Description of the attraction
Geological natural monument "Geological outcrops of Devonian and Ordovician rocks on the Saba River" was organized in 1976. It is located 3 km from the village of Osmino, near the village of Psoed. The area of the geological monument is 650 hectares.
The territory of the natural monument was organized in order to protect the outcrops of geological rocks of the Ordovician and Devonian ages on the day surface, as well as to preserve the remains of shell fish in the Devonian sediments.
The investment attractiveness of the reserve is obvious. This natural monument can be good for organizing excursions in the protected natural areas of the Luga and Gatchina regions.
The valley of the Saba River on the site, which begins two kilometers above the village of Psoed and ends at 3.5 kilometers below the village of Osmino, has a transverse trough-shaped profile. The valley is 250-300 meters wide. The width of the river channel is 20-25 m and has a depth of 0, 3-1, 5 m. The river flow is calm, typical for the flat rivers of the Russian North-West. The valley has a submeridional orientation from south to north. The river bed meanders within a straight valley. Where the bedrock shores are washed away, red sandstones of Devonian age emerge on the day surface; they contain mineralized remains and imprints of fossil armored fish.
The general occurrence of the layers is close to horizontal, in some horizons there is a clear oblique bedding. The outcrops rise above the water's edge by 1-6 m, sometimes 12-15 m. The length of the outcrops ranges from several meters to hundreds of meters (in some areas). The vegetation here is severely disturbed due to economic activity, which was a consequence of the development of this territory by humans and the proximity of settlements. The anthropogenic load on vegetation is expressed in deforestation, mainly near settlements, littering of the territory, fires, destruction of slopes, plowing of territories along the banks of the river, and trampling. On the banks of the Saba, there are areas of small-leaved-deciduous forests, they are most developed on the cliffs, in particular, in the vicinity of Osmino.
Of the broad-leaved tree species, rough elm is most often found here, which reaches a height of at least 15 m, ash, smooth elm, oak, linden, maple are also recorded. In the herb-dwarf shrub layer, the predominant species are those associated with broad-leaved tree species. Among them are the bluegrass, oak bluegrass, yellow zelenchuk, oak starweed, lanceolate stellate, male dwarf, lily of the valley, peach-leaved bellflower, etc. Pine forests are represented by meadow pine forests recovering after fires. Fragments of lily of the valley pine forests are also noted. Small-leaved forests are represented by gray alder forests.
Most of the territory of the natural monument is occupied by meadows. Low-grass meadows growing at the site of fires consist of mountain insect, cat's paw, field clover, sticky tar, heather sedge, field toad. On the left bank of the Saba, near the village of Psoed, in places affected by fires, meadows with common heather are noted. On such dry meadows are not uncommon: lichen deer moss and bushy lichens from the genus Cladonia. In moderately humid areas - meadows with crowded bell, black mullein, oregano and others. In more humid areas, near the water's edge, there are tall grass meadows, where Veronica long-leaved, Angelica officinalis, Basilis yellow, Sivets field and others are found. On previously mown meadows, which have now turned into fallow lands, along with fodder grasses, sour sorrel grow, bent grass, St. John's wort.
In the vicinity of Osmino, a rare species of pharmacy agaric is noted. In addition, on the uncrowded, damp banks of the river, there are coin-like loosestrife, creeping buttercup, and amphibian mint. Coastal aquatic and aquatic vegetation is represented by river horsetail, common arrowhead, yellow plantain leaf capsule, reed, lake reed, milestone, large mannik, yellow iris, straight barnacle, meadow meadowsweet and nude meadowsweet, there are also small sedge and coral deerweed long-leaved, a rare species of broad-leaved guardrail.
On the territory of the natural monument, the following are especially protected: outcrops of the Devonian period, fossil remains of plants, animals, rare plant species: multifilament grass, mountain insect, Finnish thistle. Construction, mining and reclamation work, the laying of any communications, plowing of land, littering of the territory are prohibited here.
