Northern Urals Research Articles

STRUCTURE OF THE NATURE-ORIENTED RECREATION SYSTEM OF THE NORTHERN URALS

The article discusses the nature-oriented recreational system (NRS) of the Northern Urals, which is necessary for the adequate development and regulation of tourism processes in this area. In this regard, the purpose of the study is to study the structure of the NRS of the Northern Urals, for which it is necessary: to study the composition of the NRS, to determine the manifestation of its development without transformation into a TRS, to find out the ratio of uninhabited areas (UA) and tourist areas and to study the territorial organization of nature-oriented tourism in the Northern Urals. The NRS of the Northern Urals consists of 4 tourist areas: Konzhakovsky, Kvarkushsky, Vishera and Manpupunersky and 5 UA, which are mainly visited by tourists living in the regions in which these areas are located, or from which tourist routes begin. Supervisory authorities consist of administrations of various levels, the Ministry of Emergency Situations, the search and rescue service, the route qualification commission and insurance companies, but they are not directly present on the territory of the UA, but are located in regional and district centers closest to the UA. The following types of tourist infrastructure are presented on the territory of the UA in the Northern Urals: tourist bases, cordons of reserves, and several huts of fishermen. All four subsystems are present in the NRS of the Northern Urals, except for the UA surrounding Mount Telposiz. It is attractive, frequented by tourists and is developing without being transformed into a TRS.

Условия лояльности военно-служилой и торгово-промышленной администрации по отношению к центральной власти

The article deals with investigation into the conditions of loyalty of commercial as well as industrial and military-service administration to the central power. The analysis is based on comparing cases which demonstrate different levels of loyalty. A relatively high level of loyalty was shown by the “power” of the Stroganovs (merchants), including both the merchants and the population of their fiefdoms in the 16th–17th centuries, whereas the Volga, Don and Yaik Cossacks (16th–18th centuries) demonstrated a relatively low level of loyalty. It was revealed that the level of loyalty of military and commercial administration in Russia in the 16th–18th centuries was affected by processes of different social scale. The defeat of Novgorod by Moscow and the termination of the eхpeditions of Novgorod pirates named Ushkuyniks both in the North-East (Northern Urals) and in the South-East led to taking this niche in the Volga basin by the Cossacks that continued extracting revenues through the use of violence. The Cossacks’ growing dependence on the Tsar’s pay, combined with their skills and means of violence, caused revolts and rebellions in the 17th and 18th centuries that can be considered as a form of bargaining with the authorities for symbolic recognition and material supplementation. In the northern Ural, geopolitical changes resulted in introducing a new strategy in exploring the region – industrial (salt production) and agricultural colonization with tax exemptions and socio-economic patronage for the Stroganovs’ kholops (serfs) under conditions of underdeveloped state institutions, which resulted in relatively low levels of ethno-social conflicts in the region without the need to maintain a strong enforcement apparatus, which could become a resource for disloyalty to central power. Favorable conditions for the salt trade in the domestic Russian market (high price, limited competition) further strengthened the loyalty of salt producers.

Russian Arctic Vegetation Archive—A new database of plant community composition and environmental conditions

AbstractMotivationThe goal of the Russian Arctic Vegetation Archive (AVA‐RU) is to unite and harmonize data of plot‐based plant species and their abundance, vegetation structure and environmental variables from the Russian Arctic. This database can be used to assess the status of the Russian Arctic vegetation and as a baseline to document biodiversity changes in the future. The archive can be used for scientific studies as well as to inform nature protection and restoration efforts.Main types of variables containedThe archive contains 2873 open‐access geobotanical plots. The data include the full species. Most plots include information on the horizontal (cover per species and morphological group) and vertical (average height per morphological group) structure of vegetation, site and soil descriptions and data quality estimations. In addition to the open‐access data, the AVA‐RU website contains 1912 restricted‐access plots.Spatial location and grainThe plots of 1–100 m2 size were sampled in Arctic Russia and Scandinavia. Plots in Russia covered areas from the West to the East, including the European Russian Arctic (Kola Peninsula, Nenets Autonomous district), Western Siberia (Northern Urals, Yamal, Taza and Gydan peninsulas), Central Siberia (Taymyr peninsula, Bolshevik island), Eastern Siberia (Indigirka basin) and the Far East (Wrangel island). About 72% of the samples are georeferenced.Time period and grainThe data were collected once at each location between 1927 and 2022.Major taxa and level of measurementPlots include observations of >1770 vascular plant and cryptogam species and subspecies.Software formatCSV files (1 file with species list and abundance, 1 file with environmental variables and vegetation structure) are stored at the AVA‐RU website (https://avarus.space/), and are continuously updated with new datasets. The open‐access data are available on Dryad and all the datasets have a backup on the server of the University of Zurich. The data processing R script is available on Dryad.

