Nechkinsky National Park (Russian: Национальный парк «Нечкинский») is an important place for nature and history in the Udmurt Republic. It is located in the middle valley of the Kama River, along the Siva River, which flows into the Kama, and near the shore of the Votkinsk reservoir. This places the park on the western side of the central Ural Mountains. The area is mostly covered with forests and river floodplains, and it includes several ancient archaeological sites. The park is near the city of Izhevsk.

Topography

The park is located in a forested valley within the watershed of the Siva River, which flows into the Kama River. The valley has a depth ranging from 110 to 160 meters and a width between 3 and 20 kilometers. It is asymmetrical, with the left bank being flat and the right bank forming a steep hillside. At this location, the Kama River has a wide floodplain, and several fluvial terraces are present at higher elevations.

Ecoregion and climate

The ecoregion of Nechkinsky is part of the Sarmatic mixed forests (WWF ID#436). This area is a narrow region with low forests, lakes, and wetlands that stretches from the Baltic Sea eastward to the Urals. The forests are usually a mix of conifer and deciduous trees, but large areas of forest are being affected by farming.

The climate of Nechkinsky is a humid continental climate with warm summers (Köppen climate classification Dfb). This climate has large changes in temperature during the day and throughout the year, with mild summers and cold, snowy winters. Average temperatures range from 10°F in January to 66°F in July. Annual rainfall averages 20 inches.

Plants

The forest communities include taiga, mixed forests, and steppe-forests. On the lower levels, there are oligotrophic and mesotrophic bogs. In the gullies and depressions, Siberian spruce and associated species grow. On both the left and right banks of the Siva River, there are pine forests, with some areas containing silver fir and Siberian larch. In the lower levels, the forest cover consists of broadleaf (oak) communities, with birch and aspen growing alongside them. The park has 712 species of vascular plants, which represent 70% of the species found in Udmurtia. The wetlands of the Siva include the Kemulskoye bog, which covers 2,000 hectares.

Animals

In 2002, a count of animals in the park found 50 types of mammals, 191 kinds of birds, 5 reptiles, 8 amphibians, and 37 species of fish. Special studies were conducted on other groups, including 33 species of mollusks, 120 species of spiders, 600 species of beetles, 500 species of butterflies, and 25 species of dragonflies. Some rare animals in the area include the vulnerable Russian desman, a large, semi-aquatic mole that resembles a muskrat. This species is protected because people trapped it in the past for its fur.

• Russian desman; trapped in the past for its fur and now protected in Nechkinsky. (Vulnerable species)
• Red-breasted goose. (Endangered species)
• Sterlet, a type of Eurasian sturgeon. (Vulnerable species)

History

Archaeological sites from ancient hunters and fishers, dating back to 3,000 to 2,000 years ago, have been found in the park. The oldest clearly identified sites are remains of fortified settlements from the Iron Age, around 1,000 years ago, linked to the Ananyino culture. The Ananyino people were among the earliest groups who spoke Finno-Ugric languages.

Tourism

The park has several trails that teach visitors about the natural environment and land features of the area. Park staff can help visitors along these trails. One long hiking trail, called the "Dear Ancestors" route (25 kilometers), includes four rest stops, two places to watch the reservoir, and paths that follow old trails once used by farmers. There are two locations where visitors can swim in the Kama River. The park also has two ski trails and five driving routes (visitors must get written permits from the forest office to use these routes).