Nature of Pinega

The wealth of Pinega district is in its nature. Russian North, despite its harsh climate, is a host to diverse flora and fauna. The reserved Pinega rivers, the majestic northern taiga, the long karst caves will amaze even seasoned travelers.

In terms of climate, the entire territory of Pinega district belongs to the subarctic region, characterized by low temperatures and relatively high humidity. The average annual temperature is usually below freezing. The differences between seasons are clear: long, usually very cold winters; relatively short, mild and cloudy summers, and long spring and autumn with frequent temperature fluctuations.

About 470 caves were found in the Arkhangelsk Region, 140 of which are located in the Pinega Reserve and its conservation zone. The total length of the caves exceeds 50 km. Most of them are 10-100 meters long; 19 largest (> 500 m) caves reach a total length of 42.7 km.

The vegetation of Pinezhye is mainly represented by forests, most of which are spruce forests with corresponding ecosystem.  Many plants, such as, for example, Northern Linnaeus, named after the famous botanist Carl Linnaeus, are listed in the Red Book. Many species are endemic to this area, for instance the Atragene is the only tree liana of the northern region. On the territory of the Pinega Nature Reserve, there are as many as seventeen types of orchids.

The wildlife of Pinega shows a wide diversity. Despite low temperatures, many species of animals are found all year round. Animals have long adapted to peculiarities of the region. For example, reindeer migrate from the tundra to taiga and vice versa depending on the time of year. About 260 species of birds inhabit the taiga biome, some of them are listed in the Red Book. Some birds fly away to warmer climates for the winter, while others remain in taiga throughout the year. Often you can find the simplest species of birds, such as capercaillie and hazel grouse. Several species of owls and woodpeckers also live here.

Taiga is inhabited by moose and roe deer, numerous species and subspecies of rodents and mammals: hares, squirrels, beavers, chipmunks. Come and see for yourself!