Ergaki

Ergaki is a nature park in the Krasnoyarsk Territory, named after the name of the ridges. The park was founded in 2005 on an area of 3,428 ^km2. Since the 1990s, the park has become very popular among tourists and artists.

According to many scientists, the name "Ergaki" originated from the Tuvan word "ergek", which translates as finger. The peaks of the mountains are compared with fingers, among which the Starry peak stands out, slightly resembling a thumb. But the similarity of the peaks to the fingers is questionable for some, so other versions have been put forward. So the word "irgek" is translated as a bear, "ergin" - threshold, "ergil" - holiday, "yrgak" - curved. The mountains themselves are visible from the north for a hundred kilometers and look like a curved horizon line. The mountains in Ergaki are treated by glaciers and some have their own names: Starry, Mirror, Youth, Bird, Dragon's Tooth.

Ergaki Park is located almost in the center of the mainland, which has influenced its flora and fauna, because it is located at the junction of the Siberian taiga and the steppes of Central Asia. There is a lot of rain in the northern part of the park and a mild climate, as the mountain range does not allow rain clouds to pass through. The southern part has a pronounced continental climate with hot summers, cold winters and low rainfall. Rains and melting snow feed a large number of rivers and picturesque lakes. Rivers abound with rapids and gullies, as granite rocks are difficult to erode.

The park has a rich cultural heritage, in ancient times the Great Siberian Way passed through Ergaki. The trade of Kievan Rus and the Ancient Kazakh state passed along this route, the road greatly helped the formation of Russia in the 11th-12th century. Researchers have discovered coins from Ancient China, the Black Sea region, as well as Arabic coins in the park. Furs, meat, and precious metals were transported through the park from Tuva, but the road through the park was very dangerous and caravans often lost goods and people due to weather conditions and rockfalls. Since the 19th century, attempts have been made to colonize the territory of the Sayan Mountains. People settled near hunting trails, among them were runaway peasants, schismatics, Old Believers, and free migrants.

Over 200 species of birds can be seen in Ergaki Nature Park, of which 44 are listed in the Red Book. About 100 species of birds live in the forest area, of which flycatchers, capercaillies, grouse, cedars, thrushes, and owls can often be found. Partridges, Himalayan finches, mountain hollows, and pheasants live in the high-altitude areas. Although the park has a harsh climate, due to the diversity of ecosystems and the wide zoning zone, there is a wide variety of birds in Ergaks. Of the animals, it is worth noting otters, lynxes, wild boars, moose, marals, deer, hares, bears, foxes, sables. There are 49 species of mammals in the park. Chronicles mention encounters with a red wolf and a snow leopard, but they are not found in the park these days.