Novgorod land is rich in unique places. One of them is in the territory Poddorskogo and Kholmsk areas. This place is Old Slavic name Rdeysko-Polistovsky edge. The name of his two lakes region shall Polisto and Rdeyskoe.

The man hardly left traces of their stay here - it is the kingdom of mosses, swamps and marshes, which grow on low bushes and stunted pine. Everywhere, among the moss, the sun is reflected in the large and small little window of clean water that have chosen for your living unimaginably large variety of birds.

Bogs form the largest system, not only in Europe but also in the North-West of the Russian Federation. The complex of swamps formed by the merger of six peatlands that have developed independently. Originality swamps Rdeyskim give ridge-hollow complex, very well-developed, small rivers that flow in peatlands, swamps fine bedding, occupying large areas, more than a dozen lakes and mineral islands found everywhere. A layer of peat bogs up to eight meters.

Do not underestimate the impact of Rdeyskih marshes on the environment. Firstly, they are a natural reservoir of water. Secondly, take part in the task of hydrological regime of a large part of the territory of the Novgorod region, especially in the southwest. Third, in Rdeyskih swamps originate such small rivers and streams as Redya River, Hlavitsa, Holynya, Polist. The latter aspect is particularly important for the stabilization of Lake Ilmen in the off-season and in dry years.

Despite the apparent difficulties and disadvantages: the abundance of water, unstable soils, insufficient amount of land suitable for sowing of reference, this region inhabited during the ancient times. Local people are very fond of their wetlands and protect.

In 1994 these lands for the protection and study of unique sphagnum moss, live and rare representatives of vegetable nature reserve was created, called "Rdeysky." Its area of ​​almost 37 thousand hectares.

Flora Reserve - diverse. In northern softwood growing representatives and, in general, this part closer to the taiga forests. South and west populated aspen and spruce forests, in some places they are mixed. The eastern part of - freedom for broad-leaved trees. They are represented mainly oaks, maples and lindens. Sometimes there are elms and ash trees, but in much smaller quantities. Age of forests - is not the same, mostly young forests, the same age, but at the same time there are areas of forests, which grow on the two hundred year old fir.

Forest covered and the islands rising from the peat bogs, the largest of which Domsha, Andrianov and Aspen mane. On these islands there is no settlement, so the nature of them untouched, and they have been preserved in its original form.

In the forests grow more than 350 plant species, of which 9 are rare and protected 25. Every year scientists discover new species of mosses. Only in summer 1999, it was discovered about fifty species of moss.

Fauna Reserve has: mammals - 36 species, amphibians and reptiles are represented 6 species of fish - 9 species, birds - 122 species, 14 of which are listed as endangered. Birds deserve special attention. The reserve is home to several hundred pairs of Curlew, this population is the largest in Europe. Here you can find the white partridge, eagle, gray crane, black stork, golden plover.

Rdeyskaya marsh system of international organizations was included in the UNESCO project "Thelma."