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Zapovednik
Facts:
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Animals
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Moose (Alces alces) browse on young twigs
in the forests of the nature reserve, while tiny
musk deer (Moschus moschiferus) prefer
lichens and other vegetation close to the ground.
Wild reindeer (Rangifer tarandus valentinae)
stay in the forests in the winter, but will seek
out fresh vegetation and escape from insects in the
mountain tundra in summertime. A population of only
120 reindeer, roaming in small groups of 4-18
animals, is completely isolated from other reindeer
populations. Inbreeding over an extended period
could threaten the long-term survival of reindeer
in the Kuznetsky Alatau Mountain Range. A project
to improve the viability of the reindeer population
is proposed in the HOW
TO HELP section.
A number of predators rely on healthy
populations of ungulates, rodents, and birds in the
reserve. Fox (Vulpes vulpes), sable
(Martes zibellina tomensis), ermine
(Mustela erminea tobolica), and three
species of weasel (M. nivalis pygmea, M.
sibirica, M. altaica) feed on a diversity of
rodents and small birds. Wolves (Canus lupis
altaicus) hunt for Siberian roe deer
(Capreolus pygargus) and occasionally
Siberian wapiti (Cervus elaphus sibiricus).
Lynx (Felix lynx wardi) chase after mountain
and brown hares (Lepus timidus, L.
europeus), while wolverine (Gulo gulo)
and badger (Meles meles sibirica) eat just
about anything that crosses their paths. Otters
(Lutra lutra) fish in rivers and lakes in
the reserve, although the species is generally rare
in the region. Around 300 brown bears (Ursus
arctos) find refuge here, retreating to the
tundra in summer to raise their young and feed on
bilberries and other fresh vegetation.
Beaver colonies (Castor fiber) have
recovered in nearly all the rivers in the reserve
since the animal was reintroduced to the area
beginning in 1960. Alpine pika (Ochotona
alpina), red squirrel (Sciurus
vulgaris), long-tailed ground squirrel
(Citellus undulatus), Siberian chipmunk
(Tamias sibiricus), numerous species of
voles (Microtus spp., Clethrionomys
spp., Alticola spp.), shrews (Sorex
spp.), and other small rodents create an important
food base for many predatory mammals and birds. In
all, 65 species of mammals are found in the nature
reserve, consisting of 11 insectivores, nine bats,
24 rodents, three Lagomorpha (hares), 13
carnivores, and five ungulates.
Scientists have identified 273 species of birds
in Kuznetsky Alatau Zapovednik. Of these, 229 bird
species migrate to the reserve for the warm
breeding season, 44 reside here permanently, eight
birds spend the winter in the region, and 28
migrate through the reserve to nesting areas
further north. The most prevalent species
inhabiting the lower slopes of the Kuznetsky Alatau
Range are: yellowhammer (Emberiza
citrinella), red crossbill (Loxia
curvirostra), scarlet rosefinch (Carpodacus
erythrinus), chaffinch (Fringilla
coelebs), great tit (Parus major),
fieldfare (Turdus pilaris), nine species
from the Corvidae family (Pica, Corvus,
Nucifraga, and other genera), and northern
hazelhen (Tetrastes bonasia). In the high
mountain tundra zone, water pipit (Anthus
spinoletta), Pallas's reed bunting (Emberiza
pallasi), twite (Acanthis flavirostris),
solitary snipe (Gallinago solitaria), and
rock ptarmigan (Lagopus mutus) are among the
more common species.
Many rare species of birds, listed in the
Russian Red Book of Rare and Endangered Species,
find refuge in the nature reserve. Rare birds
include black stork (Ciconia nigra),
Bewick's swan (Cygnus bewickii), hooded
crane (Grus monacha), Asian dowitcher
(Limnodromus semipalmatus), and great
black-headed gull (Larus ichthyaëtus).
Among endangered birds of prey found in the reserve
are: osprey (Pandion haliaetus), steppe
eagle (Aquila rapax orientalis), imperial
eagle (A. heliaca), golden eagle (A.
chrysaetos), Pallas's sea-eagle
(Haliaëetus leucoryphus), white-tailed
sea-eagle (H. albicilla), gyrfalcon
(Falco rusticolus), saker falcon (F.
cherrug), and peregrine falcon (F.
peregrinus). Altogether, 13 species of birds in
the zapovednik are considered rare or endangered,
while the ranges of 12 species have been decreasing
over the past few decades.
