The most beautiful national parks in the world. National parks and reserves of Russia

What is a reserve? Is it significantly different from a national park? In both cases, these are protected areas created with the aim of preserving natural sites in an unchanged form and preserving their flora, fauna, geological or other natural features, as well as the gene pool of animal and plant species. Such zones provide a unique opportunity for observation and scientific study of their natural environment and inhabitants. The main difference: in the reserves, the admission of unauthorized persons and any human activity, except for security and scientific activities, is prohibited, while tourism and limited economic activities are allowed in national parks.

Jurisdiction

Natural reserves (reserves) can be appointed and supervised by state and research institutions, charitable organizations, and in some cases by private landowners. Depending on the level of their protection, nature reserves fall into different categories of the IUCN, that is, the International Union for Conservation of Nature, represented by local legislation. In the case of a unique global significance, the object falls into the scope of UNESCO protection. AT Russian Federation 100 nature reserves and 50 national parks are under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Ecology.

History of modern reserves

The world's first modern reserve was established in 1821 by naturalist-explorer Charles Waterton around his family estate in West Yorkshire. He spent £9,000 (inconceivable money at the time) to build a 3-mile, 9-foot-tall wall to keep poachers out of his park. Then for the first time the concept was applied: what is a reserve. In this territory, Waterton created favorable conditions mainly for the life and reproduction of wild birds, for which he made scientific observations.

The first state reserve was Drachenfels, formed in Germany in 1836, when the Prussian government bought the site to protect it from mining.

Yellowstone in Wyoming, USA is the first largest national park, based on an area of ​​8991 sq. km in 1872. It was followed by: the Royal National Park near Sydney in Australia (1879) and the Barguzinsky Nature Reserve of Imperial Russia (1916), first created by the government entirely for the scientific study of nature.

biosphere reserve

A natural park or reserve can belong to one of three types: biospheric, botanical and mineralogical, or be complex.

669 biosphere reserves have been created on the planet, of which 564 reserves make up the World Network: a special international project developed and organized under the UNESCO program. Its main task is to preserve a sustainable ecosystem, plant and animal gene pool of various natural zones of the planet, as well as comprehensively study the natural environment and biological diversity of these and adjacent territories. Biosphere reserves are created on the basis of already existing natural national parks and reserves. 120 countries took part in the program. There are 37 such reserves in Russia.

What is a botanical reserve?

This is a territory where it is important to preserve the unique flora: endangered, relict and endemic species listed in the national or international Red Book. For this purpose, the natural landscape and natural conditions for the reproduction of these plants are preserved, for example, the Khomutovskaya steppe reserve, where 1028 hectares of the steppe zone are preserved in their original state.

Mineralogical reserves

These are reserves where the natural state of special natural standards is preserved: valuable from the point of view of science, geological and mineralogical formations. Such reserves are mainly created in places with karst caves, mineral springs, salt lakes, waterfalls, geyser and volcanic geolandscapes, caves, ore veins with a rich variety of minerals and other interesting geological objects and phenomena. The first specialized object of this kind in the world was Yellowstone, and in Russia - the Ilmensky Reserve (1920) in the Urals.

Complex reserves

The term "museum-reserve" appeared in Soviet Russia, since 1922 it was first applied to the "Pushkin corner". And since the 50s, the state form of appropriation of some historical and cultural complexes, with the territories adjacent to them, the status of museum-reserves was established, which determined their safety and funding.

Now in Russia there are about a hundred museum-reserves, which can be divided into several types, based on what objects are located on their sites. It can be a combination of objects and territories of historical, architectural, archaeological, artistic, military, and even scientific and technical orientation. But what are nature reserves complex? Each of these museums, in addition to the main profile, combines several purposes: art-historical, architectural-historical, historical-archaeological, military-historical and others. Therefore, all museum-reserves can be considered complex.

Natural national parks and reserves are also complex, when a landscape of interest to science with geological and mineralogical formations forms a special environment for unique flora and habitats of rare animal species. And this combination is not often found on the planet.

national park

NATIONAL PARK (natural national park) is a territory (water area) where landscapes and unique objects of nature are protected. It differs from the reserve in the admission of visitors for recreation. The world's first Yellowstone National Park was founded in 1872 in the USA. By 1982, more than 1200 national parks and other protected areas were created in the world, close to them in organization, an area of ​​​​more than 2.7 million km2, incl. Banff, Gauja, Kaziranga, Corbett, Lahemaa, Serengeti, Tsavo.

