Description of the attraction
The Vaigach reserve is located on the territory of the Nenets Autonomous Okrug and consists of Vaigach Island, as well as adjacent islands and rocks. The reserve also includes an extended strip of sea water surrounding the islands, with a length of 3 km.
Vaygachsky reserve was formed in 1963 according to the resolution of the Arkhangelsk regional executive committee. It was supposed that its validity period will not exceed 10 years, but the nature reserve has been extended many times. In the period from 1994 to 2007, the zone of the reserve was not protected. In 2007, the Administration of the Nenets Autonomous Okrug again decided to give up valuable natural areas under protection. The resumption of the work of the integrated reserve is due to the global historical, ecological, educational, environmental, scientific and aesthetic values of the island of Vaigach. The reactivation of the reserve should preserve for future generations the arctic landscapes, hydrological and geological objects, as well as the rarest species of flora and fauna.
Vaigach Island is located in the zone of distribution of the Arctic tundra, namely between the islands of Novaya Zemlya and the continents; It is washed by the Kara and Barents Seas. The island is somewhat elongated in the direction from the south-east to the north-west. It is 105 km long and 44 km wide. The total area of Vaygach is 3380 km2.
It should be noted that the surface of the island has a rugged relief, and in some places there are mountains - that is why the island is home to a wide variety of flora and fauna. Here streams gush and rapids flow, which are united by a rocky channel. Many rivers flow in rocky canyons with waterfalls of various sizes. But, despite this, a kind of relief is an impassable obstacle for people. It is especially difficult for humans to graze deer, because there are many rocky ridges and deep river canyons.
The flora of Vaygach Island today is represented by 276 plant species, which belong to 46 families. Most of these vascular plants are listed in the Red Book, which is why a strict security regime is provided for them. For example, pink radiola is listed in the Red Book of the Russian Federation with category 2. Seven varieties of lichens were identified, which are also rare and are in the protection regime.
As for the zoological objects mentioned in the Red Book, charilo mother-of-pearl is found on the island; also nine other bird species and two mammalian species are under strict protection. There are places of mass nesting of birds on Vaygach Island. Here you can see wild reindeer, also listed in the Red Book. The coastal areas of the island abound in bearded seals, ringed seals and beluga whales.
In the area of the nature reserve, there are places such as Lake Yangoto, the Voronova River, which are Stone Age sites. Monuments of Pomor culture are found on the capes of Osmina Salya, Lapin Nos, Omasalya, Bolshoi Zinkovy Island and are reflected in the form of noticeable worship crosses and various burials. On the Bol, Rogatyi Capes, the Jackson and Morozov Islands, there are places that are associated with the names of famous explorers of the northern regions: I. V. Varnek, F. D. Jackson. and many others. An important feature of the island is the fact that Vaigach became the only island inhabited by indigenous northern peoples who in the past worshiped deities, praying for a successful outcome of hunting and fishing.
At one time, archaeological research was carried out on the island, which showed that most of the sanctuaries of Vaigach Island date back to more ancient periods of time than previously thought. In the western side of the island there is an ancient monument of the Nenets culture, located on a high rocky ledge, which is a cruciform idol made of wood. The lower part of the idol is somewhat rounded and made in the form of a pin, after which it gradually turns into an oval 14 cm wide and 35 cm long. This idol was found here not so long ago and belongs to the early 19th century.
