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Specially protected natural territories of the Russian Federation
Komandorsky Nature Reserve
The Komandorsky State Nature Biosphere Reserve is Russia's largest marine reserve. The area of its protected marine zone is more than 30 thousand square kilometers. Green hills, sand dunes, open spaces covered with a carpet of tundra, the stormy waters of the Pacific Ocean and the Bering Sea, whales spouting water up in the air, thousands of bird colonies and huge rookeries of fur seals and sea lions – these are all the natural treasures of the Commander Islands, which are carefully preserved in its original form thanks to operation of the reserve. Komandorsky is the country’s only place, where the cetaceans are observed on a 24/7 basis, all the year round. Local waters are a critical habitat for whales, where more than 20 species of these amazing sea giants are found. A lot of other species of animals, including pinnipeds, seabirds, sea otters, island forms of Arctic fox are also studied and protected in the reserve. Here, one can also see rare species of plants, including those entered on the Red Book of Russia like Cypripedium Yatabeanum and Cypripedium macranthos, Isoetes maritima and others. In 2002, the reserve was included in the World Network of Biosphere Reserves established under the UNESCO "Man and the Biosphere" program. The status of the biosphere reserve unites specially protected natural areas, which demonstrate in practice the possibility of harmonious interaction of man and nature.
