Primorsky Krai or Primorye is located in the Far East. It borders in the north with the Khabarovsk Territory, in the south with the DPRK, in the west with China, and in the east it is washed by the Sea of Japan.
In the Primorsky Territory, 12 urban districts have been formed,
which often have an impressive territory size, and 22 municipal
districts:
Urban districts: Arsenyevsky, Artyomovsky, Bolshoi Kamen,
Vladivostok, Dalnegorsky, Dalnerechensky, Lesozavodsky, Nakhodkinsky,
Partizansky, Spassk-Dalniy, Ussuriysky, ZATO Fokino.
Municipal
districts: Anuchinsky, Dalnerechensky, Kavalerovsky, Kirovsky,
Krasnoarmeysky, Lazovsky, Mikhailovsky, Nadezhdinsky, Oktyabrsky,
Olginsky, Partizansky, Pogranichny, Pozharsky, Spassky, Terneysky,
Khankaysky, Khasansky, Khorolsky, Chernigovsky, Chuguevsky, Shkotovsky,
Yakovlevsky
Tourist regions of Primorsky Krai are identified
based on the predominance of certain types of landscapes, and, partly,
according to transport accessibility, tourism infrastructure and tourism
destinations. The natural boundaries of the three regions (Western,
Central and Eastern Primorye) are the Sikhote-Alin mountain ranges,
stretching in the meridional direction. In the south of the region, the
latitudinal boundary is the Przhevalsky Mountains. The coastline of the
Sea of Japan extends here to the west, forming a vast hall, indented by
numerous bays. Peter the Great, on the banks of which is located the
most favorable region in terms of climate and with a developed tourist
infrastructure - Southern Primorye. In the north of the region there is
no clear latitudinal boundary, therefore the concept of “Northern
Primorye” is very vague, and it refers more to the social aspects of
life of the population living in mountain-taiga territories remote from
the regional center and on the eastern coast, that is, in the regions ,
equated to the “Far North”. Moreover, in the Olginsky district on the
eastern coast of the region, there is the southernmost “Far North” of
Russia, located at the latitude of Vladivostok.
Southern Primorye. The warm and mild climate of Southern Primorye is
due to its protection from the movement of cold sea currents from the
north. This region has a densely branched transport network,
well-maintained beaches, the most expensive hotels, tourist centers and
rental housing, restaurants and entertainment. Southern Primorye is rich
in attractions - both natural and historical and cultural. It extends
from the Khasansky district in the west to Triozerye Bay in the east,
which, although located east of Povorotny metro station, belongs to the
suburbs of Nakhodka. The main direction of tourism is beach holidays.
However, mountain tourism is very popular among local residents in
Southern Primorye. There are also ski slopes, albeit small ones.
Western Primorye is a region occupying flat territories in the west of
Primorsky Krai - the Khanka lowland and the valley of the Ussuri River.
To the west of Lake Khanka there are also mountainous areas - spurs of
the East Manchurian Highlands. But in general, Western Primorye is vast
plains and agricultural land. This is a land of forests, fields,
meadows, swamps and lakes, the real pearl of which is the largest
transboundary lake Khanka in the Far East. In Western Primorye there is
a large balneological resort of Shmakovka in the village. Mountain Keys.
Thanks to the mild climate and fertile soils, the region is the
breadbasket of the Far East, where grain crops, vegetables, fruits,
watermelons are grown, and is promising for agritourism.
Central
Primorye is a region occupying the central, mountain-taiga part of the
region. This is the most extensive tourist region of Primorye,
stretching from the broad-leaved forests of the Anuchinsky region,
entwined with actinidia lianas and grapes, to the mountain tundras,
kurums and snowfields in the upper reaches of the Samarga River in the
far north. This is a region of dense taiga, the highest peaks of
Primorsky Krai, the Great Primorsky Rivers (by local standards, of
course), a kind of “Siberia” of Primorsky Krai. Even the climate here is
rather continental, Siberian - with summer heat and real winter cold.
The main tourist destinations of Central or Mountain-taiga Primorye are
ski resorts in the city of Arsenyev and in the village of Vostok;
fishing and rafting along large taiga rivers, climbing the highest hills
of Primorye.
Eastern Primorye. If Central Primorye is the
“Siberia” of the Primorsky Territory, then Eastern Primorye can
rightfully be called the “Far East”. After all, to get here from
Vladivostok, you need to cross the entire region. It is not surprising
that almost all intra-regional flights are carried out to airports in
Eastern Primorye. The East Coast, as this region is also called,
includes the steep and short eastern slope of the Sikhote-Alin (with the
exception of the headwaters of the large and long Samarga River). This
is a region of the purest mountain rivers, the highest waterfalls in the
region, picturesque rocks and caves. There are also warm radon springs.
Although the open sea coast here is colder and harsher than in Southern
Primorye, beach holidays are almost as popular here.
Vladivostok is the administrative center and largest city of
Primorsky Krai, equal in population to all other cities of Primorsky
Krai combined. Vladivostok has the greatest concentration of high-budget
tourism infrastructure in the region and interesting engineering,
architectural, and historical sites worthy of a visit.
