Peaks
Structured data on regional location, protected area size, and diverse natural terrain
Comprehensive Geographic Profile and Mapped Boundaries of Samarskaya Luka National Park
Examine the technical geography and physical boundaries of Samarskaya Luka National Park located in Russia. This profile provides structured insights into the 1340 km² protected area, documenting the mean elevation, mixed relief, and various environmental classifications that define its landscape.

A forest-steppe peninsula preserve on the Volga River's dramatic bend in Samara Oblast
Samarskaya Luka National Park
Samarskaya Luka National Park occupies most of the Samara Bend, a distinctive peninsula formed by a 180-degree meander of the Volga River as it flows around the Zhiguli Mountains in Samara Oblast, Russia. The park spans approximately 134,000 hectares of diverse terrain including karst limestone uplands, forest-steppe, and river floodplains. Established in 1984, the protected area sits at the ecological crossroads of the East European forest steppe, where northern taiga species coexist with southern steppe fauna in remarkable proximity. The park is part of the Middle Volga Integrated Biosphere Reserve and holds cultural significance as a site of human habitation stretching back to ancient times, with the Zhiguli Nature Reserve bordering its northern edge. The landscape features the characteristic karst topography of the Zhiguli Mountains, reaching average heights of around 300 meters, while the eastern section contains over 500 limestone sinkholes and craters.
- Location
- Russia
- Park type
- National park
- Established
- 1984
- Area
- 1,340 km²
Mapped administrative memberships across Russia and Samara Oblast
Samarskaya Luka National Park Location and Regional Geography Overview
- Countries
- Russia
- Regions
- Samara Oblast
- Primary location
- Samara Oblast
- Geographic setting
- Inland
Samarskaya Luka’s mapped park extent covers 1,340 km²
Samarskaya Luka National Park mapped boundary and 1,340 km² area
- Boundary area
- 1,331.6 km²
- Boundary perimeter
- 341.3 km
- Northernmost point
- 53.4491° N
- Southernmost point
- 53.1389° N
- Easternmost point
- 50.1769° E
- Westernmost point
- 49.1607° E
- Geographic centre
- 53.2899° N, 49.6606° E
- North–south span
- 34.5 km
- East–west span
- 67.8 km
Mixed relief topography and recorded natural landmarks
Samarskaya Luka National Park Terrain And Elevation Profile
- Mean elevation
- 300 m
- Maximum elevation
- 375 m
Selected named natural features
Peaks
Три Сестры
Forests
Малинов Колок
Peaks
Отважная
Rivers
протока Воложка
Forests
Коптелов Колок
Temperate climate zones, mixed relief, and forest cover across protected terrain
Samarskaya Luka National Park Environmental Classifications and Physical Setting
- Relief
- Mixed relief
- Climate
- Temperate
- Water
- Major water bodies
- Forest cover
- Mostly forested
- Seasonality
- Year-round
Landscape features
Mountains · Valleys · Cliffs · Forest · Woodland · Grassland · Wetland · Rivers · Karst · Islands
Habitat types
Temperate broadleaf forest · Temperate coniferous forest · Grassland · Wetland · Riverine habitat · Steppe
Compare regional geography and connected protected landscapes across the surrounding terrain.
Explore Protected Areas and National Parks Near Samarskaya Luka National Park

East
Samarskaya Luka National Park: Geography, Karst Terrain, and Volga River Boundaries
Protected mountain, forest, and floodplain landscapes in Samara Oblast
Samarskaya Luka National Park anchors the Middle Volga Biosphere Reserve with its rugged limestone cliffs, extensive karst sinkholes, and rare steppe-forest habitats. The park represents a key geographic transition zone where high-elevation mountain terrain meets the expansive Volga floodplains and reservoirs, providing a vital study area for regional forest-steppe ecosystems.
- Area
- 1,319 km²
- Established
- 1984
- IUCN
- II
- Relief
- Mountain

