On the tops of the Altai mountains you can see, perhaps, some of the most beautiful places on the planet - alpine meadows. The “kingdom” has not yet begun here permafrost", which is located higher, but the monotonous tundra has already ended. Alpine meadows are found not only in the Alps. This is a collective name that is used to designate low-grass vegetation at the upper limit of its existence in the Pyrenees, Apennines, Cordillera, Caucasus and Altai. During an extremely short warm period, a real miracle is formed here - a continuous carpet of herbs and flowers.

Lake Teletskoye is the heart of the Altai Nature Reserve, one of the most beautiful places in Siberia The Alpine meadow is truly a paradise: dozens of exotic flowers and herbs grow here

• Full name Altai State Natural Biosphere Reserve.
• IUCN Category: Ia (Strict Natural Reserve).
• Date of foundation: April 16, 1932.
• Region: mountains of Southern Siberia in the Turochaksky region of the Altai Republic.
• Area: 882,000 hectares.
• Relief: mountainous.
• Climate: continental.
• Official website: http://www.altzapovednik.ru/.
• Email: [email protected].

History of creation

Altai Nature Reserve- one of the largest in Russia. Initially, it was allocated an area of ​​up to 1.3 million hectares, but gradually they were reduced to the size that exists today. It is interesting that since 1930, a family of Old Believers hermits, the Lykovs, lived in the Altai mountains, completely unfamiliar with modern civilization.

The Altai Nature Reserve is, without a doubt, a treasure of Russia. That is why today it is difficult to understand how it could happen that the reserve was liquidated twice - in 1951 and 1961.

Vegetable world

On the territory of the reserve grow 1,480 species of vascular plants from 107 families, 250 species of mosses, more than 500 algae, among which diatoms of Lake Teletskoe and other reservoirs, and about 37 species of lichens predominate. In total, about 200 plant species are endemic to this region.

The amazingly beautiful landscapes of the Altai Nature Reserve will not leave any visitor indifferent

The coniferous forests of the Altai Nature Reserve consist mainly of Siberian cedar (Pinus sibirica), Siberian larch (Larix sibirica) and Siberian spruce (Picea obovata). The main deciduous tree species are birch - warty birch (Betula pendula) and downy birch (Betula pubescens).

On the mountain peaks of Altai grows the outlandish edelweiss flower (Leontopodium), translated from Greek as “lion’s paw” (from leon - “lion” and podion - “paw”). It is also called the Alpine star, the silver flower of the rocks. As an image of strong love that overcomes any obstacles, as well as a symbol of inaccessibility and good luck, this flower is found in many Altai tales and legends.

Altai herbs... This phrase always sounds fascinating to admirers healthy image life, because Altai means healing, rare, and possessing amazing properties. But these ideas are actually close to the truth. The most common here are goldenrod (Solidago dahurica), bitterleaf (Saussurea latifolia), thistle (Cirsiurn helenioides), raponticum (leuzea) safflower, or maral root (Rhaponticum carthamoides), - a unique medicinal plant, which grows in the Altai mountains. It effectively improves immunity and promotes overall strengthening of the body. It was “suggested” to man by deer - Siberian red deer (Cervus maral).

Animal world

58 species of mammals, 323 of birds, 6 of reptiles, 18 of fish and about 15 of invertebrates live here.

Wolverine is one of the most interesting animals of the Altai Nature Reserve, the most major representative mustelidae family

The animal world of Altai is rich and diverse: from squirrels (Sciurus vulgaris) and Asian chipmunks (Tamias sibiricus) to deer (Cervus maral), bears (Ursus arctos) and wolverines (Gulo gulo). One of the most remarkable animals is the lynx ( Lynx lynx). She has mastered all the landscapes and habitats of Altai remarkably well, climbs trees, runs and swims well. Lynx fur is considered a particularly chic item, so these animals are in danger.

Wolverine is a predatory animal of the mustelid family, resembling both a bear and a badger. Having disproportionate body proportions long paws(with a maximum body length of 86 cm average length limbs - 10 cm), the animal moves easily, like on skis, on the snow cover.