Vladivostok is the “Babylon” of the
Primorsky Territory, where land, sea and air roads converge. This is
where most excursions around Primorye begin, pass through, and end here.
Nakhodka is a port city, the
southernmost in the Far East, the “younger brother” of Vladivostok. It
arose later than other large cities in the region, so it cannot boast of
historical sites. But Nakhodka is surrounded by gorgeous nature -
picturesque sea bays, deciduous forests and high ridges in the north.
Thanks to them, in winter it is noticeably warmer here than in
Vladivostok.
Ussuriysk is the
largest city located on the flat territories of Primorye. Unlike other
cities in the region, Ussuriysk has elements of medieval history, and
artifacts from the Jurchen era have been preserved. The modern city
arose with the beginning of mass settlement of the then Ussuri region.
Here, as in Vladivostok, the architecture of the 19th – early 20th
centuries is still preserved in some places. A calm, green, cozy city in
its own way.
Artyom is a satellite city
of Vladivostok. A city with a mining past, now it looks more like a
remote residential area of Vladivostok. On the other hand, the area
around Artyom is quite lively - close to Vladivostok International
Airport, a gambling zone, the Primorskoye Koltso tourist complex, wide
highways and road junctions.
Arsenyev is a city located in a wide
intermountain valley in the central region of Primorye. Named in honor
of V.K. Arsenyev, a famous writer and traveler in Primorye. City of
aviators and aircraft designers. It is known to tourists thanks to the
nearby ski slopes, the largest in the region.
Spassk-Dalniy is a
small town on the Khanka Plain, surrounded by agricultural areas, the
breadbasket of Primorye. The main enterprise is a cement plant. However,
Spassk-Dalniy cannot be called a dirty city with a harsh industrial
appearance. Rather, it is an agricultural town, where a large area is
occupied by one-story buildings and vegetable gardens surrounding a
small array of high-rise buildings.
Bolshoi Kamen is located on
the shore of Bolshoi Kamen Bay, a convenient harbor for warships. The
city is home to the largest shipyard in the Far East. Tourists visit
mainly the sea coast outside the city limits.
Partizansk is a
city with a glorious mining past. It is located in the valley of the
Partizanskaya (Suchan) river, which is called the Golden Valley. It is
famous for its special microclimate, favorable for gardening and
viticulture. The surrounding area of Partizansk is rich in natural
attractions. These are mountain peaks, caves, and rafting rivers,
surrounded by lush vegetation of the southern taiga.
Lesozavodsk
is a flat city, divided into two halves by the largest river in Primorye
- the Ussuri. It is navigable to Lesozavodsk. The largest wood
processing plant in the Far East was located in the city. Currently, the
life of the city is connected with a large railway station on the
Trans-Siberian Railway. The surroundings of Lesozavodsk are famous for
their mineral water springs. On one of them, in the village. Mountain
Keys, Shmakovka resort is located.
Dalnegorsk is the only city on
the eastern slopes of Sikhote-Alin, in Eastern Primorye. The name
indicates that Dalnegorsk is located in the mountains far from the
regional center. Large enterprises of non-ferrous metallurgy and the
mining and chemical industry still operate here. The uniqueness of
Dalnegorsk is that it is tightly surrounded on all sides by high, steep
hills covered with dense forest. The surrounding area is favorable for
caving, mountain, ski and water tourism, although there is practically
no tourist infrastructure here.
Dalnerechensk is the northernmost
city of Primorye. The name indicates that the city is located on the
banks of large rivers, far from the regional center. Dalnerechensk and
Dalnegorsk are often confused due to the similarity of names, but they
are completely different cities. Dalnerechensk is a border and transit
city through which the main roads pass - the Trans-Siberian Railway, the
Ussuri federal highway, the ESPO oil pipeline, high-voltage power lines,
and the only navigable river of Primorye - the Ussuri.
Fokino is
a small town on the highway connecting Vladivostok and Nakhodka,
formerly the village of Pacific. City of military sailors. It is known
to tourists for its surroundings, the path to which runs through the
city - the picturesque bays of the hall. Peter the Great, the islands of
Putyatin and Askold, Mount Krinichnaya.
Andreevka is a village located not far from the port village of
Zarubino, on the shore of the bay. Trinity. The bay is one of the
warmest water areas on the Pacific coast of Russia. The oldest summer
holiday destination for the Far Easterners, where a large number of
tourist centers are concentrated. The popularity of this place has both
its pros and cons. However, while relaxing here, you can visit the
nearest surroundings (Vityaz, Gamova Peninsula, Astafiev Bay), changing
the format of your vacation to a more active one (hiking, swimming with
fins and a mask, etc.) and in cleaner and less crowded places places.
Slavyanka is a port village, the administrative center of the
Khasansky district. Actually, the village itself is not interesting to
tourists, but the immediate surroundings in the summer become a place of
attraction for many thousands of vacationers. First of all, this is
Manchzhurka beach on the bay coast. Cormorant and Bruce Peninsula.
Russky Island is the largest island in Primorsky Krai. The island
has historical, cultural and entertainment sites. And simply - this is
the closest place for outdoor recreation to Vladivostok, where, in
addition to traditional beach holidays, you can go SUP boarding, walks
in the forest and fishing.
