ALTAIC
reserve

Location and history of the Altai Nature Reserve

The reserve was officially created in 1932, although the need for its creation had been there since 1920. For almost 12 years, the country’s government could not decide on the size of the reserve’s territory; as a result, its actual area was more than 1.3 million hectares. In 1951 it was liquidated due to difficulties with logging. After 7 years it was restored, but with significant territorial losses. Some time later, in 1961, the reserve was liquidated for the second time and 6 years later it was restored again. Today the area of ​​the reserve is 881,238 hectares. The Altai Nature Reserve is located in the central and eastern parts of Altai, including the waters of Lake Teletskoye. Along the boundaries of the reserve there are high ridges, most of them are characterized by high-mountain alpine terrain with narrow ridges and sharp peaks, the rest have high- and mid-mountain weakly dissected terrain. Most of the rivers of the reserve begin on the Abakan and Shapshalsky ridges; they cross the entire territory in width. Among the most long rivers The rivers include Chulcha (98 km), Bogoyash (58 km), Shavla (67 km), Chulyshman (241 km, 60 km in the reserve). Most river valleys have steep, forested slopes. The reserve's rivers are very picturesque; more than ten have waterfalls, the height of which ranges from 6 to 60 km. The most beautiful and largest is considered to be “Unapproachable” on the river. Chulche. The main part of the lakes is located in the highlands, there are 1190 of them in the reserve, the largest is located in the Dzhulukul basin and bears the same name. The most beautiful lake in Altai is Lake Teletskoye with surrounding mountains and dark coniferous taiga, its length is 78 km, and its area is only 232 km2, but it contains 40 billion cubic meters. m clean fresh water.

Nature of the Altai Nature Reserve

The climate is continental in nature, due to the position of the reserve near Asia, but in different parts the climatic conditions are not the same. For example, in the northern part, summers are warm and humid, the average July temperature is + 16.0 0C, winters are snowy and mild (the average January temperature is 8.7 0C), while in the southeastern part in winter the temperature drops to - 50 0C , and in summer – up to 30 0С. The soil cover of the reserve is varied. It changes from chernozem - on the steppe slopes to acidic cryptopodzolic - in the taiga. More than 20% of the area is covered with screes, pebbles and rocks. The vegetation is represented by steppes, mountain forests (fir, cedar, larch, spruce), subalpine shrubs and woodlands, meadows and mountain tundra. In the reserve there are plants listed in the Red Book: among mushrooms - double networt, griffola umbellata, coral blackberry, maiden umbrella mushroom; among lichens – lobaria pulmonata and reticulata, stikta fringed; from bryophytes - Krylov's campilium.

There are 1,480 species of vascular plants known on the territory of the reserve. Dahurian goldenrod is widespread in the meadows and forests throughout the reserve. Of the especially protected species, the majestic dendrathema is found - a subshrub with white and lilac inflorescences-baskets, found on the rocks of the coast of Lake Teletskoye and the right bank of Chulyshman. Among the cereals, sphagnum fescue, downy oatmeal, fragrant alpine spikelet, meadow foxtail are common; the rarest are Kitagawa's serpentine, Sobolevsky's bluegrass, Mongolian oatmeal, Vereshchagin's reed grass, as well as feather grass and Zalessky's feather grass. In the meadows and clearings there are rare species from the orchid family, listed in the Red Book - Lezel's liparis, Baltic palmate root, Helmet orchids, lady's slipper and grandiflora, leafless chinwort. Of the specially protected ones, there are Altai onion, used for harvesting, Martyanov's cucumber and vesicularis - recently appeared plants, Altai rhubarb, widely used in breeding. Such rare view, like the amazing bedstraw, found only in the reserve, and Brunnera sibirica, which does not grow in other reserves. True and meadow steppes are most common in the reserve. True steppes are common on gentle slopes. Particularly interesting in early spring are the purple flowers of the lumbago against the background of dry yellowed grass, bathed in the rays of the first sun. Forests are represented mainly by coniferous species. Larch forms sparse forests; sometimes there are isolated, lonely trees in the highlands. Cedar forms dense stands in the reserve and is the main tree species. Siberian spruce and Scots pine do not play in the reserve leading role, but their plantings are sometimes found along river banks and sphagnum bogs. Silver birch and common aspen are characteristic of the Priteletsky region; they are also found on steep slopes and in the depths of the taiga, where there has never been any clearing. In forests, meadow vegetation is extremely rare, upland meadows can be seen in separate areas, and lowland meadows developed in river floodplains occupy a small area. Only in certain areas of the Abakan ridge, the upper reaches of Chulcha and the right bank of Shavla are subalpine meadows, distinguished by their colorfulness and diversity, well represented. The soils of the birch-moss tundras are completely covered with mosses, creating the effect of a carpet spreading under your feet. Rocky and gravelly tundras occupy the largest area of ​​the highlands. Swamp plants occupy small areas of the reserve, since real swamps are extremely rare. But on the territory of the reserve there are many lakes, rivers, streams, but they are not rich in aquatic vegetation.

Animals of the Altai Nature Reserve

The fauna of the reserve includes 73 species of mammals, 310 birds, 6 reptiles and 2 amphibians. Only the Pravdin galloisiana, which lives under stones in coniferous-small-leaved forests, is considered a specially protected insect of the Altai Nature Reserve. The Red Book includes Apollo, Phoebus, Gero's sennitsa, swallowtail, as well as Eversmann's Apollo and the blue ribbon butterfly.

There are 16 species of fish in the reserve. Lake Teletskoye is home to pike, perch and burbot. Along the coast of Lake Teletskoye there are gobies that feed on burbot. Grayling is considered the most common species in water bodies. The largest fish in the reserve is taimen, and the smallest is the Pravdina whitefish, weighing no more than 20 g, from the salmon family. Through the thin ice in November at the mouth of the Chulyshman you can see a school of fish called Telets dace. If startled, it swims to the shallowest places and turns over on its side, moving between the ice and the bottom.

All types of amphibians and reptiles of the reserve are found in the Chulyshman Valley. The sharp-faced frog is common in the reserve, but it lives at much higher altitudes than in other places, so while in Altai it is from 400 to 1800 m, then in the reserve it is found at an altitude of 2140 m. The steppe viper is quite rare, but the viviparous lizard and common viper distributed everywhere.

The bird fauna includes 311 species, of which more than 50 species are listed in the Red Book of the Altai Republic. The black-throated loon lives near large fishless reservoirs; the red-necked grebe can be seen on thermokarst lakes. Colonies on the islands of Lake Julukul great cormorant and herring gulls nest among large boulders. Throughout the reserve there are different kinds ducks: bean geese live in the most remote corners, and common geese during autumn migrations descend to the Kamginsky or Kyginsky bays, filling the area with their cackling. At this time, you can see whooping swans on Lake Teletskoye. Of the 28 species of diurnal birds of prey, 9 are included in the Red Book of Russia - golden eagle, steppe eagle, bearded vulture, peregrine falcon, saker falcon, osprey and black vulture. Small falcons, black kites and common buzzards are found almost everywhere, and goshawks and sparrowhawks are found in the forest zone. There are 10 species of gallinaceous birds and the same number of waders in the reserve. Partridges feed on seeds of cereals and other herbaceous plants, capercaillie live in the taiga, and the number of hazel grouse is greatest at an altitude of 1200 to 1400 m above sea level. The quail population has unfortunately declined over the past 40 years. From mid-May, the sound of the cuckoo's voice is usually muffled and muffled. In the Pritelets region there are 7 species of woodpeckers: the yellow woodpecker, the three-toed woodpecker, the great spotted white-backed, the gray-haired and the small spotted woodpecker - they are distributed evenly throughout the entire territory, and only the whirligig appears in early May.

The Siberian mole lives in valleys up to the subalpine zone. In the northern half of the reserve, bats are common in caves. From the order of rodents, forest and gray voles are found, in populated areas - gray rats and the common hamster. The common squirrel and Asian chipmunk are ubiquitous. The most common predatory mammals are wolves and foxes. Wolves live along the eastern shore of Lake Teletskoye and in the lower part of the Chulyshman basin; in winter they feed on deer, and in summer on rodents, birds and their clutches. Foxes are found in the southern part of the reserve. From April to May, brown bears wander through the sun on the slopes of Lake Teletskoye and eat insects and the remains of deer after winter. The number of badgers in the reserve is small, and the otter is very rare. Wolverine is the strongest and most agile animal that lives in the forest zone, feeds on the remains of wolf prey, and sometimes kills young deer. Sable is valuable furry animal, for the sake of preserving the species of which the Altai Nature Reserve was created. In 1930 it was almost completely exterminated. Currently, nothing threatens the sable population and it can be found throughout the reserve in forest lands and shrubby tundras. The American mink has appeared in the reserve since the 1930s and now its traces can be found in the taiga. Of the ungulates, the most numerous are the deer; their number in the reserve is 2,000 individuals. Elk are found throughout the reserve. The roe deer is currently a fairly small species, but its numbers are currently growing. Since 1970, wild boar entered the reserve from Tuva and successfully settled there; its numbers are increasing every year.

