The hills on the outside bend of the River Moscow in the south of the city are known as Vorobyovy Gory, which can be translated as Sparrow Hills.  During the Soviet Era the hills were renamed Leninskie Gory (Lenin Hills).  In 1998 the area became protected as the Vorobyovy Gory Nature Reserve.  Since 2013 Sparrow Hills have been managed as part of Gorky Park.

It is a beautiful park for walking around and made more interesting by the three ecological trails which have been set up leading from the river up to the top of the hills where the impressive building of the Moscow State University is located.   The walk can be avoided though by taking the ski-lift which is located next to the giant ski jump which was installed on the hills in 1953 as part of the Luzhniki sports centre on the other side of the river.   There are also special areas in the park where barbeques are permitted.