Serebryany Bor

Serebryany Bor, the green pearl of the Russian capital, is an artificial island located in the bend of the Moskva River and separated from it by a man-made canal. This neighborhood is called Khoroshyovo-Mnyovniki, it is rightfully considered the river gateway of Moscow. Serebryany Bor is a protected natural monument, a favorite recreation place of the capital’s residents and a cozy nest for a select few who have built their dachas and presentable mansions here. In warm weather the island covered with slender pine trees beckons to its shores those who wish to swim and sunbathe, those who love long hikes along ecological trails. And in winter in Serebryany Bor, covered with snow, they lay a ski track, pour a large skating rink and organize fun festivals.

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Video: Serebryany Bor from a height

Contents

Highlights

Muscovites have long called Serebryany Bor a vast pine massif spreading on the right bank of the Moskva River. It stretched from Troitse-Lykov and Krylatsky to the villages of Razdory, Romashkovo and Nemchinovka. This luxurious pine forest gave its name to the pine grove located on the left bank of the river and to the dacha settlement that appeared near it at the beginning of the last century. The right-bank forest lands themselves are known today as the Serebryanoborskoe lesnichestvo.

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Serebryany Bor was separated from the mainland 65 years ago, when the bend of the Moscow River was straightened by a channel. And since then, this corner of the capital is associated with Muscovites with summer vacation, beach entertainment, water sports, they call it easily – “Cheese-bor”. Many people do not realize that not far from the beaches there are badgers and martens, minks and ermines, raccoon dogs and foxes. To acquaint holidaymakers with the nature of this wonderful island, they organize excursions along eco-trails leading through pine and alder forests, groves of ornamental trees, along the shores of the mysterious Bottomless Lake and branching bays.

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Today 84 hectares of the almost 330 hectares of the island belong to the protected area. Research works are carried out here, concerning the protection of local flora and fauna. Recreational and recreational location occupies 112 hectares. Almost the same territory is allocated to the sector where communications are laid, summer houses and luxury mansions are built. For some representatives of the elite Serebryany Bor is a permanent place of residence, and dacha residents come here in summer. Now this category is in the minority, although it was the dacha dwellers who once became the first residents of Serebryany Bor.

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History of Serebryany Bor

The name “Serebryany Bor” is first mentioned in chronicles of the XVII century. This was the name of the densely pine-covered lands stretching to the west of the modern Troitse-Lykov. The forest, although cut through by the Moscow Ring Road, has survived to this day, being now part of the Serebryanoborsky forestry, part of the structure of the natural-historical park “Moskvoretsky.”

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There is a legend linking these places with the Moscow prince and voivode Vasily Serebryany-Obolensky. Another legend says that this is the name given to the dense forests by Catherine II, admiring the pine trees covered with snow. It is also known that on the territory of Serebryany Bor mines were developed, in one of them extracted “poor” silver.

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In the 17th century, the game-rich lands were the property of the Romanov royal family. The sovereign Alexei Mikhailovich, a passionate lover of falconry, often came here. In 1631 the royal estates were united into the palace Khoroshyovo stable volost with the center in the village of Khoroshyovo on the left bank of the river. Here, in the river floodplain, herds of horses intended for the sovereign’s cavalry were grazed. In 1735 a horse breeding factory was built in Khoroshyovo, to which were assigned pastures and lands beyond the Moskva River, including Serebryany Bor.

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At the end of the XIX century, not far from the horse breeding factory, which had already closed by that time, in a quiet old grove, there was a dacha settlement, nicknamed Serebryany Bor. One of the first to start building on the leased land was the Moscow Governor-General, Grand Duke Sergei Alexandrovich. His example was followed by aristocratic and merchant families who began to build wooden mansions in the then fashionable Art Nouveau style. It was a kind of town, where the streets served as 3 lines and a sagebrush.

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After the Bolsheviks came to power, pre-revolutionary buildings were used as children’s rest homes, sanatoriums, and on the second line of the village settled “sovdachniki”. Here gloriously spent time Kuibyshev and Blucher, Tukhachevsky and Yagoda, other high-ranking party and military figures. Many of them fell under the roller of repression, because of which the 2nd line was called “firing squad”. In 1937 the dacha settlement, which was already officially listed in the documents as “Serebryany Bor”, gave its name to the island formed during the construction of the Khoroshyovskoye canal – one of the sections of the “Moscow – Volga” canal. In the same year, the island was connected to the mainland by the 187-meter arch Khoroshyovsky bridge.

