Culture of the Don Land. Учебное пособие

Module7. ECOLOGICAL CULTURE

OF THE DON LAND

Wildlife of the Don Land

Find the answers to the following questions:

1.What factors influenced the present-day wildlife of the Don Land?

2.Where can salt steppes be found?

3.What transformation has the natural forest vegetation of the Don Land undergone?

4.What is the situation with Don Steppe mammals?

The present-day wildlife of the Don Land has been formed under the impact of different climatic changes, man's activities and other factors during a number of centuries.

As a result, the original steppe landscape has irrevocably vanished in the mists of time. The zone virgin steppes principally covered with mat-grass and sheep's fescue, occupy today not more than 10% of the Rostov Region land. These have been primarily preserved in the ravines, in the northern part of the Region. Here, along the rivers, one may still come across rocky and sandy steppes with more versatile, yet less productive plant formations. Meanwhile, in the south of the Region, in the river and lake valleys, salt steppes are rather common. Those steppe areas once located at the flatlands and watersheds are now totally tilled and sown with wheat, maize, sunflower, thus making about 60% of the Region's land.

The natural forest vegetation of the Don Land has undergone a significant transformation. The pineries originally growing at the sandy soils of the Middle Don Land, say, have been completely annihilated, while the total forested area by the

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middle of the l9th century was reduced to 2.4%. However those later attempts aimed at artificial forest-growing, enabled to raise the woodines of the Rostov Region, as well as to reestablish local pineries, to create absolutely new and original biocenoses in the shelterbelts of the dry steppe lands. This resulted in steppe climate moderation, yield increase, appearance of a large number of previously absent north forest kinds of animals in the Region.

The anthropogenic transformation of the Don Land caused by man's activity, on the one hand, resulted in an abrupt cut of the population of the previously common steppe species; yet on the other band, it favoured a significant rise of the diversity of those kinds of animals which were now colonising the new ecotopes. As an example, one can mention birds as the best studied animal group of the Rostov Region. During the 200 year period of ornithological research, 329 bird species, 219 nesting species among them, have been registered at the lower Don areas. However in the l9th and early 20th centuries totally vanished from the nesting fauna of the Rostov Region were not less than 8 species, including the war eagle, the peregrine, the black cock, the smew, the garrot, the steppe tattler, etc.

However, just during the last two or three decades, not less than 30 species have moved to our places, these species representing both originally southern, north-moving birds, and cold-temperature, south-moving ones.

The above situation is typical for Don steppe mammals as well. From out of those 87 species of mammals registered at the territory of the Rostov Region in the l9th century, completely died out is the tarpan, petered out is the saiga, significantly reduced in number are long-eared urchins, fitchews, otters, marmots. Even susliks have almost completely vanished by now. But during the last decades, and due to some improve-

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ment of the ecological situation, emergence of artificial forestation, and active environment protection, the Rostov Region became once again inhabited by the elk, the roedeer, the deer, the wild boar, the beaver, and fast settling here began the marmot.

A lot of Rostov's old-timers obviously remember the fall of our rivers' fishery. This first and foremost concerned such valuable commercial fishes as the sturgeon, the carp, the rybets, etc. It is during the last decades only, that the yield of the Don-land reservoirs could be somewhat raised due to naturalising here a number of 'overseas' species (the gold-fish, or the 'hybrid', as people call it; the mackerel, the amur, etc.), as well as thanks to the creation of a large number of specialised fishing ponds.

The history of the Don-land wildlife convinces us that the maintenance of great biological diversity of both the natural and artificial ecosystems which provides their stability is completely to the best of our common interests.

Activities:

1.Read the given text, discuss it and compare it with the wildlife of Great Britain and America.

2.What ecological problems can be pointed out in this text? Discuss them in the form of a group dialogue.

3.Imagine you are a member of Green Peace movement. What problems worry you about wildlife of the Don Land?

4.Imagine you are present at the conference of biologists and zoologists. What would you tell about the wild life of the Don Land?

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Module 8. WELCOME TO THE DON LAND

The Don land is the unique sight of Russia

Attractions

The city’s numerous monuments of architecture, archeology, monumental art and military glory, memorable sites and commemorative plaques tell the whole story of Rostov’s long and varied history, from a small village not far from the Temernik Customs House, or the fortress named after St. Dimitriy of Rostov, to modern times. Today, Rostov-on-Don has over 1,000 cultural heritage sites, including 483 architectural heritage-listed buildings, 67 archeological monuments, 125 memorials of monumental art and military glory, and 408 commemorative boards.

