The Kirov region has considerable natural resources. Among the forest wilderness areas are scattered clean rivers and lakes, mountains and caves, there are mineral springs and healing mud. On the Vyatka land, you can get acquainted with the various landscapes of the northern plains, visit unique geological sites and archaeological sites.
More than 200 specially protected natural territories have been allocated on the territory of the region. At present, new places have been laid for the future, requiring a special careful attitude of a person. The Vyatka Territory is not only beautiful in all seasons, but also extremely interesting and unique. Natural attractions, along with cultural and historical sites, are included in all popular routes.
The most famous natural monuments in the region
List, photo with names and descriptions of natural monuments of the Kirov region
Lake Shaitan
The large oval lake is of karst origin. Depth - up to 25 meters, dimensions - 180 by 240 meters. It is a hydrological monument and is part of the Bushkovsky forest reserve. The banks are swampy, surrounded by forest on all sides. You can get here by car only in dry weather. The lake is famous for the emission of water in the form of fountains up to 10 meters high, the seething, as well as the formation of floating islands.
Historical and natural complex Oshet
The Oshet River flows through mountainous terrain with karst gaps and caves, elevation changes up to 8 meters, and picturesque valleys. The banks of the river are covered with forests with rare plant species, which are inhabited by game species of animals and birds. In the vicinity of the village of Oshet, in the future for 2030, it is worth creating a specially protected natural area on an area of 400 hectares in order to protect endangered soils with an age of up to 8900 years.
Lake Chvanikha in Medvedsky pine forest
The second name of the reservoir is Gaps, since it was formed by the confluence of more than twenty karst gaps and continues to grow. Located 5 km from the village of Medvedkovo, in a clean pine Medvedsky forest. Lake of irregular shape, width 50 - 120 meters, length - more than 1 km, clear water, sandy bottom, depth about 14 meters. It is very popular with tourists: in summer you can swim in the lake, and pick berries and mushrooms in the forest.
Natural complex Velikoretskoe
The protected area is a complex of natural objects on an area of 156 hectares near the village of Velikoretskoye. There is a site of a unique fir and spruce-fir forest, multi-stemmed lindens, a holy spring and a site of century-old pines on its slope. Here you can meet animals and plants listed in the Red Book of the Kirov region. Many legends are associated with the spring; the Velikoretsky Religious Procession is held annually to these places.
Zaramenskaya cave
This place has a second ancient name - "Devil's stove". Indeed, the round dark entrance to the cave on the slope of a limestone mountain looks like a stovehead. Before a detailed study in 1921, there were many rumors about the cave. In fact, its dimensions are quite modest: after 15 meters it is already impassable, it was formed by streams of water. It is located 7 km from the city of Sovetsk, on the banks of the Nemda River.
Lake Kholunovo
In the vicinity of the village of Sidorovka there is a lake formed by the oxbow of Vyatka. It is the largest floodplain lake near the regional center. Length - 4 km, width up to 300 meters. This place is popular with camping and fishing enthusiasts. The banks are mostly covered with mixed forests, there are good descents to the water.
Filey spring with a waterfall
At the edge of the city limits of Kirov, next to the Fileyka microdistrict, Bolshaya Gora begins: a high bank with exposure of 48 rocks of different time periods. A spring flows out in the erosional niche of sandstones. At the bottom of the spring there are rocks of red clay, along their ledge in one of the places a waterfall 3 meters high is formed. The spring has a cognitive value as a visual demonstration of underground watercourses. Above is the Avitek dispensary.
Medvedsky Bor
A unique relict pine forest is located on the sand dunes near the village of Medvedok. It is a preserved area of the periglacial plain. On the territory of the forest there are karst sinkholes, new ones are constantly formed. Lakes of various sizes are scattered among the pines, the largest is Chvanikha. A large number of steppe plants grow on sandy soils, an ant lion and a tarantula spider are found.
Kotelnich locality of pareiasaurs
In 1933, well-preserved remains of ancient reptiles were discovered near the town of Kotelnich, Kirov region. This finding was carried out by the hydrogeologist S.G. Kashtanov. Until 1949, research continued here, during which the remains of pareiasaurs were found for 12 km along the coast of Vyatka. Later, skeletons of other representatives of the ancient fauna were found here, many exhibits are exhibited in the Vyatka Paleontological Museum.