Taiga shrew (<i>Sorex isodon</i>, Eulipotyphla) in the North-East of the European Russia: Distribution, habitats and abundance

The materials of our studies on the taiga shrew (Sorex isodon Turov, 1924) in the NorthEast of the European Russia, a poorly studied species of small mammals of the region, are summarized. Its distribution is shown to generally coincide with the northern border of the taiga zone. The optimal biotopes are grass spruce forests (only for them the values of the biotope fidelity coefficient are positive). The numbers of taiga shrews in lowland localities are 0–2.4 individuals, in foothill habitats it increases up to 4.4–8.6 individuals and reaches maximum values on the western slope of the Northern Urals (28 individuals per 100 cone-nigths). The formation of the numbers of the species is much influenced by the landscape conditions of the territory: the ratio of habitat types and their areas. An increase in the area of grass forests leads to an increase in the abundance of taiga shrews.

New data on the faunal history of small herbivorous mammals in the Northern Urals during the Lateglacial and Holocene

The fauna of small mammals from two cave localities (Figurny and Ilych grottos) in the western slope of the Northern Urals (Komi Republic, Russia) was studied. The study of taxonomic composition and dental morphology of small mammals from the Figurny grotto revealed Late Glacial and Early Holocene assemblages. Late Glacial assemblages include tundra and tundra-steppe species (76–82 %), forest (15 %) and intrazonal (3–8 %) forms. Species composition indicates open spaces occupied by forest-tundra or forest-steppe vegetation with a relatively low snow cover in winter and also a cold, dry climate in the Late Glacial period. By the Early Holocene, due to the transformation of climate and composition of vegetation, in the communities of small herbivorous mammals, there was a change in the dominant species from tundra-steppe to forest (71 %). The share of tundra and tundra-steppe species was still relatively significant (up to 25 %).

Temperature and fire controls on vegetation dynamics in Northern Ural (Russia) boreal forests during the Holocene based on brGDGT and pollen data

Temperature and fire controls on vegetation dynamics in Northern Ural (Russia) boreal forests during the Holocene based on brGDGT and pollen data

Research and Exploitation of the Forests of the Nikolae-Pavda Mining District at the Beginning of the 20th Century

Introduction. The economic development of the Russian Empire stimulated the formation of the forest industry in the late 19th – early 20th centuries. In the Northern Urals, the undeveloped forests of the Nikolae-Pavda Mining District were the basis for the emergence of one of the new and large centers of the industry in the country. In the mid-1910s, a detailed study of forests was carried out here with the aim of their industrial development. Materials and Methods. The topic of forest economic research in the late 19th – early 20th centuries in Russia has not been studied enough. Analysis of archival materials on the activities of the company – Joint-Stock Company of the Nikolae-Pavda Mining District from the standpoint of the concept of “frontier” modernization will allow us to understand the idea and results of industrial development of forests in the east of the country. Results. Timber industry has become a priority for the Joint-Stock Company of the Nikolae-Pavda Mining District, sawmills and a paper mill have been built. The tasks of a detailed study of forests and the development of integrated forest management were set. The implemented forest management testified to the plans of the Board of the Company to use forests on the basis of the principles of continuity and inexhaustibility. In practice, it was difficult to comply with them, since the enterprises were already functioning. Conclusions. At the beginning of the 20th century, a large timber industry was formed in the Northern Urals, which included mechanical processing and deep processing of wood. Despite the incompleteness of forest management works, the desire of the Board of the Joint-Stock Company of the Nikolae-Pavda Mining District to achieve integrated use of forests in a relatively short time is obvious.

Tellurium mineralization of the Priozernoe gold-quartz deposit (Northern Urals, Russia)

Primary and supergene Te minerals are identifed in quartz veins of the Priozernoe deposit (Sverdlovsk oblast, Northern Urals, Russia) and studied by optical methods, electron microprobe analysis, X-ray diffraction and Raman spectroscopy. Tellurides include altaite, hessite, melonite, petzite, and sylvanite. Their individual grains and intergrowths occur as small inclusions in quartz. Supergene minerals include telluroperite, northstarite, adanite, burckhardtite, kuranakhite, and schieffelinite. They replace galena, hessite and cerussite or form monomineral grains and veinlets in quartz. Northstarite, adanite, and schieffelinite are found for the frst time in Russian Federation, while the fndings of telluroperite and burckhardtite are second. Kuranakhite is found for the frst time in the Northern Urals. The fndings of supergene Te minerals in Russia are reviewed. Keywords: Priozernoe deposit, Northern Urals, tellurium mineralization, tellurides, tellurates, north-starite, adanite, schieffelinite, burckhardtite, frst fnds of minerals in Russia, supergene minerals.

