The stadium was erected for the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, where the opening and closing of the games took place. For the 2018 World Cup reconstruction was carried out. Holds 40 thousand spectators, but after the World Cup 2018, will reduce the number of seats to 25 thousand. There will be group matches and one of the games of the 1/8 finals of the 2018 World Cup.

The Olympic stadium Fisht was built for the 2014 Winter Olympics. The arena is located in the Imereti lowland of the Adler district of Sochi on the territory of the Olympic Park.

After the Olympic Games, the stadium was closed for reconstruction in order to bring it in line with FIFA’s requirements for international football tournaments.

The stadium is named after the mountain top of the Main Caucasian Range. The name of the arena will not change during the tournament and after it. “Fisht” – the word Adyghe (Adygea – the indigenous population of these lands), translated as “white head”, coincides with the name of the mountain peak of the Greater Caucasus. The look of the stadium in Sochi resembles a mountain top thanks to the ascending uphill roof.

The maximum capacity of the stadium “Fisht” after reconstruction is 43 700 seats.

In the renovated stadium four stands – two indoor and two open. Covered stands cover the structure of the roof, which consists of two separate parts. From the stands you can see the mountains and the sea.

After the Winter Olympics in 2014, Sochi became one of the most modern cities in Russia. And according to the constructed objects of the sports infrastructure, now it is not inferior to many European capitals.

It would be strange not to call Sochi as one of the cities hosting the 2018 FIFA World Cup. Sochi became one of the main cities in the Russian application for the home World Cup, whose candidacy – along with Moscow, St. Petersburg and Kazan – was practically not discussed.

Construction of the stadium “Fisht”

The “Fisht” arena began to be built almost immediately after receiving the right to conduct the competitions. Already in January 2012, builders reported on the completion of the general framework of reinforced concrete: its height was 36 meters, and the stadium has already accepted its recognizable shape in the future. Completely completed construction was in 2013.

Reconstruction of the stadium “Fisht” for World Cup 2018

Reconstruction of the stadium “Fisht” started in 2014, immediately after the Olympic Games in Sochi. Works on the reconstruction of the stadium ended on March 10, 2017.

March 28, 2017 at the stadium was the first match – between the national teams of Russia and Belgium (3: 3).

What changed after the reconstruction?

It was dismantled 3,800 tons of additional metal structures, which were necessary for the events within the framework of the 2014 Winter Olympics. The most noticeable thing that changed at the Sochi stadium was the dismantling of the central part of the roof, the arena turned out to be open, with a big “cutout” in the middle. The roof now covers only the longitudinal central stands.

Updated “Fisht” received a football field with a natural lawn. For this, drainage, irrigation and ventilation systems were re-created, sand was brought from several regions to the stadium, and the local microflora was implanted in the lawn itself, so that the grass would better settle down. There is also a system for heating the lawn – 32 km of pipes laid under the cover.

During the reconstruction at the stadium “Fisht” appeared two new stands outside the gates – from the north and south sides. Without changes from the Olympics there was only one – the eastern one. It was necessary to increase the capacity of the sports facility. At the stadium appeared 4.3 thousand additional seats, and the entire arena now accommodates 43,700 spectators.

Cost of reconstruction

The cost of preparing the stadium “Fisht” for the matches of the Confederations Cup in 2017 and the World Cup in 2018 amounted to approximately 4 billion rubles.

After reconstruction

March 28, 2017 at the stadium “Fisht” was the first football match. In the friendly game there were national teams of Russia and Belgium. The game ended in a draw with a score of 3: 3. The first goal in the arena “Fisht” in the third minute of the game was scored by the defender of CSKA Moscow, Viktor Vasin.

In the summer of 2017, the Confederations Cup was held in Russia – a rehearsal tournament before the World Cup. Stadium “Fisht” has become one of the arenas that host the matches of the tournament. There were three matches of the group stage of the tournament, as well as one of the semifinals.

Stadium on the map:

The attention of today’s publication is to the megalithic tract, discovered in 1904 by the well-known Russian archaeologist Yevgeny Dmitrievich Felitsin, and named by him “Kozhozhsky dolmen group”.
Such a place with the name Kozhzhokh you will not find on any map of the Maikop district of the Republic of Adygea. This is not surprising, so, unwittingly, in Russian, the Adygeyan name of the settlement “Hadzhokh” Yevgeny Dmitrievich was distorted.
At the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries during the excavation, Felitsyn counted 120 dolmens (he excavated 34, the rest remained in embankments).
All of them were located on the right terrace of the right bank of the Belaya River, between the tributaries Maly and Middle Hajokh, in the present northern outskirts of the village of Kamennomostsky.
According to some modern scholars, the Kojozhou group numbered up to 300 monuments.

Interestingly, five dolmens without holes were found in this group at the time.
Megaliths of this group date back to the 4th-3rd millennia BC. in the study it was found sufficiently powerful cultural layer consisting of clay vessels, fragments molded pots and flat-bottomed bowls, bronze arrowheads and pins, flint flakes and animal bones.
This dolmen mega-group is the most accessible for visiting.
We get to it, following the transport from Maikop on the route Maikop-Kamennomostsky. Once you have passed the district center of the Maikop district – the village of Tula, you find yourself in a wide valley of the Belaya River, bordered on the left and right by water dividing ridges. Here, at the turn to the village of Abadzekh, the ancient possessions of megaliths begin. Moving forward to the mountains, we leave on the left side of the famous “herculean clearing” with its four hundred dolmens, as well as a unique natural boundary “GOLD” with strange dolmen tombs complex design.

We enter the village of Kamennomostsky.
On the right side, near the sign with the name of the settlement, we are greeted by the hospitable restaurant and hotel complex Belovodie.
On its territory enthusiastic host various curios collected from nearby neighborhoods, including a collection of dolmens sleeves hewn boards with grooves and even assembled a small dolmen integral part of several destroyed counterparts.

On the right (in the course of traffic from Maikop) there are only three dolmens, but this is the most “liquid” monuments.
A landmark from the road is the sign “Dolmen” and the building of the Museum of the Stone. This small nature conservation corner is based solely on the enthusiasm of Igor Petrovich Ogai, a wonderful person, defender and researcher of dolmen culture in Adygea (incidentally, he is also the director of the local branch of the Russian Geographical Society). It was the forces of Igor Petrovich and his wife in the museum that collected unique fragments of architecture, paleontology and zoology (and are in fact protected from embezzlement), cultivated paths along the edges of which unique natural phenomena – spherical fossils (concretions) with prehistoric shells of ammonites inside were arranged.

 

And, of course, the crown of this archeological reserve is a perfectly preserved dolmen under the Hajokh-1 marking.

I must say that this dolmen is one of the two title dolmens of Adygea (on a par with the Gueripel megalith).
Dolmen rests on the top of a small hill surrounded by slender oaks with knotty roots protruding from the earth (by the way, you can see a miracle of nature – a tree with 14 trunks coming from the same root).

With the passage of time under his own weight, he sank into the ground and now the entrance hole looks shifted to the base of the structure.
The visible part of the front plate has the following parameters: height – 1.7 meters, width – 2.8 meters.
Hajoch-1 is a typical tiled portal type dolmen, built of light gray sandstone and oriented to the southeast.
Despite the apparent safety, it bears the traces of weathering, the destructive impact of the “black” diggers and the inexorable impact of time: the portal slabs were only partially preserved.
Through the gap in the back plate can be traced earth floor.

