Central Sikhote-Alin Area. Tigerland.
PRIMORSKY KRAY
SIGHTSEEING
Central Sikhote-Alin Area. Tigerland
In 1787, a renowned French navigator, Jean-Francois Laperouse discovered a bay on
the east Asian coast and named it Terney, after his mentor who had taught him
navigation. Two French ships "Astrolabia" and "Boussol"
anchored near the shore to get fresh water for the expedition's members. It was
early July and the larch forests with blossoming wild flowers and bushes
reminded the French explorers of their country's flora. But they were amazed by
the deer herds and bear families feeding in the coastal meadows. The sea was
abundant with salmon, trout, flat fish and herring. The mighty mountains on the
far horizon (later named Sikhote-Alin Mountains) served as the backdrop an
unforgettably charming and gorgeous scene.
Over a hundred years later Vladimir Arsenyev, a Russian
explorer, made his expeditions throughout the mainland of Primorye, then called
Ussuriland, reaching its northernmost areas. A naturalist, writer and military
topographer Arsenyev explored the remotest areas of the Russian Empire and
admired their beauty and riches. His novels "Dersu Uzala" and "In
the wilderness of Ussuriland" presented the Central Sikhote-Alin as a
mighty biologically diverse wilderness area, which he advised the Tsar to settle
and protect. Some people might have seen Akura Kurosawa's (a well-known Japanese
producer) "Dersu Uzala" film version based on these novels.
In 1998, Terney celebrated its 90th year. This northern village
has experienced numerous economic and political changes, but its residents'
business has always been hunting, fishing, logging and protecting the
wilderness. Today Terney is a small town of about 4,000 people. Its remote
location and northern beauty, pure river water and clean air make it a special
place. Life is quiet here and the people are very hospitable. Their activities
include keeping livestock, tend gardens and singing in the local chorus. While
gathering mushrooms, berries and cedar cones out in the woods they might
encounter Amur tigers. Many drivers, riding along the main road, tell their own
stories of how they "saw a tiger".
We invite you to TIGERLAND NATURE EXPEDITION. You'll explore
Northern Primorye, studying the Central Sikhote-Alin Mountains' flora and fauna
and admiring the region's unusual beauty... The unique area, one of the few
places on Earth where Nature is kept in its pristine form - your unforgettable
experience!
The untamed wilderness covers all this area. Over 1,000 plant
species grow there, 20 of which are considered rare. Northern coniferous and
temperate forests merge in a monsoon climate to form a unique environment
characteristic only to this region of Earth. Marked displacement of altitudinal
zones can be observed here. Mixed broad-leaf and Korean pine forests grow in the
valleys and on the mountain slopes over 600 meters above sea level. Large areas
along the coast are dominated by Mongolian Oak and Silver Fir, interspersed with
Stone Birch formations and mountain tundra. Sikhote-Alin Nature Reserve, which
is included in the World System of Protected Nature Territories is situated
here, comprising the area of under a half a million hectares in three
administrative districts. Formed in 1935, it was given Biosphere Reserve status
forty years later. The Pearl of the Reserve is the Amur (Siberian) tiger.
Scientists from Hornocker Wildlife Institute (Idaho, USA) work here with Russian
colleagues on the Siberian Tiger Project.
In and around the Reserve our guides will show you rare and
unique plant and animal species. Mountain goat and various species of deer,
including Musk and Sika, inhabit the area. You will see tropical lemon-berry
lianas, Eleutherococcus and the tracks of the main predators, Amur tiger, Black
and Brown bear, underscoring the wildness and diversity of this remote area.
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