In Russia, which possesses innumerable natural resources, there are more than a hundred various natural reservations, many of which are protected by international law. Slightly fewer in the country are the so-called reserve museums that preserve the artistic heritage. It is not possible to list them all, but it is necessary to introduce the most significant ones.
A reserve is a specially protected area of nature (territory or water area). Reserves are created to preserve ecosystems, endangered or rare animals and plants, as well as to study them in the absence of human intervention. There are a total of 103 reserves in Russia, among which are some of the largest and most unique in the world. The total area of nature reserves in Russia is about 340 square kilometers, which is comparable to the area of Finland. The oldest Russian reserve is Barguzinsky; it was founded in 1917 with the aim of protecting the sable. Today they are engaged in the protection of the Baikal taiga. The reserve is located on the northeastern coast of Lake Baikal on the slopes of the Barguzinsky ridge. It is famous for its healing springs and giant trees. There are many relict plants and animals here. The oldest reserves in Russia also include Astrakhan, Ilmensky and Kavkazsky. The largest reserves in Russia are, first of all, the Bolshoi Arctic, Komandorsky and Wrangel Island. The Great Arctic Reserve is the largest in Eurasia and the third largest in the world, it provides conservation and study of local fauna. "Stolby" is one of the most unusual nature reserves. It is located near Krasnoyarsk, on the northwestern spurs of the Eastern Sayan. "Pillars" got their name in honor of the unusual syenite rocks, which outwardly resemble pillars. On the initiative of local residents, a reserve was founded in 1925 in order to preserve the unique rocks. They attract many tourists; some of the rocks are accessible to fans of extreme and active recreation. On one of the "pillars" before the 1917 revolution, the word "freedom" was written in huge letters, and to this day this inscription is periodically updated. Some of the most picturesque reserves are the Karelian "Kivach", the Siberian "Altaysky", "Katunsky" and "Baikalsky", the North Caucasian "Teberdinsky". Many Russian reserves are included in the UNESCO World Heritage List and are protected by international law, among them, for example, the Lena Pillars National Natural Park in Yakutia. In addition to the nature reserves themselves, reserve museums are also worthy of mention. One of the most famous is the Tsarskoye Selo State Art and Architecture Palace and Park Museum-Reserve and, of course, the Moscow Kremlin. At the same time, the memorial and natural reserve is Yasnaya Polyana in the Tula region.