The Altai Nature Reserve was founded in 1932, modern borders were designated in 1968. It is located in the Chulyshman River basin and is included in the top ten largest nature reserves in the Russian Federation. Area - 881,238 hectares, of which 13 thousand hectares are water bodies and 247.8 thousand hectares are forest zones. Altaic nature reserve is part of the Altai territories included in the list world heritage UNESCO. The purpose of creating a protected area is to protect natural complex Siberia, study of the region's ecosystems.

Landscape and climate features

The Altai Nature Reserve of Russia, stretching for 230 km, amazes with its diversity of landscapes. Here there was a place for taiga forests, steppes, tundra, and meadows. The pearl of the protected zone is Lake Teletskoye (water area - 223 km2). 70 rivers flow into it, the largest of which is Chulyshman. The shore of the lake is decorated with 150 waterfalls.

The main part of the Altai Nature Reserve lies at an altitude of 1,450-1,650 m above sea level, the ridges rise to 3,000 - 3,500 m. The mountains are characterized by a pronounced altitudinal zone: coniferous taiga, where cedars, larches and fir grow, gives way to open forests. Higher up are alpine meadows and tundra with a predominance of low shrubs and lichens. Mountain areas are rich in springs, springs and lakes, covering an area of ​​15 thousand m2.

The territory of the Altai Nature Reserve is dominated by continental and mountain climate. The first is due to the location - the protected zone lies in the central part of the continent, where the weather is influenced by Arctic air masses and Asian anticyclones. The mountain climate prevails in the Altai ridge zone.

The formation of climatic conditions also depends on the specific landscape of individual areas. So, South part, where the valleys of the Chulyshman River and Lake Teletskoye are located, is characterized by mild winters and short, cool summers. There is almost no snow here, the annual precipitation is 400-500 mm. In the northern part of the Altai Nature Reserve and the mid-mountain taiga zone, on the contrary, cold winters prevail. Snow falls already at the end of October. In summer the air temperature rises to +30 °C. The amount of precipitation per year is 800-900 mm.

Plants of the Altai Nature Reserve

According to botanists, the number of vascular plants growing in the Altai Nature Reserve is 1,480 specimens from 107 families. Among them there are endemics and relicts: loose sedge, circe, Siberian kandyk, Voronets and dendranthema notamata. Business card are cedar forests. The diameter of some trees is 1.8 meters, and their age reaches 500 years!

Enchants with its diversity vegetable world alpine meadows. Numerous violets, azure gentians, crimson pennyworts, golden adonis and rare edelweiss bloom here. Among the herbs, saxifrage, five-leaf clover, cotoneaster, cinquefoil, bergenia and beautiful flower dominate. The mountain slopes are decorated with raspberries, gooseberries, sea buckthorn, viburnum and Daurian rhododendron. The steppe belt is represented by feathery feather grass and fescue. The marshy area is covered with ferns. Of the lower plants in the Altai Nature Reserve, about 100 species of fungi are known, 668 of algae and 272 of mosses and lichens carpeting the tundra soil.

Animals of the Altai Nature Reserve

The fauna protected by the Altai Nature Reserve is typical of the taiga forests of western Siberia. However, due to the diversity of reliefs and climatic conditions, animals whose habitats are mountains, tundra and steppes are also found here. According to research in 2010, the reserve has:

• 73 species of mammals;
• 15 thousand species of invertebrates;
• 10 species of amphibians and reptiles;
• 334 species of birds;
• 18 species of fish.

Mammals

Among the animals of the Altai Nature Reserve, representatives of three families of insectivores and eight species are of interest bats. The rarest are the Siberian shrew, discovered in the protected area only in 2003, the brown long-eared bat, the long-whiskered bat, the great tubebill and the northern leatherback.

The mustelid family is represented by the badger, weasel, ermine and mink, and to a lesser extent by the otter and wolverine. The sable, which was practically exterminated in the 30s of the 20th century, now lives everywhere in the taiga. Among the ungulates, musk deer, deer, elk, and roe deer are widespread. Forest reindeer are extremely rare. The southern regions are inhabited by argali and Siberian mountain goats. Everywhere you can see the mountain hare, Altai pika, Asian chipmunk and common squirrel. The theriofauna includes 16 predators, typical representatives of which are the brown bear, wolf and fox.

There are 59 endangered fauna representatives on the territory of the Altai Nature Reserve. This represents 52% of the total number of animals protected in the region. Here you can still see the snow leopard, which is on the verge of extinction and is listed in the Red Book of the world and the Russian Federation.

Invertebrates, amphibians and reptiles

The invertebrate world of the Altai Nature Reserve is extremely rich, but due to the diversity of species it has been little studied. The most interesting are the diurnal and nocturnal butterflies: Erebia Kindermann, Apollo Phoebus, swallowtail, peacock's eye and Hebe the bear.

The reptile fauna includes six species. Sanding and viviparous lizards, cottonmouth, common viper and patterned snake are ubiquitous. The gray viper is occasionally seen. Lives in interfluves and floodplains gray toad. At an altitude of 2,140 m, the sharp-faced frog lives in moist places.

Birds

Frequently encountered representatives of the avifauna of the Altai Nature Reserve in Russia include the tit, corncrake, crane, jock, hoopoe, field pipist and rock pigeon. The employees are especially proud of the appearance in the steppes of the sandpiper, which until 2013 was not included in the list of birds in the region, and the growing population of the pink starling, listed in the Red Book.

Gulls, bitterns, black storks, whooper swans, goldeneyes, mallards and herons nest on the banks of lakes and rivers. In the forests you can observe the life of hazel grouse, cuckoos, woodpeckers, wood grouse, partridges and nutcrackers. The tundra zone is favored by the Altai snowcock, horned lark, tundra partridge and red-bellied redstart. As for feathered predators, the Altai Nature Reserve is home to the eagle owl, osprey, kite, falcon, white-tailed eagle, peregrine falcon and golden eagle.

Ichthyofauna

Fish in the Altai Nature Reserve are represented by 18 species. The most valuable are taimen, Siberian char, osman and grayling, which are found in the Chulyshman River. They come to spawn in the high-mountain lake Dzhulukul - the most “fishy” reservoir in Russia. Lake Teletskoye, which is not distinguished by a variety of food, is inhabited by burbot, sculpin, pike, dace, lenok, whitefish Pravdina, perch and rare Teletskoe sprat.

Ecotourism

The Altai Nature Reserve protects the integrity of the landscape and all species of plants and animals found on its territory. Monitoring observations of the dynamics of natural natural processes, and Scientific research. Their goal is to study the ecosystems of Altai, assess changes in the fauna, flora and seismic state of the region.

Staying in protected areas of the reserve without a special pass is prohibited. An exception is granted only to tourist groups making excursions designed to familiarize themselves with the nature, environmental features and historical monuments of the region, such as burial mounds, stone tombs and ancient sculptures of the Turkic peoples. Popular routes are:

• Belinskaya terrace and orchard;
• Inaccessible waterfall;
• Bascon waterfall;
• Chichelgan zigzag;
• Uchar waterfall and Chulcha river;
• Kokshi cordon;
• Yailyu village and Minor pass.

Also available for visiting tourist groups are observation platforms located at the foot of the Korbu and Kishte waterfalls.

Animals and plants listed in the Red Book of Russia

Plants:

• Lake lancet - Isoetes lacustris L.
• Feather grass - Stipa pennata L.
• Zalesskii feather grass - Stipa zalesskii Wilensky
• Siberian Kandyk - Erythronium sibiricum
• Swollen lady's slipper - Cypripedium ventricosum Sw.
• Lady's slipper - Cypripedium calceolus L.
• Large-flowered lady's slipper - Cypripedium macranthon Sw.
• Epipogium aphyllum
• Neottianthe cucullata
• Liparis loeselii (L.)
• Baltic fingerweed - Dactylorhiza baltica
• Orchis militaris L.
• Altai rhubarb - Rheum altaicum Losinsk.
• Unfound fighter - Aconitum decipiens
• Pascoe's wrestler - Aconitum paskoi
• Chuy's oysterwort - Oxytropis tschujae
• Siberian toothed tooth - Dentaria sibirica
• Dendranthema sinuatum
• Volodushka Martyanov - Bupleurum martjanovii
• Rhodiola rosea - Rhodiola rosea L.
• Altai Kostenets - Asplenium altajense

Insects:

• Rhymn's blueberry - Neolycaena rhymnus
• Common Apollo – Parnassius apollo
• Erebia Kindermanni

The coordination and management center of the Altai Nature Reserve is located at the address: 649000, Russia, Gorno-Altaisk, Naberezhny Lane, 1.

