Nature reserve "Sparrow Hills" - one of the most famous natural areas of Moscow, located on the steep bank of the Moscow River opposite the Luzhniki Stadium. Due to a certain connection with the natural reserve, it has become one of the most popular attractions in Moscow.
Vorobyovy Gory is a steep cliff Teplostan Upland on the right bank of the Moscow River, stretching from the mouth of the Setun River to the St. Andrew's Bridge. The height of the slope is up to 80 meters: thus, the word “mountains” in the name is symbolic, but for Moscow this landscape is unique. An interesting natural feature of the area was landslide processes, which historically interfered with capital construction and farming on Vorobyovy Gory.
The area of the natural reserve is about 135 hectares; The landscape of the slope is cut by deep ravines and overgrown with broad-leaved forest. On the territory you can find 3 ponds - Bolshoi Andreevsky, Maly Andreevsky and Lesnoy - and several springs.
Since 2013, the territory has been transferred to the jurisdiction of .
Flora and fauna of Sparrow Hills
Most of the territory of the reserve is covered with broad-leaved forest, the most common tree in which is maple. There are also many oaks and birches on Vorobyovy Gory, as well as ash, aspen, elm and alder trees. The undergrowth is formed by shrubs: hazel (hazel), euonymus, honeysuckle and viburnum. Among the herbaceous cover there are ferns and various forest and meadow flowers and herbs: mothweed, Fischer's carnation, multifloral rosemary, broad-leaved drowser, meadow astragalus and others. In general, the flora of the reserve includes about 400 plant species, of which 43 are included in the Moscow Red Book.
Some trees reach an age of 200-250 years; ash trees, which are over 300 years old, also grow on the territory of the reserve.
The fauna of the Sparrow Hills includes more than 100 species, of which a relatively small number of mammals (squirrels, hedgehogs, voles, wood mice, shrews, bats, moles) and almost a hundred different species of birds (chaffinch, greenfinch, corncrake, tufted duck, gray owl, goshawk, white-backed woodpecker, grosbeak and others), among which 37 are listed in the Moscow Red Book. Amphibians are represented by grass and lake frogs; among reptiles, the common grass snake is found.
Ecological trails
Three eco-trails pass through the territory of the natural reserve: “On the slopes of the Vorobyovy Gory”, “Andreevskie Ponds” and “On the terraces of the Vorobyovy Gory”.
Eco-trails are laid taking into account the geological and natural features of the Vorobyovy Gory and help visitors navigate the natural diversity of the nature reserve. There are excursions along them (including free ones), and the trails are also available for independent visits.
For independent visitors, ecological tourist routes have been developed, along which signs and stands are installed with information on the geological structure of the slope and the plants and animals living on the Vorobyovy Gory, recreation areas and picnic points are equipped, as well as playgrounds for visitors with children.
Reservoirs and springs
One of the attractions of the Sparrow Hills is cascade of St. Andrew's ponds, including 2 ponds: Big and Small Andreevsky, dug at the turn of the 18th-19th centuries. The ponds were named after the St. Andrew's Monastery; in the past, there was a small village near them, whose residents raised fish in the ponds. Currently, the ponds have been preserved on natural banks; The decorative qualities of the reservoirs attract visitors to the reserve and local residents.
Another pond of the Vorobyovy Gory, less mentioned than Andreevsky - Forest. The Forest Pond is home to crucian carp and lake frogs, and reeds, egg capsules and cattails grow.
Near the ponds there are gazebos and picnic points, which have become a favorite vacation spot for the townspeople.
On the slopes of the Sparrow Hills there are a number of springs, the most famous of which are a spring on the left side of the Ostroumovsky ravine, a spring at the foot of the post-landslide ledge And a spring below the monument to Alexander Herzen and Nikolai Ogarev. The listed springs are well-maintained, cleared and fortified, but at the moment they have rather a decorative value - drinking water from them is not recommended.
