Baikal-Lena State Nature Reserve: interesting facts, photo. Flora and fauna of the Baikal-Lensky reserve

In this article we want to talk about the Baikal-Lensky Reserve. Coming to Baikal, few people think about the fact that it is in these parts that the unique unique fauna and flora is miraculously preserved, and also conditions for comfortable rest of tourists are organized.

Location of the reserve

The Baikal-Lena State Nature Reserve was founded in 1986. It is located in the Olkhon and Kachugsky areas in the Irkutsk region. The main goal of his organization was the preservation of natural complexes, which are typical for the north-western Baikal region. The reserve stretches along the western part of Lake Baikal for 120 kilometers. Its total area is more than 659 thousand hectares.

The territory of the Baikal-Lensky Reserve is located in the northern part of the mountains of southern Siberia. It occupied the southern part of the Baikal Range, which belongs to the Sayano-Baikal mountain region.

The reserve zone falls on the territory of increased seismicity. For a year here there are up to two hundred earthquakes.

Climate of the protected area

The climate of the Baikal-Lensky Reserve, in general, is continental. For a year, up to 400 millimeters of precipitation falls here. In the mountains in winter, huge snow cover accumulates, which are not distributed uniformly in different areas. I must say that these snow masses are a source of moisture for both plants and animals. In crevices, snow can accumulate for several years and not melt even on the warmest summer days.

Water resources

The territory of the Baikal-Lensky Reserve is rich in waters. It is here that the sources of the Lena River lie, 250 kilometers of which flows through the protected lands. It falls into a lot of mountain fast streams and small rivers. The largest are: Allyley, Anai, Negnadai, Yukhta, Pankucha. Lena's source is a small lake located on the slope of the ridge thirty kilometers from Baikal.

There are many lakes in the reserve. They are all small and are located, as a rule, in floodplains of river valleys. The total area of water is about 2.5 thousand hectares.

Baikal-Lensky Reserve: plants

Climatic, geological, geographical features of the reserve have determined the originality of the plant world of this region. Flora now has: three hundred varieties of lichens, one hundred and thirty species of mushrooms, one hundred and seventy-five mosses, nine hundred twenty species of plants.

The reserve area is located in the taiga (forest) zone. The border dividing the Eurasian subregion into several sub-regions passes through its lands: the East Siberian light coniferous forest and the European dark coniferous forest forest. This is the peculiarity of the Baikal-Lensky Reserve. Fauna, as a consequence, is represented by completely different plants from both subregions.

Plants of the reserve are represented by seven different types: forest, steppe, shrub, meadow and tundra. Naturally, the forest dominates. The forest part is eighty-six.

There are forty-seven species of relic plants on the territory of the reserve . High-altitude steppes and hollows have become an ideal place for plant conservation, as they have been isolated. From relict plants here grow: sorrel Marshal, onion Altai, astragalus, kopecnik bristly.

On the grounds of the Baikal-Lensky Reserve there are thirty varieties of plants listed in the Red Book of the Russian Federation. This is the meadow of Turchaninov, the penumbra of the prickly pome, the ungreened cape, the hellebone and the other.

The Baikal-Lensky Reserve (shown in the article) is located within the taiga zone, and therefore here grows fir and Siberian spruce, cedar, larch, birch, rhododendrons, wormwood, and cedar salad bowl. An interesting fact is that there are plants from different sub-regions in the reserve, all of which have adapted to the conditions of growth, having undergone some changes.

It's no secret that the Baikal basin has its own microclimate, which is formed by a combination of the proximity of the Baikal ridge and Baikal itself. Yes, and the composition of soils also left an imprint on the vegetation of the Baikal-Lensky Reserve. On the mountain slopes of the ridge the plants are located according to the altitude zonality.

Forests here are represented by such coniferous trees: Siberian larch, common pine, cedar, fir, Siberian fir. Seventy percent of the forests are conifer species, and only thirty are hardwoods. In the river valleys there are small groves of poplars.

In the reserve are widely distributed deciduous forests, they are in the river valleys, and on the mountain slopes.

