Report on cultural sites of different countries. Natural and cultural heritage

Work is underway to submit the following natural objects to the List: Volga Delta, Lena Delta, Green Belt of Fennoscandia, Kurile Islands, Valdai - Great Divide, Western Sayan, Beringia and Solovetsky Islands.

Russia, of course, is rich in unique and, very importantly, untouched economic activity natural complexes. According to rough estimates by scientists, in our country there are about 20 territories worthy of the status of a World Heritage Site. natural heritage. The list of the most promising territories was determined during a joint project of UNESCO and the International Union for Conservation of Nature and natural resources(IUCN) on boreal forests.

Among the most important tourist and recreational resources, which often determine a tourist’s choice of travel route, are unique natural and cultural landscapes, historical and cultural monuments, which are designated as “natural and cultural heritage"and are declared by many countries national treasure. Of particular importance are the sites included by UNESCO in the list of World Cultural and Natural Heritage.

The list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites began to be compiled in 1972, when the Convention for the Protection of Outstanding Cultural and Natural Sites was adopted. This includes archaeological sites, unique cultural landscapes, historical city centers and individual architectural monuments that have become the property of all mankind, monuments that represent an example of the traditional way of life, monuments associated with teachings and beliefs of global significance, nature reserves and national parks.

At the beginning of 2010, the list of cultural and natural heritage sites included 890 objects, incl. 689 cultural, 176 natural and 25 mixed (natural and cultural). In fact, there are much more of them (over a thousand), because some of them include entire complexes and architectural ensembles, such as the castles of the Loire Valley or palaces and temples in the historical center of St. Petersburg. UNESCO World Heritage Sites are located in 148, the first twenty of which are presented in Table. 4.

Table 4.

There is a clear disproportion in the distribution of World Cultural and Natural Heritage sites across parts of the world: 44% of UNESCO sites are in Europe, and another 23.5% are in Asia (Table 5). The marked contrast is even more noticeable in the distribution of cultural monuments - 3/4 of the world's cultural heritage is concentrated in Eurasia (50% in Europe and 25% in Asia). This phenomenon is explained by the Eurocentricity of modern world culture, and the preserved heritage of ancient civilizations of the East, on the one hand, and the youth of European civilization in America, Australia, and the almost unpreserved heritage of ancient African civilizations, on the other hand.

Table 5.

America holds the lead in natural monuments in the world, significantly ahead of Europe in this regard. Due to natural monuments, Africa and Australia are also noticeably moving up in the general list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

We also note that in the distribution of UNESCO World Heritage sites into three structural elements There is no such disproportion in the global economy as in the geography of international tourism. World Heritage sites are divided in approximately equal proportions between the post-industrial “core”, the industrial “semi-periphery” and the agricultural “periphery” (Table 6).

Table 6.

Distribution of UNESCO World Heritage sites by structural
elements of the world economic hierarchy

However, additional (relative) indicators of the distribution of natural and cultural monuments recognized by UNESCO still indicate their greater concentration in the post-industrial “core”. In terms of the number of UNESCO World Heritage sites per unit area, the “core” is almost twice the world average, and in terms of the number of natural and cultural monuments in proportion to the population – almost three times.

In terms of the density of UNESCO World Heritage sites (i.e., in terms of their number per unit area), the leading positions in the world are occupied by small but densely populated European countries: , etc. (Table 7, Fig. 4). In most cases, these countries act as the most famous centers of attraction for foreign tourists in Europe and the world.

Table 7.

Top 20 countries and Russia by number of World Heritage sites
UNESCO per unit area and in proportion to population

It is quite natural that large countries, such as Russia, the USA, Brazil, Australia, etc., occupy quite low positions in terms of the density of UNESCO World Heritage sites. For this reason, we propose another relative indicator characterizing the location of natural and cultural monuments in the world: the number of UNESCO World Heritage sites in proportion to the population of states (Table 7, Fig. 5).

Rice. 5. Number of UNESCO World Heritage sites per 10 million inhabitants.

Apparently, the relatively more even distribution of UNESCO World Heritage sites across countries and continents, compared to the current global tourist flows, should in the near future affect the increase in the weight of the “semi-periphery” in the tourism industry of the world economy, and in the more distant future perspective – and the “periphery”. Tourism can play the role of a locomotive of post-industrial development in countries of the “semi-periphery” and “periphery”.

