The Orenburg region is located on the border areas of various zoogeographic regions and geographical zones. Many factors determined the originality and originality of the local animal world.
Reserves under state protection are educational (in the field of ecology), research, scientific, environmental institutions. The purpose of their activities is to preserve and study the natural movement of natural processes or phenomena. Also, on the territories of these zones, the genetic fund of the animal and plant world is replenished, individual communities and species of flora and fauna, unique or typical ecological systems are subject to conservation. The Orenburgsky Reserve is no exception.
General Description
The nature protection zone is formed by four sections, the total area of which is equal to 21.7 thousand hectares.
Orenburg Nature Reserve contains:
- "Talovskaya steppe" - 3200 ha;
- "Burtinskaya steppe" - 4500 ha;
- "Aituar steppe" - 6753 ha;
- Ashchisai steppe - 7200 ha.
All zones are locatedapproximately at the same latitude. In longitude they are separated from each other by 240, 380 and 75 km. Such territorial fragmentation made it possible to fully present the main landscape types found in the steppes of the Orenburg region.
History of Creation
The first plans for the organization of the protected area began to be developed back in the twenties of the last century. But only in 1975 they began to be implemented. The impetus was the research of one of the expeditions, as a result of which a pristine section of the steppe was discovered in the Orenburg region. The reserve was finally established in 1989.
Climatic zone
The territory has a continental, dry climate. The average air temperature is 2.5 °С. The duration of the frost-free period in the reserve is 130 days. The average annual rainfall is 390 mm.
Aituar steppe
The territory covers an area equal to 6753 hectares, it is located on the left bank of the river. Ural, on the border of our country with Kazakhstan. Until the 60s of the last century, two modest Kazakh auls were located on the expanses of this steppe. Steppe and meadow tracts were used as hayfields, but today all types of economic activity have been suspended. The only exception was a horse farm specially created on Aituarka for the production of high-quality koumiss.
Orenburg Reserve in this area is considered the most mountainous area. This is part of the Ural folded side. The fauna is represented by 38 animal species. In this area commonhamsters, bobaks, mole voles, mice, pikas. Predators are steppe polecats, foxes. Roe deer, wild boars, elks live in shrubs and trees.
106 species of birds are widely distributed, 41 of them are noted to nest. Falconiformes are represented in a wide variety, including the steppe kestrel, saker falcon, imperial eagle, long-legged buzzard, steppe harrier, and eagle. Little bustards, partridges, quails are found in this zone of the reserve. Insects are represented by many species listed in the Red Book of the Russian Federation.
Historical and archaeological objects of the site
There are four single mounds and two burial grounds on the territory of the reserve. There are a total of 16 burial mounds near the site boundaries.
Ashchisai steppe
This zone is located on an area equal to 7200 hectares, which are located in the Svetlinsky district. Previously, the steppe was a pasture with a limited load of livestock, some places were used as hayfields.
The relief of the site is flat, flat, slightly sloping. The beautiful contrast of the Aschisai steppe is given by remnant rocks, ridges, ridges, which are not subject to the activity of watercourses and lakes.
The hydrographic steppe is represented by hollows and a few lakes, the filling of which depends on the volume of melted spring waters. Most of them are round in shape. This is one of the most beautiful places that the Orenburg nature reserve is proud of.
What is guarded in this area?
More than 20 species of mammals, 53 species ofnesting birds. Among the representatives of the fauna (animal world), the most typical species are the small ground squirrel, badger, steppe polecat, boba, fox. Among the birds, it is customary to single out the belladonna, the steppe eagle, and the lark. Ogars, herons, bitterns nest on the lakes of the steppe.
Monuments of historical and archaeological value
On the territory of this reserve there is a barrow, which, according to research, belongs to the tribes of the late medieval nomads. The monument is 1 m high and 20 m in diameter.
Burtinskaya steppe
The site is located in the Cis-Ural zone of the Orenbuzh region, occupying an area of 4500 hectares. During the Soviet era, the steppe was partially exploited as a hayfield. The protected zone includes saline and meadow tracts, karst lakes Koskol.
The steppe is located in the eastern part of the marginal foredeep of the Cis-Urals, therefore it is represented by a hilly-ridged relief. The modern landscape began its formation in the Pliocene in the places occupied by the accumulative plain. The Mueldy Plateau became the main water dividing form.
The predominant rocks are continental red-colored polymictic conglomerates. Soil-forming rocks are diverse. On steep and sloping slopes, eluvial deposits of heavy mechanical composition are present.
Ten soil varieties were identified within the site. The basis of the soil cover is chernozems of southern origin. The thickness of the humus horizon reachesabout 38 cm, and the content of the humus itself reaches 8%.
The hydrographic network is highly developed and is characterized by constant flow. It is represented by the upper reaches of small rivers, sources, and temporary streams. In the buffer zone there are two lakes Koskol, which are of karst origin. Their water is slightly mineralized.
The Orenburg Reserve, where the Kainar spring is located (in the Burtinskaya steppe), is an amazingly beautiful area. The source itself is ranked among the main attractions. Its water surface area is 15 m². This is a powerful, amazing spring of inclusive type, which does not freeze even in winter.
The Burtinskaya steppe is considered to be the standard of Cis-Ural ridged, hilly landscapes. The zone presents valley-beam, intersyrt-valley, syrt-upland types of terrain.
In the flora of the steppe, a number of mountain-steppe relics and edemics were found, for example, the Ural carnation, Helma's astragalus, prickly mountain grate and others.
