In the northeastern part of the Altai Republic, in a region of pristine purity and untouchable nature, on the shores of the picturesque Lake Teletskoye, the Altai Biosphere Nature Reserve stretches. The entire area of ​​its territory is 881 thousand hectares, almost 250 thousand hectares of which are forest zones, and 13 thousand hectares are reservoirs.

The Altai Nature Reserve, formed in 1932, is currently considered one of the rarest natural reserves in Russia, a pristine and little changed ecoregion. Since 1998, this protected area has been a UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site. The biological diversity within the biosphere reserve is 90%.

Features of the reserve

The vast area of ​​the natural reserve with mountain peaks, mysterious coniferous forests, alpine green meadows, mountain tundra and clear reservoirs stretches from north to south for as much as 230 km. Its complex landscape with altitudes up to 3500 m, excellent climatic zones and natural conditions provide a variety of vegetation cover.

The most common trees are fir and pine, cedar, birch and larch. Particularly important are the old highland cedar forests (with trees reaching 1.8 m in diameter), which are approximately 400 to 450 years old.

This protected area in the Altai Republic, like other reserves in Russia, is very important for the conservation rare species animals and plants that are at risk of possible extinction. Among them are birds - demoiselle crane, black vulture, and plants - Altai onion and rhubarb, Siberian kandyk and others. It is noteworthy that the reserve has its own coat of arms, which depicts the snow leopard, the irbis, as well as the Altai mountain sheep, the argali - the most significant and protected animals in the region.

The real kingdom of lakes is located on the territory of the reserve - there are more than 1270 large lakes, many rivers, streams and waterfalls. The unusual and beautifully transparent high-mountain lake Dzhulukul is a place where a variety of bird species live in large numbers, and rare and valuable fish species spawn. It is located at an altitude of 2200 m, and its length is more than 10 km.

The main visiting card of the reserve is Lake Teletskoye; it is also called the pearl of the Altai Mountains and “little Baikal”. It is noteworthy that the border of the protected area runs in the middle of the reservoir, so tourists are allowed to openly visit it in this part. The diverse species composition of flora and fauna is very interesting to study. Of the 1,500 species of vascular plants, 22 are listed in the Red Book of the Russian Federation. And 49 plants are listed in the Red Book of Altai.

Possibility of visiting

To visit the protected area, a permit or a special pass is required, so to obtain them you must first submit an application to the central office of the reserve or fill out an electronic form on the official website of the reserve.

Designed especially for tourists with an environmental focus. Eco-education is possible both in multi-day and one-day routes.

In the villages of Yogach, Yailyu and Artybash located near the reserve, camp sites, campsites and guest houses have been built. In the village of Artybash there is an information center for tourists, where you can get information about tourism services and accommodation options. In addition, some local residents offer their homes for accommodation.

Sights and monuments

During water and walking excursion tours with environmental and educational purposes, guests of the reserve have the opportunity not only to get acquainted with the flora and fauna, but also to learn about the work of inspectors and staff of the reserve.

The routes provide an opportunity for nature lovers to explore the following attractions:

  1. Korbu waterfall with an observation deck;
  2. Kokshi waterfall with an observation deck;
  3. Bascon Waterfall;
  4. Belinskaya Terrace Orchard;
  5. Chulyshman River and Inaccessible Waterfall;
  6. Uchar waterfall (160 m high);

In addition to natural attractive attractions, an integral part of the reserve complex are stone monuments and ancient sculptures, the remains of burial mounds and irrigation systems, as well as other traces of the ancient peoples living on this land. Among them are monuments of Turkic times - Stone-War and Stone-Dog.

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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. The Altai Nature Reserve is part of the Altai territories included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. The purpose of creating a protected zone is to protect the natural complex of Siberia and study the ecosystems of the region.

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. Above 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. Thus, the southern 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!

