Komsomol Preserve

located on the right bank of the Amur River (inland of the river’s coastal strip) opposite Komsoml’sk-na-Amure, from the settlement of Pivan’ to Lake Bel’go; it includes the lake’s water area. A branch of the preserve is located in the middle course of the Khungari River. Total area, 32,200 hectares (1971).

The Komsomol Preserve was established in 1963 (the branch, in 1966) to protect and study the natural complexes in areas where cedar and broad-leaved forests and dark and light coniferous taiga meet. Animals living in the preserve include the European brown bear and Asiatic black bear, raccoon dog, Siberian weasel, elk, roe, musk deer, hazel hen, nutcracker, jay, white-backed woodpecker, Japanese blue flycatcher, Amur chicken snake, and Japanese peeper. Amur carp and banded catfish inhabit Lake Bel’go; in the Bel’go River there are grayling and lenok (Brachymystax Yenok); and in the Khungari River, in addition to these, are taimen’ (Hucho taimen) and wild carp. Siberian salmon spawn in the preserve.