Mountains included in the World Heritage List. World natural heritage sites of Russia

In Russia, many priceless natural and cultural monuments are recognized as objects of world heritage.

They are under the scrutiny of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO - United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization). We offer you the most protected UNESCO sites in Russia.

Moscow Kremlin and Red Square

The real symbols of Russia, which are known throughout the world and are considered the main cultural attractions of the planet. Moscow Kremlin and Red Square - included in the UNESCO heritage list in 1990.

Almost the most ancient monument Russia with numerous buildings reflected the centuries-old history of the Russian people. On the territory of the Moscow Kremlin, unique examples of Russian foundry art are exhibited - the Tsar Cannon weighing 40 tons and the Tsar Bell weighing over 200 tons and 6.6 m in diameter.

Lake Baikal

Baikal, a unique natural monument of Eastern Siberia, was included in the UNESCO heritage list in 1996. The lake is the deepest in the world and contains 19% of the planet's fresh water reserves. When viewed from a height, the lake resembles a crescent moon, covers an area of over 3 million hectares and is fed by more than 300 rivers and streams.

The water in the lake has a high oxygen content, and due to its transparency, it is possible to see a depth of up to 40 m. The age of the ancient lake is especially impressive - more than 25 million years, the complete isolation of which contributed to the development of a unique ecosystem in it.

Natural Park "Lena Pillars"

Included in the UNESCO National Heritage List in 2012, Lena Pillars Park is a place where priceless finds of the inhabitants of the Cambrian period were discovered. The park is located in the center of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia) near the coast of the Lena River, occupying 1.27 million hectares.

The park is inhabited by 12 species of fauna listed in the Red Book. Due to its antiquity, the park is of particular interest for geology: the natural monument is distinguished by its relief, dotted with caves, stone spiers, towers and niches.

The architectural ensemble of the Kizhi Pogost

The unique architectural complex of wooden architecture of the XVIII-XIX centuries was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1990 and is an ensemble of two wooden churches and a bell tower in Karelia.

It houses the Kizhi State Historical and Architectural Museum with many objects of wooden religious architecture, including an eight-winged windmill from 1929 and the Church of the Transfiguration, built without a single nail.

Novgorod historical monuments

The architectural complexes of Veliky Novgorod and its environs were included in the UNESCO National Heritage List in 1992. The cultural objects include such significant Orthodox buildings of antiquity as the Znamensky, Antoniev, Yuryev, Zverin monasteries, as well as the churches of the Nativity of Christ, the Savior on Nereditsa, the Novgorod Kremlin Detinets.

Nature Reserve Wrangel Island

The reserve was included in the UNESCO list in 2004. The unique protected area is known for its almost untouched natural ecosystem dominated by the largest population of polar bears, walruses, more than 50 species of birds.

The territory of the reserve is located beyond the Arctic Circle, including Wrangel and Gerald Islands and the waters of the Chukchi and East Siberian Seas. Despite the harsh conditions of the waters of the Arctic, more than 400 plant species can be seen here.

curonian spit

The famous sand spit stretches for 98 km with a maximum width of up to 3.8 km, located on the dividing line between the Baltic Sea and the Curonian Lagoon. The natural attraction was included in the UNESCO heritage list in 2000 and is interesting for its unique anthropogenic landscape, which is represented by a variety of reliefs - from deserts to swampy tundras.

The spit is of great importance during the migration of 10 to 20 million birds and serves as a haven for them during their rest. Only here you can find dunes up to 68 m in height, the width of which sometimes reaches 1 km.

Novodevichy Convent in Moscow

Since 2004, the monastery has been included in the UNESCO list, which since 1524 was among the defensive structures of Moscow. In 1926, a historical and domestic and historical museum was founded in the building of the monastery, and in 1980, the residence of the Metropolitan of Krutitsy and Kolomna was placed. In 1994, the convent was officially approved. There are more than eight hundred monasteries in Russia. You can read about the most beautiful temples in our article.

Komi Forest

The forest massif of Komi is recognized as the most virgin forests in Europe with a total area of 32,600 sq. km, which belong to the territory of the Pechero-Ilychsky Reserve and occupy part of the YugydVa National Park.

Protected by UNESCO since 1995. Forests are distinguished by the diversity of flora and fauna, and many plant species are on the verge of extinction and are listed in the Red Book.

Kamchatka volcanoes

Volcanoes of Kamchatka are considered part of the Pacific volcanic ring of fire of the planet and have been under the protection of UNESCO since 1996. Particularly impressive are the surrounding landscapes with unique nature and biological diversity.

The exact number of volcanoes on the peninsula is still unknown. The highest volcano is Klyuchevskaya Sopka with a height of 4835 m. The editors of the site also invite you to learn more about the most beautiful places in Russia.
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Surely you have ever seen majestic mountains and peaceful valleys, winding rivers and endless forests that took your breath away? There are many such places on earth. Unique territories that are important to preserve in their original form are included in the World Natural Heritage List. Now it has 203 objects, 11 of which are located in Russia. Only it seems that this is quite a bit: among all countries, Russia ranks fourth in terms of the number of objects after China, America and Australia.

The World Heritage area includes state nature reserves and national parks. Landscapes change from high mountain lakes, glaciers, arctic tundra to alpine meadows, taiga, endless steppes and even volcanoes.