The list of natural and cultural attractions created by UNESCO is a kind of quality mark, telling the traveler that it is worth seeing. We decided to tell you about those Russian sites that were included in the World Heritage Register. What if you don’t know about some of them?

Architectural and historical complex Bulgar

On the territory of Tatarstan there are preserved ruins of a city founded by the Volga Bulgars ( Turkic tribes). In 1361, the city was destroyed by the Golden Horde prince Bulat-Timur - fortunately, not completely. The settlement, which was recognized as a unique monument in 2014, has survived to this day.

Wrangel Island

Wrangel Island is the northernmost of the UNESCO World List sites. It includes not only the island of the same name, but also the neighboring Herald Island, as well as the adjacent waters of the Chukchi and East Siberian seas. The islands are famous for their huge walrus rookeries and the highest density of dens in the world. polar bear. The reserve was recognized as a heritage of humanity in 2004.

Historical center of Yaroslavl

One of the dominant features of Yaroslavl is the Spassky Monastery complex, which is often called the Kremlin. Together with other historical buildings of the city, it was included in the World Heritage List in 2005.

Church of the Ascension in Kolomenskoye

It was built on the royal estate in 1532, when Kolomenskoye was not yet a territory of Moscow. The church was recognized as a heritage of humanity in 1994.

Lake Baikal

Surprisingly, the deepest lake in the world was not recognized as a heritage of humanity among the first natural attractions. UNESCO noted the exclusivity of this reservoir only in 1996.

Architectural ensemble of the Trinity-Sergius Lavra

In 1993, the list was replenished with the main attraction of Sergiev Posad. The largest monastery in Russia was founded back in 1337, and the laurel acquired its familiar appearance by XVIII century when she appeared here most of buildings available to the public today.

Western Caucasus

The Western Caucasus Mountains, on whose territory the Sochi National Park and the Ritsa Nature Reserve are located, for example, stretch from Anapa to Elbrus. Here you can find both low-mountain terrain and typically alpine landscapes with numerous glaciers. The mountains were included in the UNESCO list in 1999.

Citadel, old town and fortifications of Derbent

Derbent is considered the oldest city in Russia. The first mention of it dates back to the 6th century BC, when it was called the Caspian Gate. There is a citadel and fortifications here, which are 16 centuries old. In 2003, UNESCO recognized them as an exceptional historical monument.

Golden Altai Mountains

It was under this name that three sections of the Altai Mountains were included in the UNESCO list in 1998: the Altai and Katunsky reserves and the Ukok plateau. Despite the status of specially protected areas, cases of poaching are still common here.

Ensemble of the Ferapontov Monastery

The construction of the Ferapontov Monastery in the Vologda region began in the 15th century. For centuries it was the most important cultural and religious center of the Belozersky region. Today, in the buildings of the monastery, included in the UNESCO list in 2000, there is a museum and the bishop's courtyard of the Vologda Metropolis.

Volcanoes of Kamchatka

In 1996, the Kamchatka volcanoes were recognized as a World Heritage Site, and five years later UNESCO expanded the protected area. A large number of active volcanoes are concentrated here, which makes this area unique even by global standards.

Historical and architectural complex "Kazan Kremlin"

The only Russian Kremlin, on the territory of which a church adjoins a mosque, is located in Kazan. It began to be built in the 10th century, and it acquired a more or less modern appearance only six centuries later. Today, the fortress, which has been considered a heritage of humanity since 2000, is the main attraction of the capital of Tatarstan and a favorite place for walks for citizens.

Putorana Plateau

Lenta.ru has written more than once about the Putorana Plateau, which was included in the World Heritage List in 2010. This natural reserve, stunning in its beauty, is located in the north of Central Siberia, 100 kilometers beyond the Arctic Circle. Here you can see untouched taiga, forest-tundra and arctic desert.

White stone monuments of Vladimir and Suzdal

In 1992, the white stone monuments of Vladimir and Suzdal were recognized as World Heritage Sites. The cities located very close to each other are an ideal weekend route, varied and not tiring.

Moscow Kremlin and Red Square

In 1990, one of the first to be included in the list was the main square of Russia (together with the Kremlin). In total, Moscow has three UNESCO-listed attractions, more than in any other region of the country.

