national park"Mari Chodra" is the most picturesque object in the Republic of Mari El. It is located in the south-east of the republic, in its most economically developed part, on the territory of three administrative regions: Morkinsky, Zvenigovsky and Volzhsky (Fig. 3.1).

The purpose of the creation is the protection of rare and endangered species of flora (115 rare and endangered species of flora are registered in the park), fauna and historical and archaeological monuments.

The area of ​​the national park is 36.6 thousand hectares, all lands are provided to the national park. forest land occupy 34 thousand hectares (92.9% of the park), including forested - 33.5 thousand hectares (91.5%).

Non-forest lands occupy only 7.1% of the park, among them: hayfields, pastures, arable land - 1%, water - 2%, swamps - 1%, roads and clearings - 2%, the rest - estates and other lands.

The national park is located at a distance of 60 km from the city of Yoshkar-Ola and 30 km from the city of Volzhsk. Its territory is crossed Railway Yoshkar-Ola - Moscow and the highway of republican significance Yoshkar-Ola - Kazan.

Relief. Most of the territory of the national park belongs to the Ilet high-plain southern taiga region with the development of modern karst. It is a slightly undulating plain with absolute heights of 75...125 m above sea level, with island heights (Klenogorsk, Kerebelak). The active manifestation of the karst process led to the development of karst landforms - numerous sinkholes up to 50-60 m in diameter and sink-type lakes up to 35 m deep.

Climate. The climate of the area where the national park "Mariy Chodra" is located is temperate continental, characterized by relatively hot summers and frosty winters with stable snow cover. The average annual air temperature fluctuates in the range of +2...+3 ºС. The average long-term monthly temperature of the warmest month - July - is +18.6 ºС. The absolute minimum air temperature reaches -52 ºС. The average duration of the warm period of the year with temperatures above 0 ºС is about 200 days.

The territory belongs to the zone of unstable moistening, there are years with sufficient, sometimes with excessive moisture, and sometimes dry. Precipitation falls unevenly throughout the year. Their largest number is observed in summer, the smallest - in winter. An average of 500 mm of precipitation falls annually. During the warm period (April - October) - about 150 mm. The largest monthly amount of precipitation is observed in July - 60...700 mm.

The invasion of cold air masses from the polar basin by northern, northwestern and northeastern winds causes a sharp drop in temperature in winter, and frosts occur in spring and autumn. Often, continental air masses invade the park from the southeast. In spring or summer, they cause arid conditions, in winter - clear and frosty weather.

Reservoirs. On the territory of the park is a large number of lakes and rivers, as well as oxbow rivers. Ilet. The main river of the national park "Mari Chodra" is the river. Ilet (Fig. 3.2) with its left-bank tributaries: r. Yushut, b. Arbayka, r. Uba, the river flows into it on the right. Petyalka.

The Ilet River has a significant longitudinal slope and a large number of springs. The river bed is winding, the banks are gentle, swampy in places, and steep in the area of ​​Klenovaya Gora. The channel is composed of limestones and sands and is subject to active deformation.

The width of the channel reaches 20-40 m, the depth is relatively uneven. The Ilet River flows through a plain with a slightly undulating relief, covered with mixed forest. During the warm period of the year, the water content of the river allows tourist boats to pass through.

More than 20 springs come out to Ilet near the Klenovaya Mountain. The most significant is the Zeleny Klyuch, beating at the foot of the mountain on the left bank of the Ileti, about 2 km upstream from the mouth of the Yushut (Fig. 3.3).

The Green Key is a sulphate-calcium medicinal-table source with a total water mineralization of 2.3 g/l.

Water can be used in the treatment of diseases of the stomach, liver, urinary tract and metabolic disorders.

Of interest is the exit of an underground source in the Ileti valley below the Green Key, on the territory of the village. Krasnogorsky. It pours out in the village from under the limestone slope. Then under the name r. Atlashka, water from the spring flows through the village and after 2 km flows into the Ilet River. Thus, the village began with a settlement near a spring.