Yuzhno-Morskoy - known in Primorye as
Livadia, a port village next to which there are long sandy beaches, some
of the most crowded and popular in the Far Eastern region.
Triozerye is a quartz sand beach on the shores of the open sea. The
Triozerye area includes several popular bays and beaches located in the
same direction from Nakhodka - Shepalovo, Spokoynaya, Okunevaya and
Triozerye itself. Stunning nature, incredibly clean and transparent
water in the sea.
Lake Khanka is a popular destination for
ecotourism and beach holidays. Very warm (but muddy) water, unusual
“sea” landscapes and unique wildlife. On the way to the lake lies the
village of Khorol. The largest village directly on the banks of the
Khanka is Kamen-Rybolov.
Vostok is an oasis of winter tourism in
the north of Primorye, deep in the taiga Sikhote-Alin.
Preobrazheniya is a village on the southeastern coast of Primorye, near
which there are sandy beaches, uninhabited islands and the Lazovsky
Nature Reserve.
Vladimir Bay is fenced off from the open sea by
two peninsulas, as if by breakwaters. The sea water warms up quite well
here. The former base of the Pacific Fleet, is currently a popular beach
holiday area with good transport accessibility.
The Sikhote-Alin
Nature Reserve is the largest nature reserve in Primorye. It is located
far in the northeast of the region, in the wilds of Sikhote-Alin, not
far from the village of Terney. Ecological trails have been laid and
observations of wild animals in their natural habitat are organized.
Amgu is a village located in the north-east of Primorye. The village
itself is interesting only as a center of civilization among the endless
mountain taiga, where you can replenish fuel and provisions. All
attractions are scattered over a large territory of the Kema-Amga
mountain cluster - mountain peaks, waterfalls, ice fields and hot
springs.
The climatic conditions of the Primorsky Territory are determined by
the distance from the coastline. There are two climatic regions - the
coast and the inland regions, differing in their temperature, humidity,
winds, and so on. In general, we can note sharp fluctuations in humidity
- sunny winters with little snow, rainy, foggy summers and a long, truly
golden autumn. And at the same time, Primorye is one of the sunniest
regions in Russia, and the sunniest in winter. Unlike the European
territory of Russia, which is covered in winter by cyclones from the
Atlantic, the air in Primorye is dry and clear. In addition, due to the
location of the Primorsky Territory at low latitudes, the sun rises high
there and the daylight hours are relatively long. The Prikhankai Lowland
experiences up to 340 sunny days a year. Sometimes in the summer cloudy,
windless and stuffy weather sets in for a long time. Laundry hung
outside takes days to dry; Even nylon backpacks and seat belts in cars
become covered with mold. Scratches and cuts (especially among visitors)
do not heal for a long time.
On the east coast, the edges of
winter are snowier, a protracted, unstable spring and, in general, cool
summers, due to the cold Primorsky Current flowing along the western
coast of the Tatar Strait. The lowest winter temperatures and high snow
cover are observed in the north of Sikhote-Alin. The hottest summer in
Primorye is in the continental west of the region, daytime temperatures
are over 30 degrees in the shade.
Due to low air humidity,
intense solar radiation and wind, snow does not last long in Primorye.
Freshly fallen snow in the middle of winter is blown away by the wind in
a couple of weeks, evaporates and weathers, and a common sight in winter
in southern Primorye is bare frozen ground. In the summer, the greatest
amount of precipitation falls, which is typical for a large territory of
the Far East, and in addition, in the summer-autumn period, typhoons
wander from the Pacific Ocean into Primorye. A typhoon is a strong,
continuous rainstorm accompanied by strong gusts of wind, which can
flood a huge area within a day and break something along the way. They
are most destructive in Japan, Korea and Eastern China, and in our
country, Primorye suffers the most from typhoons. Typhoons are an annual
and inevitable natural evil for Primorye residents.
The abundance
of moisture in the summer greatly promotes the development and growth of
all kinds of vegetation, garden crops, and weeds.
Due to high air
humidity, especially in coastal areas, summer heat is difficult to bear,
just as winter cold is significantly aggravated by winds. For people
with respiratory tract diseases or prone to such, the coastal climate is
directly contraindicated.
Everyone speaks Russian. Even visiting Chinese and citizens working
here from the former southern republics of the USSR communicate with
each other in broken Russian.
And if you hear Chinese words from
Russians, these will be some local geographical names. Despite the fact
that in 1972 all authentic place names that did not sound Russian were
changed due to the events on the island of Damascus, many local
residents continue to stubbornly call some rivers in the old manner.
Most often this happens with the rivers Razdolnaya (Suifun),
Partizanskaya (Suchan) and Bolshaya Ussurka (Iman) and many other old
toponyms known to local residents of the Primorsky Territory.
As
for some slang names of settlements, in addition to the common Vladik
(Vladivostok), you can hear the following:
Arsa - Arsenyev
Partez - Partizansk
Dallas — Dalnegorsk
Lisbon — Lesozavodsk
Bigston - Literally: Big Stone as a reference to Bolshoi Kamen (Big
stone in Russian)
Tihas (Texas) - Fokino (formerly Pacific Island)
Dubai - Danube village
By plane
The only international airport in Primorye, Knevichi, is
located 45 kilometers north of Vladivostok, near the city of Artyom.
