Divnogorye

Nature reserve museum Divnogorye occupies 11 km² (4.2 sq mi) of limestone outcrops. Maximum altitude above sea level is 181 m or 103 m relative to the mouth of the Tikhaya Sosna River at the confluence with Don River (which flows at the foot of the plateau). Due to rather significant difference in altitude between the plateau and the floodplain of the Don and Tikhaya Sosna rivers, its microclimate differs significantly from its surrounding lowlands. The plateau quickly heats up, rising streams of hot air drive away the emerging clouds toward the low floodplain lands. As a result, annual rainfall in the region (an average of 480 mm per year) over the plateau is reduced by a factor of 1.5–2. The summer period is especially arid. This inhibits the process of water erosion, and also reduces the likelihood of karst dips. The topsoil layer consists of 15–20% of limestone. Below 80 cm (31 in) there is a layer of pure limestone. The top layer undergoes wind erosion (weathering). Despite rather steep slopes, the plateau has undergone significant anthropogenic changes: in 1860 some of it was blown up using dynamite for laying a railway. In addition, shepherds and vandalism caused great damage too.

Divnogorye comes from two Russian words: divo (plural divy) – miracle, which was used as reference to limestone buttes inhabited by orthodox monks and gora – mountain or upland (nagorye). For the first time, it appeared in travel notes of Ignaty Smolyanin, who accompanied Pimen, Metropolitan of Moscow in 1389.

Divnogorye. Voronezh Oblast

The territory of Divnogorye is located on the northern outskirts steppe zone[2][3] and differs significantly from the forest steppe zone of Voronezh. For a long time the plateau and its slopes were used for sheep farming which lead to significant vegetation degradation. But after cessation of grazing and human presence regulation, the steppe vegetation was restored in its original form. More than 250 species of xerophytic and petrophytic plants grows on the plateau such as: European feather grass, Salvia nutans, limestone thyme, Securigera varia, Eastern Centaurea, Ephedra distachya, Schiveréckia podólica, Clematis integrifolia, Pulsatilla pratensis, Onosma simplicissima, pygmy iris and Iris aphylla, snowdrop anemone, Adonis vernalis.[4] Great bustard and golden eagle can be occasionally seen on the territory of the reserve. Merops and Eurasian eagle-owl are more common. Hares and foxes are most common mammals. Bats live in the crevices. The entomological fauna is rich, among which the most common are: bumblebees, dragonflies, paper wasps, Saga pedo, stag beetles, Lethrus beetles, swallowtail butterflies[5]

Divnogorye is the center of Orthodox pilgrimage. On the territory of the museum and the immediate vicinity there are: cave churches of The Sicilian Icon of the Mother of God, St. John the Baptist and Divnogorsk-3 (XIX century), The Cathedral of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary (XVII century), and the Mayatsk fortress (Khazar, IX-X centuries) and necropolis and Mayatsk pottery complex (Khazar, IX-X centuries), archaeological park.[6] The nature reserve museum is accessible for free, there is a wide range of excursion programs for organized tourist groups. There is a camping ground and a hotel next to the museum.[7] Excursion trails and attractions on the territory of the museum are marked with information signs and supplied with tourist information. The territory of the museum is guarded.

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  Typical view of steppe in Divnogorye
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  Entrance to cave church of the Sicilian Icon of the Mother of God
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  Greater Divy
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  View from hills onto Greater Divy
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  Cathedral of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary viewed from Lesser Divy
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  Divnogorye canyon in autumn
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  Archeological park
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  Example of information board for tourists
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  Divnogorye, Don river view from Mayatsk fortress
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  Orthodox pilgrims in Divnogorye, end of 19th century

• Divnogorye rufact.org
• Official website of the nature reserve museum Divnogorye
• Media related to Divnogorye at Wikimedia Commons