Jan 11, 2017
100th Anniversary of The Russian Nature Reserves
This Doodle’s Key Themes
A century ago, Russia established its first Zapovednik (nature reserve), Barguzinsky Nature Reserve, located in Buryatia, on the northeast shores of Lake Baikal. On January 11, the country marks the 100th anniversary of its pioneering system of protecting natural areas with Nature Reserves and National Parks Day.
Today, the country’s stewardship of its wild landscapes continues to gain ground, with over 13,000 specially protected natural areas occupying millions of acres—about 11.4 percent of Russia’s vast territory. Ranging from tiny to titanic, they include 103 reserves, 49 national parks, and 68 national nature sanctuaries, with initiatives underway to expand old areas and develop new protected territories. Expansion is in sync with Russian President Vladimir Putin’s decree to make 2017 the Year of Ecology in the Russian Federation.
Our Doodle is rendered in a woodblock style reminiscent of Russian postage stamps issued for Barguzin’s half-centennial, and inspired by six specially protected natural areas: Barguzin Nature Reserve, Ergaki National Park (aka Yergaki), Russian Arctic National Park, Lake Baikal (frozen), Kronotsky Nature Reserve, and Dalnevostochny Morskoy Nature Reserve (Far East Marine Nature Reserve).
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