Through the efforts of black archaeologists and the forces of nature, megaliths were practically a mishmash of plain, buried in the ground, moss-covered slabs.
But in 2013, unexpectedly for all scientists and statesmen drew attention to the unfortunate dolmen Hajokh-3. The Government of the Republic of Adygea allocated funds for research and conservation of the dolmen, and the Department for the Protection and Use of Cultural Heritage Objects invited an archaeological expedition from St. Petersburg headed by Viktor Trifonov, senior researcher of the Department of Archeology of Central Asia and the Caucasus, the famous and authoritative researcher and scientist in the field of megalithic culture.
In the difficult autumn conditions of constant downpours began laborious work on the reconstruction of the monument.
The enthusiasts did a truly heroic work – in the pouring rain, the tiles were dug up and put up in tandem with manual blocks, cleaned and installed at their original places, and, moreover, the entire surrounding complex of the building was reconstructed, on an area of ​​260 square meters!

Hajokh-3 is a classic tiled dolmen, its walls are kept in good condition, the cover plate was observed in the form of debris, the bushing was missing (probably blown away).
During the excavations, archaeologists have reconstructed the preserved funerary chamber, portal and dolmen’s yard.
The culture layer in the form of clay vessels, fragments of molded pots and flat bottom bowls, bronze arrowheads, as well as a bronze pin, flint flakes, animal bones, was surprisingly preserved in the chamber.
Well, and most importantly – were found the remains of the burial of twelve people!
The importance of the work done can not be overestimated.
Now we see a unique opportunity to contemplate this remarkable monument in all its almost original beauty: a small dolmen of pleasant yellow-orange color stands proudly on top of a small burial mound paved with a large cobblestone, from the foot of which a short court (dromos) leads to the portal plate, fenced corridor. The chamber opening is of a rare arcuate shape. The dolmen are deepened and fixed in a circle by a core-river stone, and the courtyard is sprinkled with small pebbles.

In general, Hajokh-3 poses more questions than answers with its whole appearance: why are there more and smaller objects in one dolmen group? Why are some structures built of gray sandstone, and others of red limestone? Why do some facades have round holes, while others have stove holes? In addition, next to the dolmen quietly lies a plate with well-marked grooved slots. But this is a stove from some other dolmen! What kind? – there are no answers …

 

Elbrus is a mountain that really knows how to enchant, and as climbers seeking to conquer the next peak, and the most ordinary travelers who come to its foot every year to feel all the power and strength of the stone peak. And of course, no one is disappointed. This article will tell not only about which mountains Elbrus is in, but also will acquaint readers with its features, the secret name, myths and legends.

Section 1. General description of the geographical object

Elbrus – the mountain, rightly considered the highest point of the Russian Federation, is located in the northern part of the Greater Caucasus Range, on the border of Karachaevo-Cherkessia and Kabardino-Balkaria. Due to the fact that there is still no exact boundary between Europe and Asia, the mountain is sometimes equated with the highest European mountain peak and referred to as the “Seven Peaks”. Perhaps, some time will pass and geographers will finally resolve this dispute, but for the time being it is for certain known that Elbrus is a mountain, which is a so-called two-summit stratovolcano. Its cone-shaped peaks were formed on an ancient volcanic base, and from the geological point of view, both peaks are absolutely independent volcanoes, each of which has a classical form and a distinct crater.

Caucasus mountains, Elbrus…… These places are actually famous for its ancient history. Few people know that age is determined by the condition of the upper part, which, for example, at the highest peak of Russia is destroyed by a vertical fault. It was possible to establish the date of the last eruption: it happened around the 50s ad.

Section 2. The secret of the name of the peak

Perhaps, to the question of where Mount Elbrus is, let it be a little thoughtful, but the usual average student will also answer, but little is known about the etymology of the name. In general, it should be noted that this vertex has several names at once. In total, there are more than a dozen. To date, it is difficult to determine which of the names appeared earlier, and which later. The modern name of this mountain, according to one version, comes from the Iranian “Aytibares”, which means “high mountain” or “brilliant” (Zend language variant) in Russian. On Karachay-Balkar peak called “Mingi-tau”, which is translated into Russian as “mountain of thousands”. Nevertheless, there are Balkars who call it a little differently – “Minge-tau”, which means “mountain saddled”. Modern representatives of this nation still say “Elbrus-tau” – “a mountain around which the wind is spinning”.

Section 3. What is the height of mount Elbrus?

Perhaps, at least once in my life this question interested many curious people. But the answer to it is not as simple as it might seem at first glance. Why? It’s all about the specifics of its structure. As already mentioned above, Elbrus is a mountain consisting of two cone-shaped peaks. The height of the western is 5642 meters, and the eastern one – 5,621 meters. The saddle separating them rises above the surface by 5300 meters, and the distance from each other is about 3000 meters.
For the first time the size of Elbrus was determined by the Russian academician VK Vishnevsky in 1813. Recall that today the highest mountain in the world is Mount Everest (Jomolungma), whose height is 8848 meters, compared to which our mountain peak looks tiny.

Section 4. Severity of the local climate Mount Elbrus

Ascent to its summit often dreams of experienced climbers, as well as beginners. However, this can not be done at any time. The most favorable is the summer period, July-August. At this time, the weather is the most stable and safer to visit such heights. The air temperature in summer rarely drops below -9 ° C, although it may well drop to -30 ° C during the ascent. From October to April there is a severe and cold winter in these places. In the cold season, visiting the peak is almost impossible, and climbing it is equivalent to suicide.

Section 5. Volcanic activity

Elbrus is amazing and unique. The description of the mountain takes too much time, because every time more and more interesting features are revealed. In this article, we will cover only the most obscure. Geological studies of this extinct volcano showed the presence of layers containing volcanic ash, which was formed as a result of ancient eruptions. According to the first layer, scientists have proved that the very first eruption of Elbrus occurred about 45 thousand years ago. The second layer was formed after the eruption of Kazbek volcano. It happened about 40 thousand years ago.

Now it is known for certain that it was after this second, the most powerful, even by modern standards, eruptions, the Neanderthals, who settled in the local caves, left these lands and went in search of more favorable conditions for life. The most recent eruption of the Elbrus volcano occurred about 2000 years ago.

Section 6. Legends of Elbrus

In general, the Caucasus Mountains, Elbrus in particular, are enveloped in many of the most amazing and mysterious legends and myths. One of these tales tells that in times immemorial there lived a father and a son – Kazbek and Elbrus. They both fell in love with one beautiful girl named Mashuk. Only the girl could not make a choice between two glorious heroes. For a long time father and son competed, not wishing to yield to each other, and a deadly duel ensued between them. They fought until Elbrus defeated his father. But, realizing his terrible act, his son turned gray with grief. He no longer wanted love, obtained at the cost of the life of a loved one, and Elbrus turned away from the beautiful Mashuk, a little later, by hitting himself with the same dagger that killed his father.

Beautiful Mashuk long and bitterly wept over the knights and said that on the whole earth there were no such heroes, and that it is hard for her to live in the world without seeing them. Hearing the god of her groaning, and turned Kazbek and Elbrus into high mountains, more beautiful and above which there is no more in the Caucasus. Beauty Mashuk he turned into a smaller mountain. And now from time immemorial, from day to day, there is a stone girl and looks at the mighty peaks, and without deciding which of the two heroes is closer and dearer to her heart of stone.

Section 7. The history of great conquest

In 1829, led by the head of the scientific expedition, George Emmanuel, the first ascent of Elbrus was made. The members of this expedition were mainly representatives of the scientific circle: physicists, botanists, zoologists, geologists, etc. They conquered the eastern part of Elbrus and entered history as pioneers of one of the greatest peaks of our planet Earth. The first to climb was Elbrus Kilar Khachirov – a conductor. A few years later, the higher peak of this mountain was conquered – the western one. The expedition, organized by English climbers, led by Florence Grove, made a march on the western part of Elbrus in 1874. The very first person who climbed on top of it, too, was the conductor, this is Balkar, Ahii Sottaev – participant of the first expedition. Later, a man appeared who managed to conquer both peaks of Elbrus. It was the Russian topographer AV Pastukhov. He in 1890 was able to climb to the western peak, and in 1896 – to the east. The same person made detailed maps of Elbrus.

