In ancient times, the forests northeast of Moscow were a favorite place for royal hunting and falconry. The first sovereign of All Rus', Ivan the Terrible, loved to go bear hunting here. A little later, Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich established the “Government’s Hunting Path” on these lands - a hunting area with a special, reserved and protective status. Mere mortals here were forbidden to catch animals and birds, cut down trees, pick berries, or build houses.
And at a time when there were almost no animals left in other forests near Moscow, elk still lived in these places. This fact partly explains the wonderful name “Losiny Ostrov”. Why an island? It’s just that in the old days this was the name given to forests located between villages and fields; moreover, Losiny Ostrov was surrounded by a deep ditch filled with water.
The territory of Losiny Ostrov remained royal possessions until the revolution; even the Yaroslavl railway line laid nearby in 1860 did not disturb the natural balance of the reserve, and all the diversity of flora and fauna was preserved.
In 1842, when the territory of the park was just over 6 thousand hectares, the beginning of organized forestry was laid. All work here began to be carried out according to the rules of “forest science”.
Forest audits carried out in the period 1842-1912 led to the division of Losiny Ostrov into 4 parts:
- park;
- holiday village;
- reserve;
- operational zone.
The Losiny Ostrov State National Park received its status only in 1983 and has retained it to this day, remaining a most valuable natural monument.
Today it is divided into three zones:
1. Reserve, where nature is preserved in an untouched form. It is a habitat for rare wild animals and birds, so it is not only closed to visitors, but also protected;
2. educational excursion, through which several environmental and tourist routes, which you can go through accompanied by a guide. There are 4 visitor centers here;
3. Recreational, serving as a place of mass recreation.
Losiny Ostrov stretches from Sokolniki Park to the cities of Balashikha, Shchelkovo, Korolev and Mytishchi, occupying 12 thousand hectares, only two-thirds of which are located outside the Moscow Ring Road. It is only 8 km from the Kremlin to the southwestern border of the park. Its length from north to south is 10 km, and from west to east – as much as 22 km.
In the very center of Losiny Ostrov, not far from Mytishchi, there is a swamp; it is from here that the Yauza River takes its source, the floodplain of which is often flooded. In addition to the Yauza, many rivers and streams flow through the reserve, forming an entire water network. Once upon a time, canals with a total length of more than 100 km were laid here. Now many of them are abandoned.
Even in the pre-war years, the largest one was built - the Akulovsky Canal, connecting the Volga with the Yauza and Pekhorka rivers. It serves to supply Volga water to the capital.
Even during the most difficult war years, trees were planted on Losiny Ostrov. Many enthusiasts worked here - foresters and landscape designers who put a lot of effort into preserving and enhancing the natural wealth of this reserve.
The modern flora of Losiny Ostrov includes:
- more than 700 plant species;
- 90 types of mushrooms;
- 36 species of lichens;
- 150 types of algae.
Here you can find plants listed in the Russian and Moscow Red Book.
Losiny Ostrov is a real pearl of Russian nature. Centuries-old pine and lime forests, oak groves and taiga spruce forests have been preserved here. The pine trees growing in the famous Alekseevskaya ship grove, which are neither more nor less than 250 years old, amaze the imagination and impress with their beauty!
Grass cover national park They consist of forest grass, buttercup anemone, lungwort, goose onion, bileaf, green grass, sedge, and wintergreen. There are also a lot of berries here: lingonberries, blueberries, sorrel, strawberries.
The fauna of the park is also very diverse. More than 280 species of animals and birds are found in Losiny Ostrov, including:
- 180 species of birds;
- 40 species of mammals;
- 4 types of reptiles;
- 8 species of amphibians;
- more than 20 species of freshwater fish.
As in the old days, moose live here.
IN post-war years Sika deer were brought into the park, the beaver population was completely restored, and wild boars proliferated.
Fur-bearing animals also live in the reserve: mink, ermine, marten, and black ferret.
At night, bats circle over the forest, and their eternal enemies are owls.
Thanks to a significant forest area and long-term restrictions on forestry activities, the Losiny Ostrov National Park, even today, against the backdrop of the urban panorama of a multimillion-dollar city, remains one of the richest and most interesting among the forests of the Moscow region in terms of the richness of flora and fauna.