Формирование корнесомкнутой лесной экосистемы выше границы леса в горах Северного Урала

The purpose of this work is to determine the length of the root systems of Siberian stone pine undergrowth (Pinus sibirica Du Tour) growing in the mountain tundra of the Northern Urals and to establish regression relationships with its aboveground parameters and age. The studies were carried out in the belt of mountain stony shrub-moss-lichen tundra at an altitude of 1010–1040 m above sea level on the plateau of the «Tri Bugra» mountain massif (59°30ʹ N, 59°15ʹ E). Consideration of environmental conditions and undergrowth of woody plants was carried out on 30 registered plots with a size of 5×5 m. P. sibirica is absolutely dominant (6,0 thousand specimens per ha) in the undergrowth. Its constant almost annual renewal began in the end 60s XX century. It was revealed that under the conditions of mountain tundra, the length of the root systems of all studied age groups of P. sibirica undergrowth exceeds its height by 1,2…1,5 times, and the area of soil nutrition (field of root competition) exceeds the area of projective crown cover by more than 10 times. A statistically significant relationship between the length of roots and the age (R2 = 0,78) of the undergrowth and its height (R2 = 0,92) are established. Regression equations are obtained. At the current rates of climate warming and the growth of P. sibirica trees, the revealed dependences make it possible to predict for the mountain tundra of the Northern Urals mosaic formation of primary underground-closed forest associations (woodlands) with characteristic forest relationships in 20–25 years, and communities with multiple interweaving of root systems in 40–50 years.

"An ideological man not of this world": the image of Academician E.S. Fedorov in the memoirs of the scientist's wife

The subject of the study is the practice of functioning of the scientific community of Russia at the turn of the XIX and XX centuries. The object of the study is the personality of the famous scientist, academician E.S. Fedorov (1853-1919). The main source of the research was the memoirs "Our everyday life, sorrows and joys", the author of which is the wife of the scientist L.V. Fedorov. The memoirs were prepared by 1927 at the request of E.S. Fedorov's students and colleagues and were dedicated to his personality. The memoirs cover the period of the second half of the XIX century – the beginning of the XX century . and they cover the life of the Fedorov family. Currently, the original document is stored in the Academician's personal fund in the St. Petersburg branch of the Archive of the Russian Academy of Sciences. In 1992, the memoirs were published in print. Based on the thematic-chronological method of analyzing the source, the article considers the image of E.S. Fedorov as a scientific figure. The main attention is paid to the study of the scientific biography of the scientist in the 1880s-1890s. During this period, the scientist was an employee of the Geological Committee, conducted successful expedition studies of the Northern Urals, published the first results of the theory of crystal structure he was developing. The ideas and achievements of the scientist at that time were not recognized among the scientific community of Russia and he had to fight for a place in the scientific world. Based on the memoirs, the motives of E.S. Fedorov's scientific activity, his relationships with colleagues and mentors are analyzed for the first time, the scientist is shown in the role of a family man. The conclusion is made about the value of this source as expanding the boundaries of the study of the biography of a scientist and the functioning of science in general. XIX century – beginning . XX century .

Northern Urals (Russia) quaternary deposits and biostratigraphical record caves and grottoes