Altai State Nature Reserve

Altai State Nature Reserve is a unique specially protected natural area of ​​Russia, a UNESCO World Cultural and Natural Heritage Site, including part of the water area - the pearl of the Altai Mountains, "little Baikal" Western Siberia. It occupies one of the first places among Russian nature reserves in terms of biological diversity.

Footprint: 881,238 hectares, including the water area of ​​Lake Teletskoye - 11,757 hectares. Main ecosystems: Siberian taiga, lakes, taiga midlands and lowlands, subalpine and alpine midlands and highlands, tundra-steppe highlands, tundra midlands and highlands, glacial-nival highlands.

Location: The reserve is located in the northeastern part of the Altai Republic, on the territory of the Turachak and Ulagansky districts. The central estate of the reserve is located in the village of Yailyu, the main office is in the city of Gorno-Altaisk, the capital of the Altai Republic.

The main goal of creating the reserve is to preserve the most valuable and rare beauty of Lake Teletskoye, its landscapes, protect cedar forests, save the most important hunting and commercial animals that were on the verge of extinction - sable, elk, deer and others, as well as constant stationary study of the nature of the region as a whole. The Altai Nature Reserve also ensures the preservation and study of the natural course of natural processes and phenomena, the genetic fund of flora and fauna, individual species and communities of plants and animals, typical and unique ecological systems.

According to geomorphological zoning, the entire territory of the reserve belongs to the Altai province of the country “Mountains of Southern Siberia”. Along the boundaries of the reserve there are high ridges: in the north - Abakansky (2890 m above sea level), in the south - Chikhacheva (3021 m above sea level), in the East - Shapshalsky (3507 m above sea level), with in the west, the territory is limited by the river valleys, Karakem and Lake Teletskoye.

The Altai Nature Reserve is located in the center of the Altai-Sayan mountainous country. A vast territory with mountains, coniferous forests, alpine meadows and mountain tundras, wild rivers and lakes stretches for 230 kilometers. The territory of the reserve gradually rises in the south-east direction.

Everywhere in the mountains there are springs and streams with clean, tasty and cold water. Alpine lakes are common on watershed plateaus. The largest of them is more than 10 kilometers long; it is located at the source of Chulyshman, at an altitude of 2200 meters.

Lake Dzhulukol is a unique reservoir of the Altai Nature Reserve, a habitat, nesting place for various representatives of the bird world, a spawning place for the most valuable fish species of the Altai Mountains. All the high-mountain lakes of the Altai Nature Reserve (occupying a total area of ​​15 thousand km2) are very beautiful, with emerald-blue transparent water and picturesque shores.

Flora

The most common tree species in the Altai Nature Reserve are: cedar, fir, larch, spruce, pine, birch.

In general, the rich and diverse flora of the reserve includes 1,500 species of higher vascular plants, 111 species of fungi and 272 species of lichens. There are 668 species of algae known in the reserve; seven species of lichens are included in the Red Book of Russia: laboratory pulmonata, laboratory reticulate, stykta fringed, etc.

Species composition Plants and animals are interesting for their diversity. Complex terrain with altitudes up to 3500 m, varied climatic and natural-historical conditions create significant diversity vegetation cover Altai Nature Reserve. Of the 1,500 species of vascular plants known in the reserve, there are relicts and endemics.

A significant area of ​​the Altai Nature Reserve is located at the junction of the mountain systems of Altai, Sayan, and Tuva; the complexity of natural-historical development and biogeographical boundaries, the diversity of natural conditions determine the exceptional richness of the animal world of the reserve.

Fauna

Sable is one of the main species living in the Altai taiga. The distribution of sable across the territory is closely related to the distribution of pine, the nuts of which occupy a significant place in its diet, regardless of the abundance of other food, primarily small mammals.

Among the ungulates live the deer, Siberian goat, reindeer, mountain sheep, Siberian roe deer and musk deer. Maral, a large mountain taiga deer, is the most numerous species. Like many other deer (for example, sika deer, which also lives on the territory of the reserve), it sheds its antlers every spring. New ones grow to replace them. Young horns, cartilaginous, filled with blood and covered with velvety skin, are called antlers; they are of great value as medicinal raw materials.

The Siberian musk deer is common in the forest. It does not have horns, but it has strongly developed fangs on the upper gum, reaching a length of 10-12 cm. This graceful deer lives in inaccessible rocks and in the near-Teletsky taiga. The musk gland of male musk deer can be used to make high-quality perfume.

In the mountain ranges you can find the Siberian mountain goat. Altai mountain sheep (argali) live in the southern part of the reserve and in the adjacent territory. There are only a few dozen of them left as a result of predatory extermination in the adjacent territory. This type, as well as Snow Leopard(irbis), listed in the Red Book.

About 35 years ago, a wild boar entered the reserve from Tuva. Currently, it has spread quite widely throughout the territory, successfully reproducing and increasing its numbers. From large predators- bear, wolf, lynx and wolverine.

The bear is distributed throughout the Altai Mountains. This large animal is distinguished by exceptional mobility and speed when running. The bear is omnivorous and by the time it enters its den it gains a large amount of fat, which is considered medicinal. In spring, bears can be seen on the southern slopes of the mountains covered with fresh greenery, where they, having left their den, graze in the mornings and evenings, eating young shoots, mainly bear bunches.

In summer, along the shores of Lake Teletskoye you can see numerous waterfalls of extraordinary beauty, carrying their waters into the lake. Most of the waterfalls are inaccessible to visitors, with the exception of the main waterfall of Lake Teletskoye - “Korbu”, which annually attracts several tens of thousands of tourists at its foot. summer season. At the visitor center of the Altai Nature Reserve "Altai Ail" in the village of Yailyu you can get acquainted with the traditional culture of the indigenous small people of the Tubalars.

Structure of the reserve

Currently, the Altai Nature Reserve has four departments:

Science Department;
- environmental education department;
- security department;
- maintenance department.

The security department performs one of the most important functions of the reserve. For control and protection, the territory of the Altai Nature Reserve is divided into 4 forest districts: Yaylinskoye (the most visited), Belinskoye (the largest), Chodrinskoye (the most inaccessible), Yazulinskoye (the most remote) forest districts.

The territory of the reserve is inspected along certain routes, all observations are recorded in a special Diary, and if poaching is detected, inspectors draw up protocols. The protocols become the basis for administrative liability or are transferred to the police department for initiating criminal liability. Patrol groups of the reserve's security department work together with the bodies of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Okhotnadzor of the Altai Republic (in 2007 agreements on interaction and cooperation were signed with them).

The main task of the scientific department is to study the natural course of processes in the natural complexes of the Altai Nature Reserve. One of the main results of the activities of the department’s employees is the annual “Chronicle of Nature”, containing a complete set of observations of all processes in nature; has been carried out in the Altai Nature Reserve since 1940.
The scientific department conducts research in various areas, including jointly with research institutes.
Today, in the Altai Nature Reserve, the scientific department is conducting work on studying musk deer, snow leopard, argali, reptiles, and monitoring biodiversity in specially protected natural areas.

The environmental education department of the reserve is designed to form among broad sections of Russian society an understanding of the problems of nature conservation and environmental safety, and the role of the reserve in solving these problems. As part of this task, the department carries out various events with the population and visitors of the reserve.

Children's clubs of Friends of the Altai Reserve have been created and work in support of the reserve, and it was decided to unite all supporters of the Altai Reserve and the conservation of the wildlife of the Altai Mountains in a common movement - "Trace of the Bear" . Another important area of ​​environmental education work is constant coverage of the activities of the Altai Nature Reserve in the media, posting information on Internet sites, and producing video and radio reports.

History of the creation of the Reserve

In 1958, on May 24, the Council of Ministers of the RSFSR gave Order No. 2943-r, among a number of reserves, to restore the Altai Nature Reserve, with an area of ​​914,777 hectares. In the summer of 1961, the Altai Nature Reserve was again disbanded.

In 1965-1967 The scientific community of Siberia and mainly the Siberian branch of the USSR Academy of Sciences, the Altai department of the Geographical Society of the USSR, the Altai Regional Society for Nature Conservation raises the question of the advisability of organizing the Altai Nature Reserve within the territorial framework of the previously existing Altai Nature Reserve.

