Black Lands State Nature Reserve. Black Lands Who lives in the Black Lands reserve

Kalmykia is a unique region in many ways, a territory of endless steppes, deserts and semi-deserts, with an area (75.6 thousand sq. km.) larger than many European states. To study and protect the unique nature, in 1990, on the territory of the Republic of Kalmykia, the only test site of this kind in Russia was established - the Black Lands State Natural Biosphere Reserve.

Traveling through the steppe expanses of the “Black Lands” is an almost instant immersion into the world of wild nature.

When approaching specially protected areas, you can see groups of camels grazing peacefully.

Camels are not representatives of wild nature; they are not allowed into protected areas, performing rather agricultural functions, but these charming guys bring a lot of joy to guests and travelers, especially with children.

Only at first glance the steppes seem monotonous, but after a few hours of walking around the reserve you understand that the landscape is constantly changing, life around you is really in full swing. This is especially felt in the spring - the vegetation blooms, and many steppe inhabitants have offspring.

Fox cubs are very curious, enthusiastically greet their slightly tired mother returning to the hole in the evenings and happily explore the world around them.

Steppe eagles circle above the emerald fields of flowering feather grass in search of prey (usually small rodents).

Steppe eagles usually make nests on the ground or low bushes, so if you are careful, in the seemingly lifeless steppe you can watch family life this bird of prey.

If you are lucky enough to find a nest, it is better to look from afar, using binoculars or a telephoto lens, it is important not to disturb the birds in any way.

In addition to steppe eagles, of the large birds of prey Black vultures and griffon vultures listed in the Red Book are found in the reserve. These are typical scavengers; they often gather in large groups, which looks a little scary. Their permanent habitat is the Caucasus; they fly to Kalmykia “on tour” in spring and summer.

The black vulture belongs to the hawk family, it is the largest bird in Russia and one of largest birds world fauna: the wingspan of the vulture reaches three meters.

Walking along the steppe early in the morning, you can hear loud, melodic trills, but their performers are extremely difficult to notice. These are skylarks: small birds, slightly larger than a sparrow. Larks choose flat, open spaces to build nests, but thanks to patronizing coloring they are practically invisible among the steppe grasses. Within a couple of weeks after birth, the chicks are completely independent, leave the nest and learn to get their own food.

A unique living attraction of the reserve are the graceful demoiselle cranes - the smallest and third largest representatives of the crane family in the world.

This romantic couple are inhabitants of the Kalmyk steppe in the vicinity of the Atsan-Khuduk cordon.

Demoiselle cranes are monogamous, that is, they choose partners once and for life, but if courtship does not bring offspring, the crane “marriage” may fall apart.

But this couple’s family life is fine.

Small and nimble wheatears also live in abundance in the vicinity of the cordon.

At the end of May, not far from the cordon, in the middle of the bare steppe, inspectors discovered... a small kitten. The kitten is not an ordinary one, it is a wild steppe cat, whose family died, and the kitten was left alone.

The kitten is just over a week old, but soon it will turn into a real steppe predator.

But the main living symbol of the Black Lands is the saiga antelope, even the reserve’s logo is a stylized image of a saiga’s head. These antelopes, the same age as mammoths, known for their original appearance - a muzzle with a nose resembling a trunk - are endangered, although in last years, thanks to active conservation actions, the number of livestock is increasing.

The saiga's "trunk" is functional, helping to survive in the hot summer, in summer conditions sandstorms playing the role of a kind of filter, and harsh winter, – the icy steppe air, passing through the nasal passage, manages to heat up.

In May, calving occurs in the reserve - a mass birth of young saiga. Young saigas can stand well on their feet 3-4 days after birth, and a week later they can run well, but they prefer to spend the first days of life lying on the ground, remaining unnoticeable among the steppe vegetation, rising only when their mother calls.

In the early morning hours, female saiga wander the steppe and call their saigas. A real miracle is to watch saigas walk in the wild steppes, and remain unnoticed by these cautious animals.

You literally have to hold your breath to watch the saigas: one awkward movement, a slight rustle, and the saiga instantly takes off, reaching speeds of up to 80 km/h in a matter of seconds!

