Jewish Autonomous Oblast

• Bastak State Nature Reserve comprises a Central Cluster north of Birobidzhan and a Zabelovsky Cluster southeast of the settlement of Smidovich.
• The Ecological Tiger Trail is two kilometers long and takes two and a half hours; it passes through Amur tiger habitat.
• In the Zabelovsky Cluster, Komarov’s lotus blooms in July. Large gatherings of migratory birds can be observed there in spring and autumn.

Bastak State Nature Reserve consists of two separate areas. The Central Cluster covers 91,771 hectares and lies north of Birobidzhan; the Zabelovsky Cluster covers 36,284 hectares and lies southeast of the settlement of Smidovich. The areas therefore differ in both size and location. Specific nature trails and seasonal wildlife-viewing opportunities are also described to help you find your way around the reserve.

The Ecological Tiger Trail is two kilometers long and takes two and a half hours. It runs through Amur tiger habitat. Along the way, visitors learn about cedar-broadleaf mixed forests and oak forests, which are typical Amur tiger habitats; the trail also explains the first successful release into the wild of Zolushka, a rehabilitated tigress. Visits are possible year-round, except during periods of particularly high fire danger. This gives you a specific combination of trail length, stated duration and natural history topics to consider when planning your time.

Nature viewing in the Zabelovsky Cluster varies by season: Komarov’s lotus blooms in the lotus lakes there in July, while large gatherings of migratory birds can be observed in spring and autumn. If you want to plan your trip around one of these natural highlights, the seasonal differences are clear: summer blooms, compared with birdwatching in spring and autumn.

A regional river route starts in Birobidzhan and travels by inflatable boat via the village of Dvurechye to the settlement of Birakan. From there, the route continues along the Bidzhan River to the settlement of Teplye Klyuchi, where travelers are offered a visit to a fish farm. The route therefore passes through several named places and combines two stretches of river with a sightseeing opportunity. Unlike the Tiger Trail, this option is organized around the sequence of places and travel on the water.

The Museum of Local History of the Jewish Autonomous Oblast in Birobidzhan displays documents about the repression of Jewish culture, the authorities’ campaign against cosmopolitanism, and the present-day emigration of Jews to Israel. Its themes thus range from state repression to a current social development. Since visitor information may no longer reflect current operations, confirm the arrangements before visiting.

Another cultural landmark is the Museum of Modern Art of the Jewish Autonomous Oblast. It opened in April 1989 as a branch of the Far Eastern Art Museum in Khabarovsk and has been an independent organization since 1996. In Birobidzhan, the documentary themes of the Museum of Local History thus contrast with an institution devoted to modern art and its own institutional history.

Lakes are also considered natural monuments across the Jewish Autonomous Oblast. Their characteristic plant life includes Komarov’s lotus, the four-angled water lily, the small yellow water lily and water caltrop. These lakes are considered destinations for educational and ecotourism. The region’s plant diversity complements the specific seasonal viewing opportunities in the Zabelovsky Cluster with a broader perspective on the Oblast’s natural attractions.

Four sanatoriums are associated with the Kuldur thermal mineral water deposit: Kuldur Sanatorium, Sanus, the Gornyak Miners’ Sanatorium and Health Complex, and the Kuldur Military Sanatorium of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation. If you want to include a sanatorium in your accommodation plans, check the services offered by the property in advance.

For further information about the Jewish Autonomous Oblast, you can also visit the pages on Birobidzhan and Leninsky District.

Discover more destinations: Tomsk Oblast, Stavropol Krai, Murmansk Oblast, Republic of Tatarstan, Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug, Sakhalin Oblast.

When can you see lotus flowers and migratory birds in Bastak?

Komarov’s lotus blooms in the Zabelovsky Cluster in July. Large gatherings of migratory birds can be observed there in spring and autumn.

How long does the Ecological Tiger Trail take?

The two-kilometer Tiger Trail takes two and a half hours. Visits are possible year-round, except during periods of particularly high fire danger.

What cultural topics do the museums in Birobidzhan cover?

The Museum of Local History displays documents about Jewish culture, the campaign against cosmopolitanism, and the present-day emigration of Jews to Israel. The Museum of Modern Art opened in 1989 and has been an independent organization since 1996.

For the main travel overview: Russia.