South Ural Reserve (photo)

The South Ural Reserve is a place where anyone who is actively interested in unique objects of the Russian Federation should visit. And this is recommended not only to guests from near and far abroad, but also to the residents of our country. Why? The thing is that sometimes, having been born or living near amazing places, we so do not find time to get to know them better.

In the South Ural Reserve it is worth to go any time of the year. At each time it is beautiful and unique in its own way. In the fine spring, summer and autumn days here you can relax among trees and herbs, breathe the fresh air, collect, depending on the season, flowers, berries or mushrooms. But in the winter the South Urals State Nature Reserve turns into a real paradise for those who like to go skiing, play snowballs or make a huge snowman.

This article is aimed at telling about an amazing place, located on the territory of our country. The South Ural Reserve actually has a reputation as a favorite recreational place for local residents. But visitors from abroad, unfortunately, are not so often here, although those who are lucky enough to visit here, as a rule, take with them home not only colorful photos, but also great memories.

Successful location

The South Ural Reserve, a photo of which can be found in almost every guidebook dedicated to the beauties of our country, is located simultaneously on the territory of the Republic of Bashkortostan (90% in the Beloretsk region) and in the Chelyabinsk region.

By the way, it should be noted that in the Katav-Ivanovo region of the reserve with an area of more than 24 thousand hectares, which is located in the Chelyabinsk region, is the most high-mountainous and picturesque region of the Southern Urals.

Mountain chains surrounding the natural park

The South Ural State Reserve is located in the most difficult and at the same time the highest part of the Southern Urals. The ridges Mashak, Nara, Zigalga, Kumardak and the Yamantau Massif form the highest mountain node with the highest mark at 1639 m above sea level. The western chain here is represented by peaks entering the whole system of the Dry Mountains (Merry, Round, Sal, Placer).

A complex chain is also formed by the Mashak Range and the Yamantau Massif.

Rivers and water systems

In the reserve, the river system enters the catchment of the river. White. All waterways here can be referred to the category of small rivers, because their length is less than 100 km. The largest are Small and Large Inzers, Tulmen, Yuryuzan and Robe.

In addition, there are 13 more rivers 10-19 km long. The total number of small streams and rivulets reaches a huge number of 300 pcs.

Most of the rivers of the reserve are full of water, and the largest river flow index is the p. The tulle. Summer-autumn low-water season occurs in June-October, but it is regularly interrupted by rain floods.

The rivers in the reserve are frozen, as a rule, in the beginning of November. Ledostav is often preserved until the second decade of April.

But the least amount of water is recorded here in August.

History of the Reserve

Around the middle of the XVIII century. The territory on which the South Ural Reserve is now located was considered poorly developed.

For example, looking in the textbook on the history of the region, you can find out that by 1795 there were built only three small villages - Berdagulovo, Aripkulovo and Ilmyashevo.

People here in the XVIII-XIX century. Engaged mainly in semi-nomadic cattle breeding, and sometimes in beekeeping. By the way, it should be noted that to this day in the reserve preserved sidewalks.

In the XVIII century. The so-called mining stage of the development of the Southern Urals began: iron smelters were built right on the border of the reserve. Large-scale, sometimes reckless, and therefore destructive logging of the forest began. The construction of coal burning furnaces also required a huge amount of resources. In addition, the development of iron ore deposits was carried out on the territory of the reserve.

In 1924, fortunately for the environment, the plants were stopped, then closed, and the development of the forest industry.

Flora of the South Ural Reserve

Today, in the territory of this natural park there are 698 species of higher plants, 121 species of mushrooms, many mosses, soil algae, lichens.

It should be noted that many of them are listed in the Red Book of Russia, and 57 species are real relics of past geological epochs.

Forests in the reserve cover 90% of the area, while the key forest-forming species are coniferous (4 species) and deciduous trees (10 species).

32% of the reserve area is occupied by dark coniferous fir-spruce forests, where fir and Siberian spruce are especially common . Light coniferous forests are formed, as a rule, pine and are located in the southern part of the reserve, which, unfortunately, was most affected by illegal logging.

There are also small massifs with predominance of gray alder, linden hearth, oak quiver, maple leaf, birch twisting and fluffy, various willows, bird cherry in the reserve.

South Ural Reserve. Animals and birds

The reserve has 50 species of mammals, 260 - vertebrates, 20 - fish, 189-bird, and 5 species of reptiles and amphibians.

The fauna of mammals is mostly represented by forest inhabitants, but there are also two acclimatized species - the American mink and muskrat.

Ungulates are especially common among ungulates. The number of these animals is only 400-700 individuals, which is not so much, as it might seem at first glance.

From time to time, walking along forest paths and lawns, you can also meet roe deer and wild boar. Constantly, the South Ural Reserve inhabits 13 species of predatory mammals, including brown bear, column, wolf, fox, lynx, marten, weasel, ermine, etc.

There is also the river otter that is disappearing in the republic . The habitual and fairly common inhabitants of this natural park can be considered a badger and a hare-hare.

Within the territory of the reserve there are 19 species of rodents, among them the most common are protein, chipmunk, beaver, mouse and voles. A very rare species is, perhaps, a flying squirrel. Insectivores are represented here in eight species, most common are the common hedgehog and mole, shrews, and others.

To date, exactly 189 species of birds live in the reserve. By the way, 11 of them have long been included in the Red Book of our country: peregrine falcon, black stork, golden eagle, red-breasted goose, snakehead, big eagle eagle, white-tailed eagle, eagle owl, gyrfalcon, magpie, sorokoput.

The fauna of birds mainly consists of forest birds, the most common are hazel grouse and wood grouse.

What role does nature reserve play in protecting nature?

This issue deserves special attention, so it is worth giving it a more detailed answer. What is the need for this place, if it exists, of course?

The thing is that the South Ural Nature Reserve of Russia was formed in order to preserve the unique natural complexes of the South Urals in its natural, primordial form. Especially it concerns the smart spruce-fir forests. Rare species of local flora, fauna, natural marshes, high-altitude plant communities - all this should be preserved for future generations and for the benefit of our Motherland.

Interesting Facts

Talking about this natural park, we can not fail to mention a few of the most interesting data.

For example, not everyone knows that the total length of the reserve is 270 km. This territory is really huge even in the scale of the Russian Federation.

The western part of the reserve is the right bank of the river. Yamashta, r. Tulmen and the eastern slopes of the so-called Dry Mountains. The northern cordon is the same as the Republican border, which is about 40 km.

The reserve is located in the highest southern part of the Urals. Here, in its territory, there were once founded special settlements for repressed persons and a camp for interned Germans.