One of the world's largest nature reserves is located in the northeast of Moscow. Losinoostrovsky Park starts from Sokolniki and extends to Balashikha, Mytishchi and Shchelkovo. About 12 thousand hectares in the metropolis are allocated for preserved nature middle zone Russia.
History of Losiny Ostrov Park
From the 15th century lands near Moscow were royal hunting grounds. The Russian nobility came here, and Ivan the Terrible himself loved to spend time, so the forest was taken care of and protected. The name “Losiny Ostrov” appears during the time of Alexei Mikhailovich the Quiet, who often came hunting with hounds and falcons.
IN early XIX Art. “Losiny Ostrov” is recognized as a protected area, and a hundred years later it is included in the “green belt” around the capital. Losinoostrovsky Park received national status in 1983.
What is Losiny Ostrov Park?
More than 80% of the park area is devoted to forests, with almost a third located in Moscow.
About 5% of the territory is water bodies, swamps, swamps. The rest is sandy and glacial plains, meadows, and moraine hills.
Being scientific institution, the park is divided into zones:
- A specially protected area where mammals live in natural conditions and birds nest. Tourists are not allowed access.
- Well-maintained recreational area. There are asphalt paths, benches, gazebos, picnic areas, and beaches on 2 reservoirs.
- Walking excursion part of the park, where environmental centers operate. In this area you can travel on foot or on horseback along marked routes.
Unique flora of the park
Losinoostrovsky Park presents the natural vegetation of the Central Russian Upland. Special significance has Alekseevskaya Grove, where 40-meter pines grow, up to 220 years old, and Lipnyak, where the trees are 160-180 years old.
Since 1865, the Pine Mane has been preserved; there are also 250-year-old oak trees in the park. The system of reed and lowland swamps is represented by the Mytishchi floodplains and the Upper Yazuz wetland complex, rare lichens grow in the High Swamp, and orchids grow in the shallow waters of the Budaika, Ichka, and Pekhorka rivers.
Many plants that can be seen in Losinoostrovsky Park in Moscow are listed in the Red Book of Russia. In total, the protected flora includes 600 plant species.
Fauna
About 40 species of mammals, 180 species of birds, 20 fish and 9 amphibians live in the protected area.
Scientists divide the inhabitants of Losiny Island into 3 groups depending on their habitat:
- taiga;
- European deciduous forests;
- forest-steppe and steppe.
The pride of the reserve is the elk population, which exists freely, but at the same time is capable of self-reproduction. Losinoostrovsky Park is inhabited by sika deer, hares, squirrels, and martens. Wild boars, ferrets, stoats and muskrats found shelter. About 120 species of birds have chosen the park as a nesting site, including the eagle, partridge, kestrel, owl, and snake-eater. Many birds, such as cranes, waders, and swans, stop during their migration to wintering grounds.
Visitor centers of Losinoostrovsky Park
A popular recreational area among Muscovites, there is the Elk Station, stables, an arboretum, as well as several educational environmental centers (ECCs).
EPC employees conduct excursions along ecological trails, environmental campaigns, lectures and master classes, game programs, and celebrate national holidays.
In “Red Pine” you can visit a corner of nature and the House of Fairy Tales, where Baba Yaga is in charge.
By visiting the EPC “Tea Party in Mytishchi”, you can find out where water came from in Moscow, what samovars were used, and how they drank tea. There is a monument near the environmental center architecture of the 19th century Art. - a water intake station that is still in operation.
The Tsar's Hunt Museum is located in the visitor center of the same name and introduces the traditions of Russian hunting, tells how they dressed for the hunt and organized the Tsar's departure, and navigated the area. Near the visitor center there are the remains of the hunting lodge of Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich.
EPC "Abramtsevo" is located in the former ranger cordon of the 19th century.
At each visitor center you will be served delicious herbal tea, treated to bagels, horseback riding and guided along protected park paths.
Outdoor recreation
In recreational areas, birthday parties and on-site marriage registrations are held, photo shoots and corporate events, promotions and banquets are held, sports activities. Many Muscovites come to Losinoostrovsky Park and post photos of their vacation on various resources.
