The Volzhsko-Kama Reserve is the only one in the territory of Tatarstan and has more than five decades of existence. . It is located on the left-bank terraces of the Volga, on the territory of the Zelenodolsky district of the republic, occupies a large area (more than 10 thousand hectares, the protection zone is even more - 15 thousand hectares) and consists of two sites - Saralinsky and Raifa . These plots are separated from each other by 100 km . One of the oldest forests of Eastern Europe grows in the reserve, tree plants of 300 years old are preserved here . Flora is represented by 203 8 species, of which 12 are listed in the Red Book of the Russian Federation and 183 in the book of Tatarstan . Rich and fauna of the reserve, it counts 2644 species .
How to get here
Get to the Volzhsko-Kama Reserve from Kazan you can take a bus: No. 404 - Kazan-Kulbashi and No. 406 - Kazan-Bishnia. You need to go out at the stop "Garden". Flights from Moscow to the capital of Tatarstan are performed daily. The journey takes about one and a half hours. You can get to Kazan by train and spend a little more than half a day on the road.
Climate
The average annual air temperature in Raif is less than +4 ° C. The climate is moderate, but in the winter there are forty-degree frosts (extremely rare), and in the summer the thermometer reaches 36 degrees with a plus. In any case, the best, comfortable time for visiting the reserve is summer. The climate of Sarala is warmer and drier than in Raifa.
Tourist routes of the Volga-Kama Reserve
Volzhsko-Kama Reserve is part of the UNESCO Biosphere Reserves. Tourists, in fact, only the Raifsky reserve area is available. There are guided tours to the nature museum and arboretum. Travel to the Saralinsky site is exclusive and possible only from the office located in the village of Sadovoye
Nature Museum
Here you can see more than 50 characteristic inhabitants of the reserve. And, these are not single scarecrows, but whole compositions with scenes of behavior of animals in nature. In the museum, except for the excursion, lectures are given and films are shown
Arboretum
Arboretum of Volga-Kama Reserve is located near the village of Sadovy. It was founded more than 90 years ago - in 1921. Here are collected about 500 species of trees and shrubs of North America, Europe and Asia. This is the largest collection in the Volga region. The plants are divided according to geographical principle, and the sections are named "America", "Europe" and "Asia."
Raifa lake and monastery
On the shore of a beautiful forest lake is the Raifa Monastery (17th century). On the monument of architecture you can walk independently or as part of a tour group. It is better to spend a whole day for a walk to holy places.
Visit Center
Visit-Center "The Reserve Teremok" is located next to Raifsky Monastery. The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and sponsors helped build it. Here you will be shown a film about the reserve, its treasures - plants and animals. With the help of a touch kiosk, you can arrange a virtual tour of the reserve. But it is better, of course, to walk along the alleys really.
The prices are indicated in March 2013.
| Bober, Volzhsko-Kama Reserve |
| Volzhsko-Kama Reserve |
| Volzhsky-Kama Reserve |
| Dendrarium, Volzhsko-Kama Reserve |
| Raifsky Monastery, Volzhsko-Kama Reserve |