On the territory of Kazakhstan there are many protected areas, in which the flora and fauna of the most unique natural areas are carefully protected. These are the national state reserves of Aksu-Dzhabagly, Markakol, Naurzum and Ustyurt.
One of the pearls of East Kazakhstan is Lake Markakol, in the basin of which the Markakol State Nature Reserve, established in 1976, extends.
Thanks to the protection of the protected forests of these places are preserved from deforestation and fires, meadows fascinate with a variety of bright vegetation, and Markakol is one of the cleanest and most beautiful lakes on earth.
Location
On the territory of eastern Kazakhstan, one of the amazing and most beautiful corners of Kazakhstan, the Markakol Reserve, sheltered. It is located in the middle of the ridges. The Kurchum Ridge is located in the north, and in the southeast - Sorvenovsky Belok and Azu-Tau. The highest mark of the area is Mount Aksu-Bas (height - 3304.5 meters).
The total area of the reserve is 71,367 hectares, of which 26917 hectares are on land, and 44,450 hectares are in the water area of the lake. This zone extends across the southeast of Southern Altai.
Description
The reserve was organized in August 1976. Administratively, it belongs to the Kurchum district of the East Kazakhstan region. The purpose of creating a buffer zone is to preserve the unique Markakol Lake and its environment. The area of the reserve is 75 thousand hectares, and a significant part (46 thousand hectares) falls on the water area of the lake. Markakol.
The land part of the territory is divided into 2 sections, which occupy the southeastern coast of the lake and the slopes of the northern part of Mount Azutau, as well as some part of the Kurchumsky ridge and the valley of the river. Topolevka. The Markakol nature reserve (the photo is presented in the article) is surrounded by a buffer (protection) zone, which makes up an area of about 2 thousand hectares.
In the eastern part of the lake area, a site has been allocated for amateur and sport fishing (area - 1500 ha).
Climatic conditions of the area
The climate of the region is sharply continental. The territory of the Markakolsky Reserve is distinguished by the coldest climatic conditions in Kazakhstan: the minimum air temperature reaches minus 55 degrees Celsius (Orlovka village). In this region, the average annual temperature is the lowest in the entire Southern Altai (-4.1 degrees), as well as the lowest average July temperature (14.1 degrees) with an average January temperature equal to -25.9 degrees. The period without frost lasts about 70 days.
The long-term average precipitation is approximately 600 mm, and, to a greater extent (about 60%), they fall in solid form. The volume of annual precipitation fluctuates between 321-731 mm.
According to observations (for 50 years) at the meteorological station "Markakol Reserve", located on the east coast of Lake. Markakol, the change in weather conditions is associated with the migration of the Asian anticyclone. The relative openness of the depression in the western part and its sub-latitudinal extension determine the aerodynamic connection of the protected area through the Chumek-Taskainat tract and the Sorna river valley with the Kurchum valley. From the west, humid atmospheric cyclonic currents of the Atlantic direction move along this path.
Summer here is short, lasting 2.5 months. July is the warmest month.
Lake Markakol
There is an amazingly beautiful lake in the Markakol nature reserve, the absolute height of which is 1449.3 meters above sea level.
This is the largest body of water in Altai, spread out in a picturesque basin between mountains. The oval-shaped lake extends from the northeast to the southwest. Its length is 38 kilometers, and the maximum width is 19 km. The area of the reservoir is 455 sq. km. The total length of the coastline reaches 106 kilometers. The average depth of the lake is just over 14 meters, and in some places it is 27 meters.
The ridges that formed the basin have heights within2000-3000 meters. The color scheme of the lake, which changes depending on the time of day and weather conditions, is striking in its beauty and diversity. It can vary from a yellowish-golden hue at sunset to a silvery-gray color in inclement weather. In total, about 95 rivers and streams flow into the lake, and the only river Kaldzhir, which is the main tributary of the Black Irtysh, flows out of it. The reservoir is cleared of ice in May.
Flora and fauna of the Markakol Reserve
The landscapes of the hollow are characterized by a huge richness of flora, which includes approximately 1000 plant species, including 12 tree species and 22 shrub species. 15 endangered and rare species of vegetation grow here, listed in the Red Book of the Republic. This region has long been famous for its variety of medicinal plants. Especially popular are tea kopeechnik (or red root), safflower-shaped raponticum (or maral root), rosea rhodiola (according to other golden root) and others. Wooded mountain slopes abound with berry bushes. You can meet here red and black currants, raspberries, Altai honeysuckle, Altai rhubarb. Local residents make delicious jams from rhubarb, famous for their miraculous healing power. Altai onion grows from food plants.
In Markakol there are: Siberian grayling, lenok, common minnow, char and gudgeon. The first two varieties are endemic forms peculiar only to this lake. In addition, lenok (or weskuch in the local language) is a symbol of the reserve.
The bird fauna is also very diverse. In the Markakol Reserve, out of 239 species of birds that have existed throughout the existence of the buffer zone, 140 species of waterfowl. The 19 endangered and rare birds listed in the Red Book include the black stork, osprey, Altai snowcock, gray crane, white-tailed eagle, golden eagle and eagle owl.
There are 58 species of mammals in the reserve. Among them, representatives of the highlands and taiga predominate. Of the ungulates, you can meet deer, elk, roe deer, Siberian ibex. Predatory animals include brown bears, wolves, foxes, Siberian lynxes, wolverines, sables, ermines, American minks, etc.
How to get there?
From the city of Ust-Kamenogorsk, which is administratively the center of the East Kazakhstan region, you can drive along the Samara highway in an ordinary car. Having passed the Samarskoye settlement, you should keep your way through the Kaznakovskaya ferry (about 160 km from Ust-Kamenogorsk). Then go along the highway to Kurchum, where a good road ends. Then about 180 kilometers you need to go to the village. Terekty (formerly Alekseevka), from where a quite good dirt road begins. From Alekseevka to Lake Markakol about 60 kilometers (about 40 minutes).
If you leave the starting point early in the morning, then by the evening you can be at the right place.
In conclusion
Thanks to the protection from clearings and fires, protected forests have been preserved, wonderful meadows amaze with brightcolors and multicolor, and Lake Markakol remains one of the cleanest and most beautiful lakes on earth.
It should also be noted that on the territory of the reserve there is a museum of nature, which has been operating since 1980. It features exhibits showing the amazing, rich flora and fauna of this wonderful reserve.