By train
The Trans-Siberian Railway ends in the Primorsky
Territory. Through the railway crossing Grodekovo (Pogranichny village)
- Suifenhe, the traveler will enter the territory of China.
By
car
The federal highway M60 “Ussuri” runs through the territory of
the region, which connects Vladivostok, Ussuriysk and other settlements
of Primorye with Khabarovsk, and then with the whole of Russia.
There are several passenger road crossings on the border with China:
Sosnovaya Pad: Borderline - Suifenhe
Poltavka: Poltavka - Dongning
Turii Rog: Turii Rog - Mishan
Dalzavodskaya: Kraskino - Hunchun
Travel between the main settlements of Primorye is possible by roads
and railways. Sea traffic along the coast is currently not operational.
Transport infrastructure is most developed in the south of Primorye.
Automotive
Primorye has a fairly dense network of roads,
consisting mainly of two lanes. The condition of the roads is
satisfactory, and the most decent road in Primorye is the Ussuri
highway. The landscape of the area and the profile of roads (especially
local ones) in the mountainous regions of Primorye are very similar to
the Black Sea coast of the Caucasus: endless descents and ascents and
frequent sharp turns with sections of serpentine. Due to the mountainous
terrain on most roads, the recommended (common sense, not signs) maximum
speed is 70-90 km per hour, and often less. It’s just that these roads
were built quite a long time ago and without a large volume of
earthworks, while roads built over the last 20-30 years ago, laid
through the mountains, already at the construction stage they try to
straighten them in direction and differences in elevation, and usually
there are no such squiggles and hooks. There are also a lot of primers
in the region, with the canvas filled with crushed stone or rock, or
without any coating at all (it’s good if the grader is used once every
six months). In rainy weather, driving on such roads is difficult: if
compared with the Caucasus, the hydrology in Primorye is completely
different, there are many times more rivers, rivulets and streams, there
can be huge puddles on the roads, and when the rivers flood, the road
surface can flood.
From Vladivostok to the north, the only
federal highway in the region, M60 “Ussuri”, runs, connecting the
regional center with Khabarovsk, through the settlements of the region:
Ussuriysk, Spassk-Dalniy, Dalnerechensk, Luchegorsk. This is the most
decent road, passing along the edge, up to Mikhailovka (behind
Ussuirisk) it has two or three lanes in each direction, markings,
bumpers and other attributes of modern civilization (including numerous
daily accidents). Unfortunately, then the route turns into an ordinary
two-lane road with a very mediocre surface, which winds through villages
and along hills. Reconstruction is underway in several places.
Possible means of transportation in addition to personal vehicles are
buses and taxis. Almost all large cities of Primorye have bus stations;
major transport hubs are Vladivostok, Nakhodka, and Ussuriysk. Bus
departures are carried out during the daytime from 6.00 to 20.00-23.00
hours. Bus prices are affordable. Private owners offer trips by minibus.
Railway
The cheapest way to travel around the Primorsky Territory
is by train. The disadvantage of this type of transport is its
infrequent departure and travel time, which is usually longer than that
of motor transport. In addition to regular trains, the departure center
of which is the Vladivostok railway station, it is worth noting the
Primorochka express, which connects Nakhodka and Vladivostok.
Aviation
Since 2014, small aviation has been revived in the Primorsky
Territory. As of 2022, three Canadian 19-seat DHC-6s are operating on
intra-regional lines. Flights from Vladivostok are carried out to the
following destinations:
Dalnerechensk - 2 flights per week (Fri, Wed)
Preobrazheniya - 5 flights per week (Tue, Thu, Fri, Sat, Sun)
Kavalerovo - 10 flights per week (Mon, Fri, Sun two flights per day)
Dalnegorsk - 10 flights per week (Mon, Fri, Sun two flights per day)
Dalnegorsk - Svetlaya 2 flights per week (Mon, Fri)
Plastun - 3
flights per week (Tue, Thu, Sat)
Terney - 7 flights per week (Mon,
Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat, Sun)
Terney - Amgu - 1 flight per week (Tue)
Terney - Svetlaya - 2 flights per week (Thu, Sat)
Terney - Yedinka -
2 flights per week (Wed, Sun)
In addition, there is one
interregional flight:
Kavalerovo - Khabarovsk - 3 flights per week
(Mon, Tue, Thu)
The schedule is valid for the summer period (May
1 - September 30), during the rest of the period the number of flights
is reduced. Since 2023, the number of intra-regional flights has been
reduced by 3 times and the Kavalerovo - Khabarovsk flight has been
cancelled.
By sea
From Vladivostok the ferry runs to the
island. Popova and O. Reinecke. From the village of Danube (ZATO Fokino)
to the island. Putyatina. Other islands, including uninhabited ones, can
be reached by sea taxi.