It's not only incredible Beautiful places, but also home to many species of animals and plants, rare and even endemic - those that are not found anywhere else in the world. One example is the Amur tiger and the Dahurian crane. Some plants on the territory of natural monuments are more than one hundred years old. The age of the cedar in the Teletsk taiga is more than six centuries old.

An object is included in the list if it meets at least one of the following criteria:

(VII) represents a natural phenomenon or space of exceptional natural beauty and aesthetic importance.

(VIII) reflects the main stages of the history of the Earth, symbolizes geological processes in the development of the relief or its features

(IX) reflects ecological or biological processes in the evolution of animals, plants and other organisms

(X) includes significant natural habitat for the conservation of biodiversity and endangered species of exceptional global value

4 out of 11 sites in Russia were selected according to criterion VII: the Komi forests, Lake Baikal, Kamchatka volcanoes and the Putorana Plateau. Therefore, travelers from all over the world seek to see them.

Read the mini-guide to all UNESCO natural heritage sites in Russia to see them live someday.

1. Virgin forests of Komi

The largest untouched forests in Europe stretch over an area of 32,600 km². This is about 3 km² more than the area of Belgium. The Komi forests are the first Russian site to be included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. Brown bear, sable, elk, more than 200 species of birds, including those listed in the Red Data Book, and valuable fish species such as palia char and Siberian grayling live here.

In the thicket of virgin forests and on the banks of rivers, one can see stone sculptures of bizarre shape, unusual remains and other forms of weathering, sometimes reminiscent of the ruins of castles, sometimes of mythical creatures.

The lush taiga stretches to the Ural Mountains, flowing into the tundra, where there are almost no plants, and crystal rivers descend from the ridges and merge into the Pechora, giving rise to amazing landscapes.

2. Lake Baikal

A slightly smaller area, 31,722 km², is occupied by the deepest lake on the planet. The whole of Malta, even magnified 100 times, would fit on its surface. This is one of the largest World Heritage Sites. The maximum depth of the lake is 1642 meters. This means that if you install the Eiffel Tower at the bottom, and put four more on top, the latter would still not appear out of the water.

The reservoir of the largest lake in Russia is almost 19% of the world's fresh water. The water in Baikal is so clean that some stones at the bottom are visible even at a depth of 40 meters. In many ways, cleanliness is provided by epishura, a unique crustacean that consumes organic matter. In general, about 2,600 animals live in Baikal, more than half of which are endemic. On the banks of the reservoir there are forests and swamps, glacial lakes, circuses and canyons. There are more than 800 species of higher plants.

A special phenomenon and a real attraction of Baikal is ice. At the end of winter in the bays, its thickness reaches two meters. On different parts of the surface, it freezes in different ways: sometimes it is covered with a web of cracks, sometimes it is dotted with bubbles, it looks like a mirror, sometimes it looks like frosted glass. Ice splashes formed by frozen waves several meters high, and grottoes, which cannot be reached in summer, are striking. In you can skate on a huge lake, raft on an ice floe and fill the camera memory with cool shots.

In summer, Baikal is also interesting: you can go around this natural monument or arrange rafting, jeeping and trekking.

3. Volcanoes of Kamchatka

Kamchatka resembles a cake with candles: there are so many here, and 28 out of 29 are in the eastern part. Klyuchevskoy is the highest volcano not only in Russia, but throughout Eurasia (4750 m), Mutnovsky is famous for its smoking fumarole fields, and in the crater of Maly Semyachik there is a piercing lake, like a blue eye wide open into the sky. That is why six separate sections of Kamchatka are included in the UNESCO list.

Another unique place- Uzon caldera. 40,000 years ago, due to several eruptions in a row, a huge volcano collapsed, and a caldera with a diameter of 10 km was formed in its place. It is located on the territory of the Kronotsky Reserve and combines rivers, hot springs, tundra, forests and lakes on the same landscape.

See also:

4. Golden Mountains of Altai

The Altai Nature Reserve and the buffer zone of Lake Teletskoye, the Katunsky Nature Reserve and the buffer zone of Belukha Mountain, as well as the Ukok Plateau, have become World Heritage Sites. On their territory there are taiga, steppe, mountain tundra and glaciers, meadows and plateaus. If in one trip to Altai you want to see all the most scenic spots then choose . Especially suitable for those who love comfort, because you will spend the night in hotels.

Altai is no less interesting in winter. Going to , you will see mountain lakes, snow-covered passes, tracts and cedar forests. After spending here, recharge your batteries for many months to come. And having made a tour of this UNESCO natural site, you will take pictures of the panoramas of the North Chuya Range and see the unique turquoise lake which does not freeze even at very low temperatures.

5. Western Caucasus

The Western Caucasus was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1999. Under this definition are Krasnodar region, Adygea, Karachay-Cherkessia and part of the Main Caucasian Range from Mount Fisht to Elbrus. On the territory of the object there are “three-thousanders”, bizarre rocks, deep gorges, caves, glaciers and alpine lakes.

In Adygea, probably, the largest number of natural beauties per square meter. There are only two cities in the republic, and the rest of the territory is mountains and waterfalls, alpine meadows and untouched forests, deep canyons and raging rivers. This makes it possible to engage in various types of outdoor activities, and even. rock climbing and hiking, horseback riding - why not spend it like this, for example?