Baikal-Lensky reserve: plants and animals

Currently, 54 species of mammals are found in the reserve, of which ten are insectivorous, five are bats, twelve are predatory, five are cloven-hoofed animals, nineteen rodents, and one pinniped.

Among predators, sables, ermines, otters, and weasels are most common here. There is also a wolverine. But badgers are rare. Lynx lives only in the southwest of the reserve.

There are a lot of wolves in these places, their number is directly related to the presence of ungulates. Foxes are common only in the mountain-forest-steppe areas of the southern part of the Baikal shore, although occasionally they can be found in other places.

Brown bear is a kind of symbol of the reserve. This is the largest predator, which inhabits almost the entire territory. The number of ungulates depends on vegetation, relief, snow cover in winter and many other factors. Hoofed animals of the Baikal-Lensky Reserve are represented by such species: musk deer, red deer (deer), reindeer, elk, roe deer. Rape and musk deer are distributed throughout the territory. Los lives on the slopes of the western part of the Baikal Range.

Zaitseobraznye are represented in the reserve by several species: northern pika and hare-hare. The number of these animals is variable, it varies from year to year.

Of rodents, the Baikal-Lena State Nature Reserve is inhabited by squirrels, chipmunks, flying squirrels. Of rare rare animals there is a marmot. It is listed in the Red Book of the Russian Federation, Buryatia and Irkutsk region. For many rare animals became the home of the Lake Baikal-Lensky Reserve. Animals from the Red Book here are under protection and protection.

In the reserve there also lives a long-tailed ground squirrel, the muskrat, who settled here only in the fortieth year of the last century. And from the small rodents, the red-gray vole is the most common here. It is of great importance for feeding sable and other representatives of predators. A typical taiga inhabitant is an Asian steppe mouse. Even Daurian hamsters are preserved here, and even lemming was found in taiga mosses. Nerpa quite often occurs near the Baikal coast.

Feathered Reserve

The Baikal-Lensky Reserve is very interesting, its flora and fauna are quite diverse. Here is really impressive the number of plants and animals that is within this territory.

As for birds, there are two hundred and sixty species. Whom here only is not present. These are loamy, and falciform, cuckoo-like, crane-like, shear-like and many others. Of this many species, eighteen species are listed in the Red Book of Russia: the golden eagle, the black stork, the eagle-longtail, the gyrfalcon, the white-tailed eagle, the belladonna, the white gull, the bustard, and others.

The largest number of birds lives in the taiga forests. The remaining natural complexes are already less populated by them.

Amphibians and fish of the protected area

Reptiles and amphibians in the region are represented by Siberian and ostromordian frogs and Siberian angulars. Several species of lizards were also found. One of them - viviparous, and the second - quick. There are two varieties of snakes.

As for the fish, eleven species live in the reserve: cod-shaped, carp-shaped, salmon-like. This does not include species of underwater inhabitants of Lake Baikal itself, since it is not located in a protected area.

Forty-nine species of algae were recorded in the reservoirs. The most common are green algae. The larvae and species composition of zooplankton are broadened in lakes.

Sights of the reserve

Baikal-Lensky Reserve (photos show the beauty of these places) - it's not only the flora and fauna, there are also its sights. They include Cape Ryty, the source of Lena, the late Cape, Mount Onhola, the museum of nature of the Baikal-Lensky Reserve.

Cape Ryty - a unique concentration of cult, historical and natural objects. This is perhaps the most mysterious place of Lake Baikal. According to legends on the cape, the ghost palace of the sky son was built. The local population was afraid to pester the shore, and even more so to enter the gorge. They really did not want to anger the spirits. And about the river Ritu many legends are composed.

The source of Lena is a beautiful, attractive, but inaccessible place for visitors. It is located only ten kilometers from Baikal. At the source a wooden church was built.

As for Mount Onholm, the locals consider it sacred. Prayers have long been held here. Almost at the very top of the mountain there is a relatively even place from a pile of stones, stacked on each other in a long time. These stones were discovered in 1999. There is no doubt that this is the work of man. Perhaps there were prayers.

The Baikal-Lena State Reserve has its own museum, which is located in the administrative building in the city of Irkutsk. There are exhibits of flora and fauna of protected lands.