Lezhninskoe lake
The lake is an oval body of water 200 x 250 meters. It is the deepest in the region; its funnel goes down 36 meters. It has a karst nature, formed as a result of the collapse of a large underground cave. Located 13 km from the village of Pizhanka. The bowl of the lake is located in a hollow at the top of a hill. Thanks to its clear water, the lake was chosen by divers and spear hunters.
Filay geological outcrop
The Vyatka River, above the city of Kirov, bends around the Vyatka Uval. And only in the vicinity of the city it dissects, revealing the internal structure for more than a kilometer. The height of the outcrop is 60 meters, it consists of 48 rocks of the Tatar stage. They were formed in the waters of the lakes left over from the Kazan Sea. The outcrop is of high scientific value for studying geological processes for both students and scientists.
Spring of the Trifonov Monastery
In Kirov, on the territory of an old monastery, there are several keys. Those that flow out from under the Assumption Cathedral are collected in a single exit. The spring was consecrated in honor of Archimandrite Trifon of Vyatka. A well-maintained chapel was erected over the spring, the water outlet is enclosed in a stone grotto. Below there is a swimming pool, which you can plunge into.
Relic balls
Large round stones are located in the Kotelnichsky district. They are composed of calcareous sandstone, ranging in size from 0.5 to 1.5 meters in diameter. The boulders were discovered during the excavation of a sand pit in the last century, since then a large number of them have been lost. Today it is a protected natural site. Their origin is not fully understood, it is associated with the Ice Age. The age is estimated at 253 million years.
Rock massif Kamen
In the Sovetsky District there is an amazingly beautiful corner called "Vyatka Switzerland". The rock massif is located on the territory of the Pizhemsky nature reserve. The limestone massifs along the Nemda River have sheer cliffs, caves and sinkholes. All this attracts fans of extreme recreation and rock climbing. You can get here by rafting down the river, rich in rapids and rifts, or by land.
Chimbulat botanical and geological complex
The nature monument includes craters and ditches of karst origin, the sheer cliff "Stone", the caves "Cold", "Paradnaya", "Sofronovskaya". The area of the territory is 949 hectares, located on the left bank of the Nemda, below the village of Chimbulat. In addition to the unique landforms, rare plant species are of value. The most popular places of the rock massif are the Chasovoy and Chembulat rocks, from where beautiful views of the river valley open.
Singing Sands
The wild sandy beach is located in the Vyatka bend, not far from the former village of Atara.The places here are now deaf, deserted, it is not easy to get on the abandoned roads. Best of all, the "song" of the sands can be heard in dry summer heat. The sound is emitted by particles of rock crystal and milky quartz, which ring with each contact. Thus, the beach responds to every step of the person. There are a lot of mushrooms and berries in the vicinity, good fishing on the river.
Kayskoe swamp
One of the most extensive wetlands in the region is located in the Podosinovsky district. Its area is 10.5 thousand hectares. The territory is under protection in order to preserve rare flora and fauna. Particularly valuable species: ptarmigan, wood grouse, beaver. A large number of marsh berries grow throughout the territory. The name comes from the Kaya River, which flows from it. The swamp is part of the Bylina nature reserve.
Arboretum of foresters
The arboretum is the hallmark of the city of Kirov; it has existed for more than half a century and has more than 180 plant species on an area of 50 hectares. The fauna of the park is also rich - 430 species, 75 of which are vertebrates. The arboretum is loved by the townspeople as a place for walks and rest. The territory is landscaped, there are gazebos. A monument to the founder of the park, M.S.Vylegzhanin, is erected on the bank of an artificial pond.
Big Kirsinsky pond
The pond was formed as a result of the construction of a dam on the Bolshoi Kirs River. This construction in 1729 was intended to provide mechanical energy to the ironworks. After the accident in 1963, the bottom was cleaned, and now the reservoir is particularly clean. Residents of the town of Kirs and neighboring villages rest and swim here. The area of the pond is 474 hectares, it is 9 km long, and is part of the water system connecting Vyatka with Kama.