It should be noted that until now, stratovolcano is the most popular mountain among climbers from all over the world. To make an ascent to its peak, climbers spend an average of about one week. But in our time you can use the cable car, which greatly facilitates the journey and saves time. At an altitude of about 3,750 m there is a shelter of the “Barrels”, from which the ascent to Elbrus now usually begins. In this shelter there are six-sealed insulated barrel-shaped trailers and a specially equipped kitchen. At the level of 4100 meters is the world’s highest mountain hotel – “Shelter of eleven.”

Section 8. Rock mushrooms on Elbrus

Elbrus is a mountain that can captivate travelers with its natural features, for example, unique rock formations called Stone fungi. Until now, no one knows why these stones were nicknamed mushrooms by the people, and nowhere in the Caucasus such sculptures are no longer observed. On a small level area (250 x 100 m), a couple of dozens of such “mushrooms” are picturesquely scattered. In many of them you can see the indentations. Perhaps our ancestors used them for some cult purposes. Especially impressive are stones that resemble a face looking up. Many believe that this is a place with very strong positive energy, and even the weather here is very anomalous.

Section 9. The Museum of Defense of the Elbrus Region

The Museum of Defense is the most high-altitude museum in the whole world. It is located at an altitude of 3,500 meters above sea level. The uniqueness of the exposition lies also in the fact that it is not confined to the building alone, but continues in the surrounding area. This institution has been operating since January 1, 1972. His development and preservation of collections are always monitored by a scientific worker and two employees. The collection contains more than 270 items. It should be noted that during the Second World War, the highest mountain front was located in the Elbrus region. In these places fierce battles were fought for mountain passes, which the nazis tried to capture in order to reach Transcaucasia. Photo-materials of these events have been stored in this museum for many years. The Museum of Defense of the Elbrus region is an organization of regional subordination, in which cultural and mass work is conducted.

Section 10. Interesting facts about the mountain

• In 1956, in honor of the 400th anniversary of Kabardino-Balkaria, a group of 400 climbers could climb Mount Elbrus simultaneously.
• In 1998, the building of the hotel “Shelter of the Eleven” was burnt in the fire. To date, on the site of the old wooden building, local authorities are building a new one.
• In 1991, the publication Outside Magazine recognized the toilet in the hotel “Shelter eleven” the worst toilet in the world. This is not surprising, given the fact that thousands of mountain tourists and climbers from all over the world have used this place for years for certain purposes.
• Elbrus is rightfully considered one of the most dangerous peaks of the world. When climbing a mountain, accidents often occur. Only in 2004 48 skiers-extremals and climbers were killed.
• In 1997, for the first time on the top of Elbrus was able to climb specially equipped and modified car Land Rover. The man who ran this car is the Russian traveler A. Abramov.
• Mount Elbrus is one of the “Seven Peaks”, in addition to its list are: Aconcagua in South America, Jomolungma in Asia, McKinley in North America, Vinson Massif in Antarctica, Kilimanjaro in Africa, Punchak and Jaya in Oceania and Australia.
• Elbrus also has 22 glaciers, in which three rivers originate: Kuban, Baksan and Malka.
• Sometimes, from the top of Mount Elbrus, climbers can see the Black and Caspian seas. It depends on the pressure and temperature of the air, thanks to which the radius of view increases significantly.
• In 2008, Mount Elbrus was recognized as one of the Seven Wonders of Russia.

Mount Zmeyka is considered one of the beautiful landscape monuments of nature in Russia. It is located in the North Caucasus, in the historical region of Pyatigorye. In 5 km from the mountain there is a special ecological resort region of the Russian Federation – Caucasian Mineral Waters.

This region is quite visited. It is worth noting that many tourists like the picturesque landscapes and stunning surroundings that open from this mountain. Some people come here from year to year to update their emotions and impressions received in the area. Before you go here, you need to find out more about this area and about the mountain itself. This article will help in this.

Brief description

The origin of the town of Zmeyki is magmatic. This is the second largest mountain of this type in the region. The total area is about 194 hectares. The height of the Snake Mountain is 994 m. Its entire surface is covered with dense forest vegetation. In its outline, the Snake has an oval shape without a pronounced peak, slightly inclined to the northeast. At the top of the mountain is a clear rocky ledge, composed of a subvolcanic intrusion. The apical part is destroyed, this leads to frequent stone collapse on this site.

At the southern foot of the Zmeyka mountain there are springs of underground water, which strike with their useful mineral composition. The deposit is named after the mountain – Zmeykinsky. Carbonic-calcium-sodium water is extracted at a depth of almost 1,500 m. At the outlet, the water is hot, the temperature can reach 70 ° C.

Slopes

Mount Zmeika from the north and east side is heavily collapsed. Violation of the slopes was due to the fact that in the 30-70’s. The last century there was a quarry for the extraction of building materials. After it was closed, there are constant landslides on these sides. Currently, the pit depth is 200 m, and the width is about 2 km. Basically, they mined a stone here, but in the mid-80s. there were discovered Beshtaunites – rare breeds of minerals, which are very important in the scientific sphere. Now their extraction is not conducted.

Forests

Mount Snake, a photo of which is in the article, in places where it is covered with forest, is a part of the massif of Beshtagorje. This cover serves as a special protection for the mineral waters of the Caucasus. The main generatrices of the tree are oak and hornbeam. The first is most often found in the lower zone of the mountain, the second – at the top. In addition to these trees there are also ash, beech, etc. In total – about 60 species. The forests grow on piedmont chernozem and gray-brown soils of different acidity. The Beshtaugorsky forest is a part of the state nature reserve. On its territory you can meet representatives of the flora, which are listed in the Red Book (spindle dwarf, lily one-brass, Caucasian ash, Neifedov’s cousin, etc.).

Name

Hydronym Mount Zmeyka received a long time, but he entrenched it only a few years ago. For a long time it had a Turkic name – Zhlak Tau, which in translation means “snake mountain”. There are two versions explaining the origin of such a beautiful name. According to one of them, earlier this place was a favorite for all kinds of snakes, there were a lot of them. On the other – on one of the slopes of the mountain, sinuous cracks along the outline resembled a snake during the movement. However, these crevices can not be seen now, since most of the surface has been significantly affected by anthropogenic interference.

Excavations

Thanks to archaeological excavations it was found out that in the period from VII to IX c. n. e. (Khazar period) people lived on the eastern slope of the mountain. This is indicated by findings in the form of fragments of earthenware in large quantities. Also higher from the site of the excavation you can find a mound of stones, in its form resembling an ancient altar.

Tourism and sightseeing

Currently, the Snake Mountain is a special tourist attraction, which annually attracts a large number of tourists at its foot. People who come to this area can view many interesting sites. In addition to the water deposits (the Holy Spring, the source of St. Theodosius), there is a stone processing plant in the territory, a closed tunnel, where Beshtaunites, quarries, a monument to the quarry workers who died during the war, a dam were mined. Also on the rise you can see bizarre stones. The Snake Mountain, the history of which is described above, has them in sufficient numbers. Some of them even have their own name. For example: a stone-finger, a stone with a hole, a stone-cross, etc.

History

Alansky Holy Dormition Monastery at the construction stage. August 2002

In the Middle Ages in the territory and around the monastery was the family settlement of the Gusovs, in the 17th century, and then in the 18th century, there were two large guard towers that now fit in the monastic complex and serve as a bell tower. In 1848, the church of the Holy Wives, the world-bearer with the parish priest’s house, appeared on the territory, which served until 1928.

The basis of the monastic brotherhood was the Ossetians, who had been undergoing spiritual training in the Rylsky Nikolsky Monastery from 1997-1999, where, shortly before his death, Archimandrite Ippolit (Khalin) instructed them. He told the workers to go to Beslan.

