In the middle of the 20th century (1948), a decision was made to transform a large nature reserve located in the Moscow region into five independent enterprises. In difficult times for the reserve business (1951) in the Moscow region, 4 reserves were abolished. Since that time, the Prioksko-Terrasny Nature Reserve has been the only one in the Moscow region.

It is included in the network of major biosphere reserves of UNESCO. In February 1979, he received the appropriate certificate.

From the history of the complex

Prioksko-Terrasny biosphere reserve began its activity in June 1945, first as part of the reserve complex.

After receiving the biospheric status, its tasks expanded significantly, therefore, in 1984, a background monitoring station was created here, the main task of which was meteorological observations and the identification of pollutants and harmful substances that could enter the territory.

In the early 1970s, the Prioksko-Terrasny Biosphere Reserve began to conduct environmental monitoring at a higher, ecosystem level.

Tasks

Many of our readers know how similar organizations in different parts of our country. If you are interested in what the Prioksko-Terrasny Reserve is famous for, then first, let's find out what tasks were set for this organization.

First of all, this is the preservation of a unique natural complex characteristic of this territory.

Stationary study of the ecosystems of this reserve and adjacent territories. Restoration and conservation of natural fauna and flora.

Study, breeding and resettlement in the places of the former habitat of the European bison.

As you can see, even on the basis of the tasks set, certain conclusions can be drawn about what the Prioksko-Terrasny Reserve is famous for.

During its long history, it has carried out the task of restoring rare and preserving species typical of this region. The result of this complex and multifaceted work was a significant enrichment of the fauna of the Moscow region.

The native species of these places - the beaver - was almost completely exterminated in the center by the beginning of the 20th century. In 1948, 4 individuals of beavers were brought to the protected area from the reserve of the city of Voronezh. Seven years later (1955), 2 more pairs of Belarusian origin replenished the population.

In 1962, these animals began to be resettled. Already in 1973, a South Moscow population appeared, numbering 110 beavers in 30 settlements. In October 2003, outside the reserve, in the Serpukhov district, there were already 68 settlements of these animals numbering 329 individuals.

Climatic conditions

The Prioksko-Terrasny Biosphere Reserve, a photo of which you can see in this article, has a temperate continental climate. In this region, winters are moderately frosty, and summers are warm. On average, the annual air temperature does not rise above -3.9 °C. The hottest month is July (+17.7°C), the coldest month is January (10.5°C). Temperature maximum - +38 °C, minimum - -43 °C. No more than 500 mm of precipitation falls per year. The thickness of the snow cover, which appears at the end of November and disappears in April, is 55 cm.

Relief

Terraced plain, gently sloping from north to south. The relief of the terraces is flattened. A characteristic element of this relief of the central and northern parts of the reserve are karst funnels, which occur in places where carboniferous limestones lie close.

The relief of the southern terraces is characterized by hills and sandy banks, which rise 10-15 meters above the lower, neighboring areas.

Hydrology

The territory of the reserve is not distinguished by a large number of reservoirs. Several small rivers flow here, there are low-water lakes and a few swamps. Most major rivers- Ponikovka and Todenka, which originates outside the reserve, its length is about 9 km, width is about 4 m.

Of the lakes, the largest are Sirnovskoye and Protovskoye. In the summer heat, the lakes almost dry up completely. Bogs occupy an insignificant part of the territory (no more than 1%).

Animals of the Prioksko-Terrasny Reserve

Native species - roe deer, which was completely exterminated in the region by late XIX century. To restore it, 2 pairs of these animals were brought to the Prioksko-Terrasny Reserve in 1948. They were released in 1950. By the beginning of 1957, the number of these animals in the reserve reached a record figure - 63. From that moment, roe deer began to be settled on the territory of the Chekhov and Serpukhov regions.

In 1967, the restored roe deer population near Moscow numbered 157 individuals. In February 2008, the livestock already numbered 170 individuals. This species has been quite successfully reintroduced and returned to the hunting fauna.

Moose

Answering the question: "What is the Prioksko-Terrasny Reserve famous for?", we can safely say: "The increase in the population of elks." Before this species was very rare in these places. After the war, there was a rapid increase in numbers. Its peak was in the middle of 1961 - 1300 animals in the Serpukhov region, including 300 inhabited the Prioksko-Terrasny Reserve.

Due to the high population density of animals, problems have arisen with the state of the forest, as well as the state of moose in the southern suburbs. A mass death and the appearance of epizootics began. After a detailed study of the situation, the zoologist of the reserve L.V. Zablotskaya insisted on regulating the number of moose by shooting. In the winter of 1961, 101 animals were shot in the reserve and 128 in the Serpukhov region. As a result, the population remained at the acceptable level for several years.

The most common of the predatory inhabitants of the reserve is the fox. In addition, 11 various kinds predatory mammals, 7 of which live permanently on this earth.

Bats ( the bats) are represented by 11 species. Among them are Natterer's night bats, ear bats, water, pond, red, small and others.

The population of the white hare is quite numerous, the brown hare can be found less often. After a long absence, the beaver was returned, and he settled with pleasure on the reserved rivers.

bison

Among the mammals inhabiting the Prioksko-Terrasny Nature Reserve, bison, or rather, one of their species - Bison bonasus L. - is listed in the International Red Book, as well as in the Red Book of the Russian Federation.