Beresnyatsk botanical and geological complex
The natural complex is located on the territory of the Pizhemsky reserve, in the Soviet district near the village of Fokino. Along the right bank of the Nemda, there are limestone outcrops and objects of karst origin. A stream flows along the bottom of a deep stone ravine, which forms a whole cascade of six waterfalls with a total height of 25 meters. The Burzhat cliff has an absolutely steep slope and a height of 30 meters, and at its top, the remains of an ancient settlement were found.
Ukhtym volkonskoite deposit
Volkonskoite is a fairly rare emerald-colored mineral used for the production of paints. It is found in only a few parts of the world. One of the deposits is located in the Bogorodsky district of the Kirov region. On the outskirts of the village of Ukhtym there is a deep ravine, at its foot a mineral was found. During the Soviet era, active development was carried out here, and since 1990, the territory of 5.96 hectares was declared a protected geological object.
Lake Kazanskoe
It is located near the village of Sushi in the Vyatskopolyansky district, this is the largest floodplain lake in these places. The length is 1200 meters, the width is up to 400 meters. It was formed as an old woman in the left bank of Vyatka. It is fed by spring water, it is bottled in the spring. Both the Red Book and medicinal plants can be found on the shores. The lake is home to a large number of fish species. Due to the purity of the water, crayfish is found.
Spring at the diorama in Kirov Park
The central city park is located in the Leninsky district of Kirov. There are two artificial ponds at different levels. They feed from 20 springs gushing from the slope. The springs are enclosed in pipes, and the largest is lined with stone. The ponds are connected by means of an artificial waterfall and are inhabited by trout, grass carp, and carp. Thanks to the key recharge, the surface does not freeze in winter, there are always a lot of ducks here.
Heather forests
The natural complex is formed on the southern border of the distribution of common heather, which is listed in the Red Book of the Kirov region. In the future, it is planned to establish an environmental regime on the territory of 1600 hectares. The natural monument will affect the lands of the Kaysky, Borsky, Afanasyevsky and Ozhmegovsky forestries, in the north-east of the region.
Red Mountain near the village of Pasca
There is an unusually picturesque place in the Kilmez district of the Kirov region. The high steep bank of the Lobani River is covered with dense mixed forest. The mountain is 35 meters high, from its top a unique view of the river and its surroundings opens. On its slopes there are rare and listed in the Red Book of plants: lady's slipper, astragalus, orchids. The mountain is located 400 meters upstream of the bridge on the road to the village of Pasca.
Middle Kirsinsky pond
The large water system connecting the Volga and Vyatka consists of the Bolshoy and Srednee Kirsinsky ponds (on the Bolshoi Kirs river), as well as the Petrovsky (lowered), Volosnitsky and connecting canals. The Middle Kirsinsky pond, like the Bolshoi one, is protected as a special natural zone. They are connected by a channel and represent a single ecosystem. Has a recreational value for the local population.
Lake Padun
There is an interesting lake in the north-east of the region, in the Verkhnekamsk region. Its origin is still not clear: either meteorite or karst. The reservoir has a round bowl-shaped shape, with a depth of 28.6 meters. The lake is located between two forest rivers, popularly called "falling". The banks are covered with dense forests, the water is very clear. There are almost no approaches to the water, so it is better to swim or fish directly from trees that have fallen into the water or from a boat.
Ryabovo village surroundings
In the Zuevsky district there is a small cozy village - the birthplace of the great artists Vasnetsovs. Today the Historical-Memorial and Landscape Museum-Reserve is organized here. The old manor, the historical part of the village has been completely recreated. Tourist walks through the forest, meadows, the Ryabovka river and the pond are organized in the protected area. Artists come to these places for beautiful landscapes and simply lovers of quiet rest.
Old-timer oak
The tree, more than 230 years old, grows in the city of Kirov, not far from the artist's house. In 1787, this oak sapling became part of the first artificial plantings in the city. Today, the trunk reaches 21 meters in height, and its girth is 104 cm. This oak, like 8 other trees in the Kirov region, was included in the National Register of Old-Growing Trees of Russia. There are 400 objects in this list.
Yezhovsky lake-spring complex
In Kirov, between Lesnaya River Khlynovka Street, there is a high cliff, popularly called "Kikimorskaya Gora". 20 springs flow from the slope, forming at the foot of the Yezhovsky pond. Thanks to constant replenishment, the lake never freezes; mallard ducks always winter here. An old building of a water pumping station from the beginning of the 20th century has been preserved on the shore of the reservoir.
