The river beaver is the largest member of the rodent family, which lives in Russia. It can be up to 1 meter long and can weigh from 18 to 30 kg.

 The animal is perfectly adapted to aquatic life. Hair-covering of the beaver is impenetrable to water: the long rough hair doesn.t allow the softer and thicker down to become wet. The ears and nostrils of the beaver have muscles, which contract when the animal is immersed in water. And the webbed hind paws and spade-like tail allow the beaver to tack in water easily without much effort.

 Zoologists have counted more than 150 different plants, which make up the beaver.s diet. Though its favorite food is the bark and branches of aspen, willow, pit and bird cherry, as well as sedge, meadowsweet, angelica, cow lily etc.

Beavers are monogamous animals; males and females make families and bring up their young together. Females give birth to 2-5 young annually after 105-107 days of pregnancy, which live 2 years with the parents and then leave their dwelling to live by themselves. The lifetime of a beaver is 10-12 years.