Not far from the entrances to the park near the EPCs “Tea Party in Mytishchi”, “Abramtsevo”, “Red Pine”, “Russian Life” there are cozy places for picnics. These are wooden houses, sheds, gazebos and tents, which have everything you need:
- tables and benches;
- barbecue;
- firewood.
In ecological centers you can rent log cabins and refectories.
Horse riding
If you want to get better acquainted with the natural world in Losinoostrovsky Park, how to get deep into the protected area? There is only one answer - during a horseback riding excursion.
There are 5 equestrian clubs in the park:
- "Yauza-1";
- "Yauza-2";
- "Losinka";
- "Mytishchi";
- "Career".
Walking routes run through the Losinoostrovsky National Park, Mytishchi and Yauzsky forest parks. During the 1-1.5 hour journey, excursionists will see animal tracks, admire the landscapes, and get acquainted with the main natural complexes. The routes are 3-5 km long; you can go horseback riding without a guide, only accompanied by an instructor.
In winter they organize sleigh rides, in summer - on a cart or tarantass.
Excursion routes around the park
There are more than 45 km of walking routes throughout Losinoostrovsky Park so that excursionists can see the diverse beauty of the Moscow region’s nature.
The ecological trails “Such a Familiar Forest” and “Mytishchi Plavni” will lead through unique landscapes and ecosystems. During the trip, you can see not only small rodents and birds, but also meet large mammals, including the owner of the park, the moose. An excursion to the Verkhneyauz swamps allows you to learn how beavers live and walk along the dam they built.
On the route “Alekseevskaya Grove” you will get acquainted with ancient trees and search for the place where the travel palace of Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich was located. And the excursion “The Path of the Vyatichi”, taking you through the preserved mounds of the 12th-13th centuries, will show the distant past of the Moscow region.
It is extremely interesting to visit the Elk Biological Station, where you can interact with elk calves and, in winter, with deer. However, please note that the tour is only available at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m., and you must pre-register. This is due to the way of life of animals.
A fascinating and educational excursion is held around the arboretum of Losinoostrovsky Park. Part of the route is laid on wooden walkways, laid at a height of 6 m above the ground. This allows you to see the forest through the eyes of its indigenous inhabitants. The guide will tell you not only about forest dwellers, but also about foresters, whose profession is to protect forest areas.
There is an excursion dedicated to the ancient roads of the XV-XVI centuries.
Excursion programs on ecology, Moscow studies, geography, history, and natural history have been prepared for children and schoolchildren.
How to get there by public transport
Losinoostrovsky Park is easy to get to because... There are many entrances to the park; they are located in different areas of the capital.
- To the EPC “Tsarskaya Okhota” from the station. m. Shchelkovskaya you need to take bus No. 361, minibuses 506k, 485, 447k, 396k, 362k, 1222k and 380k to the stop. "Experimental field".
- To the EPC "Abramtsevo" from the station. m. Shchelkovskaya follow bus number 627 to the stop with the same name.
- If from Art. m. VDNKh take trolleybus No. 76, bus No. 136, 172, 244 or minibuses 76,144, 244, 344, 675 to the stop. Printing College, then you can get to “Red Pine”.
- You can get to the Losinaya biological station if you take the train from the Yaroslavsky station and get to the Los or Perlovskaya station, then transfer to bus No. 547 or 3. People also go to the biological station from the station. m. VDNKh on any bus that goes to the region.
- From Art. m. VDNKh to the visitor center "Russian Life" go to the stop "Children's Clinic" by buses 136, 172, 903 and 789.
- Along the Yaroslavl railway to Mytishchi station or from the station. m. VDNKh by minibus to the 4th km of the Moscow Ring Road (20th km of the Yaroslavl highway) - this is how you can get to the EPC “Tea Party in Mytishchi”.
- The children's center is located in Korolev; go from Yaroslavsky station to Bolshevo station, then take bus number 7.
How to get there by car
Getting to the national park by car is even easier. The 95th kilometer of the Moscow Ring Road bisects the park area. There are exits from the highway leading to recreational areas.
You can drive in from Shchelkovskoye Highway, the landmark is the traffic police post. The arboretum is located here.