Historical monuments of Vorobyovy Gory
On the territory of the Sparrow Hills, in addition to noticeable natural features, there are a number of historical and cultural monuments.
Place of the Oath of Herzen and Ogarev - granite stele located in a forest area. The monument is decorated with portrait bas-reliefs of Herzen and Ogarev, and the inscription is carved on granite: “Here in 1827, the young men A. Herzen and N. Ogarev, who became great democratic revolutionaries, took an oath to fight the autocracy without sparing their lives.” The monument was opened in 1978.
St. Andrew's Monastery was founded in 1648 in honor of the victory of Russian troops over the Crimean Tatars in the battle of Moscow in 1591.
Church of the Life-Giving Trinity on Vorobyovy Gory It was probably founded in the 15th century and was rebuilt several times. Its origin is connected with the palace village of Vorobyovo that existed in the past, which, having received its name after the surname of its first owners - the Vorobyovo boyars, subsequently gave the name to the entire historical area - Vorobyovy Gory.
To date Sparrow Hills - a favorite place for walks and recreation for citizens and a popular city attraction among tourists. The territory is conducive to walks, quiet rest and sports; in addition, from the reserve you can go to two popular observation platforms: and .
By Vorobyovskaya embankment, bordering the reserve from the river, there is a bicycle path along which you can get to Neskuchny Garden And .
Nature reserve "Sparrow Hills" is located on the right bank of the Moscow River opposite the Luzhniki Stadium. You can get to it on foot from the metro station "Sparrow Hills" Sokolnicheskaya line.
To take a walk through a nature reserve, you don’t have to travel outside of Moscow. Within the city limits of the capital there is a nature reserve “Sparrow Hills”, formed in 1998 with the aim of preserving the natural historical and cultural complexes and landscapes of Moscow. The reserve, which covers an area of 137.5 hectares, has sheltered many rare species of plants, animals, birds or insects that are in danger of extinction.
There are eco-trails throughout the reserve, which you can walk along independently or with a guided tour. As a sightseeing tour, you can choose from several scenic routes: “On the slopes of the Vorobyovy Gory”, “Andreevsky Ponds”, “On the terraces of the Vorobyovy Gory”. In addition, guests of the reserve can choose one of thematic excursions: “Literary Sparrow Hills”, “Wintering Birds of Moscow”, “Biodiversity”, “Spring Flora of the Sparrow Hills” and others. If you wish, you can end your walk with a picnic - there are places for barbecuing near Andreevsky Ponds, and cozy gazebos are located along the entire route.
Participants of the excursion will pass by enclosures with rare ornamental birds (pheasants, peacocks, turkeys), squirrels, and birds of prey. Not far from the enclosures there is an observation deck with a magnificent view of the slopes of the Sparrow Hills. Children will certainly be interested in the bird alley with feeders, birdhouses and titmouses. Children's playgrounds can also be found on the territory of the reserve.
Free excursions take place on weekdays from 8.00 to 17.00. You can also go for a walk on weekends - for a fee. There is no specific time for the start of excursions; it is recommended to register in advance. If you wish, you can come with your children or the whole class. The duration of the excursions is from 40 minutes to two hours, depending on the weather and the age of the participants.
If you wish, in the Vorobyovy Gory reserve you can take part in an environmental quest and have an interesting time doing logical tasks, terrain orientation and photography.
Bicycles for rent
There are many places on Vorobyovy Gory that would be interesting to ride a bike. For those wishing to rent a bicycle, there are several rental points in different areas of the park.
Parents and children can ride a bicycle completely free of charge - a free rental point for children's and adult bicycles has been opened at the Palace of Pioneers. In addition to bicycles, there are scooters and balance bikes, roller skates for children and adults, you can rent a protection kit, Nordic walking poles, ping-pong and badminton sets. The rental point is open in the second building of the Palace on weekdays from 15.00 to 20.00, on weekends from 12.00 to 20.00. A passport is required to rent.
