Russian photographers Konstantin Mikhailov and Yuri Shibnev have spent many years exploring what they refer to as "one of the last really enigmatic wild areas on earth" - Ussuriland. Also known as Primorsky Krai, it is situated in the extreme south of far east Russia, bordering with China in the west and the sea of Japan in the east. It is a place where Manchurian, Siberian and Korean-Chinese species live side-by-side in Russia's richest biodiversity hotspot.
Famous wildlife sites include the region of Sikhote-Alin (a UNESCO World Heritage site) and the popular birdwatching destinations at Khanka Lake and the Bikin River (known locally as the "Russian Amazon"). Ussuriland's varied landscapes include the characteristic swamps and meadows of far east Russia and only two days walk separate the mountainous boreal taiga in the north from the sub tropical broad leaved forests in the south, where the continental climate has earned Ussuriland a reputation as the "tropics of cold Russia".
Many once-widespread habitats and species find their last refuge in Ussuriland. Still relatively unspoilt, it contains the remnants of forests which once spanned China, Korea and the northern far east and serves as a sanctuary for many endangered animals including the amur leopard, Siberian spruce grouse and Siberian flying squirrel.
For more information and images, contact timaldred@naturepl.com.
Yuri Shibnev / Morning fog over forest. Ussuriland, Primorskiy region, Far East Russia
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Yuri Shibnev / Pool in autumn woodlands Ussuriland, Primorsky, Far East Russia
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YURI SHIBNEV / Liana vine {Actinidia sp} ^Kedrovaya Pad^ Nature reserve, S Ussuriland, far east Russia
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Yuri Shibnev / Siberian flying squirrel (Pteromys volans) on tree trunk, Ussuriland, South Primorskiy, Far East Russia
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Konstantin Mikhailov / Rings of reeds in Lake Khanka, Khankayskiy Zapovednik / Reserve, Ussuriland, SE Siberia, Russia. Breeding site of endangered Red-crowned crane and Parrotbills, feeding site of Egrets and Oriental Whit...
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Konstantin Mikhailov / Sunset over Lake Khanka, at the border with China, Khankayskiy Zapovednik / Reserve, Ussuriland, Primorsky, SE Siberia, far east Russia
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Konstantin Mikhailov / Aerial view of river Birkin, right tributary of Ussuri River, with virgin riparian forest, North Ussuriland, Primorsky, Siberia, far east Russia
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Konstantin Mikhailov / Birdwatcher in Manchurian-type complex riparian forests (Poplar-Elm-Ash forest with fern) in the river valleys of the Ussuriland, Primorsky, SE Siberia, Russia
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Konstantin Mikhailov / Yuri Shibnev photographing on Sikhote-Alin range, Primorsky, Far East Russia. (Ussuriland)
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Konstantin Mikhailov / Dead forest in sub alpine zone (Taiga). Sikhote Aalin range, Siberia (Ussuriland)
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Konstantin Mikhailov / Upland Far East swamp with dead larch trees (marr) Sikhote-Alin mountainous plateau (1000 m) Russia Breeding site of the Hooded Crane. (Ussuriland)
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Yuri Shibnev / Indian scops owl. Russia, Ussuriland, South Primorskiy