6. Central Sikhote-Alin

Sikhote-Alin in eastern Russia is a mix of coniferous and broad-leaved trees, taiga and subtropics, southern and northern animal species. Here, for example, you can meet both Himalayan and brown bears. Primorye is a whole world of relics and endemics, where groves of relic yews grow, carpets of Red Book lotuses bloom and rhododendrons bloom - local sakura. Protected bays with white beaches hide starfish and schools of colored fish. At high altitudes, the tundra extends, while in the lowlands the grass grows up to 3.5 meters.

Sikhote-Alin is the birthplace of the Amur tigers. Over the past 100 years, their number in the world has decreased by 25 times. At the same time, 95% of the entire population lives in the Far East, and 5% in China. There, killing a tiger is a crime that carries the death penalty. And the Far Eastern leopard remained only in Primorye.

V.K. traveled through the local taiga. Arseniev is a researcher of the Far East. On the expedition, he was with his friend and guide Dersu Uzala, a local hunter. Today and you can follow in their footsteps during

7. Ubsunur basin

This object includes Lake Ubsu-Nur, which belongs simultaneously to Mongolia and Russia (Republic of Tuva). On the territory of Mongolia, this lake is the largest, and its Russian part is only 0.3% of the total area. Here are contrasting landscapes - highlands, mountain taiga massifs, forest-steppe, steppe and semi-desert areas. There is even a real sandy desert. The surroundings of the lake were inhabited several thousand years ago. This is evidenced by petroglyphs on the rocks, stones and mounds, of which there are about 40,000 here.

8. Wrangel and Herald Islands

In the very north of Russia, where the Chukchi Sea meets the Arctic Ocean, the gloomy and mountainous islands of Wrangel (7.6 thousand km²) and Herald (11 km²) are located. In harsh environments where vibrant life seems impossible, there are hundreds of plant species - more than on any other Arctic island. Among the blackening rocks, walruses settled in the largest rookery in the Arctic, and thousands of birds made their nests. Gray whales swim in the local waters during migrations. Vragnel Island is called the "maternity hospital of polar bears" - there are so many of its ancestral lairs here. And in Chukchi it is called Umkilir - "the island of polar bears."

It is worth visiting at least once to see really rare animals. For example, musk oxen, which, like reindeer, survived the late Pleistocene extinction. Their wool is eight times warmer than sheep! , you can also try whale meat, learn an Eskimo dance and walk along the alley of whale bones.

Ten natural objects of the Russian Federation are on the UNESCO World Heritage List (4 of them are recognized as natural phenomena of exceptional beauty and aesthetic importance), and this is not counting another 15 objects that are cultural objects of protection. This is not at all surprising, because Russia is a truly vast country, with a huge territory, with incredibly beautiful and diverse nature, with a rich cultural heritage.

If you want to see the virgin nature of Russia in its original form, then it will not be difficult for Russians (and foreign tourists too) to go to one of the nature reserves or national parks of the country, on the territory of which these ten objects are located that need constant protection at the international level. level...

1. Forests of the Komi Republic

The area of these forests is more than 3 million hectares, on which there is a national park and a state biosphere reserve. This facility opened a new page for Russia in environmental protection at the global level.

The virgin forests of Komi are known as the largest untouched forests growing in Europe. They occupy an area of 32,600 square kilometers in the north of the Ural Mountains, within the Pechero-Ilychsky Reserve and the Yugyd Va National Park. According to their composition, the Komi forests belong to the taiga ecosystem. They are dominated by coniferous trees. Western part forests fall on the foothills, eastern - on the mountains themselves. The Komi forest range is distinguished by the diversity of not only flora, but also fauna. More than two hundred species of birds live here, 40 species of rare mammals, and 16 species of fish that are considered valuable for fishing, preserved since the Ice Age, live in the reservoirs. For example, Siberian grayling and palia char belong to such fish species. Many inhabitants of the virgin forests of Komi are listed in the Red Book of the planet. This natural object The Russian Federation was included in the UNESCO list in 1995 - the very first in the list.

2. Lake Baikal

For the whole world, Baikal is a lake, for the people of Russia who are in love with a unique natural object, Baikal is a sea! Located in Eastern Siberia, it is the deepest lake on the planet and, at the same time, the largest natural reservoir of fresh water in terms of volume. The shape of Baikal has the shape of a crescent. The maximum depth of the lake is 1642 meters with an average depth of 744. Baikal contains 19 percent of all fresh water on the planet. The lake is fed by more than three hundred rivers and streams. Baikal water is distinguished by a high content of oxygen. Its temperature rarely exceeds plus 8-9 degrees Celsius even in summer near the surface. The water of the lake is so clean and transparent that it allows you to see in depth at a distance of up to forty meters.

The oldest and deepest (approximately 1700 meters) on Earth, Lake Baikal covers an area of over three million hectares. The reservoir that appeared about 25 million years ago was in almost complete isolation, due to which an amazing ecosystem was formed in its fresh waters, the study of which allows obtaining information about the evolutionary processes taking place on the planet.

Unique even on a global scale, the lake is about 20% of all the reserves of such necessary fresh water on Earth, as well as a delightful sight that inspires beauty and enchants with the luxury of amazing landscapes.