Another rental point operates in the Main Building of Moscow State University. There are sports and road bikes from the brands Sprint, Atom, Upland, Legent. This rental is paid, for 200 rubles. per hour you can rent a new bike; last year’s and worn-out models are sold for 150 rubles per hour. You can rent a bicycle for a day (600-800 rubles), and there is an assortment of roller skates. For collateral you will need a document or 5000-10000 rubles. The rental office is open from 11.00 to 23.00, but before your visit you should call MSU security in order to freely enter the university territory.
Two more rental points are located on the embankment near the chairlift and near the exit to Vorobyovskoye Highway.
Natalia Reshetnikova
Tasks: Familiarize children with the pond and its inhabitants: fish, frogs, insects, birds (wild ducks, herons, aquatic plants. Teach children to build food chains, establish simple cause-and-effect relationships, solve riddles. Show them what they live on the shore and in the water those plants and animals that cannot do without water. Form an idea of autumn changes in living and non-living nature. Develop memory, thinking, visual perception, cognitive interest. Develop a kind attitude towards all living things, strive to preserve the nature of the native land.
Preliminary work:
Looking at illustrations and pictures.
Conversations with children about the aquatic environment.
Reading educational literature.
Equipment: chalk, heron hats for the game "Herons and Frogs", a scarf for the game "Water",
Methodical techniques:
1. Reminder of the rules of conduct and their rationale.
2. Riddles about animals, insects and plants of the pond
3. Solution of a cognitive problem: why do birds living near bodies of water (herons, wild geese and ducks) fly to warmer climes in the fall?
4. Reading fairy tales, stories, poems on this topic.
5. Compiling a card index of riddles and sayings about a river or reservoir.
6. General conversation “How does a body of water live?”
Movements:
Walking with wide and small steps in different directions, backwards, forward, trail, running at different paces, jumping on two legs, in place, moving forward, jumping over
Progress of the walk
During the hike to the Vodoem station, various types of walking and formation are used.
Children approach a dry pond created on the ecological trail of the kindergarten.
Educator: Children, let's remember what is the name of a body of water created by man? That's right, a pond. Our small pond is a “home” in which both plants and animals live “harmoniously”.
Every house has an owner. Our pond also has a water owner. He makes sure that no one offends the inhabitants of the pond and that everyone follows the rules of conduct near the pond. Let's remember these rules. What happens if you don't follow them? (children's answers).
Of course, the inhabitants of the reservoir may die, but you and I will not allow this.
Many aquatic inhabitants have already noticed our reservoir and settled in it. I will ask riddles, and you will guess them, and then we will remember who lives in the pond.
Glistening in a clean river
The back is silver. (fish)
Right. How many fish are in our pond? (2) What do fish eat?
Along the river, along the water
A line of boats is floating.
A ship is sailing ahead,
Leads everyone with him.
Small boats have no oars
And the boat is painfully sailing.
Turn left, right
He will lead the whole gang. (duck with ducklings)
Swimmed in the water
Stayed dry. (goose)
That's right, wild ducks and geese have settled in our pond. They can swim very well because they have webbed feet. Such birds are called "waterfowl". What do you think they eat? (algae, fish)
standing on one leg
Looks very important.
He looks keenly at the water,
This is how the heron guards the frogs
In summer in a pond and in a swamp
You will find it.
Green frog-
This is of course (frog)
Frogs live both in water and on land, which is why they are called amphibians. In the spring, like all animals, they give birth. Frogs lay eggs in water. Tailed tadpoles emerge from the eggs. Children look at the cards. Gradually, the tadpoles will grow legs and the tail will fall off. And after a few months, the little frogs will come out of the water (jump out).
What do you think frogs eat? (mosquitoes, flies, grasshoppers, worms)
What plants grow in and around the pond? (Cattail or we call reeds, sedge; in summer there are water lilies, duckweed, and algae on the water).