First of all, Primorye is visited by tourists from Eastern Siberia
and the Far East for the purpose of a beach holiday - all other Far
Eastern regions in the Russian Federation are not very suitable for a
beach holiday due to fairly cool water even in July-August (although
they still swim in Magadan and on Kamchatka...). Southern Primorye has a
tourist infrastructure: numerous holiday homes, boarding houses,
campsites, and equipped beaches. That is, you can relax in a completely
civilized manner, or you can relax as “savages”, as you like. The only
significant problem with your vacation may be the weather, which is
poorly predictable and can suddenly deteriorate, and your entire
vacation will be overshadowed by daily clouds and prolonged rains. Also
keep in mind that vacationing in Primorye is noticeably more expensive
in terms of money than in Crimea, and this despite a worse level of
service.
If you are not very strapped for money, then try local
seafood as much as possible, you will not regret it - nowhere else in
our country there is such a variety of delicacies!
You can also
visit:
Primorsky United Museum named after V.K. Arsenyev.
Oceanarium.
Primorsky Academic Regional Drama Theater named after M.
Gorky.
Submarine S-56, Korabelnaya embankment. ☎ +7 (423) 221-67-57.
10:00–20:00. 100 rubles (2013).
Museum "Vladivostok Fortress"
(Military Historical Fortification Museum), st. Battery, 4a. ☎ +7 (423)
240-08-96. 10:00–18:00, in winter 10:00–17:00. 100 rub. The exhibition
is located in the casemates of the Nameless Battery and in the open air.
Huge collection of weapons.
Primorskie strings (Vladivostok). Bard Song Festival. It is held in
early September in the suburbs of Vladivostok, in the bay. Three Little
Pigs (near Shamora).
dragon boat racing (Vladivostok).
Tiger Day
(Vladivostok). A holiday celebrated in the capital of Primorye on the
last weekend of September
Slavic coast (Slavyanka). Art song
festival. Held in the summer, on the shore of the Khasansky district
near the village of Slavyanka
Khanka Dawns (Stone-Fisherman). Rural
Culture Festival. It is held in the summer on the shore of the largest
Far Eastern lake. Khanka
Strawberry Festival (Spassk-Dalniy). Held at
the end of June in Spassk-Dalny, when strawberries are ripe
Honey
Fest (Anuchino). Festival of honey and beekeeping products,
competitions, concerts, entertainment and educational program
In all cities of the Primorsky Territory you can taste Chinese,
Korean and Japanese cuisine, and in Vladivostok there is a large
selection and variety of them. In addition, road travelers can eat at
roadside cafes, which are found not only on the Ussuri federal highway,
but also on secondary regional roads.
The food and dishes for
which Primorye is known - so to speak, “national coastal cuisine” - are
primarily seafood, as well as taiga wild plants and fruits grown in
Primorye.
The most delicious and popular seaside seafood is
scallop. Unlike Sakhalin and the Kuril Islands, where the natural
scallop population is still large, in Primorye, mariculture farms where
it is grown are becoming increasingly important. Also popular is crab,
which is caught both in the Sea of Japan and brought from the waters of
the Bering and Okhotsk Seas. Shrimp and mole crickets (larger shrimp)
are in great demand. As for sea cucumber, it is carefully protected, so
dishes made from it cannot be called widespread and popular. The more
common cucumber is a bit reminiscent of sea cucumber. Cephalopods
(octopus, squid) are served in restaurants, sold in stores and markets,
and caught by amateur fishermen. Other sea delicacies, namely: bivalve
mollusks - mussel and spizula, gastropods (sea snails, whelk),
echinoderms (sea urchins) - can be ordered in a restaurant, or obtained
and prepared yourself. It should be noted that they taste (and
especially look) very specific to visitors, so they are popular mainly
among local residents, who have been accustomed to them since childhood.
In shops and fish markets you can stock up on dried squid tentacles,
dried crab meat, octopus, and dried flounder. Outside the Far East, you
are unlikely to buy these products fresher and of higher quality than
here.
Also, dishes made from kelp - seaweed - are popular in
seaside cuisine. In addition to salads, soups are also prepared from it.
Local residents prepare seaweed well, especially from the eastern and
northeastern coasts of Primorye, where they harvest it in large
quantities.
Among taiga wild plants, dishes made from ferns
(bracken, osmund) are known and popular, which in Primorye are prepared
in large quantities and can be cooked deliciously. Also, in spring and
early summer, you can try dishes from all kinds of greens - wild onions,
wild garlic, hatched buds and young leaves of Eleutherococcus, etc. In
summer and autumn you can try mushrooms, of which ilmaki are considered
the most delicious and delicious. Dishes made from them taste like fried
or stewed meat.
Berries that are prepared for future use and from
which jams are made are sea rose, honeysuckle, strawberries,
lingonberries and blueberries, barberries, and viburnum. In addition,
berries growing on vines are popular in Primorye - lemongrass, wild
grapes, actinidia. From the latter, kiwi was bred by breeders. Its wild
counterpart, actinidia (or locally called kish-mouse), is smaller but
more aromatic. The remaining berries are grown in large quantities in
garden plots. There are no blueberries and cloudberries in the taiga of
Primorye; raspberries and cranberries are found in small quantities.