And this female with a mysterious “smile” paraded along the sandy embankment, as if on a catwalk, and all the males followed her with their eyes; It was the first time I had a chance to observe a saiga so closely - it looks like she was also posing.

The saiga is a herd animal, and in the spring in the green steppes of Kalmykia one can observe an amazing phenomenon - the migration of herds of saiga, numbering hundreds and sometimes thousands of individuals of all ages.

In addition to steppes, the reserve includes water areas, as well as deserts and semi-deserts.
By protected paths you should move carefully - for example, a scarab may be scurrying around on a sandy area, carried away by its, no doubt, titanic work.

Nimble round-headed lizards of the agamidae family run among the dunes.

In water areas there are nesting sites for many rare species of waterfowl and semi-aquatic birds.
In the thickets of coastal plants you can see flocks of Buntings and Black-breasted Sparrows.

Red herons often fly overhead.

Another interesting encounter is the stilt walker. The bird is easily recognized by its unusual bright pink legs. Of all the waders, the stilt has the most long legs– in search of food, the bird wanders through shallow water and uses its long thin beak to catch mollusks and small aquatic insects.

Of course, to appreciate all the biodiversity and uniqueness of the Kalmyk steppes, a few days, weeks, or even months are not enough. But the reserve, in addition to protecting and scientific work, carries out active educational and excursion activities, and even in a few hours you can immerse yourself in wildlife, watch flying cranes, and, if you’re lucky, meet a herd of saigas running past - for such moments it’s worth visiting hospitable Kalmykia.

In the Kalmyk steppes, a region that can hardly be called comfortable for wildlife, there is reserve "Black Lands". This is one of the youngest natural reserves, created to protect and replenish the population of rare representatives of flora and fauna, in particular the saiga antelope and the unique tulip. The reserve is also interesting because it consists of two areas with different purposes, ornithological and steppe, significantly distant from each other.

I will tell you about this little-known corner of life in the desert region, about its animals and plant inhabitants, the main attractions, and also why the reserve was named “Black Lands”.

Where is the Black Lands Nature Reserve located?

State natural biosphere reserve“Black Lands” is located at the address: Republic of Kalmykia, Chernozemelsky district, Komsomolsky village, Nekrasova street, 31. Phone +78474391254.

What's the best way to get there?

The village of Komsomolsky, where the administration of the reserve is located, can be reached by road. To do this, you need to follow the P216 highway, from to east direction, from Astrakhan - in the west. In the village of Yashkul you should turn south.
In order to visit the ornithological site, you need to follow the P216 highway from Elista to the southwest, from to the northeast. In the village of Divnoye, turn towards Manychskoye and get to the village of Yashalta.

Visit

Visiting the territory of the Black Lands reserve is allowed subject to agreement with the administration. To do this, you must apply no later than two weeks before the date of the visit with a written application or by email.
The following ecological routes are available to travelers:

1. "Birds of Lake Manych Gudilo". Duration 11 kilometers, designed for 3.5 hours. Available from April to October, the most successful season is April-May. Excursion to the ornithological section of the reserve. During the route, travelers get acquainted with natural environment bird habitat of the reserve. Representatives of the avifauna such as pink pelicans, spoonbills, ibis, red-breasted geese, and lesser white-fronted lesser white-fronted geese are observed. In addition, on the territory of the site there is a large settlement of marmots. One of the main attractions of the reserve is the Schrenk tulip, which visitors can see blooming in the spring.
2. "The Saiga Trail". Duration 12 kilometers, designed for four hours. Available all year round except for May, the period of birth of saiga offspring. The route passes through flat terrain. Along the way, visitors observe steppe vegetation. In the blowing sand dunes one can observe traces of ancient burials of various cultures of the 16th-4th centuries. BC. On the route you can meet a variety of fauna, such as fox, hare, and corsac fox. There is a high chance of seeing a saiga. In addition, numerous rodents are observed: hamster, vole, gerbil. Travelers also encounter many representatives of birds: larks, cranes, steppe eagles, swallows, starlings. Tourists will also visit the visitor center, where they will receive information about the reserve, its history, inhabitants, as well as research and educational work.

