Russia’s varied landscape is home to a vast array of wildlife and plant life. Presenter Iolo Williams is now in Russia’s Far East – not far from the Chinese border.
This is Gwlad Ussuri (Ussuriland) about 100 miles west of Vladivostok. The tirwedd (landscape) here can be very exotic.
There are miles and miles here of wetlands and rice fields usually associated with Tseina (China) which is not far away.
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Llyn (lake) Khanka hosts about 350 types of adar (birds) during the summer months.
But it is not just adar which live here. This is Crwban Cragen Meddal Tseina (the Chinese Soft Shell Turtle). It lives here all winter and hibernates under the ice of the llyn for eight months. In summer it is happy to sunbathe on the shore.
The llyn isn’t very deep. It is famous for the blodau lotws (lotus flowers) which grow on the surface. This is the largest collection of blodau lotws in Asia.
The winds here can be strong and when water from the lake is thrown onto the shore, small pools can form. These often contain pysgod (fish)and provide an easy meal for the crwban.
The hyrddyn pen neidr (snake head mullet) also takes advantage of the food trapped in the pools. This amazing creature can breathe out of water.
The crwban has his enemies too. This racŵn-gi (racoon dog) feasts on the crwban’s eggs.
The young crwban is not protected by its parents. To survive he has to make his way quickly to the llyn so that he can hide under the blodau lotws.