Lake Baikal was named a beautiful pearl by UNESCO in 1996 and included in the list of priceless heritage of the planet.

3. Kamchatka volcanoes .

This site was also included in the World Heritage List in 1996. Five years later (in 2001), the territory of the object subject to international protection expanded due to the movement of lithospheric plates of the Pacific volcanic ring. Today, the territory of the state biosphere reserve is about 4 million hectares. This area is called natural museum volcanology". As exhibits can serve as long-extinct, and active volcanoes peninsulas of Kamchatka. Moreover, each of the "exhibits" is an individual object, for the study of which life is not enough.

In total, there are currently about 300 extinct volcanoes and 30 active volcanoes on the territory of this object, but the number of the latter changes every year. The most interesting tourist attraction of this region is the Valley of Geysers in the Konotsky Biosphere Reserve. The mountain rivers of Kamchatka abound with huge numbers of salmon fish, and coastal waters are home to many species of whales and dolphins.

4. Altai Mountains

These mountains are called "Golden", as each species of animals, birds and fish is unique here. Altai cedar forests and mammals with the most valuable commercial fur, which can be equated in value with gold, have been preserved here. The object covers an area of more than 1.5 million hectares, was included in the UNESCO list in 1998. The "golden" Altai mountains are located at the intersection of the mountain system of Siberia and Central Asia.

The vegetation of this region is unique, there is an abundance of alpine meadows, there are steppes, semi-deserts and tundra. Absolutely everything is unique here, from snow leopards to mountainous landforms. Pearl Altai Territory called Teletskoye Lake, which is also called "Small Baikal".

5. Natural Park "Lena Pillars"

The fabulously beautiful landscapes of the park are formed by hundred-meter rock formations that pacify the waters of the beautiful Lena River. The Lena Pillars are located in the very heart of Sakha (Republic of Yakutia).

Such an amazing natural phenomenon owes its appearance to the continental climate, within which temperature fluctuations reach about one hundred degrees (+40 degrees in summer and -60 degrees in winter). The pillars are separated by deep ravines with steep slopes. Their formation took place under the influence of water, which contributes to the freezing of the soil and its weathering. Similar processes led to the fact that the ravines deepened and expanded. Water in this case plays the role of a destroyer, representing a danger to the pillars.

Introduced in 2012 into the list of heritage of the planet, the Lena Pillars are of interest not only from the point of view of an aesthetic spectacle, it is also a unique archaeological zone, on the territory of which the remains of ancient animals of the Cambrian period were found.

This natural site has an area of 1.27 million hectares. If we take into account the geological structure of the soil in the park, then this land can “tell” a lot about the history of the planet, about living organisms and vegetation.

Many remains of mammoths, bison, woolly rhinos, Lena horses, reindeer and other remains of ancient mammals have been found in the Lena Pillars. Today, 12 representatives of animals and birds listed in the Red Book of the planet live on the territory of the complex. It is believed that the Lena Pillars have a huge "aesthetic influence" on a person due to their unique beauty of landscapes, the quaintness of the relief with huge caves, fabulous-looking stone sculptures, rocky spiers, niches and "towers".

6. Sikhote-Alin Reserve

This territory, included in the UNESCO list in 2001, covers an area of about 0.4 million hectares. The object is valuable because unique broad-leaved forests and ancient coniferous forests have been preserved on its territory. There is also an incredible mixture of different types of flora and fauna, among which there are many rare species.

A large biosphere reserve in Primorsky Krai was originally created to preserve the sable population. It is currently the most comfortable spot observation of the life of the Amur tiger. On the territory of the Sikhote-Alin Reserve grows great amount plants. More than a thousand higher species, more than a hundred - mosses, about four hundred - lichens, more than six hundred species of algae and more than five hundred - fungi.

Local fauna represented large quantity birds, marine invertebrates and insects. Many plants, birds, animals and insects are among the protected objects. lemongrass chinese,ginseng,Fori rhododendron and Palibina edelweiss, spotted deer and Himalayan bear, black crane and stork, Japanese starling, Sakhalin sturgeon, fish owl and Swallowtail butterfly - all of them found shelter in the Sikhote-Alin Reserve.

7. natural complex Reserve Wrangel Island

The protected area, which in 2004 added to the list of UNESCO treasures, is located beyond the Arctic Circle. It includes the relief landscapes of Wrangel Island, whose area is over 7 thousand square meters. kilometers, and Herald Island, whose area is 11 thousand square meters. kilometers, as well as the coastal waters of the East Siberian Sea and the waters of the Chukchi Sea.

This region managed to avoid glaciation, thanks to which the area is distinguished by amazing biological diversity. The harsh climate of the protected area appealed to the walruses, who have formed here the largest rookery in the Arctic. The picturesque land was also chosen by polar bears, the density of their ancestral dens in this region is considered the highest on the planet.

More than fifty species of birds nest here, including both endemics and endangered ones. Gray whales rush here, choosing this place for feeding. Surprisingly, over four hundred species of vascular plants are found on the island, among which there are also endemics.

Here tourists can see the largest "bird colonies" in the Eastern Arctic. Pleistocene relics predominate among plant forms. The landscape of the island is unusual, as well as its water area. Many travelers dream of visiting here.

