Sochi National Park

The Sochi National Park (Russian Сочинский национальный парк ) is a national park in the northwest of the Caucasus near the city of Sochi (Russia). The protected area covers a total area of 1,937 square kilometers and is bordered on the northeast by the Caucasus Nature Reserve. The park was established in 1983 and was Russia's first national park. Every year it is visited by about 80,000 people.

Vegetation

The National Park is dominated to 95% of mountain forests, which in the deeper layers of subtropical character and grow above 1700 m crippled tree forests. Between dominate temperate deciduous and mixed forests. Above the crippled trees are alpine mats, with only a few mountains reach a height of about 2000 m. The highest mountain is the Aibga with 2509 m.

Wildlife

The species-rich reserve is home to over 250 different vertebrate species. Among the larger mammals of the reserve include bison, Maral red deer, roe deer, chamois, West Caucasian ibex, brown bears, wild boars, wolves, jackals, gold, red foxes, badgers, otters and lynx Caucasian. Among the small mammals, the Caucasian squirrels and the rare Schreiber's bat are worth mentioning. Several large eagle species, including the golden eagle, steppe eagle, imperial eagle and osprey, are present in the area. Among the total of 126 bird species of the park include addition, griffon vulture, bearded vulture, the black grouse and Caucasus Caucasus king chicken.

Among the 17 species of reptiles thighed tortoise, Caucasus Otter, Aesculapian, Balkan Spring Natter, Slim Snake, Dice snake, Grass snake, giant green lizard, the sand lizard, Caucasian meadow lizard rock lizard, slow-worm and Scheltopusik are worth mentioning. Among the nine species of amphibians include band with Newt ( Triturus vittatus ) and Circassian mud diver two endangered species. Native fish are, for example, trout, bleak and Schneider

A project that is carried out by WWF and the Russian government, following the re-introduction of leopards in the western Caucasus, which occurs only sporadically in the eastern Caucasus. These Persian leopards from Turkmenistan were brought in large outdoor enclosure in the Caucasus. Their descendants are to be reintroduced there.