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Established: 1945
Size: 112,673 ha (1,127 km2)
Buffer Zone: 27,028 ha (270
km2)
Contact information:
Kuznetsov, Andrey Vyacheslavovich, Director
Russia 162543, Vologodskaya oblast, Cherepovetsky
raion, p/o Ploskovo, p. Borok
Tel: (7-820-2) 66-69-70
Email:
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 Darvinsky
Zapovednik, named for Charles Darwin, was founded
in 1945 to study changes the newly created
Rybninskoye Reservoir would have on natural
ecosystems in the Vologda and Yaroslavl regions in
northwestern Russia. The nature reserve protects
the southern portion of a peninsula on the
northwest shore of the reservoir. More than 40
percent of the reserve is aquatic habitat along the
shores of Rybninskoye Reservoir, among the six
largest in the world. The protected area supports
some of the largest nesting populations of
white-tailed sea eagle and osprey in Europe. Many
species of waterfowl and shorebirds nest in the
reserve in the summer or stop here along
north-south migration routes. A number of animals -
moose, bear, wild boar, and others - are attracted
to the lake's sandy shores to feed.
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Photo ©
2001 Igor
Shpilenok
Zapovednik Images
Zapovednik Facts
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Zapovednik
Facts:
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Animals
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While populations of moose (Alces alces),
brown bear (Ursus arctos), and wild boar
(Sus scrofa) have all declined in the
surrounding region due to hunting, the number of
animals within the reserve has remained virtually
unchanged. These mammals, finding refuge in the
nature reserve, are attracted to the shores of
Rybninskoye Reservoir to feed on fresh vegetation.
Fox (Vulpes vulpes) and raccoon dog
(Nyctereutes procyonoides) are other mammals
common in the zapovednik, where they prey on
rodents and birds. Blue hare (Lepus timidus)
can be spotted along the lake foraging on summer
grasses. In the fall, bears frequent sphagnum
swamps to feast on berries before hibernation.
Badgers (Meles meles) and ermine (Mustela
erminea) are constantly on the move in search
of small prey. A large population of beavers
(Castor fiber) inhabits the reserve. Beavers
were reintroduced here in the 1980s, where they
began to build their dens on floating peat islands
in the reservoir and in small streams. Lynx
(Felis lynx), wolf (Canis lupus), and
otter (Lutra lutra) are rare here. Red
squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris), pine marten
(Martes martes), as well as a multitude of
other rodents (Microtus spp.) make up the
remainder of the reserve's 37 species of mammals.
In all, 230 species of migratory and nesting
birds have been identified in the reserve. Northern
hazelhen (Tetrastes bonasia), western
capercaille (Tetrao urogallus), northern
black grouse (Lyrurus tetrix), Siberian jay
(Cractes infaustus), and willow ptarmigan
(Lagopus lagopus) are a few of the more
prominent birds found in the reserve's protected
forest and swamp habitats. Waterfowl includes all
kinds of ducks, gulls, and waders such as mallards
(Anas platyrhynchos), northern pintails
(A. acuta), and green-winged teals (A.
crecca). The greater white-fronted goose
(Anser albifrons), bean goose (A.
fabalis), and whooper swan (Cygnus
cygnus) use the reservoir as a resting place to
feed before heading north during spring migration.
In spring and fall, the reservoir's open waters
attract large numbers of Eurasian wigeons (Anas
penelope), tufted pochards (Aythya
fuligula), greater scaups (A. marila),
and red-breasted and common mergansers (Mergus
serrator, M. merganser). Ducks common here
include black and white-winged scoters
(Melanitta nigra, M. fusca) and long-tailed
duck (Clangula hyemalis). Peat islands are
inaccessible to most terrestrial predators and make
attractive nesting sites for black-headed gulls
(Larus ridibundus), common tern (Sterna
hirundo), and herring and mew gulls (L.
argentatus, L. canus).
Rare birds that nest in the reserve include the
golden eagle (Aquila chrysaetos) and osprey
(Pandion haliaëtus) - listed in the
IUCN and Russian Federation Red Books, as well as
the white tailed sea-eagle (Haliaëetus
albicilla). The reserve protects some of the
largest osprey nesting areas in Europe with as many
as 45 to 50 pairs on a 1000 km2 area.
The osprey feeds exclusively on fish, which it
catches by plunging into the water, sometimes even
diving up to 1.5 meters. Forests provide refuge to
other birds of prey like the northern eagle-owl
(Bufo bufo), greater spotted eagle
(Aquila clanga), and black kite (Milvus
migrans). In all, 15 species of birds listed in
Russian Red Book are protected in the reserve.
Common adder (Vipera berus) and
viviparous lizard (Lacerta vivipara) are
common among reptiles in the zapovednik. Fish
composition changed following creation of the
reservoir since new dams blocked ascent of sturgeon
(Asipenser sturio) and sterlet (A.
ruthenus). Chub (Leuciscus cephalus) and
other species became rare. New species, however,
adapted well including zope and carpbream
(Abramis ballerus, A. brama), roach
(Rutilus rutilus), id (Leuciscus
idus), pike (Esox lucius), sander
(Stizostedion lucioperca), and eelpout
(Lota lota). During the spawning season, the
shores of the lake appear to boil with activity.
