Nenets Nature Reserve () (also Nenetsky) is a Russian ' zapovednik' (strict nature reserve) in the northeast of European

Russia Russia, or the Russian Federation, is a country spanning Eastern Europe and North Asia. It is the list of countries and dependencies by area, largest country in the world, and extends across Time in Russia, eleven time zones, sharing Borders ...

on the coast of the

Barents Sea The Barents Sea ( , also ; , ; ) is a marginal sea of the Arctic Ocean, located off the northern coasts of Norway and Russia and divided between Norwegian and Russian territorial waters.World Wildlife Fund, 2008. It was known earlier among Russi ...

and the delta of the Pechora River, about 800 km northeast of

Arkhangelsk Arkhangelsk (, ) is a types of inhabited localities in Russia, city and the administrative center of Arkhangelsk Oblast, Russia. It lies on both banks of the Northern Dvina near its mouth into the White Sea. The city spreads for over along the ...

. With abundant wetlands, rivers, and sea islands, the reserve is an important point on the Atlantic migratory path for birds that winter in Western Europe and nest in the Eastern Europe and Western Siberian Tundra. Also present are large breeding grounds for the Atlantic Walrus. The reserve is situated in the Zapolyarny District of

Nenets Autonomous Okrug The Nenets Autonomous Okrug (; ) also known as Nenetsia ( ) is a federal subject of Russia and an autonomous okrug of Arkhangelsk Oblast. Its administrative center is the town of Naryan-Mar. It has an area of and a population of 42,090 ...

. It was formally established in 1997, and covers and area of , of which is over water.

Topography

The Nenets Reserve is mostly flat lowland tundra (75%) and wetlands covered with multicolored mosses and lichens, on the river deltas of the Pechora and Neruta Rivers, the coast of the Barents Sea, and islands of the Barents Sea. The largest of the four sectors of the reserve is on the west side of the Pechora River Delta, reaching along the Zavorot Peninsula into the sea. There is a small sector on the east side of the Pechora along the Neruta River, and a sector that covers Bolvansky island to the northeast of the Pechora Delta.

Climate and ecoregion

Nenets is located in the '' Northwest Russian-Novaya Zemlya tundra'' ecoregion. This ecoregion covers the northeast shore of the White Sea (the

Kanin Peninsula The Kanin Peninsula () is a large peninsula in Nenets Autonomous Okrug, Russia. Geography It is surrounded by the White Sea to the west and by the Barents Sea to the north and east. Shoyna (also spelled Shoina) is one of the few communities o ...

), the coast of the Barents Sea east to the

Yamal Peninsula The Yamal Peninsula () is located in the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug of northwest Siberia, Russia. It extends roughly 700 km (435 mi) and is bordered principally by the Kara Sea and its Baydaratskaya Bay on the west, and by the G ...

, the southern half of

Novaya Zemlya Novaya Zemlya (, also , ; , ; ), also spelled , is an archipelago in northern Russia. It is situated in the Arctic Ocean, in the extreme northeast of Europe, with Cape Flissingsky, on the northern island, considered the extreme points of Europe ...

, and numerous inlets and islands. The low tundra wetlands are important breeding grounds for waterfowl. The climate of Nenets is '' Humid continental climate, cool summer'' (

Köppen climate classification The Köppen climate classification divides Earth climates into five main climate groups, with each group being divided based on patterns of seasonal precipitation and temperature. The five main groups are ''A'' (tropical), ''B'' (arid), ''C'' (te ...

Subarctic climate The subarctic climate (also called subpolar climate, or boreal climate) is a continental climate with long, cold (often very cold) winters, and short, warm to cool summers. It is found on large landmasses, often away from the moderating effects of ...

(Dfc)). This climate is characterized by mild summers (only 1–3 months above ) and cold, snowy winters (coldest month below ).

Flora and fauna

On most of the reserve, the plant life is shrub-lichen tundra or shrub-moss-lichen tundra. Some the islands exhibit Arctic spotted tundra of which an indicator species is ''Arenaria pseudofrigida'' (a type of sandwort). A distinctive feature of Nenets is that the coastal meadows and marshes extend far inland, providing large areas for breeding birds. Scientists on the reserve have recorded 339 species of vascular plants and 474 and algae, and 176 species of lichen. A scientific expedition to Matveyev Island in the reserve in 2015 counted over 600 walruses on the breeding grounds of the island. Common land mammals are the fox, and hare in thickets. Scientists on the reserve have recorded 26 species of mammals. Waterfowl and coastal birds are abundant during the summer seasons; over 125 species are known to use the site. Common ones include geese, ducks, gulls, sandpipers and swans. The symbol of the reserve is the

Bewick's swan The tundra swan (''Cygnus columbianus'') is a small swan of the Holarctic. The two taxa within it are usually regarded as conspecific, but are also sometimes split into two species: Bewick's swan (''Cygnus bewickii'') of the Palaearctic and the ...

(Tundra Swan), which nests in the reserve. The reserve is part of an Important Bird and Biodiversity Area (IBA), with, among other species, the vulnerable Long-tailed duck ( Clangula hyemalis).

History

The area is the home of the indigenous Nenets people, who historically followed a culture of reindeer herding, hunting, and fishing. Significant ecological concerns led to the creation of the Nenets Nature Reserve in 1997. The region contains widespread deposits of oil and gas, and the reserve protects a portion of the important wetlands. In 1980, a serious accident occurred at the Kumzhinskoye gas field in the Pechora River delta. Uncontrolled venting of gas occurred for seven years.

Ecoeducation and access

As a strict nature reserve, the Nenets Reserve is mostly closed to the general public, although scientists and those with 'environmental education' purposes can make arrangements with park management for visits. The public is invited to join in guided tours aimed primarily at birdwatchers. There is a three-day general birdwatching tour offered by reserve scientists, and a "Artic House of Bewick's Swan" excursion. Other 'ecotourist' routes in the reserve may be open to the public, but require permits to be obtained in advance. The main office is in the city of Naryan-Mar.

References

External links

* Map of Nenets Reserve, OpenStreetMap
Map of Nenets Reserve, ProtectedPlanet
{{Russian Zapovedniks Nature reserves in Russia 1997 establishments in Russia Protected areas established in 1997 Geography of Nenets Autonomous Okrug Tourist attractions in Nenets Autonomous Okrug Zapovednik