Centrally located Todzha Basin in the Republic of Tuva, was founded in 1985.It has an area of 300.4 hectares."Azas" - nature reserve, a short "biography" which sounds exactly.In this article we will tell you more about this wonderful place.
From the history of
"Azas" - reserve, created in 1985 on the basis of the reserve of the republican values "Azas".The main purpose - the protection and study of unique and typical ecosystems Todzha Basin and surrounding mountains, the protection of flora and fauna of southern Siberia.
Geographic features
Reserve "Azas" is located in the former glaciation, which has created a unique topography.The bottom of the basin from west to east is increased from 850 to 2000 meters.It is surrounded by highlands, reaching a height of 2900 meters.
Mountain River Nature Reserve are different thresholds, clamps and waterfalls.They are spotlessly clean and the water is transparent - you can see them through the gravel bottom.The largest rivers of the reserve - and Sorug Azas.
climate is temperate humid and continental.Winter in this area is very cold and windless.Summer is pretty cool - and summer frosts occur.
minimum January temperature can reach -54 ° C, but in the last 15 years, it did not fall below -49 ° C.The average daily temperature in January -28,7 ºC, in July +14,6 ºC.
Geology The geological structure of the area involved Paleozoic and Proterozoic rocks - conglomerates, sandstones, limestones, gneisses, schists, porphyry, granite intrusions.In the east they are covered thick layer of tuff and basalt.
Flora
Reserve "Azas" has a great diversity of vegetation.She is represented by different types - meadows, prairies, swamps, tundra.Vascular plants represented 909 species, most of which occur in Eurasia and Asia.
territory of the reserve is inhabited by more than 20 different species of ferns, which are located in areas with high humidity.The family includes 5 types of pine trees, these include the larch, Siberian pine and Scots pine.
important role in the formation of the landscape play a birch (Drooping and fluffy) and willow tree, which grow on rocky soils along rivers and lakes.
«Azas" - Reserve Russia, which are under the protection and flowering plants.These include lady's slipper, Orchis militaris, saussurea Dorogostaisky.
«Azas" - reserve, in which there are more than 200 medicinal plants - spirea (middle and dubrovkolistnaya) echinated rose, berry bushes, tolstolisty saxifrage, Siberian rowan and others.
For ornamental species, growing in the reserve, should include a wide variety of Ranunculaceae and Asteraceae, all kinds of orchids, and most of the lily.
in Lakeshire and bogs can be found sedge and marsh cranberries.More than 6% of the territory "Azas" occupy marshy woodlands.By kinds of edible berries other than cranberries are grown in mountain taiga forests of blueberries, cranberries and blueberries, and in lowland forests - black currant, which reaches a height of 3 m, red currants, wild garlic grows along streams or onion winning.
vegetation cover of the reserve - is the predominance of the mountain taiga forest (mostly pine and deciduous), on the slopes - dominated steppes, at the foot of the slopes formed tundra-Goltsev community.
Tundra presented juniper shrubs dominated communities rhododendron Adams.
Reserve "Azas": animals
Fauna Reserve is typical of this mountainous region.Today it is represented by 51 species of mammals, 23 of which are considered rare or endangered.
most diverse on these lands rodent.The hardwood, pine and mixed forests common protein found.In the highlands among the tundra meadows and live long-tailed ground squirrel colonies.Spring Dale wakes up in the reserve.This animal is considered to be quite rare here.
Small rodents are represented by red-gray and red-backed vole, vole, Asian forest mouse.Often found muskrat, but its population is small due to lack of feed, due to the deep freezing waters.
Tuva beaver
This animal should tell more.The first mention of Tuva beaver appeared in the late XIX century - they were found in the upper reaches of the Yenisei.Locals claim that the animal is revered as sacred, because hunting has been banned.However, in the early 60s the population of beavers living on the river Azas, was only 24 individuals.Today, that number has increased more than 3 times.
Beavers prefer to settle in areas with great depth, slow flow and high banks.Certainly, they should ensure feed resources.
Reserve "Azas" - a place where otters survive in very harsh conditions - limited food supply, the lack of sufficient space for arrangement of holes.This may explain their low fertility.
predators and other animals in the reserve
number of wolves does not exceed 60 individuals.They feed on Siberian stags and roe deer.The permanent inhabitants of the reserve began to brown bears, which are at the beginning of the summer choose a place with grassy vegetation.In autumn they go into the forest, sometimes prey on ungulates.
sable population is small - no more than three animals per 1,000 hectares.It feeds on berries, nuts, rodent.But the weasel and stoat is widely represented.Sometimes you can see a wolverine, and in the aquatic environment inhabited by the American mink and river otter.
throughout the reserve live moose, which are under special protection.
Birds
populates Lake black-throated diver, geese inhabit the small and middle taiga lake.
thickets of water and riparian vegetation lake Azas good for nesting ducks.Of these, the most common wigeon, mallard, teal, shoveler, gray duck.
Representative of birds of prey is the goshawk, common buzzard and sparrowhawk, hunting small birds - sparrows and tits.
Kites settle in the valleys of taiga rivers and Lake Azas.White-tailed eagle - the largest bird of prey in the reserve.They arrive in early April.Their number is stable and does not cause concern.
on public and forest marshy areas settles gray crane.
«Azas" - Reserve photos which you can see in this article, has become a permanent home to nine species of owls.The largest predator among birds - Ural owl.Much less can be seen marsh owl, hawk flies in the reserve only during seasonal migrations.In the spring you can hear the owl hoots.Small owls live in the dark woods.
In late May - early June, huge flocks of swifts feed on the surface of the water.The reserve is spread belopoyasny, black, and white-throated needletail.Among the rare and endangered birds on the reserve there are osprey, white-tailed eagle, black stork, golden eagle, saker falcon.
Amphibians
to the order of amphibians that inhabit the reserve "Azas" is Siberian salamander and frog Rana, who spread moist places.
reptiles in this area are few and quite rare lizard (viviparous and nimble), and ordinary copperhead snake adder.
Tourist Paradise
Reserve "Azas" - a beautiful alpine landscapes with volcanoes, canyons, cirques, mineral springs and countless lakes.The reserve has 18 sacred places worshiped by the indigenous population - tozhu tuvans.A special attraction of these places are considered arzhaans (Beach-Sorug, Oorash).
The reserve developed hiking trails, which acquaints visitors with the boreal and alpine ecosystems, with religious ceremonies, conducted at medical sources in the everyday life of reindeer herders.
Lake Azas - natural heritage of this land.It is located at an altitude of 944 meters.It can be visited during a day trip.
no less interest is the large border and Lake Reserve - Kadysh and Mana-Khol.Their maximum depth is 100 meters.
In the highlands are spectacular volcanoes, mountain rivers - the waterfalls and canyons.This landscape contrasts with colorful alpine meadows.