Local lakes give special beauty to natural landscapes. In the forested Ileti valley there are many oxbow lakes of various shapes and sizes. All lakes are of failed origin, they are forest, with the exception of Lake Kozhla-Solinskoye.

Among them there are also rich in therapeutic mud. Larger and more accessible lakes - Yalchik and Kichier - have long had health resorts of federal significance on their shores.

On Lake Yalchik of karst origin of the sinkhole type (length 1600 m, width 250 ... 900 m, depth up to 35 m) there are rest houses, sports and recreational and pioneer camps (Fig. 3.4).

More than 300 people rest in them at the same time.

On the lake Kichier, almost equal in area to Yalchik, but with a shallow part overgrown in the east, there are two sanatoriums.

Lakes Glukhoe, Konanier, Mushan-er, and smaller and remote from the roads, are being developed by unorganized tourists. Kozhla-Solinskoye Lake is located in the village. Krasnogorsky. The administrative center of the national park is located on the shore of the lake.

The water of forest karst lakes is highly transparent, with the exception of peaty water bodies. It was especially famous for the quality of water before the lake. Yalchik. But, in recent years, unfortunately, there has been a recreational overload of the lake with vacationers, free visitors and fishermen. This workload has led to recent times to an increase in the turbidity of the water of a unique lake.

Soils. The soil cover is diverse due to differences in relief and underlying rocks. Podzolic and sod-podzolic soils are among the most common soils (81% of the area of ​​the national park). Typically podzolic soils are marked by small spots along the elevations of the relief, among the main background of soddy-podzolic soils. They occupy dry and moist areas covered with green moss pine forests. Soddy-podzolic sandy and sandy loamy soils are noted on 5% of the park area. They lie on high relief elements. The upper soil horizons are enriched in humus in many places.

Vegetation. In physical and geographical terms, the territory of the national park "Mariy Chodra" is located at the junction of three natural areas: southern taiga (mixed forests), coniferous-broad-leaved (broad-leaved) forests and forest-steppe zones. Due to the diversity of landscapes, natural originality and richness of vegetation and flora are formed here.

Therefore, the territorial ecological balance is quite high. The ecological balance in the territorial areas has evolved over the centuries. In this regard, it is required to analyze the component ecological disequilibrium due to the high anthropogenic, primarily recreational, load.

The national park is dominated by forest vegetation, where the largest share is pine forests(50.2%). Before the creation of the national park, clear and selective cuttings were carried out in this territory, and pine cultures were created in the vacant space. Spruce forests are presented in mosaic and occupy only 4.6% of the forest area.

Thus, the park is a post-industrial territory with preserved in its original form components of the vegetation cover and virgin land plots. Behind object of study spruce forests are accepted, adjacent directly to the village of Krasnogorsky and suffering the greatest anthropogenic load from local residents, road and railway, arable land, as well as from the buffer zone of the international gas pipeline Urengoy - Pomary - Uzhgorod.

Two types of oak forests are noted in the composition of the vegetation of the park. On the hills (Klenovaya Gora, Katai Gora), oak forests grow with the participation of linden, maple, elm, elm with an admixture of conifers. These are upland oak forests. On the floodplain Ilet are floodplain oak forests. Secondary forests - various types of birch and aspen forests - occupy about 1/3 of the park area. They stood here instead of felled coniferous stands. The area occupied by meadows is insignificant. They are found in small patches in river floodplains, as well as near settlements, on clearings. Upland meadows with elements of forest-steppe flora are noted in the southern part of the national park, so the study of floodplain meadows of various formations is also of scientific and practical interest.

In the flora of the park there are plants listed in the Red Book Russian Federation- five species, and plants listed in the Red Book of the RME - 50 species. Of the plants of the Red Book of the Russian Federation, four species of orchids should be noted.

The largest orchid of the flora of the national park is the real slipper - a beautiful perennial plant crowned with reddish-brownish-yellow flowers. Another extremely rare orchid in the park is the red pollenhead, which occurs on calcareous soils and blooms irregularly. Feather grass, also listed in the Red Book of the Russian Federation, together with gypsophila paniculata, sheep's fescue, keleria siza are forest-steppe elements of the flora of the park and are found in its southern part.

