Kerzhensky reserve and Moss Mountain
The reserve was founded in the territory of Bor and Semenov districts, on the left bank of the river Kerzhenets, in 1993 in order to preserve natural complexes of Nizhny Novgorod trans-Volga region. The swamplands of international importance (the Volga-Kama group of marshes) are located there. The reserve area is 470 sq.km which is more than Nizhny Novgorod area. The reserve is a specially protected area of federal importance, so it is prohibited by law to visit it without an agreement with the administration. But it is possible to come to the village of Rustaj where there is Eco-center. Eco-center is a kind of prelude before a visit to the real forest. In Eco-center one can learn the history of the creation of the reserve, the principles of its organization, and the inhabitants of the reserve. One can also see what the reserve looks like at any time of the year. They fascinatingly tell нabout scientific and educational activities of the reserve. There are special excursion trails beginning from Eco-center. One can walk along the routes «Reserve forest», «The Kerzhenets Floodway», «Acid bogs», and others accompanied by a staff member. In addition to natural views, strollers will obtain priceless knowledge about the natural conditions of the reserve, different kinds of trees, interesting facts about plants, and research work conducted by the staff (recording of birds and animals, etc.). Moreover, each season has its own specifics in the tour service: Visitors go on hunting skis in winter while in summer they wear protective clothing from mosquitoes.
Moss mountains are one of the most remarkable places in Nizhny Novgorod oblast. They are located in the south-eastern outskirts of the city of Bor.
According to the «Nizhny Novgorod toponymic dictionary», the name is connected with moss which covers high and low, steep and flat hilly surfaces typical of these places. Moss mountains keep the story of the city of Bor from dwelling sites of primitive men to an industrial city with the forest name. This is also a monument to two great personalities of the Silver Age, great Russian writer Maxim Gorky and great Russian singer Fyodor Shalyapin.