Not far from Komsomolsk-on-Amur is the Komsomolsk State Nature Reserve. It was founded in 1963 in the basin of the Gorin River (the left tributary of the Amur River). The area of the reserve is 64.4 thousand hectares. Numerous islands are scattered along the Gorin River, and on its floodplain there are many shallow lakes and oxbow lakes with marshy shores. Willow, alder and ash forests grow on floodplain terraces and islands, on the mountain slopes in their lower part – cedar-broad-leaved forests, above – fir-spruce forests. The most common tree species in the reserve are Ayan spruce, white fir, Korean cedar, Mongolian oak, Manchurian and yellow birches, David aspen, Manchurian ash, long elm and Amur linden. The forests are inhabited by sable, brown bear, elk, reindeer, musk deer and wild boar. Of the rare species, there are the Far Eastern forest cat, the Himalayan bear, the harza and the badger. In the reserve you can meet birds, Russia – wild grouse, mandarin duck, black stork and Steller’s sea eagle. Seasonal migrations of such fish as whitefish, carp and crucian carp take place along the Gorin River, pink salmon, lenok and grayling also spawn here. Excursions are held in the reserve to Nanai villages, whose inhabitants are classified as a separate ethnographic group – the “Gorinsky” ethnic group, and several hiking and water routes are offered, to Shaman Mountain (1182 m).
In the vicinity of Komsomolsk-on-Amur, Lake Khummi is also interesting, which is a natural monument, the center of Nanai ethnography in the village of Nizhnie Khalby, where tourists can get acquainted with the products of decorative and applied art of this people, with the main rituals and national games, as well as look at the performances of national groups, and the Bologna State Nature Reserve on the shores of Lake Bolon, where those listed in the Red Book of Russia are protected Far Eastern and black storks, mandarin duck, osprey, white-tailed eagle, Japanese crane, fish owl, needle-footed owl, and Japanese and black cranes nest.
In the south-west of the Khabarovsk Territory in the Verkhnebureinsky district, northeast of the village of Chegdomyn, the Bureinsky State Nature Reserve is located.. The reserve was established in 1987 at the head of the Bureya River. Its territory is 358.4 thousand hectares. The relief of the reserve is mountainous with average heights from 1400-1800 m. The spurs of the Bureinsky ridge and the Dusse-Alin, Aesop and Yam-Alin ridges come here. The landscapes of the reserve are covered with untouched forests, the main tree-forming species of which is the Gmelin larch. The forests are inhabited by such animals as elk, reindeer, musk deer, red deer, roe deer, brown bear, wolf, wolverine, lynx, sable, ermine and mink. The upper reaches of the Bureya are the main spawning area for grayling, lenok and taimen. In addition, new forms of grayling were discovered here – Bureya and large-scaled. Most of the routes of the reserve pass through the Dusse-Alin ridge. Rafting is offered on the Bureya River. Scuba diving to the bottom of mountain lakes is also possible.
According to Law FAQs, Sovetskaya Gavan is located 866 km east of Khabarovsk on the banks of the Tatar Strait. In 1853, a military post was formed on this site; it was the first Russian settlement in the Imperial Harbor, which was later renamed Sovetskaya Harbor. In 1941, the settlement, which had grown near an old military post, was given the status of a city and the name Sovetskaya Gavan. A port was built in the city, which was mainly engaged in the export of timber. Today, most of the port is destroyed and does not function. Excursions to the Botchinsk State Nature Reserve are arranged from Sovetskaya Gavan. It is located on the banks of the Tatar Strait on the northeastern slopes of the Sikhote-Alin Range. The reserve was established in 1994. It covers an area of 267.4 thousand hectares. The relief of the reserve is mostly mountainous with altitudes from 600 to 1000 m. Cedar, spruce, fir, larch, oak and ash predominate in the local forests. From animals there are sable, mink, otter, lynx, wolverine, wolf, brown bear, elk, red deer, roe deer, wild boar and musk deer. The special value of the reserve lies in the fact that it is the northernmost permanent habitat of the Amur tiger. Depending on the time of year, the Botchinskiy Nature Reserve offers walking and skiing sightseeing and tourist routes, as well as trips on snowmobiles, cars and horses.
In the Sovetsko-Gavansky region there are opportunities for hunting brown bear (in spring and autumn) and red deer (September-October), ice fishing for taimen and sport fishing for salmon, char, grayling, Dolly Varden and Kunja. The most popular fishing tours on the river Koppi. Fans of extreme tourism are offered rafting on the Kopi River on inflatable catamarans, boats or kayaks. The village of Vanino is located 60 km from the city of Sovetskaya Gavan. It contains one of the largest ports in the Far East, and throughout Russia. In the port of Vanino, there is a sea rail ferry service that connects the mainland with Sakhalin Island. The ferry also carries passengers. Vaninsky district is located Tumninsky thermal-mineral radon spring “Hot Key”. It is located in the Chope river valley. The source was officially opened in 1939, however, local hunters knew about its healing properties long before that. The water temperature in the spring is +46 degrees. The composition of the water is sulfate-hydrocarbonate sodium with a high content of silicic acid and fluorine.
On the left bank of the Tumnin River in the lower reaches is the Tumninsky Reserve, where game, rare and endangered mammals, birds, salmon and sturgeon fish are protected. Also on the territory of the Vaninsky district is the Mopau reserve, created to protect and restore populations of rare animals and birds, as well as some hunting species.
