State nature complex reserve "Kurgalsky" was created in 2000. Its territory is a wetland that is included in the list of wetlands of the Russian Federation of international importance as habitats for waterfowl.
Kurgalsky reserve is located in the Kingisepp district of the Peninsula Kurgalsky. Area of the sanctuary is 59, 95 thousand hectares, water area of lakes – 848 hectares, water area of the Gulf of Finland – 38, 4 thousand hectares.

Natural reserve "Kurgalsky" created to preserve the standards of natural systems coastal landscapes on the South coast of the Gulf of Finland, the protection of natural and long-derivatives forests of South-, medium - and subtaiga types, protection of rare species of fauna and flora, the conservation of the Northern side of the Bay, which are the nurseries for commercial fish species, protect migratory sites and nesting shorebirds and waterfowl, lairs of the ringed seal and grey seal.

The reserve has a high recreational potential, promising for eco-tourism, excursions, family vacation, hunting and recreational fishing.

On the territory of Kurgalsky reserve are two large lakes: White and Lipovsky, which is connected by a channel with the Gulf of Finland. The lake is the remnants of an ancient valley of Narva, which has existed since the beginning of the postglacial period.

The main area of the Peninsula are forests that are characteristic of the southern taiga subzone. There is a lot of oak, maple, Linden, elm, ash, and the usual undergrowth guelder rose, hazel, honeysuckle. On a seaside terrace – black alder swamps, swampy birch and aspen. Here are common spruce-pine forests with an admixture of maple, Linden, oak, chyna spring, liverwort, lungwort in the grass layer and burs-zelenomoshnykh. Adjacent Islands of Kurgalsky reef consist of stone ridges with washed pebble and sand spits around which scattered sections of cane. On sand spits – the curtain viola tricolor, rye sandy thickets, also ordinary plants typical of coastal beaches and the littoral: Baltic rush, honkenya Buturlinovka, fescue Ruprecht, sand fescue.

One rare species, there were the ordinary Armeria municipality, the dwarf Cornel, jubanka cleaneconomy, garlic, tall fescue, Lobelia dortmanna, sweet Gale, marsh, sedge pebble, etc. the Fauna of the reserve is very diverse. From invertebrates inhabits the European oyster, surviving in small numbers in the river Rosson. From amphibians inhabit the moor, herbal and lake frog, toad, crested and common newts, reptiles - snake, adder, common lizard, slow-worm.

In the sanctuary registered 208 species of birds, more than 30 of them are considered rare. Here gnezdyatsya mute Swan, grey goose, velvet scoter, Taganka, Dunlin, ruddy Turnstone, Oystercatcher, Caspian tern, white-tailed eagle, osprey, river cricket. On the Islands – colony of gulls and other shorebirds. Coastal waters plays an important role for resting and feeding of migratory waterfowl.

Here is home to 40 mammal species. Special mention deserve the grey seal, ringed seal. Their rookeries are located on the rocks of Kurgalsky reef. Brown bear can be found, the garden Dormouse, deer. In 1975 there were brought here and spotted deer.

The main protected objects on the territory of the reserve includes coastal shallow-water complexes, areas of broad-leaved forests, coastal natural systems, littoral zone, breeding colonies of wading birds and waterfowl, rare plants: garlic, sedge pebble, tall fescue, Lobelia dortmanna, sweet Gale bog pribreznite single-flowered, dwarf Cornel, jubanka cleaneconomy, polutnik lake, zolototysjachnika seaside and the beautiful, the ordinary Armeria municipality, rush Baltic; rare species of animals: Taganka, mute Swan, grey goose, white-tailed eagle, velvet scoter, river Warbler, osprey, grey seal, the Baltic ringed seal.

On the territory of Kurgalsky of the refuge is prohibited to handle toxic chemicals of the forest, the waters of the lakes and rivers of the Gulf of Finland; prohibited the harvesting and gathering of berries, mushrooms, fruits, medicinal herbs, seeds, industrial and commercial purposes; it is impossible to conduct reclamation activities; to arrange the camps, campfires outside of designated areas; cattle graze on the lands of the state forest; the Parking of vehicles, landfills, pollution of rivers and lakes, areas, industrial fishing, etc. is prohibited.