Norsky Reserve

Amur region, Selemjin raion

History
The Norsky reserve was established in 1998. The main purpose of its creation was to protect and research the southern taiga lowland ecosystems of the North Amur Region as well as wetlands of the Amur-Zeya lowlands. The Norsky reserve covers different geographical zones as do many other Far East reserves. It covers an area of 211 000 hectares.

Geographical highlights 
Most part the reserve territory is covered by the rocky coastal cliffs, lava rocks and vast plains. The highest altitude in the reserve reaches 370 m above the sea.
The largest rivers of the reserve are Selemdja, Nora and Burunda. Rain showers start in July and last till August. At this period rivers are in spate which may cause catastrophic floods.
The climate of the reserve is sharply continental. The coldest month is January. At this time the average temperature is -30 °C. Summer period is humid, sunny and warm. July is the warmest summer month with monthly average temperature +20 ºС.

Flora and Fauna
Norsky Reserve is located at the intersection of four faunal zones: the Okhotsk-Kamchatka, East Siberian, Mongolian and Daur-Amur. Therefore it is not surprising that the area of the reserve is characterized by rich flora and fauna. Mallards and teals inhabit together with mandarin ducks; 3 species of Siberian nightingales may be found together with exotic white-eyes and ashy minivets; larches grow together with Chosenias.
Forest plants cover more than 54% of the reserve territory. The most common types of trees are Gmelin larch and birch white. Dahurian rhododendron blooms in spring, cowberry ripens in autumn.
Salemdjin saxifrage is unique and may be found only in the mouth of the Nora River.
Siberian Roe Deer is an honored guest of the reserve. There are 5-7 thousand of this species in the reserve. In September most of them go to the south-west territories and one can observe a unique thing – mass crossing of these animals. 300 roe deer a day cross the river in the Maltcev Lug (Meadow) tract!
There are many rare birds in the reserve: white-eyes, gray-backed thrush, Swinhoe’s white-throated rock thrush, fly-catcher. Whooper swans nest in flood plains of the rivers Nora and Burunda. Far-Eastern curlews which may be found in the Red Data Book inhabit in swamps. Among birds that are found in the Red Data Book are 24 species. They inhabit between the rivers Nora and Selemdjin. This area became a place of nesting black and Japanese crane, osprey, black and white stork, fish owl, white-tailed eagle.

What to see
There is a water tour for visitors. They can travel along the river Nora. While making a tour, one may have a possibility to observe the beauty of middle taiga. The luckiest visitors can take photos of wild animals – bears, roe deer, elks. Visitors may also watch the crossing of roe deer to the south.