Russky Sever National Park
Russky Sever National Park | |
---|---|
Location | Russia |
Nearest city | Kirillov |
Coordinates | 59°57′23″N 38°34′03″E / 59.95639°N 38.56750°E |
Area | 1,664 square kilometres (642 sq mi)[1] |
Established | 1992 |
Governing body | Forestry Office of Vologda Oblast[2] |
Russky Sever National Park (Russian: Национальный парк «Русский Север», romanized: Russian North National Park) is a national park in the north of Russia, located in Kirillovsky District of Vologda Oblast. It was established on March 20, 1992. The park protects natural and cultural landscapes around Kirillo-Belozersky Monastery and Ferapontov Monastery, places of great historical significance.
History
In the 13th century, the area was part of the
In 1980s, the concept of national parks, which did not previously exist in Soviet Union, was developed, and Vologda Oblast was asked to create one national park. Whereas the initial choice was to create the park in Vytegorsky District in the northwest of the oblast, to protect its karst landscapes, the area was finally decided to be too remote for mass tourism, and the location of the park was moved to Kirillovsky District. The project of the park was developed in 1989-1990, and the national park was established in 1992.[3]
Location and geography
The national park is located in the southern part of Kirillovsky District, about 100 kilometres (62 mi) northeast of Vologda, east of Lake Beloye and northwest of Lake Kubenskoye. Only 45.6% of the area of the park actually belong to the park. Any activity related to production is prohibited in this part of the park. The rest of the park has not been alienated and is in use, mostly as agricultural lands. In particular, the town of Kirillov is located within the park. The national park also includes Kirillo-Belozyorsky, Ferapontov, and Goritsky Monasteries, as well as stretches of the Northern Dvina Canal and the Volga–Baltic Waterway.
Woods occupy 69.8% of the park area, swamps additionally occupy 7.1%.[2] Most of the area is essentially hilly landscapes of glacial origin. Several hills, such as Maura Hill, Sandyreva Hill, and Tsypina Hill, are protected as natural monuments. There are two more protected natural monuments. Sokolsky Bor is an area covered by pinewood forest and located on the bank of the Sheksna Reservoir. Shalgo-Bodunovsky Les is a forested area with limited access which protects the remains of spruce and pine pristine forest which is almost extinct in Vologda Oblast.[4]
Tourism
The town of Kirillov with the Kirillo-Belozersky Monastery, as well as the Ferapontov and the Goritsky Monasteries are acclaimed tourist attractions located within the limits of the park. The Ferapontov Monastery has been recognized in 2000 as a World Heritage site. All these attractions are accessible by roads. In particular, the paved roads between Vologda and Kirillov, and between Vologda and Vytegra cross the area of the park.
References
- ^ Национальный парк "Русский Север" (in Russian). Национальный парк "Русский Север". Retrieved 8 November 2011.
- ^ a b Общие сведения (in Russian). Особо охраняемые природные территории России. Retrieved 8 November 2011.
- ^ История создания (in Russian). Национальный парк "Русский Север". Retrieved 8 November 2011.
- ^ Памятники природы (in Russian). Национальный парк "Русский Север". Retrieved 8 November 2011.
External links
- Национальный парк Русский Север (in Russian). Национальный парк Русский Север. Retrieved 13 November 2011.
- Национальный парк "Русский Север" (in Russian). Национальный парк "Русский Север". Retrieved 8 November 2011.