8. Ubsunur hollow

The area of this unique biosphere reserve is 0.8 million hectares. The object was included in the UNESCO list in 2003. A salt lake with a large area is located on the border of Mongolia and the Russian Republic of Tuva. By the way, only seven sections of the intermountain basin with a shallow lake (up to 15 meters) are located on the territory of Russia, the remaining five parts of the Transboundary Facility are located in Mongolia. Each of the seven sections of the basin on our territory is individual in appearance and the plants that grow there depending on the landscapes.

Inhabitant of the Ubsunur Hollow

WHere you can see the foothills with eternal stretches of snow-capped peaks, there are also areas of mountain taiga, alpine meadows, wetlands, mountain tundra and even sandy deserts. The remnant mountains with bright vegetation and contrasting landscapes give a special picturesqueness to the Ubsunur basin. Endangered species of animals are found here - mountain sheep - argali, snow leopard, as well as many rare species of birds - geese, herons, terns, gulls, waders, etc. During the excavation of ancient mounds in the basin, unique cave drawings, graves and stone statues.

9. Putorana Plateau

Included in the World Heritage List in 2010, this natural site of the Russian Federation covers a total area of more than 1.8 million hectares. This virgin basalt plateau in the north of Eastern Siberia, almost at the Arctic Circle, is invaluable in terms of study by geologists and geomorphologists. The mountainous terrain has a stepped landscape, flat-topped massifs are intersected by deep canyons. The plateau was formed at the turn of the Mesozoic and Paleozoic as a result of volcanic activity. Forty-layer deposits allow us to study the structure of the planet.

Deep cracks in the plateau are formed by glaciers, which subsequently filled with water, forming lakes with unique appearance and depths up to 400 meters. There are many beautiful waterfalls on the territory of the plateau, one of which (in the valley of the Kanda River) has a height of 108 meters. In total, there are 25 thousand small and large lakes with a huge supply of fresh water on the territory of the Putorana Plateau. There are more than 30 species of mammals in this northern reserve, and all of them are rare or relict.

Vegetation is represented by 400 species - mainly woodlands, mountain tundra and larch taiga. The plateau serves as a resting place for thousands of species of migratory birds.

The picturesque landscapes of the beautiful plateau coincide with the boundaries of the reserve of the same name located beyond the Arctic Circle, which adorns the territory of Central Siberia. The changing zones betray each other a special charm of the area: virgin taiga, the richest forest tundra, colorful landscapes of the tundra and the fabulous beauty of the icy Arctic deserts. A real decoration of the plateau: winding ribbons of rivers and a crystal saucer of a lake filled with clear cold water. Through the inhospitable lands of the plateau, a road stretches along which deer migrate. This is an incredible sight, which in nature can be observed less and less.

10. Territories of the Western Caucasus

The nature reserve with an area of 0.3 million hectares has been included in the UNESCO list since 1999. These territories are almost untouched by human civilization. Today they are protected not only by UNESCO, but also by other all-Russian and international organizations - Greenpeace, the Institute of Geography of the Russian Academy of Sciences, "NABU", Dresden Technical University, the working group " North Caucasus” and others. The territory of the reserve covers areas that stretch from the upper reaches of the Kuban River to the Belaya and Malaya Laba rivers..

Caucasus. Blooming rhododendron in the Upper Mzymta valley

The vegetation in this protected region is represented by coniferous and broad-leaved forests, crooked forests, mountain meadows, and nival belt. Every third plant here is considered relic. Rare species of birds of prey nest here - ospreys, bearded vultures, golden eagles, griffon vultures, etc. Among the large animals in the reserve, you can see West Caucasian tigers, brown bears, wolves, Caucasian red deer, bison, etc. Tourists will be interested to see beautiful karst formations in this natural area with deep gorges, waterfalls, underground rivers, tarns, moraines, cirques and valleys formed by mountain glaciers.

11. Curonian Spit

The Curonian Spit is a sandy spit located on the coast of the Baltic Sea and the Curonian Lagoon. The Curonian Spit is a narrow and long saber-shaped strip of land that separates the Curonian Lagoon from the Baltic Sea and extends from the city of Zelenogradsk, Kaliningrad Region, to the city of Klaipeda (Smiltyne) (Lithuania).

Length - 98 kilometers, width ranges from 400 meters (near the village of Lesnoy) to 3.8 kilometers (near Cape Bulviko, just north of Nida).

The Curonian Spit is a unique natural-anthropogenic landscape and a territory of exceptional aesthetic value: The Curonian Spit is the largest sand body that is part of the Baltic sand spits complex, which has no analogues in the world. The high level of biological diversity due to the combination of different landscapes - from desert (dunes) to tundra (raised bog) - gives an idea of important and long-term ecological and biological processes in the evolution and development of terrestrial, river, coastal and marine ecosystems and communities of plants and animals. The location of the spit and its relief are unique.

The most significant element of the spit relief is a continuous strip of white sand dunes 0.3-1.0 km wide, partly approaching the highest in the world (up to 68 m).

The Curonian Spit contains natural areas that are the most representative and important for the conservation of biological diversity, including those where endangered species are preserved, which are of outstanding world significance in terms of science and nature conservation: due to its geographical position and orientation from northeast to south west it serves as a corridor for migratory birds of many species flying from the northwestern regions of Russia, Finland and the Baltic countries to the countries of Central and Southern Europe. Every year, in spring and autumn, 10 to 20 million birds fly over the spit, most of which stop here for rest and feeding.