In 1967, on March 24, the Executive Committee of the Altai Regional Council of Workers' Deputies makes a decision on the organization of the Altai Nature Reserve, which states that in order to preserve the unique natural complex of Lake Teletskoye and the Priteletsk taiga, as well as taking into account the petitions of the regional society for nature conservation and the Main Directorate of Hunting and nature reserves under the Council of Ministers of the RSFSR, the Executive Committee of the regional Council of Workers' Deputies decided to organize the Altai State Nature Reserve and ask the Council of Ministers of the RSFSR to resolve the issue of organizing the Altai state reserve. In the same year, the Council of Ministers of the RSFSR decided to organize the Altai State Nature Reserve.

Altai Nature Reserve on the Internet

Currently, people who learn news from the Internet and actively communicate on it virtual space, is getting bigger. One of the goals of the environmental and educational activities of nature reserves and national parks is to ensure support for the ideas of nature conservation among wide sections of the population. And in this, Internet resources and modern Internet technologies can be a good help.

In 2008, the first own Internet site of the Altai Nature Reserve began operating. The reserve currently has two websites:

The most complete and reliable information about the Altai Biosphere Reserve and its activities is posted here. Any Internet user by visiting these sites will be able to find answers to the main questions about the specially protected natural area.

Since 2009, the work of communities and blogs of the Altai Nature Reserve began in the virtual space. The first to be created was the Internet community of Friends of the Altai Nature Reserve - "Trace of the Bear"- represents and unites friends, like-minded people, supporters of the Altai Nature Reserve, allows people living thousands of kilometers from each other to communicate on common topics.

The photo website of the Altai Nature Reserve contains photo reports that are not included in the photo section of the official website and talks about various interesting and unusual events that occurred in the reserve.

Blog of the Altai Nature Reserve in Livejournal “Zapoved’ Without Borders”. The blog constantly posts the latest news from the reserve and various interesting facts about the world protected nature, people working in the reserve and much more.
The Internet community "Yaylu-reserve village" was created specifically to post information about the life of the central estate of the Altai Nature Reserve - the village. Yailyu. These blogs allow anyone to read and comment on the news and ask questions.

Recently, the reserve's pages have appeared on FACEBOOK, "Vkonrakte.ru", and on Twitter. Located on YouTube video blog of the Altai Nature Reserve .

News from the Altai Nature Reserve can also be read in Internet communities:

WWF , ecotourism in Altai , Greenpeace Russia, community of protected areas of Russia

Multi-day routes:

Pos. Yailyu - Minor pass, 40 km;

Cordon Karatash - village. Yailyu, 30 km;

Cordon Kokshi - Korbu ridge, 12 km;

Cordon Chelyush - Lake Kholodnoe, 12 km;

Cordon Chiri - Lake Chiri, 15 km.

Square: 871,206 ha, including the waters of Lake Teletskoye - 11410 ha.

Main ecosystems: Siberian taiga, lakes, taiga midlands and lowlands, subalpine and alpine midlands and highlands, tundra-steppe highlands, tundra midlands and highlands, glacial-nival highlands.

Location: The reserve is located in the northeastern part of the Altai Republic, on the territory of the Turachak and Ulagansky districts. The central estate of the reserve is located in the village of Yailyu, the main office is in the city of Gorno-Altaisk, the capital of the Altai Republic.

The Altai State Nature Reserve is a unique specially protected natural area of ​​Russia, a UNESCO world cultural and natural heritage site, which includes part of the water area of ​​Lake Teletskoye - the pearl of the Altai Mountains, the “little Baikal” of Western Siberia. It occupies one of the first places among Russian nature reserves in terms of biological diversity.

The main goal of creating the reserve is to preserve the most valuable and rare beauty of Lake Teletskoye, its landscapes, protect cedar forests, save the most important hunting and commercial animals that were on the verge of extinction - sable, elk, deer and others, as well as constant stationary study of the nature of the region as a whole. The Altai Nature Reserve also ensures the preservation and study of the natural course of natural processes and phenomena, the genetic fund of flora and fauna, individual species and communities of plants and animals, typical and unique ecological systems. According to geomorphological zoning, the entire territory of the reserve belongs to the Altai province of the country “Mountains of Southern Siberia”. Along the boundaries of the reserve there are high ridges: in the north - Abakansky (2890 m above sea level), in the south - Chikhacheva (3021 m above sea level), in the East - Shapshalsky (3507 m above sea level). from the west the territory is limited by the valleys of the rivers Chulyshman, Karakem and Lake Teletskoye.

The Altai Nature Reserve is located in the center of the Altai-Sayan mountainous country. A vast territory with mountains, coniferous forests, alpine meadows and mountain tundras, wild rivers and lakes stretches for 230 kilometers. The territory of the reserve gradually rises in the south-east direction.

Everywhere in the mountains there are springs and streams with clean, tasty and cold water. Alpine lakes are common on watershed plateaus. The largest of them is Julukul, more than 10 kilometers long; it is located at the source of Chulyshman, at an altitude of 2200 meters. Lake Dzhulukul is a unique reservoir of the Altai Nature Reserve, a habitat, nesting place for various representatives of the bird world, a spawning place for the most valuable fish species of the Altai Mountains. All the high-mountain lakes of the Altai Nature Reserve (occupying a total area of ​​15 thousand km2) are very beautiful, with emerald-blue transparent water and picturesque shores.

The most common tree species in the Altai Nature Reserve are: cedar, fir, larch, spruce, pine, birch. Pure high-mountain cedar forests are the pride of the reserve. The cedars here reach 1.8 meters in diameter and are 400-450 years old. In general, the rich and diverse flora of the reserve includes 1,500 species of higher vascular plants, 136 species of fungi and 272 species of lichens. There are 668 species of algae known in the reserve; nine species of lichens are included in the Red Book of Russia: Lobaria pulmonata, Lobaria reticulata, Stykta fringe, etc. The species composition of plants and animals is interesting for its diversity.

The complex terrain with altitudes up to 3500 m, various climatic and natural-historical conditions create a significant diversity of vegetation cover of the Altai Nature Reserve. Of the 1,500 species of vascular plants known in the reserve, there are relicts and endemics. A significant area of ​​the Altai Nature Reserve is located at the junction of the mountain systems of Altai, Sayan, and Tuva; the complexity of natural-historical development and biogeographical boundaries, the diversity of natural conditions determine the exceptional richness of the animal world of the reserve. In the protected area you can meet inhabitants of high latitudes (reindeer, ptarmigan), and inhabitants of the Mongolian steppes (gray marmot), and many typical “taiga inhabitants”. All commercial mammals are found in the Priteletsk region of the reserve southern taiga. The most common species are sable and deer; musk deer, wild boar, elk, roe deer and others live there. Among the predators that live here are: bear, wolf, badger, wolverine, lynx and otter.

In summer, along the shores of Lake Teletskoye you can see numerous waterfalls of extraordinary beauty, carrying their waters into the lake. Most of the waterfalls are inaccessible to visitors, with the exception of the main waterfall of Lake Teletskoye - “Korbu”, which annually attracts several tens of thousands of tourists at its foot during the summer season. At the visitor center of the Altai Nature Reserve “Altai Ail” in the village of Yailyu you can get acquainted with the traditional culture of the indigenous small people of the Tubalars.

Climate

The climate of the reserve is continental and mountainous at the same time. The first is related to the geographical location of the territory in the center of the Asian continent. The climate here is formed under the influence and interaction of cyclonic circulation, the Asian anticyclone and Arctic air masses. The second factor is the location of the protected area in the mid-high mountain zone of the Altai mountain system. This position determines the altitudinal zonation of the climate and a wide variety of microclimatic conditions.

The specific relief of individual regions plays a significant role in climate formation. Air masses passing over the region interact with the mountainous terrain; at the same time, low clouds are usually concentrated along high ridges, and air currents rush along deep river valleys, often changing their direction. High mountain ranges, which prevent the movement of moisture-saturated air masses, intercept a significant portion of precipitation. Over wide valleys inside mountain systems, heated by the sun, clouds often rise and dissipate.

The climatic conditions of the reserve territory, in general, are seasonal in nature. On weather In the autumn-winter period, the Asian anticyclone has a great influence. During the warm period, weather conditions are determined by the cyclonic activity of the westerly transport. The southern regions of the reserve are influenced by the climate of Mongolia with its arid conditions. Climatic conditions also determine: a significant difference in air temperature on the tops of high mountains and in the valleys of mid-mountains, high solar radiation in winter, widely developed mountain-valley air circulation, significant amount precipitation. The climate of the reserve is characterized by long frosty winters, short and humid summers, long and cold springs and autumns.