Among the typical taiga species, there are Siberian fir, white svidina, blueberries and others, as well as relict species - common ram, flattened and spikelet diphasiastrum, Parisian bifolia, large-flowered single-flowered, common elm and others.

Relic plants can still be found in sphagnum bogs, occupying an insignificant part of the park, these are marsh gammamarbia, multi-eared cotton grass, various types of sundews, as well as swamp napkin, Lopar willow and Vinogradova, listed in the Red Book of the Republic of Mari El (RME).

The rarest tree of the Mariy Chodra National Park is black poplar (black poplar), listed in the Red Book of the RME, found in the floodplains of the river. Ilet and r. Yushut.

Animal world. The fauna of the national park "Mariy Chodra" has a mixed character, due to the peculiarities of the geographical location of the territory occupied by the park. The fauna includes taiga species (brown bear, elk, capercaillie, hazel grouse); species of coniferous-deciduous forests (yellow-throated mouse, squirrel, oriole, green woodpecker), as well as forest-steppe species (hare, field mouse, reddish ground squirrel, common hamster). Such biological diversity, not only among plants, but also among animals, makes the territory of the national park very attractive for scientists and students.

The component balance between plants and animals, as well as fungi and microorganisms, can be studied on the basis of the methodology proposed in this book.

These are tasks for future young researchers.

In total, there are 56 species of mammals in the national park, of which the most representative is the order of rodents. The detachment of predatory animals is represented by the mustelid family: weasel, ermine, polecat, pine marten, European mink, American mink. The red fox is often seen. Muskrat, otter and beaver, brought and released into the park in 1947, live in the reservoirs.

The muskrat also lives in the park - a rare species listed in the Red Book of the International Union for Conservation of Nature and the Red Book of the Russian Federation. Representatives of the order of ungulates - elk and wild boar - are rare.

The avifauna of the national park is represented by 164 species of birds, of which 12 species are listed in the Red Book of the Russian Federation and 38 species - in the Red Book of the RME. The most representative orders are galliformes (grouse, hazel grouse, black grouse), anseriformes (mallard, gray goose, whooper swan, wigeon, common goldeneye), owls (snowy owl, eagle owl, long-eared owl). There are many falconiformes (osprey, red-footed falcon, kestrel, hobby falcon, golden eagle, buzzard, white-tailed eagle, short-toed eagle, black kite) and passerine birds (raven, magpie, jay, chaffinch, siskin, goldfinch) in the park.

More than 43 species of fish live in the rivers and lakes of the park - such as catfish, pike, gold and silver carp, carp, tench, bream. A rare species, the European grayling, lives in the channels of the Ilet River.

Tourism and rest. For numerous tourists and vacationers, equipped excursion and tourist routes are offered.

They pass through picturesque places territory of the national park "Mariy Chodra" and provide an opportunity to get acquainted with the rich and diverse nature, the historical past (Fig. 3.5) of the park.

Throughout the routes, you can see a frequent change in landforms and natural landscapes. There are many karst funnels here, if you wish, you can visit the Museum of Nature of the Mariy Chodra National Park, historical monuments(Pugachev's Oak, Old Kazan tract), natural monuments (mineral spring Zeleny Klyuch, Klenogorskaya oak forest, lakes Yalchik, Glukhoe, Kichier, Shut-Er, Kuzh-Er, Ergezh-er, Shet-er, and also look at Maple Mountain from observation deck on Shungaldan hill).

In a specially protected area environment, first of all, comes down to a careful attitude to existing natural objects. And for this it is necessary to understand the life of all the inhabitants of the protected area, including humans. Therefore, engineering and environmental studies are needed, in particular, forest stands.

The local population and visitors should have not only a love for nature and a unique land, but also an intuitive ability to measure properties natural objects for timely diagnosis of the quality of woody and other plants, the condition of the animal and flora around settlements.