Under the monastery that was formed in Beslan, the church of the holy martyr Varvara (the former depot depot of the Beslan station), created at the initiative of the priest of the parish priest Sergiy Maltsev, was handed over, in agreement with the head of the Pravoberezhny district of the RNO-A Borisov Mikhailovich Urtaev and the head of the Orthodox fund “Assumption” Natalia Fyodorovna Nosova, with the blessing of Metropolitan of Stavropol and Vladikavkaz Gideon. The first inhabitants of the monastery arrived in the city in January 2000, and the monastery was established by the synodal decision of April 19, 2000.

The community of the St. Barbara church moved to the built baptismal church of St. George the Victorious of the city of Beslan, which is part of the Holy Trinity Church complex. Over time, the monastery moved to the Kurtatinsky Gorge, where the temple of the holy wives of the Myrrh-bearers of the XIX century was rebuilt, and a larger larger Cathedral of the Mozdok Icon of the Virgin was also built. In Beslan there was a monastery courtyard.

During the 2000s, the Uspensky Monastery became the second spiritual center of Alanya along with the Alanian convent, pilgrims from all over the south of Russia, as well as pilgrims from South Ossetia began to travel to the monastery. The monastery actively participates in the work of the department for the translation of liturgical texts into the Ossetian language. Divine services are held here in the Church Slavonic and Ossetian languages.

In August 2010, the monastery was visited by the Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa, Theodore.

In 2011, on the feast day of the holy Myrrh-bearers, Divine Liturgy was performed by Shhiarchimandrite Ily (Nozdrin).

In November 2011, in the territory of the monastery and around the believers of the republic, a conflict arose with the transfer of Archimandrite Antony, who, after a short time, by the decision of the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia, peacefully resolved.

Weekly from the city of Vladikavkaz, every Saturday early morning, a bus with pilgrims from the city and districts of the Republic leaves, as well as daily pilgrimage buses from different regions of Russia visit the monastery: Rostov Region, Stavropol Territory, Kalmykia, Chechnya, Volgograd Region, as well as individual tourists from Moscow, St. Petersburg, and other cities of the country. According to rough estimates, about 15-17 thousand people visit the Monastery of the Assumption for two or three days. And in the winter time for the holiday of the Epiphany to the monastery come about 50 thousand people.

The administration of the monastery actively participates in diocesan assemblies, and important ecclesiastical measures of the diocese.

Monastery of the monastery

• Church of the Holy Great Martyr Barbara (Beslan)
• Chapel of the Nativity of the Virgin (VII century) (the former village of Mairamkau)
• Church of the Holy Archangel Michael (Dzuarikau village, Alagir district)

Deputies

• hegumen Andrey (Moroz) (April 20 – May 23, 2000) and. about.
• Hieromonk Joseph (Beryozov) (2000-2002)
• Archimandrite Anthony (Danilov) (April 17, 2002 – November 2011)
• Hegumen Stefan (Dzugkoev) from November 2011.

In 2017, the monastery has 25 people.

Economy of the monastery

• Production and sale of mountain Ossetian cheese,
• Collecting and selling tea fees a lot of different mountain medicinal herbs.
• Production and sale of mountain monastic milk, eggs.
• Making the sale of small and large icons with the Alan element, as well as partially souvenir elylelia on the national-Christian theme.
• Sale of local monastic honey.
• “The monastery also has two monastic shops in the city of Vladikavkaz, and in the courtyard of the city of Beslan.”

This is a general article describing the nature of the nature reserves, such as vegetation, soil types, flora and fauna. The location on the map is also shown.

Caucasian State Nature Biosphere Reserve

link

Subject of the Russian Federation: Krasnodar Region Karachay-Cherkess Republic of Adygea. republic
Date of creation: May 12, 1924.
International status: UNESCO Biosphere Reserve (1979)
The territory of the reserve is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site “Western Caucasus”
Total area (ha): 280335
Natural zone: highlands, high altitude zone, subtropical forests

Relief:

The reserve is located on the northern and southern slopes of the Western Caucasus. The territory is a typical mountain landscape and is characterized by altitude elevations from 260 to 3360 m above sea level. The basis of the relief is the Main Caucasian Range, stretching from the north-west to the south-east. In general, the ridge is asymmetric: with a longer northern macroslope and a steep short southern slope. The westernmost peaks – Autl (1856 m), Khuko (1906 m) – barely break out of the forest belt and carry small subalpine meadows. Starting from the Fisht-Oshten massif, with the peaks Fisht (2867 m), Oshten (2808 m), Psheha-Su (2744 m), a typical high-mountain landscape is developed, which continues to the eastern boundary of the reserve. The Fishon-Oshten massif is closely adjoined by the Lagonaki plateau, which represents a system of middle-level aligned ridges with extensive subalpine and alpine meadows developed on a karstic limestone massif.

After a small decrease, called the biogeographs of the Colchis Gate, the Main Caucasian Range starts to rise from the first three-thousand-meter mountain – Chugush (3238 m) and then carries the peaks Pseashkho (3256 m), Aishkhi (3015 m), Akaragwarta (3141 m), etc. The highest one is Tsakhvoa, reaching 3345 m. To the north of the Main Ridge, in parallel to it, is the Forward Range, divided by river valleys into separate segments: the town of Pshekish (2257 m), Dzhuga (2946 m), Yatyrgvartha 2761 m), town of Magisho (3161 m). The northern border of the reserve, mainly, stretches along the Rocky Range, limestone peaks of which represent the southernmost cuesta, ploping to the north and steeply cutting off towards the reserve. The individual peaks of the Rocky Range exceed 2000 m. y. m. (Achebok, Afonka, Slesarnya, etc.).

On the southern macroslope, parallel to the Main Range, lies the Southern Front Range with the peaks of the Stone Pillar (2600 m), Agepsta (3256 m), Atsetuka (2769 m). The southern border of the reserve passes along the spurs of the Main Ridge, divided by rivers, Bzyach (1503 m), Amuko (1918 m), Joshosh (1790 m), Achishkho (2451 m), etc. In isolation from the main territory, 2 km from the coast, on the south-eastern slope of the ridge. Ahun is a subtropical Khostinskaya yew-boxwood grove, with elevations varying from 30 to 550 m. y. Some areas of the reserve (Lagonak Highlands, Messrs Fisht, Oshten, Psheha-Su, Acheshbok, Tru, Akhun, etc.) are karst landscapes with a very large number of caves. Thus, there are more than 130 of them on the Lagonaki Upland. Glaciers are not uncommon in the reserve. There are about 60 of them, and the total area is 18.2 square meters. km.

Climate:

The reserve is located on the border of the temperate and subtropical climatic zones. The warm and humid climate in the lowlands has a subtropical character with positive average temperatures in January (+4.2 degrees Celsius) and high average temperatures in July and August (+ 20-21 degrees Celsius). In the mountains the snow cover lasts 5 or more months. Summer is moderately warm (average July temperatures from +16 to +22 ° C), the annual precipitation is 700-1200 mm, the maximum is in the early summer. Mountain relief causes high-altitude zone of the climate, for every 100 m of elevation above sea level, the temperature drops by 0.5 degrees. FROM.

Reservoirs:

The rivers and lakes account for about 1.9% of the reserve. From the southern macroslope of the Main Caucasian ridge, the Mzymta rivers flow with the tributaries of the Chvezysse, Laura, Achipse, Pslukh, Tikhaya, etc.), Khost, Sochi, Shahe (with the tributaries Bzyach, Azhu, Bushchy, etc.), with The northern macroslope is the White (with the tributaries of Ches-su, Kish, Pshaha, etc.), Malaya Laba (with the tributaries of Tsakhvoya, Urushten), as well as the Zakan and Damhurts rivers belonging to the Bolshaya Laba basin. In turn, the rivers of the northern macroslope are the tributaries of the river. The Kuban. Rivers are typical mountain streams with frequent waterfalls, narrow rock gorges, gorges and canyons. There are more than 120 lakes. They are small in area and often completely free of ice only in the middle of summer. The largest lake of the reserve is Lake Silence, with a water surface area of ​​200,000 square meters. The special beauty and popularity of Lake Khuko (1843 m above sea level) on the Main Range, Kardyvach (1850 m above sea level) in the upper reaches of the river. Mzymta, Inpsi in the upper reaches of the river. Tsakhvoa, Blue and Atsetuk lakes on the Southern Front Range.

