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The area of special reserved territories in the Arkhangelsk Region exceeds 3.4 million hectares, which makes 8.7 % of the Region territory. The most picturesque natural areas with breathtaking landscapes, rich and original flora and fauna have survived in the Region.
Vegetation differs from the North to the South: from scarce mosses and lichens on the Arctic islands to the high conifers in the South. Many plants, such as lady’s slipper (Cypripedium calceolus), Calypso bulbar are listed in the Red Book of Russia. One can meet rare and disappearing animal species, among them osprey (Pandion haliaetus), white-tailed sea eagle, golden eagle, peregrines (Falco peregrinus) and others.
Important for natural and environmental tourism are the areas abundant in berries and mushrooms. The average year crop of berries reaches 150 thousand tons (cranberries, cowberries, bilberries, cloudberries, great bilberries). The average year crop of mushrooms is up to 65 thousand tons (edible boletus, milk mushroom, coral milky cap, saffron milk cap, orange cap boletus, brown cap boletus).
Unique natural objects are karst caves, many of which (352 caves) are concentrated in the Pinezhsky District of the Region. Underground karst grottoes and systems are the largest and the most numerous in Europe. It is a fairy-tale kingdom of ice hidden from man’s eyes deep under the ground. The largest of the caves, the Konstitutsionnaya (‘Constitution’) Cave, of 6.7 km in length, Pekhorovsky Proval (Pekhorov’s Karst Hole) with a waterfall of 20 m high, natural karst complex near the Yeraskins Lake, the canyon of the River Sotka - they all can be considered as natural monuments of the world importance.
Magical is the stern beauty of the White Sea. The cold sea greatly influences the nature of the Arkhangelsk Region by making the climate milder and thus allowing the abundance of fishes, sea animals and great resources of sea weeds; the latter number about 200 of species. The Kiy Island is also a unique nature creation; it is situated in the mouth of the Onega Bay of the White Sea. Its grey granite cliffs of 25 m high, wide sand beaches and magnificent pine forests are very impressive.
From mid-May to the end of July one can enjoy white nights, a unique natural phenomenon in Arkhangelsk. Then the sun sinks behind the horizon line for not more than 9 minutes, so the nights are as light as the days. It all makes the Arkhangelsk Region a very special tourist resource.
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| | «Secret Pinega Land»The Pinega Land is a concealed world of its own, situated on the White Sea-Kuloi Plateau. Something magic is in the history of the place. Its aspect was formed thousands of years ago when the last ice period came to the end. Today the ‘flaky’ banks of the River Sotka remind the river canyons of the Colorado state which are on the other side of the Earth! Here karst looks as if it is alive, the caves are full of mysteries, and a Homer nymph turns into a flower, Calypso bulbar... It is a true kingdom of Berendey (a legendary tsar of folk tales) and only 4 hours’ trip from Arkhangelsk! For more detail... |
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| | «The Northern Equator»We offer you to plunge into a fascinating world of history and beauty, into the world of Kargopol, the oldest town in Russia: cozily tucked little wooden houses, magnificent churches, merchants’ residences and the River Onega, a keeper of mysteries and secrets of Ancient Rus. You will watch the process of making Kargopol clay toys, of birch skin carving; they will show you how to use a loom and bake traditional pastry. Kenosersky Park-Preserve will acquaint you to the life habits and traditions of the northerners in the 16th - 17th centuries, to the pagan and Christian rituals. For more detail... |
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Monastery