MARY CHODRA
national park

Location and history of the national park "Mari Chodra"

National Park "Mari Chodra" in 1985 on the territory of the Republic of Mari El. The national park is located in the southeast of the Republic of Mari El, in its most economically developed part, on the territory of three administrative districts: Morkinsky, Zvenigovsky, Volzhsky. There are 5 settlements on the territory of the park, where about 15 thousand people live.

The area of ​​the national park is 36.6 thousand hectares, all lands are provided to the national park. Forest lands occupy 34.0 thousand hectares (92.9% of the park), incl. forested - 33.5 thousand hectares (91.5%). Non-forest lands occupy only 7.1% of the park, among them: hayfields, pastures, arable land - 1%, water - 2%, swamps - 1%, roads and clearings - 2%, the rest - estates and other lands. The national park is located at a distance of 60 km from the city of Yoshkar-Ola and 30 km from the city of Volzhsk. Its territory is crossed by the railway Yoshkar-Ola - Moscow and the highway of republican significance Yoshkar-Ola - Kazan.

The nature of the national park "Mariy Chodra"

The flora and vegetation of the park are diverse. Its territory is located on the southern border of coniferous-deciduous forests of the subtaiga zone, and in floristic terms - at the junction of the European and West Siberian provinces of the Euro-Siberian floristic region. The flora of this limited area includes 774 species and subspecies from 363 genera of 93 families, which is more than 67%. A number of taiga species, both European (European spruce) and Siberian (Siberian fir), are found here with elements of forest-steppes (summer oak) and steppes (feather grass). Pine forests grow mainly on sandy and sandy loamy soils and make up 27.7% of forests. Among them, pure green moss pine forests predominate, often with the participation of aspen, birch, and sometimes spruce. A special place belongs to sphagnum pine forests. Although their area is only about 600 hectares, they are an important component of the park's natural complex. Spruce forests are presented in mosaic and occupy only 3.3% of the forest area. They may include pine, birch, aspen.

The flora of the park includes about 50 rare species, which is 1/4 of the list of rare and endangered species of local flora. Of the species listed in the Red Book of the USSR (1984), there is a real slipper and a red pollenhead. Relic plants can be seen in sphagnum bogs: marsh hamarbia, Magellanic and string-rooted sedges, white gooseberry, multi-eared cotton grass, sundews. Some plant species have become endangered as a result of the disappearance of plant communities. For example, from the swamps - marsh napkin, single-leaved pulp, compressed potochnik, Lapland willow, and from the field - ordinary cockle. As a result of increased exploitation, the endangered ones include sandy cumin, pure white water lily, curly lily, Siberian iris, etc.

Animals of the national park "Mariy Chodra"

The park is inhabited by many animals of the strip of mixed forests of the European part of Russia. This is due to the ecological and trophic diversity of habitat conditions, as well as geographic location park at the junction of natural areas. The animal world of the republic is well studied. However, a systematic study of the fauna of the national park has not yet been carried out. But if we exclude species that live in ecotopes that are not typical for the park (the forest-steppe part of the republic, the Volga valley, the Cheboksary reservoir), then it should be assumed that about 50 species of mammals, about 100 birds and 29 species of fish live in its lands.

Among mammals, the order of rodents is the most numerous. In the forests of the park there are squirrel and chipmunk from the squirrel family - a recent eastern alien; from the mouse family - wood mouse, bank vole, yellow-throated mouse, etc. From the order of lagomorphs, the hare is not uncommon, and the hare is occasionally found along the borders with fields. The order of carnivores is represented by the mustelid family: weasel, ermine, polecat, pine marten, European and, possibly, American mink are all relatively small. The otter noted by Yushut is especially rare. Interestingly, the mink sometimes hunts birds, in particular hazel grouse, by voice. Of the cats, apparently, the lynx comes in. Moose are common in the forests. Another representative of the artiodactyl order - wild boar - is less common. In the lands of Mariy-Chodry, especially in the Ileti floodplain, many bats live in hollows in overmature forests. Specially protected species include the otter and the beaver, which was brought from the Voronezh Reserve and released into the lands of the republic in 1947. It is interesting that on the Irovka, a tributary of the Ilet, beavers were previously found, but were exterminated.

