Altai Reserve
Altai Nature Reserve is located in Russia, with a total area of about 8,900 km2 in the central-eastern part of the Altai Territory, including the entire water area of Telec Lake. The protected area was created in 1932 with the aim of preserving the nature of taiga, tundra, the mountains of South Siberia and saving animals on the verge of extinction. The Altai Reserve ranks first among Russian reserves in the diversity of representatives of flora and fauna.
On the border are the alpine ridges, the highest mountain – Bogoyash. In these places there are many springs with cleanest cold water.
Of the total area of the protected area, about 2,500 km2 forests, 130 km2 – water bodies. Forests are quite very different from each other – from the predominance of fir in the north to cedar in the south, and then replaced by deciduous trees. In the valley of lakes and rivers, pine forests predominate.
There are close to 1190 lakes. The main ones are the largest lake Dzhulukul, towering 2200 meters above sea point and Telec Lake, which is called « the little Baikal of Western Siberia ». Telecsky pond is the most picturesque, which contains fresh cleanest water. You can admire the picturesque beauty by rolling on a motor ship, which is equipped with glazed decks and all necessary safety equipment.
Many rivers flow on the territory of the Altai Reserve, of which more than a dozen have waterfalls from 6 to 60 m high.
The most beautiful and largest is the cascading waterfall Uchar, or « Unapproachable », on the Chulche River. The second name is quite true, since getting to it is not so simple. But all the difficulties of a long road with excess overlaps the exciting sight of the indescribable beauty of the rampant water element. The water drop height is 160 meters. Waterfall is considered the youngest creation of the nature of the Altai Mountains, since it was formed less than two hundred years ago. Cascades of waterfall, where one drain smoothly flows into another, create a unique roar that permeates through and through, leaving other sounds inaudible.
A variety of vegetation is presented in forests, on high mountain tundra, meadows, swamps and steppes. The fauna of the reserve includes more than 300 species of birds, 70 species of mammals, 16 species of fish. Especially protected rare species are listed in the Red Book.
The protected area is part of the World Heritage Site « Golden Mountains Altai » and World Heritage « UNESCO ».