Northwest
Sengileevskie Mountains National Park: National Park Protected Area and Mapped Landscape Context
Explore protected boundaries and regional geography.
Uncover the geographic specifics of Sengileevskie Mountains National Park, a designated national park. This entry provides detailed insights into its protected area status, mapped landscape features, and regional context, serving as a foundational element for atlas-based exploration and understanding of Russia's conservation areas.
- IUCN
- II

Southwest
Khvalynsky National Park: Protected Landscape and Regional Geography Atlas
Discover mapped park boundaries in Saratov Oblast
Khvalynsky National Park is a significant protected area designated as a national park within the Saratov Oblast. This entry provides detailed atlas-based insights into its geographic scope, protected landscape features, and its context within the wider regional geography of Southeastern European Russia. Explore the mapped terrain and understand how this park contributes to the conservation landscape of the Volga region.
- Area
- 255 km²
- Established
- 1994
- IUCN
- II
- Visitors
- 35K annual

East
Buzuluksky Bor National Park: A Mapped Analysis of Protected Pine Forest Landscapes
Regional Geography of the Samara and Orenburg Borderlands
Buzuluksky Bor National Park represents a significant conservation hub, safeguarding centuries-old pine stands within a pronounced riverine depression. This protected area offers deep insights into the transition between bore forest types and the broader steppe ecosystems of southeastern European Russia.
- Area
- 1,067.88 km²
- Established
- 2008
- IUCN
- II
- Relief
- Lowland
East
Buzuluksky Bor National Park: Mapping an Isolated Forest in the Russian Steppe
Examining the unique geomorphology and forest-steppe ecological boundaries.
Buzuluksky Bor National Park serves as an extraordinary natural laboratory in Russia, defined by its 106,000 hectares of pine forest set against a backdrop of open grasslands. This protected area features deep sandy substrates of marine origin, undulating dune landscapes, and the deeply incised Borovka River valley, providing a vital study site for forest-steppe dynamics and long-term conservation research.
- Area
- 1,060 km²
- Established
- 2007
- IUCN
- II
- Relief
- Lowland
Northwest
Chuvash Forest Protected Area: Explore Russian Volga Region's Mixed Woodland Ecosystems
Discover mapped boundaries and regional landscape context.
Chuvash Forest stands as a protected area defined by its mixed woodland ecosystems within Russia's Volga region. This entry provides detailed geographic context, highlighting the park's mapped boundaries and its role as a distinct natural landscape. It serves as an essential point for understanding the environmental character and regional significance of protected lands in Eastern Europe, aiding structured atlas exploration of Russia's natural geography.
- IUCN
- II
- Climate
- Temperate
- Access
- Access unknown
- Scope
- Terrestrial

Southeast
Kirsanov Sanctuary: Protected Floodplain Landscapes and Ural River Geography
Wildlife reserve and riverine corridor in West Kazakhstan
Spanning 50 kilometers along the Ural River, Kirsanov Sanctuary preserves a rich mix of floodplain meadows, gallery forests, and oxbow lakes. Originally established for beaver conservation, this wildlife reserve now functions as a complex ecosystem refuge, representing a key protected landscape within the West Kazakhstan regional geography.
- Area
- 610 km²
- Established
- 1967
- IUCN
- IV
- Relief
- Lowland

Northwest
Smolny National Park: National Park Protected Area and Geographic Context in Republic of Mordovia
Explore the mapped landscape and regional geography of Smolny National Park.
Delve into the specifics of Smolny National Park, a designated national park in Russia's Republic of Mordovia. This detailed atlas view focuses on its protected area identity and geographic setting, providing essential context for understanding its landscape. Discover the mapped boundaries and regional placement that define this protected territory, crucial for any structured exploration of Russian natural areas.
- Area
- 365 km²
- Established
- 1995
- IUCN
- II
- Relief
- Lowland
Continue Exploring the Protected Landscapes of Samarskaya Luka National Park
Deepen your understanding of Samarskaya Luka National Park by reviewing its mapped boundaries, karst topography, and regional ecological significance. Use the MoriAtlas dataset to trace the unique peninsula geography shaped by the Volga River meander across the Russian forest steppe.
