Tunkinsky National Park
Tunkinsky National Park in Buryatia. The park was founded in 1991 and covers an area of 11,837 km2. It was created in order to protect the natural complexes of the Lake Baikal basin, the Khamar-Daban and Eastern Sayan ranges, as well as the Tunka Valley.
Other rather important areas of activity of this park are the development of national culture and, at the same time, the creation of good conditions for a good rest. Tunka National Park is a place where picturesque landscapes, dry sunny climate, healing mineral springs, as well as clear mountain rivers offer excellent relaxation.
The land of Tunka Park is a mountainous area with rather rugged terrain. Flat areas can be seen in intermountain basins, as well as in wide areas of river valleys. The highest point of the mountains is approximately 3,490 meters, and the lowest is 668 meters above sea level. Throughout the territory, starting from west to east, the main river called Irkut flows along the Tunka Park. This river originates from Lake Ilchir, which is located at an altitude of 1,963 meters and flows into the Angara. The climate of the area in which the park is located is temperate continental. The summer season here is moderately warm, and the winter season is long and at the same time quite cold. In January, the average air temperature drops to -25 degrees. July is considered to be the warmest month, with a temperature of 17 degrees.
In Tunka Park, you can find vegetation that perfectly expresses all the main ecosystems of the boreal sector of the southern part of Siberia. These are swamps and meadows in the valleys, forest-steppes and steppes in the foothills of the tundra, and alpine meadows that are located in the highlands. Rare plants grow in this park, including the brilliant dogwood, dagana grouse and others. Among the wildlife of this park, you can find animals that are characteristic of the inhabitants of the taiga, rocky mountain peaks and the steppe. In the forests of the Eastern Sayan and Khamar-Daban, you can find reindeer and Siberian mountain goats, which are rare types of animals listed in the Red Book of Buryatia. Golden eagle, eagle owl, great spotted eagle, black stork and a couple more bird species found in the park are listed in the Red Book of Russia.
There are a huge number of magnificent natural monuments on the territory of Tunka Park, including among them: "Marble Bottom", which is a small section of the Kyngargi riverbed; a spring called "Hongor-Uula", near which several boarding houses are open; "Hobok Lake" is a picturesque round mountain lake near the foot of the Tunka char. Various types of excursions are organized throughout the park - hiking, bus and horseback riding, as well as climbing a mountain called Munko Saridak, which is located at an altitude of 3490 meters.
If you find yourself in this park, then you definitely need to visit the Buddhist datsan called "Tushita", the exclusive ethnographic museum of the history of this village, as well as the Buryat village of Khoitogol. Almost all travelers were delighted with the sight of such extinct volcanoes as Kovrizhka, located near the foot of the Tunka Chars, the Chersky volcano, as well as the Hara Baldock structure. Tunka Park is located on the border with Mongolia, so once in the park, tourists will have the opportunity to visit a lake called Khubsugul.