In 1948, M. A. Zablotsky created a bison nursery. His goal is to breed bison to restore a rare species. The nursery was given the following tasks:

• raising young animals and releasing them into the wild in the places of the former habitat of the species, transferring strong and healthy individuals to other zoos and nurseries;
• expansion and preservation of the bison gene pool.
• scientific research on ecology, biology, ethology of bison;
• improvement and development of new methods of keeping and breeding bison in captivity, as well as in natural conditions.

The nursery is spread over an area of ​​200 hectares. For bison, the conditions are as close to natural as possible. The area of ​​the nursery is divided into equal paddocks. They are surrounded by a wire mesh and connected by long corridors.

Each such corral contains a family of bison. It consists of a male, 5 (rarely 4) females and young animals up to 10 months old. Then the bison are separated from their mothers and create a "youth" herd.

At the end of 2009, 328 excellent purebred bison were grown in the nursery and sent to different regions of Russia, Belarus, Ukraine and other countries.

The nursery conducts serious research on the biology and ethology of the bison. In addition, the Central Bison Nursery trains and trains highly qualified specialists, who then successfully work in other centers.

For comparative studies, the nursery contains a group of American bison.

Flora

If you have not yet understood what the Prioksko-Terrasny Reserve is famous for, the photos posted in special publications will help you to consider the luxurious nature of these places. There are more than 950 different plant species in the reserve.

Of the trees, pine, oak, linden, aspen, spruce, and birch are especially common. Such mixed forests occupy about 93% of the entire territory of the reserve.

In more ancient, steppe forests, dyeing gorse, gray-haired speedwell, broom, sedge, etc. grow.

Lime-pine-oak forests have an admixture of maple, as well as an undergrowth of spindle tree, hazel, honeysuckle, viburnum, etc.

There are many berry crops inhabiting the Prioksko-Terrasny Reserve. Plants of this group - bilberry, lingonberry, sour, as well as cranberries and blueberries are most often found in the northern pine forests of the reserve.

Birds

There are a lot of birds in the reserve. In mixed forests, they choose the most suitable tiers for themselves, where their chicks are safe, they are reliably protected from enemies and where it is easier to get food. For example, the nests of large predators are on the crowns big trees located in the first tier.

Smaller birds that feed on insects settle on the second tier or in the undergrowth, and the eagle owl builds nests on the ground. Here you can meet great tits and finches, redstart and forest pipit, nuthatch and ratchet warbler, blackbird and European dawn and many others.

Secured territory

In order to reduce the impact of active on natural complex The protected area was created in the reserve. Its territory is quite extensive - an area of ​​​​4710 hectares with a width of 2 km. It includes the floodplain of the Oka, the forest quarters surrounding the territory.

In this zone, unlike the reserve, limited economic activity. Forestry is allowed, while clear-cutting is prohibited. Agricultural work is allowed in the floodplain of the Oka (it is forbidden to plow new lands). In addition, excavation, mining and development of mineral deposits, construction of any kind of roads and premises for any purpose is prohibited. The conditions for fishing and hunting must be additionally agreed with the administration.

Pedagogical activity

The reserve is an excellent scientific base for many universities in the capital, as well as educational institutions in Russia. Students of various faculties and branches of Moscow State University, the Timiryazev Moscow Agricultural Academy are trained here. Here, students of the Faculty of Biology of Moscow State University gain experience. In addition, specialists from various research institutes work here. In the reserve there is also an activity for young naturalists - students of lyceums and schools.

Prioksko-Terrasny Nature Reserve: visitor reviews

According to those who have visited this wonderful place, it was created for lovers and connoisseurs of nature. Everyone is fascinated by the amazing and rare nowadays opportunity to see the pristine beauty of the Moscow region and unique, sometimes on the verge of extinction, plant and animal species.

Visitors are pleased that on their walks around the reserve they are accompanied by experienced guides who are fascinating, knowledgeable about animals and plants.

Many complain that it is too far to walk to the bison nursery and advise the administration to organize some kind of transport to move around the territory.

Moscow region. Reserve Prioksko-Terrasny — Plants and Animals

Address: Moscow region, Serpukhov district, pos. Danky Danky

The terraced plain of the reserve has a gentle slope from north to south. A characteristic element of the relief of the northern and central areas is karst funnels of close occurrence of carboniferous limestones. The lower (southern) terraces are sandy, they form shafts and hills (Turkish and Ponikovsky shafts), curved in arcs, 3 km long.
The terrace steps gave the name to the Prioksky Reserve.

Reserve Prioksko-Terrasny - south of the Moscow region - created in 1945 - area 4.9 thousand hectares

The reserve is located on the southern slope of the Oka River valley and includes floodplain terraces and part of the watershed.

“Drunk Hillock” - so named because the sand heats up so much during the day that it is impossible to walk on it without shoes during the day, but at night, drunk people can sleep on the sand without the risk of freezing.

About 92% of the area is occupied by forest. Pine forests with lichen, pine forests with green moss and grasses predominate.

There are also pine forests with an admixture of steppe species and spruce-pine forests.

Oak - pine forests are found in the basin; spruce forests - in the valleys of small rivers. orv broad-leaved and linden-oak forests have been preserved on the territory of the reserve.

Half of the area of ​​the reserve is covered with birch and aspen.

Sphagnum bogs can be found here.

The meadow steppe is of interest, with over 50 species southern plants, including European feather grass, hazel grouse Ruthenica, Kozelts purple - they are called the "flora of the Oka".