A beautiful and unique place is the Baikal-Lensky Reserve. Interesting facts about the life of animals here you can find out, and sometimes even see. There is a shore of brown bears in the protected territory. This is the name of the coastline between the two capes. And got its name cape due to the fact that in May the bears wake up and go to the shore to feast on insects. During this period, they are so interesting to observe, you can even take pictures of the owners of the taiga.

In the area of Cape Pokoyniki there are two very ancient volcanoes on the territory of the reserve, which are named Solnechny and Kedrovy. However, they erupted very, very long ago, in those times when there were no people yet.

But the Cape of the Dead is believed to be sacred for the Buryats. They say that they brought the bodies of the dead to this distant shore of Lake Baikal and left them, as they say, to be eaten by beasts and birds.

In the whole reserve there is only one single place where ships enter and where there are guest houses for tourists. Very long ago, quartzites were mined here, for this reason Zavorotnaya Bay was excluded from the lands of the protected zone. However, this did not make the place itself less attractive. The water in the bay is transparent, and the species are so attractive that it is impossible to tear off the view. Yes, and one more plus, fishing is allowed on Zavorotnaya.

Protection of the reserve territory

In the regime of functioning of the reserve one of the main tasks is the protection of its territory. And this topic is currently very relevant. The active development of the adjacent lands, this concerns mainly forests, has led to a high concentration of people at the boundaries of the protected zone. And in the spring and summer time the number of tourists who come and settle here "savages" has increased. All this leads to an increase in the number of offenses. Some of them are not intentional, while others are committed with malice. Local villagers sometimes engage in poaching, although everyone has known for a long time that hunting in these places is prohibited. To avoid such situations, there must always be rounds of state inspectors.

However, the most harm is done by wealthy people who want to hunt in the Baikal region. For this they use paragliders, hunting from the air on ungulates. On such air transport they can reach the most distant and hard-to-reach places.

Using the features of the relief, offenders are planted on promontories and hunt. Undoubtedly, the material and technical base of the reserve lags behind the present level, which prevents more effectively combating poaching. But nevertheless, protocols are drawn up every year and delinquents are detained, an active struggle is being waged.

In addition, fires are very dangerous for the reserve. At present, there are frequent cases of fire from neighboring lands. This situation has arisen because of the high cost of aviation services for detecting and extinguishing fires. Because of her refused. But in emergency situations, it is not possible to get on transport or horses quickly, and this leads to the fact that the fire becomes uncontrollable and spreads to even larger territories.

Therefore, every year the question of creating a special security area around the reserve is raised. And this topic is becoming more relevant. However, this issue has not yet been resolved.

Scientific research work in the reserve

Research work is one of the priorities of the reserve. Here scientific researches and monitoring in various scientific branches are conducted. Everything is aimed at studying natural objects and complexes. The main measures are being developed to protect nature and restore the number of endangered species.

Educational work

From the first moment of its existence, the employees of the reserve are actively working to promote environmental culture among the population. In addition, the reserve is visited by a mass of scientists with the aim of increasing their knowledge.

The museum of the Baikal-Lensky Reserve is engaged in educating young visitors and adults.

Three specialized ecological routes have been developed and are functioning on the territory of the protected area, which allow tourists to safely learn about the beauties of the reserve and not damage the animal and plant life.

Annually the nature reserve is published by the reserve, entertaining documentary films are shot, some of which are later broadcasted on television.

Do not ignore the attention of schoolchildren, who are the main hope for a better ecological future.

Instead of an afterword

In our article, we tried to tell you how interesting and beautiful the Baikal-Lensky Reserve is. Briefly, within the framework of the article, it is impossible to convey all that is on this reserved territory. Undoubtedly, the reserve deserves more attention and is worthy to visit. It is worth noting, however, that this is a closed territory. For tourists and holidaymakers there are special zones for recreation and there are special routes that can be visited as part of excursions. All this is organized to ensure the protection of the territory in order to avoid harming the local flora and fauna. Particularly beautiful in the reserve in the spring and summer, this is the best time for rest and hiking. However, it should be remembered that hunting and fishing in protected areas is prohibited.