national park

a protected area of ​​the territory (water area) with an intact natural complex, often with unique objects (waterfalls, canyons, picturesque landscapes, etc.). In some cases, a N. p. is an analogue of a nature reserve, from which it fundamentally differs in the admission of visitors for recreation. Initially, natural settlements were created as plots protected by the state (nation) from private entrepreneurs who exploited natural resources predatorily. The first National Park—Yellowstone (USA)—was created in 1872. By 1973, there were more than 1,000 National Parks in 98 countries (see the map at the Zapovednik station). In many countries, N. p. are established by the highest legislative body of the state. In a number of countries (the United States, Japan, and others), excessive visitation to natural settlements poses a threat to unique objects of nature, so measures are being taken to appropriately organize the territory of the settlements and adjacent areas. In the USSR, the settlements of Lahemaa in Estonia (1969) and Gauja in Latvia (1973) were established by decrees of the Council of Ministers of the Estonian SSR and the Latvian SSR. Lit.: United Nations List of National Parks and equivalent reserves, 2 ed Brux., 197

V. L. Borisov.

Wikipedia

national park

national park- a territory where human activity is limited for the purpose of environmental protection.

Unlike nature reserves, where human activity is almost completely prohibited (hunting, tourism, etc. are prohibited), tourists are allowed into the territory of national parks, economic activities are allowed on a limited scale.

For example, the definition of the National Park of Moscow is given in the Law of the City of Moscow N 48 "On Specially Protected Natural Territories in Moscow" dated September 26, 2001: National Park is a specially protected natural area of ​​federal significance located on the territory of the city of Moscow and having a special environmental ecological, educational and recreational significance as a unique natural complex, exceeding 500 hectares in area, characterized by high natural diversity and the presence of rare or well-preserved typical natural communities, rare and vulnerable species of plants and animals. The use of the territory of the national park is allowed for environmental, educational, scientific purposes and for regulated recreation of the population in places specially designated for this purpose.

The first national park is considered Yellowstone, formed in 1872, although specially protected areas have been known since the Middle Ages. The largest is the North-East Greenland National Park, whose area is 972 thousand km², which exceeds the area of ​​163 countries of the world. This is approximately the fourth part of the European part of Russia. At the same time, the area of ​​the Hot Springs National Park in the USA is only 22 km².

The term "national park" appeared not so long ago. So today they call the territory in which the environment is protected, but at the same time human activity, although permitted, is limited.

Prerequisites for creation

In our country, the nationalization of parks is a relative innovation that was introduced quite recently. In the Soviet period, the system of nature protection and reserves was rather narrow, so there were practically no reserves in the western part of the country, and practically no one knew what a national park was. Today, natural parks are dominant, because here nature is not only protected, but also demonstrated to people around. Tourists can visit the national park and see everything clearly. This allows you to enjoy nature, communicate with wild animals, and also financially help save the environment. What is a national park and what is the history of its creation in Russia? These and other questions can be answered in this article.

One of such facilities, which was organized in the United States, became a kind of model for the nationalization of parks. Already the first visitors of this park, it became obvious that such a model is unique, and gives incredible pleasure to a person who contemplates the beauty of the surrounding nature. The idea to preserve nature in this way was made public in 1872, thus the decree on the nationalization of parks was signed.

National park and reserve. What's the Difference?

First of all, the main difference is the fact that almost the entire territory of the national park is open to the human eye. Naturally, the stay of visitors is regulated by rather strict rules. The main function of the national park is to provide all the conditions for familiarization of people and partial communication with wildlife. Here, for this purpose, special sidewalks are being built, campsites are being built, routes are being laid, and even recreation centers are being created. A good example of the creation of such areas for recreation are other national parks in the world. The strategy of their development gives a really noticeable economic effect and allows you to fully pay for the living of animals and provide them with everything they need, while preserving nature. An interesting fact is that such establishments are visited by a huge number of people, as well as tourists who specially come to see some certain types of animals.

The secret of success

What is a national park and why is it so attractive to visitors? It is quite simple to explain this, because it is here that you can observe amazing landscapes of nature. Usually national parks are built on areas with unusually beautiful nature. Such places can be majestic rocks, divinely beautiful waterfalls, picturesque lakes and forests, and thermal springs are no exception. Any tourist can come to the national park and be absolutely sure that they will see incredibly beautiful nature, get acquainted with animals and spend their time with great benefit.