Plants are the pride of the Prioksko-Terrasny Reserve

Cypripedium calceolus - real slipper

Stipa pennata - feather grass

Purple goat - Scorzonera purpurea

Russian hazel grouse - Fritillaria ruthenica

Hellebore black - Veratrum nigrum

Veronica gray-haired - Veronica incana

Clematis straight - Clematis recta

Ruysh snakehead - Dracocephalum ruyschiana

In the ancient steppe forests grow: dyed gorse, broom, heath sedge, and on the tops of sandy hills and ramparts - deer, forest and alpine cladonia.

In the pine-linden-oak forests there is an admixture of maple and an abundant undergrowth of hazel, warty euonymus, viburnum, and honeysuckle.

Blue tit - a genus of tits

The reserve includes lingonberry, blueberry, sour pine forests; on the relic sphagnum bog - cranberries and blueberries, thickets of wild rosemary, sundew, podbel, cinquefoil grows.

Warblers (Sylviidae)

The meadow steppe community is characterized by: fescue, strawberry, annual gill, blood-red geranium, steppe cherry, purple goat.

Zopnik tuberous - Phlómis tubérosa of the Lamiaceae family

The vegetation includes more than 800 species of higher plants, including rare ones (a kind of military orchid).

The fauna is typical for the center of the Russian Plain - the territory of the elk, red deer, wild boar, fox.

Here also appear the marten, weasel, badger; wolf, lynx, European mink, and also otter.

river otter

The roe deer was transferred to the reserve, and the beaver was re-acclimatized.

Sika deer and raccoon dog are also acclimatized in the reserve.

There is a bison nursery. Bison and bison are a special pride of the reserve

There are 100 species of birds, passerines predominate. Other common species are goshawk, sparrow hawk, black grouse, capercaillie, hazel grouse, gray partridge, long-eared owl, horned owl, little owl, pygmy owl, tawny owl, green woodpecker, grey-headed woodpecker, zhelna, great spotted woodpecker, white-backed woodpecker, Middle Spotted Woodpecker, Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, Jay, Magpie, Hooded Crow, Raven, Waxwing, Yellow-headed Kinglet.

funnel

26 species of Red Book birds of the Moscow region: These are: the diurnal predatory osprey Pandion haliaetus, the common honey buzzard Pernis apivorus, the black kite Milvus migrans Bodd, the field and meadow harrier Circus cyaneus and Circus pygargus, the pygmy eagle Hieraetus pennatus, the greater spotted eagle Aquila clanga, the Falco falcon subbuteo , great snipe Gallinago media, stockhead Columba oenas, eagle owl Bubo bubo, splyushka Otus scops, little owl Athene noctua, rollercoaster Coracias garrulus, kingfisher Alcedo atthis, hoopoe Upupa epops, green Picus viridis, grey-haired Picus canus, white-backed Dendrocopos leucot os , medium variegated Dendrocopos medius , three-toed Picoides tridactylus, woodpeckers and 5 species of passerines - forest lark Lullula arborea, gray shrike Lanius excubitor, nutcracker Nucifraga caryocatactes, hawk warbler Sylvia nisoria, blue tit Parus cyanus.

There are some rare invertebrates: swallowtail (butterfly's name), butterfly moths, etc.

The reserve has the status of a biosphere reserve, and is named after Mikhail Zablotsky, the founder of the bison nursery.

Karpova Polyana - 3 km to Dankov - buses No. 25 and 31 run

tulip bieberstein

Burachok Gmelin

Sleep-grass (Pulsatilla open) -

41 species remain for wintering in the reserve of birds: including field thrush, long-tailed tit, brown-headed tit, crested tit, moskovka, common tit, great tit, common nuthatch, common pika, house sparrow, field sparrow, siskin, black-headed goldfinch, common tap dance, common crossbill, common bullfinch, common bunting.

Among the bats (bats): long-eared bat, Natterer's night bat, two-color leather and mustachioed, pond, water, red, and small evening bats.

Prioksko-Terrasny Nature Reserve rightfully considered one of the best nature reserves. An area of ​​​​about 50 km² is mainly forests, occupying more than 90% of the territory. The reserve is interesting for botanists because of the presence of steppe flora here, which is not typical for this area. climate zone, and ordinary tourists come here primarily to watch bison in the local nursery.

Location: address and phone

What is the best way to get from Moscow

1. The reserve is located about 100 kilometers south of, so if you decide to get by car, you need to go along the E-95 highway, then along the M2 highway and, having reached the Serpukhov / Danki sign, turn right.
2. Turning left and driving another 4 kilometers, you find yourself in Danki, and it will be quite easy to find the administrative center of the reserve there.
3. If you decide to use public transport, then you will have a trip by train from the Kursk railway station.
4. From Serpukhov station in about half an hour you will reach the reserve by buses No. 31, No. 41 or No. 25. Buses run infrequently, so it is better to take the morning trains.

Visiting rules: opening hours, ticket price, promotions and discounts

The entrance to the territory of the reserve is open from 8:30 to 17:30, tours are held from 09:00 to 16:00 (7 days a week).
Registration for a tour of groups of more than 10 people is carried out by phone.
On the territory of the reserve forbidden:

• damage trees, break bushes and branches, pick flowers, pick fruits, mushrooms, berries, as well as mow and burn grass;
• walk on the lawns and sunbathe on them, swim, set up tents, light fires and have picnics;
• litter and damage the property of the reserve;
• visit the reserve with any kind of weapons, as well as pets;
• move far away from the main excursion group and go beyond the established barriers;
• touch animals and museum exhibits, as well as use optional equipment for shooting without the permission of the management of the reserve;
• visiting the reserve in a state of intoxication, as well as smoking, drinking alcohol or drugs on its territory.