Pelicans on Lake Manych Gudilo.

Animals and plants of the Black Lands reserve

Flora

The reserve's plants are represented by 291 species. Typical representatives are feather grass, wormwood, common grass, camel thorn, grass grass, chamomile, and potassium solyanka.
One of interesting representatives is Parmelia wandering, a type of lichen. This plant was used in traditional Kalmyk medicine as an anti-inflammatory, hemostatic and bactericidal agent.
In total, 13 species of protected plants grow on the territory of the reserve, including Schrenck's tulip, dwarf and leathery iris, Korzhinsky's licorice, crimson larkspur and Sarmatian bellvalia.

Schrenk's Tulip in the ornithological area of ​​the reserve during flowering.

Fauna

The following representatives of the animal world are observed on the territory of the reserve:

• fish – 22 species;
• amphibians - three species;
• reptiles – 12 species;

• mammals – 36 species;
• birds – 245 species.

Occurs a large number of rodents: ground squirrel, marmot, jerboa, tarbagan, hamster, gerbil, vole. In addition, brown hare, white-breasted and big-eared hedgehogs, shrews, and muskrats are common. Representatives of predators: wolf, corsac fox, fox, marten, weasel, ferret. Also inhabited are wild boar, badger, and raccoon dog.
Protected: 15 species of breeding birds, including pink and Dalmatian pelican, steppe eagle, white-tailed eagle and demoiselle crane.

Saigas at a watering hole, a symbol of the reserve and one of the most protected inhabitants.

Interesting facts about the Black Lands reserve

• Interesting origin names of the reserve. Before its creation, a group of scientists studied satellite images of the territory. By coincidence, it was at that time that there was no snow on the area, which was in particular contrast with the snow-covered surrounding areas. Over time, the situation with snow ceased to be any different from other places, but the name stuck.
• Saiga antelope is a symbol and one of the most protected animals of the reserve. At one time they were on the verge of extinction. All the “fault” of saigas is in their horns, which were highly valued in China as raw materials for medicines, which especially attracted poachers. After saigas were taken under protection, their numbers began to increase. On this moment There are about 15 thousand of them, which is still considered insufficient for the full existence of the population.
• Lake Manych Gudilo, on the banks of which the ornithological section of the reserve is located, has a salty water composition, which suggests its marine origin.

Reserve "Black Lands" - video

Blooming tulip steppe and saigas in the Chernye Zemli reserve. “Black Lands” is the only anthropogenic desert that is the object of study by hundreds of scientists from all over the world.

I am impressed visiting this reserve. I was glad that I was able to visit both sites, and especially that I was able to catch the tulips blooming. Unfortunately, when visiting the steppe area, we were not able to see saigas, although there was plenty to see.

• Schrenk's Tulip –Tulipaschrenkii (RF CC 2005, category 2)
• Dwarf killer whale –Irispumila
• Belvalia Sarmatian – Bellevalia sarmatica
• Crimson larkspur – Delphinium puniceum (RF CC 2005, category 2; Kalmykia CC, category 2)
• Leathery iris – Iris scariosa (RF CC 2005, category 2; Kalmykia CC, category 3)
• The most beautiful feather grass - Stipa pulcherrima (RF CC 2005, category 3; Kalmykia CC, category 2)
• feather feather grass – Stipa pennata (RF CC 2005, category 3; Kalmykia CC, category 2)
• Low bow - Allium pumilum (RF CC 2005, category 3)
• Maykaragan Volzhsky – Calophaca volgarica (RF CC 2005, category 2; Kalmykia CC, category 2)
• Wheat grass - Elytrigia stipifolia (RF CC 2005, category 2; Kalmykia CC, category 2)
• Asparagus shortleaf - Asparagus brachyphyllus (RF CC 2005, category 3)
• Zingeria Bieberstein - Zingeria biebersteiniana (RF CC 2005, category 2; Kalmykia CC, category 2)

