In the center of the Chelyabinsk region, not far from the city of Miass, is the Ilmensky State Reserve. These places have long attracted the attention of scientists. In May 1920, V. I. Lenin issued a decree according to which the Ilmensky mountains were declared protected.
This is a research, environmental state institution, which today has the status of an institute that is part of the Russian Academy of Sciences, its Ural branch. Its main task is to preserve the natural complex in its original state, conduct scientific research of the ecological and biological profile, geological and mineralogical, natural science and environmental education of the population. Scientists and employees of the reserve are conducting educational work to protect the environment.
Ilmensky reserve - museum
This institution is one of the five largest museums of this type in our country. In its exposition, it has one of the largest biological dioramas in Russia. On the basis of the museum there is a scientificIlmensky branch of the society of students. In the summer, ecological camps are created for children, meetings are held. Students from the universities of Moscow, Kazan, St. Petersburg, Chelyabinsk are trained in these places.
History of the museum
It's not for nothing that the Ilmens are called a "mineralogical paradise". These mountains are very rich in various rocks. The very first collections of minerals began to be created by the first director of the reserve D. I. Rudenko.
Since 1931, the exposition of minerals has been exhibited in the local history museum of Miass, as well as in showcases that were installed on the verandas of the houses of the workers of the reserve. A huge contribution to the creation of the museum was made by the geologist A. E. Fersman, who at that time served as director of the Mineralogical Museum of the USSR Academy of Sciences.
Museum display
The museum's archival funds contain more than thirty thousand exhibits. Less than a third of them (9000 exhibits) are presented for display to visitors. The museum has seven showrooms spread over three floors.
There are three halls on the ground floor. One of them exhibits thematic collections collected in the deposits of the Urals and other regions of Russia - ornamental stones, amethyst and rock crystal from the Polar Urals.
Several stands show samples of meteorites found in different parts of the Earth - Imilak, Seimcheon, Lamont, etc. There are also fragments of the Chelyabinsk meteorite, which fell in 2013 not far from the museum.
The second hall of the museum presentssystematic collection of minerals. It presents 740 species. By the way, it should be noted that there are about 4500 species in the world today. More than 1500 samples are placed in showcases, according to the classification.
In the center of the hall visitors can see two unique vases. One of them is called "Lyra", and the second - "Ural Rhapsody". Both of them are made of Ural jasper.
The lecture hall is located on the ground floor. Seminars, scientific conferences, lectures, meetings with schoolchildren and students, scientists and just nature lovers are held here. Here you can watch popular science videos about the reserve, visit educational exhibitions.
In the biological hall, on the third floor, there is the largest volumetric diorama currently existing in Russia, demonstrating the species diversity and landscape complexes that distinguish the Ilmensky mineralogical reserve and the adjacent territories of the Southern Urals.
On the diorama you can see the most characteristic species of flora and fauna of Ilmen. Here, in showcases on small dioramas, the flora and fauna of this reserve are presented. In the very center of the hall you can see collections of nests, eggs, rare plant species, various lichens and several species of bats.
On the ground floor, in the foyer, there are souvenir shops that offer original products made from minerals, stones, ceramics, birch bark, etc. In addition, there is a "wild" market in the parking lot, where you can buy unusually beautiful things. Miass, Kusa and Chrysostom is an ancient patrimony of magnificentstone cutters, many of the locals are still working on stone, using the secrets of their fathers and grandfathers.
Tours
If you want to go to the Ilmensky Reserve by car, you will need a map. From Chelyabinsk you will need to move along highway number 5. Having reached Chebarkul and following the railway station, you need to cross the tracks and turn left (at the fork). Then the road passes by recreation centers and sanatoriums towards the city of Miass. The reserve is located at the entrance to the city.
You can get acquainted with it both independently and as part of an excursion group. Experienced specialists will tell you a lot of interesting things about the history of the reserve and its current activities.
Flora and fauna
The Ilmensky Reserve has more than 20 species of endangered, rare plants. All of them need protection. The pride of these places is rare orchids, a large-flowered slipper, as well as a speckled slipper. They are listed in the Red Book.
Various soils, a special microclimate, moisture create in this natural laboratory excellent conditions for the life and development of plants and animals, representing not only the forest zone, but also the steppe.
The list of all animal species that inhabit the reserve, including protozoa, worms, mollusks, insects, crustaceans and other invertebrates, including vertebrates, will be several thousand items.
Ilmensky reserve - animals
The mostthe large inhabitant of these places is the elk. In addition, in these places there are quite a lot of other representatives of the deer family - Siberian roe deer. According to the workers of the complex, their footprints here are much larger than the footprints of hares or squirrels.
Preserve Ilmensky was also chosen by predators - lynx, wolf, fox. Animals that belong to a large mustelid family also live here. The largest of them is the badger.
Rodents are represented by forest species - the well-known hare and squirrel are well-known to all of us. The striped chipmunk and the flying squirrel, a rather rare even in the reserve nocturnal animal, as well as wood mice and voles, live in these places.
Birds
The Ilmensky Reserve is distinguished by a wide variety of birds. There are especially many birds in these places in spring and summer. With the onset of cold weather, three-quarters of the birds fly to warmer climes. Most migratory birds settle near water bodies. Here you can meet coots, songbirds - warblers, thrush-like and reed buntings.
The Ilmensky Reserve has become a home for some species of birds that are listed in the Red Book of the Russian Federation. If you are lucky, you can see Curlew, Greater Spotted Eagle, European Tit, Oystercatcher, Imperial Eagle, Dunlin, Eagle Owl, European Black-throated Diver.
Birds that stay for the winter in the reserve live mainly in forests. Here you can see capercaillie and black grouse.
In winter, a hawk owl, a white owl, a crested bird of a gray-brown color with a bright yellow stripe ontail - waxwing, bunting. Flocks of these birds can often be seen on the roads. These winter guests leave the reserve in spring and fly to permanent nesting sites.
Insects
Perhaps this is the most diverse group of living beings. 3133 species have been identified in the reserve.
Pisces
There are more than thirty lakes on the territory of the reserve. Representatives of 7 fish families are found in them:
- whitefish;
- carp;
- pike;
- loach;
- perch;
- heads;
- cod.
At certain times, the administration of the reserve allows fishing on the lakes.