Curonian Spit

Partially located on the territory of Lithuania, the Curonian Spit is one of the main natural attractions of the Kaliningrad region. Its length is 98 kilometers, and its width ranges from 400 meters at its narrowest point to four kilometers at its widest. The spit was included in the UNESCO heritage list in 2000.

Ensemble of the Novodevichy Convent

Another Moscow landmark - the Novodevichy Convent - was created in XVI-XVII centuries. The monastery is a prominent representative Moscow Baroque and is famous for the fact that women from royal family. The importance of the monastery for world culture was recognized in 2005.

Virgin forests of Komi

The largest Russian attraction on the list covers an area of ​​3.28 million hectares, including lowland tundra, mountain tundra of the Urals and one of the largest tracts of primary boreal forests. These territories have been protected by the state for the past 50 years; the forests were included in the UNESCO list in 1995.

Architectural ensemble of the Kizhi Pogost

Many people go to Karelia for the sake of Kizhi and Solovki. Both islands are included in the World Heritage List. Kizhi Pogost, a monument of wooden architecture, was included in the list in 1990.

Lena pillars

Located in the largest region of the country - Yakutia, the pillars are located almost 200 kilometers from the republican center. Excursions here are expensive, but those who have visited the pillars say that they do not regret the money spent. In 2012, the uniqueness of the natural monument was noted by UNESCO.

Historical center of St. Petersburg

One of the most famous attractions not only in Russia, but also beyond its borders is the center of St. Petersburg. The "Venice of the North", with its canals and more than 400 bridges, was included in the UNESCO list in 1990.

Ubsunur Basin

Another attraction that Russia shares with other states (there are three of them in total). The Ubsunur Basin, partially located on the territory of Mongolia, consists of 12 isolated areas united common name. The local steppes are home to a huge number of birds, rare mammals are found in desert areas, and the snow leopard, listed in the Red Book, lives in the highlands. The basin was included in the UNESCO list in 2006.

Khersones is familiar to everyone who has vacationed in Crimea at least once. The ruins of the ancient polis, which is today part of Sevastopol, were added to the UNESCO list in 2013.

Struve geodetic arc

“Struve Arc” is a chain of triangulation points stretching for almost three thousand kilometers across the territory of ten European countries from Hammerfest in Norway to the Black Sea. She appeared in early XIX century and was used for the first reliable measurement of a large segment of the earth's meridian arc. It was created by the astronomer Friedrich Georg Wilhelm Struve, better known in those days under the name Vasily Yakovlevich Struve. In 2005, the attraction was included in the UNESCO heritage list.

Historical monuments Novgorod and surrounding areas

In the 9th century, Novgorod became the first capital of Russia. It is logical that it was one of the first to be included in the World Heritage List. UNESCO recognized it as a heritage of humanity in 1992.

Central Sikhote-Alin

The name Sikhote-Alin, which is unusual for Russian ears, is borne by the mountains in the Primorsky Territory. Rare animals such as the Himalayan bear and Amur tiger live here. The protected area was recognized as a heritage of humanity in 2001.

Architectural and historical complex Bulgar

On the territory of Tatarstan, the ruins of a city founded by the Volga Bulgars (Turkic tribes) have been preserved. In 1361, the city was destroyed by the Golden Horde prince Bulat-Timur - fortunately, not completely. The settlement, which was recognized as a unique monument in 2014, has survived to this day.

Wrangel Island

Wrangel Island is the northernmost of the UNESCO World List sites. It includes not only the island of the same name, but also the neighboring Herald Island, as well as the adjacent waters of the Chukchi and East Siberian seas. The islands are famous for their huge walrus rookeries and the highest density of polar bear dens in the world. The reserve was recognized as a heritage of humanity in 2004.

Historical center of Yaroslavl

One of the dominant features of Yaroslavl is the Spassky Monastery complex, which is often called the Kremlin. Together with other historical buildings of the city, it was included in the World Heritage List in 2005.

Church of the Ascension in Kolomenskoye

It was built on the royal estate in 1532, when Kolomenskoye was not yet a territory of Moscow. The church was recognized as a heritage of humanity in 1994.

Lake Baikal

Surprisingly, the deepest lake in the world was not recognized as a heritage of humanity among the first natural attractions. UNESCO noted the exclusivity of this reservoir only in 1996.

