The nature of the Kemerovo region, located in Western Siberia, is very diverse, which is explained by the terrain. The territory is divided into flat in its northern part, foothills and mountains in the east, south and west, intermountain in the area of the Kuznetsk basin. Being the smallest region of Western Siberia, it occupies almost the entire territory of the Kuznetsk coal basin and stores a huge amount of other minerals in its depths. The combination of underground and natural resources makes the region unique. This article will briefly talk about the nature of the Kemerovo region.
Geographic location
When looking at the map of Western Siberia, it becomes obvious that the ridges of the Altai-Sayan mountainous region cover the Kuzbass in the form of a horseshoe. The southern contour is formed by massifs of the North-Eastern Altai up to 1900 meters high. And Salairsky stretches from the northwestridge up to 600 meters high.
The nature of the Kemerovo region has created unique monuments that attract the attention of tourists from all over the world. These are Spassky Palaces rocks, Rocky Mountains and Red Stone canyons, Gavrilov caves, Celestial teeth and many other natural attractions.
Rivers of the region
Stormy, transparent and rich in fish rivers of the Kemerovo region pay tribute to nature lovers, fishermen and travelers. The main river of Kuzbass - Tom is accessible for tourism by water for 300 kilometers, but almost impossible for industrial use.
Another river flowing through the eastern part of the territory is the Kiya (“rocky”), which begins in the Alatau mountains and then flows like a raging stream through rocky gorges. Rapids and rifts, of which there are many on local rivers, bear telling names: Angry, Shaggy, Ebullient. The tributaries of these rivers are as picturesque as the main channels.
Forests of Kuzbass
The variety of nature in the Kemerovo region is amazing. On the tops of the mountains there are plants of the tundra and alpine meadows. The mountain slopes are overgrown with forests, and the foothills have been mastered by steppe and forest-steppe vegetation. There are pine forests and a relic linden grove here.
Forests occupy 67% of the territory of the region, where the number of coniferous and deciduous trees is approximately equal. To maintain proper order on an area of 64 thousand square meters. kilometers created 87 forestry.
The main species of trees growing in these places arefir, cedar, aspen and birch. There are also other species in the forests, for example, alder, poplar, willow and linden, but their participation in forest formation is insignificant. The unique "Lime Island", represented by relic trees of the pre-Ice Age, has been preserved on an area of ten thousand hectares.
Industrial logging is carried out on the territory occupied by 20% of the total array, the rest of the plants perform protected, water protection and recreational functions. The restoration of the forest, which is of great importance, is being carried out by local forestries.
Flora of the area
The diversity of the nature of the Kemerovo region, the native land for two million of our compatriots, determines the diversity of herbs growing in this unique area. 420 species of medicinal plants, which are known for their invaluable benefits, are collected in these places. Moreover, 300 of them are used in traditional medicine, and 120 species - in scientific activities. Commercial harvesting of frequently occurring plants is being carried out: plantain, common tansy, coltsfoot, rare ones - spring gorse, maral and golden root.
Shrubs are represented by currants, wild roses, mountain ash. Many rare and endangered plants are listed in the Red Book. Unfortunately, from year to year these records are replenished.
There are a lot of berries, mushrooms and pine nuts in these parts. The average harvest of berries is 45,000 tons per year, and ferns - 90,000.
Animal world
The presence of a variety of natural landscapes determinemany different species of animals inhabiting the mountains, taiga, forests and forest-steppes of the region. The most common and characteristic inhabitant of the region is the brown bear. He prefers to live in the taiga area. Wolverine is no less famous. This furry animal of the weasel family has very warm fur and chooses to live in the forest-steppe and taiga, both mountainous and flat. Very rare lately.
The fauna of the region is widely represented by the deer family. Moose of Kuzbass are very large individuals, reaching a height of two meters with a body length of three meters. Maral, a smaller deer, a forest inhabitant, chooses the mountain forests of the Salair Ridge and the Mariinsky taiga. Of the deer here, in the upper reaches of the Tom, the northern deer lives, and the roe deer lives in the forest-steppes. The mountain slopes were not left without this species, where on the rocks overgrown with cedar, the musk deer lives - a small, no more than a meter in length, deer.
Lynxes, wild boars, foxes, hares, squirrels, otters, badgers are considered among the common species of representatives of the region's fauna. Here, if you wish, you can meet a flying squirrel, a small fluffy animal leading a nocturnal lifestyle, and a pika - a half-hare-half-mouse that emits a whistle or a shrill squeak when danger approaches.
Like plants, many representatives of the animal world are listed in the Red Book and protected by the state.
