State natural complex reserve "Kurgalsky" was created in 2000. Its territory is a wetland, which is included in the list of wetlands of international importance of Russia as a habitat for waterfowl.
Kurgalsky Reserve is located in Kingisepp district on the peninsula Kurgalsky. The area of ​​the reserve - 59, 95 thousand. Acres, the lake area - 848 hectares, the Gulf of Finland - 38, 4 thousand. Hectares.

Nature reserve "Kurgalsky" created to preserve natural complexes standards coastal landscapes on the southern coast of the Gulf of Finland, the protection of natural and long-derived Forest South, medium- and subtaiga types, protection of rare species of fauna and flora, conservation shallow water of the Gulf, which are spawning commercial fish species, the protection of migratory and nesting sites of riparian and aquatic birds, Leszek ringed seal and gray seal.

The territory has a high recreational potential, promise for eco-tourism excursions, family-friendly photo hunting and recreational fishing.

On the territory of the reserve Kurgalsky are two large lakes: White and Lipovskoe that protowhich associated with the Gulf of Finland. Lakes - are fragments of the ancient valley of Narva, which has existed since the beginning of the post-glacial period.

The main area of ​​the peninsula occupied by forests, which are characteristic of southern taiga. There - a lot of oak, maple, linden, elm, ash, and undergrowth for common viburnum, hazel, honeysuckle. On the seaside terrace - alder swamps, marshy birch and aspen forests. There are common spruce-pine forests with an admixture of maple, linden, oak, with the cause of the spring, pechenochnitsey, lungwort in the grass layer and forests-zelenomoshniki. Adjacent Islands Kurgalsky reef consist of reclaimed stone ridges with pebble and sand spits, which are scattered around the areas of reeds. On the sandy spits - curtain Viola tricolor, thickets of wild rye sand, are also common plants, typical of the coastal beaches and the littoral: Baltic rush, gonkeniya buterlakovidnaya, lyadvenets Ruprecht, sand fescue.

The rare species are marked Armeria vulgaris, dogwood Swedish, zubyanka klubenkonosnaya, leek, high fescue, lobelia Dortmanna, gale marsh, sedge pebble and others. The fauna of the reserve is very diverse. From here invertebrates inhabit pearl European, preserved in small quantities in the river Rosson. Because amphibians inhabit moor, grass and lake frog, toad, crested and smooth newt, reptile - really, a viper, lizard, anguis.

The reserve recorded 208 bird species, of which more than 30 are among the rare. Here nest mute swan, gray goose, scoter, shelduck, dunlin, Turnstone, Oystercatcher, Caspian tern, white-tailed eagle, osprey, river warbler. The islands - colony gulls and other waterbirds. Coastal areas is important for resting and feeding waterfowl migrating.

It is home to 40 species of mammals. Particularly noteworthy are the gray seal, the ringed seal. Their rookeries are located on the rocks Kurgalsky reef. Meets brown bear, garden dormouse, roe deer. In 1975 he was brought here and spotted deer.

Specially protected sites in the reserve are shallow coastal complexes, areas of broad-leaved forests, coastal natural systems, littoral zone, breeding colonies of shorebirds and waterfowl, rare species of plants: wild garlic, sedge pebble, fescue tall lobelia Dortmanna, gale marsh, pribrezhnitsa uniflorous , dogwood Swedish, zubyanka klubenkonosnaya, polushnik lake, seaside centaury and beautiful, thrift plain, rushes Baltic; rare species: shelduck, mute swan, gray goose, white-tailed eagle, scoter, river warbler, osprey, gray seal, Baltic ringed seal.

On the territory of the reserve is prohibited Kurgalsky handle pesticides forest, the waters of lakes and rivers, the Gulf of Finland; banned harvesting and collection of berries, mushrooms, fruits, medicinal raw materials, seeds, industrial and commercial purposes; can not carry out reclamation activities; arrange bivouacs, campfires outside designated areas; grazing on State Forest Fund lands; parking lot, the device dumps, pollution of rivers and lakes, areas, industrial fishing, etc. prohibited.