Great Arctic State Nature Reserve, Nature reserve in Taymyrsky Dolgano-Nenetsky District, Russia.
The Great Arctic State Nature Reserve stretches across the Taymyr Peninsula between the Kara Sea and the Laptev Sea, forming one of the largest protected zones on the planet. It consists of several separate clusters with coasts, islands, river deltas and open tundra that together preserve different Arctic habitats.
The reserve was created in 1993 to honor Alexander von Middendorff's journey through the region during the 19th century. Since then, the protected area has been expanded to include more coastal sections and breeding grounds for migratory bird species.
The name refers to the location deep inside the Arctic Circle, and researchers now monitor animals such as lemmings, reindeer and marine mammals across their natural range. The protected zone helps gather scientific data about the Arctic climate and how it shifts over time.
Visitors need a special permit, and tours run only during certain seasons with trained guides in selected sections. Access is arranged by air or boat, and all activities must be planned well in advance.
Some of the isolated coastal sections remain surrounded by pack ice all year, and the protected zone shelters walrus colonies that rest on ice floes. During the short Arctic summer, wildflowers appear across the tundra and paint the land in soft colors for just a few weeks.
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