In Primorye stores you can buy shelled Far Eastern pine nuts, which
differ from Siberian ones in their larger size. Manchurian walnut and
hazel are almost never found in markets; they can only be obtained
independently. The same can be said about maple sap, which is harvested
only by local residents.
Real local taiga tea is brewed from
dried linden blossom, dried rose hips, barberry, chaga and the
obligatory addition of a piece of lemongrass vine. Strong drinks are
also prepared with the addition of taiga wild plants, including ginseng,
and also based on antlers. All kinds of tinctures and balms are a
must-have item for tourists from China.
Primorye, along with the
North Caucasus and Bashkiria, is a recognized beekeeping region in
Russia. Thanks to the huge number of honey plants, among which there are
medicinal plants, honey has good adaptogenic properties. In central and
southern Primorye there are forests dominated by linden, which attracts
bees more than any other tree. The result is honey of good purity, which
is known in Russia as “Far Eastern linden honey.”
Despite the
cold winter and thanks to the hot, long summer, a large number of
watermelons are grown in Primorye, for which the region of the
Prikhankai Lowland and the “Golden Valley” in the Partizansky district
are famous. In addition, plums, pears, apricots and grapes grow well in
Primorye.
In conclusion, it is impossible not to mention the
products of JSC Primorsky Confectioner, the largest manufacturer of
confectionery products in the Far East. It was at this enterprise that
in 1967 the production of “Bird's Milk” sweets, now called “Primorskie”,
began. The company's products are readily purchased by tourists.
For out-of-town tourists vacationing in the summer, it is necessary
to firmly understand that Primorye is a southern region. Even in cool,
cloudy weather or fog, you can easily get a severe sunburn here. The
locals know this well, but they also get caught from time to time. In
the summer, when planning trips around the region, it would be a good
idea to check the weather forecast and not ignore storm warnings. After
typhoons, due to washed-out bridges and washed out roads, movement can
be difficult for some time.
Primorye has one of the highest
levels of biological hazard in the country.
There are just a LOT of different insects in Primorye. An ordinary
cross spider, weaving webs between trees and in the corners of rural
outhouses - it is simply huge, much larger than its more western
counterparts. Many people find the abundance of spiders unpleasant; in
addition, the bite of a spider is similar in effect to the sting of a
good bee.
Far Eastern longhorned beetle (snow beetle). Such a
healthy flying biological structure with a huge mustache. They have
periods of being annoying. If this thing lands on your shoulder, just
carefully remove it by the long whisker. This beetle is safe for humans,
despite its terrifying appearance.
The taiga tick is already
serious, since when it bites it can infect encephalitis. The period of
tick activity is very long - from April to October, reaching its peak in
the second half of May - late June. In years favorable for ticks, there
are so many of them that you don’t want to go into the forest again - in
five minutes these creatures will already be crawling all over you and
looking for something to bite into. Tuck your jacket tightly into your
pants: the favorite places for a tick bite on a person are the stomach,
groin and armpits (but other places are not excluded). After leaving the
forest, take off all your clothes and carefully inspect your entire
body, preferably in pairs. If you do not know how to pull out an
embedded tick, then it is better to go to the hospital, otherwise you
may end up with a painful, inflamed wound that does not heal for a long
time. It is necessary to be vaccinated against encephalitis in February.
In addition, in the lake-swamp and taiga regions of the region, from
June to September, a variety of midges are very active - gadflies,
cutworms, mosquitoes, and white-legged moths. But the most unpleasant of
them is the biting midge. In hot and stuffy weather, these tiny insects,
like a cloud of dust, cover a hot person, penetrating everywhere.
Neither mosquito nets, nor mosquito nets, nor encephalitis can save you.
The midge gets stuck behind the sleeves, gets into the boots, and
spreads a thick layer over the soup or tea. To travel to the taiga in
summer, tourists need to stock up on repellents, covered clothing and
patience. After a few days, some adaptation occurs. In addition, the
midge is most aggressive towards a person who is heated by walking. In
the parking lot, you need to wash your face with cold water, calm down,
and throw some raw grass into the fire. Also, wasps and hornets are very
dangerous. In Primorye there is an East Asian hornet, the largest in the
world, whose bite is dangerous even for a person who is not allergic to
bee and wasp venom. Therefore, when a hornet appears near you, behave
calmly and do not brush it off. Do not stop near wasp nests, although it
can be very difficult to spot a wasp nest in the dense wilds and get
around it.
There are a lot of snakes in the Primorsky Territory, and several
species of them are particularly dangerous. The Sakhalin viper is
considered the most dangerous - a small, inconspicuous snake, the bite
of which is very painful and requires immediate hospitalization,
although this snake is not at all aggressive and tries to escape from
danger to the last. In the Primorsky Territory there are many vipers in
the north of the region, on the border with the Sovetsko-Gavansky
district of the Khabarovsk Territory (where coniferous taiga
predominates). But almost everywhere in Primorye there are various
species of copperheads - the closest relatives of the American
rattlesnake: they, too, shake their tail when angry, but they do not
have a rattle. Although their bite is not fatal, it is still better to
go to the hospital. The cottonmouth is a fairly large snake and not
particularly shy. There is also a very beautiful tiger snake that lives
in Primorye - a healthy snake that has poisonous glands on the back of
its head: if you try to grab it, you can get a severe burn. One of the
largest snakes in Russia, the Amur snake, up to 2 meters long, is also
found in Primorye.
