Mount Manaraga

About the Yugyd Va National park

Yugyd Va is Russia’s largest national park: with the total area of almost 2,000,000 hectares, it stretches for 280 kilometers from north to south and for 120 kilometers from west to east. Having turned 28 years old in 2022, it is still one of the most unique natural reserves. Suffice it to say that Yugyd Va is one of the world’s most sparsely populated national parks: there are practically no permanent settlements on its territory. Even before its establishment only reindeer herders of such nomadic peoples as Mansi, Nenets, and Khanty roamed through these lands. To this day, the names they gave to the local mountains, rivers, and lakes remind of those times.

This national park is located on the territory of three municipalities: the Inta, Vuktyl, and Pechora districts. Its natural boundaries are the Kozhim River in the north, the border with the Pechora-Ilych Nature Reserve in the south, the Kosyu River in the west, and the Ural ridge in the east. 

Peaks of the Urals

Such mounts of the Urals as Narodnaya (1,895 m), Karpinsky (1,803 m), Kolokolnya (1,721 m), Telposiz (1,620 m), and Sablya (1,497 m) are all treasures of Yugyd Va. But the true symbol of the national park is Manaraga (1,662 m). 

What makes Manaraga truly recognizable is its peak crowned with a jagged ridge. It is the reason why the mountain got its name, which means "the likeness of a bear's paw" translated from the Nenets language.

Many tourists consider Manaraga the most beautiful peak of the Urals. With the height of 1,662 meters, it was also considered the tallest one until it was scientifically proven that Narodnaya is higher. Although the traverse of Manaraga is difficult, conquering it is possible even for beginner hikers. What requires mountaineering skills and special equipment is only climbing to the highest point of the longest claw of the paw.

Bright water

Another treasure of Yugyd Va are its crystal clear rivers. By the way, the name of the national park means "bright water" translated from Komi language. Most of the rivers of Yugyd Va have their sources on the western slope of the Ural Range and flow into Pechora. The largest of them are Bolshaya Synya, Kosyu, Kozhim, Podcherem, and Shchugor.

Flora and fauna

Finally, the third treasure of Yugyd Va are its flora and fauna. The national park is a home for 600 species of plants, 1,000 species of invertebrates, 200 species of birds, 40 species of mammals. Among them, there are many endemics and relics, some of which are listed in the Red Book of Russia.