Zapovednik Koryaksky, on the north of Koryaksky Autonomous Okrug within the Penzhinsky
and Olyutorsky Districts, was founded in 1995. Its area makes up 327,2 thousand ha, of
which 83 thousand ha are part of the Bering Sea.
The Zapovednik is located on the north of the Kamchatka Peninsula; it consists of two
sites — "Parapolsky dol" and Peninsula Govena.
Parapolsky dol is a narrow lowland between mountains which separates Penzhinsky
Mountain Ridge and the Koryakskoye highland, with many lakes and bogs. In the plant cover
tundra communities prevail; thickets of elfin cedar are met.
The Zapovednik is one of the greatest waterfowl reserves in the north-east of Asia. The
number of waterfowl in summer reaches 700 thousand. Geese (white-fronted goose, bean
goose), whooper swans, little brown cranes, and shore birds nest.
On the shores of the Govena Peninsula there are about 30 sea bird sites, 35 mammal
species are noted, including a subspecies of bighorn sheep endemic to the Koryakskoye
Highland. Of rare and disappearing birds there are met erne, Steller's sea eagle,
peregrine falcon, Arctic falcon, glaucous-winged, Ross’ and ivory gulls, and Aleutian
tern.
The Zapovednik is a Wetland of International Significance (known as "Parapolsky
dol").