Investigations of the unconsolidated Upper Pleistocene – Holocene cave deposits of the Northern Urals resulted in detailed biostratigraphical and palaeoenvironmental data. The article summarizes data from important stratigraphical levels exposed in 19 cave localities, most part of which represent several layers dated to different periods. These data cover the period from the beginning of the Upper Pleistocene (MIS 5-4) to the end of the Upper Holocene. At the beginning of Marine Isotope Stage 3 (MIS 3), open woodlands were distributed, which at the end of MIS 3 were replaced by Forest–steppe landscapes. At the beginning of MIS 2 (LGM), Periglacial steppe landscape was distributed. At the end of MIS 2 and at the beginning of the Holocene (MIS 1), semi-open landscapes were common. At the beginning of the Middle Holocene, they were replaced by taiga landscapes. Fish were present in the fauna of the Northern Urals in the Upper Pleistocene and Holocene. Amphibians in the Upper Pleistocene as part of the fauna of the region appear only at its beginning (MIS 5-4) and end (Bølling – Allerød period). Since the beginning of the Holocene (MIS 1), they have been constantly present in the fauna of the Northern Urals. Reptiles appear in the fauna of the region only in the Middle Holocene. During the Upper Pleistocene, the avifauna and fauna of small mammals were dominated by species of open landscapes, and the fauna of large mammals was dominated by species of open and semi-open landscapes. At the beginning of the Holocene, the avifauna and theriofauna increased the number of species associated with tree and shrub vegetation and near-aquatic species. Since the beginning of the Middle Holocene, the avifauna and theriofauna have been dominated by species of taiga landscapes. Palynological data and data on the fauna of small and large mammals allow us to separate the deposits of the Upper Pleistocene and Holocene. These data also allow us to separate the deposits of the beginning (MIS 5-4), middle (MIS 3), end (MIS 2)) of the Upper Pleistocene, Lower, Middle and Upper Holocene (MIS 1).

Growth of the Whitefish Coregonus lavaretus (Salmonidae: Coregoninae) in the Ural Tributaries of the Pechora River

For the first time, we represent a comparative characteristic of the growth of, presumably, the freshwater form of the whitefish Coregonus lavaretus in the Ural tributaries of the Pechora River. The growth rate of the whitefish in the studied rivers varies significantly, which testifies the assumption of existence of several local groups in the Pechora river system, confined to different parts of the river basin. In the Ilych and Kosyu rivers as well as in the upper reaches of the Pechora River (Northern Urals), the calculated body lengths and linear growth rates do not differ significantly. Similar growth rates have been observed for the whitefish from the plain tributaries of the Pechora (lower reaches of the Kosyu and Usa rivers). In the rivers of the Subpolar Urals, the variability of whitefish growth rates is significantly higher. The specific growth rate of the subadult whitefish positively correlates with the benthos biomass in the watercourse (ρs = 0.57 according to Spearman, p = 0.04), while the dependence on climatic conditions is less significant.

Diversity of diatoms in biological soil crusts of the northern region of the Urals on the basis of morphological and metagenomic approaches

We studied the diversity of diatoms in biological soil crusts which formed on cryogenic soils in the mountain tundras of the Polar, Subpolar and Northern Urals. We used the permanent Elyashev's medium and DNA metabarcoding for diatom species diversity. In total, 58 diatoms taxa (rank below the genus) identified based on morphological and metagenomic data analysis. The most diverse genera are Pinnularia, Eunotia, and Nitzschia.

Inocybe stellatospora и I. teraturgus (Inocybaceae, Agaricales) — первые находки плодовых тел на территории России

Here we present information about the first findings of basidiomes of two species of the genus Inocybe (I. stellatospora, I. teraturgus) in Russia. The species were collected in the foothills and mountains of the western macroslope of the Subpolar and Northern Urals, on the territory of two protected areas: Yugyd Va National Park and Pechoro-Ilychsky Reserve (Komi Republic). Analysis of the ITS1-5.8s rRNA-ITS2 sequences of I. stellatospora and I. teraturgus samples confirmed their identification by morphological features. The article provides morphological descriptions of the species, photographs of microscopic features as well as discusses differences with morphologically similar species.

Alpine Shrubification: Juniper Encroachment into Tundra in the Ural Mountains

Snow cover is one of the most important factors affecting the regeneration and growth of shrubs in cold arctic and alpine ecosystems. In many of these cold regions, climate change in the last century is manifested not only in a rapid rise of temperature, but also in an increase in winter precipitation. For instance, in the Ural Mountains, winter turned warmer and more humid during the past century, leading to higher snow accumulation. We investigated how the change trends in the cold season (November to March) climate conditions affected the recruitment of the shrub Juniperus sibirica Burgsd., the most widespread shrub conifer in mountains of this region where it is dominant in treeless areas. Specifically, we considered seven sites located in the Southern and Northern Urals that are subjected to lower and higher continentality, respectively. We assessed how juniper recruitment changed along altitudinal gradients going from the open forest to the alpine tundra and passing by the transition zone. We found that juniper shrubs recruited at higher elevations during the 20th century in most sites, with a rapid shrub encroachment into alpine tundra (shrubification) after the 1990s. This process was especially intensive in the last decades at the uppermost parts of convex slopes where the snowpack is shallow. We found positive associations between juniper recruitment and cold-season precipitation or temperature in the Northern and Southern Urals, respectively. Shrubification is following upward treeline shifts in the Southern Urals. Our findings indicate that juniper shrubs will tend to colonize sites with low snowpack depth if winter conditions keep warm and wet enough and the snowpack allows the effective protection of shrubs.