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 of bats are of interest. 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. You can also see it here 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. 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 processes, as well as scientific research, are carried out here. 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 – Erebia Kindermanni

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

Between the Urals and the Yenisei stretches the vast West Siberian Plain, along which the Ob, one of the greatest rivers in the world, flows. It is formed from the confluence of the Biya and Katun rivers, originating in the Altai Mountains. Altai means “golden”. To the east of Lake Teletskoye there is the Altai Nature Reserve. It was organized in 1932. Its area is currently 881 thousand hectares. After the Kronotsky Nature Reserve, the Altai Nature Reserve is the second largest in the country. In the village of Yailyu, on the northeastern shore of Lake Teletskoye, the base of the Altai Nature Reserve is located. The village is located in one of the warmest places in Siberia. This is the only place in Siberia where there are suitable conditions for the ripening of walnuts, grapes, prunes, apricots, antonovka six hundred grams and pears. More than 1000 plant species grow in the moss-shrub tundra, in high alpine meadows, in the taiga, and in small steppe areas. The taiga near Lake Teletskoye is called Chernevoy. The dark coniferous forest consists of cedar (Siberian pine), fir, ate. Between the trees grow giant grasses in which the rider can hide. Impenetrable thickets in the undergrowth black And red currant, raspberries, mountain ash, viburnum, bird cherry. They grow on screes and rocky mountain slopes. gooseberry and evergreen shrub - Rhododendron Daurian, local name picker. In early spring, when the maralberry blooms, the rocks seem to be covered with pink-violet foam, which sways in the wind, and it seems that the mountains are covered with a transparent colored blanket. More than half forest areas are made up of cedar trees. In all zones, herbaceous plants create a colorful living carpet that changes its colors. Bloom in early spring white And bright yellow buttercups, large white And blue anemones. Golden and dazzling yellow silky flowers Adonis are replaced by purple meadows kandyka, lungworts, orange lights are blazing everywhere Zharkov. In summer there is more blue background from catchments or red from scarlet poppies and pink from carnation. Within the Altai Nature Reserve there are up to 20 species of relict plants: these are European hooffoot, woodruff, Voronets, Circe and others preserved from the Tertiary period. Right by the water on the shore of Lake Teletskoye, onions grow on sand, pebbles, and also high in the mountains; on dry rocky areas - bergenia.

A large amount of vegetation creates favorable conditions for animal life. Animals are distributed among high-altitude natural zones. There are nomadic species that move from one mountain zone to another. Scientists of the Altai Nature Reserve have recorded 66 species of mammals, 331 species of birds, 3 species of amphibians and 6 reptiles, and 19 species of fish.

You can meet anywhere in the taiga bear. Restored in the forest zone sable, the number of which in the Altai Nature Reserve exceeds 1000 individuals. Lives in the forests of the Altai Mountains for a long time maral(Noble deer). In summer, the head of males is decorated with young, unossified antlers - antlers. The graceful nimble one is often found ermine. Along the Kamgi and Oyer valleys you can find roe deer. Come across wolverine, speakers, weasel, lynx and others. Moves quickly from one tree to another squirrel. A flying squirrel flies from tree to tree. Rare specially protected animals of the reserve - Siberian ibex And Snow Leopard.

Constantly hearing clicking and whistling noises chipmunk, living everywhere. Herds of herds have been preserved in the mountain tundra zone of the reserve reindeer. Several species live in the Chulyshman valley, in the Pritelets taiga bats. They winter in caves, tree hollows, even in bear dens. Bats are very voracious. In a day they eat more than they weigh themselves. By destroying harmful insects (mosquitoes, flies), they bring great benefits to humans.

There are many birds in the Altai Nature Reserve. Often the silence of the forest is disturbed nutcrackers (nuts). They feed on pine nuts, which they often do not eat, but hide by burying them in the ground. A few years later, a cedar tree grows in the place of the storeroom. Thus, nutcrackers help the reproduction of this tree. The forest is not visible in the variegated colors grouse in its protective plumage. In the Chulyshman valley live gray partridge And quail.