The most common birds of the passerine order, whose life is connected with forests: jay, magpie, oriole, crossbills, pika, nuthatch, titmouse, etc. This should also include birds from the woodpecker order: large and small motley woodpeckers, bile. In mixed forests with a diverse and dense undergrowth, representatives of the thrush family are common: fieldfare thrush, mistle, blackbird. Of the forest birds that lead nocturnal and twilight life, although less common, one should name the long-eared owl, the hawk owl, the long-legged owl and the largest of the owl family - the eagle owl. Common nightjar. Of the grouse birds, taiga species live in the park: capercaillie (unfortunately, its numbers have sharply decreased) and hazel grouse. Black grouse, a resident of the forest-steppe and broad-leaved forests, keeps on clearings and young stands. Of the snipe family, the woodcock is common; snipe and great snipe are less common due to the limited meadow-marsh spaces. The family of pigeons is represented by the pigeon, the stock dove and the dove. The first two live in old oak forests on Maple Mountain and feed on acorns. Of the daytime birds of prey, the most common buzzard, goshawk, black kite. No nesting eagles found. But flights of the golden eagle - the largest eagle - are possible. Another rare feathered predator - the osprey - was noted along the river. Ilet, a few south of the park. Until recently, gray herons lived in the park: two pairs of herons nested in huge pine trees on the banks of the Ileti. There are currently none. Of the waterfowl nesting birds in floodplain lakes and swampy channels, the mallard duck and the common teal are common, they are less common in reservoirs of failed origin. It is possible to inhabit the goldeneye - a typical forest duck that builds nests in hollows. Seasonal concentrations of birds are small. In autumn, diving ducks temporarily stop on the lakes, and in spring the flight over the overflowing rivers is more lively. In autumn and winter, bullfinch, waxwing, sometimes nutcracker, etc. migrate.

Initial information about the national park was kindly provided by the administration of the resource www.biodiversity.ru

The State Natural National Park "Mari Chodra" (meadow mar. Mari Chodyra, translated as "Mari Forest") is a national park in the southeastern part of the Republic of Mari El, not far from the border with Tatarstan.

It is located on the territory of the Volzhsky, Zvenigovsky, Morkinsky regions of the republic.

To Yoshkar-Ola - 60 km, to Volzhsk - 30 km. The A295 Yoshkar-Ola - Zelenodolsk - the M-7 Volga highway and the Zeleny Dol - Yaransk railway pass through the park.

The national park was established on September 13, 1985 by the Decree of the Council of Ministers of the RSFSR on the basis of the Decree of the Council of Ministers of the Mari ASSR dated December 2, 1985 N 589 "On the creation of the natural national park "Mari Chodra".

The national park is located in the southern part of the Mariysko-Vyatka rampart. Here it breaks up into separate hills. The relief of the park is quite rugged, the soils are sandy. The network of rivers is well developed, there are many lakes.

Rivers:

The main river flowing through the territory of the Park is the Ilet. Almost all other rivers are represented by its tributaries: Yushut, Petyalka, Uba, Voncha, etc.

Lakes:

Mari Chodra is famous for its lakes.

Almost all of them are karst. All are popular objects summer holidays among residents of Mari El, Tatarstan, Chuvashia and other, even more remote, regions of Russia.

Lakes: Yalchik, Deaf, Kichier, Mill, Teterkino, Mushan-Er, Konan-Er, Tot-Er, Shut-Er, Kuzh-Er, Yergezh-Er (Round), Kugu-Er and others.

Flora

In the vegetation cover - coniferous-deciduous forests. Oak forests with maple, linden, spruce are common in elevated areas, in the valleys - mixed forests of spruce, pine, linden, oak, maple, aspen, elm, as well as floodplain oak forests.
There are pine forests with aspen, birch, and spruce. Insignificant areas are occupied by low-lying grass swamps. About 50 plant species are rare for the flora of the Mari Republic.