Six species of reptiles inhabit the Kemerovo
Region, but only two of these have been identified
in the zapovednik: viviparous scaly lizard
(Lacerta vivipara) and common northern viper
(Vipera berus). Five species of amphibians
are found in Kemerovo Oblast, two of which reside
in the nature reserve: common toad (Bufo
bufo) and moor frog (Rana arvalis).
Fourteen species of fish and one species of
lamprey inhabit the lakes and rivers of the
Kuznetsky Alatau Zapovednik. However, only seven of
these are widespread in the upper reaches of rivers
in the zapovednik including: taimen (Hucho
taimen), Siberian grayling (Thymallus
arcticus), river minnow (Phoxinus
phoxinus), Siberian char (Nemachilus
barbatus), sculpin (Cottus poecilopus),
and two species from the carp family (Gobio
gobio cynocephalus and Leuciscus leuciscus
baicalensis).
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Vegetation
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Nearly 85 percent of Kuznetsky Alatau Zapovednik
is covered with forests, two thirds of which are
dominated by Siberian fir (Abies sibirica).
Siberian pine (Pinus sibirica) occurs with
fir on well-drained slopes. Sparse woodlands of fir
and pine near timberline are important for
regulating runoff from snowmelt. Honeysuckle
(Lonicera pallacii) and various species of
spiraea (Spiraea media, S. chamaedryfolia)
are found in the understory of fir stands. Siberian
spruce (Picea obovata) grows in mountain
valleys. Broadleaf species (primarily Betula
and Populus spp.) occupy the lower regions
of the forest belt, especially in areas that have
been logged or burned.
Boulder fields are common in the Kuznetsky
Alatau Mountains. Birch (Betula tortuosa)
and juniper (Juniperus sibirica) grow in
crooked formations on these rocky slopes. Siberian
firs skirt the edge of boulder fields, their tops
disfigured from ice and snow. Spleenwort fern
(Athyrium distentifolium) climbs steep,
rocky slopes, gradually unfolding its leaves as
summer unveils.
Meadow communities dominate the subalpine belt,
from 1100 to 1250 meters above sea level. In
spring, beautiful Pallas's primula (Primula
pallasii), corydalis (Corydalis
bracteata), and Altai anemone (Anemonoides
altaica) flower briefly in the meadows, while
snow still coats shaded valleys and slopes. Slopes
turn brilliant orange with Asian trollflower
(Trollius aziaticus) in summer. The large
pink curls of martagon lily (Lilium
martagon) grace meadows and the edges of
forests. Dwarf birch (Betula nana) and dwarf
willow (Salix glauca) twist in densely
tangled mats at the upper edge of the subalpine
belt.
Alpine communities cover five to eight percent
of the reserve, dotting the high mountain terrain.
Sedge (Carex altaica, C. aterrima),
doronicum (Doronicum altaicum), and crowfoot
(Ranunculus altaica) emerge from beneath
melting snow in summertime. Purple carpets of
columbine (Aquilegia glandulosa) ring
transparent glacier-fed lakes. Mammals and birds
gather on northern slopes in the alpine region in
the summer to feed on succulent bilberry
(Vaccinium myrtillus) interspersed with the
pink flowers of persicaria (Polygonum
bistorta), Daurian goldenrod (Solidago
dahurica), and in places bergenia (Bergenia
crassifolia).
The high level of precipitation combined with an
extended period of snow cover creates favorable
conditions for mountain swamps at various
elevations. In river valleys and terraces, swamps
up to 30 ha in size form in onetime riverbeds.
Birch thickets (Betula rotundifolia) are
intermixed with cranberry bogs (Vaccinium
oxycoccos) and grass communities made up of
Carex lasiocarpa, C. rostrata, C. pauciflora,
Baeothryon cespitosum, and Eriophorum
polystahyon. Swamp vegetation is also found on
moist slopes, highland terraces, peat meadows, and
waterlogged depressions between mountains.
In all, botanists have identified 578 vascular
plant species from 80 families and nearly 275
genera in the Kuznetsky Alatau Zapovednik. New
plant species are discovered each year as
researchers continue to investigate the terrain.
Fungi and lower plants have yet to be fully
researched. Thirty threatened species of plants are
found in the reserve including rose-root
(Rhodiola rosea), peony (Paeonia
anomala), and Pallas's primula. Wolfsbane
(Aconitum pascoi) with its blue flowers and
Siberian brunnera (Brunnera sibirica) are
endemic to the Altai-Sayan Mountain Region.