Service prices:

• Children preschool age are allowed to all excursions and tourist sites for free.
• Ecotrail "Through the leaves"- 300 rubles. (children 7-17 years old - 150 rubles).
• Ecopark "Derevo-Dom"- from 250 to 1000 rubles. (depending on the age and number of visited objects).
• Central Bison Nursery Prioksko-Terrasny Reserve (with a visit to the Museum of Nature and an observation tower) - from 400 to 4000 rubles. (depending on age and nationality). Access to the nursery is open only with a guide.
• Accommodation in guest rooms- from 300 to 700 rubles / day.

Plants and animals of the Prioksko-Terrasny Reserve

• Flora The reserve is quite diverse. Higher vascular plants (herbs, shrubs, trees) are represented by 980 species, among which it is worth highlighting oak, linden, maple, birch, spruce, pine, hazel, viburnum, steppe cherry, honeysuckle, feather grass, Bieberstein's tulip, gorse, sedge, cinquefoil, lingonberries, cranberries and blueberries.
  As for other representatives of the flora of the Prioksko-Terrasny Reserve, there are also more than 130 species of mosses, about 140 species of lichens, more than 20 species of liverworts and about 700 species of cap mushrooms.
• No less varied and fauna. Of the invertebrates, spiders (over 280 species) and butterflies (620 species) are the most widely represented. Small vertebrates are represented by amphibians (10 species) and reptiles (5 species). Birds are most widely represented in the fauna of the Prioksko-Terrasny Reserve, of which there are more than 140 species. Most often you can see hazel grouse, cuckoo, great spotted woodpecker, sparrowhawk, great tit, songbird and blackbird, chaffinch, warblers and flycatchers. Mammals are represented by 62 species, among which it is necessary to single out bison, red deer, elk, roe deer, wild boar, wolf, lynx, badger, marten, weasel, squirrel, otter and beaver.

Attractions of the reserve

• Central bison nursery. The bison nursery is, perhaps, the main thing that Prioksko-Terrasny Reserve is famous for in world scientific circles. Bison live and breed in a fenced area of ​​200 hectares. There are about 25 bison permanently here, although the nursery is designed for 60 animals. This is the central nursery of Russia, from where young animals are transported throughout the country to create similar protected areas. There are also 5 bison - American relatives of the bison.
  Ask the staff of the reserve when bison have lunch, and you can admire these powerful animals when they come to the feeders. Also, sometimes you can see how the bison scratches his neck on the fence and at the same time groans funny with pleasure. But it is more interesting to see how young bison walk with each other, who are in a separate fence like a kindergarten.
  But most of all you will be amused by the local celebrity - the ferret Ivan. He dances and somersaults in front of bison, and when they come closer, he hides under the feeder. And so every day.
• Ecotrail "Through the leaves". This is an integral part of the excursion to the Prioksko-Terrasny Reserve. Convenient and safe ecological trail, laid at a height of 8 meters. Comprises viewing platforms connected by cable bridges. At a height, you can not only study the crowns of trees in more detail and observe the representatives of the fauna living in them, but also fill your gadgets with photos and videos of the picturesque landscapes of the reserve. To pass the ecotrail, no special safety devices are required.
• Ecopark "Tree-house". The system of routes for children and adults of different difficulty levels, allowing you to combine leisure with an educational journey. Quests include overcoming suspension bridges and rope crossings on the way to completing tasks related to the life of plants and inhabitants of the protected forest. The program is designed very interestingly and creatively, so the knowledge about the flora and fauna of the reserve will be well fixed in the memory of your children.
• Museum of Nature. Here you can find out what animals and how many bison live in the Prioksko-Terrasny Reserve, see stuffed animals. Guides in an interesting way tell about the history of the reserve, discover new facts from the life of animals familiar to us, and also demonstrate a rich collection of insects
• House of Leshy. A place especially liked by children. The inhabitant of the forest hut is Terras Terrasovich. Leshy is a protector of animals and plants. He guards the forest and can punish those who misbehave towards its inhabitants. The interior of the hut is made in a very original way: the furniture is made of old stumps, and there are various antique utensils on the shelves. Nearby is a pond, as if descended from the pictures of children's fairy tale books.
• Integrated background monitoring station. Here you can get quite interesting information of an ecological nature, as well as see the original 3D installation "Seasons", which creates the feeling of being in nature surrounded by animals.

History of creation

• Work on the organization of the Prioksko-Terrasny Reserve began immediately after the victory in the Great Patriotic war. The place was not chosen by chance. Here still in the middle 19th century southern steppe plants uncharacteristic for this climatic zone were discovered.
• The founding date of the reserve is considered June 19, 1945. At first, he was part of the structure, being one of its five parts.
• In 1951 In the same year, four reserves were abolished, leaving only one - Prioksko-Terrasny, since at that time there was already a nursery for breeding bison, which by that time were on the verge of extinction.
• In 1966 year, the area of ​​the reserve was increased by 80 hectares, and in 1983 In 2008, they organized work to monitor the environmental situation in the Moscow Region.

