Shushensky Bor National Park
Shushensky Bor National Park is in the far southwest of Siberia, in Krasnoyarsk Krai near the town of Shushenskoye, Russia. The park protects two forests: a smaller northern forest-steppe area and a larger southern Mountain section in the Western Sayan Mountains. The southern part borders the Sayano-Shushenskaya Reservoir, created by Russia’s largest hydroelectric dam.
The park covers about 39,170 hectares (roughly 96,800 acres). The Mountain section centers on the Borus Massif, a ridge with five peaks and the highest peak Mt Poilovo at 2,309 meters (7,575 feet). Together, the two parts show a transition from forest-steppe to taiga (boreal forest) as you move up in elevation.
Shushensky Bor has a humid continental climate with warm summers and cold winters, and temperatures vary a lot with height. In spring, alpine meadows bloom with colorful flowers.
Wildlife is rich. Mammals include hare, red squirrel, brown bear, fox, sable, red deer, roe deer, musk deer, elk, and wild boar. About 272 bird species have been recorded, including golden eagle, osprey, and black stork.
Visitors come for hiking and ecotourism. The park has educational trails, guided tours, and visitor services. Access to the Mountain section requires registration and a small entry fee. The park also offers boat trips on the reservoir, sometimes called the Sayan Sea. Shushensky Bor was established in 1995 and is managed to protect nature while providing recreation and learning opportunities.
This page was last edited on 3 February 2026, at 08:18 (CET).