Architectural ensemble of the Trinity-Sergius Lavra

In 1993, the list was replenished with the main attraction of Sergiev Posad. The largest monastery in Russia was founded back in 1337, and the laurel acquired its usual appearance by the 18th century, when most of the buildings available to the public today appeared here.

Western Caucasus

The Western Caucasus Mountains, on whose territory the Sochi National Park and the Ritsa Nature Reserve are located, for example, stretch from Anapa to Elbrus. Here you can find both low-mountain terrain and typically alpine landscapes with numerous glaciers. The mountains were included in the UNESCO list in 1999.

Citadel, old town and fortifications of Derbent

Derbent is considered the oldest city in Russia. The first mention of it dates back to the 6th century BC, when it was called the Caspian Gate. There is a citadel and fortifications here, which are 16 centuries old. In 2003, UNESCO recognized them as an exceptional historical monument.

Golden Altai Mountains

It was under this name that three sections of the Altai Mountains were included in the UNESCO list in 1998: the Altai and Katunsky reserves and the Ukok plateau. Despite the status of specially protected areas, cases of poaching are still common here.

Ensemble of the Ferapontov Monastery

The construction of the Ferapontov Monastery in the Vologda region began in the 15th century. For centuries it was the most important cultural and religious center of the Belozersky region. Today, in the buildings of the monastery, included in the UNESCO list in 2000, there is a museum and the bishop's courtyard of the Vologda Metropolis.

Volcanoes of Kamchatka

In 1996, the Kamchatka volcanoes were recognized as a World Heritage Site, and five years later UNESCO expanded the protected area. A large number of active volcanoes are concentrated here, which makes this area unique even by global standards.

Historical and architectural complex "Kazan Kremlin"

The only Russian Kremlin, on the territory of which a church adjoins a mosque, is located in Kazan. It began to be built in the 10th century, and it acquired a more or less modern appearance only six centuries later. Today, the fortress, which has been considered a heritage of humanity since 2000, is the main attraction of the capital of Tatarstan and a favorite place for walks for citizens.

Putorana Plateau

Lenta.ru has written more than once about the Putorana Plateau, which was included in the World Heritage List in 2010. This natural reserve, stunning in its beauty, is located in the north of Central Siberia, 100 kilometers beyond the Arctic Circle. Here you can see untouched taiga, forest-tundra and arctic desert.

White stone monuments of Vladimir and Suzdal

In 1992, the white stone monuments of Vladimir and Suzdal were recognized as World Heritage Sites. Cities located very close to each other are an ideal weekend route, varied and not tiring.

Moscow Kremlin and Red Square

In 1990, one of the first to be included in the list was the main square of Russia (together with the Kremlin). In total, Moscow has three UNESCO-listed attractions, more than in any other region of the country.

Curonian Spit

Partially located on the territory of Lithuania, the Curonian Spit is one of the main natural attractions of the Kaliningrad region. Its length is 98 kilometers, and its width ranges from 400 meters at its narrowest point to four kilometers at its widest. The spit was included in the UNESCO heritage list in 2000.

Ensemble of the Novodevichy Convent

Another Moscow landmark, the Novodevichy Convent, was created in the 16th-17th centuries. The monastery is a prominent representative of the Moscow Baroque and is famous for the fact that women from the royal family were tonsured here as nuns. The importance of the monastery for world culture was recognized in 2005.

Virgin forests of Komi

The largest Russian attraction on the list covers an area of ​​3.28 million hectares, including lowland tundra, mountain tundra of the Urals and one of the largest tracts of primary boreal forests. These territories have been protected by the state for the past 50 years; the forests were included in the UNESCO list in 1995.

Architectural ensemble of the Kizhi Pogost

Many people go to Karelia for the sake of Kizhi and Solovki. Both islands are included in the World Heritage List. Kizhi Pogost, a monument of wooden architecture, was included in the list in 1990.

Lena pillars

Located in the largest region of the country, Yakutia, the pillars are located almost 200 kilometers from the republican center. Excursions here are expensive, but those who have visited the pillars say that they do not regret the money spent. In 2012, the uniqueness of the natural monument was noted by UNESCO.

Historical center of St. Petersburg

One of the most famous attractions not only in Russia, but also beyond its borders is the center of St. Petersburg. The "Venice of the North", with its canals and more than 400 bridges, was included in the UNESCO list in 1990.