In the last entry, I posted not all the architectural objects of Russia, marked by UNESCO for their uniqueness and historical value. Today I will add to this list...

12. Citadel, old town and fortifications of Derbent .

The citadel, the old town and fortifications of Derbent is the collective name under which in 2003 UNESCO inscribed the medieval architectural heritage of the city of Derbent on the World Heritage List.

The history of ancient Derbent, located off the coast of the Caspian Sea, on the territory of modern Dagestan, has, according to archaeologists, five thousand years. This one of ancient cities Russia was at first a small settlement founded at the foot of the spurs Caucasus mountains, which later acquired city fortifications of impressive size.

However, the first documentary evidence of this place is precisely how big city, belong to the 5th century. At that time, the Persian king Yazdegerd II ruled here, who appreciated its strategic location. This, by the way, is reflected in the name, because Derbent in Iranian means “mountain outpost” or “mountain pass”. Approximately 100 years later, another king erected a fortified city on the remains of the former defensive structures, which is called Old, with an impregnable fortress and powerful fortifications. Between these fortifications, stretching deep into the Caucasus Mountains for more than 40 kilometers, a city has developed that still retains a medieval character.

Citadel of Nara-kala

It continued to be a strategically important site well into the 19th century. Derbent has experienced many dramatic events throughout its history: wars, assaults, periods of decline and prosperity, times of independence and subjugation to other peoples. But still, this place has preserved many monuments of all these turbulent periods.

It: the citadel of Naryn-kala, with thick and high walls, the ruins of the palace of the Derbent Khan, baths and a guardhouse;

13. Struve geodesic arc

The Struve arc is a network of 265 triangulation points, which were stone cubes buried in the ground with an edge length of 2 meters, with a length of more than 2820 kilometers. It was created to determine the parameters of the Earth, its shape and size. It is named after the creator - the Russian astronomer Friedrich Georg Wilhelm Struve (Vasily Yakovlevich Struve).

The Struve geodetic arc was measured by Struve and employees of the Derpt (Tartu) and Pulkovo observatories (whose director was Struve) for 40 years, from 1816 to 1855, over 2820 km from Fuglenes near the North Cape in Norway (latitude 70 ° 40′11″ N) to the village of Staraya Nekrasovka, Odessa region, near the Danube (latitude 45° 20′03″ N), which formed a meridian arc with an amplitude of 25° 20′08″.

Struve geodesic arc, "Point Z", Fr. Gogland, Leningrad region

Currently, arc points can be found on the territory of Norway, Sweden, Finland, Russia (on the island of Gogland), Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Belarus, Moldova (Rud village) and Ukraine. On January 28, 2004, these countries applied to the UNESCO World Heritage Committee with a proposal to approve the remaining 34 points of the Struve Arc as a World Heritage Site. In 2005, this proposal was accepted.

A story about other architectural monuments of Russia included in the UNESCO World Heritage List, Around the world

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In Russia, a lot of monuments and cultural heritage are recognized as UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Now we will introduce you to some of them.

All these monuments and places are under the strict protection of the UN, UNESCO and a number of other organizations related to culture, science and education.

Moscow Kremlin and Red Square

Any resident of Russia knows what the Kremlin and Red Square are. Any tourist and resident of our vast country first of all when he comes to Moscow visits these memorable places. UNESCO took these sites under protection in 1990.

This monument reflects the entire centuries-old history of Moscow and Russia in general. Also on the territory of the Kremlin there are unique objects of the foundry art of Russia: the Tsar Bell, which weighs more than 200 tons and is 6.6 m in diameter, and the Tsar Cannon with its mass of 40 tons.

Lake Baikal

Lake Baikal is one of the most picturesque

Natural Park "Lena Pillars"

"Lena Pillars" - a unique natural monument

The architectural ensemble of the Kizhi Pogost

Kizhi churchyard is the epitome of Russian architecture

Novgorod historical monuments

Monuments of Veliky Novgorod - UNESCO heritage site

Nature Reserve Wrangel Island

Wrangel Island is famous for its pristine ecosystem

curonian spit

The Curonian Spit serves as a resting place for migratory birds

Novodevichy Convent in Moscow

Since 2004, the monastery has been included in the UNESCO list, which since 1524 has been one of the defensive structures of Moscow. In 1926, a historical and domestic and historical museum was founded on the site of the monastery, and in 1980, the residence of the Metropolitan of Krutitsy and Kolomna was placed. In 1994, the convent was officially approved.

Previously, the Novodevichy Convent housed a historical museum.

Komi Forest

Recognized as the most virgin forests in Europe with a total area of 32,600 sq. km, which belong to the territory of the Pechero-Ilychsky Reserve and occupy part of the YugydVa National Park.

The forest area of Komi is famous for its virgin forests.

Protected by UNESCO since 1995. Forests are distinguished by the diversity of flora and fauna, and many plant species are on the verge of extinction and are listed in the Red Book.

