Altaisky zapovednik

Alexander Lotov's photographs which can make the photoalbum "Landscapes of the Altai reserve" look at our site. We plan to receive an additional photographic material during expeditions in the Altaisky zapovednik.

Altai state nature rezerve

The Altai state nature reserve, one of the largest in the Russia, is situated almost in the center of the Asian continent, in the north-eastern part of the Altai mountain range. The reserve, with an area of 881238 hectares, stretches from the eastern banks of lake Teletskoye to the summits of the Shapshal and Abacan ranges which separate the upper reaches of the Ob and the Yenisei. It was established early in the 1930s when a system of large taiga reserves was set up in western Siberia, on the Kamchatka Peninsula and along the River Ussuri for the purpose of preserving areas of untouched natural conditions typical of region, and providing for the increase of valuable animals such as the sable. The aspect of this mountainous area is forbidding and primeval: majestic rocky summits with white caps of snow and ice, the high altitude tundra and the virgin coniferous forests. It is numbered in 2560 average and small lakes in territory of the Altai reserve and its relief has difference of heights from 400 up to 3500 m. above sea level. From steep mountain slopes originate more than 70 inflows of Chulyshman, the main river of east Altai, 241 km long and the basin area of 17200 square km. It carries a great bulk of water in the lake Teletskoye. Many rivers have rapids and waterfalls as a rule.
Lake Teletskoye, the northern gateway of the reserve, is strikingly beautiful. Its name is derived from the Altai nomadic Teles tribe who since time immemorial lived around the lake. The lake has another name, Altyn Kol – the Golden Lake, arising from an ancient legend of a golden nugget which was once thrown into its waters. Altyn Kol is one of the most picturesque mountain lakes of Siberia. Despite its considerable dimensions – it is over 77 km. long and five km. wide – the lake, embraced as it is by huge rocky mountains, looks quite miniature from a distance. It is particularly beautiful on a calm clear day, when its waters reflect the trees, the mountains and the blue sky. But when north winds blow, the lake is transformed; waves break up its smooth surface, and heavy clouds sinking into the narrow gorge seem to merge with the darkened water. This is a windy place, especially in spring and autumn. In summer time thunderstorms are a common thing. On such days the thunder claps are augmented by the clatter of falling rocks undermined by the waves; lit up by searing flashes the surrounding mountains are like roaring monsters from tales of fantasy. The Siberian winter is harsh, but it is powerless at times to bind Lake Teletskoye with ice, for the lake becomes a veritable stormy sea in winter. The water rages and froths and seems to boil in its stony gorge as in a cauldron. Fierce winds dash the water against the rocky shores with tremendous strength, creating fantastic icy conglomerations. Stilled with frost, the numerous waterfalls stop in their tracks. Over seventy rivers empty into the lake, and only one, the beautiful Biya, one of the sources of the Ob, emerges from it. All the rivers freeze over in winter, but the Biya remains ice-free. Even in the heart of winter one can see wild ducks here – goldeneyes, mallards and goosanders. The main area of the reserve stretches over mountain ranges. The chief ones are: Abacan, with Sadon Kaya (2750 m) its highest summit, Korbu (2100 m.), Shapshal (3500 m.) and several ranges in the basin of the River Chulyshman, the largest tributary of Lake Teletskoye. If you ascend one of the summits, you will see a majestic mountainous land. The rocky giants resemble waves magically stopped in their progress during a storm. No wonder a certain part of the Abakan range is sometimes known as a see of mountains. Many scores of rivers, big and small, are born here, their sources divided by ridges and saddles.
