Nalychevsky Nature Park |
Photographed by
N.Kraev, E.Lobkov, A.Nechaev. Text by
V.Menshikov. |
Nalychevo Nature Park - established on August 18,1995
by Governor Vladimir A Biryukov, it became the first state
conservation recreational site established on on the Kamchatka
Region. On December 6,1996, the park was included on the World
Heritage List. Park's land size - 309320 ha. It contains many unique
and fragile natural sites which were in need of protection.
The area has a complex geological construction and interesting
history of volcano magma and hydrothermal activity. It is comprised
of the valley of Nalychevo River which flows out to the Pacific
Ocean and surrounding ancient, mostly extinct volcanoes. The 4 the
highest active volcanoes are Koryaksky (3456m above sea level) which
last eruption in 1956, Zhupanovsky (2927m), last eruption in 1957,
Avachinsky (2741m), erupted in 1991, and Dzendzur (2285m),
historical eruptions are not recorded but fumarole activity is
registered. At the upper reaches of Nalychevo River on land of 40km2
some thermal and mineral springs are concentrated (temperature 14 -
75C and total debit- up to 200 l/sec). Of these the best known are
Nalychevskie, Talovye, Shaibnye, Kraevedcheskie, Dzendzurskie, and
Shumskie. Here cold mineral springs are also found - Aagskie, and
Koryakskie. Nalychevskie, the biggest of these springs, releases
more than 50 Iiters of water per second. The name Nalychevski refers
to a very rare type of "carbonaceous, arsenious, boracic,
concentrated by a number ofmicrocomponents". These deposits are
unique in the world.
The park has scenic mountain, tundra and sea
landscapes. Combination of present volcanic and ancient glacial
landscapes, specific microclimatic conditions of the valley of
Nalychevo River condition the richness and diversity of flora and
fauna, most species are presented in the Red Book Periodic volcano
eruptions lead to the death of vegetation on sizable areas,
therefore it is possible to study here the process of rehabilitation
of plants on lava fields and lava flows of different age Vegetation
that appear on hydro-thermal changed soils near hot mineralized
springs has a special interest for research Erman Birch (stone)
forests in the vicinities of hot springs are unique because of high
non-typical for Kamchatka grassy layer of rare species of Orchid
family including wonderful lady's slipper.
Geographical location of the park is optimal for recreation use
South boundary of the park is in 10-15km from the community
Petropavlovsk-Yelizovo and coincides with a green boundary of these
cities. It takes 20-25 min to get to the park's center by helicopter
Park's area is the most well-known and accessible place for many
inhabitants of the peninsula. Each year thousands of pupils and
tourists make foot and ski tours to the scenic place of rest and
cure at Nalychevo hot springs. There is a trail from Pinachevo
village to the park's central part, its length is 44 km.
Special regime of nature use and conservation is settled in
the Nalychevo Nature Park. Therefore, any activity on its area can
be carried out only with permission of the Kamchatka Nature Parks
Directorate.
Fauna is presented by 33 species of mammals. The
biggest are bear, deer and snow sheep. Nalychevo River valley is a
place of bear season concentration in the period of salmon spawning
and berry season. Volcano slopes and Nalychevo Cape rocks are the
habitats of bighorn sheep. List of birds numbers nearly 145 species
(including 90 nest birds). Specially protected are brant goose,
Steller's sea eagle, white-tailed eagle, gyrfalcon, peregrine
falcon, and golden eagle. Five species of Pacific salmon spawn in
Nalychevo River and its tributaries. Rare species of char salmon and
Kamchatka mikizha can be seen here.
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