Communication with animals

Another important criterion for visiting national parks is touching communication directly with wildlife, as well as with its prominent representatives. Naturally, hunting for smaller brothers is strictly prohibited in the national park, but there are also places where they allow hunting according to certain regulations (meaning photo hunting). In this case, given the fact of being on the territory of people, animals begin to get used to them and pay their attention to people. For example, a deer can calmly approach a person without being afraid of a photo shoot, and even eat something from their hands. Under these conditions, the administration necessarily warns people not to be too intrusive with animals, to be extremely careful, the animal still poses a potential danger. This rule primarily applies to large individuals (bears, wild boars), bison are no less dangerous. In every national park, you can see a huge number of animals that can amaze a person in just a few days. For this purpose, special routes have been created along which you can observe representatives of the fauna.

Poaching

Despite all of the above about national parks, there are also certain types of problems that need to be addressed. One of them is poaching, which has long been a serious threat to the conservation of wildlife. To combat this phenomenon, special staffs of guards are formed who monitor the territory of the entire reserve. If the shooting of animals has occurred, then certain sanctions are applied to a person, first of all, these are fines that must be paid without fail. Staying on the territory of the park with weapons is already a violation of the rules, and only for this the administration can be held accountable.

Land use issues

Incredibly often, national parks and reserves are faced with such a problem as a certain kind of land claims, for example, in 2009, one of the coastal national parks had to lose almost half of the territory, which significantly affected its further development.

Pernicious consciousness

Such establishments also face other problems. Usually they are based on the consciousness of the people themselves, which does not always accept the very idea that nature needs to be preserved and developed by ecological tourism. Some people have the barbaric notion that forests are meant for felling and harvesting timber, and that the animals that live there are created for shooting and cooking. Such thinking hinders the creation of new parks and the conservation of animal populations. One of the American legendary national parks was no exception, which over the years began to bring huge incomes, animals were preserved and bred, the park was opened in 1870. It is surprising that for the first years and even decades, poachers ruled here, annually killing tens of thousands of defenseless bison and deer. As a result of such barbarism, the government decided to protect the territory and the adoption of certain sanctions against poachers.

The state of national parks in Russia

If we talk about Russia in this situation, then we can draw a rather sad conclusion that now such a situation is at the level, most likely, of the 19th century. A huge number of mistakes are repeated, especially when it comes to poaching. Most local leaders cannot understand the purpose of developing such parks, as well as their economic benefits. As a result, certain rules are not observed, trees are cut down, and poachers constantly enter the territory. But initially the territory has a clear definition. A national park is a place where human activity is severely restricted. So, we can conclude that there are no fundamental differences between the national park and the reserve. What is a national park? This is the place that is available for vacationers, a person can communicate with nature, and also do something useful for her, even financially. Visiting the reserves is strictly limited to some specific excursion programs, so it is not always possible to fully enjoy the beauty.

The definition of a natural national park also carries with it the noble idea of ​​preserving the fragile surrounding nature. And it is they that enable a person to take part in this difficult process and feel important for nature, to preserve its small particle.

As you can guess from the title, national park Snowdonia is located in the Snowdon Mountains. From a height of 3560 feet, there is a scenic view of the park. Lakes and rivers are set against a backdrop of trees and rocks, making the park an ideal place to relax and take photos. Within the borders of Snowdonia Park, visitors can also admire ancient castles. History is a realm of legend and lore, which makes the park an even more fascinating place to visit. Sleep music is easy and relaxing to listen to

Grand Canyon, USA

For hundreds of years, the Colorado River has carved this amazingly complex Grand Canyon. Every year tourists flock to this place to admire its beauty, take a trip to the bottom of the canyon and set up camp. The Grand Canyon is one of the natural wonders of the world and has also been included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. The territory of the Grand Canyon extends over more than 1,200,000 acres.

Kruger National Park, South Africa

One of the largest national parks in the world, Kruger Park covers millions of acres of land. It is home to a huge number of African animal species, including elephants, giraffes and many more. You can watch these animals from observation towers scattered throughout the park. The Kruger National Park also offers 9 different routes, including at night.

Deosai, Pakistan

Every spring, thousands of flowers and butterflies begin to bloom in Deosai National Park, forming a living carpet, and this riot of colors makes this place fabulously beautiful. Of course, it is advisable to visit the park in the spring, although it is beautiful all year round.

Kakadu National Park, Australia

The Australian Government and Indigenous People are working together to take care of this beautiful national park Cockatoo. The park is a World Heritage Site and its breathtaking views attract tourists all year round. One of the park's most interesting attractions is the Aboriginal rock art that can be found in the area. It is also home to a range of animals, including the saltwater crocodile.

Hortobagy, Hungary

Hortobagy became the first national park in Hungary. It was declared as a national park in 1973. In 1999, the park was included in the list of World Heritage Sites. Home to wild horses and a range of endangered birds, Hortobagy Park is home to over 342 bird species and is a true birdwatcher's paradise.

