Звенигородская биостанция МГУ и карьер Сима, Nature reserve and research station near Zvenigorod, Russia
Zvenigorodskaja Biological Station is a research facility operated by Moscow State University covering some 1300 hectares of natural terrain. The grounds include pine forests, marshes, and a peat bog with floating vegetation mats and rare water plants.
Moscow State University established this research facility in 1981 to study local ecosystems and provide field training for biology students. Since then, it has served as a central hub for scientific observation and student fieldwork in the region.
The station functions as a teaching ground where biology students from Moscow State University conduct their initial field studies and observe local wildlife. Visitors can encounter active research groups moving through forests and wetlands, witnessing scientific work in progress.
The site is easiest to reach by train from Moscow's Savelovskiy Station to Golitsyno, then bus 67 to Sharapovo, followed by a walk of about 3.5 kilometers. Plan to wear sturdy walking shoes and bring clothing suitable for variable weather, as the terrain includes gentle slopes and marshy areas.
The Sima peat bog contains rare aquatic plants including white water lily and the uncommon Batrachospermum turfosum algae, which thrive in the bog's floating vegetation mats. These specialized plants make the location particularly valuable for botanical observation and study.
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