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The State Nature Reserve «Pinezhsky» was founded in 1974 on the right bank of the River Pinega, in its middle stream; its total area is 51522 hectares.
The aim of the Reserve is to preserve and study the natural processes in the northern taiga forest, in the unique karst formations, to study rare plants and animals which are entered the Red Book. The Reserve is in the zone of intensive karst development. Underground and surface karst landscapes here are peculiar in their beauty and diversity. About 80 caves are in the territory of the Reserve and in its protected area; the density of the karst caves network is the one of the highest in the world.
Flora in the Reserve is rich in species due to the rock rich in calcium coming out close to the surface which determines the diversity of ecotypes and the presence of a great number of relic species. Of 500 plant species five are listed in the Red Book of Russia, among them lady’s slipper, calypso bulbar, gypsophila of the Urals (the Pinega subspecies), spurred coral root.
Fauna in the Pinezhsky Reserve is typical for the European northern taiga. At the same time the regional situation of the Reserve is characterized by fact that natural habitats of European and Siberian species overlap here. Side by side with the European wood-pigeon, wood-wren, redbacked vole, common frog, there exist Siberian species like deaf cuckoo, Siberian chipmunk, northern redbacked vole, wood lemming, Siberian newt.
189 bird species are registered in the Reserve, 22 of them regularly hibernate there. Among them are some species of owls (Ural owl, bearded owl, hawk owl, Tengmalm’s owl) some species of Tetraonidae family (capercailzie, hazel hen), woodpeckers (black woodpecker, great spotted woodpecker, three-toed woodpecker), Siberian and common jay, raven, dipper, tits (Siberian tit, marsh tit, great tit). Red Book listed birds, such as osprey - a fish-eating eagle - nestles in the Reserve, while golden and white-tailed eagle stop here during spring and autumn migrations. Common crane is regularly registered on the vast highmoor in the western part of the Reserve.
Of all the predators in the area the biggest is a European brown bear, 15-20 individuals inhabit the whole area of the Reserve. 5-7 lynxes, wolves live there, but they do not make big groups. The only hoofed mammal is European elk.
Water, adventure and environmental tourism has been developing in the Reserve territory At the tourists’ service are «Golubino», a comfortable tourist complex for 110 people, Winter Sports Centre, rafting on the Pinega River, excursions to the karst caves. Lovers of exotic recreation are offered a night stay in the Nenets reindeer village.
The official Internet site of the «Pinezhsky» Natural Reserve
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