The Virgin Komi Forests defines Russian greatness. It is a forest of aspens, conifers, birches, peat bogs, natural lakes majestic rivers and any other natural feature that you may associate with northern Europe.

The Virgin Komi Forests defines Russian greatness. It is a forest of aspens, conifers, birches, peat bogs, natural lakes majestic rivers and any other natural feature that you may associate with northern Europe. For more than 50 years, the forest has been under the Russian government protection. The forest is home to the largest virgin boreal forest in Europe. It covers 3.28 million hectares of tundra and mountain tundra in the Russian Urals.

Geographic Description

The great forest is located in the northwestern region of Komi Republic. The western slopes of northern Urals are graced with the lush green woods of the forest.

To the east, the forest is dominated by Northern Urals that are oriented in a north-south direction. The mountains feature the glacier formations. During your tour, be sure to note the Telpossky massif where the glacier grandness is well represented.

If you have not had the chance to see an elaborate karst system, then get a chance to visit the caves, craters, and river beds that are flooded seasonally. They were formed through erosion of the limestone on the Urals foothills.

The allure of the area is further enhanced by the reef structures that have been forming over the years. The oldest one was formed during the Ordovician period. The landscape is characterized by marshes, lowlands and hills that give way to the Ural Mountains.

Vegetation

In the lowlands you will find the marshes and flood plain islands. The boreal forest has extended to these lowlands all the way to the foothills of the Urals. From here, the forest yield to the subalpine scrub woodlands, meadows, tundra and onwards to bedrock. The boreal forest is predominantly made of pine and larch, with the larch being mainly found in the high areas.

The ground cover is made up of the cowberry, reindeer mosses, and bilberry. Further into the valleys you will find fir, spruce and pine forests. You’ll be surprised to know that Siberian pine grows only in the Virgin Komi Forests.

Fauna Diversity

Expect to encounter 43 species of mammals, 16 species of fish, and 204 species of birds. The list of endangered mammals found here includes; wolf, sable, otter, wolverine, lynx, and beaver. The mammals that are endemic to the region include flying squirrel, grey wolf brown bear, fox, weasel etc. Birds’ species include; the black grouse, hazel, nutcracker, bean goose, black woodpecker etc.

Take you’re your vacation near the Virgin Komi and you will never regret the decision. The area is full of adventure.