Saratov was founded as a guard fortress in 1590. It is located on the bank of the Volgograd storage facility, with an area of 394 sq. km. In 2013, the Forbes ranked the city 10th in terms of attractiveness for living and doing business. But Saratov is not only infrastructure, a high level of well-being and innovative activity, but also a good natural and environmental potential.
The most attractive forest park in the city is Kumysnaya Polyana. The picturesque landscape stretches along the slopes of the Lysogorsky plateau, with a length of about 5,000 hectares.
Origin of the name
Kumiss meadow got its name back in the 19th century. In those distant times, the Tatars rented this territory for horses to fall out. Kumis, which was made by the Tatars, was very popular among the local population. Hence the name of the territory.
A bit of history and modernity
The city of Saratov goes around the glade from three sides. From the side of the city, only the tops of trees and slopes overgrown with shrubs are visible. This landscape does not impress the local population, however, the park is protected by law.
In 1910, a tram was launched near the clearing. There are mentions of himin the book "First Joys" by K. Fedin. The complex was opened in 1991. Koumiss glade is all the conditions for outdoor recreation, with equipped barbecue areas, with gazebos.
Bicycle rental is organized on the territory of the park. For those wishing to ride horses - the services of a coach. In winter, you can go skiing. On the territory of the park you can meet artists who transfer their impressions of what they see to canvases.
Sanatoriums, camps for children and ski resorts allow vacationers to come for a few days and enjoy all the delights of eco-tourism. But you should not look for dachas on Kumysnaya Polyana in Saratov, or other residential, commercial buildings, since any construction in the park is prohibited by federal law. Although local officials were still able to partially zone the park, alienating part of the land for development. This stopped in 2007, when the lands were given the status of "natural park" and all territorial zones allowing construction to begin were eliminated.
But it is worth remembering that any activity that may lead to the destruction or damage to the landscape, vegetation or fauna is prohibited in the park. The entire area falls under recreational land.
Geographic characteristics
The border between the water intake basins of the Caspian Sea and the Atlantic Ocean passes through the territory of the complex. In the center of the park, the Latryk River begins its sources, which, flowing into several more rivers (Don,Karamysh and others), enters the Sea of Azov, then the Black Sea, and so on, eventually entering the Atlantic Ocean.
The tributary of the Volga originates from the gorge along the perimeter of the Kumysnaya Polyana of Saratov. There are several springs in the forest park zone, Tatarsky, Serebryany, Raspberry and other healing springs.
Plant world
The park is based on deciduous forests. These are oaks and birches, aspens, maples and lindens. All glades are covered with wildflowers.
One of the major sights of the glade is a two-century giant oak, about 30 meters high, and its age is about 200 years. The trunk of a tree in girth is approximately from 1 to 2.5 meters. The oak bark is all covered with cracks and knobby thickenings, and branching begins only at a height of 3.5 meters. The tree covers with its crown about 150 square meters. According to the locals, the oak can give advice, but only to those people who learn to listen to it.
The park "Kumysnaya Polyana" is approximately 44% covered with oak plantations of coppice origin. About 23% is linden and only 1% pine. The age of the trees is uneven. It is unfortunate, but the renewal of oaks has practically stopped, due to the fact that the trees bear fruit unevenly.
The range of shrubs is also small. These are low almonds, blackthorn, cherries, spireas. There are only 27 species of herbaceous plants, of which only 26% are forest species. However, there are also “Red Book” plants, these are two-leaved lyubka, pinnate feather grass, two-eared ephedra, common nesting and a number of others.representatives.
Fauna
Of the amphibians in the park "Kumysnaya Polyana" Saratov lives green toad, toad, newt and moor frog. Of the reptiles here, you can find a marsh turtle, a copperhead, a lizard and an ordinary grass snake, a patterned snake.
There are a huge number of birds in the protected area:
- great tit;
- finch;
- magpies;
- titmouse;
- oatmeal;
- rooks;
- black-headed goldfinch;
- greenfinch.
The dominant species are cuckoo, woodpecker, sparrow and hoopoe. In the park, you can also meet rare birds - the red-footed falcon, wood pigeon, tuvik and sparrowhawk.
Rodents are dominated by voles, redheads and common voles. Hedgehogs and shrews also live here.
Kumiss meadow, although not famous for its abundance of animals, you can still see hares, wild boars, roe deer and elks in the park. There are also predators, weasel, fox and stone marten.
Despite its small area and poor flora and fauna, the park plays an important ecological and recreational role for the entire Saratov region.
