Where the Vasyugan plain lies, between the Ob and Irtysh rivers there are Vasyugan marshes, a significant part of which are located in the Tyumen region. Many large tributaries of the Ob and Irtysh, such as Parabel, Om, Vasyugan and others, originate from them. The interfluve interfluve of these large rivers is 80%, and the plains - 50%.
Swamp water is obtained mainly from the snow that feeds the rivers; in addition, groundwater and rains contribute. Snow in this area does not melt for more than six months, i.e. It lies from October to April, and the height of the snow cover reaches 1 m. These wetlands, surprisingly, may be a matter of pride.
We bring to your attention a list of 10 interesting facts about Vasyugan marshes: records and the history of the area.
10. One of the largest swamps in the world.
These swamps occupy a significant area - 53 thousand km², stretch for 573 km, and 320 km. They are considered one of the largest in the world, covering an area larger than Estonia, which spreads over 45,226 km², Bosnia and Herzegovina - 51,129 km², Denmark - 42,895 km², Switzerland - 41,000 km², Netherlands - 41,526 km².
On the territory where the swamps are now located, more than 8 million people, as in Switzerland, or about 6 million, as in Denmark, could live. But now they are practically not populated.
9. Arose about 10 thousand years ago, constantly increasing
Interestingly, Vasyugan marshes arose not so long ago, if we talk about time on a global scale. The first wetlands appeared here 10 thousand years agobut then they occupied a small territory. About 75% of the area now occupied by them has been swamped in the last 500 years. And this process has still not stopped, the swamp continues to grow.
8. They are one of the main sources of fresh water.
They contain large reserves of fresh water, its volumes - at least 400 km3. Scientists are sure that in the northern regions of the tundra can be counted at least eight hundred thousand lakes. This is the main source of fresh water. The sources of many rivers are in this swamp - about 25, some of which then reach a huge length.
7. Contain huge stocks of peat
Peat reserves in Vasyugan swamps are amazing. What they have already discovered is at least 1 billion tons, which is about 2% of all world reserves. It lies at a depth of 2.4 m, in some cases - up to 10 m.
Thanks to such reserves, swamps play a huge role in the life of our planet, being its “lungs”, preventing the greenhouse effect. The fact is that they do not allow it to overheat, they cool it, absorbing carbon, which then accumulates in peat.
The Vasyugan swamp can absorb up to 10 million tons of carbon dioxide per year, and in return produces about 4 million tons of oxygen.
6. Rare species of flora and fauna
Wetlands are rich in many valuable plants, medicinal herbs. Cloudberries, cranberries, and blueberries grow in large quantities here. You can see rare species of plants.
On its territory you can find reindeer, whose population, unfortunately, has almost disappeared, moose, squirrels, sable, capercaillie, golden eagles, peregrine falcons, etc.
During the migration period, waders and waterfowls stop here, about 60% of ducks fly by. Curlews and godwitts prefer to nest in swamps. It was on the territory of this swamp that they saw the thin-billed curlew, which refers to the almost extinct species of birds.
Other endangered and rare species of animals and plants that are listed in the Red Book of the Russian Federation live here.. In the territory of these marshes, 242 plant species were found, 40 species of mammals, 5 species of amphibians and reptiles, 185 species of birds, 340 species of insects, 10 species of fish. Of these, 41 species are listed in the Red Book.
5. There were 19 swamps that merged and formed the Great Vasyugan swamp
Once the Great Vasyugan swamp did not exist, but there were about 19 swamps. However, they continued to grow and grow, and gradually, out of almost 2 dozen swamps, one huge one formed.
And still it is expanding, adding about 800 hectares to its territory per year. This was confirmed by several hydrologists (L.I. Inisheva, K.I. Kobak, N.G. Inishev), who were studying this issue. They not only collected all the data, but also shared it with everyone, writing an article on waterlogging on Vasyugan.
4. The legend of the origin of the swamps
There is an interesting legend about the origin of these swamps.. Once the Earth was covered only with water, there was no land on it. God walked on the water and suddenly noticed that a cloudy bubble was floating on the surface. Inside the devil, he immediately jumped out of there. The Lord told him to descend to the bottom to gain land there. He complied with his order, but hid some of the earth behind his cheeks.
God took the land that he had brought, and began to scatter it on the surface. In these places appeared land covered with vegetation. However, the plants sprouted not only on Earth, but also in the trait's mouth. He didn’t like it, he began to spit it out, so the swamps turned out.
Once upon a time on the outskirts of the swamps lived Samoyed Samoyeds, they composed their legends associated with Vasyugan swamps. People believed that there are evil deities whose purpose is to scare hunters and tourists.
They especially revered the evil spirit, which took the form of a seven-winged bear. He was called Shelaba or Shelabkuba. He personified the devil among these peoples. The mysterious bear had two more shapes: a huge snake and an eagle covered with iron feathers. Also, everyone was afraid of the cannibal bear, who allegedly lived in a swamp and visited camps in order to obtain humanity.
3. Population of the surroundings of swamps after the Stolypin reform
Since 1906, the Russian government, under the leadership of P.A. Stolypin, solved the "agricultural issue", because the village was in a difficult situation, the peasants became impoverished, which caused discontent among them.
It was decided to transfer allotment of land to the ownership of peasants, to buy them from landowners and resell them to them on favorable terms, to lend to peasants, etc.
At this time in the Tomsk province, in the vicinity of Vasyugan marshes, about 200 thousand family people moved, 75 thousand walkers arrived who needed land for farming.
But even before that, the territory was not empty. Already in 1882 it became known that the Old Believers-schismatics settled in the upper reaches of the Vasyugan River and surrounding rivers. They built houses there, planted gardens, plowed arable land, and started livestock. They counted at least 725 people, including women and children who inhabited the territory for 2 thousand versts.
2. Drilling oil rigs is detrimental to the microclimate of swamps
Oil rigs, oil spills at drilling sites pose a great danger to local swamps. Due to the extraction of oil and gas in peat, harmful substances such as cadmium and lead begin to accumulate.
Also, the territory of the swamps is polluted by rocket fuel, as often, when rockets are launched from Baikonur, parts of spacecraft fall into the tundra, and the remnants of heptyl enter the environment.
1. The Vasyugan reserve was created
In December 2017, a resolution was signed, according to which Tomsk and Novosibirsk regions, on the site occupied by Vasyugan swamps, there will be a reserve with an area of at least 614.8 thousand hectares. It was created to preserve unique natural complexes.