The historical center of Rostov is particularly rich in her- itage-listed buildings. Among them is the building of the State Duma, created according to the project designed by the academician of architecture A. Pomerantsev and located at 47 Bolshaya Sadovaya St. Also the city has several architectural masterpieces of global importance, including the building of the Academic Drama Theatre named after Maxim Gorky, designed by architects V. Shchuko and V. Gelfreich (it is interesting to note that its miniature is displayed at the British Museum in London). The building of the Rostov Youth Theater by the architect N. Durbakh is over 100 years old – in the past it hosted Nakhichevanskiy Theater. At the end of the 18th century the complex of buildings of the Armenian monastery Surb-Khach was erected according to the project by an outstanding Russian architect I. Starov.

Paying tribute to the past, the Rostovites immortalized in stone and bronze the images of its inhabitants and countrymen

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who made an outstanding contribution to the history of the Don capital: Maxim Gorky, Mikhail Sholokhov, Martiros Saryan, and Georgiy Sedov.

In the city’s streets, one can also see a lot of urban sculptures. These include the “Citizen” strolling along an avenue, the “Peddler-Merchant” offering his goods to passers-by, the sweet “Flower Girl” with a basket of first violets, “My First Teacher”, “The First-Grader”, and many other small sculptures, which bring joy to city-dwellers and attract visitors’ attention.

An important milestone in the spiritual revival of the people of Rostov was set with the opening of another monument in Sobornaya Square in front of the Central City Cathedral – the monument to the Christian patron saint of the city, Saint Dimitriy, Metropolitan of Rostov. Another event of the same scale was the restoration of the bell tower at the Rostov Cathedral of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin. In 2007 the Pokrov Church was erected in Kirov Park, and the monument to the founder of Rostov, Empress Elizabeth II, was restored at its old historical place. In 2009 a statuary group devoted to the founders of the fortress named after St. Dimitriy of Rostov was erected at the intersection of Bolshaya Sadovaya and Krepostnoy streets, and in 2010 the city administration held a grand opening of a memorial in honor of the foundation of Temernik Customs House on the embankment of the River Don.

In 2008 by decree of the President of the Russian Federation, the city of Rostov-on-Don was awarded the honorary title "City of Military Glory." to commemorate the courage and heroism of its citizens during the Great Patriotic War (World War II). To celebrate this event a stela monument called “Rostov-on-Don – a City of Military Glory” was built and

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opened in 2010 on Sholokhov Avenue, near Rostov Airport. Every year on such national holidays as Defender of the Motherland Day (February 23rd), Victory Day (May 9th), and City Day, celebrations are held near this monument, bringing together war veterans, schoolchildren and young men, other Rostovites and visitors to the city.

Culture

Rostov-on-Don has 220 cultural and art establishments, a number of creative unions, and several national and cultural societies.

At various times many famous writers have lived and worked in the city, including A. Solzhenitsyn, M. Nalbandyan, M. Shaginyan, V. Panova, and A. Fadeev. The city was also home to prominent artists M. Grekov, M. Saryan, and V. Sheblanov; composers and musicians A. Artamonov and K. Nazaretov; and actors Y. Zavadskiy and V. Maretskaya. Rostov-on-Don is the birthplace of the Russian ballerina O. Spesivtseva, the outstanding 20-century singer I.Yurieva, and the famous actor R. Plyatt, holder of the title of People's Artiste of the USSR.

Rostov-on-Don is a large educational and scientific center. The city holds third place in the country (after Moscow and St. Petersburg) in the number of higher education establishments. Altogether, 50 institutions of higher professional education can be found here (13 public and 12 private universities, plus 25 regional branches of universities located in other cities); more than 120,000 people study here.

Rostov has 4 working theaters (two of them academic ones) 4 museums, the largest library in the south of Russia – the Don Public Library, a State Circus, the Regional Philharmonic Society, Rostov State Conservatory (Academy) named after S.V.Rakhmaninov, the Rostov branch of St. Petersburg

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State University of Culture and Arts, an Arts College, a Culture College, and a number of exhibition halls.

The Rostov Zoo, one of the largest in Europe, has been working in the city for 85 years. This realm of fauna, with a total area of 90 hectares is home to over 5,000 species, including 424 kinds of rare animals, birds and reptiles, over 108 of which are endangered and included in the Russian Red Book. The Botanic Gardens of Rostov State University, with a total area of 161 hectares, are among the largest gardens in the country.

Rostov-on-Don is one of the country’s busiest jazz cities. Here the education in jazz and pop music is among the strongest in the country, due to the efforts made at the beginning of 1980s by the famous “jazz professor” Kim Nazaretov, who opened the Chair of Jazz and Pop Music at the Rostov Conservatory. The unique, one-of-a-kind-in-Russia jazz school, named after K. Nazaretov, has been working in Rostov-on-Don for 18 years.

