The Kostomukshsky State Nature Reserve is a nature
reserve located within the Kalevalsky and Muezersky Districts of the
Republic of Karelia. Kostomukshsky State Nature Reserve was
established on December 14, 1983. The reserve was designed as part
of the regional complex, and its task was initially to neutralize
the negative effects of industrial activity of the rapidly
developing Kostomuksha mining and processing plant.
Its total
area is 49,200 ha. This is one of the 4 reserves of Russia, which is
transboundary: in 1990, the Russian-Finnish reserve "Friendship" was
created, from our side presented by Kostomuksha, and from the
Finnish - by five isolated nature conservation zones.
The Kostomuksha State Nature Reserve was
established on December 14, 1983. The reserve was designed as part
of a regional complex, and its tasks initially included neutralizing
the negative consequences of the industrial activity of the rapidly
developing Kostomuksha Mining and Processing Plant.
Its total
area is 49,200 hectares. This is one of the five reserves in Russia,
which is transboundary: in 1990, the Russian-Finnish reserve
"Druzhba" was created, from our side represented by Kostomuksha, and
from the Finnish side - five isolated nature protection zones. On
June 12, 2017, the reserve became part of the Metsola Biosphere
Reserve. The name "Metsola" has Karelian roots. According to the
Kalevala epic, Metsola is the possession of the owner of the Tapio
forest.
Geographic Information
The climate is
characterized by the fact that this territory is located in the
Atlantic-Arctic climatic region of the temperate zone. The average
annual air temperature is 0.5°C. The average frost-free period is
183 days.
The territory of the reserve is covered mainly by
northern taiga forests. There are many lakes and flowing reservoirs,
there are wetlands.
182 species of birds
are registered on the territory of the reserve. About 300-350
species of vascular plants are found on its territory. There are 26
species of mammals in the fauna of the reserve. There are 2 types of
amphibians. On the territory of the reserve, 16 species of fish are
permanently inhabited.
Bird fauna is common for the taiga
forests of the region: hazel grouse, capercaillie. Squirrel, pine
marten, brown bear and elk are its characteristic representatives.
Particular attention is paid to the population of the forest form of
the reindeer, which has survived only in this region of Karelia - in
the reserve and to the south of it. She crosses the state border
during seasonal migrations; Soviet and Finnish scientists studied it
under a joint program. The ichthyofauna is typical for the region;
Western salmon spawning along protected rivers requires strict
protection.
The study of the natural course of processes in the natural complex of the northern taiga subzone on the territory of Karelia, the identification of the impact of the production activities of the mining and processing plant on the indigenous biogeocenoses of the reserve, the development of methods for the protection and restoration of protected ecosystems.