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Vegetation
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Much of the reserve is aquatic habitat, where
rich organic matter from fields and forests flooded
when the reservoir was created provided a basis for
new plant and animal life. In the reservoir's warm
shallow waters, sedge (Carex spp.), bent
(Agrostis spp.), bur-reed (Sparganium
emersum), buckwheat (Fagopyrum), and
clasping-leaved, common floating, and shiny
pondweed (Potamogeton perfoliatus, P. natans, P.
lucens) grow in dense bands. Peat islands,
remnants of flooded peat bogs that rose to the
surface when the land was submerged, can be seen
floating in the reservoir. Peat islands are
inhabited by moisture-loving plants such as cotton
grass (Eriophorum vaginatum), phragmites
(Phragmites australis), and cat's tail
(Typha latifolia). Some peat islands are
overgrown with white birch (Betula
pubescens) and willow (Salix spp).
More than three-quarters of the zapovednik's
land area is covered with marshlands and bog
forests. As much as 20,000 ha (200 km2)
are temporarily submerged each year due to changing
water levels from precipitation and operations of
nearby hydroelectric stations. Fluctuations can
range from two to three meters. For this reason,
vegetation cover along the lake's shore is
frequently changing: in low water years, annual
grasses grow along the shores, while in high water
years, moisture-loving plants dominate the
landscape.
High muskeg bogs are the most common wetlands in
the reserve. A sparse scattering of scraggly Scotch
pines (Pinus sylvestris) covers these bogs
or "carrs." The understory is made up of
leatherleaf (Chamaedaphne spp.), adromeda
(Andromeda poliofolia), marsh tea (Ledum
palustre), blueberry (Vaccinium
uliginosum), European cranberry (Oxycoccus
palustris), and cloudberry (Rubus
chamaemorus).
Pine forests cover the majority of the land area
in the reserve with a soft pillow of green and
white mosses blanketing the ground in higher areas.
Bilberries (Vaccinium myrtillus) and
cowberries (V. vitis-idaea) draw birds and
mammals here in summer and fall. Common juniper
(Juniperus communis) is also found beneath
the pine trees. Spruce stands found along rivers
have a grassy understory, while higher up mosses
blanket the ground. Birch (Betula spp.)
forests are common, though often these are swampy.
Norway spruce stands (Picea abies) are found
in areas.
In all, the reserve protects 590 species of
vascular plants, 125 mushrooms, and 148 mosses and
lichens. Rare species in the reserve include yellow
lady's slipper (Cypripedium calceolus) and
spurred coral root (Epipogium aphyllum)
among other plants.
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Geographical
Features
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Rybninskoye Reservoir, Russia's third largest
man-made lake, extends for 120 km and averages 50
to 60 km in width at its center. In the 1950s,
Rybninskoye was the largest reservoir in the world
and remains among the top six in surface area
today. Unstable weather conditions are common on
the reservoir - blowing winds can stir up the calm
mirror-like surface, creating large waves, which
beat the sandy cliffs along the shore.
Darvinsky Zapovednik, on the northwest shore of
the Rybninskoye Reservoir, protects the southern
part of the large peninsula formed from flooding of
the area between the Moloda and Shaksna rivers. The
reserve straddles the Yaroslavskaya and
Vologodskaya administrative regions. The territory
includes 45,400 ha (454 km2) of the
reservoir.
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Conservation
Status
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Darvinsky Zapovednik, named for Charles Darwin,
was founded in 1945 to study changes the newly
created Rybninskoye Reservoir would have on natural
ecosystems in the Vologda and Yaroslavl regions in
northwestern Russia. Studies in the reserve were
carried out to provide recommendations for
improving conservation along the Volga-Kamsky
cascade of hydroelectric stations.
Today, the natural ecosystems of the zapovednik
are affected by industrial activities in the city
of Cherepovets, a large industrial center only 30
km north of the reserve. Cherepovets, located
upriver from the reservoir, is one of the largest
polluting cities in European Russia with heavy
metallurgy, chemical, and other manufacturing
plants. The ecological situation in the region is
critical - six tons of industrial dust and
pollution fall on every square meter of the reserve
each year. At the same time, the zapovednik's role
in protecting parts of the reservoir and peninsula
facilitates restorative processes by filtering and
cleaning water and air, as well as helping to
neutralize toxic substances, contributing to
biodiversity conservation in the region overall.
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References
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Mukhin, I.A., Darvinsky Zapovednik. Soviet
Russia Publishers, Moscow, 1983.
Sokolov, V.E. and E.E. Syroechkovsky, eds.
Zapovedniks of the USSR: Western European Part
of Russia I. Mysl publishing agency, Moscow,
1988.
Zabelina, N.M, L.S. Isaeva-Petrova, and L.V.
Kuleshova. Zapovedniks and National Parks of
Russia. Logata. Mosow, 1998.
Text prepared by Laura
Williams.
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