Kuznetsky Alatau Nature Reserve is the only natural reserve in the Kemerovo region, created on December 27, 1989. Its total area is 401,812 hectares. A protective zone with a total area of 223 460 hectares has been established around the reserve. It is a member of the association of nature reserves and national parks of the Altai-Sayan ecoregion.
The reserve is located in the south of
Central Siberia in the central part of the western slope of the
Kuznetsky Alatau ridge in the Tisulsky, Novokuznetsk and
Mezhdurechensky districts of the Kemerovo region.
It occupies
about 5% of the Kemerovo region and is located on the western slope
of the Kuznetsky Alatau ridge within three administrative districts:
Tisulsky (95 110 ha), Novokuznetsk (233 682 ha) and Mezhdurechensky
(73 020 ha).
The mountain system of the Kuznetsk Alatau
occupies about one third of the territory of the Kemerovo region.
Not representing a single ridge, it combines mountain ranges of
medium height, separated by deep river valleys. The greatest
dissection of the Kuznetsk Alatau is observed in its southern part,
in the region of ridges located in the upper reaches of the rivers
Usa, Black and White Ius, Upper and Middle Tersey.
In the
west, the reserve is bounded by the Kuznetsk Basin, and in the east
by the administrative border with the Republic of Khakassia. In the
south it borders on the Usa river basin, in the north it has no
clear border. Celestial Teeth, contrary to popular belief, are not
part of the reserve.
1989, December 27
- the reserve was established by the decree of the Government of the
RSFSR No. 385.
1993, September 28 - by the decision of the Small
Council of the Kemerovo Regional Council of People's Deputies No.
213, the boundaries of the reserve were approved, a protected zone
with a limited regime of nature management was approved on the land
and water areas adjacent to the reserve.
1995, August 22 - by the
decision of the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Khakassia
No. 200, the protected zone of the reserve in the Republic of
Khakassia with an area of 8,000 hectares was approved.
1996,
October 4 - by order of the Ministry of Natural Resources and
Ecology of the Russian Federation No. 348-k, A.A. Vasilchenko was
appointed director of the reserve.
The
reserve "Kuznetsk Alatau" was created with the aim of preserving in
a natural state the unique natural complexes of the Kuznetsk Alatau
mountains in conditions of geological development and intensive
forestry. Particular importance is attached to the protection of the
high-mountainous complex with the presence of glaciers, numerous
karst lakes and bogs, as a powerful source of clean fresh water. The
Kuznetskiy Alatau reserve continued to form the geographic network
of ASER reserves. The main tasks of the reserve are monitoring in
the protected and adjacent territories in order to determine the
reaction of natural systems to the impacts of the industrial complex
of Kuzbass, the development of programs and methods for rational use
of natural resources, the protection of rare and endangered animals
and plants. The Kiya-Shaltyrsky mine and the village of Belogorsk
are located on the territory of the reserve zone, which determines
the special regime of this territory.
Within the boundaries
of the reserve, a key ornithological area of the same name of
international importance has been identified as an important nesting
place for taiga and Eurasian alpine species, including such rare
species as the great spotted eagle, saker falcon, corncrake,
mountain snipe, black stork, peregrine falcon.
Until recently, the climatic conditions of the region were studied
extremely unevenly. The highest average monthly wind speeds are
observed during the cold season and especially during the
transitional seasons. In spring and autumn, the frequency of winds
noticeably increases with a speed of more than 10-15 m / s. The
highest speeds are on the tops of the mountains. Winds with a speed
of more than 25-30 m / s are quite frequent here, and their maximum
speeds can presumably reach 60-70 m / s. In summer, hurricane winds
are frequent with a speed exceeding 30-34 m / s. The warmest month
in most cases is July. Air temperatures in June and August are
almost the same.
Subordinate territories and security zone
The protected zone was formed by the Decision of the Small Council
of the Kemerovo Regional Council of People's Deputies No. 213 dated
September 28, 1993. The total area is 245,931 hectares, of which:
in the Tisul district - 23 250 hectares,
in Novokuznetsk - 42,041
hectares,
in Krapivinsky - 96 732 hectares,
in Mezhdurechensk
- 52,275 hectares,
in the Republic of Khakassia - 9 162 hectares.
The width of the buffer zone in the Kemerovo region ranges from
4-20 km, and in the Republic of Khakassia it is 500 meters.
Rafting excursion along the Kiya river;
Rafting excursion along the Usa river;
Rafting excursion on the
Taidon River;
Rafting excursion along the Verkhnyaya Ters river.
Snowmobile route "Taskyl-Tour". Purpose of
the route: recreational, sports, cognitive, ecological and
educational;
Snowmobile route "Reserved distances". Purpose of
the route: recreational, sports, cognitive, ecological and
educational;
Snowmobile route "Winter Safari". Purpose of the
route: recreational, sports, cognitive, ecological and educational.
Ecological Center of the Kuznetsk Alatau Reserve
The
ecological center of the reserve, located between the towns of Myski
and Mezhdurechensk, makes a huge contribution to the development of
recreational and environmental education activities. There is an
open-air cage complex, a Museum.
nature, there is horse
rental. The Wings Rehabilitation Center for Wild Birds has been
operating since 2015, organized jointly with the Beautiful Children
in the Beautiful World charitable foundation.