The bare mountains tops present numerous fields of broken stone. Down below, these stony fields alternate with high altitude tundra. On the slopes and saddles the vegetation is typical of the stony tundra with its various kinds of lichens. Here grow the reindeer moss and dryads, a tufted flowering plant; thickets of dwarf birch give way to patches covered with beautiful soft mosses. Mountain tundra occupies almost 60 per cent of the area, forests constitute about 40 per cent, and the rest is alpine meadows and steppeland. The forest consist of larch, cedar, red and silver fir, birch and aspen. The reserve abounds in various shrubs. In narrow cliffy confines on the steep slopes grows the Dauria rhododendron which is locally known as the maral shrub. The undergrowth consist of dropwort, raspberry, black and red currant bushes, arrowwood and honeysuckle. There is plenty of bird cherry, mountain ash, sweetbrier, and other fruitbearing trees and bushes. In the lower reaches of the River Chulyshman grows sea buckthorn. At the time of flowering the meadows and taiga glades are remarkably lovely: tall lush grass grows in the river valleys, and primulas, gentians and globe flowers flourish high up in the mountains. A variety of natural and climatic belts of the Altay reserve have caused exclusively rich specific structure of flora in its territory. It is noted here more than 1400 species of vascular plants, 263 species of lichens, about 600 species of moss-like plants, 127 species of mushrooms, about 500 species of algaes and 36 species of different ferns. Among plants it is a lot of relicts (a coltsfoot, star grass, etc.), representatives of orchid family, including rare, such as orchis, yellow lady's slipper. The real value of native woods is the cedar ( Siberian pine) which separate specimen are more than 600 years old. The fauna of the reserve is no whit less diverse than its flora. The taiga abounds in sable, brown bear, squirrel, Siberian chipmunk, pika, ermine and weasel; in the mixed forests there are badgers, foxes, red or Siberian mink and hares, while the most numerous dweller in the Chulyshman steppe is the ground squirrel. The hoofed animals are of great interest: the maral (Altai wapiti), elk, musk and many other kinds of deer, Siberian ibex, and the very rare Altai sheep, the argali. It is virgin territory where it is still possible to meet snow leopard, one of the most rare big cats of the planet, and where it lives close to the Mongolian species. The argali and irbis have been put down into the Red Book of Russia.
More than 70 species of mammals, 326 species of birds, 18 species of fish, 2 species of amphibians, 7 species of reptiles make up the animal kingdom of the Altai reserve. Also 50 species of birds have been put down in the Red book of Republic Altai, among them 9 species are included in the Russian Red Book: the golden eagle, white-tailed sea eagle, lammergeyer, steppe eagle, peregrine, saker falcon , fish hawk , black vulture. Lake Teletskoye and surrounding rivers contain valuable fish such as taimen, grayling, lenok, and Teletsky whitefish.
Since 1998, the territory of Altaisky zapovednik is a principal part of the World Heritage site «Golden Mountains of Altai». Want you visit unique highland? To see wonderful beauty of lakes, to feel greatness of noisy waterfalls of the Mountain Altai? You can see all that in the Altai reserve if you will visit its ecological routes:
1. Jailu is the centre settlement of Altai reserve where live and work scientific officers and state inspectors. The mountain Chachilgan locates near Jailu from where it can be looked up to 80 % of water area of Lake Teletskoye.
2. Waterfall Korbu is the visiting card of Altai reserve, 12,8 m. in height. Opposite to Korbu on the middle of Lake Teletskoye is noted the greatest depth of 325 m.
3. Waterfall Kokshi is situated at the river Kokshi, the largest tributary of Lake Teletskoye on its right coast. All the river basin is very picturesque place.
4. Waterfall Boskon locates near cordon Chelush. Hidden in large forests, falls of different capacity and sizes make an especial ornament of the Altai reserve.
5. Cordon Bele – the warmest place of Lake Teletskoye (and in all Western Siberia). The special microclimate promotes cultivation of apples, apricots, cherries and grapes. There is here a unique ancient monument «Kazirtash» - a stone-soldier.
6. Waterfall Uchar – the largest in Mountain Altai, 160-meter cascade of falls known also under the name "Unapproachable", one of the largest and most beautiful in Eurasia. The huge stream of water is rushing down by the cascade, being poured and forming an easy fog.
The structure of Altaisky zapovednik includes 4 forest areas, service settlement Jailu and 8 cordons in the territory of Turochak (Karatash, Baigazan, Kokshi) and Ulagan (Chelush, Chodro, Bele, Chiri, Jazula) districts. The office of Altaisky zapovednik is in the town Gorno-Altaisk.
Contact information: 649000, Russia, Altai Republic, Gorno-Altaisk, Communist avenue, 1, phone/fax (388-22) 66-9-44, Director of the Altai rezerve - Kalmykov Igor Vjacheslavovich