Fauna

In the fauna, elk, squirrel, chipmunk, hare, weasel, ermine, polecat, pine marten are common, there is a beaver (reacclimatized), otter. There are also bears and wolves. Black grouse, capercaillie, hazel grouse nest among grouse birds, buzzard, goshawk, black kite fly from diurnal birds, golden eagle flies. The mallard, the teal-whistle nest on the lakes.

Scientific activity

In addition to the constant study of the park, which is carried out by staff members, with the assistance of MarSU, various expeditions are periodically held and environmental camps are organized (for example, "Pink Dandelion").

recreation

Many places of the Mari Chodra National Park attract lovers of relaxation. Research shows that in some places uncontrolled recreation is damaging nature, and access to these facilities should be limited.

An environmental fee is charged from vehicles at the entrances to the park.

Main vacation spots

Yalchik:

Yalchik is the most popular and most accessible in terms of transport (buses to the turn along the R 175 highway, railway stop Yalchevskiy and fixed-route taxis directly to the bases) resting place.

There are 11 recreation facilities on the lake: the Rubin recreation center (from the MMZ plant), det. camp Zheleznodorozhnik (from the Kazan branch of the State Railways), sports. camp Polytechnic (from MarSTU), boarding house "Yalchik" det. camp them. Vali Kotika, camp site "Yalchik", SOL "Seagull" (from Pedagogical University), SOL "Olympian" (from MarSU), recreation center "Yalchik", etc.

Kichier:

The Kichier sanatorium is organized on the lake, as well as the Republican Rehabilitation Hospital with a children's sanatorium pulmonology department (RBVL with DSPO).

Maple Mountain:

In addition to the sanatorium of the same name, this place attracts tourists with its sights. These are the Green Key, Pugachev's Oak and others.

Mushan-Yer:

A good quality highway approaches the lakes, there are a large number of sites suitable for "wild" recreation.

Deaf:

Only "wild" recreation is also possible.

Protected area:

The northeastern part of Mariy Chodra is occupied by a specially protected protected area, to which entry and entry are prohibited. On it is the lake Shut-Er, partly - the river Uba. Also workers forestry control visits to the lakes Kuzh-Er and Ergezh-Er, although they are outside the protected area.

Republic of Mari El, Morkinsky, Zvenigovsky and Volzhsky district

History of creation
National Park "Mari Chodra", or "Mari forest" in Russian, was created in 1985. The territory of the park with an area of ​​36.6 thousand hectares is covered with beautiful pine forests and broad-leaved forests.
The main tasks of the park were the preservation and restoration of landscapes, characteristic flora and fauna, natural monuments; security natural complexes, including lakes of failure-karst origin, and their use for recreational, educational and scientific purposes.

Physical and geographical conditions
The national park is located in the southeast of the Republic of Mari El, in the basin of the river. The Ilet is a left tributary of the Volga and is part of the mixed forest belt of the forest zone. The territory is a slightly undulating plain with absolute heights of 75-125 meters above sea level.
There are a large number of lakes and rivers in the park. Main river park - Ilet with its left-bank tributaries: Yushut, Arbayka, Uba, the Petyalka River flows into it from the right. During the warm period of the year, the water content of the river allows tourist boats to pass through. In the Klenovaya Gora area, more than 20 springs come out to Ilet. The most significant is the Green Key, beating at the foot of the mountain on the left bank of the Ileti.
Forest karst lakes are very clean and transparent, some of them - Yalchik, Glukhoe, Kichner, Shulgandan - are natural monuments.
The climate of the area where the national park is located is temperate continental, characterized by relatively hot summers and frosty winters with stable snow cover. average temperature the warmest month (July) +18.3°C, the coldest (January) -14.1°C.