The aviary
complex consists of several spacious aviaries, which, as of December
2017, contain:
2 Siberian red deer (maral);
2 Siberian roe
deer;
A herd of wild boars;
Rabbits;
Common fox;
Elk;
Teleut squirrel;
American mink.
Most of the animals were
taken to the eco-center wounded and exhausted.
The Wings
Rehabilitation Center was created due to the huge number of injured
birds that local residents brought to the Ecocenter earlier. The
situation is especially complicated in winter, when the food supply
in the forests decreases sharply and birds move in search of food
closer to human habitation. The main types of injuries are fractures
of the wings, injuries of the paws. After successful rehabilitation,
the birds are released.
The center consists of a pond for
waterfowl and aviaries (both winter and summer). At the moment, the
Center contains:
Whooper swan;
A flock of ducks;
6 black
kites;
Buzzard;
2 peregrine falcons;
2 common kestrels.
During the work of the Center, several dozen birds have been
returned to nature.
The Museum of Nature presents expositions
and materials related to the Kuznetsk Alatau reserve and the
country's reserve system as a whole. There is also an exhibition of
photographic works "The path of the Kuznetsk Alatau".
In
addition, there is a horse rental service at the Ecocenter. There is
a possibility of renting gazebos, barbecue facilities The ecological
center of the reserve is a popular recreation place for the
population of Novokuznetsk, Myskov and Mezhdurechensk and other
cities of the Kemerovo region. Numerous environmental educational
excursions are held here, various environmental events and holidays
are organized. On average, about 20 thousand people visit the
Ecocenter per year.
There are many unique
objects on the territory of the reserve:
Glaciers Unikalnyy in
the Kuznetsk Alatau for the inland regions of the northern
hemisphere is the existence of small forms of glaciers at unusually
low absolute altitudes - 1200-1500 m above sea level. No glaciers
have been found in any of the inland regions of the northern
hemisphere at similar latitudes. On the territory of the reserve
there are 32 glaciers with a total area of 6.79 sq. Km. Of these,
the largest in the Kemerovo Region is the Glacier of the expedition
members with an area of 0.3 sq. km. Located in the vicinity of
Mount Sredniy Kanym.
Lake Srednetersinskoe. The deepest lake in
Kuzbass. Its depth is over 60 meters. The lake is of karst origin.
The Srednyaya Ters river starts from the lake.
Lake Rybnoye. The
largest mountain-glacial lake in the Kemerovo region, its length is
1000 m, width is 500 meters. The Verkhnyaya Ters River, one of the
most beautiful rivers of the reserve, originates from this lake. The
lake form of grayling constantly lives in the lake.
Mount Bolshoi
Kanym, height 1872 meters. Remains of the most ancient relief of the
Kuznetsky Alatau ridge. The highest mountain in the reserve.
Mount Chemodan, height 1357 m. At the foot there is a raised moss
bog, on the slopes there are thickets of Rhodiola rosea and Leuzea
sofloridovidny, there are summer stations for reindeer, roe deer,
and maral. Rare species of birds nest - peregrine falcon, saker
falcon.
Krestovskie bogs, Located at the foot of the Pestraya
Mountain (1347 m). Riding bogs with typical vegetation. Ungulates
concentrate here during spring-autumn migrations.
Stanovy ridge, the highest point is 1445 m. The vertical zoning
of plant communities is clearly expressed here. The mountain
landscapes are adorned with numerous tar lakes. Permanent habitats
of maral and roe deer.
Rastai river basin. Marked with a black
stork (nesting possible), in the upper reaches there are beaver
settlements. In the summer, there is a large concentration of
ungulates.
Mount Otkryty/ Open, height - 1402 meters. There are
numerous tarn lakes. Summer stations of maral. Peregrine falcon and
reindeer are among the rare species; the safflower leuzea grows
along the stream valleys. For the first time a hybrid sedum was
found here for the Kuznetsk Alatau. This natural community is one of
the unique and inimitable for the nature of Kuzbass.
Mount
Zelenaya/ Green, height - 910 m. There are numerous tar lakes. The
butterflies listed in the Red Book of Russia - the sailing ships
Apollo and the Swallowtail, as well as very rapidly reducing their
numbers in Kuzbass - the daytime peacock, lemongrass. There are many
rare and endemic plant species.
Bezymyanny/ Nameless Brook (right
tributary of the Kiya River) Rare and endangered plant species grow
in the stream valley: curly lily, duck peony, safflower leuzea,
occasionally Rhodiola rosea, Siberian kandyk and other primroses.
Velvet Ridge. Covered with cedar woods mixed with fir.
Representatives of the orchid family are found in abundance here,
large glades with real and large-flowered shoes, thickets of
safflower leuzea and serpentine mountaineer are noted. Peregrine
falcon nesting was noted.
Mount Bear Summer stations of the
reindeer, red deer. Rhodiola rosea and other rare plants grow.
Tydyn ridge. Swampy areas are presented as excellent sources of
fresh water. Area of seasonal migration of ungulates.