Disappearing representatives of the animal world
Among the specially protected inhabitants of the region is the Siberian musk deer. Outwardly, the animal, dark brown with red spots, resembles a deer, but is veryunusual for the human eye are its hind legs, which are much longer than the front ones. It seems that the musk deer stands stooping, hunched over. She has no horns, but the males are endowed with fangs sticking forward, which are used instead of horns in mating tournaments. The number of musk deer is currently small and it has survived only in Gornaya Shoria. For the time being, animals can feel safe only on the territory of the reserve.
Another endangered representative of the fauna of Kuzbass is the osprey, a bird that used to live everywhere near water bodies. A very beautiful predator differs from its counterparts in the two-tone color of feathers - white and dark. Its wingspan reaches one and a half meters, and sharp, curved claws stick out menacingly on strong paws. The bird almost does not give a voice, it looks out for fish, which it mainly feeds on, from above and throws itself at prey with a stone. In the middle of the 20th century, the osprey was almost completely exterminated in the Kemerovo Territory, now, although no nesting sites have been found, 12 sightings have been recorded.
Ecology of Kuzbass
Nature protection of the Kemerovo region is not the last issue facing the region. The high technogenic level of the region, the increase in the volume of mined minerals, the work of heavy industry and chemistry enterprises create unfavorable conditions for the ecology of Kuzbass. That is why this issue is resolved in the first place.
A lot of money is annually allocated from the regional budget for the target program to improve the situation and preserve nature. Assistants to the authorities on this issue are the local population, public organizations, children's and youth eco-parliament, the "Initiative" association and others have been created. A branch of the Green Party operates in Kuzbass. Joint efforts are aimed at correcting the difficult situation that has arisen in the region.
To preserve the natural monuments of the Kemerovo region, a network of specially protected areas and nature reserves has been created.
Kuznetsk Alatau
The area of the famous state reserve, established in 1989, is 5% of the entire territory of the Kemerovo region, which is more than 400 hectares. It is part of the Altai-Sayan Ecoregion.
The purpose of the creation of the Kuznetsk Alatau was and is the preservation of the unique nature of the Kemerovo region in the conditions of large-scale mining and logging. Since its inception, the reserve's employees have been monitoring the state of the environment in order to determine the response of natural systems to the impact of human activities, to provide timely assistance and protection to plants and animals of this region.
Staff of the reserve, meeting the needs of tourism lovers, have developed several hiking, snowmobile and rafting routes that do not have a negative impact on the environment.
In the ecological center of the reserve, an aviary complex has been set up, in which wild animals and birds in distress live. There is also the Museum of Nature of the Kemerovo Region and horse rental.
Celestial Teeth
This is a mountainous, typically alpine system created byridges of Kuznetsk Alatau, Tiger-Tysh, Teren-Kazyrsky and Kara-Tash. The alternation of peaks over two kilometers high with watershed plains - such is the relief of this amazing place. Many teeth of different heights give the area an unrealistic look. Natural and climatic conditions, which differ from each other in altitudinal zones, create conditions for the richness of flora and fauna species, which is a characteristic feature of the nature of the Kemerovo region in general and this place in particular.
Celestial Teeth enjoy the attention and love of Siberian tourists, connoisseurs of the nature of their native land. Hikers on the plains and mountain trails, skiers, snowboarders, kayakers and rafting fans feel great in the Kemerovo region.
Tomsk petroglyphs
Museum-reserve, established in 1968 near the village of Pisaya, Yashkinsky district, Kemerovo region. The base was a mountain range stretching for 50 kilometers, on the rocks of which drawings were found. The museum, located fifty kilometers from Kemerovo, in 1998 received the title of "Museum of the Year". It is of great interest among Siberians and tourists from other regions, annually from 50 to 70 thousand people visit it.
According to professionals, "Tomskaya Pisanitsa" has been known since 1630 and is the first chronicle with the help of petroglyphs. The most valuable are 280 rock paintings from the Iron Age.
Azas cave
The nature of the Kemerovo region has presented another surprise to tourists. 18 kilometers fromremote taiga village of Ust-Kabyrza has long been known for a large grotto. With a width of 20 to 30 meters, it stretches deep into the cliff for two hundred meters. The hunters made a sensational report: creatures that only vaguely resemble a person were seen near the cave.
The huge creature hid in the cave, but there were big footprints in the sand. This fact has interested a lot of people. Information appeared on the Internet that DNA analysis confirmed the existence of a yeti in these places. It is difficult to assess the reliability of the event, because the child of the nature of the Kemerovo region was not included in the photo, but the remote taiga place has become one of the most visited by tourists, lovers of paranormal phenomena. In addition to curious loners, scientific and journalistic expeditions are regularly equipped to travel through the grotto. Perhaps someone will be lucky to make a discovery.