Kamchatka volcanoes

The number of volcanoes in Kamchatka is more than a thousand

World heritage sites included in the special list of UNESCO are of great interest to the entire population of the planet. Unique natural and cultural objects make it possible to preserve those unique corners of nature and man-made monuments that demonstrate the richness of nature and the possibilities of the human mind.
As of July 1, 2009, there are 890 objects in the World Heritage List (including 689 cultural, 176 natural and 25 mixed) in 148 countries: individual architectural structures and ensembles - the Acropolis, cathedrals in Amiens and Chartres, history Center Warsaw (Poland) and St. Petersburg (Russia), Moscow Kremlin and Red Square (Russia), etc.; cities - Brasilia, Venice along with the lagoon, etc.; archaeological reserves - Delphi, etc.; national parks - Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, Yellowstone (USA) and others. The states on whose territory the World Heritage sites are located undertake obligations to preserve them.

1) Tourists inspect the Buddhist sculptures of the Longmen Grottoes ("Dragon Gate") near the city of Luoyang in the Chinese province of Henan. There are more than 2,300 caves in this place; 110,000 Buddhist images, more than 80 dagobas (Buddhist mausoleums) containing relics of the Buddhas, as well as 2,800 inscriptions on the rocks near the Yishui River, a kilometer long. For the first time Buddhism in China was introduced in these places during the reign of the Eastern Han Dynasty. (China Photos/Getty Images)

2) Bayon Temple in Cambodia is famous for its many giant stone faces. There are over 1,000 temples in the Angkor region, ranging from nondescript piles of brick and rubble scattered among rice fields to the magnificent Angkor Wat, considered the world's largest single religious monument. Many of the temples at Angkor have been restored. More than a million tourists visit them every year. (Voishmel/AFP - Getty Images)

3) One of the parts of the archaeological site of Al-Hijr - also known as Madain Salih. This complex is located in northern regions Saudi Arabia was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List on July 6, 2008. The complex includes 111 rock burials (I century BC - I century AD), as well as a system of hydraulic structures dedicated to the ancient Nabatean city of Hegra, which was the center of the caravan trade. There are also about 50 rock inscriptions dating back to the Donabatean period. (Hassan Ammar/AFP - Getty Images)

4) The waterfalls "Garganta del Diablo" ("Devil's Throat") are located on the territory of the Iguazu National Park in the Argentine province of Misiones. Depending on the water level in the Iguazu River, the park has from 160 to 260 waterfalls, as well as over 2000 varieties of plants and 400 Iguazu National Park was inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1984. (Christian Rizzi/AFP - Getty Images) #

5) The mysterious Stonehenge is a stone megalithic structure, consisting of 150 huge stones, and located on the Salisbury Plain in the English county of Wiltshire. This ancient monument is believed to have been built in 3000 BC. Stonehenge was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1986. (Matt Cardy/Getty Images)

6) Tourists stroll by the Bafang Pavilion in the Summer Palace, Beijing's famous classical imperial garden. summer palace, built in 1750, was destroyed in 1860 and rebuilt in 1886. It was inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1998. (China Photos/Getty Images)

7) The Statue of Liberty at sunset in New York. "Lady Liberty", which was presented to the United States by France, stands at the entrance to New York Harbor. It was inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1984. (Seth Wenig/AP)

8) "Solitario George" (Lonely George), the last living giant tortoise of this species, born on Pinta Island, lives in the Galapagos National Park in Ecuador. She is now approximately 60-90 years old. The Galapagos Islands were originally inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1978, but in 2007 they were marked as endangered. (Rodrigo Buendia/AFP - Getty Images)

9) People skate on the ice of the canals in the Kinderdijk Mills area, a UNESCO World Heritage site near Rotterdam. Kinderdijk has the largest collection of historic windmills in the Netherlands and is one of the top attractions in South Holland. Decoration with balloons of the holidays passing here gives a certain flavor to this place. (Peter Dejong/AP)

10) View of the Perito Moreno glacier located in national park Los Glaciares, in the southeast of the Argentine province of Santa Cruz. This place was listed as a UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site in 1981. The glacier is one of the most interesting tourist sites in the Argentinean part of Patagonia and the 3rd largest glacier in the world after Antarctica and Greenland. (Daniel Garcia/AFP - Getty Images)

11) Terraced gardens in the northern Israeli city of Haifa surround the golden-domed Shrine of the Bab, the founder of the Baha'i faith. Here is the world administrative and spiritual center of the Baha'i religion, the number of professing which in the world is less than six million. The site was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site on July 8, 2008. (David Silverman/Getty Images)

12) Aerial photography of St. Peter's Square in the Vatican. According to the World Heritage website, this small state contains a unique collection of artistic and architectural masterpieces. The Vatican was inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1984. (Giulio Napolitano/AFP - Getty Images)

13) Colorful underwater scenes of the Great Barrier Reef in Australia. This thriving ecosystem hosts the world's largest collection of coral reefs, including 400 coral species and 1,500 fish species. Big barrier reef was inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1981. (AFP - Getty Images)

14) Camels rest in ancient city Petra in front of Jordan's main monument, Al-Khazneh or the Treasury, believed to be the sandstone tomb of a Nabataean king. This city, located between the Red and Dead Seas, is at the crossroads of Arabia, Egypt, Syria and Phoenicia. Petra was added to the World Heritage List in 1985. (Thomas Coex/AFP - Getty Images)

15) Sydney Opera House - one of the most famous and easily recognizable buildings in the world, which is a symbol of Sydney and one of the main attractions of Australia. The Sydney Opera House was listed as a World Heritage Site in 2007. (Torsten Blackwood/AFP - Getty Images)