Art festivals have become a good tradition in Rostov. The city opens its doors to the art forum “The Don Spring”, the theater festivals “Manifest” and “Russian Comedy”, several international jazz festivals, the international festival “Accordeon Plus”, the “Stars of Rostov” – a contest for children and young people performing jazz and pop music – contests of young composers, and other competitions in all genres of popular creative arts.

Historical and cultural heritage of the Rostov region

Rostov region has significant historical and cultural heritage. The earliest archaeological sites on the Don land are aged at 650 thousand years. The list of historic settlements of Federal significance includes the city of Azov and Taganrog, stanitsa Starocherkasskaya. Azov Museum has a worldwide

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famous, unique collection, which consists of the items "Sarmatian treasures".

In the Rostov region there is a state organization "Don Heritage», which has developed 46 projects for objects of cultural heritage of regional significance protection zones and 3 projects for objects of Federal significance protection zones.

Totally, in the Rostov region there are 9.4 thousands of objects of cultural heritage under governmental protection, and to be protected more than a thousand of the detected objects.

In order to ensure the physical security of objects of cultural heritage, since 2013 the Program “Culture of the Don" for the first time included a section on the protection and preservation of the cultural heritage of the Rostov region.

“Meet Rostov-on-Don”

Bus city tour (3 hours).

Bus city tour acquaints you with the history of Rostov and the former Armenian town Nakhichevan-on-Don, you can see the sights of architectural ensembles in Bolshaya Sadovaya Street, visit the Don embankment, view the monuments to the Civil and Great Patriotic Wars.

“The Pearl of the Don”

Bus tour to Starocherkasskaya Stanitsa (5 hours).

During the excursion you can see the main square Maidan, Cossacks' houses – kurens, the Cathedral of Resurrection, the Ataman's estate, experience everyday life, traditions and rituals of Cossacks. After the excursion you can visit the “The Old Town Cherkassk” exposition. You can also have a rest on the sandy bank of the river Don.

“Novocherkassk – the capital of the Don Cossacks”

Bus tour (5 hours) to Novocherkassk.

You learn about the history of the Don region, the Cossacks, see the main Cossack's Army Cathedral of Resurrection,

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The Ataman's Palace, the Archway of Triumph, visit the only in the world the Museum of Don Cossacks.

“Azov”

Bus excursion (5 hours).

Azov is one of the oldest Don towns; it is more than 900 years old. There are fortress banks, made according to Peter's the Great decree in the beginning of the 18th century, and the powder magazine. You can see the town's sights; visit the museums (the Museum of Regional Study, the powder magazine). After the excursion you can have a rest on the bank of the river Azovka.

“The secret of the Ancient Town”

Bus excursion to the archeological museum, the ancient town Tanais (5 hours).

You can view the remains of forest's walls and towers, citizens' houses. After visiting the museum you can attend a lesson of skills and have a rest in the territory of the reserve.

“The Town by the Sea”

Bus tour to Taganrog (7 hours).

The excursion goes through the old town, where you can meet old merchants mansions, the old stone staircase, the sundial, and the monument to the founder of Taganrog Peter the Great, Chekhov's House, the Chekhovs' Shop. After the excursion you can visit the following museums of the town: “Chekhov's House”, “The Chekhovs' Shop”, the Literature Museum, the Museum of Regional Study, the Museum of Town-Planning and Everyday Life, the Durov Museum.

“Where Cossacs live "and Quiet Flows the Don”

Bus excursion to Razdorskaya Stanitsa (8-10 hours), the first capital of the Don Cossacks (the 16th-17th centuries), and Pukhlyakovsky khutor.

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You learn about the life and work of the writer Kalinin, the author of “The Gypsy” novel, and visit the Ethnographic Museum and the tasting room, where you can drink juices, made of Don grapes.

“At the Crossing of Roads and Fates”

Bus excursion to Aksai (5 hours).

You visit the post station, see old coaches, and admire the Don panorama. After the excursion you can visit the museums “Military equipment”, “Customs Gate” and have a rest in the Mukhin gully.

“Semikarakorsky Faience”

Bus excursion to Semikarakorsk (7-8 hours).

You get acquainted with the history of Semikarakorsk Faience Enterprise “Aksinia”, visit it and watch the process of turning simple white clay into beautiful crockery.

“To the Beginnings of Sholokhov`s novel“

And Quiet Flows the Don”Bus excursion to Vyoshenskaya Stanitsa, the homeland of the great Russian writer Mikhail Sholokhov.

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