Ust-Lensky Nature Reserve: life in the ice

2024 Author: Henry Conors | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-02-12 02:44

The location of the Ust-Lensky Nature Reserve may surprise some nature lovers. The fact is that, unlike many other similar organizations, this one is not located in the warm regions of our country, but in the northernmost corners. Where the Ust-Lensky Nature Reserve is located, the cold waters of the Arctic Ocean meet the Lena River.

Purposes of Creation

But why was it necessary to create a reserve in these northern regions? The Lena River was lucky, and no hydroelectric power plants or dams were built on it. Thanks to this, its waters remain so pure that they can be drunk simply by scooping them up with the palms of their hands. In order for Lena to remain the same as many centuries ago, a reserve was organized on its banks.

Location

Ust-Lensky Nature Reserve (photos shown on this page) is located in Yakutia on the northern side of the Bulunsky ulus. It consists of two territories, this is the “delta”, with a size of 1,300,000 hectares, and the “falcon”, which includes 133,000 hectares. Total areaThe reserve occupies 1,433,000 hectares. But the protected area does not include the entire territory, but only 150,000 hectares.

The Ust-Lensky Reserve has no nearby settlements, and there are no motorways or public roads. The largest and most significant body of water is the Lena. But this is not the only "artery" in the reserve. Arynskaya, Trofimovskaya, Bykovskaya and others are also of significant importance. But at the moment only the Bykovskaya channel has a navigable value.

Terrain

For the most part, the Ust-Lensky nature reserve is located in the ice. The main channels of the delta flow through the Arctida plain, where permafrost is preserved, covered with a small soil layer. In the northwest is the ancient island of Arga-Muora-Sise. In the southwest there are three large islands that are buried in the ice. In addition, there are about 300 ice hills on the territory, and failures can be seen not far from each of them. Also in the delta there are many small lakes of various depths. On the right bank of the Lena, not far from the island of Tit-Ary, the White Rock cliff rises from the waters.

Forest in the tundra

Besides permafrost, the Ust-Lensky nature reserve is famous for its tundra zone. Also on the island of Tit-Ary is the northernmost deciduous forest in the world. Local larches that grow on the western side of the island reach a height of 6 meters.

The flora here is peculiar. The tundra of the Lena delta is truly rich in lichens and mosses. For example, Alaskan cetrelia -it is a rare species that occurs only in two places. Willows stand along the banks of the Lena, and the northern mountain streams are overgrown with several types of willows and shrubs.

Rare bean species grow on the seaside ridge, these are leguminous and copper-red braja. There is also Rhodiola officinalis.

Underwater inhabitants

The Ust-Lensky Reserve is unique not only for its rare flora, but also for its ichthyofauna. Fish live in local reservoirs, these are nelma, omul, sturgeon, tugun, muksun, etc. Peled, char and whitefish live in the local lakes, which are practically not found in the channels. In autumn, polar cod come to the shores for spawning. Pink salmon and chum salmon are also found in the Lena Delta. Amphibians and reptiles do not live in the reservoirs of the reserve.

Birds of Ust-Lensky

Because the channels of the reserve are rich in a variety of fish, and in the tundra zone there is grassy vegetation, this attracts many near-water and waterfowl. This area is on the route of migratory species. This is what makes the fauna so diverse. 109 species have been recorded here, with approximately 60 subspecies preferring to nest in the Lena Delta. Black-throated loons are numerous on tundra lakes, red-throated representatives of this family live here in smaller numbers. In the same places, the small swan likes to settle, and at the moment there are about 6 thousand of them in the reserve. In addition to them, geese stop in these parts in the spring,black goose, long-tailed duck, pintail, teal whistle and many subspecies of ducks. The state natural reserve is also rich in other species of birds, which are rare in other parts of the world. Waders such as Turnstone, Puffin, Turukhtan, White-tailed Sandpiper and others like to nest in the delta.

Rare raptors can be considered a feature of the reserve. For example, this is Merlin, golden eagle, gyrfalcon, peregrine falcon.

Ust-Lensky nature reserve: animals that love the cold

Thirty-two species of mammals have been recorded throughout the territory, of which 5 are marine and 27 are terrestrial. Arctic fox, polar bear, Middendorff's vole, reindeer, Siberian and ungulate lemmings remain permanent residents.

Among the taiga residents who do not leave this territory, foxes, wolves, hares, ermines, weasels and other mammals are noted. There are also those species that regularly come here, these are elk, sable, muskrat, wolverine, lynx and others. Marine species include ringed seal, Laptev walrus, bearded seal, white whale, narwhal.