the evolution and development of terrestrial, freshwater, coastal and marine ecosystems and plant and animal communities;

Include natural habitats of great importance for the conservation of biological diversity, including habitats of endangered species that represent an outstanding global asset from a scientific or conservation perspective.

The first cultural and natural sites were included in the UNESCO World Heritage List two years after the creation of the program. Among natural areas, the Galapagos Islands (Ecuador), Yellowstone (USA), Nahanni (Canada) and Simen (Ethiopia) national parks received heritage status. Over the past years, the List has become very representative both in terms of the regions of the planet represented and in 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). Under the protection of the Convention are such world-famous natural monuments as the Great Barrier Reef, the Hawaiian Islands, the Grand Canyon, and Mount Kilimanjaro. Video 62.

In Russia, the initiator of adding natural sites to the World Heritage List is primarily Greenpeace. By joining this UNESCO program, a new page was opened in the matter of nature conservation in Russia.

World Natural Heritage Sites of Russia

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

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

The virgin forests of Komi are a real taiga treasury. There are more than 40 species of mammals here (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 considered glacial relics - palia char and Siberian grayling.

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 influence on the climate. Natural complexes in some places 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 taking place here (1).Greenpeace Russia and other non-governmental organizations will fight to stop any environmental destruction activities 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 supply of fresh water in terms of volume and quality - 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 unique and very fragile natural ecosystem, which ensures the natural process of formation purest waters. For Siberia, the climate of the Baikal coasts is relatively mild. For example, quantity sunny days per year here is higher than in many Black Sea resorts.In the anciently isolated Baikal depression, one of the richest and most unusual freshwater fauna in the world was formed, which is of exceptional value for the study of evolutionary processes.

Of the more than 2,630 species and subspecies of animals and plants found in the lake to date, more than 80% are found nowhere else in the world. Who hasn't heard of the famous Baikal omul or Baikal sturgeon? Two unique species of viviparous fish, representatives of a family endemic (2) to Lake Baikal - large and small golomyanka - are known to ichthyologists all over the world. The pyramid of the lake ecosystem is crowned by a typically marine mammal of origin - the seal, or 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 to protect Baikal from pollution from the 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 a zone of active volcanism, where modern natural processes and the history of our planet are inseparable. Video 65.

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

The richest life is represented in the seas washing the coast of Kamchatka. Here are the growth zones for the larvae of the Kamchatka crab, the places where salmon fish come to spawn and where their juveniles roll into the sea. From summer to early winter, an amazing natural phenomenon can be observed on the rivers of the peninsula: millions of salmon in a continuous mass move along the rivers against the current 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 and in many ways unique. Here are the most significant subalpine and alpine meadows in the Siberian mountains. The color of the vegetation of the Southern Altai, where semi-deserts, steppes and tundra coexist, is also unique. The diversity of landscapes contributed to the emergence and preservation of endemic species in Altai, often occupying very small areas. Among the rare species of mammals, we should highlight snow leopard, this is one of the most beautiful cats of the world fauna. Very few of these animals have survived in Altai.

The geological history of the region is unique, “recorded” in the rocks of different ages composing it and imprinted in unusual relief forms. Such, for example, are the high terraces of the Katun River, striking in their grandeur. The grandiose Mount Belukha is the highest peak in Siberia (4506 meters). Altai river valleys are narrow, deep canyons.

The diversity of nature left its mark on the culture and religion of the indigenous population of this territory - the Altai. The achievements of the Altai traditional medicine. As the outstanding philosopher, writer, traveler H.K. wrote. 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 and their preservation has no equal not only in the Caucasus region, but also among other mountainous regions of Europe and Western Asia. Video 67.

This is an area where a large number of endangered rare, endemic and relict species of plants and animals are concentrated. It is especially important that the little-changed habitat of the most vulnerable large mammals has been preserved here: bison, Caucasian red deer, Western Caucasian aurochs, chamois, Caucasian subspecies of brown bear, wolf and others.

The Caucasus Nature Reserve is practically the only habitat in the world for the mountain bison; outside this territory it is almost completely exterminated by poachers.

The territory is rich in picturesque objects: powerful waterfalls, pointed mountain peaks (up to 3360 meters), stormy 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 much more. 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. A continuous strip of 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.

Due to its geographical location and orientation from northeast to southwest, the spit serves as a “guide 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. Every year in spring and autumn, 10 - 20 million birds fly over the spit, a significant part of which stop here to rest and feed. Among the birds flying here there are many rare and endangered species listed in the Red Books of Russia, Europe and the world.

It is especially interesting that the spit is rich in cultural heritage sites. These are unique in their 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. The multifaceted dune relief of the Curonian Spit, combined with the greenery of the forests, the whiteness of the sandy beaches and the vast 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 modified by humans centers of conservation of communities of ancient coniferous-deciduous and broad-leaved forests. Video 69.

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

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

Ubsunur basin

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 zone and subalpine meadows transform into a vast mountain-taiga belt, which gives way to forest-steppe, steppe, semi-desert and even loose sand ridges, creating a natural phenomenon of exceptional beauty and diversity. 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 relative sparse population of the territory and the absence of industrial facilities make it possible to preserve the basin as a natural laboratory for the study of biosphere processes

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

Natural system of the Wrangel Island reserve»

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. There are 1,400 rivers and streams on the island, about 900 small lakes. The unique combination of natural-historical and landscape-climatic conditions, as well as inaccessibility, have led to a large number of endemic, rare and relict plant species on the islands. On the islands, as part of the ancient landmass that once united the Eurasian and North American continents, both Euro-Asian and American species of flora and fauna are widely represented.

Putorana Plateau

The plateau is located in the Krasnoyarsk Territory. It is a large basalt plateau located at the northern limit of the taiga and almost completely untouched by human economic activity. Video 72. Trap landforms (5) intersected by huge canyons are unusual and extremely interesting. The scale and number of waterfalls are impressive (the largest concentration is in Russia). There is a 108 m high waterfall here - one of the highest in our country. There are many lakes on the plateau, with depths of up to 400 m; the lake fjords are very picturesque.More than 1,300 plant species have been recorded on the Putorana Plateau. Here is the northern limit of distribution of the flying squirrel, lynx, sable, and capercaillie. 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 native form of bighorn sheep.

Lena Pillars

The Lena Pillars Natural Park 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 sculptures in the form of pillars and towers stretch along the banks of the Lena for tens of kilometers. The height of some reaches 100 meters. This natural monument is made of Cambrian limestone - a rock formed more than 500 million years ago.

In addition, in the park there are small areas of the desert landscape - unique permafrost ecosystems, as well as blowing sand-tuculans - isolated and independently developing sand ridges with slopes practically unfixed 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 plants listed in the Red Book. In the basin of the middle reaches of the Lena River, the fish fauna includes 31 species. Nesting sites for 101 species of birds have been established in the park. Animals common here are sable, brown bear, squirrel, elk, wapiti, chipmunk, musk deer, and the mountain-forest form of wild reindeer.

Work to continue to include new areas 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 effective protection of such territories is impossible without active involvement public organizations as possible more citizens of the country. Let us remember that we have individual and collective responsibility for the preservation of natural complexes.

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

What can we, the residents 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 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 understood and understood appearance.