Plitvice Lakes, Croatia

This region of Croatia is ideal for recreation and hiking amazing mountainous terrain with lakes and streams. The uniqueness of the reservoirs of this park is that the water contains travertine. This gives the water perfect transparency as well as a very bright blue-green hue.

Madain Saley National Historical Park, Saudi Arabia

While many parks are densely vegetated, Madain Salei is almost entirely desert and rocky. The amazing oases and attractions of the park will blow your mind. The ancient burial ground in the park is also beautiful. Over 125 graves and facades were carved into the rock sometime between 500 BC. and 100 AD. They are still in excellent condition and are certainly worth a visit if you visit the area.

Sagarmatha National Park, Nepal

Here you can admire Everest, as well as the mountains adjacent to it, monasteries and villages. national park serves as a home for mountain goats, which are perfectly balanced, climbing dangerous sheer cliffs.

Iguazu National Park, Argentina and Brazil

national park Iguazu is located in Argentina and Brazil. Iguazu Falls is actually made up of hundreds of waterfalls in a circle of curved rock. The park is home to a wide range of wildlife, including howler monkeys, jaguars, tapirs, and caimans.

National parks are nature protection, environmental education and research institutions, the territories (water areas) of which include natural complexes and objects of special ecological, historical and aesthetic value, and which are intended for use in environmental, educational, scientific and cultural purposes. and for regulated tourism.

National parks are legal entities that do not have profit making as the goal of their activities, that is, non-profit organizations and are created in the form of a nature protection institution financed from the federal budget.

Federal Law No. 33-FZ of March 14, 1995, art. 12, 16

Great Definition

Incomplete definition ↓

NATIONAL PARKS

specially protected natural territories, including natural complexes and objects of special ecological, historical and aesthetic value and intended for use in environmental, educational, scientific and cultural purposes and for regulated tourism. Like nature reserves, N.p. refer exclusively to objects of federal property, have the status of a legal entity, are non-profit organizations and are financed from the federal budget. N.p. are established by a decree of the Government of the Russian Federation with the consent of the constituent entities of the Russian Federation to classify the relevant territories as objects of federal property on the basis of a proposal from the state authorities of the constituent entities of the Russian Federation and a specially authorized state body of the Russian Federation in the field of environmental protection. Relations in the field of organization, protection and use N.p. are regulated by the Federal Law "On Specially Protected Natural Territories" of March 14, 1995 and the Law of the RSFSR "On Environmental Protection" of December 19, 1991. In the territories of N. p. a differentiated regime of special protection is established, taking into account their natural, historical, cultural and other features. For these purposes, on ter r and to r and N. p. functional zones are allocated (for example, reserved, specially protected, cognitive tourism zone, recreational). The mode set for each of the zones is determined based on the category of the zone. A feature of the legal regime of N.p. is the existence of a list of prohibited activities, in particular, exploration and development of minerals; activities entailing violation of the soil cover, geological outcrops, hydrological regime; construction of main roads, pipelines and other communications; fellings for main use, passing fellings, harvesting of resin, commercial hunting and fishing; collection of biological collections, industrial harvesting of wild plants; the movement and parking of mechanized vehicles not related to the functioning of the settlement, the passage of domestic animals, the rafting of timber along watercourses and reservoirs; organization of mass sports and entertainment events, tourist camps and making fires outside specially designated areas. Another feature of the legal regime of N.p. is the allocation of zones of traditional extensive nature management in areas inhabited by the indigenous population, where traditional economic activities are allowed, as well as related types of use of natural resources in agreement with the directorates of parks. Most N.p. is under the jurisdiction of the Federal Forestry Service, forestry authorities of the relevant subjects of the Russian Federation, N. p. Losiny Ostrov and Pereslavsky are subordinate to the executive authorities of Moscow and the Yaroslavl Region, respectively. N.p. - one of the most common categories of specially protected natural areas in many countries of the world. International model N.p. developed by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN). However, in practice, two directions in the development of N.p. - environmental and recreational, which also determines various national approaches to their organization. If in the USA, for example, the land N.p. belong to the state, then in European countries many parks are organized on private lands (Great Britain, France, Spain). There are some differences in the legal regime for the protection and use of N.p. According to the modern modification of the N.p. concept proclaimed by the IUCN, the territory within the boundaries of the N.p. must remain undisturbed and closed to commercial use, forest and mineral exploitation, hydraulic engineering, grazing and hunting. Development of tourism in N. p. should also be reasonably limited in order to preserve the quality of natural ecosystems. Lit.: Granin A.A. National parks in the USSR: problems and prospects. M., 1991. A.A. Granin