Interesting facts about the Prioksko-Terrasny Reserve

1. Prioksko-Terrasny Nature Reserve is the only state nature reserve in the Moscow region.
2. Since 1979 The reserve is part of the UNESCO World Network of Biosphere Reserves.
3. First bison- Puslav - was brought to the reserve in 1948 year from the Polish nursery Belovezh. Soon Plesse and Pustulechka were brought to him from there for breeding bison. With them (apparently, "for safety") they also brought the bull Pletsukha II. A typical bison family consists of one male and 5-6 females. But the head of the family is not a bison, but the largest bison.
4. Despite its impressive size, the bison can speed up to 50 km/h and jump over an obstacle 2 meters high.
5. During the existence of the Prioksko-Terrasny Reserve, over 500 bison.
6. In the reserve you can "adopt a bison", i.e. a person or a group of people can provide annual funding for the maintenance of a bison they like and come to him at any time.

Photo of Prioksko-Terrasny Nature Reserve

Modern technical capabilities made it possible to build a high-altitude eco-trail "Through the Foliage" without harming the trees.

The exposition of the Museum of Nature presents the widest possible animal world reserve.




In the reserve you can meet deer.


In the reserve you can relax on the shore of a quiet forest lake.

Prioksko-Terrasny Biosphere Reserve – video

An interesting story about the Prioksko-Terrasny Biosphere Reserve. Enjoy watching!!!

The Prioksko-Terrasny Nature Reserve is a great place to relax for Muscovites and guests of the city. Every citizen, and especially a resident of a metropolis, will be pleased to escape from the city noise and breathe in the clean forest air, admire the pristine nature, watch bison and other rare animals, learn a lot of interesting things about nature, and also walk along fascinating ecological trails.

From visiting the reserve, you and especially your children will have a lot of pleasant impressions. Well, be sure to get a few memorable souvenirs with the emblem of the Prioksko-Terrasny Reserve.

The Prioksko-Terrasny State Natural Biosphere Reserve is a nature conservation, research institution of federal significance, with the aim of preserving and studying the natural course natural processes and phenomena, the genetic fund of flora and fauna, individual species and communities of plants and animals, typical and unique ecological systems.

The area of ​​the reserve is 50 sq. km, 130 species of birds, 54 species of mammals, more than 900 species of plants are registered on its territory.

In 1948, the Moscow Reserve was transformed into five independent reserves. In 1951, a difficult year for conservation work, 4 reserves in the Moscow region were abolished. Since that time, the only reserve in the Moscow region has remained Prioksko-Terrasny Nature Reserve.

Bison is the largest mammal in Europe. A strong and beautiful beast reaches a weight of 1200 kg and has practically no natural enemies. Today, the world herd of bison, saved from extinction thanks to breeding in nurseries in Europe, has about 3.5 thousand individuals.

The bison nursery of the Prioksko-Terrasny Reserve played a significant role in saving the bison. Here the animals live in conditions close to natural. Calves raised in nurseries are little acquainted with humans. As in the wild, bison feed their calves themselves.

During the years of work of the bison nursery of the reserve, wildlife 250 purebred bison. Today, more than 1,700 wild bison live in free herds, mostly within their former habitats. However, the bison on the territory of Russia, if the necessary measures are not taken, is again threatened by degeneration due to its small number (about 500 animals) and the isolation of captive and free-living herds.

The duration of the frost-free period is more than 135 days. Annual rainfall ranges from 500 - 550 mm. The climate is characterized as temperate continental, with warm summers and cold winter. The average annual air temperature is 3.9 C. The coldest month is January, the warmest is July (17.7 C). The depth of the snow cover reaches 50 - 55 cm.

The reserve owes its name to the proximity to the Oka River and the terrace-like steps in the relief, which were formed more than 10 thousand years ago by the coastal surf of the former Oka. It is its coastal sand that covers the underlying limestone and clay (moraine) with a layer of several meters on almost the entire surface of the reserve.

The surface of the reserve gently rises to the north from the Oka. The height difference between the southern and northern parts is 70 meters.

In the reserve you can find plant species belonging to different climatic zones (from the southern taiga to the steppes). From early spring to late autumn, flowering herbs and shrubs replace each other. In spring, the lawns are completely covered with blue forget-me-nots, songrass opens in the pine forests, corydalis and lungworts bloom. In the valleys, clearings of blooming strawberries give way to a lush motley carpet of grasses, carnations turn pink on the sandy hills, whole fields of lilies of the valley turn white in the forest. At the height of summer, the air is full of the scent of lime blossoms. In August, lilac heather flowers open. Autumn is approaching, clusters of viburnum turn red, unusual multi-colored euonymus fruitlets become noticeable. Especially beautiful in sunny days golden autumn.
Many rare plants are protected in the reserve.

The area of ​​steppe vegetation is unique and is not typical for our country. natural area. This is the northernmost section of the steppe in the European part of the country. It is called Doly. This old Russian word means a depression with a flat bottom between ramparts, hills. Surprisingly, many plants growing in the valleys are cut off from their main area at a distance of up to 600 km. Many species of insects of the reserve are found only in the valleys. For example, the jaundice butterfly, the Italian shield bug, the Eisenia earthworm, etc.

The forests of the reserve are mixed, that is, consisting of coniferous and deciduous species.

Pine forests or pine forests prevail in the reserve and may well be considered a symbol of the Prioksko-Terrasny Reserve. Pine forests occupy about one third of the entire area covered with forests in the reserve. They are represented by various types pine forests - from dry lichen forests to pine forests on a sphagnum bog. Particularly remarkable are the steppe forests adjacent to the Oka floodplain with characteristic plants: high keleria, silver speedwell, broom and some others.