How to get to Losinoostrovsky Park by car without getting stuck in traffic jams? In this case, it is worth leaving early in the morning along the Yaroslavl highway.
The recreational part of the park is open 24 hours a day. Ecocenters and museums are open daily, and some excursions require advance registration.
Losiny Ostrov is one of the first national parks in Russia (along with Sochi), located on the territory of Moscow and the Moscow region (Balashikha urban district, Korolev urban district, Shchelkovsky district and the urban settlement of Mytishchi, Mytishchi municipal district).
The largest forest in Moscow and the largest among forests located within cities (Moscow part of the forest).
The total area of the national park in 2001 was 116,215 km². The forest occupies 96.04 km² (83% of the territory), of which 30.77 km² (27%) are located within the city of Moscow. The rest is occupied by reservoirs - 1.69 km² (2%) and swamps - 5.74 km² (5%). An additional 66.45 km² has been prepared for the expansion of the park.
The park is divided into three functional zones:
Specially protected zone 53.94 km² (47%);
Walking and sports area, 31.30 km² (27%), open to limited visits along established routes;
A recreation area of 29.81 km² (26%) is open to the public.
It includes 6 forest parks: Yauzsky and Losinoostrovsky (located within Moscow), as well as Mytishchi, Losinopogonny, Alekseevsky and Shchelkovsky near Moscow. Geographically, the park is located at the borders of the Meshcherskaya Lowland and the southern spurs of the Klinsko-Dmitrovskaya ridge, which is the watershed between the Moscow River and Klyazma.
The terrain is a slightly hilly plain. The height above sea level ranges from 146 m (the floodplain of the Yauza River) to 175 m. In the central part of the park the relief is the flattest. The most picturesque is the southwestern part of the park, where the terraces above the Yauza floodplain have fairly steep slopes.
The sources of the Yauza and Pekhorka rivers are on the territory of the park. The natural bed of the Yauza was significantly destroyed during peat extraction in 1950 - 1970; The river bed of Pekhorka changed greatly during the construction of the Akulovskaya hydroelectric station. On the territory of Losiny Ostrov, several small rivers and streams flow into the Yauza, including Ichka and Budaika.
History of the park
Losiny Ostrov has been known since 1406. From the 15th to the 17th centuries. the lands were part of the Taininsky palace volost, the lands of which since ancient times served as hunting grounds for Russian princes and tsars. So, in 1564, Ivan IV hunted bears here.
In general, the reserve regime was maintained for Losiny Ostrov. In 1799, the forests were transferred to the treasury department and the first topographic survey was carried out; the forest is divided into quarters, the area of each is equal to a square verst.
The first forestry was founded here in 1842, at the same time senior taxator Yegor Grimme and junior taxator Nikolai Shelgunov completed the first forest management. According to its results, the dominance of spruce (67%) was noted in the forest fund, which was subsequently replaced by pine and birch.
In 1844, forester Vasily Gershner began the creation of man-made forests in Losiny Ostrov. Active silvicultural work, mainly sowing and planting pine, was carried out for 115 years. These plantings are still resistant to intense anthropogenic impact.
IN mid-19th century, the Losinoostrovskaya forest dacha (Pogonno-Losino-Ostrovskoye forestry) was organized, and the period of systematic forestry began.
The idea of creating a national park was put forward by the head of the forestry, collegiate adviser Sergei Vasilyevich Dyakov, back in 1912. In 1934, Losiny Ostrov was included in the 50-kilometer “green belt” around Moscow.
Alexey Savrasov. Losiny Island in Sokolniki, 1869
Most of the forest was cut down during the Great Patriotic War. In 1979, by a joint decision of the Moscow City and Regional Councils of People's Deputies, Losiny Ostrov was transformed into a natural park, and on August 24, 1983, by a decision of the Council of Ministers of the RSFSR, a national park was formed.
In September 2006, the mayor of Moscow, Yu. Luzhkov, sent a letter to the Russian Government with a request to reduce the area of the national park on the territory of Moscow by 150 hectares (it was planned to lay the route of the Fourth Transport Ring on this territory, as well as to build a cottage village - “Embassy Town”). It was proposed to compensate for these territories at the expense of the Gorensky forest park of the Balashikha special forestry enterprise (Moscow region). In January 2007, the Russian Government refused to change the boundaries of Losiny Ostrov to the Moscow mayor.