Near the pond and in the pond live animals, fish, insects that have adapted to such a life that they cannot live without water and without each other. Fish eat worms and algae. Ducks and geese catch fish. Frogs eat mosquitoes and slugs. They also cannot be in direct sunlight; they prefer shade from bushes and trees. Herons eat frogs. In nature, everything is interconnected. If you kill all the mosquitoes, the frogs will die. If you cut down all the trees and bushes, the pond will dry up. Therefore, you cannot kill frogs, catch all the fish in the pond and shoot ducks and geese.
What time of year is it now? What changes have occurred compared to summer on the pond? The plants have dried up, the wind is tearing the last leaves from the tree branches and bushes. Everything falls asleep until spring. In the pond in the fall, the fish go deep into the algae. Do you know where frogs disappear in winter?
Lera and Makar will tell us about this now
When I come to the pond in winter
I won't find any frogs there
They fly away for the winter
South? Or maybe they are floating away?
Only the water will get colder
Frog - dive to the bottom of the pond
He is in a hurry to bury himself in the mud,
So that you can sleep soundly there until spring.
The water will warm up in spring
They will all wake up then
When you come to the pond in the spring
You will find them singing in the pond.
Thin ice will soon appear on the water. Guys, what do you think the herons, wild ducks and geese will eat when the pond is covered with ice? That's right, these birds will fly to warmer climes, because in winter they will not be able to find food here.
In the meantime, while the frogs have not yet fallen asleep and the herons have not flown away, let's show how herons catch frogs.
Game "Herons and Frogs"
A large circle (pond) is drawn in the middle of the playground. Using a counting rhyme, two herons are selected. The herons occupy space on opposite sides of the “pond.” The rest of the children are frogs. They jump on two legs all over the site and say:
We are green frogs
Having fun at the edge of the forest
Here we have a pond nearby -
The herons won't find us in it.
After the words “they won’t find,” the “frogs” jump into the pond, and the “herons” try to stain them.
Reflection
– Who lives on the shore of the pond, and who in the water?
– Can they live in other places? For example, in the desert or in the forest?
How are lake inhabitants related to each other? (Plants are food and home for animals, some animals eat others, etc.)
– What will happen in the lake if plants, insects, frogs, and other inhabitants disappear?
– What will happen if people start throwing garbage into this lake? Wash cars in it? Wash clothes? Will its inhabitants like it? What will they do?
Guys, the owner of our water pond is very pleased that we know a lot about his pond and treat it with care, and for this he wants to thank you and play with you.
Game "Water".
The driver sits in a circle with his eyes closed. The players move in a circle saying:
Watery, watery,
Why are you sitting under water?
Look out for a little bit
For one minute.
After these words, the children run away, and the “merman” catches them.
And now we will go to kindergarten. Look around, think about what you will draw as a memory of our excursion. (I listen to the children’s answers.) If you liked our excursion, clap your hands; if you didn’t like it, stomp your feet.
Publications on the topic:
Excursion to the pond! On the way to the pond, the teacher draws the children’s attention to the weather: “Look what a good day it is today. Sun.
Today our guys traveled along an ecological trail. We want everyone who walks along it to have a stronger desire to protect and.
Mushrooms are amazing plants, a free product of nature. We don’t sow them, we don’t plant them, but in the same place where we cut mushrooms today, we get them again.
Goal, objectives: training the ability to use natural materials in work; developing the ability to experiment with art materials;
Do you like romance? Would you like to test yourself on an extreme journey? “My Russia” talks about walking routes that will surprise you with their beauty and test your character.
"Frolikha"
Lake Frolikha. Photo: turizm.ngs.ru- Location: northeastern coast of Lake Baikal
- Length: about 95 km (12 days of travel)
- Sights: Frolikha reserve, Khakusy thermal springs, Frolikha lake.
Baikal is the center of power of the Earth for most people on the planet. Foreigners (and many Russians) imagine the lake as a mysterious and endless body of water in the “heart” of the continent. In many ways, this description suits the object. There are many ways to get up close and personal with the “sea,” as the indigenous people call the lake. One of them is the “Frolikha” trail.
