“Russia has the largest network of protected areas in the world”

Photo by: Olga_Gavrilova / iStock

Russia currently has the largest network of protected areas in the world. Several regions I would call biosphere reserves — the Altai, the Sayan Mountains, parts of Krasnoyarsk Krai, the Arctic territories, and the Far East.

Many natural areas there are significantly distant from major cities, so poor transport accessibility and climatic features have allowed them to remain in a state close to pristine.

Unfortunately, some of these unique territories are heavily mined, resulting in sometimes irreversible transformation of the landscapes. In addition, large areas around the mine become contaminated during mining, a problem that cannot be ignored.

Cover photo: Olga_Gavrilova / iStock