Among all the inhabitants of the reserve, birds most clearly characterize its main feature: altitudinal zonation. In general, 323 species of birds live on the territory of the Altai Nature Reserve. Black-throated loon (Gavia arctica) and red-cheeked grebe (Podiceps auritus) are found in the water bodies. In the forests you can always see the Chiffchaff (Phylloscopus collybita) and Song Thrush (Turdus philomelos).

There are 14 species of fish in the waters of Lake Teletskoye, among which the most common are taimen (Hucho taimen), Teletskoye grayling (Thymallus arcticus), and lenok (Brachymystax lenok).

The main attraction of the Altai Nature Reserve is Lake Teletskoye, which is 78 km long and has a maximum depth of 325 m. About 400 years ago, tribes who called themselves Teles lived along the shores of the lake, which is how this name appeared. But the local population called it Altyn-Kel - “Golden Lake”. In addition to the main river Chulyshman, 70 rivers and more than 150 temporary watercourses flow into it. Lake Teletskoye flows into the Biya River, feeding the Ob with its waters. Korbu Waterfall, a natural monument since 1978, is located at the foot of the Korbu ridge, a hundred meters from the shore of Lake Teletskoye. It, like the entire right bank of the lake, is located on the territory of the Altai Nature Reserve. The only way to get to Korbu is by boat on the lake. And such excursions are very popular among tourists.

Korbu Waterfall

In the Uimon steppe near the Chulyshman valley there is a unique a natural phenomenon- stone mushrooms, rocky formations that have formed over thousands of years under the influence of erosion and weathering.

Information for visitors

Reserve mode

The Altai Nature Reserve can be visited by agreement with its administration. The Teletska School of Youth Ecotourism has been established at the reserve. A number of interesting ecological routes are constantly operating.

How to get there

You can get to Gorno-Altaisk by train, then by car or regular bus to the village of Artybash at the mouth of Lake Teletskoye. After this there is a lake message. By car you can get to the village of Yailyu - the central estate of the Altai Nature Reserve.

Where to stay

In the villages of Yogach and Artybash, located near the reserve, at the mouth of Lake Teletskoye, there is a network of campsites, tourist centers and “green” houses. There is an information center of the Altai Nature Reserve, where you can find out all the information about accommodation, excursion and other tourist services. In the village of Yailyu there is a guest house, as well as “green” houses local residents, where you can stay by prior arrangement.

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 of 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 climatic conditions are not the same. For example, in the northern part summers are warm and humid, average temperature July + 16.0 0C, winters are snowy and mild (average January temperature is 8.7 0C), while in the south-eastern part the temperature drops to - 50 0C in winter, and up to 30 0C in summer. 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. Found in meadows and clearings rare species from the orchid family, listed in the Red Book - Lezel's liparis, Baltic palmate root, helmeted orchis, lady's slipper true and grandiflora, leafless mullet. 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 a rare species as 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 The purple flowers of the dubious lumbago look 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 most big fish in the reserve - taimen, and the smallest whitefish - Pravdina, does not exceed 20 g in weight 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 much higher 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. Steppe viper quite rare, but a 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. On the islands of Lake Dzhulukul, colonies of great cormorants and herring gulls nest among large boulders. Various species of ducks are found throughout the reserve: bean geese live in the most remote corners, and common geese during their autumn migrations descend to the Kamginsky or Kyginsky bays, filling the area with their cackling sounds. 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 the 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, caves are common the bats. From the order of rodents there are forest and gray voles, in populated areas – gray rats and the common hamster. The common squirrel and Asian chipmunk are ubiquitous. From carnivorous mammals Wolves and foxes are common. 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. The sable is a valuable fur-bearing 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. Roe deer is enough for today rare 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.

