It has become much easier to "get to know" the largest octopus in the world, the famous puffer fish, triggerfish, sea cucumbers, Kamchatka crabs, and other inhabitants of the Sea of Japan. On May 25, the first marine underwater eco-path in Russia was opened in the Far Eastern Marine Reserve. Its route is laid near the islands of the Rimsky-Korsakov Archipelago.
The average duration of stay on the route is about five hours. Tourists will be able to visit the underwater eco-path accompanied by an experienced instructor from a specialized diving center.
The Far Eastern Marine Reserve, under the management of the federal government budgetary institution Land of the Leopard, preserves the nature of the Peter the Great Gulf in the Sea of Japan. In terms of the variety of species and the beauty of landscapes, this place has no analogues among the seas of Russia. Due to the intersection of cold and warm currents, many different animals and plants are found here. The underwater eco-path will give a truly amazing experience of observing the perfect marine environment.
Вперёд по экотропе. Фото: ФГБУ "Земля леопарда"
Already on the way to the dive point, tourists will see the picturesque landscapes of the Rimsky-Korsakov Islands, where rare birds nest, including Chinese egrets. The route is specially laid past the rookeries of spotted seals. But the most important thing awaits the guests of the reserve under water.
The trail passes through the most diverse underwater landscapes: slopes and vertical walls alternate with caves and grottoes. This makes it possible to see not only the variety of landforms, but also a lot of local inhabitants: ascidias, sea anemones, starfish, sea urchins, mussels, sea cucumbers, and many others. The strict conservation regime of the reserve allows to reliably preserve natural riches.
The most vivid impressions for divers can be meetings with giant octopuses and Kamchatka crabs, bright nudibranchs, black skipjack tunas, puffer fish, triggerfish.
Подводные достопримечательности экотропы. Фото: ФГБУ "Земля леопарда"
“It should be emphasized that visiting the underwater eco-path will be possible only if a tourist has special training and equipment for diving. The visit to the eco-path will be regulated by calculations on the maximum permissible recreational load on the water area, which have already been carried out by our researchers," said Viktor Bardyuk, director of the Land of the Leopard, FSBI.
The Far Eastern Marine Reserve was founded on March 24, 1978. Now it is under the management of the Land of the Leopard, FSBI. Among the specially protected species living here are the Japanese spiky sea cucumber, giant octopus, Kamchatka crab. Furugelm Island, in the southern part of the reserve, is the nesting place of the black-faced spoonbill, one of the rarest birds of Russia. In 2003, for outstanding results in the preservation of pristine natural complexes, the reserve was awarded the status of a biosphere reserve.
На тропе возможны удивительные встречи. Фото: ФГБУ "Земля леопарда"