Birch forests in terms of prevalence in the reserve are in second place after pine forests. As an admixture, birch is part of the forest throughout the territory. The root system of birch on sandy soils is superficial, therefore, in strong winds, the tree easily turns inside out. Spores of destructive fungi quickly penetrate into it. They germinate, the process of decomposition of wood by mushrooms begins.

In the reserve, fungus-destroying real and bordered tinder fungi, and a rare coral blackberry listed in the Red Book (settles on a dead tree), as well as a chaga mushroom widely used in medicine, are widespread. Mushrooms after 57 years turn a fallen birch into dust.

The southern border of the natural distribution of spruce passes through the territory of the reserve. And although the species at the boundaries of their range, as a rule, are oppressed, in the reserve, spruce forests occupy more and more new areas of the formerly deciduous forest.

Linden, along with spruce and pine, is one of the most common tree species in the reserve, but there are practically no pure lime forests here.

A small area, less than one percent, is occupied by swamps in the reserve. They were formed in those places where they are underlain by a catchment in shape and water "" impermeable clay rock.

Small streams and temporary streams, flowing into depressions between sandy shafts, form two forest lakes of the Protovskoye and Sionskoye reserve. In the hot summer, these lakes almost completely dry up, and wild boars come to feed on the juicy rhizomes, sometimes turning the muddy bottom into a dirty mess.
Since the reserve lies away from the main migratory routes, there are few water birds here. Ducks, mallards, teals nest on the lakes. Constantly near the water is a tireless kingfisher fisherman. Many insectivorous birds nest in lakeside thickets. Here they are provided with shelter and an abundance of midges above the water.

The rivers in the reserve are so small that the word streams would be more suitable for them. The largest of them are several meters wide and several kilometers long. These are Tadenka, Ponikovka, Drying. Water does not freeze in them even in severe winter. All of them give rise to springs. The banks of the protected rivers are overgrown with dense alder, willow, and spruce forests.

The Prioksko-Terrasny Nature Reserve was founded in 1945. In 1978, he was given the status of a biosphere and issued a corresponding UNESCO certificate.

The Prioksko-Terrasny State Natural Biospheric Biosphere Museum aims to create for the conservation and study of the natural course of natural processes and phenomena, the genetic fund of flora and fauna, individual species and communities of plants and animals, typical and unique ecological systems.

Physical and geographical conditions

Where is

The Prioksko-Terrasny Biosphere Reserve is located on the left bank of the Oka, 12 kilometers east of Serpukhov and 100 kilometers south of Moscow, and is an almost regular square with sides of about 7.5 km. The area of ​​the reserve in the year of its organization was 4853 hectares, in 1966 it increased to 4945 hectares. According to the latest data specified in the course of land management, the area of ​​the reserve was 4960 hectares. The reserve owes its name to its proximity to the Oka River and terrace-like steps in the relief, which were formed more than 10 thousand years ago by the Oka shore surf.

How to get there. Driving directions

Relief

The terraces are composed of bedrocks of the Carboniferous period, mainly limestones, overlain by the Dnieper moraine and a thick cover of alluvial-fluvioglacial sands. The thickness of sand deposits is from 0.75 to 2 m, on the lower terraces in the western part of the reserve it reaches 4 m or more. In the floodplain of the Oka and the terrace adjacent to it there are dunes - curved sandy shafts, apparently formed by the activity of river and lake waters. Some shafts rise to 10 meters or more and have their own names: Turkish, Ponikovsky (Zionsky).

Hydrology

The rivers in the reserve are so small that the word streams would be more suitable for them. The largest of them are several meters wide and several kilometers long. These are Tadenka, Ponikovka, Drying. Water does not freeze in them even in severe winter. Small streams and temporary streams, flowing into depressions between sandy shafts, form two forest lakes of the reserve - Protovskoye and Sionskoye. In the hot summer, these lakes almost completely dry up. From north to south, the reserve is crossed by two small rivers: Tadenka originates north of the reserve, has a pronounced floodplain covered with lush grass.

The sources of Ponikovka are located in the center of the reserve. Both rivers are fed with springs from a clean, clear water, found in abundance in the northeastern and especially in the central part of the reserve. Ponikovka does not reach the Oka, getting lost in a swamp of karst origin for southern border reserve. There are few reservoirs in the reserve, and all of them are small in area. Two of the larger ones are filled annually with melt, rain and groundwater. These shallow depressions, located at the foot of the sand banks in the southern part of the reserve, are gradually overgrown with aquatic vegetation.

Climate

The climate of the reserve is characterized as temperate continental, with warm summers and cold winters. The duration of the frost-free period is more than 135 days. The average annual air temperature is 4.8°. The average air temperature of the coldest month (January) is -8.3°, the warmest (July) is 17.6°. The annual amount of precipitation is 683 mm, the rainiest months are July (about 90 mm falls)), the minimum amount of precipitation falls in March (about 34 mm); the highest snow depth is at the end of February (average snow depth is 52 cm). Snow cover is established more often at the end of November, disappears at the beginning of April.