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Altai Nature Reserve located on the territory of, in, in the northeast of Altai. The fate of the reserve was difficult. It was created and liquidated several times, as a result of which it lost territory, but even this moment The size of the reserve is impressive: it covers an area of ​​881,238 hectares. The reserve is surrounded by high ridges. This is a stunningly beautiful place: the reserve has 1190 lakes, many rivers, waterfalls, and mountain ranges. 60% of the area is occupied by mountain tundra, in the north it predominates fir taiga, and in the south are located deciduous forests. The territory of the reserve is rich in diverse flora, so here you can see spruce forests, pine forests, shrub areas, alpine meadows, fir and cedar trees. The mountain slopes are covered with fruit bushes such as raspberries, currants, rose hips, viburnum, and sea buckthorn. Bird cherry blossoms in the taiga.

In addition to the listed species of plants and trees, 36 species of ferns, 263 species of lichens, and 127 varieties of mushrooms grow in the reserve. The abundance of herbs and flowers turns the meadows into colorful carpets. In total, 1270 plant species are found on the territory of the reserve. Since the climate in the region where the reserve is located is continental, the winters there are very harsh. The reserve has its own attractions and, first of all, it is huge Lake Teletskoye, absorbing the waters of seventy rivers. Only one river, the Biya, which does not freeze in winter, flows out of it, which has a beneficial effect on ducks. The length of the lake is 78 km, it is surrounded on all sides by ridges. Lake Teletskoe is not rich in fish, only 18 species. These are grayling, whitefish, taimen, burbot. Main river reserve - Chulyshman. Its length is 10 km. The second attraction of the reserve is the largest waterfall in Altai - Big Chulchinsky waterfall. The height of the water fall reaches 150 meters.

The fauna, like the flora, is diverse. Only 73 species of mammals are registered in the reserve, of which 16 species are classified as predators. In the taiga there are bear, elk, lynx, wolverine, deer, and musk deer. Lots of squirrels and sables, chipmunks and voles, and ermine. Gophers rule the steppe. In the rest of the territory you can see argali, mountain goats, and less often the snow leopard-irbis, listed in the Red Book. Many birds nest on lakes and shores: gulls, whooper swans, black storks, herons. Wood grouse, quails, and partridges live in the forests. There are a total of 323 species of birds, including rare species listed in the Red Book: golden eagle, peregrine falcon, white-tailed eagle, pink starling. The invertebrate kingdom is especially diverse: 15 thousand species.

Altai Nature Reserve was founded in 1932, modern borders 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. The Altai Nature Reserve is part of the Altai territories included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. 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 location - the protected area lies in the central part of the mainland, where the weather is influenced by air masses Arctic 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. Thus, the southern part, where the valleys of the Chulyshman River and Lake Teletskoye are located, is characterized by mild winters and short cool summer. 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!

The flora of the alpine meadows enchants with its diversity. 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, mustachioed night bat, great tubenose and 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. It is extremely rare to find forest reindeer. 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, the typical representatives of which are 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. The gray toad lives in the interfluves and floodplains. Lives at an altitude of 2,140 m in humid places sharp-faced frog.

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, as well as 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.

The reserve, created in 1932, is located in the northeastern part of the Altai Republic. This is a specially protected natural area. The protective zone was created to preserve the landscapes of Lake Teletskoye, protect forests and endangered animals, and study the nature of the region. In terms of biodiversity, the Altai Nature Reserve is one of the five best in Russia. Together with the Katunsky Nature Reserve and the Ukok Plateau, it forms the UNESCO site “Golden Mountains of Altai”.

Animals and plants of the Altai Nature Reserve

The Altai Nature Reserve presents a rich variety of animals and flora. The large species composition is determined by different climatic conditions on the complex high-mountain terrain of the reserve.

Flora

There are 1,500 species of plants, 136 species of fungi, 272 species of lichen, and about 700 species of algae. Vegetation is represented by the following species:

• Forests: small-leaved, mixed, there are separate tracts of pine forests. You can see cedar forests almost throughout the entire territory; the reserve is rightfully proud of these areas with especially clean air. The age of cedars reaches 450 years.
• Tundra with marshy soil: occupies a large area of ​​the reserve. The dominant species is round-leaved birch.
• Meadows: distinguished by a large number of cereals and grass height of about 60 cm. Beautiful flowering plant species can be found in subalpine meadows next to snowfields and glaciers.
• Swamps: present in a small part of the reserve and characterized by a cover of green moss.
• Steppes: make up about 2% of the territory, dominated by wormwood and turf grasses.

