Description of the attraction
The Elbrus National Park is located on the territory of the Kabardino-Balkarian Republic. It was founded in 1986 with two main goals: to create optimal conditions for the development of tourism, recreation, mountaineering and, of course, to preserve the unique natural complex. The park is located within the Zolsky and Tyrnauzsky administrative districts of Kabardino-Balkaria. There are six settlements within the boundaries of the Prielbrusye park, where more than 6 thousand people live.
About 400 plant species grow on the territory of the park. A specially protected species is the Caucasian rhododendron. The following plants are included in the Red Book of the Russian Federation: dolomite bell, Radde birch, common hop hornbeam, small chickpea, Dinnik's saxifrage. Birch Radde in 1885 was described by the famous Caucasian naturalist G. Rade. This endemic relict species can be found only in some regions of the Caucasus. Forests occupy only one tenth of the total territory of the Elbrus Park. Of the deciduous species, the most common are the Radde and Litvinov birches (52, 6%), and of the conifers, the Koch pine (46, 7%).
The fauna of the Prielbrusye park is also quite rich. It is home to 111 species of birds, more than 60 species of mammals, 8 species of amphibians, as well as 11 species of reptiles, 6 species of fish and many species of insects. In the park there are animals of the European steppe zone - the common hamster, mole rat, gray partridge, steppe polecat and others, and European deciduous forests, among them - roe deer, European forest cat, pine marten and brown bear. Among the endemics of the Caucasus are the Caucasian tur, snowcock, black grouse, otter and many others.
The Elbrus National Park is a skiing center, an excursion center for vacationers at local resorts, a mountain sports tourism center, a recreation place for residents and guests of the Republic of Kabardino-Balkaria. There are 23 recreational facilities in the park.