Сохранение геологического материала и история открытий карстовых образований Печоро-Североуральского спелеологического района и прилегающих территорий

The paper describes the history of discovery and study of karst formations of the European North of Russia. More than 100 karst formations have been identified. The main periods in the history of exploration of caves and grottoes of the Pechora Urals are reflected. The first caves descriptions which were made by travellers and scientists in the 18th19th centuries are given. During that period the most famous caves were Uninskaya and Kaninskaya caves. The main karst formations were discovered and described at the beginning of the 20th century. Geologist V.N. Mamontov discovered 4 caves on the Pervokamennaya River. Systematic geological studies by V.A. Varsanofyeva in the Northern Urals allowed her to discover small karst formations in the upper reaches of the Pechora on the Ilych and Unya rivers. In 1960, B.I. Guslitzer discovered the largest cave in the Northern Urals — the Medvezhya Cave. Promising and little-studied areas of karst are the Bolshezemelskaya Tundra, the Polar and Nether-Polar Urals, Pai-Hoi and Timan. Only a few small caves and grottoes are known on these territories. Most of the karst is located in specially protected areas. The caves are unique paleontological monuments of nature. The funds of the A.A. Chernov Geological Museum of the Institute of Geology contain 12 monographic collections of paleofaunistic material with a volume of more than 30 thousand storage units. The remains of vertebrate caves consist of bones of mammoth fauna and small mammals.

Genetic Structure of Pinus Populations in the Urals

The sustainable use and conservation of forest resources must be carried out with a detailed study of the main forest-forming plant species. Coniferous forests form the basis of boreal forest ecosystems and are of great economic importance. Representatives of forest-forming boreal coniferous species are species of the genus Pinus, including Siberian pine (Pinus sibirica Du Tour) and Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.), which are valuable and widely used woody plant species. The purpose of this research was to conduct an extended study of genetic diversity, genetic structure, and differentiation of P. sibirica and P. sylvestris populations under the conditions of their habitat in the Middle and Northern Urals. We studied twelve populations of two Pinus species using the inter-simple sequence repeat (ISSR)-based DNA polymorphism detection PCR method. Populations are characterized by relatively high levels of genetic diversity (P. sylvestris: He = 0.163; ne = 1.270; I = 0.249; P. sibirica: He = 0.148; ne = 1.248; I = 0.225). Analysis of the intrapopulation genetic structure reveals that the studied populations are highly differentiated (P. sylvestris: GST = 0.362; P. sibirica: GST = 0.460). The interpopulation component comprised 36% and 46% of the total genetic diversity for P. sylvestris and P. sibirica, respectively. Using various algorithms to determine the spatial genetic structure, it was determined that P. sylvestris populations form two groups according to their location at a certain altitude above sea level. P. sibirica populations form two clusters, with an additional subdivision of the two populations into subclusters identified. The data obtained during the study may be useful for further research as well as for conservation management planning and related forestry practices aimed at preserving the genetic resources of valuable forest plant species.

Regeneration of Pinus sibirica Du Tour in the Mountain Tundra of the Northern Urals against the Background of Climate Warming

Climate is one of the key drivers of the plant community’s structure and trends. However, the regional vegetation-climate features in the ecotone have not yet been sufficiently studied. The aim of the research is to study features of Pinus sibirica Du Tour germination, survival, and growth in the mountain tundra of the Northern Urals against the background of a changing climate. The following research objectives were set: To determine the abundance and age structure of P. sibirica undergrowth on the mountain tundra plateau, identify the features of P. sibirica growth in the mountain tundra, and examine the correlation between the multi-year air temperature pattern, precipitation, and P. sibirica seedling emergence. A detailed study of the Pinus sibirica natural regeneration in the mountain stony shrub-moss-lichen tundra area at an altitude of 1010–1040 m above sea level on the Tri Bugra mountain massif plateau (59°30′ N, 59°15′ E) in the Northern Urals (Russia) has been conducted. The research involved the period between 1965 and 2017. Woody plant undergrowth was considered in 30 plots, 5 × 5 m in size. The first generations were recorded from 1967–1969. The regeneration has become regular since 1978 and its intensity has been increasing since then. Climate warming is driving these processes. Correlation analysis revealed significant relationships between the number of Pinus sibirica seedlings and the minimum temperature in August and September of the current year, the minimum temperatures in May, June, and November of the previous year, the maximum temperatures in May and August of the current year, and precipitation in March of both the current and previous years. However, the young tree growth rate remains low to date (the height at an age of 45–50 years is approximately 114 ± 8.8 cm). At the same time, its open crowns are rare single lateral shoots. The length of the side shoots exceeds its height by 4–5 times, and the length of the lateral roots exceeds its height by 1.2–1.5 times. This is an indicator of the extreme conditions for this tree species. With the current rates of climate warming and the Pinus sibirica tree growth trends, the revealed relationships allow for the prediction that in 20–25 years, the mountain tundra in the studied Northern Urals plateau could develop underground-closed forest communities with a certain forest relationship. The research results are of theoretical importance for clarifying the forest-tundra ecotone concept. From a practical point of view, the revealed relationship can be used to predict the trend in forest ecosystem formation in the mountain forest-tundra ecotone.