New Forest Code Russian Federation 2006 (adopted in January 2007) transferred the Forest Park Protective Belt of Moscow to a federal body - Mosleskhoz (a division of Rosleskhoz), which has a meager budget, while its officials are constantly caught selling forests for large bribes. Special forestry enterprises were gradually liquidated and the staff of foresters was disbanded. All this was extremely negative consequences: In fact, no one is taking care of the forest, the trees are getting sick, and the number of fires has increased significantly.
Park composition:
Alekseevsky forest park
Mytishchi Forest Park
Yauzsky Forest Park
Losinoostrovsky forest park
Losino-Pogonny forest park
Shchelkovsky forest park.
Boundaries and illegal development
On December 14, 2009, the Arbitration Court of the Moscow Region, at the request of the regional prosecutor's office, made a decision to declare partially invalid the general plan of the Balashikha urban district, where the boundaries of the Losiny Ostrov National Park were incorrectly displayed. The Federal Arbitration Court of the Moscow District left this decision unchanged.
Designed master plan of the Balashikha urban district, approved by the Council of Deputies and personally by the head of the urban district V.G. Samodelov in December 2005, contained unreliable information about the boundaries of the National Park and partially provided for its development. The park boundary indicated on the plan retreated from the established boundary in some areas up to 400 meters.
Thus, in violation of the current legislation, the document was not submitted to the department of Rosprirodnadzor for the Central Federal District and was not agreed upon and was accepted in violation Federal Law“On specially protected natural areas.”
This law provides that issues of socio-economic activities of economic entities, as well as projects for the development of settlements located in the territories of the relevant national parks and their protected areas, are coordinated with the federal executive authorities.
“During the construction of the new Shchitnikovo microdistrict in August 2008, the developer Construction Company Kifo-N unauthorizedly fenced off a plot of land located in the 49th quarter of the Alekseevsky Forest Park and carried out work on arranging a foundation pit and trench.
As a result, the soil was damaged over an area of 3,764 square meters. meters and destroyed forest crops on an area of 1 hectare. The damage amounted to over 62 million 792 thousand rubles,” stated the Prosecutor General’s Office.
A criminal case was opened regarding the illegal cutting of trees with unauthorized seizure of territory, which is being investigated by the investigative department at the Internal Affairs Directorate for the city district of Balashikha.
Flora and fauna
National Park located in the subzone of deciduous-spruce forests of the Valdai-Onega subprovince of the North European taiga province of the Eurasian taiga region. More than 500 species of vascular plants grow in Losiny Ostrov, including 32 tree species and 37 shrub species.
Forest-forming tree species are birch (46% of the forested area), pine (22%), spruce (16%), linden (13%), oak (3%). The share of other breeds is insignificant. There are a wide range of species of herbaceous plants classified as rare and subject to protection on the territory of Moscow and the Moscow region (common wolfberry, lily of the valley, European swimmer, peach-leaved bell, nettle-leaved bell, green-flowered lyubka, bifolia lyubka, true nesting plant, etc.) Here is the only place in the near Moscow region, where liverwort nobly grows naturally.
The fauna includes more than 230 species of vertebrates, including more than 160 species of birds, 38 species of mammals; 15 species are represented by fish, 10 by amphibians and 5 by reptiles.
According to information from employees of the maintenance and improvement service of the national park, at the beginning of 2013, 70 moose, 300 sika deer, 200 wild boars, 300 hares lived on the territory of Losiny Ostrov; There are also foxes, American minks, raccoon dogs, squirrels, hazel dormouse, beavers, muskrats, bank voles, wood mice, goshawks, white-tailed eagles and many others.
Extermination of fauna by stray dogs
IN beginning of XXI centuries, wild fauna has been exterminated by packs of stray dogs living in the park. According to the Izvestia newspaper, packs of 10 to 15 dogs in the park hunt young wild boars and deer, knocking them away from their parents, destroy the ground nests of birds, and catch squirrels, stoats, ferrets and other animals.
The huntsman service systematically shoots stray dogs. According to the editor-in-chief of the Red Book of Moscow, Boris Samoilov, stray dogs have almost completely destroyed the sika deer in the park.