16) Rock paintings made by the San people in dragon mountains located in the east South Africa. The San people lived in the Drakensberg area for thousands of years until they were destroyed in clashes with the Zulus and white settlers. They left behind incredible rock paintings in the Dragon Mountains, which were inscribed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site in 2000. (Alexander Joe/AFP - Getty Images)

17) General view of the city of Shibam, located in the east of Yemen in the province of Hadhramaut. Shibam is famous for its incomparable architecture, which is included in the UNESCO World Heritage Program. All houses here are built of clay bricks, about 500 houses can be considered multi-storey, as they have 5-11 floors. Shibam is often referred to as " the oldest city skyscrapers in the world" or "Desolate Manhattan", it is also the oldest example of urban planning based on the principle of vertical construction. (Khaled Fazaa/AFP - Getty Images)

18) Gondolas near the Grand Canal in Venice. The Church of San Giorgio Maggiore is visible in the background. Island Venice - seaside resort, center international tourism world significance, the venue for international film festivals, art and architectural exhibitions. Venice was listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site in 1987. (AP)

19) Some of the 390 abandoned huge statues of compressed volcanic ash (moai in the Rapa Nui language) at the foot of the Rano Raraku volcano on Easter Island, 3700 km from the coast of Chile. Rapa Nui National Park has been included in the UNESCO World Heritage Program since 1995. (Martin Bernetti/AFP - Getty Images)

20) Visitors walk along the Great Chinese wall in the Simatai area, northeast of Beijing. This largest architectural monument was built as one of the four main strategic strongholds in order to defend against the invading tribes from the north. The 8,851.8 km long Great Wall is one of the largest construction projects ever completed. It was inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1987. (Frederic J. Brown/AFP - Getty Images)

21) Temple at Hampi, near the South Indian city of Hospet, north of Bangalore. Hampi is located in the middle of the ruins of Vijayanagara, the former capital of the Vijayanagara Empire. Hampi and its monuments were inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1986. (Dibyangshu Sarkar/AFP - Getty Images)

22) A Tibetan pilgrim rotates prayer mills on the grounds of the Potala Palace in Lhasa, Tibet's capital. The Potala Palace is a royal palace and Buddhist temple complex which was the main residence of the Dalai Lama. Today, the Potala Palace is a museum actively visited by tourists, remaining a place of pilgrimage for Buddhists and continuing to be used in Buddhist rituals. Due to its enormous cultural, religious, artistic and historical significance, it was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1994. (Goh Chai Hin/AFP - Getty Images)

23) The Inca citadel of Machu Picchu in the Peruvian city of Cusco. Machu Picchu, especially after receiving the UNESCO World Heritage status in 1983, has become a center of mass tourism. The city is visited by 2,000 tourists per day; In order to preserve the monument, UNESCO demands to reduce the number of tourists per day to 800. (Eitan Abramovich/AFP - Getty Images)

24) Buddhist pagoda Kompon-daito on Mount Koya, in the province of Wakayama, Japan. Mount Koya, located east of Osaka, was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2004. In 819, the Buddhist monk Kukai, the founder of the Shingon school, an offshoot of Japanese Buddhism, was the first to settle here. (Everett Kennedy Brown/EPA)

25) Tibetan women walk around the Bodhnath Stupa in Kathmandu - one of the most ancient and revered Buddhist shrines. On the sides of the tower crowning it, "Buddha's eyes" inlaid with ivory are depicted. Kathmandu valley with a height of about 1300 m is a mountain valley and a historical region of Nepal. There are many Buddhist and Hindu temples here, from the Boudhanath stupa to tiny street altars in the walls of houses. Locals say that 10 million Gods live in the Kathmandu Valley. The Kathmandu Valley was inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1979. (Paula Bronstein/Getty Images)

26) A bird flies over the Taj Mahal, a mausoleum-mosque located in the Indian city of Agra. It was built by order of the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his wife Mumtaz Mahal, who died in childbirth. The Taj Mahal was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1983. The architectural marvel was also named one of the "New Seven Wonders of the World" in 2007. (Tauseef Mustafa/AFP - Getty Images)

27) Located in northeast Wales, the 18km Pontcysillte Aqueduct is an Industrial Revolution civil engineering feat completed in the early years of the 19th century. More than 200 years after its opening, it is still in use and is one of the busiest sections of the UK canal network, handling around 15,000 boats a year. In 2009, the Pontkysilte aqueduct was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List as "a milestone in the history of civil engineering during the Industrial Revolution." This aqueduct is one of the unusual monuments to plumbers and plumbing. (Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)

28) A herd of moose grazes in the meadows of Yellowstone National Park. Mount Holmes, on the left, and Mount Dome are visible in the background. In the Yellowstone National Park, which occupies almost 900 thousand hectares, there are more than 10 thousand geysers and thermal springs. The park was included in the World Heritage program in 1978. (Kevork Djansezian/AP)

29) Cubans drive an old car along the Malecon in Havana. UNESCO inscribed Old Havana and its fortifications on the World Heritage List in 1982. Although Havana has expanded and has a population of over 2 million, its old center retains an interesting mixture of baroque and neoclassical monuments and homogeneous ensembles of private houses with arcades, balconies, wrought iron gates and patios. (Javier Galeano/AP)