Earthworms (Oligochaeta, Lumdricidae) in the Komi Republic

The article presents information about 11 species in 8 genera of earthworms (Oligochaeta, Lumbricidae) in the Komi Republic. They belong to three morpho-ecological groups inhabiting different soil horizons (litter, litter/soil, soil). The species distribution maps have been compiled. The density of each species and their habitat affiliations in different flatland subzones and altitudinal zones of the Ural Mountains are shown. The number of species tends to decline in a regular manner from southern taiga to shrub tundra, from the Northern to Polar Urals. Boreal zone soils are inhabited by members of the genera Aporrectodea, Dendrobaena, Bimastos, Eisenia, Eiseniella, Lumbricus, Octolasion. Four species: Aporrectodea caliginosa, A. rosea, Eisenia fetida, and Octolasion lacteum, prefer meadows and farmlands. The species Bimastos rubidus and Eiseniella tetraedra inhabit meadows, willow carrs and forests in southern and middle taiga; they are absent in the extremely northern taiga and forest tundra; their habitats in the tundra zone are hydrogen sulfide springs. Three species (Dendrobaena octaedra, Eisenia nordenskioldi, Lumbricus rubellus) have been found in all natural zones and subzones. They compose the Lumbricidae fauna in the tundra zone. Northern Urals harbored the same earthworm species as the boreal zone. Two more species, Rhiphaeodrilus diplotetrathecus and Eisenia atlavinyteae, are representatives of the montane Urals Lumbricidae complex. Five species: R. diplotetrathecus, D. octaedra, E. nordenskioldi, L. rubellus, and O. lacteum, are known for the Subpolar Urals. The species D. octaedra, E. nordenskioldi, L. rubellus have been detected in the Polar Urals as in the tundra zone. The altitudinal distribution of earthworms in the Urals is characterized by the presence of ‘soil’ species in the montane forest zone and a decline in the species diversity in the subalpine and alpine tundra zones, mostly at the expense of the litter/soil group

Holocene and recent fires influence on soil organic matter, microbiological and physico-chemical properties of peats in the European North-East of Russia

The influence of fires on the development and chemical composition of two Rheic Hemic Histosols in the native territory of the middle taiga of the Komi Republic was estimated. The development of peat on site I (SI) located in the south boarder of the middle taiga began in the Boreal period (about nine ths. years ago14C yr BP). The growth of peat on site II (SII) located at the foothills of the Northern Urals started in the middle of the Atlantic Holocene period (about 6.7 ths. years ago14C yr BP). This work shows that during the time of development, peatlands experienced various pyrogenic events. The organic horizons were burned out and often led to a change in the dominant ground cover plants. Also, the charcoal particles formed during the fire at the forest surrounding the bogs were transported by air and accumulated in the peat. The pyrogenic history of the studied peats is different, the SI was subjected to intense fires at least twice: at the beginning of formation and in the modern period (140 years ago). The Histosol on SII experienced only low-intensity and indirect fire effect. The highest burning activity of nearest forests in both sites estimated based on charcoal content occurred at the end of the Atlantic, middle of the Subboreal periods. It was shown that an increase in the aromatic compounds occurs in horizons with pyrogenic features; in some cases, an increase in the concentration of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) was revealed. The aromatic compounds content in the SOM is determined by the content of macroscopic charcoal particles with significant correlation (CAr-H(C), R = 0.49, p < 0.05, CAr-O,N, R = 0.68, p < 0.05). It is shown that a high frequency of fires leads to an increase in carbon stocks at Histosols.