The Western part of the Vorobyevy Gory nature reserve (89.82 ha) is among the most beautiful places in Moscow. The high right bank of the Moscow River at all times attracted with the dense forest, rugged topography and wonderful waterscape. Here, the remnants of the Dyakov culture (earlier Iron Age) settlements were discovered.
This place is called “Vorobyevy Gory” since the 15th century. The spouse of the Moscow prince Vasily the First, grand princess Sofia Vitovtovna, bought the village from the local priest whose popular nickname was Vorobey. Since then it became the court place.
Tsar Aleksey Mikhaylovich, the father of Peter the Great, lived on the Vorobyevy Gory with his whole family and later young Peter came here. In the days of Elizaveta Petrovna there were two wooden churches, a garden and a vast birchwood on the high bank of the river. The last tsarist palace on the Vorobyevy Gory was built for Ekaterina the Second.
In the early 19th century the wooden mansion dilapidated and was disassembled. Only the Trinity Church (1811) has remained of the Vorobyevo village built on its skirts till the present.
In 1812 architect A.L. Vitberg supposed that there will be a slope descending with three terraces from the hill top down to the river. But in 1827 the construction was suspended since there were slip-off processes discovered in the course of the earthwork. In 1827 young Herzen and Ogarev swore on the Vorobyevy Gory to fight for freedom of people for life. There is a tablet mounted on the high slope in remembrance of revolutionaries. In October days of the year 1917 Red Guards deployed heavy artillery on the Vorobyevy Gory and commenced bombarding the Kremlin. Since the year 1935 and until the early nineties the Vorobyevy Gory were called the Leninskie Gory. After the new building of the Moscow State University had been built in the year 1952, the Leninskie Gory became a symbol of the Soviet science. The Vorobyevy Gory nature is unique. Due to the risk of soil slip processes the Vorobyevy Gory successfully avoided an intense development and preserved the natural look to a considerable extent. In 1987 the Vorobyevy (Leninskie) Gory were proclaimed to be a natural monument and in 1998 included in the specially protected natural area of the Vorobyevy Gory State Nature Reserve.
Improvement and Protection
For the purpose of preservation and restoration of the biological diversity in view of the necessity to protect the especially valuable natural objects, the Specially Protected Natural Areas were zoned. Based on its functional purpose each zone has its special preservation and nature management duty. This is so called gradation of Specially Protected Natural Areas by attendance or prohibition of access to specific areas. As for preservation of wildlife spots and an environmental education at once, there was an ecological path established for such purpose in the Vorobyevy Gory Nature Reserve. The route was plotted so that the maximum terrain view area could be covered. For the purpose of seeing the sights of the area, its peculiarities, flora and fauna there are information sings, summer houses and benches installed throughout the route as well as ramps, hand guards and Braille alphabet signs for handicapped people.
Environmental Education
In its environmental education activity the stuff of the environmental education department of the State Budgetary Environmental Protection Institution Administration of Specially Protected Natural Areas for the Western Administrative District focuses walks across the area of the Vorobyevy Gory Nature Reserve because it is easier and more interesting to perceive information visually.
Excursions of the State Budgetary Environmental Protection Institution Administration of Specially Protected Natural Areas for the Western Administrative District provide a good material for the development and nurturing of aesthetic senses and love for nature. In the course of excursions kids are observing the surrounding nature, become familiar with distinctive features of plants and animals, observe forest areas and learn about their peculiarities. The main objective of excursions is to form an idea of natural subjects and phenomena in the realistic environment. There are various ecological and sports activities and campaigns held year-round in the Vorobyoevy Gory Nature Reserve for the citizens: “Clean Shores for the Moscow River”, “A Gift to the City”, “Fall of Good Deeds”, etc. There are colorific theatrical excursions starring fairy-tale characters performed for preschool children. Such interest encourages children to act. Participating in an open air fairy-tale a kid will not pass by an injured animal but will definitely help.
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