If you thought Russia is only about snow-covered mountains and cold places, then this will surprise you. Russia, by a huge margin, has the forest cover in the world! The country is home to frozen taiga and tropical rainforest. As per the Food and Agriculture Organization’s (FAO) latest collated figures (the Global Forest Resources Assessment as reported in Forestry Statistics 2024), Russia had about 815 million hectares of forest in 2020 which accounts one fifth of the world’s total forest area! This is amazing, right?To make you understand in more simple words, Russia’s forests alone are responsible for nearly a fifth of all the tree-covered land on Earth! Now that’s huger than huge! When you see a world map, you’ll find Russia’s landscape heavenly dominated by a vast green.On this note, let’s have a look at top 5 must-visit forests in Russia brimming with unique wildlife:Sikhote-Alin Biosphere ReserveSikhote-Alin is in Russia’s Far East and also holds a UNESCO World Heritage Site tag. This place is a natural haven for wildlife lovers and photographers as the park is home to the rare Amur tigers and the elusive Far Eastern leopard. One can also spot black bears, and several pretty birds inside the park.Barguzin Nature ReserveNot many must be aware of the fact that Barguzin Nature Reserve is the world’s oldest nature reserve. It was established in 1916 along the shores of Lake Baikal to protect the Siberian sable. The forest is home to lynxes and bears. It’s a perfect spot for wildlife lovers who can explore trails that wind through untouched forests.Khingan Nature ReserveKhingan Nature Reserve in Amur Oblast is a biodiversity hub in the Russian Far East. The forest shelters some unique and rare creatures including Siberian musk deer, boar, and diverse birds of prey. The forested hills and river valleys offer an excellent opportunity for photography and wildlife spotting.Valdaysky National Park
Valdaysky National Park is set between Moscow and St. Petersburg. It is a combination of dense forests, lakes, and wetlands and hides moose, red deer and wolves. Wildlife enthusiasts and photographers get ample opportunities here to spot these creatures along the scenic trails and boat trips across its lakes.Putorana PlateauSet in northern Siberia, the Putorana Plateau is a remote and wild jungle. It is also a UNESCO World Heritage site. The taiga forests, cliffs, and waterfalls provide a habitat to reindeer, Arctic foxes and snow sheep, among others. This park is an absolute heaven for adventurous wildlife lovers.Other forest-covered countries
Brazil, Canada, the United States and China are next on the list. These nations also hold most of what remains but Brazil is famous for its Amazon cover. Brazil’s forest is about roughly 490–500 million hectares, making it the second-largest national forest area. But unlike Russia’s cold forests, Brazil has tropical cover.