Soils:

The soils of the reserve vary from subtropical yellow soils in the foothills to primitive mountains in the highlands. The main soils are brown mountain-forest and mountain-meadow soils.

Flora and vegetation:

The flora of the Caucasian reserve includes about 3000 species, of which at least half are vascular plants. The predominant families are astroids (223 species), bluegrass (114), rosy (108), leguminous (82), etc. Forest flora includes more than 900 species, some of which are also found in the mountain meadow belt. The total number of highland plants exceeds 800 species. Trees and shrubs constitute 165 species, including 142 – deciduous, 16 – evergreen deciduous and 7 – coniferous. The flora of the reserve is characterized by the presence of ancient species and representatives with limited distribution. Each fifth plant of the reserve is endemic or relic. Ferns (about 40 species), orchids (more than 30 species), evergreen and winter-green species, and a large number of ornamental plants give the flora of the reserve its peculiarity.

So, from the five species of rhododendrons growing in the Caucasus – 3 (Pontic, Caucasian and yellow) are found in the reserve. Almost throughout the reserve single trees and small groups there is yew berry. This ancient evergreen coniferous tree can survive to 2-2,5 thousand years, and such patriarchs are not uncommon in the Khostinsky department of the reserve. In the subtropical forests of the Khostinsky and Western divisions, in addition to yew, many ancient representatives of the flora are found: boxwood colchis, Holocaust hollows, Colchis leptopus, Carian figs, St. John’s wort, and many others. The reserve forests differ from the northern European forests by the presence of lianas. On the southern slope there are 8 species of woody lianas, including Colchis and common plums, sassaparil tall, grapes with grapes, Greek oxtail, fragrant honeysuckle, nightshade pseudopersidic, forest grapes.

Among the mushrooms of the reserve are subtropical species (diktiophora double, Caesar fungus), as well as tropical mushrooms-flowers (red lattice, spindle-shaped spider). Most of the territory of the reserve is covered with forest vegetation, and only in the highlands subalpine and alpine meadows are developed. Dubniaks, alders and subtropical Colchis forests of the foothills are replaced by bibles with the participation of hornbeam and chestnut forests. The upper belts of vegetation are formed by dark coniferous fir-trees and fir-trees, light pine forests, park maple trees, crooked forests, subalpine and alpine meadows. Forest vegetation is very unique and subject to changes depending on the macroslope, altitude, exposition, nature of the soil and underlying rocks. In the foothills of the southern macroslope in the Khosta and West forest ranges, unique subtropical polydominant mixed broad-leaved forests with evergreen undergrowth are found. Slopes of southern exposures up to 800-1200 m. y. Both macroslopes are occupied by oak forests formed mainly by rock and Georgian oaks, although six oak species, the Cappadocian maple, the ash tree, the Caucasian hornbeam, etc. take part in the formation of the oak forests. The river valleys and gorges up to the middle reaches are covered with river alder-willow forests with willow white , alder gray, black and bearded. Dubniak higher on the slopes are replaced by hornbeam, chestnut and beech forests, and on the northern macroslope – beech and fir-beech.

The main forest-forming species in them are relic species: Oriental beech, Chestnut sowing, Nordmann fir. The upper forest belts in the reserve, as a rule, are formed by fir and spruce forests, with the participation of endemic spruce of the eastern. On stony and well-warmed areas, a pinhole pine grows. Between the forest and mountain meadow belts the transition zone is made up of park maple trees, crooked forests, small forests, shrub formations and rhodoretes with subalpine high-grass areas. More than 15 species form subalpine tall grass, the height of individual plants exceeds 3 m. In addition, on the outcrops of rocks, a kind of rock-scree vegetation develops, and near waterlogged places, especially in the highlands, is wetland. Among the representatives of the flora, mention should be made of narrow-endemic endemics, the range of which practically does not exceed the limits of the reserve (the bell of Ottran, the buttercup of Helena, the Volkiaadznik of Circassian, the holly, and many others). Dozens of plant species inhabiting the countries of the Black Sea and Mediterranean basins are found only in the southern (Sochi) slope of the reserve and in the Sochi National Park: Rizey’s snowdrop, spiral spiral, Wittmann peony, Provinsky orchus, splinters, etc.

Fauna and fauna:

Representation of the mammal species of the reserve according to the families is distributed in the following way: hunting (1), mole (2), shrew (6), horseshoe bat (3), smooth-billed bats (20), hare (1), squirrel (1) (2), carcass (3), hamster (8), mouse (8), canine (4), bear (1), raccoon (1), cunyi (8), cat (3), pork (1), deer (2), the pedicels (3). Undoubtedly, the most vulnerable part of natural ecosystems are large mammals. In the reserve it is a bison, a red deer, a brown bear, a West Caucasian tour, a chamois, a lynx, a roe deer and a wild boar. However, a number of small species of animals also need emergency conservation measures and in detailed study, including a badger, Caucasian mink, otter, etc. Among birds, representatives of sparrow and Falconiformes predominate. The most numerous groups of herpetofauna are the true lizards and the former, and the fishes have carp-shaped ones. Above the reserve there are large migratory ways of birds, the flight of buzzards gathering in large schools is most evident. Many animals of the reserve have limited distribution (endemics), or are living witnesses of past geological epochs (relics). Especially a lot of them among invertebrates, as well as fish, amphibians and reptiles. The animal world of the reserve is heterogeneous in origin. Here there are representatives of the Mediterranean, Caucasian, Colchic and European faunas. Endemic and relic species are found in all mountain altitude belts. The western border of the distribution of many high-mountainous Caucasian and forest Colchis species of animals passes through the reserve.

 

Teberda State Nature Biosphere Reserve

Subject of the Russian Federation: Karachay-Cherkess Republic
Date of creation: January 23, 1936.
Total area (ha): 85064
Area of ​​the protection zone (ha): 36350
Number of plots: 2
Natural zone: highlands, high altitude zone, subtropical forests

Relief:

The area occupied by the Teberdinsky Reserve is a typical mountainous terrain with a range of heights from 1,260 to 4,047 meters above sea level. About 86% of the territory is at an altitude of more than 2000 meters above the sea level. m.

The main Caucasian ridge is a huge crenellated wall, which rises 1500-2000 m above the valley level. The absolute height rises to 4040 m above sea level. Here are the largest glaciers – Alibek, Amanauz, Ptysh, Bu-Ulgen, Chotchinsky, Khokel. A continuous wall of mountains 3000-4000 m high separates the reserve from Abkhazia. This segment of the Main Caucasian Range is covered with eternal snows and glaciers from the Djalovchat peak (3870 m) to Klukhor-Bashi (3450 m), it has a length of 42.5 km. The foot of the ridge to 2000-2300 m is covered with fir forests, which are replaced by beech forest and birch forest near the upper boundary of the forest. From the height of 2000 m to the south and 2300 m to the north – there is a zone of alpine meadows, above it there is a zone of modern glaciation. Above the glaciers surface there are sharp peaks and crests with steep slopes, free from ice and snow. The shape of the ridge is asymmetrical: the northern slope is relatively flat, the southern slope is cut off by an almost sheer wall and very avalanche-hazardous. The northern slope of the Main Caucasian Range is cut by the valleys of the rivers North Klukhor, Khokel, Chochcha, Bu-Ulgen, Northern Ptysh, Amanauz and valleys of Belalakay and Alibek glaciers. The slopes of the valleys are steep, laid out by ancient glaciers. Everywhere there is a retreat, the valley glaciers, which are in the upper reaches of all these valleys, recede at different rates.

In the creation of a modern relief of the reserve territory, the main role was played by the long-term impact of three main factors – geological structure, ancient glaciation and water and avalanche erosion. The main morphological feature of the terrain is a considerable elevation and vertical dismemberment of the Teberda region in relation to others. Here the height of the Main Caucasian ridge reaches a maximum height of 4,046 m (Dombay-Ulgen). Dozens of other peaks have altitudes exceeding 3500 m: Bu-Ulgen (3917 m), Belala-Kaya (3861 m), Erzog (3863 m), Kyshkadzher (3822 m), etc. The sharpness of the relief causes intensive development of snow avalanches. On the territory of the reserve there are up to 530 avalanches, of which from time to time in the winter and spring powerful snow falls are broken. Avalanches originate in the upper meadow-rocky part of the slopes, where snow accumulates. Avalanches are a powerful relief-forming factor, taking out a large amount of snow and detrital material when unloading slopes.

Climate:

The climate of the reserve is generally warm and humid. The small annual and diurnal amplitudes of air temperature approximate it to the sea. However, in accordance with the vertical zonality, three climatic zones are distinguished on the territory of the reserve: mountain forest, mountain meadow and nival. The climate in the valley of the river. Teberda is moderately continental. With altitude, continentality is weakened, the climate is increasingly approaching the wet, seaside, the air temperature is reduced by half a degree for every 100 m of the rise. The average summer temperature is +14.5 degrees. C, winter -2,1 degrees. On Dombai, respectively, 12,8 degrees. C, winter -5 degrees.

The nival zone is characterized by the sharpest temperature fluctuations and slightly less precipitation than the maximum fall zone, which lies between 1800-2200 m above sea level. The climate of the mountain meadow zone at a low mean annual temperature is close to the climate of the tundra, differing from it in a relatively mild winter. In addition, in the mountains of the Caucasus, the intensity of solar radiation is much higher than in the polar countries. Thanks to it, the soil temperature is usually much higher than the air temperature. This difference increases with height. Strong heating of the soil accelerates the development of alpine vegetation. The shortness of the growing season and the more or less significant freezing of the soil during the cold season are also characteristic. These climatic features, the properties mainly of the Alpine belt, are gradually smoothed out in the belt of subalpine meadows.

The forest zone has a softer climate. For the whole reserve, because of the complicated orography, very sharp microclimatic changes are very characteristic. Almost every gorge, slope or summit has its own microclimate. The average annual temperature in Teberda is 6.9 degrees, in the nose. Dombai 4.3 degrees. The reserve lies in the area of ​​heavy rainfall. The number of them decreases in the direction from the Main Caucasian Range to the northern boundary of the reserve. The average annual rainfall for Teberda is 695 mm, Dombay – 1344 mm. According to long-term data, the average number of days with snow cover in the Teberda area is 89, in Dombai – 147. In the highlands are abundant fogs that quickly arise and dissipate just as quickly. There is also a hail that accompanies thunderstorms.

Reservoirs:

The rivers and streams on the territory of the reserve have snow and glacier food. In total, 30 rivers flow through the territory. In the Teberdinsky area, they are all tributaries of the Teberda River, on the Arkhyz area – the Kyzgych river, which in turn flows into the Bolshoy Zelenchuk river. Rivers flow from under the glaciers, snowfields and from lakes. Flowing along steep slopes, they often form rapids and powerful waterfalls. According to the latest data, 157 lakes with a total area of ​​1.6 square meters are concentrated on the territory of the reserve. km. Small lakes with an area of ​​less than 0.05 sq. Km predominate here. km, but there are also relatively large ones: the Klukhor (0.17 sq km), the Blue Murugin (0.16 sq km), the Black Murugin (0.1 sq km). The maximum depth of such water bodies reaches 30-50 m, and the volume of water enclosed in each of them exceeds 1 million cubic meters. Almost all the lakes (with the exception of Lake Karakel and Tumanylykel) are located at altitudes above 2000 m in circuses and cars on the site of recently melted or near existing glaciers. Many of them are difficult to access. Most of the modern lakes originated with the melting of glaciers. Their age does not exceed 200-1000 years, with the exception of Lake. Karakel in Teberda, which arose when the ancient Teberdinsky glacier retreated about 8000-10000 years ago. In total there are 109 glaciers on the territory of the reserve, with a total area of ​​74.3 square kilometers. km. The largest of them are valleys, reaching a length of several kilometers and an area of ​​several square kilometers. The largest of these glaciers, Amanauz, is 4.8 km long and has an area of ​​7.1 square meters. km. The maximum thickness of ice in the valley glaciers reaches 180 m. Mineral springs are traces of past volcanic activity. On the territory of the reserve there are more than 30 outlets of mineral waters.

Soils:

The soils of the reserve are subdivided into mountain meadow, mountain-forest brown, mountain-forest podzolic, mountain-valley alluvial meadow, meadow acidic and mountain-valley alluvial meadow-marshy soils. The former are rather peculiar and have no analogues on the plains, all the rest have such analogs and differ from plain soils with less power and less pronounced soil processes.
A characteristic feature of all soils of the reserve is their high skeletonity. Since mountain soils are particularly vulnerable, erosion processes are highly developed in the forest zone, especially in the areas of snow avalanches and human activities.

Flora and vegetation:

In the territory of the Teberdinsky Reserve forests predominate, covering 36% of its area, meadows occupy 28%, rocks, placers and screes – 26%, glaciers – 10%. On its territory are 5 belts, well expressed in the mountains, though not completely and unequally manifested in all its parts: forest, subalpine, alpine, subnival and nival belt. Steppe and forest-steppe belts are absent, but in the Teberda basin it is possible to find isolated isolated areas of oatmeal-feather grass steppes (Stipa pulcherrima, S. capillata, Festuca valesiaca).

The main types of vegetation of the forest belt are coniferous and deciduous forests. The composition of the forest plantations of the reserve is distinguished by a large variegation of tree species, only a few of them are predominant. The main foresters in the reserve are such species as Pinus sylvestris (pine forests occupy 34% of the forest area of ​​the reserve), Betula litwinowii (27.1%), Abies nordmanniana (12.6%), Picea orientalis (8.4%), Fagus orientalis (3.3%). Less common are forest tracts, in which Populus tremula, Alnus glutinosa, Sorbus aucuparia predominate.

Pine forests (Pinus sylvestris) are widely distributed in the Teberda Reserve, in the underbrush is common Juniperus communis, lower down the slope – Rhododendron luteum. In the southern part of the reserve, dark coniferous forests are widespread. The basis of them are Abies nordmanniana and to a lesser extent, Picе orientalis. In dark coniferous forests there is an admixture of a small number of deciduous forests: Betula pendula, Padus racemosa; The ground cover consists mainly of Calamagrostis arundinacea, Senecio renifolius, Polyganatum verticillatum, Valeriana alliariifolia. In the floodplains of the Teberda River, its tributaries and other wet places, significant areas of the area are occupied by alder forests formed by Alnus incana and A. glutinosa.

Beech (Fagus orientalis) in the reserve is not very common and occurs as an admixture to dark coniferous species, pure planting forms rarely. On the terraces and priterasnyh slopes there are deciduous forests from F. orientalis, with an admixture of Picea orientalis, Betula litwinowii, B. pendula, Acer platanoides and others.

Fauna and fauna:

The animal population of the Teberdinsky Reserve was formed as a result of the complex interaction of the processes of local speciation – the Kuban tour, the Caucasian grouse, the Apollo Nordman and faunistic influences from the coniferous broadleaf forests of Western Europe – the forest cat, the dormouse, the blackbird; the forest zone of Eurasia – lynx, brown bear, owl owl; the highlands of Central Asia – Alpine jackdaw, black neck, snow voles and the Mediterranean – chamois, white-throated thrush. In addition, glacial relics are characteristic – a stone filly. Many animal populations belonging to different faunal groups, due to more or less prolonged isolation from the main habitats, have formed new species or subspecies.

 

North Ossetian State Nature Reserve

Subject of the Russian Federation: North Ossetia Republic
Date of creation: September 7, 1967.
Total area (ha): 29530
Area of ​​the protection zone (ha): 41635
Number of plots: 1
Natural zone: highlands, high altitude zone

Relief:

The territory of the reserve is located on the northern slope of the eastern part of the Central Caucasus, at altitudes of 650-800-4646 m (in Wilpat – the highest point of the reserve) on the slopes of parallel, sub-latitude oriented ridges, divided by the longitudinal valleys of Pasture, Skalisty, Side and, in part, in the basins of the rivers Ardon and Fiagdon. The first two ridges are composed of sedimentary rocks, limestones and dolomites. The lateral and main watershed ridges are composed of crystalline rocks. In general, the relief of the Lateral Range, on which the main territory of the reserve is located, is characterized by very steep and rocky slopes. Rocks, screes and glaciers occupy 71% of the entire area of ​​the reserve. The total area of ​​modern glaciation in the reserve is 37 square kilometers. km. It is most developed on the Tepli-Archon and Wilpata-Adayhokh massifs. Lateral and Main ranges, where more than 70 glaciers are located. The largest glacier (up to 8 km and an area of ​​9.7 square kilometers.) Of the reserve is Tseisky. Another large glacier – Skazsky – is in the upper reaches of the river. Skazdon, the right tributary of Zeidon. From the top of Zaramaghoh descends the Zaramagh glacier. On the Tepli-Archon massif, the glaciation is less developed. Carousing and hanging glaciers predominate here (Tsaziu, Khalanna, Urusta, etc.), feeding on avalanches and avalanches. They are concentrated in the upper reaches of the rivers Archondon, Buddon, Bugultadon. Glaciers occupy mainly slopes of northern, north-western and north-eastern exposures. Observations of the regime of glaciers showed that most of them are now retreating.

Climate:

The climate of the reserve is moderately continental with a predominance of precipitation in the spring-summer period, however abundant snowfalls are most common in the second half of winter and early spring. The coldest month is February, and the warmest month is July, with average monthly temperatures in the Tsei Gorge of the Lateral Range at an altitude of 1750 m above sea level. m, respectively, -8.8 degrees. C and 12.7 degrees. C. The average annual precipitation in the same place is about 800 mm. In intermountain basins to the south and north of the Lateral Range less precipitation, and in the area of ​​Pasture Ridge – more, up to 1000 mm, but the height of the snow cover on the whole generally it increases as we approach the Dividing Range. In winter, hair dryers are frequent, causing a premature waking up of vegetation and the release of insects from hibernation. Ordinary valley and glacial winds are common.

Reservoirs:

Main waterway of the reserve – r. Ardon – originates in the Zaramagh basin from the confluence of the rivers Nardon, Mamisondon, Tzamiakomdon and Adaikomdon. From here Ardon rushes north along the narrow Kasar gorge to the Sadono-Unal intermountain hollow. It takes a number of tributaries (Uilsadon, Kasaykomdon, Tseydon, Baddon, Arhondon, Unaldon, Tsahtsadkomdon) and through Nyhasskuyu gorge in rocky ridges leaves the mountains. The largest tributary, the river Phiagdon, Ardon takes already outside the reserve on the plain. There are more than a hundred rivers and large streams in the reserve, which form a rather dense hydrographic network.

Soils:

The most developed in the reserve are mountain meadow subalpine and alpine soils. Mountain-forest podzolic soils are found mainly under pine forests. Beech and birch forests form brown mountain-forest soils. In the arid basins (Sadono-Unalskaya and Zaramagskaya), mountain-steppe soils are widely developed. In the conditions of river valleys, mountain-valley soils are formed. Under marshy meadows, mountain-valley meadow-bog soils develop.

Animal world.

In the area of ​​the Lateral Range, there are about 1500 tours. There are two isolated populations of chamois on the Rocky and Watershed ridges, there are no more than 130 of them. In the broadleaf forests of the reserve there are bison, roe deer and wild boar. The number of wild boar and roe deer does not exceed 60 individuals. The bison population was artificially restored in the 1960s when 48 bison were settled on the territory of the Zeysky reserve on the Woody ridge. By the mid-1980s, the reserve already numbered more than 200 bison.

The bear population in the reserve reaches 30-35 animals. In the intermontane Unal basin, a jackal lives. A forest cat is found, but not numerous. Badger is found everywhere. In broad-leaved forests, marten is widespread. In 1951, an American mink and a raccoon dog were artificially acclimatized and now are common. In 1952 the protein was artificially acclimatized. There is also a brown hare.

There are 175 species of birds in the reserve. A rare black stork is observed regularly. Numerous blackbird, singing thrush and zarya. A wren is widespread, which nests everywhere, up to rocky massifs near the Tseisky glacier. In the forest zone also nests five species of woodpeckers and titmice: a large, an azure, a moscow, a long-tailed one. In addition, broad-leaved forests are inhabited by a flock, buzzard, gray owl, eagle owl, jay, raven. From low-studied birds of high mountains, a large lentil is isolated.

More than 2000 species of invertebrates and insects live on the territory of the reserve. Among them, listed in the Red Data Book of the USSR are the steppe poplar, the colorful musk deer, the Caucasian and Hungarian beetles, the scented beauty butterfly, the butterfly – the machaon, the subalilar, the apollo, the mnemosine, the Nordman apollo, the raspberry band, the brave – the dead head and oleander, the bear Hera and Mistress. Of unusual for the reserve invertebrates are tarantulas, phalanx, mantis flecked.

There are five kinds of bats in the Shubi-Nykhas cave. Ostroukha nocturnal forms a colony of up to 1,300 specimens. In small numbers there are small and large horseshoe. Once there was a mustached moth. In 1982 in the cave for the first time for the Caucasus was observed a small bass

 

Kabardino-Balkarian State Highland Reserve

Subject of the Russian Federation: Kabardino-Balkarian Republic
Date of creation: January 8, 1976.
Total area (ha): 82642
Area of ​​the protection zone (ha): 26000
Number of plots: 1
Natural zone: highlands, high altitude zone, subtropical forests

Relief:

The reserve is the highest part of the Caucasus and the whole of Russia. All five-thousandths of the North Caucasus except Elbrus and Kazbek are located here, the highest point of the reserve is Dykh-tau (5204 m), the lowest point is 1800 m above sea level. The main Caucasian ridge here forms the highest chain of the Caucasus, including the famous “Bezengi wall”, consisting of such peaks as Gestola (4859 m.), Katyn-tau (4858.8 m.), Dzhang-gi-tau ( 5058 m), the peak of Pushkin (5033 m.) And Shkhara (Kysh kara, 5068 m.). The side ridge is not inferior in height to the Main Ridge, here is the highest point of the Dykh-tau reserve (5204 m.) And Kostan-tau (5152 m). The lateral ridge is not monolithic and consists of three spurs separated by deep valleys of the Chegem, Cherek-Bezengi and Chereka-Balkarian rivers. The first array (western) is called the Kargashil Range. It is a watershed of the Cherek-Bezengiyskiy-Chegem rivers and consists of heights, such as the town of Salyngantau (4510m.), Tyuturgu (4242m.), Etc. The second array of the Lateral ridge (eastern) divides the basin of the river. Cherek in two parts: Bezengiyskaya and V.-Balkaria. The main peaks besides Dykh-tau and Koshtan-tau are Musostau (4421 m.), Mizhirgi (4928 m), Krumkol (4676 m), Tyutubashi (4558 m). The massif between the Cherek-Balkar and Urukh is called the Sukan Alps. A number of spurs with the peaks of Gyulchi (4477 m.), Sabalakh (3616 m.), Etc., depart from Sukan (4486.5 m).