Most of the reserve is occupied by the Chulyshman Highlands, where mountain ranges and isolated elevations with rocky slopes rise. At an altitude of more than 2000 m, it is still winter in May, then a short, bright spring sets in. June is cold, at the beginning there is still snow. Most warm month- July. It's cold again in August.

Vast flat areas occupied by swamps are overgrown with mountain tundra shrubs. Saucer-shaped depressions are filled with water - here is the kingdom of small lakes. Among them is a giant lake - Dzhulukul, which gave rise to the Chulyshman River. Lives on the Chulyshman Highlands white partridge. It is widespread in places where it grows dwarf birch. Near Lake Julukul, there are up to 140 of these birds on one square kilometer. Comes across less often tundra partridge. They stop at the lakes migratory birds. On Lake Julukule, two small, barely noticeable islands are called bird colonies. In spring various waders that remain to nest. There are 16 species of ducks in the reserve. The smallest - teal-whistle nests in lakes and swamps of the Chulyshman Highlands. On the Shapshalsky ridge in the rocky tundra lives Altai snowcock, a very rare bird.

In the Altai Nature Reserve, all natural complex: the richest vegetation of mountain landscapes, animal world, lakes, rivers, caves.

Lake of the Altai Nature Reserve

Lake Teletskoye, located on the territory of the Altai Nature Reserve, is one of the most beautiful lakes in our country. They say about the lake that it is a “blue wonder”, “the pearl of the Altai Mountains”, “the younger brother of Baikal”, and the Altaians call it “Altyn-Kel”, which means “Golden Lake”.

Lake Teletskoye is located at an altitude of 436m above sea level, its greatest depth is 325m. It ranks fourth in depth among the country's largest lakes. The shape of the Taurus basin resembles the root of a giant plant: rivers and rivers (and there are more than 70 of them), like hairy roots, cling to the lake on all sides and feed it with their waters. In the south, the Chulyshman River, originating from the high-mountain lake Dzhulukul, flows into Lake Teletskoye, and in the north the Biya River flows out of it.

On a clear sunny day, those sailing on boats on the greenish surface of the lake can see silvery ribbons descending from the slopes of the mountains - these are rivers. White and foamy water, along rocky and rocky beds with steep ledges, rushes down with a roar, forming waterfalls and raging whirlpools. Some waterfalls are located near the shore of Lake Teletskoye, for example, in the northeast, on a tributary of the Kamga River, the beautiful Bolshoi Shaltan waterfall. Not every daredevil manages to reach it: sheer cliffs go into the sky, and below they approach the river. Huge stones and boulders cover the bottom of the gorge, and the water rushes through the dams in such a roaring stream that not even a rifle shot can be heard. When you approach the waterfall through the gorge, a strip of water 20 meters high blocks the exit. It seems that the strip is moving towards us, hits the ledges, breaks into tiny splashes, rises up in a cloud and falls again.

The lake is home to 13 species of fish: taimen, whitefish, grayling, Yelets, perches, loaches, sculpins etc. The smallest fish is found here - Teletska sprat(its average weight is 13 g, and its length is 12 cm) and the largest fish is taimen (weighing more than 40 kg and almost 2 m long). Teletska sprat is poorly studied and it is unknown where it lives. It is caught in the deep-sea part of the lake and is considered very rare. There are known cases when it accumulated in large quantities in the shallow bays of the lake and at the sources of the Biya River. After strong storms, dead sprat are found on the shores of the lake. It is not clear why a deep-sea fish is washed ashore by a wave.

The most valuable commercial fish of Lake Teletskoye is taimen. Taimen is a voracious predator; it eats everything it comes across in the water: fish, waterfowl, frogs, even squirrels if they begin to swim across the river flowing into the lake. With its huge mouth, the taimen captures prey and holds it in its powerful jaws with sharp teeth. Taimen's teeth are arranged in two rows in a semicircle. In the spring, this fish accumulates at the mouth of the Chulyshman, where its spawning grounds are located. Large copper-colored fish with fiery red fins move upstream to spawn.

