The Samara Region is unique in its natural resources: over 300 natural monuments are located on its rather large territory. It is here that the rarest varieties of plants and animals are preserved. This territory produces oil, gas, sulfur, crushed stone, chalk, clay and sand. But still, the main attraction of this region is its natural world.
Nature of the Samara region
Samara Territory is first of all the famous Zhiguli Mountains (Zhiguli). They rightfully bear the title of the most picturesque, because on their slopes there is a delightful Samarskaya Luka park. Maples, pines, lindens and aspens, bearberry, wormwood, juniper - here you can find more than 700 species of various plants. The fauna of Zhiguli is much poorer. This is due to the fact that there is practically no water in the mountains themselves. In total, no more than 40 species of animals can be found on the territory: rodents, predators, hares (martens, elks, badgers, black grouse). The region is also famous for its mineral springs, for example, on the basis of Sernovodsky there is a resort area Sergievsky mineral waters.
Plant world
It is worth noting that the region is located in two zones: steppe and forest-steppe. That is why the plants of the Samara region are very diverse. Broad-leaved and coniferous forests, meadow steppes, floodplain meadows, swamps and peat bogs - each zone is distinguished by its types of flora. It must be said that the forest cover of the region occupies a very small percentage (12). There are also rocky steppes here: they are found mainly on the slopes of the Zhiguli Mountains. The strong illumination coming from the chalk deposits, the great water resistance and the strong heating have become a real obstacle to the growth of many plants: only drought-resistant grasses survive here.
In the shadow of the wooden giants
Forests of the Samara region are unevenly distributed. Most of them are on the right bank - in the national park "Samarskaya Luka". Here the climate is suitable, and the humidity is more favorable - that is why the forest cover of this territory exceeds 50% of all forests. On the northern side of the Samara River, the forest cover is only 14%, but the southern side barely reaches 4% (mostly forests are found in gullies, river valleys or ravines).
That is why part of the plantations are specially planted trees. Of the conifers in the region, pines have taken root best of all. The nature of the Samara region is rich in steppes: meadow, feather-grass-fescue, feather-grass-forb. The once predominant shrub steppes were eventually destroyed by people. Today they can be found only on the slopes of river valleys, gullies.
Unique places
How unique the nature of the native land, the Samara region shows firsthand. For example, Lake Mountain: its foot is surrounded by several small reservoirs, and at the very top, archaeologists have found an ancient settlement dating back to the Iron Age. There is even a cave with Maiden's Tears waterfall. Waterfalls in the Samara region are a rather rare phenomenon, and when jets of water fall down from the peak of the cave, they are generally unique.
A huge ravine, along which the streams of the waterfall rush, is blocked by an arch, under it there is a beautiful lake with a grotto going deep, its ceiling is decorated with natural growths. Unusual plants of the Samara region are also known. For example, oak is a wish maker. It has long been believed that if you put your palms on the bark of a tree and make a wish, it will certainly come true. "Aibolit's House" - a shelter for animals in trouble - is also located in "Samarskaya Luka". This is a grandiose project that saves the lives of hundreds of birds, animals and their very young cubs and chicks every month.
What else is the Samara region famous for?
The nature of the Samara region keeps many secrets and legends. There are more than a hundred different natural monuments here, which can be talked about for a very long time. This is Tsarev Kurgan, on which the Tatar Khan, who dreamed of conquering Russia, rested forever. These are the Zhiguli Sea and the Molodetsky Kurgan, which forced one of the greatest rivers, the Volga, to turn aside. This is Mount Strelnaya, which is the highest among the Zhiguli Mountains: magnificentviews of the entire reserve.
This is also the cave of the Greve brothers, about three hundred meters long, which forever rested one of the brothers. Its notability is that even in the hottest summer the air there remains icy, and the walls are always covered with a layer of frost. And how much excitement among tourists is still caused by the cave of Stepan Razin, according to ancient legends, just full of looted treasures. It is impossible not to recall the Stone Bowl - the place where (according to legend) the tears of the Mistress of the Zhiguli Mountains flowed. This is where you can find pure spring water. And there are many more such examples, because the nature of the Samara region is an inexhaustible cradle of unique places and unique impressions, memories of which will remain for a long time.