Ubsunur Basin

Another attraction that Russia shares with other states (there are three of them in total). The Ubsunur Basin, partially located on the territory of Mongolia, consists of 12 isolated areas, united by a common name. The local steppes are home to a huge number of birds, rare mammals are found in desert areas, and the snow leopard, listed in the Red Book, lives in the highlands. The basin was included in the UNESCO list in 2006.

Cultural and historical ensemble "Solovetsky Islands"

The Solovetsky archipelago has six islands, and its total area is more than 300 square kilometers. Despite the fact that it is located on the territory Arkhangelsk region, most travelers sail here from Karelia - it’s more convenient. The archipelago was included in the list in 1992.

The ancient city of Chersonesos Tauride and its choir

Khersones is familiar to everyone who has vacationed in Crimea at least once. The ruins of the ancient polis, which is today part of Sevastopol, were added to the UNESCO list in 2013.

Struve geodetic arc

The “Struve Arc” is a chain of triangulation points stretching for almost three thousand kilometers across ten European countries from Hammerfest in Norway to the Black Sea. It appeared at the beginning of the 19th century and was used for the first reliable measurement of a large segment of the earth's meridian arc. It was created by the astronomer Friedrich Georg Wilhelm Struve, better known in those days under the name Vasily Yakovlevich Struve. In 2005, the attraction was included in the UNESCO heritage list.

Historical monuments of Novgorod and surrounding areas

In the 9th century, Novgorod became the first capital of Russia. It is logical that it was one of the first to be included in the World Heritage List. UNESCO recognized it as a heritage of humanity in 1992.

Russia is a unique country. It ranks first in the world in terms of territorial area and ninth in terms of population. As of 2012, there are 25 specially protected sites in Russia. Fifteen of them have the status of a cultural attraction, the remaining ten are of a natural nature. Six of the fifteen UNESCO cultural sites in Russia are marked “i”, that is, they belong to the masterpieces of human civilization. Four out of ten natural objects have the highest aesthetic criterion “vii”.

The nature of the country is distinguished by a variety of plant and animal forms: northern mosses and lichens coexist with southern palm trees and magnolias, coniferous forests of the taiga form a striking contrast with the steppe crops of wheat and sunflowers.

Climatic, natural and cultural diversity has led to interest in it from both domestic and foreign citizens. Natural and man-made attractions, river cruises and rail travel, beach and health, sports and extreme tourism make the country attractive to all categories of vacationers.

The main attractions of Russia are included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. Anyone who wants to discover a great country can start by getting acquainted with twenty-five natural and man-made sites that have a cultural, historical or environmental degree of global significance. and is compiled in order to preserve and display to modern man the full depth of our common civilizational heritage.

UNESCO sites in Russia - PHOTO

The northern capital of Russia was included in the UNESCO List of 36 monuments located not only in St. Petersburg itself, but also in its neighbors - Pushkin and Shlisselburg. The palace and park ensembles of the villages of Gatchina and Strelna, the Koltuvskaya and Yukkovskaya uplands, the Lindulovskaya Grove and the Komarovskoye village cemetery - all this constitutes one huge cultural and natural formation, territorially and historically connected with the northern capital of Russia. Himself represented on the UNESCO List historical center and the old part of the city, the Pulkovo Observatory and the palace and park ensembles of Peterhof, Shuvalovsky Park and the Vyazemsky estate, local fairways and numerous city highways.

Built in XVIII-XIX centuries in Kizhi, two wooden churches and a bell tower were included in the UNESCO List in 1990. The cultural heritage of Karelia is known throughout the world for the Church of the Transfiguration, built, according to legend, without a single nail. Since the mid-20th century, the Kizhi State Historical and Architectural Museum has been operating on the basis of the Kizhi Pogost. Along with ancient original buildings, it includes imported objects of wooden religious architecture and those erected in the immediate vicinity - for example, an eight-wing windmill built in 1928. The wooden fence of the Kizhi churchyard ensemble was reconstructed in 1959 in accordance with the principles of organizing traditional churchyard fences.

