A natural monument is a protected natural area or object of scientific, ecological, or aesthetic significance placed under special state protection. In the Nizhny Novgorod Region is assigned both to individual objects (lakes, forest tracts, springs) and to entire landscape areas — mostly of regional significance.
Natural monuments of Nizhny Novgorod Region
Among the objects with natural monument status in the region, several well-known examples stand out.
Lake Vad is located in the village of Vad — the administrative center of the Vadsky District. The lake is of karst origin; swans, depicted on the coat of arms of Vadsky District, have long nested on its shores.
Lake Meshcherskoye is the largest lake within the city limits of Nizhny Novgorod, located in Kanavinsky District. It is a natural monument of regional significance. By origin, it is a former oxbow of Volga (disambiguation): the lake was once connected to the river by a small channel, but the channel and the eastern part of the water body were silted up with sand, and the lake became landlocked, with no outflow. It has no tributaries; the body of water is replenished by precipitation, meltwater, and groundwater. The Meshchera district takes its name from this lake.
Lake Toskanka) is located in the vicinity of Vorsma (Pavlovsky District) and is likewise included in the list of natural monuments.