Average monthly temperatures		Annual precipitation (mm)

Frequency of winds (%%)
	Northeast	Southeast	Southwest	Northwest
Frequency of winds (%%)

The warmest month is July +16.8 °C

Average temperature over the last 50 years:

Most cold month- January -8.3 °C

Average annual precipitation 865.3 mm

Relief

In the northeast, the territory of the reserve is limited by the Abakansky ridge (Sadonkaya town), in the north - by the Torot ridge (north of the M. Mionok river), in the southeast and east - by the Shapshalsky ridge (Tashkyly-kaya town), in the south - by spurs Chikhachev and Chulyshmansky ridges (Bogoyash). The mountain ranges stretch from southeast to northwest, changing direction across the width of Lake Teletskoye to the north and northeast. The geological structure of the territory is very complex, which is determined by its long multi-stage development. The foundations of the relief were created by tectonic movements of Paleozoic age (Caleodon and Chertsin folds). The Caledonian stage is associated with the accumulation of thick Paleozoic carbonate and flyschoid strata and the introduction of granite intrusions. In the Chertsinsky stage, the final formation of the structure of the territory took place. The closure of a geosyncline (a mobile area of ​​the earth's crust) in the late Paleozoic led to the creation of a geological basis for the relief with faults that determined the orientation of orographic elements. Then, at the end of the Mesozoic - the beginning of the Paleogene, with the equilibrium of endogenous and exogenous processes, denudation leveling began. The relief of the reserve is characterized by the presence of preserved sections of ancient peneplain (surface with leveled relief) on modern ridges, despite intensive dissection and destruction. The surface of the Chulyshman Plateau, for example, is a relict small hill, significantly modified by glacial processes.

There are different opinions regarding the glaciation of the territory of the reserve, the time of its occurrence and the types of glaciation - from 2 to 4 ice ages are distinguished. The presence of two glaciations - cover and valley - is consistent with studies of glaciation in the river valley. Biya and with the presence of tertiary relict vegetation preserved in the river basin. Kyga (the so-called “Teletsky refugium”), which is pointed out by A.V. Kuminova (1957) when considering the pine forests of Altai [Project for the organization and development of forestry of the Altai State Reserve, 1982].

The reserve's relief is characterized by a variety of forms: high alpine gives way to plateau-like highlands, wide valleys and deep canyon-like gorges and has an elevation difference from 400 to 3500 m above sea level.

A characteristic feature of the relief is the presence of three zones: watershed ridges with altitudes ranging from 2200-2900 (rarely up to 3100-3500 m) above sea level, leveling surfaces or highlands (according to other authors, “the area of ​​sloping ridges” or “plateau-like highlands” ), where residual surfaces of two levels are distinguished: the lower one at an altitude of 1600-1800 m and the upper one at an altitude of 1900-2100 m; between them there is a complex of larger forms and belts of steep relief (according to other authors of “deeply dissected relief”) - limiting the valleys of large rivers and Lake Teletskoye, the relative heights within which do not exceed 1000 m. Its lower boundary is Lake Teletskoye. The height of the latter above sea level is 436 meters. The upper - horizontal 1500-1600 m. The belt of alpine ridges occupies the highest parts of the ridges, composed mainly of rocks of the metamorphic series (crystalline schists) with intrusions of igneous rocks (granites, granodiorites, diorites). The belt of alpine ridges is distinguished within the Abakan ridge, the Kurkure and Katu-Yaryk ridges, as well as Shapshalsky. These ridges owe their outlines to the activity of ancient glacial erosion and modern processes weathering.

Quaternary glaciation, erosion and frost weathering, as well as cyclonic atmospheric activity played a significant role in modeling the relief. The main forms of relief of the Shapshalsky ridge are pointed peaks and carlings, cirques, trough valleys, landslides, screes, frost-solifluction formations. The Dzhulukul basin is characterized by moraine hills and ridges with a large number of lake basins. On the adjacent to the lake. Dzhulukul territory with gently undulating relief forms contains cryostructural formations of the seasonal thawing layer, which are represented by medallion spots. Thickets of round-leaved, gnarled, difficult-to-pass birch trees, moss cover in damp areas and clusters of alpine willows stretch over long distances. In some places, areas of larch and cedar forest begin to wedge into the tundra along the mountain slopes, often cut off from the main tracts. The relatively calm relief of the second belt, occupied by coniferous forests in the northern half of the reserve and tundra in the southern half, abruptly gives way to the steep forms of the first belt. The latter is characterized by deeply incised river valleys, gorges with rocks and screes, hanging valleys of minor tributaries, and waterfalls.

The Alpine ridge belt is completely occupied by rocky tundra. The area of ​​leveling surfaces occupies a dominant place on the territory of the reserve. Upper-level planation surfaces either adjoin alpine ridges or are the flat tops of low ridges. These include the domed peak of the Korbu ridge and the highlands of the southern part of the reserve - the Chulyshman plateau. The latter has a flat, swampy surface with clear traces of ancient glacial activity in the form of piles of rounded boulders (Fig. 5P), curly rocks, and numerous small lakes with flat shores formed as a result of moraine damming. Just as in the area of ​​alpine ridges, frost weathering processes dominate here. All leveling surfaces high level occupied by gravelly-lichen and moss-shrub tundra.

Leveling surfaces of the lower level are located along the slopes of the Abakan ridge, south of the Kurkure ridge, in the Chulyshman part. This also includes isolated flat-topped loaches in the Kamga Reggae Basin. The leveling surfaces abruptly break off, forming a sharp transition to the lower relief zone. total area These relief forms are small, despite their significant altitudinal extent. This includes large slopes of river valleys and steep shores of Lake Teletskoye. These slopes are rocky, treeless in the upper part, and occupied by forest or steppe areas below. These are the youngest forms of relief, currently undergoing strong changes. The steep slopes of trading valleys are extremely favorable places for mountain falls to occur. All steep slopes are crossed by countless gutters and narrow ruts - paths for falling rocky blocks. These gutters, overgrown with grass and shrubs, are clearly distinguished by their lighter color against the dark green background of woody vegetation. Rockfalls often result in large scree cones, sometimes reaching huge size. So in the river valley Chulyshman v. village Koo M.S. Kaletskaya (1939) described a scree cone rising 200 m above the valley bottom.

River valleys are a very unique element of the relief. The sources of most rivers begin on the flat tops of a plateau of small lakes and their valleys in the upper reaches are flat, swampy and treeless (the exception is the rivers of the northern part of the reserve, originating from mountains covered with forest. [Chronicle of Nature of the Altai Reserve, 1932-1935, 1959].

Hydrology and hydrography

The territory of the reserve is limited from the west by the Chulyshman River and Lake Teletskoye. The right half of the basin of Lake Teletskoye and Chulyshman, as well as the upper reaches of the Big Abakan, make up the hydrographic network of the reserve. The entire territory of the reserve is literally penetrated by large and small mountain streams. These rivers are fast and usually have rapids in their lower reaches. In the middle and lower reaches of the river valleys become narrow, steep, the flow is stormy and fast, often in this section of the river there is a continuous chain of waterfalls. For example, on the Chulcha River. They often fall down from a height of 600-800 m, representing a chain of water cascades following each other. For this reason, most of the tributaries of Lake Teletskoye and Chulyshman are fishless. The same can be said about lakes located in circuses. Many of the rivers of the reserve in relation to Lake Teletskoye or large rivers, the tributaries of which they are, have hanging valleys that break off into waterfalls at the confluence. For example, the river has this character of the valley. Kishte flowing down from the Korbu ridge. The rivers Kamga with tributaries B. Shaltan and M. Shaltan, Kokshi with tributaries Kotagach and Tuzaktu, Chelyush, Boskon, Kyga with tributaries Bayas, Kolyushtu, Tushke and, Kairu, Chulcha with tributaries Suryaza, Saigonysh, Yakhonsoru, Karagem and Kurkure, Shavla with Tributaries Kyzyl-Kochko, Ongurash, Mendukem are the largest tributaries of Lake Teletskoye. But the largest tributary is the Chulyshman River, with its tributaries Ozunoyu and Bogoyash. The source of the Chulyshman River is Lake Dzhulukul, which lies 220 km from Lake Teletskoye, at an altitude of 2176 m. The basin of the river. Chulyshman is equal to 17,600 km 2 [Chronicle of the nature of the Altai Nature Reserve, 1932-1935, 1959].