12 days on the northeastern, most pristine coast of Baikal, will be an excellent test of your strength. The route has been sponsored by investors from Dresden since 2010, it is so attractive!
Its length is small - “only” 95 km. But it passes through the natural landscapes of the Siberian taiga. The center of the trail can be considered the Frolikha Nature Reserve, the hallmark of which is the beautiful mountain lake Frolikha. The protected area was created with the aim of preserving the relict population of red fish - Arctic char (salmon family, included in the Red Book of Russia).
The route is decorated with numerous glacial streams, rock outcroppings and ends at the mouth of the upper Angara.
Great Baikal Trail. Photo: baikal-info.ru - Location: along the perimeter of the lake (constantly updated)
- Length: many sections, from 1.5 km to several tens of kilometers long
- Sights: Baikal Museum, Pribaikalsky National Park.
The term “Great Baikal Trail” also hides an organization dedicated to the development of hiking tourism in the Baikal region. The main goal of the project is to create a developed network of trails for tourists. The number of routes is growing every year. Volunteers spend summer and winter implementing projects to develop the trail system, creating new routes, developing infrastructure and compiling maps. At this rate, within 10 years an extensive system of pedestrian routes will be formed along the lake coast. The prospect looks “crazy” - a single path around Baikal! Such an object will definitely become the center of world tourism.
The route is constantly alternating between steep climbs and sharp descents. From the very start, tourists can expect a 400-meter vertical climb with access to the top, which offers views of Lake Baikal. Part of the trail goes along the coastline, on rocky cliffs. Here you will have to use rope sections of the passage.
Eco-tourist route No. 1
Eco-tourist route No. 1. Photo: zozhnik.ru - Location: northwestern Caucasus
- Length: 93 km
- Sights: Khadzhokh Gorge, Rufabgo waterfalls, cave systems, Mount Fisht, glaciers.
The route is the “successor” of the famous All-Union tourist route No. 30 and bears the second name “Through the Mountains to the Sea.” The route is high mountain and requires special physical training. In the USSR, this trail was one of the first and most developed. By the mid-1930s, numerous groups were already walking here.
Today the route has been “shortened” to 5 days of travel. Now the trail does not reach the sea: it connects the village of Guzeripl and the village of Solokh-Aul. Along the way, tourists overcome icy areas, steep cliffs and vast mountain meadows. The trail is not the longest, but it covers landscapes characteristic of the Caucasus. Tourists walk through ecologically clean territory practically untouched by civilization.
All-Union tourist route No. 55
Lake Aushkul. Photo: kudatotam.ru - Location: Southern Urals, Chelyabinsk
- Length: 487 km
- Sights: Lake Uvildy, Lake Ilmenskoe, Mount Kruglitsa, Lake Aushkul.
Another “mastodon” of hiking. A difficult and long route that takes 21 days to overcome. The trail can be covered on foot or by bus. Typically, travelers combine these types of travel, supplementing them with a train. During the hike, tourists visit many reservoirs of the South Ural region, and also pass through virgin forests. Rich wildlife and dense vegetation create a pioneering feel and provide a respite from the hustle and bustle of the city.
The trails are not equipped and maintained in good condition everywhere, but the route attracts with its acquaintance with the Urals and its beauty.
Multinskie Lakes, Altai
Multinskie lakes. Photo: altayer.ru - Location: Gorny Altai
- Length: about 30 km
- Sights: Multinskie lakes system
The natural monument of Altai, the system of glacial high-mountain lakes Multinskie, is one of the tourist “symbols” of Altai. Lakes with crystal clear water are located in small mountain hollows. Snow-covered slopes of the Katunsky ridge, Lower Multinskoye Lake, Poperechnoye, Sredne Multinskoye, Talmen - and a large number of small reservoirs. Along the route, tourists will find:
- Glacier waterfalls.
- Crossings of mountain rivers.
- Climbing rocky slopes.
- Overnight on the shores of lakes.
