Dagestansky Nature Reserve, Russia

Dagestansky Nature Reserve is a state natural reserve in the Republic of Dagestan. The Dagestan State Natural Reserve was established on January 9, 1987, and is located on two heterogeneous areas within the Tarumovsky and Buinaksky regions. Area 19,061 ha. The parts of the reserve are located within the plains of Dagestan. Wintering place for migratory birds.

Protective zones with a total area of ​​21065 hectares have been created on the lands and water areas adjacent to the protected areas, including 19,890 hectares in the Kizlyar Bay, and 1175 hectares on Sarykum.

In 2009, three federal zakazniks ("Agrakhansky", with an area of ​​39,000 hectares, "Samursky" - 11,200 hectares and "Tlyaratinsky" - 83,500 hectares) were transferred to the management of the reserve in the same status.

The climate of Dagestansky Nature Reserve is continental.

Kumtorkala sands - an area of ​​about 3000 hectares, which is a series of ridge sands and dunes. There is Sarykum - the largest single-standing dune not only in Russia, but on the entire continent of Eurasia, reaching an absolute height of 262 m.

Flora and fauna
In the Kizlyar Bay, perch, pike, carp, sturgeon, stellate sturgeon, beluga, rudd, bream, tench, roach, catfish are found. Reptiles include the common snake, the steppe viper and the Mediterranean turtle. Nesting pelicans, flamingos, little bustard, sultan hen, bustard.

 

The composition of the reserve
The reserve includes:
• protected areas "Kizlyar Bay" (18,485 hectares) and "Sarykum dunes" (576 hectares);

• Samursky National Park (48,273 hectares), which includes two clusters: the coastal Samur Delta and the mountainous Shalbuzdag;

• Three federal reserves: Agrakhansky (39,000 hectares), Samursky (1,940 hectares) and Tlyaratinskiy (83,500 hectares).

Protected areas:
The Kizlyarsky Bay site is located in the Tarumovsky district in the north of Dagestan, at the mouth of the Kuma River. The protected area covers shallow sea waters and gently sloping shores of the northwestern part of the Kizlyar Bay. In 2017, the Kizlyar Bay received the status of a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve - a territory created to preserve biological diversity.
The Sarykum barkhany site is located in the Kumtorkalinsky district of the Republic of Dagestan, 18 km northwest of Makhachkala, at the base of the northern slopes of the Narat-Tyube ridge on the left bank of the Shura-Ozen River. Fixed hummocky sands have become widespread around Sarykum.
Samursky National Park:
In 2019, by Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation dated December 25, 2019 No. 1839, the Samursky National Park was created, with a total area of 48,273 hectares, which consists of two clusters in the Samur Delta and the highlands of South Dagestan.

Federal Reserves:
Agrakhansky Reserve - the reserve occupies the northern halves of the Agrakhansky Gulf and the Agrakhansky Peninsula. Designed to preserve and restore rare and endangered wildlife and their habitats.
Reserve "Samursky" - the territory of the reserve consists of an array of floodplain broad-leaved liana forests of the Samur delta, dissected by numerous branches of the river. The total area of the reserve until 2019 was 11.2 thousand hectares. In 2019, most of the reserve became part of the national park of the same name, in connection with this, the area of \u200b\u200bthe reserve was reduced to 1939.9 hectares.
The Tlyaratinsky Reserve is located in the Tlyaratinsky District, in the upper reaches of the Avarskoye Koysu River (the basin of the Dzhurmut River) and covers the northern slopes of the Main Caucasian Range and the southwestern spurs of the Nukatl Range. In the south it borders on the Lagodekhi Reserve of Georgia and the Zakatala Reserve of Azerbaijan.

Flora
Rare and endangered species of plants grow on the territory of the reserve - Leman's astragalus, leafless dzhuzgun, acute iris, leafless eremosparton, floating water chestnut, common sword grass, etc.

Fauna
Perch, pike, carp, sturgeon, stellate sturgeon, beluga, rudd, bream, tench, roach, catfish are found in the Kizlyar Bay. Of the reptiles - common snake, steppe viper and Mediterranean tortoise. Nests of pelicans, flamingos, little bustards, Sultan's chicken, bustards.