Another natural park - Zilim will be created in Bashkiria

UFA, 31 October 2017. /Bashinform News Agency, Olga Murtazina/. In Bashkiria, it was decided to create another natural park - Zilim in the Gafuri District recognized as one of the most beautiful places in the region. Local caves and rafting along the Zilim River attract a large number of tourists. On October 30, the Ministry of Ecology of the Republic of Bashkortostan held public hearings with participation of experts and a delegation of local residents.

"The municipality and residents are interested in opening of the park, as we are not able to maintain this territory in proper condition. However, the flow of tourists here is very large. During the May holidays, for example, up to 500 people raft down the Zilim River a day. Many people come by SUVs, ATVs and make damage to nature due to this. With opening of the park, these issues will be solved, new jobs will appear," said the deputy head of the district Ruslan Salavatov.

The Deputy Minister of Natural Resources Ildus Yakhin noted that the creation of the natural park will give a great impetus to the development of infrastructure in the area and would increase and regulate the flow of tourists. As part of the park's creation, speleologists examined and described more than one hundred caves located near the famous Kinderli Cave. Microbiologists and microclimatologists will have to work in the Kinderli Cave itself, before officially opening it for visits.

After public hearings, the regulations at Zilim Nature Park should undergo an environmental review, then the documents will be submitted for approval by the Ministry of Ecology of the Russian Federation.

The park will be located in an area of almost 365 sq km. (Gafuri District covers an area of 3 thousand square kilometers).