Stolby Nature Sanctuary

Stolby Nature Sanctuary
IUCN category Ia (strict nature reserve)
Column "Feathers" in Stolby
Map of Russia
Location	Krasnoyarsk krai, Russia
Nearest city	Krasnoyarsk
Coordinates	55°32′N 92°28′E / 55.53°N 92.46°E / 55.53; 92.46Coordinates: 55°32′N 92°28′E / 55.53°N 92.46°E / 55.53; 92.46
Area	47,154 ha (182.06 sq mi)
www.zapovednik-stolby.ru

Stolby Nature Sanctuary (Russian:запове́дник «Столбы́»), (in English, "The Pillars") is a Russian strict ecological reserve located 10 km south of the city of Krasnoyarsk, on the northwestern spurs of the Eastern Sayan Mountains. The site is known for its dramatic complexes of rocks; 3.5% of the reserve is open to hikers seeking to visit and climb the rocks. Over 200,000 visitors per year are recorded. The park was founded in 1925 by citizens the picturesque Syenite Buttes and surrounding rocky landscape. The park’s area is 47,219 hectares. Stolby has been nominated to be on the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

The reserve's natural borders are the Bazaikha River, a right tributary of the Yenisei River, in the northeast. The Mana River and Bolshaia Slizneva ("Big Slime") River are in the south and southwest. The area borders upon the city of Krasnoyarsk from the northeast. Area is divided into two parts. The first is straight Stolby, which are opened for tourists. The second is "Wild Stolby", which are located in the depths of the reserve, where access is restricted.

Flora of national reserves includes about 740 vascular plants and 260 kinds of mosses. Fir taiga, which is typical for the midlands of the Eastern Sayan, prevails. 290 types of vertebrates are revealed on the territory of sanctuary. Fauna has a pronounced taiga aspect (red-backed mouse, sable, Siberian musk deer, hazel grouse and others) with the inclusion of forest-steppe animals (Siberian roe deer, steppe polecat, long-tailed ground squirrel and others)

Also, there are species from The Red Book of Russia:

Visitors are able to get to the boundary by a city bus. Main attraction of the reserve is the rocks - the general name of the rocks is Stolby, although all of them and even some stones have their own names. Inhabitants of Krasnoyarsk have been visiting Stolby for more than 150 years for sport and adventure holidays.