Virgin Komi Forests (1995)
Russia

Республика Коми

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The Virgin Komi Forests cover 3.28 million ha of tundra and mountain tundra in the Urals, as well as one of the most extensive areas of virgin boreal forest remaining in Europe. This vast area of conifers, aspens, birches, peat bogs, rivers and natural lakes has been monitored and studied for over 50 years. It provides valuable evidence of the natural processes affecting biodiversity in the taiga.  

Russia 2001. World Cultural Heritage. Landscape from the Republic of Komi. Russia 2003. World Cultural Heritage. The Virgin Komi Forests.

Wolverine is a carnivorous mammal, native to the northern regions of North America, Europe, and Asia, whose habits are much like those of the badger. French-Canadians call this animal the carcajou, and Anglo-Canadians call it the quickhatch. In Europe it is called the glutton, or skunk bear. 

The wolverine's body is heavyset, the legs are short and thick, and the claws are long and curved. The head and tail are carried low, and the back forms a high arch. The snout is short and pointed, and the head is blunt and rounded; the eyes are set widely apart, and the ears project only a short distance above the head fur. The tail is short and extremely bushy, the individual hairs being up to 20 cm (up to 8 in) in length. The thick body fur is composed of long glossy hairs; it is dark brown except for a lighter stripe running the entire length of each side. The length of the body, excluding the tail, is 65 to 105 cm (26 to 41 in).

Scientific classification: The wolverine belongs to the family Mustelidae. It is classified as Gulo gulo. 
  • Russia 2004. WWF-set of Wolverine.
    • Wolverine.
    • Wolverine with prey.
    • Wolverine on tree.
    • Wolverine with cubs. 

Russia 2004. WWF-set. Wolverine.

The Republic of Komi is an autonomous republic in the north eastern sub-arctic part of Russia. The capital and administrative center is Syktyvkar. 

Russia. Map of the Russian Federation with the Republic of Komi marked in red.

USSR 1961. World Cultural Heritage. Syktyvkar, the capital of the autonomous republic of Komi.

  • Map of the Russian Federation, with the Republic of Komi marked in red. 
  • USSR 1961. Syktyvkar, the capital of the autonomous republic Komi. 

Sources and links:

Other World Heritage Sites in Russia (on this web site). Inactive links are not described on stamps. Please refer to the UNESCO-listing, Russia-section, for further information on such sites. 

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Revised 21 jul 2006  
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