Lena Pillars Nature Park

Lena Pillars is located in the middle reaches of the Lena River. The area here is so picturesque that it leaves an indelible trace in the soul of everyone who at least once visited it. Along the banks of the Lena, Buotama and Sinyaya rivers, wherever one looks, one can see strange pillars, sometimes taking bizarre shapes. The Lena Pillars are remnants of the destruction of bedrock – Lower Cambrian limestone. Their length is 524 km, height – about 200 m.

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Highlights

‘ The Lena Pillars National Park is one of the natural wonders of Yakutia. Their shape has been honed over millions of years by the forces of weathering and solar radiation. They have become like palaces, towers, houses, temples and even people and animals.

General Information

  • Full name: Lena Pillars National Nature Park
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  • IUCN Category: II (national park).
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  • Date of foundation; February 10, 1995.
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  • Region Yakutia, Khangalassky ulus.
  • Area: 485,000 hectares.
  • Relief: mountains.
  • Relief: mountainous.
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  • Climate: sharply continental.
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  • Official website: http://www.lenskiestolby.ru/.
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  • E-mail: nppls@mail.ru.

A walk in the park

‘ Lena Pillars in winter
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There are a lot of bizarre mosses and lichens on the territory of the “Lena Pillars”. Jagel, or deer moss (Cladonia rangiferina), has a very high frost resistance. This makes it an excellent food for reindeer even in the harshest cold weather, making up to 90% of their diet in winter.

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Animal life

The park is home to 42 species of mammals, 99 species of birds, 27 of which are rare and endangered, 4 species of amphibians and reptiles, 23 species of fish.

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‘ Yagel, or deer moss, is one of the most frost-resistant lichen species

The most common animals found in forests and coastal areas are the collared fox (Mustela sibirica), sable (Martes zibellina), American mink (Neovison vison), steppe ferret (Mustela evers-manni), and wolverine (Gulo gulo). Of the smaller animals, the common bat (Pteromys volans), the common squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris), the Asian chipmunk (Tamias sibiricus), the long-tailed gopher (Spermophilus undulatus), and the white hare (Lepus timidus) are common.

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‘ Lena Pillars in the Fog

The Lena Pillars National Park is home to the lesser swan (Cygnus bewickii), peregrine falcon (Falcoperegrinus), gyrfalcon (Falco rusticolus), white-tailed eagle (Hali-aeetus albicilla), golden eagle (Aquila chrysaetos), osprey (Pandion haliaetus), white crane (Grus leucogeranus), and dozens of other bird species.

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The golden eagle is one of the most famous birds of prey, the largest and strongest eagle. Their numbers have declined dramatically in recent times, mainly due to serious disturbances in the ecological balance of nature and the purposeful destruction of birds. Golden eagles, like many other raptors, have very sharp eyesight: they can see a hare from a distance of 2 km. Golden eagles can attack animals equal and even larger than them: foxes, deer and their cubs, chamois, roe deer, sheep.

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Visitors

Mode of the park

The park has ecological routes and trails that introduce tourists to unique natural monuments: the Lena Pillars, tukulans, fauna and flora.

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How to get there

The distance from Yakutsk to the park “Lena Pillars” is about 180 km, from Pokrovsk – 104 km. The easiest way to get to the national park is by tourist boat. You can also get there from Olemkinsk. More information about tourist routes can be obtained from the park administration.

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Where to stay

One option is the Buotamskaya recreation center, which is located on the right bank of the Lena River on the territory of the park. It has ten heated cabins. In addition, you can stay at the recreation base “Verkhny Vestyakh”, located a few kilometers above the settlement of the same name. The base is electrified, there are summer houses, a bathhouse, a dining room. Up to 20 people can stay here.

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