Symbols of an entire country and era - the Moscow Kremlin and Red Square - are among the most significant cultural attractions of Russia and the whole world. It seems that there is not a person on Earth who does not know what they look like. When visiting Russia, most foreigners first go to Red Square. The Moscow Kremlin is one of the oldest architectural monuments in Russia. Its majestic walls and numerous towers, its Orthodox cathedrals and palace buildings, its squares and gardens, the Armory and Kremlin Palace The congresses reflect the centuries-old history of the country. Adjacent to the north-eastern wall of the Kremlin, Red Square is famous not only for the Mausoleum and the Eternal Flame, but also for the numerous events organized on it in Lately. Victory parades, concerts dedicated to Russian Independence Day, New Year's skating rinks - all this can be afforded by one of the largest pedestrian areas in Moscow.

Veliky Novgorod and its surrounding areas are included in the UNESCO list with more than ten cultural sites that are predominantly of a religious nature. Znamensky, Zverin, Antoniev and, the Church of the Nativity on the Red Field, the Church of the Savior on Nereditsa, St. John the Merciful and the Annunciation on Myachina and many other Orthodox buildings date back to ancient periods Russian history and represent unique architectural complexes. The Novgorod Detinets (that is, the Kremlin) and the part of the city related to it are interesting from the point of view of historical and architectural heritage.

Spaso-Preobrazhensky Solovetsky Monastery was built in the 20-30s of the 15th century. It is spread over four islands of the Solovetsky archipelago. The cultural and historical ensemble "Solovetsky Islands" includes the main monastery, the Ascension and Savvatievsky skete, St. Isaac's, Makarievskaya and Filippovskaya hermitages on Bolshoi Solovetsky Island, Sergievsky monastery on the island of Bolshaya Muksalma, Trinity and Golgotha-Ruspyatsky monastery and Eleazar's hermitage on Anzer and St. Andrew's deserts and Stone labyrinths on Bolshoi Zayatsky Island. IN Soviet time The largest forced labor camp in the USSR, the Solovetsky camp, operated on the monastery territory. special purpose. Monastic life became possible here only at the end of 1990.

Eight architectural monuments of ancient Russian architecture, mostly of a white stone nature, were included in the UNESCO list in 1992. All of them are located on the territory of the Vladimir region and belong to Orthodox culture Russia. In Vladimir there are three UNESCO-protected sites: the Dmitrievsky Cathedral, built in the 12th century, as well as the Golden Gate. In Suzdal there is a 12th-century Kremlin with the Nativity Cathedral and the Spaso-Efimievsky Monastery, built in the 16th-17th centuries. The village of Bogolyubovo is known to Orthodox pilgrims for the Palace of Andrei Bogolyubsky and the magnificent. The Church of Boris and Gleb in the village of Kideksha is the first white stone building in northeastern Rus'.

Built in the 16th century, the Church of the Ascension of the Lord is the first stone Orthodox church to use a tent instead of a classic dome. According to legend, it was erected on the occasion of the birth of Ivan the Terrible. The place for the temple was chosen on the right bank of the Moscow River, famous for its miraculous spring. The Church of the Ascension of the Lord has the appearance of a centric temple-tower, rising above the ground to a height of 62 meters. The architectural design of the church shows features of the early Renaissance. The temple is surrounded in a circle by a two-tiered gallery-promenade.

The Holy Trinity Lavra of Sergius was founded Venerable Sergius Radonezh in 1337. Currently it is the largest Orthodox monastery in Russia. The Trinity-Sergius Lavra is located in the center of Sergiev Posad, a city in the Moscow region. The designation “Laurel” indicates the crowded, large population of the monastery. The architectural ensemble of the monastery consists of fifty buildings of various functional purpose. Among them there are Orthodox cathedrals, numerous bell towers, and royal palaces. Boris Godunov and members of his family found their final refuge in the Trinity-Sergius Lavra.

The virgin forests of Komi are known as the largest intact forests growing in Europe. They occupy an area of ​​32,600 square kilometers in the north of the Ural Mountains, within the Pechero-Ilychsky Nature Reserve and the Yugyd Va National Park. In terms of their composition, Komi forests belong to the taiga ecosystem. They are dominated by coniferous trees. The western part of the forests is in the foothills area, the eastern part is in the mountains themselves. The Komi forest is distinguished by the diversity of not only flora, but also fauna. More than two hundred species of birds live here, and rare species of fish are found. Many forest plants are protected.

For the whole world, Baikal is a lake, for the residents 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 by volume. The shape of Baikal looks like 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 has a high oxygen content. Its temperature rarely exceeds plus 8-9 degrees Celsius even in summer in the surface area. The water of the lake is so clean and transparent that it allows you to see at a depth of up to forty meters.

