South Ural Reserve is a place worth visiting for everyone who is actively interested in the unique objects of the Russian Federation. Moreover, it is recommended to do this not only for guests from near and far abroad, but also for the residents of our country themselves. Why? The thing is that sometimes, having been born or living near amazing places, we don’t find time to get to know them better.
You should go to the South Ural Reserve at any time of the year. At every time it is beautiful and unique in its own way. On fine spring, summer and autumn days, you can relax among the trees and herbs, breathe fresh air, pick flowers, berries or mushrooms, depending on the season. But in winter, the South Ural State Nature Reserve turns into a real paradise for those who like to ski, play snowballs or make a huge snowman.
This article aims to tell about a stunning place located on the territory of our country. The South Ural Nature Reserve actually has a reputation as a favorite vacation spot for locals. But the guests from behindborders, unfortunately, do not come here so often, although those who are still lucky enough to visit here, as a rule, take home not only colorful photos, but also amazing memories.
Good location
The South Ural Nature 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-Ivanovsky district of the reserve with an area of more than 24 thousand hectares, in the Chelyabinsk region, the most high-mountainous and picturesque area of the Southern Urals is located.
Mountain ranges 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 South Urals. The ridges Mashak, Nara, Zigalga, Kumardak and the Yamantau massif form the highest mountain junction with the highest elevation of 1639 m above sea level. The western chain here is represented by peaks that are part of the whole system of the Dry Mountains (Veselaya, Kruglyaya, Salya, Rosypnaya).
The Mashak ridge and the Yamantau massif also form the most complicated chain.
Rivers and water systems
In the reserve, the river system enters the catchment area of the river. White. All water arteries here can be classified as small rivers, because their length is less than 100 km. The largest are Small and Big Inzer, Tulmen, Yuryuzan and Roar.
Besides this, there are 13 more rivers 10-19 km long. Gener althe number of small streams and rivulets reaches a huge figure of 300
Most of the rivers of the reserve are full-flowing, and the basin of the river has the highest runoff modulus. Tulmen. Summer-autumn low water occurs in June-October, but at the same time it is regularly interrupted by rain floods.
Rivers in the reserve freeze, as a rule, in early November. Freezing often persists until the second decade of April.
But the least water is recorded here in August.
History of the creation of the reserve
Approximately until 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 a textbook on the history of the region, you can find out that by 1795 only three small villages were built here - Berdagulovo, Aripkulovo and Ilmyashevo.
People here in the XVIII-XIX centuries. They were mainly engaged in semi-nomadic cattle breeding, sometimes beekeepers. By the way, it should be noted that up to the present time, the side trees have been preserved in the reserve.
In the XVIII century. the so-called mining and factory stage of the development of the Southern Urals began: iron-smelting plants were built right on the border of the reserve. Large-scale, sometimes thoughtless, and therefore disastrous logging began. The construction of charcoal kilns 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 factories were stopped, then closed, and developmentreceived by the timber industry.
Flora of the South Ural Reserve
Today, there are 698 species of higher plants, 121 species of fungi, many mosses, soil algae, lichens in the territory of this natural park.
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 eras.
Forests in the reserve cover 90% of the area, with coniferous (4 species) and deciduous trees (10 species) being the key forest-forming species.
32% of the area of the reserve is occupied by dark coniferous fir-spruce forests, where fir and Siberian spruce are especially common. Light coniferous forests are formed, as a rule, by Scotch pine and are located in the southern part of the territory of the reserve, which, unfortunately, suffered the most due to illegal logging.
Found in the reserve and small massifs with a predominance of gray alder, linden cordifolia, English oak, maple, winding and fluffy birches, various willows, bird cherry.
South Ural Reserve. Animals and Birds
The reserve is home to 50 species of mammals, 260 species of vertebrates, 20 species of fish, 189 species of birds, as well as 5 species of reptiles and amphibians.
Mammal fauna is mostly represented by forest dwellers, but there are also two acclimatized species - the American mink and the muskrat.
From ungulates especiallyelk is common. 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. The South Ural Reserve is constantly inhabited by 13 species of predatory mammals, including brown bear, Siberian weasel, wolf, fox, lynx, marten, weasel, ermine, etc.
There is also a river otter that disappears in the republic. The badger and hare can be considered habitual and fairly common inhabitants of this natural park.
19 species of rodents live within the territory of the reserve, of which the most common are squirrel, chipmunk, beaver, mice and voles. A very rare species is, perhaps, a flying squirrel. Insectivores are represented by eight species, the most common are the common hedgehog and mole, shrews, etc.
Today, exactly 189 species of birds live in the reserve. By the way, 11 of them have long been listed in the Red Book of our country: peregrine falcon, black stork, golden eagle, red-throated goose, serpent eagle, greater spotted eagle, white-tailed eagle, eagle owl, gyrfalcon, oystercatcher, shrike.
The bird fauna mainly consists of forest birds, the most common hazel grouse and capercaillie.
What role does the reserve play in nature conservation
This question deserves special attention, so it's still worth giving a more detailed answer to it. What is the needthis place, if there is one, of course?
The fact is that the South Ural Nature Reserve of Russia was formed in order to preserve the unique natural complexes of the South Urals in their natural, original form. This is especially true of chic spruce and fir forests. Rare species of local flora and fauna, natural swamps, alpine plant communities - all this must be preserved for future generations and for the benefit of our Motherland.
Interesting facts
Talking about this natural park, one cannot fail to mention some of the most interesting data.
For example, not everyone knows that the total length of the reserve is 270 km. This territory is actually huge even on the scale of the Russian Federation.
The western part of the reserve - the right bank of the river. Yamashta, r. Tulmen and the eastern slopes of the so-called Dry Mountains. The northern cordon coincides with the republican border, which is about 40 km.
The reserve is located in the highest southern part of the Urals. Here, on its territory, special settlements for repressed persons and an internment camp for German women were once founded.