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In the 40’s Joseph Stalin ordered to allocate dacha plots in Serebryany Bor to war heroes, and in the early 50’s the government gifted a two-story wooden building to the staff of the Bolshoi Theater. Over time, several small houses grew up next to it. Maya Plisetskaya, Galina Ulanova, Sergei Lemeshev and other celebrities spent their vacations here. On the infamous 2nd line was located the theater dacha of the Moscow Art Theater.

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The island, isolated position of Serebryany Bor attracted the nomenklatura and law enforcers. Separate dacha plots were allocated to the Mossovet, the Interior Ministry, the KGB, the staff of the CPSU Central Committee. Employees of embassies of many countries had their own corner. Among all this brilliant society found, of course, a place and “spy school”. However, access here was open to all Muscovites, which turned the island into a popular place of Sunday and summer vacation.

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In 1972, U.S. President Richard Nixon stepped on the shore of Serebryany Bor from a boat. Impressed by the local beauty, he proposed to turn this green oasis into “Coney Island Nation”. The idea was not realized, but the Bottomless Lake was connected to the river, and the swamps and about 100 hectares of the Moskva River floodplain were drained. Today Serebryany Bor holds its status. A number of Russian billionaires own real estate on the island. In addition, famous politicians, embassy staff and many celebrities live here. Dacha plots, occupying almost 122 hectares, are located outside the protected area of the Serebryany Bor nature monument, established in 1991.

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Nature

The island is composed of sandy and loess soils – moraine deposits of an ancient glacier. Its descent formed and expressive relief marked by ridges, hills, terraces, hollows crossing the terrain. Man-made ramparts, embankments, excavations remind that this unique corner of wildlife has experienced anthropogenic impact.

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The modern flora of Serebryany Bor has largely retained its authenticity. Its fairy-tale appearance is still drawn by tall light-colored pines, willingly growing on the sands. Many of them are already 130-200 years old. The lindens and oaks, elms and maples towering here have been introduced by humans.

Other trees sheltering the island include willows, small-leaved birches, white poplars, Manchurian walnut. In total, there are about 400 species of plants, of which about two dozen are included in the Red Book of Moscow. They include buttercup lilies, snow-white lilies, May lily of the valley, pinkish-purple Fischer’s carnations. Grow in the undergrowth and rare for the capital lingonberries, blueberries, which is typical for pine forests.

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Fauna of Serebryany Bor is represented by almost a hundred species of animals. Predominantly these are small animals living in burrows. There are also hedgehogs, squirrels, hares, weasels, stoats, martens, foxes. Beavers and otters have long since taken a fancy to these water-rich places.

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Raptors in Serebryany Bor are also at ease. Hawks and herons, long-eared owls and nightingales, woodpeckers and rare kingfishers – longtime inhabitants of Serebryany Bor. Up to the beginning of the last century the descendants of tsar falcons were still nesting here. Today they are rare guests on the island, but sparrows and gray crows, familiar to Moscow, as well as song thrushes are found here everywhere.

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Along the numerous island reservoirs of the river stretch grassy meadows, and the eastern shore of the Bottomless Lake is surrounded by the largest reed swamp in Moscow. The intriguing name, in fact, flatters this lake, because in reality its depth in places where people swim and fish does not exceed 4 meters. However, not all the bottom of the reservoir has been explored. Maybe it really is, as described in the legends, is at the center of the earth or serves as a final resting place for sunken ships, whose holds are filled with treasure chests.

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Lake Bottomless is fed by underground springs, and its water is generally clear. The water area of the entire body of water is about 17 hectares. A 250-meter strait connects the main, the largest, plez (actually, Lake Bezdonnoye) with the Moskva River, to the west of it branches off another strait. Two 150-meter straits weave the main plece with another, more miniature one. Between the straits lies an islet, which can be accessed by bridges. Two more straits, which connect the narrow, winding straits, are formed by a third bay. In this incredibly intricate labyrinth, collectively called Deep Bay, the waterways resemble rivers. The resemblance is enhanced by decent surge currents caused by the operation of locks on the Moskva River and periodically changing direction.