The volcanoes of Kamchatka are part of the Pacific volcanic ring of fire - a large chain of the main active volcanoes of the planet. Unique natural sites were included in the UNESCO List in 1996, along with adjacent areas characterized by picturesque views and biological diversity. The exact number of volcanoes on the peninsula is unknown. Scientists talk about several hundred and even thousands of objects. About thirty of them are classified as active. The most famous Kamchatka volcano is Klyuchevskaya Sopka - the most high volcano Eurasia and the most active on the peninsula. The volcanoes of Kamchatka have different volcanic origins and are divided into two belts superimposed on each other - the Middle and East Kamchatka.

A large biosphere reserve in the Primorsky Territory was originally created to preserve the sable population. Currently, it represents the most convenient place to observe life Amur tiger. A huge number of plants grow on the territory of the Sikhote-Alin Nature Reserve. 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 big amount birds, marine invertebrates and insects. Many plants, birds, animals and insects are protected species. Schisandra chinensis and edelweiss Palibina, spotted deer and Himalayan bear, black kite and Japanese starling, Sakhalin sturgeon and swallowtail butterfly - they all found shelter in the Sikhote-Alin Nature Reserve.

Three most significant areas The Altai Mountains - the Altai and Katunsky Nature Reserves and the Ukok Plateau - were included in the UNESCO list in 1998 under the name “Golden Mountains of Altai”. Mount Belukha and Lake Teletskoye were also included in the list of protected geographical sites. The Altai Mountains received the natural criterion “x” for the most fully presented picture of alpine vegetation. In this area, five belts follow one after another: steppe, forest-steppe, mixed, subalpine and alpine. The territory of the golden mountains of Altai is home to rare species of animals - snow leopard, Siberian mountain goat and others.

The basin of Lake Uvs-Nur, located in the Republic of Tyva, belongs to both Russia and Mongolia. On the part of the Russian Federation, it is represented by the Ubsunur Basin biosphere nature reserve, which includes both the waters of the lake itself and the adjacent land areas. The latter is home to a unique and, in many ways, diverse ecosystem of the region - here you can find both glaciers and the northernmost deserts in Eurasia. On the territory of the Ubsunur depression there are taiga zones, forest and classical steppes, alpine tundra and meadows. The area of ​​the reserve is replete with several tens of thousands of unexcavated burial mounds of ancient nomadic tribes.

Located in the Western Caucasus, the natural biosphere reserve belongs to the category of state ones. It is a large natural formation belonging to two climatic zones - temperate and subtropical. More than 900 species of vascular plants and 700 species of fungi grow on the territory of the reserve. Initially, the Caucasian Reserve was called the bison reserve. Nowadays, it was decided to abandon this definition, since, in addition to bison, there are a large number of other mammals, each of which requires state protection. Today, on the territory of the reserve you can find wild boars and roe deer, Western Caucasian tur and brown bear, Caucasian mink and bison.

Not only the Moscow and Novgorod Kremlin are included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. The Kazan Kremlin is also among the culturally significant objects of world significance. Its historical and architectural complex, consisting of white stone Kremlin, temples and other buildings, is a monument of three historical periods: XII-XIII, XIV-XV and XV-XVI centuries. The Kremlin territory of Kazan has the shape of an irregular polygon, coinciding in outline with the hill on which the ancient settlement is located. Initially, the Kazan Kremlin was a Bulgarian fortress. Then it came under the rule of the Kazan Khanate. After the capture of Kazan by Ivan the Terrible, the first Orthodox churches. In 2005, in honor of the millennium of Kazan, the main mosque of the Republic of Tatarstan, Kul Sharif, was built within the Kazan Kremlin.

Currently, the Ferapontov Monastery is one of the inactive monasteries. The Ferapontovsky branch of the Kirillo-Belozersky Museum-Reserve located in it and unique Museum frescoes of Dionysius became a stumbling block between the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation and the Russian Orthodox Church. In 2000, the Ferapontov Monastery was included in the UNESCO List, which finally gave it the status of not so much a religious, but a cultural heritage of humanity. The architectural ensemble of the monastery is represented by the Cathedral of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary, painted by the famous Moscow icon painter of the 15th-16th centuries - Dionysius, the monumental Church of the Annunciation, treasury chamber and service buildings.

