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National park Stolby. Krasnoyarsk. sightseeing. Places to visit in Krasnoyarsk. Tour to Krasnoyarsk. Krasnoyarsk tour.

TRAVELING AROUND KRASNOYARSK

STOLBY NATIONAL PARK.

No trip to Krasnoyarsk would be complete without a visit to Stolby National Park. Just a short drive from the city, this natural haven is renowned for its unique rock formations and lush taiga forests. The park is a sanctuary for outdoor enthusiasts, offering hiking trails that cater to both novices and seasoned adventurers. Each path reveals stunning vistas and the chance to encounter the local wildlife in their natural habitat. The Stolby, towering granite pillars, are a draw for rock climbers from around the world. Whether you're scaling one of these monoliths or simply enjoying a picnic with a view, the park provides a perfect escape into nature’s beauty, leaving you with lasting memories of Krasnoyarsk's majestic wilderness.

Just 20 minutes by car from the Krasnoyarsk center there's Stolby national park — an area with great natural variety, popular place for weekends out among local people, and a local center of cliff-hiking

Stolby national park was founded to study the natural processes in the region. The park has very varied nature and a lot of species of plants and animals. It is a truly clean and pleasant place.

The main attraction of the park are its cliffs that have strange curved forms, as if they were worked on by water. Because of the peculiar landscape Stolby became the local center of cliff-climbing. The original way of cliff-climbing invented by local sportsmen (called "Stolbisty") was acclaimed worldwide.

Every weekend there are a lot of people in the park and it is a great place to take a break from the city.

The Stolby National Nature Reserve is located at the border between the northwestern offshoots of the Eastern Sayan mountains and the Central Siberian Plateau, where the plateau joins the West-Siberian Plain and the Altay-Sayan Mountains. The reserve is naturally bounded by the right tributaries of the Yenisey River (the Bazaiha River on the northeast, the Mana and Bolshaya Slizneva rivers on the south and south-west) and approaches the outskirts of Krasnoyarsk city in the northeast.

The reserve is known for 100 m deep karst caves but is especially famous as a site where about a hundred rocks are scattered amid the taiga. The rocks are 60-90 m high, occasionally over 90 m, and are composed of Cambrian (600 myr) to Carboniferous (350 - 300 myr) syenites, volcanics, and sediments.

The reserve was created in 1925 on the public initiative of Krasnoyarsk citizens seeking to preserve the nature around the picturesque rock pillars. Nowadays its area covers about 200 square miles. About 5 square miles of the territory, the nearest to the city, is used as a recreation area visited by over 200 thousand tourists yearly.

Mountains make the climate in the reserve milder than the continental climate of the forested steppe in its surroundings. It has lower mean annual air temperatures (- 1.2 oC against +0.3 oC), 1.5 times higher humidity and precipitation (686 mm), and a shorter vegetation period (138 days).

Soils and vegetation in the area vary with altitude. The lowlands are covered mainly by deciduous trees and light conifers and the highlands by light and dark coniferous taiga.

The unique position of the reserve at the junction of three different geographical and floristic provinces (forested steppe in the Krasnoyarsk region, mountain taiga in the Eastern Sayans, and taiga in the Central Siberian Plateau) accounts for the high diversity of its fauna and flora. The flora counts up to 1037 species including 260 species of mosses. More than 150 species are under special protection. Eight basic tree species are represented mainly by pines (41%) and firs (28%).

Animals (58 species) are represented mainly by species typical of southeastern Siberia, such as wolf, bear, glutton, hear, Siberian deer, musk deer, etc. Moreover, sables and two imported species of mink and musk-rat were successfully reacclimatized and acclimatized in the 1950s. The 199 species of birds include tomtit, nuthatch, waxwing, redpoll, hazel-hen, nutcracker, woodpecker, blue nightingale, chaffinch, etc. The average density of the bird population is 400-600 birds per square kilometer.

The reserve is a site of long term (about 75 years) studies of environmental issues, including the recreational and technological impacts on a natural system, and purposeful research of rare animal and plant species.

The vibrant tapestry of life within Stolby National Park extends beyond its flora and fauna, providing a living laboratory for scientists and researchers dedicated to understanding and preserving the delicate balance of its ecosystems. The park's strategic location at the confluence of diverse ecological provinces makes it a crucial area for studying environmental processes and the effects of human activity on natural habitats. Researchers have focused on assessing the impacts of recreational activities, climate change, and invasive species on the native biodiversity. These studies are vital in shaping conservation efforts and ensuring that the natural wonders of Stolby remain accessible for future generations to enjoy.

The continuing efforts in conservation and research are supported by a strong sense of community involvement that echoes the historical roots of Stolby's establishment. Local initiatives and educational programs play a significant role in promoting awareness and appreciation for the park's natural riches. Visitors are encouraged not only to enjoy the scenic beauty and recreational opportunities but also to participate in preserving the park's pristine environment. Guided tours and educational workshops offer insights into the ecological significance of the park's unique features and the interdependent relationships within its complex ecosystems.

As one traverses the winding trails of Stolby National Park, the towering rock formations stand as silent sentinels, witnessing the ongoing dialogue between nature and humanity. Each visit to this natural sanctuary is a reminder of the intrinsic value of preserving such landscapes—where the raw beauty of the Earth remains unfettered by time and human progress. For those who venture into its depths, Stolby offers not only a retreat from the bustling modern world but a profound connection to the wild spirit that defines the soul of Siberia.