Russia is home to an extensive system of national parks and strictly protected nature reserves known as *zapovedniks*.
* **Kamchatka Peninsula:** A UNESCO World Heritage site renowned for its high density of active volcanoes, geysers, and robust population of brown bears. * **Stolby Nature Reserve:** Located near Krasnoyarsk, famous for its dramatic, towering syenite rock formations (pillars) rising out of the taiga. * **Curonian Spit:** A shared national park with Lithuania on the Baltic Sea, featuring massive, moving sand dunes. * **Lena Pillars:** Striking rock formations along the banks of the Lena River in the far east. * **Urban Parks:** In Moscow, **Gorky Park** is a cultural hub for recreation, while **Zaryadye Park**, near the Kremlin, is an architectural marvel featuring a floating bridge over the Moskva River.
