Sea biospheric reserve
The sea reserve – is the unique one from 93 reserves of Russia. It includes three sites of water area, with the total area of 63000 hectares, territories of 11 islands (including Big Pelis, Matveev, De-Livron, Gildevrant, Stenin, Durnov, Furugelm), with the total area of 1100 hectares, and a site on Popov island (peninsula Likander) with the area of 216 hectares. The basic purpose of the reserve creation is the preservation of the natural environment, sea and island fauna and flora of Peter the Great bay of Japanese sea and, first of all, a genofund of sea organisms.
The reserve fauna and flora appeared in a contact zone of the greatest on a planet continent and ocean interconection. Here cold Seaside and warm Tsusimsky currents meet, the consequence of that is dwelling of arctic, subtropical and even tropical organisms in these waters. A specific variety of the sea communities occupying reserve is the richest among all seas of Russia. On the rocks it is easy to observe banks of large two-folding mollusks of Grea mussels. Huge boulders are covered with a continuous carpet of actiniums, hydroids and sea sponges. An underwater landscape is recovered by fussing crab families, among which there are small hermit crabs and one-and-a-half-meter Kamchatsky crabs. On the uliginous and sandy soils there are usual seaside scallops and Far East trepang. A sandy bottom is colored with flat sea hedgehogs, stars and nimbuses of sea worms.
The vegetation of sea reserve islands is original; it shows a remarkable example of vegetative communities adaptation to specific sea conditions. During the millennia they were developing in isolation from the continent, lost many satellites, but could adapt, and occupied their own, characteristic only for them niche.
The riches of well kept reserve nature, favorable geographical location define its extreme appeal and form the basis for development eco tourism here as the form of ecological education.
The objects of display in the sea reserve are geological, archeological and historical monuments, underwater, coastal and island communities of animals and plants.
Peter the Great bay islands and coasts were populated more than 6000 years ago. But the greatest number of archeological monuments on islands are related to yankovskaya archeological culture of the first millennium B.C. Now on the majority of the reserve islands stay remainders of the 35 settlements of that time and the certificates of being here the neolith epoch people are found.
Reserve Islands have, basically, a volcanic origin. Practically in every nook of reserved islands and coast it is possible to meet picturesque exposures of granites. At the coast of Giddebrandt Island crater phase is well visible – the remainders of a volcano acting in the remote past. On Durnovo Island interesting exposures of sedimentary breeds attract our attention; they are thin crystalline limestone with inclusions of jasper and the rests of Paleozoic fauna. Majestic rocks and grottoes, the freakish form coasts and separately staying kekuri, are beautiful in any place of sea reserve.
Natural sights of reserve, availability of territory to transport, the presence of experts cause an opportunity of the organization and carrying out on a part of reserve territory various natural-ecological excursion routes: cognitive, scientific, training, improving, foot and diving - routes.
For the mass eco tourism reserve Northern area is defined; it is a zone of ecological-educational activity on Popov Island. Here there is a museum «the Nature of the sea and its protection» and the Center of ecological education which offers the whole complex of training programs, role games and master-classes. The center is equipped with 3 local rooms for 60 places, a dining room, a cabinet for the studying and a room of rest. Here it is possible to watch various films about the nature, to take advantage of a video microscope transmitting animals images on the screen.
Taking into account the necessity of protection of many unique flora and fauna, non-admission the factor of inhabitants anxiety, the intensity of carrying out ecological routes is defined by allowable recreational loadings on those or other sites of reserve.
Routes
Route «In museum « the Nature of the sea and its protection» Popov Island»
Route «Ecology of the ancient person», Popov Island»
Route «Popov Island intertidal zone»
Route «the Geological world. Popov Island»
Route «Fortress constructions Popov Island»
Route «the Ecological track on Popov Island»
Route «the Ecological track on Furulgelm Island»
Route «Island botanical garden «Likander», Popov Island»
Route «On islands of Peter the Great bay»
Contact information
The address: 690041, Vladivostok, st. Palchevskaya, 17, Far East state sea biosphere reserve.
Phone/fax: (4232) 310-915.
Director of reserve A.N.Malyutin.
The chief of eco department reserve A.A.Gulbina