In general, the most common species in the protected area are: cedar, fir, larch, spruce, pine, and birch. Among all the plant diversity there are 22 species from the Red Book of Russia.

Fauna

Diversity natural conditions determines the richness of the animal world. The species composition in the reserve is represented by the following classes of animals:

• Invertebrates: Their diversity has not yet been fully studied.
• Fish: Most of the 19 species living in the reserve are found in Lake Teletskoye. Other water bodies are characterized by grayling.
• Reptiles: represented by 6 species (lizards and snakes).
• Amphibians: There are only 2 species in the reserve - the sharp-faced frog and the gray toad.
• Birds: 337 species were discovered, 177 of which create nests in the reserve.
• Mammals: Of the 70 species, the most numerous in the protected area are sable, deer, musk deer, and bear. Listed in the International Red Book Snow Leopard, Altai Mountain sheep, Siberian musk deer.

Story

Initially, the expedition sent to Altai studied natural spaces to create a huge reserve. It was planned that the protective zone would occupy more than 2,000,000 hectares with Lake Teletskoye in the middle. This project was not approved, but later the boundaries of the reserve were still determined with an area of ​​​​about 1 million hectares.

During the study of the territory of the future reserve, it was found that fishing activity greatly reduced the number of animals, despite the fact that settlements were far from the security zone. Therefore, the organization of the reserve was considered timely and necessary.

During its history, the Altai Nature Reserve was disbanded several times, but each time a second decision was made to restore it.

Description of the reserve territory

High ridges are located along the boundaries of the reserve, and in the west there are river valleys and Lake Teletskoye. Towards the southeast, the height of the protected area increases. Nature reserve occupies a huge diverse territory with mountains, forests, alpine meadows, tundras, rivers and lakes. The natural attractions of the reserve are Lake Teletskoye, waterfalls Uchar, Baskon, Kokshi and Korbu, the Karagay tract, interesting eco-routes - “Chichelgansky Zigzag” and “Belinskaya Terrace”.

Territory of the Altai Nature Reserve:

Area - 871,206 hectares.

Length - 230 km.

Change in altitude - from 400 to 3500 m above sea level.

The administration of the reserve and the Altai Ail visitor center are located in the village of Yailyu, where tourists can learn about the original culture of the indigenous Tubalar people. Those wishing to come to the reserve as volunteers are asked to fill out a form on the website.

Lakes of the protected area

There are high-mountain lakes on the watershed plateaus of the reserve. The water in them is emerald blue and transparent. The beauty of the lakes is also due to the picturesque shores. Among the lakes in the reserve, the largest is Julukul at an altitude of 2200 meters, which is 10 km in length. Many birds live and nest here, spawn valuable species fish

The largest lake in Altai, Teletskoye, is partially included within the boundaries of the reserve. Located at an altitude of 436 meters, the lake is the largest fresh water reservoir in Siberia.

Cost of visit

To visit the Altai Nature Reserve you must obtain a pass. To do this, 30 days before the visit you need to fill out an online application on the reserve’s website. It contains information about visitors, travel dates, and the route chosen for the walk. Filling out the form will take no more than 10 minutes.

One day visit to ecological form transport (bicycle, kayak, canoe) and for hikers - free.

By car you can get to the village of Yailyu, located on the territory of the reserve. A dirt road leads to it through Biyka. The total distance from Gorno-Altaisk to Yailya via Biyka (bypassing Artybash) is 190 km.

In the summer season, carriers organize travel to the village of Yailyu by boats, motor ships, and motor boats.

Panorama of the Altai Nature Reserve from Lake Teletskoye:

Video about the reserve: