The South Ural Reserve is a place whereIt is worthwhile to visit everyone who is actively interested in unique objects of the Russian Federation. And this is recommended not only to guests from near and far abroad, but also to the residents of our country. Why? The thing is that sometimes, having been born or living near amazing places, we so do not find time to get to know them better.

South Ural Reserve

In the South Ural Reserve it is worth going toany time of the year. At each time, it is beautiful and unique in its own way. In the fine spring, summer and autumn days here you can relax among trees and herbs, breathe the fresh air, collect, depending on the season, flowers, berries or mushrooms. But in the winter the South Urals State Nature Reserve turns into a real paradise for those who like to go skiing, play snowballs or make a huge snowman.

This article is aimed at tellingabout an amazing place, located on the territory of our country. The South Ural Reserve in fact has a reputation as a favorite recreational place for local residents. But guests from abroad, unfortunately, are not so often here, although those who are lucky enough to visit here, as a rule, take home with them not only colorful photos, but also stunning memories.

Successful location

South Ural Reserve, photo of which can bemeet almost in every guidebook, dedicated to the beauties of our country, is located simultaneously on the territory of the Republic of Bashkortostan (90% in Beloretsk district) and in the Chelyabinsk region.

By the way, it should be noted that in the Katav-Ivanovo region of the reserve with an area of ​​more than 24 thousand hectares, which is located in the Chelyabinsk region, is the most high-mountainous and picturesque region of the Southern Urals.

South Ural Nature Reserve

Mountain chains encircling the natural park

South Ural State Nature Reserveis located in the most difficult and at the same time the highest part of the Southern Urals. The ridges Mashak, Nary, Zigalga, Kumardak and the Yamantau Massif form the highest mountain node with the highest mark at 1639 m above sea level. The western chain here is represented by peaks entering the whole system of the Dry Mountains (Merry, Round, Sal, Placer).

A complex chain is also formed by the Mashak Range and the Yamantau Massif.

Rivers and water systems

In the reserve, the river system enters the catchment area of ​​the river. White. All waterways here can be referred to the category of small rivers, because their length is less than 100 km. The largest are Small and Large Inzers, Tulmen, Yuryuzan and Robe.

In addition, there are 13 more rivers 10-19 km long. The total number of small streams and rivulets reaches a huge number of 300 pcs.

Most of the rivers in the reserve areThe largest indicator of the modulus of runoff is the p. The tulle. Summer-autumn low-water season occurs in June-October, but it is regularly interrupted by rain floods.

The rivers in the reserve are frozen, as a rule, in early November. Ledostav is often preserved until the second decade of April.

But the least amount of water is recorded here in August.

South Ural State Reserve

History of the Reserve

Around the middle of the XVIII century. The territory on which the South Ural Reserve is now located was considered poorly developed.

For example, looking in the textbook on the history of the region, you can find out that by 1795 there were built only three small villages - Berdagulovo, Aripkulovo and Ilmyashevo.

People here in the XVIII-XIX century. were engaged mainly in semi-nomadic cattle breeding, sometimes in beekeeping. By the way, it should be noted that to this day in the reserve preserved sidewalks.

In the XVIII century. the so-called mining stage of the development of the Southern Urals began: iron smelters were built right on the border of the reserve. Large-scale, sometimes ill-considered, and therefore destructive logging of the forest began. The construction of coal-burning stoves also required a huge amount of resources. In addition, the development of iron ore deposits was carried out on the territory of the reserve.

In 1924, fortunately for the environment, the plants were stopped, then closed, and the development of the forest industry.

South Ural State Nature Reserve

Flora of the South Ural Reserve

Today, in the territory of this natural park there are 698 species of higher plants, 121 species of mushrooms, a lot of mosses, soil algae, lichens.

It should be noted that many of them are listed in the Red Book of Russia, and 57 species are real relics of past geological epochs.

Forests in the reserve cover 90% of the area, while the key forest-forming species are coniferous (4 species) and deciduous trees (10 species).

32% of the reserve area is dark coniferousfir-spruce forests, where fir and spruce are especially common. Light coniferous forests are formed, as a rule, pine pine and are in the southern part of the reserve, they, unfortunately, suffered most because of illegal logging.

There are also small massifs with predominance of gray alder, linden hearth, oak quiver, maple leaf, birches of winding and fluffy, various willows, bird cherry.

flora of the South Ural Reserve

South Ural Reserve. Animals and birds

The reserve has 50 species of mammals, 260 - vertebrates, 20 - fish, 189 - birds, and also 5 species of reptiles and amphibians.

The fauna of mammals is mostly represented by forest inhabitants, but there are also two acclimatized species - the American mink and muskrat.

Ungulates are especially common among ungulates. The number of these animals is only 400-700 individuals, which is not so much, as it might seem at first glance.

From time to time, walking along forest paths andlawns, you can also meet roe deer and wild boar. Constantly, the South Ural Reserve inhabits 13 species of carnivorous mammals, including the brown bear, the column, the wolf, the fox, the lynx, the marten, the weasel, the ermine, and others.

South Ural nature reserve animals

There is also the river otter that is disappearing in the republic. The habitual and fairly common inhabitants of this natural park can be considered a badger and a hare-hare.

Within the territory of the reserve there are 19species of rodents, of which the most common are protein, chipmunk, beaver, mouse and voles. A very rare species is, perhaps, a flying squirrel. Insectivores are represented here in eight species, most common are the common hedgehog and mole, shrews, and others.

To date, exactly 189 species of birds livein the nature reserve. By the way, 11 of them have long been listed in the Red Book of our country: peregrine falcon, black stork, golden eagle, red-breasted goose, snakehead, big eagle eagle, white-tailed eagle, eagle owl, gyrfalcon, magpie, sorokoput.

The fauna of birds mainly consists of forest birds, the most common are hazel grouse and wood grouse.

South Ural nature reserve animals

What role does nature reserve play in the protection of nature?

This issue deserves special attention, so it is worth giving a more detailed answer to it. What is the need for this place, if there is one, of course?

The whole point is that the South Ural naturalThe reserve of Russia was established in order to preserve the unique natural complexes of the South Urals in its natural, primordial form. Especially it concerns the smart spruce-fir forests. Rare species of local flora, fauna, natural marshes, high-altitude vegetable communities - all this should be preserved for future generations and for the benefit of our Motherland.

 South Urals Nature Reserve Photo

Interesting Facts

Talking about this natural park, we can not fail to mention some of the most interesting data.

For example, not everyone knows that the total length of the reserve is 270 km. This territory is really huge even in the scale of the Russian Federation.

The western part of the reserve is the right bank of the river. Yamashta, r. Tulmen and the eastern slopes of the so-called Dry Mountains. The northern cordon is the same as the Republican border, which is about 40 km.

The reserve is located in the highest southern part of the Urals. Here, on its territory, there were once founded special settlements for repressed persons and a camp for interned Germans.