Prioksko-Terrasny Nature Reserve. Animals

Prioksko-Terrasny Reserve - its fauna is generally typical for the center of the Russian Plain. There are 54 species of wild mammals from 17 families, 6 orders, 140 species of birds, 5 species of reptiles, 10 species of amphibians and 8 species of fish. At present, the fauna of the Oka forest zone is dominated by species characteristic of mixed coniferous-deciduous forests: European bank vole, yellow-throated mouse, hazel dormouse, pine marten, green woodpecker, greenfinch, crested tit, siskin and others. Of the species of the taiga fauna, the white hare, capercaillie, hazel grouse, pygmy owl, black woodpecker, wren, etc. live here.

The bird fauna is especially diverse in the reserve. Birds inhabiting a mixed forest choose the most preferred tiers for themselves, where their chicks are protected from enemies and where it is easier to get food. Thus, the nests of large predators are located on the tops of the crowns of large trees of the first tier. Small insectivorous birds prefer the second tier or undergrowth. Who is not here: a chaffinch, a great tit, a forest pipit, a redstart, a ratchet warbler, a nuthatch, a robin, a thrush, a jay, a pied flycatcher and many others.

The forests of the reserve are distinguished by the abundance and diversity of ungulates. Elks and wild boars are quite numerous here. In 1964-1966, sika deer entered the territory of the Prioksko-Terrasny Reserve from neighboring hunting farms, brought by the Serpukhov Society of Hunters from Far East, as well as European red deer from the Khoperovsky and Voronezh reserves.

Diverse fauna and nocturnal inhabitants - bats. There are 10 species of them here: bats (pond, water, Brandt, Natterer), bats (small and forest), two-tone leather, red and small evenings, brown earflaps.

Of the 11 species of predatory animals known in the fauna of the reserve, 9 constantly live here. The most numerous of the relatively large predators is the fox. IN last years the number of foxes in winter is relatively constant: 7–8 animals per 1000 ha of forest. Foxes feed mainly on bank and common voles. In winter, they can eat carrion.

In winter, and in wet weather and in summer, you can see many traces of foxes coming from the protected forest to the Oka floodplain, where they regularly feed. Also in the reserve are the usual inhabitants of the forests - marten, weasel, ermine, snow leopard. From 2006 to the present, the lynx has been constantly living. An otter regularly enters the rivers of the reserve from the Oka side in search of fish and frogs.

Until 1949, wolves bred annually on the territory of the reserve. But all the broods were destroyed, since until the 60s the fight against this predator was encouraged in the reserves. Now wolves only occasionally enter the protected forest, not staying for a long time.

Near forest dwellings and near villages, forest polecats constantly keep. Since 1953, a raccoon dog has been regularly found here, which penetrated into the Moscow region from the Ryazan and Smolensk regions, where it was released for the purpose of acclimatization.

bison nursery

And, of course, the bison is the pride of the reserve. In the bison nursery, animals live in conditions close to natural. In 1947, the Council of the All-Union Society for the Protection of Nature, on the initiative and support of scientific societies, as well as outstanding academicians L.S. Berg, I.I. Schmalhausen, N.D. Zelinsky, Professor S.I. Ogneva applied to the Council of Ministers of the USSR with a request to organize a Central Bison Park in one of the sections of the Prioksko-Terrasny State Biosphere Reserve. The creation of the Central Bison Nursery was preceded by a survey of the territories of the central part of Russia to select a suitable site.

This territory had to satisfy three necessary conditions: to have an environment suitable for these animals, to be legally protected, and to have good access roads. After the choice fell on the Prioksko-Terrasny Nature Reserve and the nursery project was developed, Mikhail Alexandrovich Zablotsky turned to the Polish bison breeders with a request. As a result of the agreement reached at the end of 1948, the initial population of 4 bison was received from Poland. The first bisons Puslav and Pushchanin arrived at the nursery on November 21, 1948, on Mikhailov's Day, the birthday of Mikhail Aleksandrovich.

In May 1950, the first bison were born in the nursery - the bull Moskvityanin and the bison Muravka. In the future, the livestock of the nursery was replenished with its young.

The first bison Puhar, born in 1948, was taken out of the Central Bison Nursery on February 10, 1951, to the bison park of the Caucasian Reserve.

On December 19, 1959, the first pair of bison was taken out: Muromets, born in 1956 and Muza, born in 1956, to a new bison nursery established on the territory of the Oksky Reserve.

Since 1961, bison began to be exported in order to create free populations.

The Central Bison Nursery is currently the center scientific work on problems of bison restoration. It conducts research on the morphology, taxonomy, genetics, evolution, ecology, ethology of the bison, the problems of its restoration, the development of methods for keeping, feeding, transporting and economic use bison, student scientific practices, work with schoolchildren is underway.

The bison nursery of the Prioksko-Terrassky Reserve continues its active work to preserve the insurance bison gene pool in Russia, supplies animals for the formation of new free populations and serves as a place for overexposure of Western European bison born in zoos for their subsequent adaptation in the forests of Russia.

Prioksko-Terrasny Nature Reserve. Plants

The flora of the Prioksko-Terrasny Biosphere Reserve is represented by 981 views vascular plants. Unique for the reserve are areas of meadow-steppe vegetation, the species composition of which is called "Oka flora".

"Okskaya flora" is a fragment of the meadow steppe and steppe meadows located on the high floodplain of the Oka and on the first floodplain terrace along the edges of dry steppe forests and in some places under their canopy. In total, about 50 species of higher plants grow here, which are typical for the communities of the northern variants of the meadow steppes. In total, about 50 species of higher plants grow here, which are typical for the communities of the northern variants of the meadow steppes.