Diversity of flora and fauna
The park is dominated by forest vegetation, where the largest proportion is pine forests, spruce forests are mosaically represented, there are oak forests. Various types of birch and aspen forests occupy about a third of the park area.
Rare plant species growing in the park at the border of their ranges include: laxative joster, forest apple tree; red-fruited corow, common heather, dyeing dock, Arnell's sedge, Ural tsitserbita and others.
In the fauna of the park there are taiga species - brown bear, elk, capercaillie, hazel grouse; types of coniferous-deciduous forests - yellow-throated mouse, squirrel, green woodpecker; as well as forest-steppe species - hare, field mouse, reddish ground squirrel, common hamster. The red fox is often seen. The muskrat also lives in the park - a rare species listed in the Red Book of the International Union for Conservation of Nature and the Red Book of the Russian Federation.
More than 43 species of fish live in the rivers and lakes of the park - such as catfish, pike, gold and silver carp, carp, tench, bream. A rare species, the European grayling, lives in the channels of the Ilet River.

What to watch
The national park is ecologically clean, the most picturesque corner Maritime nature. Here you can find traces of a bear and an elk, mighty trees felled by beavers, rare plants.
Interesting historical objects - the old Kazan tract and "Pugachev's Oak". According to ancient legends, near this oak, pursued by the tsarist troops, Emelyan Pugachev stopped to rest with his troops. From here he monitored the burning Kazan. The size of an oak is very different among the stands. This is a gigantic tree with a powerful trunk, the diameter of which is 159 cm.
You can explore nature and see all the sights of the park by walking along numerous horse, water or hiking trails accompanied by experienced park guides.

According to oopt.info and zapoved.ru

The park was established in 1985 to preserve the reference natural complexes of the Republic of Mari El. Translated from the Mari language "Mari Chodra" means "Mari forest". The entire territory of the park is covered with beautiful pine forests and coniferous-deciduous forests. The decoration of the park is clean and beautiful karst lakes, many of which are declared natural monuments. The attractiveness of the park and the abundance of mineral springs. The largest of them is the Green Key, the water of which is used in the treatment.

Relief
The territory of the park is formed by the southern spurs of the Mariysko-Vyatsky Uval. The southwestern part of the park adjoins the river. Volga. Most of the territory belongs to the Ilet high-plain southern taiga region with the development of modern karst, the smaller part belongs to the Polessky valley-terraced lake region of mixed forests. The area of ​​the park is a slightly undulating plain with island heights (Kerebelakskaya, Klenogorskaya), with absolute heights of 75–125 m above sea level. m. The highest absolute mark of the territory is the peak of the Maple Mountain - 196.0 m above sea level. The active manifestation of the karst process led to the development of karst landforms - numerous funnels, up to 50–60 m in diameter, and sinkhole lakes, up to 35–40 m deep.

Hydrology
Lakes. On the territory of the park there are a significant number of picturesque lakes of karst origin. Most of them are declared natural monuments, Glukhoe, Kichier, Yalchik, Ergezh-Er, Shut-Er, Kuzh-Er, Shungaldan. They are round or oblong in shape, up to 40 m deep, with a silty bottom. The lakes are fed by springs or small rivers and streams. Some of them have an underground connection with neighboring rivers.

Lake Glukhoe is located 4 km east of the village. Yalchinsky. The shores of the lake are relatively high, steep, overgrown with forests. Lake area 22.0 ha, maximum depth 23 m, length 2140 m, width 100 m. The water is dark, brownish in color. The bottom of the lake is dense, partly sandy or limestone.

Lake Kichier is located in the Yalchinsky forestry. The shores are gently sloping, sandy, slightly swampy in places. The area of ​​the lake is 46.0 ha, the maximum depth is 16 m, and the total length is 3 km. Consists of three interconnected pools. The water is dark. The bottom is muddy. The silt is dark, black, with the smell of hydrogen sulfide.

Lake Yalchik is located in the Yalchinsky forestry. It consists of a central large basin and three adjoining ones connected to it by narrow and shallow straits. The shores of the lake are mostly sandy and only silty in places. The highest and steepest are the eastern and northern shores. Almost from all sides the lake is surrounded by a mixed forest with a predominance of pine. The area of ​​the lake is about 150 hectares, the maximum depth is 35 m. The water is clear. The bottom is sandy.