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Geographical
Features
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The Kuznetsky Alatau Zapovednik is located along
the eastern border of the Kemerovo Oblast in
Western Siberia. The reserve protects the highest
mountains of the Kuznetsky Alatau Range, the
northernmost spur of the Altai-Sayan Mountain
System. Located on the western slopes of the
mountain range, the reserve territory falls in the
Mezhdurechinsky, Novokuznetsky, and Tisulsky
administrative districts.
The Kuznetsky Alatau Mountain Range occupies
approximately one-third of Kemerovo Oblast. The
range is part of the Kuznetsk Highlands in the
Altai-Sayan Mountain Region. The Kuznetskaya and
Minusinskaya basins form wide depressions on either
side of the mountain range. The mountain range
formed as a result of glacial and volcanic
processes. The Lesser Kanym, Zubets, and Drakon
Peaks are cones of ancient volcanoes. Great Kanym
is the highest mountain in the zapovednik, reaching
1,870 m above sea level.
Most of the rivers originating in the Kuznetsky
Alatau Mountain Range are part of the Ob River
catchment area. Only the tributaries of the Abakan
River, in the extreme southeast of the mountain
range, drain into the Yenesei River Basin. The
largest rivers in the zapovednik are the Lower,
Middle, and Upper Ters - tributaries of the Tom
River, and the Kiya River, which joins the Chulym
River to the North before flowing into the Ob. All
of these rivers are fast moving mountain rivers in
the reserve, carrying crystal clear water. More
than two-thirds of their water comes from snowmelt.
By the end of October, small and medium-sized
rivers are laced with ice.
Continental climate prevails in the Kuznetsky
Alatau Range. The average temperature in January is
-15.5°C, while the average temperature in July
is +16.5°C. Southwestern winds in wintertime
cause more snow to collect on north- and
east-facing slopes. An average of three to five
meters of snow accumulates in the reserve, but snow
can pile up to 15 meters high in canyons and snow
banks. Snow cover lasts from six to nine months a
year. A total of 38 permanent snowfields and
numerous small glaciers are located in the high
mountains of the reserve. A study conducted in 1968
mapped all of the snowfields and glaciers in the
region. Since then, these snowfields and glaciers
have gradually melted and decreased in size,
possibly a consequence of climate change. A new
investigation should be carried out to determine
changes in glacial cover over the past 30 years,
the results of which could be used in climate
change studies.
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Conservation
Status
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One of the most critical threats to the remote
and relatively pristine ecosystems of Kuznetsky
Alatau is atmospheric pollution and, in particular,
acid rain. At least 68 sources of large-scale
industrial pollution are found in the plains below
the reserve. Most of these are metallurgical, and
primarily aluminum, factories. Each year, hundreds
of tons of harmful chemicals rain down on the
remote mountain ecosystems of Kuznetsky Alatau
Zapovednik. Despite the dangers of acid rain, water
in the mountain rivers and lakes of the zapovednik
has thus far been found to be very clean. Sphagnum
swamps at high altitudes act as a natural filter
for rainwater before it reaches streams and rivers.
Another serious threat to the integrity of
ecosystems protected in the Kuznetsky Alatau
Zapovednik comes from the ground. Since the
abolishment of the Russian Committee for Protection
of the Environment and Natural Resources in May
2000, the Ministry of Natural Resources has put
pressure on the reserve's administration to allow
geological surveys on the territory of the
zapovednik to search for gold deposits. Whether or
not these pressures will lead to opening up the
reserve for exploitation and irreversible
destruction of pristine wilderness remain to be
seen.
Less severe threats to the wildlife of the
reserve are posed by poaching and illegal fishing.
Prior to the creation of the reserve in 1989,
people had grown accustomed to hunting sable, red
squirrel, beaver, moose, and wapiti in the
Kuznetsky Alatau Mountains. The low level of
financing for protection measures means the ranger
service is poorly equipped to catch violators.
Kuznetsky Alatau Zapovednik has launched an
ecotourism program as a means to raise funds for
conservation measures and to allow the general
public to share the beauty of the region. The
reserve offers trips of any duration with a variety
of activities, including hikes to Kanym Mountain,
trail rides, summer skiing on snowfields, and much
more. Guests are housed in a rugged cabin at the
edge of the crystal clear Fish Lake or in tents.
Prices are reasonable and safety and enjoyment are
assured. Contact the reserve headquarters for more
information.
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References
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Text by Laura
Williams.
Kuznetsky Alatau Zapovednik. D.V.
Dubikovsky, ed. Asiya Publishing House. Kemerovo,
1999
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