Established in 1989, the magnificent Orenburgsky Nature Reserve covers roughly 216 square kilometres of land. It enjoys a protective buffer zone of 100 square kilometres and it covers a broad geographical area which includes a variety of geographical elements. The reserve is located at the point where the black earth and the brown soil regions meet and this makes for added variety. Here you will find steppes, mountains and flat semi-desert areas. The area is incredibly beautiful and sees plenty of wildflowers blooming in the springtime. It has only been protected for about a decade so this natural area is still recovering from human incursion.