Lake Ergezh-Er (translated from Mari as Round). Located in the Kerebelak forestry. It is part of the system of karst lakes located at the foot of the ledge of the Kerebelak Upland. The area of ​​the lake is 4.5 hectares, the maximum depth is 13 m, the length is 350 m, the width is 150 m. The water is clear. Bottom sediments are insignificant.

Lake Shut-Er (translated from the Mari, Black). Located in the Kerebelak forestry. It is included in the system of karst lakes located at the foot of the ledge of the Kerebelak Upland along its eastern steep slope. The area of ​​the lake is 28.9 ha, the maximum depth is 17.5 m, the length is 1550 m, the width is 300 m. The water is dark in color. Bottom sediments are insignificant. Food is mixed (underground water, springs, swamps). The banks are high but not steep.

Lake Kuzh-Er (translated from Mari as Long). Located in the Kerebelak forestry. It is included in the system of karst lakes located at the foot of the ledge of the Kerebelak Upland along its eastern steep slope. The area of ​​the lake is 25.0 ha, the maximum depth is 26.5 m, the length is 1300 m, the width is 200 m. The transparency of the water is 4 m. Bottom sediments are insignificant. Northern and south coast swamped. The western coast is high (about 40 m). From the northern corner of the lake flows a channel that flows into the lake. Yergezh Er.

Shungaldan Lake is located 1.5 km from mineral spring Green key, on the left bank of the river. Ilet. An oval-shaped lake of failed origin, with swampy shores. In water, the content of hydrogen sulfide reaches 50–75 mg per 1 liter, which gives the water valuable medicinal properties for external use in the form of bathtubs.

The mineral spring Green Key is located at the foot of the Klenovaya Gora, 1.8 km from the mouth of the river. Yushut. The water of the spring rises from the bottom of the funnel, the diameter of which is about 2 m, and partially flows out from under the base of Klenovaya Gora, joining into one stream, up to 6 m wide and 0.7–0.8 m deep. It flows into the river. Ilet. Water consumption from 1000 to 1540 l/s. The water temperature is constant throughout the year and is 6.5°C. The chemical composition of the water is sulphate-calcium.

Rivers. The main river of the park, the Ilet, crosses it from the northeast to the southwest and flows into the Volga. Its left-bank tributaries - r. Yushut, Arbayka, Uba. On the right, the river flows into it. Petyalka. The Ilet flows through a plain with a slightly undulating relief, covered with mixed forests, its speed is 0.2–0.8 m/s. The river does not freeze in winter. The riverbed is winding, composed of limestones and sands, subject to deformation, the banks are gentle, swampy in places. The width of the channel reaches 20–40 m.

The floodplain of the Ilet River is two-sided, up to 500 m wide, overgrown with shrubs and mixed forests. In its floodplain and tributaries, there are about 200 oxbow lakes, where beavers, minks, muskrats, otters live, waterfowl nest, fish are found. Many of the old women are rich in therapeutic mud. During the warm period of the year, the water content of the river allows tourist boats to pass through.

Soils
The soil cover is diverse due to differences in relief and underlying rocks. Podzolic and sod-podzolic soils are among the most common soils (81% of the park area).

Climate
The climate of the park is temperate continental. It is characterized by relatively hot summers and frosty winters with stable snow cover. The average temperature of the warmest month of July is 18.6°C. The absolute minimum air temperature in winter reaches -52 C. The average duration of the warm period of the year with temperatures above 0°C is about 200 days.

The territory of the park belongs to the zone of unstable moisture: there are years with sufficient, sometimes excessive moisture, but there are also dry years. During the year, precipitation falls unevenly: the largest amount is observed in summer, the smallest - in winter. An average of 500 mm of precipitation falls annually. The largest monthly amount of precipitation is observed in July - 60–70 mm. The invasion of cold air masses from the polar basin with north, northwest and northeast winds causes a sharp drop in temperature in winter, and frosts in spring and autumn. Often, continental air masses invade the park from the southeast. In spring or summer, they cause arid conditions, in winter - clear, frosty weather.