- Routes at the foot of snow-capped mountains.
Khibiny. Big circle
Umbozero. Photo: hibiny-land.ru - Location: Kola Peninsula
- Length: about 75 km
- Sights: Khibiny passes and lakes
Circular route between lakes Bolshaya Imandra and Umbozero. “Classical” Karelia in all its beauty! Glacial terrain with cleared rock outcroppings and glacial ponds and streams.
A distinctive feature of this trail is its numerous ascents and descents along streams flowing from the Khibiny mountain ranges. On the trail you will have to climb the highest point in the north-west of Russia - Mount Yudymchvumchorr (1,206 meters above sea level). Many passes (you will have to pass 1-3 such objects per day) require special training and skills. Tourists must have special equipment and go out on the trail under the supervision of an experienced instructor.
Manpupuner plateau. Hiking through the Dyatlov Pass
Manpupuner plateau. Photo: tonkosti.ru - Location: Komi Republic.
- Length: from 11 km to 230 km (depending on the chosen route).
- Sights: Dyatlov Pass, Mount Otorten, Pechora River, geological monument “Weathering Pillars” - one of the 7 wonders of Russia.
But here there is no specific path - in a relatively small area there are several routes intersecting at certain points on the map. A visit to the mysterious Mount Otorten and the Dyatlov Pass is included in the mandatory trail program. And of course the legendary “Mansi boobies” - unusual natural objects created by the wind. Locals call Mount Man-Pupu-ner “Booby-iz” or “mountain of idols.” The giants created by nature are somewhat reminiscent of the famous heads on Easter Island.
The Pechora-Ilychsky Nature Reserve, through whose territory the hiking route passes, is a mountain tundra covered with swamps. The terrain is very “fragile” and difficult to pass. But in 2016, more than a hundred volunteers laid a safe path along which tourists reach the pillars, which range from 30 to 42 meters in height.
The trail is fascinating, but requires tourist preparation. If you choose an 11 km walk along the mountainside to the pillars, then you can do without equipment. But a multi-day hike becomes a serious test: crossing rivers, climbing passes and mountains, spending the night in the taiga - all the flavor of Siberia!
Around Elbrus
Around Elbrus. Photo: athletics-club.ru - Location: Caucasus
- Length: about 60 km
- Sights: the highest point in Europe - Elbrus volcano, glaciers, waterfalls, sources of mountain rivers.
The route is mountainous and belongs to the 1st category of difficulty. The trail attracts with its concept - going around the highest mountain of the Caucasus becomes a memorable adventure. The region is well developed from a tourist point of view and travelers do not have to worry about how to get to the Elbrus region. But the terrain is treacherous - the recent village gathering is proof of this. Therefore, you should go out on the route accompanied by an experienced instructor.
What awaits you along the way? Firstly, height. Some points lie at an altitude of 3700 meters, which can cause symptoms of mountain sickness. Glacial lakes such as Syltrakel offer clear water and beautiful views. Real mountain glaciers, from which small rivers and streams begin. Passes and gorges are “mixed” with rocky peaks and peaks. A classic mountain route through the alpine meadows of Elbrus.
Shikotan. In the footsteps of Robinson Crusoe
Japanese lighthouse Spamberg - Location: Kuril Islands
- Length: up to 20 km
- Sights: Cape Land's End, Mount Shikotan (405 meters), exotic nature
Lianas, dwarf bamboo and the Japanese lighthouse Shpamberg (1943) - the most remote island of Russia bears little resemblance to Russia. It is 100 km from Japan, and 7119 km from Moscow.
There are practically no trees on Shikotan, but the film about Robinson Crusoe was filmed here in 1972. Stanislav Govorukhin chose this island for a reason - the landscapes are very similar to an uninhabited area. Many capes protrude deep into the sea, forming attractive landscapes for travelers. The trail is simple and can be covered in a couple of hours. And this is not a trail, but just a walk along a small island on the very “edge” of the country. The route will definitely be remembered and not many people have passed it...