The area of ​​Lake Julukul is a lake plateau. Throughout its entire length it carries character traits glacial landscape [Chronicle of Nature of the Altai Reserve, 1959]. The water area of ​​Lake Julukul is 29.5 km. The length of the lake, as the distance between the two most distant points, is 10.8 km (the distance between the sources of the Chulyshman River and the mouth of the Verkhniy Chulyshman River). The average width of the lake is 2.7 km, and the maximum is 4.1 km (defined as perpendicular to the length line of the lake at its widest point. The length of the coastline is about 28 km. The maximum depth of the lake according to the expedition of the Russian Geographical Society (RGO) led by P .G. Ignatova (1901) is 6.4 m (Fig. 12P) [Selegey, 2006].

At the confluence of the river Teletskoye Lake. Chulyshman reaches up to 100 m in width, with a depth of 1-3 m, and the Chebach channel has 30 m in width and a depth of up to 3 m. The river flow speed. Chulyshman according to the observations of S.G. Lepneva, near the mouth near the coast is 0.44 m/sec (VII. 1, 1928) - 0.52 m/sec (VII. 14, 1930). The flow speed in the Chebach channel is much weaker. The Chulyshman River carries into Lake Teletskoye a significant amount of alluvium with a predominance of sand and small gravel, which, when flowing into the lake, forms a vast delta with islands and shallows. Water temperature in the river Chulyshman during summer months from the second half of June to September, it does not fall below 100 C. Of the salt composition ingredients in the river water. Chulyshman biocarbonates SiO2 were determined, the content of which is very close to their content in the water of Lake Teletskoye, where CO2 in biocarbonate compounds is about 35-40 m/l, and about 4 m/l (Alekin, 1934). Water flow in the river Chulyshman reaches 582 m3/sec (June), falling in winter to 25 m3/sec (December) [Chronicle of Nature of the Altai Reserve, 1959]. Most of the reserve's rivers begin on the Abakan and Shapshalsky ridges and their spurs, crossing the territory in a latitudinal direction. In the northern part of the Yaili section, the rivers flow into meridional direction from North to South. The Bogoyash River, originating at the junction of the Kuraisky ridge and the Chikhachev ridge, flows in a north-eastern direction before its confluence with the Chulyshman River. The hydrography of the reserve is composed of a huge number of lakes connected by channels. Almost all lakes in the reserve are located in the high mountain zone. The origin of lake basins is associated with the activity of glaciers. Lakes formed in the recesses of ancient valley moraines are developed in the landscape of the ancient ash plain. They are usually shallow, have gentle banks. Moraine-dammed lakes represent the most picturesque elements of mountain landscapes (Fig. 13P). Their depth is significant. Depending on their altitude, they are surrounded by forests or steep rocky slopes. Tarn lakes have an oval, sometimes round shape and steep shores. Sometimes trails of scree descend into the lakes. The depth of karst lakes is significant - up to 35-50 m. Thermokarst lakes are found only in the zone of permafrost development (Fig. 14P). They are characterized by small sizes and very shallow depths [Project for the organization and development of forestry of the Altai State Nature Reserve, 1982]. Table 1P shows some data on individual protected water bodies.

Characteristics of some lakes of the Altai Nature Reserve

Name	Main Dimensions
Podgoltsovoye	The shape is oblong-oval; surface area - 0.197 km2; length - 810 m; maximum width- 350 m; maximum depth - 27 m with an average depth of 12.4 m. The volume of water mass is about 2443 thousand m3. Coastline weakly meandered flock; coastal development coefficient - 1.2.
	Surface area - 0.687 km2, length - 1425 m; maximum width - 688 m; maximum depth - 51 m with an average depth of 16.4 m. Volume of water mass - 11267 thousand m3.
	Mirror area 1.86 km2; length - 4600 m; maximum width - 775 m; the maximum depths in the northern, expanded part of the reservoir are up to 40 m. The volume of the water mass is about 36,181 thousand m3.
Lower Cheybokkel	Area 1.91 km2; length - 3025 m; maximum width - 1050 m; maximum depth - 26 m; the volume of water mass is about 26917 thousand m3.
Terenkel	Mirror area - 2.09 km2; length - 3700 m; maximum width - 825 m; maximum depth - 34 m with an average depth of 12.5 m. The volume of water is 26138 thousand m3.
	Mirror area 0.91 km2; length - 1288 m; maximum width - 1125m; maximum depth is 4 m with an average depth of 2 m. The volume of water mass is about 1822 thousand m3.
Glubokoye	Area - 0.36 km2; length - 1100m; maximum width - 550m; maximum depth - 21 m. Volume of water mass - about 4670 thousand m3.
Dam	Area 0.23 km2; length - 1150 m; maximum width - 280 m; maximum - 26 m with an average depth of 12.2 m. Volume of water mass - 2782 thousand m3.
	Area - 1.55 km2; length - 2338 m; width - up to 1100 m; maximum depth is 8 m with an average depth of 3.4 m. The volume of water mass is about 5253 thousand m3.
Upper Irregular	Mirror area - 1.51 km2; length - 3775 m; width - up to 950 m; maximum depth - 5 m with an average depth of 1.5 m. The volume of water mass is 2265 thousand m3.
	Area - 2.04 km2; length - 3325m; maximum width - 1025m; maximum depth is 22 m with an average depth of 10.9 m. The volume of water mass is about 22,280 thousand m3.
	Area - 0.84 km2; length - 1600m; maximum width - 1025m; the maximum depths in the southeastern extended part of the reservoir are 10.6 m with an average depth of 4.5 m (Fig. 13). Where is the drawing? The volume of water mass is 3780 thousand m3.
Unexpected	Surface area - 0.49 km2; length - 1150 m; maximum width - 600 m; maximum depth - 22 m; the volume of water mass is 7282 thousand m3.
Beautiful	Area - 2.12 km2; length - 2350 m; maximum width - 1350 m; maximum depth is 19.8 m with an average depth of 7.4 m. The volume of water mass is about 15,703 thousand m3.
	Area - 0.024 km2; length - 250 m; width - up to 150 m; the maximum depth is 12 m and with an average depth of 6.6 m. The volume of water mass is 158 thousand m3.
Sostukel	Area - 0.24 km2; length - 720 m; average width - 333 m; the maximum depth is about 4 m with an average depth of 1.5 m. The volume of water is 360 thousand m3.
Drumlinnoye	Area - 0.12 km2; length - 875m; maximum width - 175 m; depth - 7.4 m with an average depth of 4.6 m. The volume of water is 552 thousand m3.
Western Pakyyash	Area - 0.403 km2; length - 1475 m; maximum width - 338 m; maximum depth - 2 m; water volume - 604 thousand m3.
	Area - 0.253 km2, length - 1025 m; maximum width - 625m; maximum depth - 1.9 m; water volume - 329 thousand m3.

Lake Teletskoye, partly included in the territory of the reserve, is one of the most significant recreational sites in the Altai Mountains. Lake Teletskoye is located in a mountain fault in the northeastern part of Altai at the junction with the Western Sayan Mountains. The most big lake Altai, it lies at an altitude of 436 meters above sea level, surrounded by the high mountain ranges of Altyn-Tu (2465 m), Korbu (2059 m), Torot (1342 m) and others. There are practically no islands and peninsulas on the lake, with the exception of small rocky outcroppings near Cape Azhi, Cape Chichelgan and some others. There are few coves and bays. The largest bays are located in the protected area: Kamginsky (area 6.5 km2) and Kyginsky (area 3.1 km2). Lake Teletskoye is classified as a basin-type lake of tectonic origin. About 70 rivers and more than 150 temporary watercourses flow into Lake Teletskoye. The lake is the largest fresh water reservoir in Siberia. According to estimates by the Institute of Water and Environmental Problems (IWEP), Teletskoye water would be enough to supply Russia for 3 years fresh water(subject to daily consumption of 250 liters of water by each resident of the Russian Federation). The total volume of water is 41.1 km3. Table 2P shows the main characteristics of the large tributaries of Lake Teletskoye.

Characteristics of the main tributaries flowing into Lake Teletskoye (with the exception of the Chulyshman River)*.

	S catchment area, km2	Average catchment height, m	River length	River slope in m I km
Chulyshman
Big Corbu

* [Project for the organization and development of forestry of the Altai State Reserve, 1982].

A large volume of water, intensive external water exchange, protection of more than half of the lake’s water area, as well as the concentration of the main anthropogenic load in its northern part ensure the cleanliness of the lake’s waters.

