The variety of nature in Chuvashia amazes any tourist who has visited this region for the first time. Indigenous people are not surprised by anything, but they are doing everything possible to preserve and increase natural we alth. We will learn about dense forests, endless rivers and mysterious lakes, as well as bright representatives of local flora and fauna.
Main statistics
Chuvash lands are spread along the right bank of the Volga, washed by its tributaries - Sviyaga and Sura. The highest point of the republic is 286.6 meters above sea level. The nature of Chuvashia is one of the main treasures of the republic, located in the very heart of Russia, on the East European Plain.
On the border with Tatarstan, in the river valleys (Sura, Big and Small Tsivil) there are chernozem soils, especially valuable for agriculture, in the rest of the republic podzolic soils prevail. The subsoil is not as rich as the locals would like, but there are deposits of phosphorites, oil shale and peat.
Land of rivers and lakes
OnThe territory of Chuvashia today has more than 2350 rivers and streams, and all of them flow into the Volga or its tributaries. Interestingly, 9 out of 10 rivers are very short - less than 10 kilometers, of the total number of water sources, only two water streams are longer than 500 kilometers.
The most beautiful nature of Chuvashia, of course, is in the Volga valley, there are favorable conditions for the growth and development of plants and animals. The Volga crosses almost the entire territory of the republic, is the main source of drinking water, and is used in irrigation. The Cheboksary hydroelectric power station was built on it, which provides energy not only to Cheboksary, but also to other regions.
The Sura River is the main "supplier" of clean water for Alatyr and Shumerlya, plays an important role in the transport system of Chuvashia. The basin of the Bolshoy Tsivil River covers a quarter of the territory of the republic, and also plays an important role in industry and agriculture.
Land of forests, meadows or steppes?
Unfortunately, over the past century, the nature of Chuvashia has undergone significant changes. Previously, almost all lands were covered with forests, but as a result of human development and, first of all, deforestation, only a third of the region is today occupied by forests.
Cultivated lands given to the management of agricultural workers, are used as land - fields and meadows. Also on the territory of the autonomous republic there are steppes, they are especially beautiful in spring, when there is enough water, heat and light. By the middle of summer, the steppes look less attractive.
Mysterious Realmflora
Chuvash forests are predominantly deciduous. They are dominated by birch, oak, maple, linden, ash. A large number of shrubs grow on the territory of forests - wild rose, viburnum. Of the smaller ones - blueberries, lingonberries, and other wild berry crops.
Steppe plants of Chuvashia are a special pride of local residents. Firstly, the flora of the steppes is striking in its richness of species and colors. Secondly, it is actively used in agriculture, in official and traditional medicine. The most widespread was feather grass. Quite often you can find other herbs, for example, fescue, bluegrass. Sage grows ubiquitously and is especially favored by homegrown healers.
Since a huge number of rivers and lakes flow on the territory of the Chuvash Republic, there are, accordingly, aquatic plants. Tourists can see the white water lily and its simpler, more modest cousin, the yellow water lily.
Reeds and similar representatives of the flora grow along the swampy banks of forest streams - sedge and cattail. There are not very attractive outwardly, but they have beautiful names - foxtail and arrowhead.
Kingdom of Chuvash predators and herbivores
The fauna of Chuvashia is rich and diverse, in the forests you can meet predatory animals - a wolf, a badger, a fox, a bear. There are also fur-bearing animals: ermine, marten, weasel, mink, arctic fox. Some of the animals are listed in the Red Book and are under the threat of extinction. Among them are a brown bear and a deerEuropean.
On the contrary, there are too many other mammals, so you can come to Chuvashia to hunt. Squirrel, hare, elk, fox, wild boar and other animals are hunted. The same can be said about aquatic animals: the brown trout has disappeared, the beluga, sturgeon, sterlet and other valuable species are on the verge of extinction. You can catch pike, pike perch, burbot, ide, bream, crucian carp, sometimes you catch the bait and "guests" - silver carp, grass carp and sprat.
Out of 275 species of avifauna, 74 species can be seen extremely rarely, but the following species of birds are popular: lark, cuckoo, nuthatch, sparrow, titmouse. There are predators (falcon, hawk). Prey objects - black grouse, partridge, hazel grouse.
Reserves of the Republic
Currently, the nature of Chuvashia is under close attention of ecologists, state and public organizations. Special territories have been created on the territory of the republic where flora and fauna are protected.
The most important are Chavash Varmane, the Prisursky National Park, which has the status of a state reserve. There is a natural park "Zavolzhye", several reserves and natural monuments.
