If some conditions are ignored, 1927 can be considered the official year for the opening of the reserve. After this, due to some vicissitudes of fate, the reserved territory was increased, reduced, and for some time even tried to be abolished. However, today there is a reserve, which means that the Zhiguli nature is safe.

At the beginning of the sixties, when everyone was already certain that a reserve in this territory should be, immediately severe measures were taken against the local population. Since it is forbidden to carry out any kind of human activity, local residents were forced to practically not gather mushrooms and berries, and forget about hunting altogether.

Flora and fauna

However, the animal world of this protected area is not its strongest side, in terms of the diversity of mammals. They are only a little less than fifty species (in particular: elk, wild boar, roe deer, lynx, raccoon dog, wolf, fox, badger, forest marten, ferret, ermine and weasel). However, this deplorable fact is due to quite objective reasons. Zhigulevsky Reserve, unfortunately, has very small reserves of fresh water, which somewhat complicates the development of mammals.

But for fans of birds and vascular plants, there is something to see here, both in this region 158 and 832 species, respectively.

Zhigulevsky nature reserve

How to visit

As for the tourists visiting the reserved places, everything here is strictly regulated. The number of routes does not differ by a special abundance, there are only two of them: one on foot, the second road. According to the administration of the reserve itself, there would be their will, and these would be banned because the Zhiguli nature is too fragile and sensitive so that a person can periodically visit it with their visits.

Naturally, on the territory you can not build fires, smoke, throw out garbage and loudly make noise, all this is severely punished in accordance with the administrative code, and killing or deforestation will be a good reason to familiarize yourself with certain criminal articles.

It is worth noting that the car route in the Zhigulevsky Reserve passes along the asphalt mountain serpentine, which was built by German prisoners. Experienced experts note that even the bonded labor of pedantic captives is distinguished by special accuracy and exceptional quality. So nowhere else in Russia will a tourist have the opportunity to ride on the German road, except in the Zhigulevsky Reserve.

The cost of visiting the protected area also does not differ too "biting" prices. Both routes cost exactly 500 Russian rubles, which can not but please the hearts of the inhabitants.

Administration of the National Park: Samara Region, Zhigulevsk, with. Bahilova Polyana, Zhigulevskaya, 1. Phones: 8 (848-62) 3-78-38, 8 (937) 23-53-793 (the operative on duty). You can order both hiking and car tours with a guide for 3-4 hours, the cost for a group (4 people) - from 2000 rubles.

Mount Strelna, Zhigulevsky Reserve, Russia Zhigulevsky nature reserve
Mount Strelna, Zhigulevsky Nature Reserve
Track, Zhigulevsky Reserve, Russia Zhigulevsky nature reserve
Track, Zhigulevsky Nature Reserve
Roe deer Asian, Zhigulevsky Reserve, Russia Zhigulevsky nature reserve
Roe deer Asian, Zhigulevsky Nature Reserve
Redheaded Vespers, Zhigulevsky Reserve, Russia Zhigulevsky nature reserve
Redheaded Vespers, Zhigulevsky Nature Reserve
Flora, Zhigulevsky Nature Reserve, Russia Zhigulevsky nature reserve
Flora, Zhigulevsky Nature Reserve