by Yuri LATYPOV, Dr. Sc. (Biol.), Deputy Director for Science, Far Eastern Marine Wildlife Preserve The Far Eastern Marine Wildlife Preserve, the only one in our country, is located just where the Ussuri taiga woodlands descend to the Pacific Ocean and cold streams run into warm tropical ones. Water covers 98 percent of this preserve. For as long as 35 years workers of this unique sanctuary have been involved with the conservation and explorations of natural complexes of the Maritime Territory and working to restore rare and endangered plant and animal species. Scenic coasts of the Far Eastern Sanctuary. стр. 105 How lucky we are to live in this scenic land with its impassible woods, clear mountain rivers, boundless sea expanses, tender in summer and harsh in winter, islands and rocks of most queer shape, fanciful ground patches and submarine landscapes, and most diverse plants and animals... That's where, in Peter the Great Bay, the Far Eastern Marine Biosphere State Wildlife Preserve was set up on March 24, 1978. Over 5,000 species of plants and animals are home there in this rather small area. In fact, certain taxonomic groups of local flora and fauna have not been studied or described well enough thus far. THE SOUTHEASTERN COAST The preserve's workers seek to conserve the gene pool of unique ecosystems of Peter the Great Bay, this country's southernmost and warm water offshore zone, most rich in biological diversity. The focus is on eco-activities and eco-education, in particular, eco-tourism that helps to instill eco-friendly culture in people. Peter the Great Bay is situated at the junction of the temperate and subtropical zones and washed simultaneously by the cold Maritime current and a branch of the warm Tsushima current. Its coastline with numerous islands, peninsulas, inlets, bays and rivers is heavily indented. The bay is remarkable for heterogeneous subsoils and, consequently, for a diversity of the hydro ... Read more