Lake Teletskoye contains great amount- 40 billion cubic meters - excellent fresh water, clean, oxygenated. Due to its morphogenetic, hydrochemical, hydrobiological and other features, Lake Teletskoye occupies a special position among the lakes of Russia and the world. According to previous studies, the lake is an ultra-oligotrophic flowing limnogeosystem with active water exchange, which has preserved the natural chemical composition of the water, but at the same time is very sensitive to natural and anthropogenic influences [Research report] “Hydrochemical characteristics of Lake Teletskoye” / Scientific. management G.M. Speiser. - Irkutsk, ISU, 1989. - 50 p. According to the classification of O.A. Alekin, the water of Lake Teletskoye belongs to the first type, the hydrocarbonate class, the calcium group, which is due to its flowing nature and predominance in sharply dissected drainage basin crystalline rocks. Peculiarities chemical composition Lake water allows us to consider it ultra-fresh soft slightly alkaline water of the sulfate-hydrocarbonate magnesium-sodium-calcium type. [Alekin, 1970] Alekin, O.A. Fundamentals of hydrochemistry / O.A. Alekin. - L.: Gidrometeoizdat, 1970. - 444 p. The average content of most chemical elements in the water of Lake Teletskoye does not exceed the values ​​of world clarks [Ivanov, 1994-1997] Ivanov, V.V. Ecological geochemistry of elements. Directory in 6 volumes // V.V. Ivanov. - M.: Ecology, 1994-1997.

Attracting attention is the abnormally high content of zinc and uranium in lake water (more than 10 clarks), as well as the level of the presence of a large group of heavy metals - Fe, Cr, Ni, Co, Cd, Sb, above the clarke and, partially, above the maximum permissible concentration for waters of fishery reservoirs. W, Hg (table below). [Shevchenko, 2010] Shevchenko G. A. Geoecological state of the water area and coastal zone of Lake Teletskoye (Altai Mountains). Dissertation for the scientific degree of candidate of geological and mineralogical sciences, specialty 25.00.36 - geoecology // G.A. Shevchenko. - G-Altaisk:, 2010. - 149 p.

Share of clarke, units	Average level of micro presence elements in lake water. Teletskoye	Share of maximum permissible concentration*, units.
				Maximum
	Si,Na,K,Ti,V,Mn,Cu,Ag,As,Se,Cs,Y,Li,I		Ti,Cr,Ni,Ba,Pb,As,W,I,Br,B	Ba,Pb,As,I,Br,Br,B
	Al,Mg,B,P,Pb,Mo,Sn,Ba,Sr,Rb,Au,La			Ti,V,Cr,Ni,W,Be,Se
	Ca,Fe,Cr,Ni,Co,Cd,Sb,W,Hg,Sc,Br,Ge

* - MPC for waters of fishery reservoirs, the ME content is more than 1 MPC

The gas regime of Lake Teletskoye is determined by low water temperatures, wind-wave processes, convective mixing of lake waters, low biological productivity, and the flow of cold and well-mixed waters of mountain rivers.

Geology

On the territory of the reserve there is a unique morphostructure - the Teletsko-Chulushmansky newest divergence with a length of 250 km, a width of 0.5-3 km. Large ancient landslides complicate the foothills of the Chulushman valley. The sections depict the strata of the last interglacial and glacial cycle. During the onset of glaciation, dammed conditions were created and in the river valleys there was an accumulation of constrictive deltaic alluvium and glaciolacustrine sediments until the area was covered with an ice cover. There are also unique glacial-lacustrine clays and burgundy-brown silts. In the conditions of the Alpine highlands, the relief of the staged reduction of glaciation in the final phase is clearly captured. Weak cryogenic soil involutions were observed in the right-bank floodplain of the Chulushman River. The cooling of the Middle Holocene contributed to the temporary formation of the permafrost zone in certain areas of the Chulushman bottom. Relict turfed linear kurums are found at an altitude of 1500-1600 meters. Modern kurum formation develops above 2000 meters, and medallion spots and polygonal soils - above 1950 meters. Heaving peat mounds up to 4-4.5 meters high, complicated by thermokarst passes, are found at an altitude of 1700 meters. In the relief of the near-Teletsky highlands, nival niches and mountain terraces are widely developed - the result of ancient ice ages and cold snaps - the remains of a weakly dissected ancient pre-Quaternary "peneplain". Recorded solifluction-sludge processes, and in some places cryogenic dispersion. There are complexes of giant ripple ridges. Aeolian accumulations are longitudinal ridges elongated from north to south.

The geological foundation of the reserve territory is composed of metamorphic rocks Proterozoic and Paleozoic (chlorite and crystalline schists, phyllite, gneiss), as well as igneous intrusive rocks of the Cambrian period (granitoids). Glacial deposits are widespread in intermountain depressions, river valleys and mountain slopes. Quaternary period. Holocene alluvial deposits are common in the river valleys of the lower mountain belt.

Soil cover

Thanks to the continental climate and the continuously and vigorously ongoing process of soil formation, very unique soil complexes can be found on the territory of the reserve. The soil cover of the reserve is characterized by vertical zonality and latitudinal zonality.

Under black and aspen-fir ​​and fir-cedar forests, podzolized brown soils and gray forest soils are formed. In the taiga belt, under the fir-cedar, cedar and cedar-spruce taiga, acidic cryptopodzolic, soddy non-podzolized and humus-podzolic soils are formed. Under the larch taiga, soddy-podzolic and humus-podzolic soil-forming processes predominate. In the highlands, where subalpine and subalpine pine forests dominate, deeply leached and peaty-podzolic soils are formed in combination with mountain-meadow soils. On the steppe slopes, predominantly chernozem-like and chestnut-like primitive highly rubbly soils are developed. In the northern part of the reserve, podzolized brown soils and gray forest soils are formed under black aspen-fir ​​and fir-cedar forests. In the central part of the reserve, thin podzols are formed under larch and cedar forests, and humus and sod-humus soils are formed on the border with the highlands [Project for the organization and development of forestry of the Altai State Reserve, 1982].

In the highlands at low temperatures and increased atmospheric moisture, mountain-tundra primitive peaty and peat-gley soils are formed on a rocky-crushed base (Figure 7P).

Among the Dzhulukul depression, mountain-tundra areas are developed turf soils under fescue and cobresia meadows. Mountain-meadow soils are characteristic of gentle slopes with southern exposures, as well as hollows and basins occupied by high-mountain meadows. More than 20% of the reserve's area is covered with rocky outcrops, screes, pebbles, and snowfields [Maleshin, Zolotukhin et al., 1999]. According to soil zoning, which is based on altitudinal zonation, which determines the differentiation of the soil cover and the complex of natural conditions as a whole, the reserve is divided into: a belt of mountain-tundra and mountain-meadow soils of the highlands (at an altitude of more than 1600-2000 m and up to 2600-3500 m above sea level), belt of mountain-forest soils of high mountains, middle mountains and low mountains (at an altitude from 600-1000 m to 1800-2400 m above sea level) and interbelt mountain soil regions of high mountains, middle mountains and low mountains.

In terms of humidity, fresh (58.5%) and wet (33.0%) soils predominate. Soils with excess moisture account for 7.8% of the forest area. Areas with excessively moist soils are located mainly in the high mountain zone and represent depressed forms of relief with difficult drainage [Project for the organization and development of forestry of the Altai State Reserve, 1982].

Map of the altitudinal boundaries of the formation soil belts Dzhulukul depression (Fig. 8P), compiled on the basis of the application of data on the relief of the reserve, is as follows: a belt of forest-steppe soils of low mountains (500-800 m above sea level), soils of intermontane basins, river valleys and slopes of mid-mountains, low mountains and foothills (500-1100 m above sea level), belt of mountain-forest soils of high mountains, middle mountains and low mountains (800-2500 m above sea level), soils of intermountain basins, river valleys and high mountain slopes (1100-2200 m a.s.l.), belt of mountain-tundra, mountain-meadow and mountain meadow-steppe soils of the highlands (1600-3400 m a.s.l.) [Gopp, Smirnov, 2009].

Most full list soils of the reserve were compiled according to the report of the Leningrad forest management expedition "Lesoproekt", (1953): chestnut, chernozems, meadow, podzolic, swamp, mountain-meadow, mountain-tundra, underdeveloped crushed stone.

Chestnut soils are found in steppe fescue-feather grass areas in the lower reaches of the river. Chulushman, like the zonal soils of the chestnut zone, is often solonetzic, and sometimes there are small patches of solonchaks among them.

In steppe areas with better moisture, chernozem soils (such as southern chernozems) develop under a lush carpet of forb-feather grass associations. Chernozem-like varieties similar to the latter are widespread on the steppe slopes of southern exposure, around Lake Teletskoye south of the mouth of the river. Kokshi.