Among them: feather grass, fescue, Biberstein's tulip, annual gill, blood-red geranium, purple goat, black hellebore, elecampane rough, three-stamen bedstraw, steppe timothy grass, tuberous gooseberry, Russian hazel grouse, steppe cherry and many others. One of the most picturesque places in the reserve is the valleys. The valleys are very beautiful in the spring, when during the flood, filled with spring waters, they look like a group of lakes, and later, when the water surface is replaced by the living colors of meadow and steppe grasses.

93% of the area of ​​the reserve is occupied by forests. The forests of the reserve are predominantly mixed, that is, consisting of coniferous (pine, spruce) and deciduous species (linden, oak, birch, warty and fluffy, aspen). A mixed forest is usually divided into more or less distinct layers, in which the crowns of trees and shrubs are concentrated. The tiers differ in height, density and composition of plants. Usually, 2-3 tiers are distinguished - a forest stand, undergrowth and undergrowth, including young trees and shrubs, grass and moss-lichen covers. Often one tree species can be represented in different tiers.

There are also pure coniferous forests. The reserve is dominated by pine forests or forests, which can be considered a symbol of the reserve, they occupy about one third of the entire area covered with forest. Pure forests are one of the most beautiful forests in the reserve. Pines grow on soils so poor that no other tree could thrive here.

The deep taproot allows the pine to reach the water through thick sandy deposits.

Birch forests in terms of prevalence in the reserve are in second place after pine forests. As an admixture, birch is part of the forest almost throughout the entire territory. The root system of birch on sandy soils is superficial, therefore, in strong winds, the tree easily turns inside out. Spores of destructive fungi quickly penetrate into it. In the reserve, such destructive mushrooms as true and bordered tinder fungi, a rare coral blackberry listed in the Red Book (settles on a dead tree), as well as the chaga mushroom widely used in medicine, are widespread.

In the forests of the reserve, hardwood tree species are widely represented, mainly linden and oak. However, there are practically no pure linden forests and oak forests, the total area deciduous forests less than 2%.

In the northern quarters of the reserve there are two sphagnum bogs. Cranberries, cinquefoil, rosemary, blueberries, sundew and andromeda grow here.

Of the plants listed in the Red Book of Russia, 8 species are found in the reserve (feather grass, lady's slipper, Russian and chess hazel grouse, helmet-shaped and burnt orchid, Traunsteiner digitorum root, neottiantha clobuchkova), and 88 species listed in the Red Book of the Moscow Region.

The area of ​​steppe vegetation is unique for the reserve. This is the northernmost section of the steppe in the European part of the country. Many local plants are cut off from their main area at distances of up to 600 km.

Okskaya flora

The originality of the flora of the Oka Valley has long attracted the attention of botanists and florists. Already in the "first Moscow flora" - "Enumiratio stirpum agrin mosquensis" by F. Stephan (Stephan, 1792), one can find indications that three counties of the then Moscow province were subjected to the closest attention of the author: Moscow, Serpukhov and Kolomensky. The territory of the last two counties included the entire Moscow course of the Oka.

In 1866, N.N. Kaufman, in which the author raised questions about the composition of the forest-steppe and steppe floristic complexes in the Oka Valley, the geographical distribution of individual species of these complexes, and their origin in the Oka Valley. N.N. Kaufman wrote that the flora of the Oka Valley "differs so sharply from the Moscow flora proper that, strictly speaking, it should be attributed to the flora of the more southern provinces."

From this moment, the development of the idea of ​​the existence of the phenomenon of the “Okskaya flora” begins, the disputes around which have not subsided to this day.
At present, the “Okskaya flora” should be understood as a complex of vascular plant species heterogeneous in origin and variable in composition, the modern ceno-area of ​​which lies within the steppe and forest-steppe zones, confined to the zones of broad-leaved and mixed forests to river valleys.

After N.N. Kaufman, the Oka Valley between the city of Serpukhov and the village of Priluki has become a traditional place for botanical excursions. But the well-known Moscow botanist P.A. Smirnov, who since 1923 had a permanent summer base in the village. Meadows and from where he made numerous excursions. The result of his work was the first flora of the Prioksko-Terrasny Reserve and an addition to it (Smirnov, 1958, 1971).

On the territory of the reserve, meadow-steppe communities are distributed in the southeastern and southern quarters and are confined to the first low floodplain terrace smoothly turning into the high floodplain of the Oka. These communities occupy the largest areas in quarter 34a, in the Doly tract. It is here that they are characterized by the greatest diversity. species composition and are most similar to typical steppe communities of the forest-steppe zone. Many species of the Okskaya flora living in the Doly are rare or endangered in the Moscow region and are listed in the Red Book (Red Book of the Moscow Region, 2008).

Rare plants of the Prioksko-Terrasny Reserve

The Red Book of Russia

Orchis ustulata L.
Orchid family.
Height from 15 to 30 cm.
The flowers are medium-sized, bicolor: dark purple with a whitish lip.

Orchis militaris L.
Orchid family.
Height 20–45 cm.
Flowers small, pinkish.
Blooms from late May to late June.
Occurs in damp meadows, forest clearings, forest edges.

Neottianthe cucullata (L.) Schlechter
Orchid family.
Height from 12 to 30 cm.
The flowers are small, purple-pink.
Blooms from July to mid-August.
Found in pine forests.