Red Data Book of the Republic of Kalmykia – plants

• Two-flowered tulip –Tulipabiflora (Kalmykia CC, category 3)
• Koch's poultry farmer –Ornithogalumkochii (Kalmykia CC, category 3)
• Solonchak iris –Irishalophila (Kalmykia CC, category 2)
• Besser's hernia -Herniariabesseri (Kalmykia CC, category 2)
• Rough katran –Crambeaspera (Kalmykia CC, category 3)
• Schober's saltpeter -Nitrariaschoberi (Kalmykia CC, category 3)
• Two-spikelet ephedra –Ephedradistachya (Kalmykia CC, category 1)
• Strawberry clover – Trifolium/Amoria fragiferum
• Fenugreek straight – Trigonella ornthoceras
• Licorice naked - Glycyrrhiza glabra

As of 2004, the reserve recorded: 91 species of insects (including 7 species of the RF CC), 15 species of amphibians and reptiles, 223 species of birds (including 34 species of the RF CC and the IUCN list), and mammals – 31 species.

Red Book of the Russian Federation - insects

• Steppe rack –Saga pedo (RF CC 2004, category 2; Kalmykia CC, status 2; IUCN-VU, European Red List, Annex 2 of the Berne Convention). P prefers grass-forb and, above all, feather grass virgin steppes; It is also found in other arid landscapes (shrub-rocky or wormwood steppes), where it inhabits only ravines and other depressions with abundant grass-herbaceous vegetation, as well as areas overgrown with bushes.
• Hungarian ground beetle – Carabus hungaricus (RF CC 2004, category 2; Kalmykia CC, status 2). Usually lives in unplowed steppes with wormwood-grass vegetation, in adjacent biotopes (forest belts, meadow herbs along the bottom of ravines, etc.) and in mountain steppes ( up to an altitude of 1200 m above sea level). Disappears in crop rotation fields.
• Ascalafus motley - Ascalaphus macaronius (Kalmykia CC, category 2)
• Swallowtail swallowtail – Papilio machaon (Kalmykia CC, category 1)
• Bolivaria shortwing - Bolivaria brachyptera (Kalmykia CC, category 2)