On the slopes of northern exposure, on outcrops of bedrock, soils of the podzolic series are found - cryptopodzolic soils. The southern slopes under the forest are occupied by dark-colored soils varying degrees leaching. On the slopes of the southwestern and western exposure of the Kolyushtu char (near the southern tip of Lake Teletskoye) there is no podzolicity in the soils. At the foot of the char in the river valley. In Kyga, on the pebble deposits of this river, meadow-boggy soils of a slightly loamy mechanical composition up to 60-80 cm thick were encountered under a sparse floodplain cedar forest with a dense undergrowth intertwined with hops and a cover of forbs.

The lower part of the char slopes up to an altitude of 1100 m a.s.l. covered with a cloak of gray forest crushed stone soils up to 100-110 cm thick on bedrock colluvium under fir forests with a high, dense carpet of forbs, dominated by tall borer.

Higher up there are typical brown forest crushed stone soils under cedar forests and green forests, which from a height of 2000 m are replaced by mountain-meadow soils rich in humus, with a thickness of up to 40-50 cm. Even higher there are mountain-tundra soils, with a thin layer covering the rocky placers at the top of the char Black humus with a slight brown tint here clogs all the crevices between the stones, sometimes reaching a thickness of 20 cm (Fig. 9P).

Slopes with a northern exposure, receiving significantly less heat, delay the decomposition of litter and create the preconditions for the accumulation of a thick layer of moisture-absorbing litter on the soil surface. By retaining precipitation, it thereby creates conditions of temporary waterlogging, which contribute to the development of podzol formation processes. On the warmer southern slopes there are much better conditions for the decomposition of plant residues, enriching the soil with humus. These circumstances and the close to neutral reaction of soil horizons contribute to the formation of brown and gray forest soils here without signs of podzolization [Chronicle of Nature of the Altai Reserve, 1932-1935, 1959].

Located in the northeastern part of the Altai Republic, on the territory of the Turachak and Ulagansky districts. The central estate of the reserve is located in the village of Yailyu, the main office is in the city of Gorno-Altaisk, the capital of the Altai Republic.

Area: 881,238 hectares, including the water area of ​​Lake Teletskoye - 11,757 hectares.

Main ecosystems: Siberian taiga, lakes, taiga midlands and lowlands, subalpine and alpine midmountains and highlands, tundra-steppe highlands, tundra midmountains and highlands, glacial-nival highlands.

The Altai State Nature Reserve is a unique specially protected natural area of ​​Russia, a UNESCO world cultural and natural heritage site, which includes part of the water area of ​​Lake Teletskoye - the pearl of the Altai Mountains, the “little Baikal” of Western Siberia. It occupies one of the first places among Russian nature reserves in terms of biological diversity.

The main goal of creating the reserve is to preserve the most valuable and rare beauty of Lake Teletskoye, its landscapes, protect cedar forests, save the most important hunting and commercial animals that were on the verge of extinction - sable, elk, deer and others, as well as constant stationary study of the nature of the region as a whole. The Altai Nature Reserve also ensures the preservation and study of the natural course of natural processes and phenomena, the genetic fund of flora and fauna, individual species and communities of plants and animals, typical and unique ecological systems.

Along the boundaries of the reserve there are high ridges: in the north - Abakansky, in the south - Chikhacheva, in the east - Shapshalsky. From the west, the territory is limited by the valleys of the rivers Chulyshman, Karakem and Lake Teletskoye. Several separate mountain ranges are located in the center of the reserve, itself high mountain here - Bogoyash (3143m).

Numerous rivers of the reserve are very picturesque - with powerful rapids, rifts, quiet reaches and waterfalls. On the Chulcha River there is the largest waterfall in Altai - “Inaccessible”, its height is 150m. In the middle and lower reaches of the river there are steep slopes covered with forest, their beds are cluttered with stones, the flow speed reaches 2-5 m per second!
There are 1190 lakes in the reserve, the largest and most famous of them are Dzhulukul, located at an altitude of 2200m above sea level, and Teletskoye, or Altyn-Kolyu - Golden Lake. Due to its great depth, this lake contains a huge amount of excellent fresh, oxygenated, clean water.

Features of the relief and conditions for the transfer of air masses give rise to a significant variety of climatic conditions with a general continental climate. The northern part is characterized by warm and humid summers, snowy and relatively mild winters. In the southern part of the reserve the climate is more severe; in winter frosts reach -30ºС.

You can only get to the reserve via Lake Teletskoye, so you will definitely get to know and appreciate Altyn-Kolya. The Russian name for the lake was given by the Cossack pioneers who appeared here in the 17th century; it comes from the name of the Altai Teles tribe, which lived on the shores of the lake.

In summer, along the shores of Lake Teletskoye you can see numerous waterfalls of extraordinary beauty, carrying their waters into the lake. Most of the waterfalls are inaccessible to visitors, with the exception of the main waterfall of Lake Teletskoye - “Korbu”, which annually attracts several tens of thousands of tourists at its foot during the summer season. At the visitor center of the Altai Nature Reserve "Altai Ail" in the village of Yailyu you can get acquainted with the traditional culture of the indigenous small people of the Tubalars

The reserve has several interesting routes, including to the Korbu ridge, Kishte, Korbu, Inaccessible waterfalls, and Lake Kholodnoe.
The Korbu waterfall, 12.5 meters high, is one of the most beautiful in the reserve. It is located in the middle part of Lake Teletskoye and has a well-equipped observation deck and information stands.

Diversity of flora and fauna

The species composition of plants and animals is interesting for its diversity. The complex terrain with altitudes up to 3500 m, various climatic and natural-historical conditions create a significant diversity of vegetation cover of the Altai Nature Reserve. The reserve's vegetation is represented by forests, alpine tundra, meadows, swamps and steppes. Forests occupy more than 45% of the reserve's area and are represented by fir, mixed, cedar forests, and there are small spruce and pine forests. Pure high-mountain cedar forests are the pride of the reserve. The cedars here reach 1.8 m in diameter and are 400-600 years old. In general, the rich and diverse flora of the reserve includes 1,500 species of higher vascular plants (of which 20 species are listed in the Red Book of Russia, 49 species in the Red Book of the Altai Republic), 111 species of mushrooms and 272 species of lichens. There are 668 species of algae known in the reserve; seven species of lichens are included in the Red Book of Russia: laboratory pulmonata, laboratory reticulata, fringed stykta, etc. There are many endemics and relics: dendranthema emarginata, cystocarp, Siberian lichen, loose sedge.

A significant area of ​​the Altai Nature Reserve is located at the junction of the mountain systems of Altai, Sayan, and Tuva; the complexity of natural-historical development and biogeographical boundaries, the diversity of natural conditions determine the exceptional richness of the animal world of the reserve. In the protected area you can meet inhabitants of high latitudes (reindeer, ptarmigan), and inhabitants of the Mongolian steppes (gray marmot), and many typical “taiga inhabitants”. In the Priteletsk region of the reserve all commercial mammals of the southern taiga can be found. The most common species are sable and deer; musk deer, wild boar, elk, roe deer and others live there. Among the predators that live here are: brown bear, wolf, badger, wolverine, sable, lynx and otter. Birds include: capercaillie, hazel grouse, ptarmigan, golden eagle and black stork. Lake Teletskoye and its tributaries are home to grayling, taimen, and lenok. There are 70 species of mammals in the Altai Nature Reserve. Of these, two species are listed in the International Red Book (IUCN) - the snow leopard, the irbis, and the Altai mountain sheep, the argali. Reindeer (forest subspecies) is included in the Red Book of Russia.

The territory of the Altai Nature Reserve is home to 59 rare and endangered animal species, which is about 52% of all animal species protected in the Altai Republic. There are 8 species of bats listed in the Red Book of the Altai Republic, whose habitat is the Altai Nature Reserve.

Of the 326 species of birds nesting and living on the territory of the reserve, 2 species are listed in the International Red Book (white-tailed eagle and peregrine falcon), 33 species are listed in the Red Book of Russia and 34 species are listed in the Red Book of the Altai Republic. Migratory species classified as rare are Spoonbill , Black stork, Mongolian lark.

Eco-education and excursions in the Reserve

Multi-day routes:

Pos. Yailyu - Minor pass, 40 km;
- cordon Karatash - village. Yailyu, 30 km;
- Kokshi cordon - Korbu ridge, 12 km;
- cordon Chelyush - Lake Kholodnoye, 12 km;
- Chiri cordon - Chiri lake, 15 km.

One-day routes:

Cordon Kokshi - waterfall, 3 km;
- Belinskaya terrace, 3 km;
- Chulyshman river - Impregnable waterfall, 7 km.

Observation platforms:

Korbu waterfall,
- Kishte waterfall.