The Orenburgsky State Nature Reserve in the Burtinskaya steppe preserves numerous representatives of flora and fauna. The fauna is particularly rich and varied. About 120 species of birds are found in the area, of which 51 species nest. The most characteristic representatives are the little bustard, steppe eagle, demoiselle crane, kestrel, belladonna, red-footed falcon, harrier, black grouse.
Among mammals, 24 species were identified: ground squirrels, marmots, hamsters, voles, pikas. Of the reptiles, the steppe viper and the marsh turtle can be noted.
Historicalsite archaeological sites
There is a burial mound on the territory, which belongs to the Sarmatian culture of the 7th-3rd centuries. d.n. e. The monument is located on the Mueldy plateau not far from the geodetic sign "420.9 m". It is formed by 13 mounds, two of which are especially large and reach a height of 2.5 m and a diameter of 40 m. Other mounds are almost the same: up to 0.8 m high and 10 to 20 m in diameter.
Talovskaya steppe
The site is located in the Pervomaisky district of the region and covers an area of 3200 hectares. Up until 1988, moderate grazing of horses, sheep, and cattle was carried out here. There were also summer camps of sheep, near which pasture degradation of vegetation and soil was revealed.
The relief is characterized by a flat appearance, which was formed mainly in the Mesozoic. The area acquired its modern type in the Quaternary under the influence of denudation processes, which caused the rise of the territory.
Soil-forming rocks are represented by typical tertiary saline marine clays. The protected area is located on the site of the transition from chernozems to dark chestnut soils. Medium-thick carbonate soils were able to form on gentle slopes and watersheds.
The Orenburg nature reserve in the Talovskaya steppe is distinguished by poorly developed hydrography. River networks are represented exclusively by temporary streams. These are the upper reaches of the Talovaya and Malaya Sadomna rivers; they do not have a constant flow within the territory. There are also no manifestations of groundwater.
Talovskaya steppe is the standard of the Trans-Volga-Ural steppes. The landscape structure of the area is formed by syrt-upland, slightly undulating interfluve and valley-beam type.
Historical and archaeological sites of the site
There is a burial mound on the territory, presumably of the Sarmatian culture. It can be found on the northwestern border of the site at around 198.9 m. This is a unique archaeological value that the Orenburgsky Reserve contains.
Director of Conservation Area
By order of the Minister of Natural Resources and Ecology of the country on August 19, 2013, Rafilya Talgatovna Bakirova was appointed director of the reserve. This is a prominent specialist, candidate of legal sciences, coordinator of the UN Steppe Project at the regional level, associate professor, head of the legal department of the local agricultural university, with which the Orenburgsky nature reserve cooperates. Bakirova is distinguished by a sincere interest in the success of the tasks set. Her professionalism and inexhaustible energy of activity are inherent in her, therefore the nature protection zone will only prosper.
Orenburg State Reserve is in good hands. There is no doubt about the purposefulness and professionalism of the new director. The work carried out in the reserve can be found in the media. They cover the natural processes taking place in the steppe, environmental campaigns, competitions, publishing and advertising activities. Thanks to this, the reserve attracts a largenumber of tourists.
Excursion programs
When visiting unique nature conservation sites, people not only get acquainted with the unique ecological situation of protected areas. During the trip, visitors can realize the fragility of her bonds, easily destroyed by human influence.
Today, four educational and educational excursion routes can be walked in the reserve. This is the "Reserved World" of the Trans-Urals, Trans-Volga, Southern Urals, Cis-Urals.
Animals
The Orenburgsky Nature Reserve has a fauna that is considered typical of the local territory. It is represented by the following types of steppe animals:
- Lun.
- Kestrel.
- Beauty.
- Strepet.
- Pestrushka.
- Sleptushka etc.
The Orenburg Nature Reserve, whose animals and plants are under special protection, also contains numerous species characteristic of the broad-leaved forest zone. These are a mouse, an ordinary hedgehog, a badger, a lynx, an ordinary kestrel, a clintukh, a black grouse, a splyushka, a dove. Also, representatives of semi-deserts live in the protected area, in particular, the eared hedgehog, the small lark. Sometimes there is a bright representative of the tundra species - a snowy owl.
Modern fauna of the territory is relatively diverse and rich. There are mammals - about 48 species, birds - 190 species, reptiles - 7 species, amphibians - 5 species, fish - 6 species, about 1000 species of insects. Orenburg Reserve, photo of whichpresented below takes care of the whole ecosystem.
Mammals include seven species of insectivores, 23 - rodents, 3 - bats, 9 - carnivores, 4 - artiodactyls, 2 - lagomorphs. About 15 species of these animals are common in all parts of the protected area. Among them are marmots, ground squirrels, voles, mice, pied, mice, jerboas, fox, wolf, hare, badger, ferret, weasel, corsac.
Flora
The Orenburgsky Reserve contains more than 600 species belonging to the plant world. This figure is about 40% of the total number of representatives of the flora growing throughout the region. Among them, the role of specimens that are endangered is great. 23 species of plants are included in the Red Book of the country. Many representatives of the flora living in the protected area belong to the mountain-steppe petrophytes, for example, silver-leaved kopeechnik, Ural carnation, Helma's astragalus, Bashkir smolevka.
The Orenburgsky Reserve is of particular importance for our country. On its territory, unique ecological systems of the steppe, zonal upland landscapes could be preserved. This is a world in which there are no worries and tensions, the realm of nature and complete harmony, which is important to preserve.