Deputy Director of the National Park Vladimir Sobolev reported in 2009 that the previous winter there were 5 incidents involving the death of animals as a result of attacks by packs of dogs: deer, elk and wild boar died.
According to the newspaper Moskovia, which cites employees of the national park, 17 Far Eastern deer were brought to the protected part of Losiny Ostrov in the 1960s.
At the beginning of the 21st century, the herd numbered about 200 individuals. However, since 2005, employees began to find gnawed skeletons of deer that were victims of attacks by stray dogs. In just one winter, 2008-2009, 17 deer died as a result of dog attacks, which is about 10% of the herd, the publication claims.
Employee of the Institute of Ecology and Evolution named after. A. N. Severtsov RAS, ecologist Andrei Poyarkov expressed the opinion that the reasons for the decline in the population of wild animals lie in the human factor. In his opinion, information about the cruelty of stray animals is exaggerated: (inaccessible link)
“Stray dogs do not kill any fallow deer or sika deer. It's been 20 years since deer have appeared in the city. Until recently, they were fed near Abramtsevo, but then the animals were taken deeper into the region. The reason is the Moscow Ring Road and poachers. As for the fallow deer, the Muscovites themselves pitted them against the guard dogs. A stray dog will not attack such large animals. »
Elk Island. Losiny Ostrov, a national park, northeast of Moscow (partly within the administrative boundaries of the city). Area 11 thousand hectares. Founded in 1983. Predominantly coniferous broadleaf forests made of spruce and linden with the participation of oak, maple, on... ... Dictionary "Geography of Russia"
The first national park in Russia in the northeast of Moscow and the Moscow region. Formed in 1983. St. Square 11 thousand hectares. The sovereign grove has been protected since the time of Ivan IV the Terrible. From the 17th century the park area was intensively used; from 19 to... Big Encyclopedic Dictionary
ELOSINY ISLAND, the first national park in Russia, in the northeast of Moscow and in the Moscow region. Formed in 1983. Sq. St. 11 thousand hectares. The sovereign grove has been protected since the time of Ivan IV the Terrible. From the 17th century the territory of the park is intensively... ...Russian history
Losiny Ostrov National Park IUCN Category II (National Park) Coordinates: Coordinates ... Wikipedia
The first national park in Russia (created in 1983). Located in the northeast of Moscow and its Forest Park protective belt, it starts from the Sokolniki forest park 8 km from the Kremlin and continues beyond the Moscow Ring Road to Mytishchi, Korolev (formerly Kaliningrad),... ... Moscow (encyclopedia)
The first national park in Russia, in the northeast of Moscow and in the Moscow region. Formed in 1983. Area over 11 thousand hectares. The “sovereign reserved grove” has been protected since the time of Ivan IV the Terrible. Since the 17th century the territory of the park is intensively... ... Encyclopedic Dictionary
Elk Island- Sp Losinyj Òstrovas Ap Losiny Ostrov/Losinyy Ostrov L nac. parkas RF Maskvos sr … Pasaulio vietovardžiai. Internetinė duomenų bazė
Elk Island- Los other island ( natural area in Moscow) ... Russian spelling dictionary
National park on the territory of Moscow and the Moscow region. Organized in 1983 on the square. 11,816 hectares, of which approx. 9,600 (81%) are forested. To the south and west it is adjacent to residential areas and industrial zones. The territory is crossed by roads (Moscow ring road, etc.... Geographical encyclopedia
Losiny Ostrov is the first national park in Russia, located on the territory of Moscow and the Moscow region. The largest forest area in Moscow and the largest among the forests located within the city (Moscow part). View of part of Losiny Ostrov... ... Wikipedia
Books
- Losiny Island, Borodin Vasily. Vasily Borodin (b. 1982) - poet, artist. Graduated from the Moscow State Evening Metallurgical Institute. Works as an editor, illustrates poetry and prose. Author of the book of poems "Luch...
- Losiny Island, Vasily Borodin. Poems by V. Borodin - an experiment, a study of the phenomenon of comparison. The author's attention is drawn to alliteration and very precise, even tautological rhymes precisely because...