Red Data Book of the Russian Federation – birds

• Bustard –Otis tarda dybowski (RF CC 2000, category 2; Kalmykia CC, category 3; IUCN-VU; CITES Appendix 2). Protected in 4 nature reserves. The typical biotope is grass steppes and wide meadows, but does not avoid dry ridges among wetlands and sands with meadow-like areas. It often nests in swampy meadows along river valleys and around forest lakes surrounded by larch taiga. It nests in agricultural fields (wheat, barley, millet, corn, sunflower, potatoes), arable lands and pastures. A migratory species for the reserve.
• Demoiselle crane –Anthropoides virgo (RF CC 2004, category 5; Kalmykia CC, category 5). Inhabits flat and slightly hilly steppes and semi-deserts. In foothill trails it nests in steppe river valleys and in mountain steppes. The East Asian population is known to nest on gradual forest edges. Prefers fescue-feather grass and wormwood-grass steppes, with low grass stand, pebble, gravelly, hard clay areas or solonetzes. Settles in sandy deserts. In the last decade, the species began nesting in agricultural fields. Breeds in the reserve.
• Spoonbill –Platalea leucorodia (RF CC 2000, category 2; Kalmykia CC, category 3; Appendix 2 of CITES, Appendix 2 of the Bonn Convention, Appendix 2 of the Berne Convention). Inhabits floodplains and river deltas, fresh and salt lakes. Breeds in the reserve.
• Lapwing –Chettusia gregaria (RF CC 2000, category 1; Kalmykia CC, category 1). During nesting time it is associated with landscapes of semi-deserts, dry and mountain steppes. In the northwestern part of the range it penetrates into forb-grass steppes. Favorite habitats - Various types wormwood and wormwood-grass low-growing associations with patches of salt marshes and bald patches devoid of vegetation. In dry mountain and rocky steppes there are areas with gravelly soils and very sparse grass. In recent decades, it has developed overgrazed pastures and fallow lands in areas where forage grasses are sown.
• Dalmatian Pelican –Pelecanus pelecanus (RF CC 2000, category 2; Kalmykia CC, category 3; IUCN-VU; Appendix 1 of CITES; Appendix 2 of the Bonn Convention, Appendix 2 of the Berne Convention). It prefers deltaic flowing reservoirs rich in fish, fresh and brackish lakes with thickets, islands of salt lakes devoid of surface vegetation. Breeds in the reserve.
• Buzzard – Buteo rufinus (KK RF 2004, category 3; KK Kalmykia, category 5), protected in 6 reserves. The main nesting habitats are steppes, semi-deserts and deserts with sparse vegetation. Breeds in the reserve.
• Burial ground –Aquila heliaca (RF CC 2004, category 2; Kalmykia CC, category 1; IUCN-VU; Appendix 1 of CITES; Appendix 2 of the Bonn Convention, Appendix 2 of the Berne Convention). Typical nesting habitats are dry forests with tall pines, surrounded by open areas, forested beams, island forests of birch, oak, poplar. Required condition habitat – abundance of food supplies: settlements of gophers or marmots, large colonies of rooks, etc. Breeds in the reserve.
• White-tailed eagle –Haliaeetus albicilla (RF CC 2004, category 3; Kalmykia CC, category 5; IUCN-LR; Appendix 1 of CITES; Appendix 2 of the Bonn Convention, Appendix 2 of the Berne Convention). Nesting habitats are confined to coastal landscapes (sea coasts, valleys large rivers, lake shores and islands). Found annually on migration.
• Lesser white-fronted goose -Anser erythropus (RF CC 2004, category 2; Kalmykia CC, category 2; IUCN-VU; Appendix 2 of the Bonn Convention, Appendix 2 of the Berne Convention). It prefers narrow V-shaped valleys of streams and areas of valleys with high steep slopes or even cliffs, where it most often locates nests. Flying view.
• Pink Pelican –Pelecanus onocrotalus (RF CC 2000, category 1; Kalmykia CC, category 3; Appendix 1 of the Bonn Convention, Appendix 2 of the Berne Convention). It lives in river deltas - flowing reservoirs with developed reed thickets, interspersed with open reaches. On salt lakes Manych-Gudilo and Manych, devoid of above-water vegetation, nest exclusively on islands. Breeds in the reserve.
• Savka –Oxyura leucocephala (RF CC 2004, category 1; Kalmykia CC, category 3; IUCN-VU; Appendix 2 of CITES; Appendix 2 of the Bonn Convention, Appendix 2 of the Berne Convention). Inhabits water bodies with dense thickets of reeds and rafts. Nests are located at the water's edge. On the lake Manych-Gudilo prefers deep-water (up to 3-5 m) bays formed at the confluence of small brackish rivers with developed reed borders. A species that periodically nests in the reserve.
• Steppe kestrel –Falco naumanni (RF CC 2000, category 1; Kalmykia CC, category 3; IUCN-VU; Appendix 2 of CITES, Appendix 2 of the Bonn Convention, Appendix 2 of the Berne Convention). Inhabits various types of flat and hilly landscapes of steppes and semi-deserts. In small numbers it penetrates into the southern forest-steppe and deserts. A migratory species for the reserve.
• Steppe eagle –Aquila nipalensis ( RF CC 2004, category 3; CC of Kalmykia, category 2; CITES Appendix 2; Annex 2 of the Bonn Convention) is protected in 14 nature reserves. Settles exclusively in open spaces, avoids agricultural lands. It makes nests on the ground or old stacks of straw. The success of reproduction depends on fluctuations in the number of main foods, mainly gophers). Breeds in the reserve.
• Little Bustard –Tetrax tetrax (RF CC, category 3; Kalmykia CC, category 5; CITES Appendix 2 ), protected in 7 nature reserves. Prefers virgin, fallow areas of the steppe, steppe semi-deserts with low sparse but varied herbaceous vegetation. Breeds in the reserve.
• Stilt -Himantopus himantopus (RF CC 2004, category 3; Kalmykia CC, category 5; Appendix 2 of the Bonn Convention). It nests on open muddy banks of brackish and fresh water bodies of steppe and desert zones, sometimes in grassy swamps, on salt marshes in river and lake valleys, etc. It readily colonizes all kinds of random spills in meadows and steppes, settling ponds and other artificial reservoirs, often in close proximity to human habitation. Breeds in the reserve.
• Black-headed Laughing Gull – Larus ichthyaetus (RF CC 2004, category 5; Kalmykia CC, category 5). Breeds on islands of seas, estuaries, large (mainly salty) lakes and, less commonly, reservoirs of steppe, semi-desert and desert zones isolated from terrestrial predators; during non-breeding time it stays on sea ​​coasts and the banks of large bodies of water. Breeds in the reserve.
• Avocet – Recurvirostra avosetta (RF CC 2004, category 3; Kalmykia CC, category 3; Appendix 2 of the Bonn Convention, Appendix 2 of the Berne Convention). Inhabits open islands and coasts of brackish lakes and seas in steppe and desert zones - both muddy and sandy or shell-rich. Breeds in the reserve.