You may not be an expert on snakes, but you
need to know basic precautions. Swamp boots are a panacea only in the
taiga, and on the coast people rest in shale shoes or barefoot, so you
can avoid danger only by knowing the habits of snakes and the places
where you are most likely to encounter them. Such places include
thickets of bushes on the border of the beach, edges of kurums (rocky
screes), edges of highways, or taiga dirt roads themselves, wooden
bridges on them, windfalls and rotten areas. All snakes are excellent
swimmers and can easily cross not only mountain rivers, but also small
sea bays. Increased aggressiveness in snakes at the beginning of summer,
during the mating period.
The underwater world of the Sea of Japan is also rich and diverse,
and at the same time dangerous. Sharks are the most talked about. And
although meeting them is extremely unlikely, many tourists experience
psychological discomfort. The most visible danger comes from completely
different animals. For example, from poisonous puffer fish, the
consumption of which causes severe poisoning that can be fatal. Less
dangerous, but also unpleasant, are the stings of the cross jellyfish
and the pricks of sea urchins. In the first case, you should avoid too
warm water and algae thickets in it. In the second there are rocky
shallows, on which it is better not to walk barefoot.
The taiga
in Primorye is extremely rich and diverse in its flora and fauna. At the
same time, there are also dangerous species of plants and animals. Among
the plants, we can mention thorny bushes (various types of rose hips,
eleutherococcus, aralia), poisonous mushrooms and berries, nettles, and
hogweed. Of the predatory animals, the most dangerous is meeting with
the small, beautiful white-breasted Himalayan bear, which can be very
aggressive just like that. The brown bear is less dangerous, then the
wild boar, and the least dangerous is the Amur tiger.
Located in the south of the Far East, in the southeastern part of
Russia. In the north it borders on the Khabarovsk Territory, in the west
on China, in the southwest on the DPRK, and on the south and east it is
washed by the Sea of Japan. Large bay - Peter the Great. The shores of
the bay are strongly indented and form internal bays: Amursky,
Ussuriysky, Posieta, Strelok, Vostok, Nakhodka.
The maximum
length of the region (from the mouth of the Tumannaya River to the
sources of the Samarga River) is about 900 km. The greatest width (from
the Ussuri River valley to the coast of the Sea of Japan) is about 280
km.
The total length of the borders of the region is 3000 km, of
which about 1500 km are sea. The territory is approximately comparable
to Suriname and Tunisia.
The northernmost point of the region is located at the source of the
Dagda River (a tributary of the Samarga) - 48°28’ N. w.
South - at
the mouth of the Tumannaya River (Tumangan, Tumenjiang) on the border
with the DPRK - 42°18’ N. w.
Western - near the source of the
Novgorodovka River - 130°24’ E. d.
Eastern – Cape Zolotoy – 139°02’E.
d.
The distance between the extreme points is:
Northern and
southern along the meridian - 900 km.
Western and eastern along the
equidistant parallel - 430 km.
The central and eastern parts of
the region are occupied by the Sikhote-Alin mountains, in the west - the
Ussuri and Prikhankai lowlands. Spurs of the Manchurian-Korean Mountains
stretch along the southern border with China. The highest peak of the
region is Mount Anik with a height of 1933 meters, located in the
northeast of the region on the border with the Khabarovsk Territory.
Large islands: Russky, Putyatina, Askold, Popova, Ricorda, Reineke,
Bolshoi Pelis.
In the southwest there is a large lake, Khanka,
along which the border with the People's Republic of China passes. The
largest river in the region is the Ussuri, the sources of the Ussuri
River are located on the slopes of Mount Snezhnaya, northeast of Mount
Cloudnaya.
Primorsky Krai is located in the MSC+7 time zone. The applied time offset relative to UTC is +10:00.
Primorsky Krai is located in the monsoon Far Eastern region of the
temperate climate zone. It corresponds to a moderate monsoon climate.
Winter is dry and cold, with clear weather; thaws often occur on the
coast. Spring is long, with frequent temperature fluctuations. Summers
are warm and humid, with the summer months accounting for the maximum
amount of precipitation, in some areas up to 90% of the annual amount.
Typhoons occur, sometimes causing enormous damage to infrastructure and
agriculture. Autumn is warm, sunny and dry. In summer, southeast winds
blowing from the Pacific Ocean (East Asian monsoon) predominate, and in
winter, northwest winds bring cold but clear weather from continental
regions.
Warmest January: Preobrazheniya (average −7.1 °C),
Nakhodka (min. −25.9 °C)
The coldest January: Glubinnoe (average
about −22.4 °C), Melnichnoe (min. −48.8 °C)
Warmest July: Kirovsky
and Lesozavodsk (average about 21.8 °C), Pogranichny and Kavalerovo
(max. 41 °C)
The coldest August is Cape Zolotoy on the border with
the Khabarovsk Territory (average 17.0 °C)
The windiest place is
Vladivostok (6.0 m/s)
The rainiest place is Glubinnoye (915 mm)
The driest place is Astrakhan (581 mm)
The coldest water in August is
Mayak Belkin (average 13.7 °C; max. 21 °C)
The warmest water in
August: Posyet and Sadgorod in Vladivostok (average 23.6 °C), the
maximum temperature of 30.4 °C was recorded in July off the coast of
Posyet.