The Curonian Spit is a long, narrow strip of sandy land that separates the Curonian Lagoon from Baltic Sea. According to its geographical status, this natural object is sometimes classified as a peninsula. The length of the Curonian Spit is 98 kilometers, the width is from 400 to 4 kilometers. The saber-shaped strip of land belongs half to Russia, half to Lithuania. On Russian territory The Curonian Spit contains the national park of the same name. The original peninsula was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List due to its biological diversity. Numerous landscapes, from deserts to tundra, a large amount of flora and fauna, as well as the ancient migration route of birds make the Curonian Spit a unique natural complex that needs protection.

The southernmost city of Russia, located in the Republic of Dagestan, Derbent, is one of the ancient cities peace. The first settlements on its territory arose at the end of the 4th millennium BC. Modern look acquired the city in 438. In those distant times, Derbent was a Persian fortress, consisting of the Naryn-Kala citadel and double walls descending to the Caspian Sea. The ancient fortress, old town and fortifications of Derbent were included in the UNESCO List in 2003. Naryn-Kala has survived to this day in the form of ruins, ancient temple fire worshipers, a mosque, baths and water reservoirs located on its territory.

Wrangel Island, located in the Arctic Ocean, was discovered in 1849. In 1926, the first polar station was created on it, in 1948 the island was inhabited by domesticated reindeer, and in 1975 by musk oxen. Latest event led to the fact that the authorities of the Magadan region decided to establish a nature reserve on Wrangel Island, which also included the neighboring Herald Island. At the end of the 20th century, the adjacent water areas also became part of the Wrangel Island nature reserve. The island's flora consists mainly of ancient plant species. The fauna of the area is poorly developed: most often, birds and walruses are found here, which have established their main Russian rookery on Wrangel Island.

The Novodevichy Mother of God-Smolensk Monastery was founded in 1524 in honor of the Smolensk Icon Mother of God"Hodegetria". The location of the Orthodox women's monastery is the Maiden's Field in Moscow. In the center of the monastery is the five-domed Smolensk Cathedral, from which the creation of the entire architectural ensemble of the religious monument of the Russian capital began. In the 17th century, the Church of the Assumption was built around it Holy Mother of God, Church of the Transfiguration, Church of the Intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, bell tower, refectory, Lopukhinsky, Mariinsky and Funeral Chambers.

The historical center of Yaroslavl, consisting of Rubleny Gorod (the local Kremlin) and Zemlyanoy Gorod, was noted by UNESCO in 2005 as an outstanding architectural example of urban planning reform carried out under Catherine II. Construction from the time of classicism took place near the parish church of Elijah the Prophet, in front of which there was a semicircular square. Streets-beams were drawn to it, each of which ended at an earlier date of construction. architectural monument– the Assumption Cathedral on Strelka, the Znamenskaya and Uglich towers, the Church of Simeon the Stylite.

A network of 265 geodetic reference points, created in the first half of the 19th century to study earth parameters, is currently found in many European cities. On Russian territory it is represented by two points - “Point Mäkipällus” and “Point Z”, located on the island of Gogland. Of more than two hundred objects of the Struve arc, only 34 points have survived to this day, which served as the basis for including a unique scientific monument of humanity in the List of especially valuable cultural objects of our time.

Like many natural sites in Russia included in the UNESCO List, the Putarana Plateau was included in it due to the unique combination of different ecological systems. Located within an isolated mountain range, the Putorana State Nature Reserve combines the subarctic and arctic zones, taiga, forest-tundra and arctic desert within its territory. The Putorana subspecies of the snow leopard, listed in the Red Book of Russia, lives on the territory of the reserve. The world's largest population of wild reindeer also winters on the plateau.

Located on the territory of the Sakha Republic, the Lena Pillars are the most recent Russian site included in the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2012. The geological formation, located on the banks of the Lena, is a multi-kilometer complex of vertically elongated rocks. The basis of this unique natural monument is Cambrian limestone. Scientists attribute the beginning of the formation of the Lena Pillars to the Early Cambrian, a time 560 million years distant from ours. The relief form of the Lena Pillars was formed much later - only 400 thousand years ago. Near the Lena Pillars there is a natural park of the same name. On its territory there are blowing sands and a parking lot. ancient man. Fossilized remains of mammoths are also found here.