National Park Smolny, in Ichkalovsky District of Republic Mordovia, was established in
1995. Its area is 36,5 thousand ha. The Park is situated on the left bank of the Alatyr
River. The relief is broken with raviness, rising from 36 to 217 m above the sea level.
The Alatyr floodplain has some scenic hills (near the village Malye Ichalki, Smolny
town). The lowlands between the hills contain a large number of springs. The floodplain
lakes Dubovoe 1 (4 ha) and Dubovoe 2 (5 ha) are fed by active springs situated at a depth
of 4-5 m.
The river network comprises the Alatyr River (40 km within the Park boundaries) and
more shallow rivers — Yazovka (on the Western border), Koldoba, Kalsha, and Ashnya.
The nature complexes of sub-taiga coniferous-broad-leaved forests and floodplain oak
forests are protected. Woodland accounts for 87% of the Park area. Pine forests prevail
— those with Hylocomium, Dicranium, Rhytidiadelphis; those with lichens, mixed pine
forests with deciduous trees and shrub layers; those with an admixture of spruce. Oak
forests and linden forests are common. Very widespread are eutrophie fens and floodplain
meadows; there are some plots of mesotrophic and sphagnum bogs with cranberry.
40 vascular plants rare for Mordovia are recorded, including some species listed in the
Red Data Book as perennial honesty, caltrop, military orchis, spurred coral root.
The common mammals are the moose, sika deer, wild boar; the roe deer, lynx, and the
brown bear occasionally appear. The numerous species are the marten, weasel, beaver,
muskrat.
The Park provides nesting grounds to 130 avian species. The capercaillie, black grouse,
hazel grouse are sighted; on the edge of forests and meadows, the common partridge occurs.
In the Alatyr floodplain waterbirds concentrate, including geese (gray goose — Anser
anser), bean goose (Anser fabalis), white-fronted goose (Anser albifrons), ducks, gulls,
catchers.
The Park provides nesting grounds to the crane. It is highly probable that the nesting
grounds of the golden eagle, osprey can also be found.
Dwelling in lakes are the pickerel, roach, dace, chub, ide, redeye, asp, tench, etc.
The protected and buffer zone account for up to 85% of the area.