In the Primorsky Territory, four districts are equated to
the regions of the Far North: Dalnegorsky, Kavalerovsky, Olginsky and
Terneysky, as well as the urban-type settlement of Vostok in the
Krasnoarmeysky district, the villages of Boguslavets, Vostretsovo,
Dalniy Kut, Izmailikha, Melnichnoye, Roshchino, Tayozhnoe and
Molodezhnoye in the Krasnoarmeysky district. The inclusion of the first
three districts and the village of Terney in the list is due to economic
(underdeveloped infrastructure) and not climatic conditions.
In the Primorsky Territory, 2200-2500 species of vascular plants
grow, including about 250 species of trees, shrubs and woody vines, more
than a third of Russian ferns, thousands of algae and fungi, hundreds of
mosses and 600 species of lichens. The region belongs to the East Asian
floristic region.
Forests cover 79% of the region's territory.
The mountains are dominated by spruce-fir, cedar-spruce and
cedar-broad-leaved forests, which in the south-west of Primorye
transform into richer and more heat-loving black fir-broad-leaved
forests. Broad-leaved forests of ash, elm and Manchurian walnut grow in
the river valleys.
In the highlands, vegetation types close to
those of Kamchatka predominate: stone birch forests, thickets of dwarf
cedar and mountain tundras covered with golden and small-leaved
rhododendrons. On steep southern slopes, mountain ridges and rocky
soils, drought-tolerant communities are found: southern pine forests,
native oak forests, wild forests of Manchurian and Siberian apricots.
Willow, alder, and forests of various poplars and choicenia stretch
along the river beds.
Due to logging and burning, the following
areas have become widespread: the East Siberian taiga of Daurian larch,
white birch and aspen groves, linden-maple and especially oak forests.
As a result of repeated fires, some of the oak forests turned into wet
forest-steppes. In place of cleared valley forests and abandoned
agricultural lands, meadows developed, interspersed with willow
woodlands, birch forests and swamps.
After 1991, illegal logging
of valuable tree species caused serious damage to forests in the Russian
Far East; in 2014, exports to China amounted to 83% of the total volume
of timber exports.
There are about 103 species of mammals in Primorye, including 82
terrestrial; 483 species of birds; 18 - reptiles, including sea snakes
and turtles; 9 - amphibians; 377 - freshwater and marine fish; over 22
thousand insects, including the largest beetles, day butterflies and
wasps in Russia. Among them there are many endemic and Red Book species.
Coniferous-deciduous forests are characterized by a mixture of taiga
and Manchurian fauna. For forest-steppes and other open landscapes - a
combination of Manchurian and Dauro-Mongolian species.
In
addition, there are a number of introduced and alien species, for
example: Canadian beaver, American mink, muskrat, brown hare, termites,
heteropod venatorium spider.
Among the fish that live in Primorye
there are many commercial fish: kaluga, Amur sturgeon, Pacific herring,
iwasi sardine, Japanese anchovy, taimen, chum salmon, pink salmon,
smelt, carp, silver carp, grass carp, silverfish, yellow-cheeked salmon,
Amur catfish, Pacific cod, Far Eastern navaga , pollock, burbot, aukha,
pike perch, sabrefish, tuna, Japanese mackerel, snakehead, halibut,
yellowfin flounder, saury, mullet, sawfish, red sea bass, southern
greenling, monkfish, etc. They live in the shallow waters of the
continental shelf crayfish, crabs, shrimp, squid, sea cucumbers, sea
urchins, oysters and scallops. Not only beneficial animals swim into the
coastal waters, but also 8 species of stingrays and 12 species of
sharks, some of which are dangerous to humans.
Poaching (in
combination with the destruction of forests during logging) makes a
serious contribution to the reduction in the number of rare animal
species; poachers hunting the Amur tiger and Far Eastern leopard are
detained; The main destination for the smuggling of parts and
derivatives (bile, etc.) of bears is the PRC, as well as the
Asia-Pacific countries.
The territories of the Primorsky Territory at different times were
part of such states as Bohai, the Jin Empire, the Russian Empire, and
the Far Eastern Republic.
After the Mongol invasions at the
beginning of the 13th century, the existing Jurchen states fell, which
led to the depopulation of the territory, which was forgotten until the
arrival of Russian pioneers.
Since the 19th century, Russia's
active development of the Far Eastern territories began, which led to
the emergence of the Primorsky region, and then to the creation of the
Primorsky Territory, which was formed on October 20, 1938 by decree of
the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR. On May 31, 1939, the
Supreme Soviet of the USSR approved the creation of the region.
On September 15, 1948, the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the RSFSR
decided to “transfer the city of Sovetskaya Gavan along with the
suburban area from the Primorsky Territory to the Khabarovsk Territory.”