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Beaches

In Serebryany Bor three beaches are available for those wishing to sunbathe and swim, including a nudist beach – the largest in the capital. In addition, the island has a VIP-beach (beach number 1). This recreation area of the capital’s elite is closed to the general public. At the entrance to which there is a separate entrance, there are guards, they should show a one-time pass. It will allow you to spend time here from 10:00 to 22:00. This corner is equipped with its own parking lot, deck chairs, tents, picnic pavilions, a sports ground. There is a center of water entertainment, there is an opportunity to rent a boat for a boat trip along the bays. Vacationers eat in cafes and restaurants located here.

Beaches № 2 and № 3 – one of the most popular in Moscow, swimming here is officially authorized. Entrance here is free, but for the rental of a sunbed will have to pay. An hour of rent will cost 200 rubles; you can use it all day long by paying 500 rubles. On the beaches there are gazebos with barbecues, benches, changing cabins, showers, sports and children’s playgrounds. In rental shops offers to rent catamarans, jet skis, boats, “water trampolines”. There are rescue services and medics on duty at the beach location. At the service of vacationers – small cafes and restaurants with prices familiar to Muscovites.

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Cleaner water – on the beach number 3, which stretches about a kilometer. Here in fenced areas DJs and musicians perform. At the very shore is poured sand, but you can sit farther away – on the grass in the shade of trees. On the beach number 2 couples with children like to rest. There is a corner with trampolines, swings, slides for kids. In this beach area is constantly held a variety of workshops and entertainment events.

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Nudist beach is located near the beach number 1, not far from the confluence of the Bottomless Lake into the Moskva River. Adherents of the philosophy of unconcerned unity with nature rest in the beach area is not limited to the frivolous walking around in all its glory in its near and far neighborhoods. For several years rumors have been circulating about the closure of this beach, but so far it is allowed to rest naked in Serebryany Bor.

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Entertainment in Serebryany Bor

In addition to beach entertainment, water walks, playing table tennis, badminton, volleyball, in Serebryany Bor it is interesting to study the natural features of this green corner of the capital. There are two ecological trails, on which you can walk with a guide for free.

The trail “In Harmony with Nature” stretches for 5 km, curving along the coastline of the island, leading to the beach number 2 and the park “Veteran”. On the way you will meet squirrels, woodpeckers, a lot of waterfowl. In the cozily arranged park, where there are benches everywhere, you can have a rest, see the monument “Battle Path of the 3rd Shock Army”. The headquarters of this military unit during the war was located in Serebryany Bor.

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The length of the ecological trail “At Lake Bezdonnoe” – 1.2 km. It winds through a pine forest, reed swamp, where in the warm season you can see cranes, herons, birds of prey. The marshlands are offered to be viewed from the ornithological tower. The excursion lasts about 2 hours. On the way you can relax in gazebos or on benches, they are placed along the entire route.

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In winter, when it snows, Serebryany Bor becomes like an illustration of a fairy tale. At this time, the place is quiet and peaceful, although Muscovites often come here to skate, ski or just walk around, breathing in the unparalleled air. The skating rink is poured at beach No. 2. It works from 16:00 to 22:00 on weekdays and from 11:00 to 23:00 on weekends and on holidays. On Epiphany, holes are cut on the lake for those wishing to follow the ancient custom.

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How to get there

It is most convenient to get to Serebryany Bor from the metro station “Polezhaevskaya”. From the public transportation stop with the same name to the island goes bus number 390 and trolleybuses number 20, 21, 65, 86.

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Trolleybus follows to the stop “The bank of the Moskva River” (Tamanskaya Street). From here to the desired location you can walk on foot. From the bus you need to get off at the stop “Serebryany Bor” (4th line). Bus number 390 runs to “Tamanskaya” and from the metro station “Khoroshyovo.”

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Another option – go to the metro station “Shchukinskaya”, walk to the streetcar stop (Aviatsionnaya Street), where streetcars № 28 and № 31 stop. Get off at the stop “Prospekt Marshala Zhukova” (Zhivopisnaya Street). From here you can walk to the island along the Khoroshyovsky Bridge.

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