Mammals

• Saiga -Saigatatarica (IUCN Red List: Critically Endangered (CR); CITES Appendix 2; Convention on Migratory Species (CMS) Appendix)
• Dressing – Vormela peregusna (RF CC, category 1; Kalmykia CC, category 1; IUCN-VU). It is confined to steppe undisturbed biotopes, and therefore this species is characterized by a mosaic distribution within its range and its modern range in Russia is a lacy network of individual areas. It has been noted that ligation is disappearing in all areas used for agricultural crops. It is protected in 3 more reserves, in addition to the Black Lands reserve.

Republic of Kalmykia, Yashkul and Chernozemelsky districts

Founding history
The Black Earth Nature Reserve is the only testing ground in Russia for the study of steppe, semi-desert and desert landscapes, as well as for the protection and study of the Kalmyk saiga population. The reserve occupies two distinct territories - in the main area "Chernye Zemli" the protection and restoration of the saiga population is carried out, and the area "Lake Manych-Gudilo" is a wetland of international importance, here are the nesting and wintering grounds of many rare species of waterfowl and semi-aquatic species birds.
The reserve was created in 1990, and three years later the territory received the status biosphere reserve UNESCO. Its total area is 121.9 thousand hectares.

Physiographical features
The territory of the reserve is a gently undulating low-lying plain, where vast tracts of hilly-ridge sands are common. They are deposits from periods of transgression of the Caspian Sea, so they are saline almost everywhere. The Manych depression, where the “Lake Manych-Gudilo” section is located, is an ancient strait almost 500 km long, which once connected the Azov and Caspian lowlands. Before artificial watering, Lake Manych-Gudilo was a shallow, highly mineralized reservoir; during dry periods it almost completely dried out or remained as a series of isolated or connected by channels salt lakes. Currently, the width of the lake ranges from 1.5 to 10 kilometers, the depth in the central part, where the maximum depression of the relief has been preserved, is 5-8 meters.
The climate of the territory is sharply continental: summers are hot and dry, winters are usually snowless. By the way, this is what explains the name of the reserve, and not the color of the soil - it is light brown. average temperature January -6.5ºС, July +24.5ºС degrees. The minimum temperature in January is -35ºС, the maximum temperature in July is +42ºС.

Diversity of flora and fauna
The territory of the reserve is located at the junction of two zones - dry steppe and desert, in the driest region of the European part of Russia.
The dry steppe and desert change their colors with the seasons. In spring they are characterized by ephemera flowers - Bibirstein and Schrenk tulips, irises; The green of the cereals is complemented by the gray-green shades of regrown wormwood. In early summer, a brownish-purple background of bulbous bluegrass and bromegrass predominates, with silvery-whitish islands of flowering feather grasses. By the end of summer, the most noticeable yellow-brown tones are from some types of wormwood, flowering yellow alfalfa and drying wheatgrass and tonguing. Autumn is characterized by a grayish-brown color created by black wormwood, dried grass vegetation and saltwort communities that change from dark green to blood red.
In the Black Lands area, the main protected species is the saiga antelope. Its numbers sharply decreased in the 1980s due to poaching, but thanks to the creation of a number of protected areas (the reserve itself, the Harbinsky, Sarpinsky and Mekletinsky nature reserves), its numbers have recovered and now number 150 thousand individuals.
Lake Manych-Gudilo with its 12 islands is extremely important for nesting waterbirds. More than 190 species of birds nest, molt and migrate on the pond. On the islands, adjacent to gulls, spoonbills, and cormorants, pink and Dalmatian pelicans form the only lake colonies in Europe. Against the backdrop of regression of water bodies in Kazakhstan, the lake is becoming one of the largest resting areas in Eurasia for geese migrating from wintering grounds: red-breasted goose, white-fronted and gray geese.