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Altai Republic, Turachaksky district

Founding history
The Altai Nature Reserve has existed since 1932, and has a very turbulent history. So, its area changed several times, it was liquidated twice, and then restored. Currently, one of the largest reserves in Southern Siberia has an area of ​​more than 880 thousand hectares (the original area was 1.3 million hectares), and with an average latitude of about 35 km, it extends from north to south for 250 km.
The originality and uniqueness of this territory have also received international recognition: together with the quiet zone of the Ukok plateau, Lake Teletskoye and the lakeside taiga, the Altai Reserve is included in the World Natural Heritage Site "Golden Mountains of Altai".

Physiographical features
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; the highest mountain here is Bogoyash (3143 meters).
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 150 meters. 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 meters per second!
There are 1190 lakes in the reserve, the largest and most famous of them are Dzhulukul, located at an altitude of 2200 meters 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.



Diversity of flora and fauna
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. Some specimens of cedar reach an age of 600 years. The flora of the Altai Nature Reserve includes about 1,500 species of plants, many endemics and relicts: dendranthema notamata-leaved, cynophyte, Siberian kandyk, loose sedge.
The diversity of the animal world is determined by the complex natural-historical development of the region. Here you can meet inhabitants of high latitudes (reindeer, partridge), and inhabitants of the Mongolian steppes (gray marmot), and many typical “taiga inhabitants”. Predators presented brown bear, trot, wolverine, sable.
Birds include: capercaillie, hazel grouse, ptarmigan, golden eagle and black stork. Lake Teletskoye and its tributaries are home to grayling, taimen, and lenok.

What to watch
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.
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.

Based on materials from oopt.info and zapoved.ru

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 grounds for various representatives of the bird world, and a spawning site the most valuable breeds fish 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. Species composition Plants and animals are interesting for their 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”. 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: 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 geographical location 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. The weather conditions in the autumn-winter period are greatly influenced by the Asian anticyclone. 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 at the peaks high mountains and in the valleys of mid-mountains, high levels of 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:

The coldest month is 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. 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 weathering processes.

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 high-level leveling surfaces are 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. The total area of ​​these landforms is 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 talus cones, sometimes reaching enormous sizes. 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 of which they are tributaries, have hanging valleys that break off into waterfalls at their 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 bears the characteristic features of a 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 the summer months, from the second half of June to September, does not fall below 100 C. Of the salt composition ingredients in the water of the river. 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 in a 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 and have gently sloping 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). Characterized by small in size and very shallow depths [Project for the organization and development of forestry of the Altai State 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. The coastline is slightly winding; 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.

Drumlinnoe

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 largest lake in Altai, it lies at an altitude of 436 meters above sea level, surrounded by high mountain ranges 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 for 3 years to provide Russia with 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 height of the catchment area, 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 a huge 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 the predominance of crystalline rocks in the sharply dissected drainage basin. 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 competition scientific degree 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 of the Proterozoic and Paleozoic (chlorite and crystalline schists, phyllite, gneiss), as well as igneous intrusive rocks of the Cambrian period (granitoids). In intermountain depressions, river valleys and on mountain slopes, glacial deposits of the Quaternary period are widespread. 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 turf soils under fescue and cobresia meadows are developed. 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].

The map diagram of the altitudinal boundaries of the formation of soil belts in the Dzhulukul depression (Fig. 8P), compiled on the basis of the use 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 intermountain basins, river valleys and slopes of middle 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 slopes high mountains (1100-2200 m above sea level), a belt of mountain-tundra, mountain-meadow and mountain meadow-steppe soils of high mountains (1600-3400 m above sea level) [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 of varying degrees of 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 significantly 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].