What to watch
During your stay in the reserve you will be able to get acquainted with amazing nature these places. So, the staff of the reserve will tell you about saigas, small, mobile antelopes with a large head with a swollen, humpbacked muzzle ending in a small proboscis. They will definitely introduce you to the features of the feather grass steppe, and for bird watching lovers they will organize an excursion to Lake Manych-Gudilo.

Based on materials from oopt.info and zapoved.ru

A testing ground for studying steppe, semi-desert and desert landscapes, as well as the Kalmyk saiga population. “Black Lands” is the only anthropogenic desert in Europe, which is the object of study by hundreds of scientists from all over the world.

The reserve was founded on June 11, 1990. Its area is 121.9 thousand hectares. The “Black Lands” occupy two different territories. The main section of the Black Lands reserve is located in Caspian lowland, between the lower reaches of the Kuma and Volga rivers, on the territory of the Yashkul and Chernozemelny districts of Kalmykia. In this area, the protection and restoration of the saiga population is carried out, and in the second area, located on Lake Manych-Gudilo, rare species of waterfowl and shorebirds nest and winter (mute swan, greylag goose, red-breasted goose, pink and Dalmatian pelicans, bustard, crane - belladonna and others).

The name “Black Lands” appeared due to the fact that in winter the steppe here is not covered with snow and the land remains black. Since ancient times, this territory was used for winter grazing of livestock: “Every more or less large cattle-breeding farm of the steppes from the east of the banks of the Volga, from the northeast of the Ergen Mountains, gathers for the winter to the so-called “Black Lands”, where it is grouped from all ends of the steppe a huge number of cattle with all the herding habits, and in the summer all this cattle disperses to different corners of the steppe” (I.A. Zhitetsky, 19th century).

The Black Lands Nature Reserve is interesting because it simultaneously protects extremely contrasting habitats - typical Kalmyk steppes and lake wetlands.

The symbol of the reserve is the saiga antelope, one of rare species antelopes in Russia. Its numbers sharply decreased in the 80s due to poaching, but then, thanks to the creation of organizations (the Chernye Zemli reserve, the Sarpinsky, Harbinsky and Mekletinsky reserves) for the protection and restoration of the saiga population, its numbers recovered and was about 150 thousand individuals. However, at present, according to calculations by employees of the Black Lands Nature Reserve, the number of saigas is very low and amounts to about 13-15 thousand.

The Yashkul nursery is located in the “Center for Wild Animals of Kalmykia”. On its territory there are enclosures with semi-free-living saigas. The Yashkul nursery is located in the Yashkul district.

During your stay in the Black Earth Nature Reserve, you can also get acquainted with the extraordinary nature and rare representatives flora and fauna of this region.

The plant cover of the reserve is represented by desert steppes of feather grass, black wormwood and Lerch, wormwood, prostrate grass, and chamomile. Sands in the overgrowing stage are characterized by gristle grass, camel thorn, potassium solyanka, sand wormwood and broom. There are communities of steppe meadows and salt marshes. On the Manych-Gudilo islands, steppes with Lessing's feather grass and ephemeral synusia are common. From rare plants In the Black Lands Nature Reserve you can find Taliev's cornflower, beautiful feather grass and Zalessky's feather grass, and Schrenk's tulip.

The fauna of the “Black Lands” consists of typical steppe and semi-desert species. The background reptiles are the multi-colored and fast foot-and-mouth disease, the long-eared roundhead and the spiny tail, sand boa, yellowbell, lizard snake, steppe viper. The most common mammals are saiga, corsac, brown hare, long-eared hedgehog, small ground squirrel, large, small and hairy jerboas.