Climate:

In the climate, the reserve belongs to the high-mountainous zone of the Greater Caucasus. The temperature regime in the reserve is determined by the peculiarities of the circulation of the atmosphere and a large range of heights. In the highland zone, the cold period continues from the beginning of November to April at an altitude of 2000 m and from the beginning of September to July at an altitude of 4000 m. The absolute minimum of the air temperature at an altitude of 2000 m is -30 °. C and at altitudes of more than 4000 m-50 deg. C. The permanent snow cover is established in November. During the warm season in the mountains, air temperatures are relatively low, reaching a maximum in July-August. The warmest month of July, according to long-term observations, the average temperature is +12.6 degrees. C. With the change in altitude, there are differences in climatic conditions. With height, the growing season is reduced, the humidity of the air and the amount of precipitation increase.

Reservoirs:

The territory of the reserve is covered with a network of rivers, originating from numerous glaciers. The main water arteries are the rivers Chegem, Cherek-Bezengiysky, Cherek-Balkaria, Sukan-su and Khaz-nidon (Kyzny-suum.). In Bashil-Chegem and Verkhne-Balkarian areas of the reserve there are several outlets of mineral springs.

Soils:

The soils are mountain meadow peaty on acidic and other crystalline rocks, mountain meadow typical for sands and clays, mountain meadow chernozem-like on limestones and other carbonate rocks and mountain-forest brown on clays, sands and carbonate rocks.

Flora and vegetation:

The vegetation of the reserve is very diverse, which is due to differences in altitude and complexity of the relief. Well expressed zonality. Nival belt (from 3600 m and above) is devoid of terrestrial vegetation. In the subnival (from 3000 to 3500 m), the community resembles a rocky tundra. There is no continuous vegetation cover. On rocks and rocks settle lichens, willow creeping, saxifrage mustache, dumpling two-lobed, gentian thin, violet two-flowered, etc. The alpine belt is located at altitudes from 2300 to 3000 m. There are alpine low grass meadows (height of grass stand 10-30 cm) with a scavenger alpine, windmill, bathing-place, dandelions, primroses, etc. For the subalpine belt (from 1400 to 2700 m), the development of subalpine tall grasses (the height of the grass stand about one meter) of meadows with the participation of tree and shrub vegetation, birch forest, wooded meadows, hazelnut groves, alder glue, Caucasian rhododendron and its satellites – blueberries, cranberries, veronica, etc. The belt of forests and forest meadows is located approximately at altitudes from 1000 to 2400 m. Broad-leaved (medium-sized) forests rise to about 1600, and Coniferous up to 2400 and even up to 3000 m (rock pine). Below there are pine bushes and grass-grasses, birch forests, oak forests, bouillards and other deciduous forests. The flora has many valuable plants, endemic and rare species and forms, including relatives of cultivated plants, such as Biberstein currant, mountain raspberry, dog-rose, hawthorn, meadow strawberry, mountain ash, etc.

 

State natural reserve “Erzi”

Subject of the Russian Federation: Ingush Republic
Date of creation: December 21, 2000.
Total area (ha): 5970
Number of plots: 1
Natural zone: high altitude zone, subtropical forests

Relief:

Geomorphologically, the territory is located within the high and middle mountainous terrain of the Greater Caucasus. Mountain macroforms of the relief of this part of the territory are largely dissected by rivers, gorges, beams and ravines. Along the southern border stretches a chain of ridges – Seinty, Yukurulolduk, Ardzhel, Veligan, Kyureolam – the absolute elevations of the surface here reach 3075 – 4229 m. These ridges are part of the Lateral Ridge. The slopes here are steep, often steep, rocky. Widespread are glacial forms: carpets, circuses, hanging side valleys. The firn line passes at a height of more than 3500 m. From the north to the listed chain of ridges adjoins a predominantly latitudinal direction – the ridge of the Skalisty and its numerous spurs Oreyyam, Tsoreylyam, etc. Absolute heights here reach 3,172 m – Goikoled; 3032 m – Hahali, 2457 – Kule. The relief of this part is more rocky, but here the surface slopes are, in general, much higher than 30%, and individual mountain massifs have clear features of the Alpine relief. In general, areas characterized by surface slopes of up to 30% have an insignificant distribution, and up to 10% are practically absent.

Climate:

The climate is characterized by vertical zoning. The rocky ridge protects the territory from the penetration of moist air masses from the north. Therefore, in the valley of the river Armhi and the Targhima depression, there is little precipitation from 350 to 400 mm per year. Higher in the mountains the amount of precipitation increases to 700-800 mm and more. Summer in the valleys is cool, sunny, in the mountains – cold, rainy overcast. July temperature with a rise in the mountains drops to 6-4 degrees and below. The duration of the summer season with a temperature above 15 degrees – 50-60 days; at an altitude of 1600 m. it is practically absent.

Winter is stable and snowy. Its duration with height increases from 70 to 200 days. For this period, intense surface inversions are characteristic. At an altitude of 1-2 thousand meters, the weather is more pronounced. The temperature of January is 6-8 degrees. The snow cover is usually installed in October and its height varies depending on the height of the marks and the type of relief from 30 cm to 2-3 meters. The mountain-valley circulation is developed. These winds in the valleys of the rivers Assa, Armhi, create excellent ventilation, not allowing to stagnate air. In the mountains, the summer comfortable period, the most favorable for rest, is reduced with a height of 90 days (at an altitude of 1000 m) and up to 30 days (1600 m). The winter season in the mountains, where clear, fairly stable weather prevails, is favorable for recreation.

Reservoirs:

The hydrographic network is represented mainly by the rivers of the Terek River basin. The largest rivers are Assa and Armhi. The Assa River flows into the river. Sunzha, its total length is 133 km, including 19 km within the territory under consideration. the catchment area is 2,060 km, including 280 square kilometers within the territory under consideration.
The Armhi River flows only within the territory of the guard zone and flows into the Terek River, its total length is 36 km. the catchment area is 292 square kilometers.
The main food is received in a warm period due to the melting of glaciers and snow. In accordance with this, the regime of rivers is characterized by significant upswings of levels beginning in late April-early May, high water in the warm season and a fairly stable fall-winter low.
The river valleys differ in the variability of form along the river valley. At the intersection of the transverse ridges, the valleys are narrow and deep gorges and cracks with rapid currents abounding in rapids and waterfalls, and when they enter the longitudinal basins and intermountain depressions, they acquire a V-shape with small sections of stony plains alternating along the banks. The width of the valleys is from 0.2 to 0.6 to km.

Rusla rivers are meandering in width (p.p. Acca and Armhi) 10-15 m., Flow velocities from 1.5 2.0 to 3.0-5.0 m / s, depth 0.5-1.5 m.
The course of water temperatures in the warm part of the year is characterized by a gradual increase from the time of clearing the rivers from ice to July with a subsequent decline. The highest water temperature in the warmest month of July is 9.5 – 10.5 degrees, the maximum of urgent observations is 12-15 degrees.
The appearance of the first ice formations on rivers occurs on average in late November – early December.
Ledostav is not annually, only in very severe winters in small areas of flows, often only in the form of ice bridges.
The average date of the beginning of the freeze-up is at the end of December beginning of January.
Opening is accompanied by an ice drift lasting 2-5 days. The complete purification of rivers from ice ends in the second decade of March.
On the territory of the reserve there are numerous springs in decaying, gullies, ravines, river valleys and on the slopes at the foot of the mountains. Many of them are seasonal in nature – they dry out in the summer, they freeze in winter.

Soils:

The formation of the soil cover is due to the location within the Alpine and subalpine mountain belts. Soils formed in the alpine belt are characterized by a low-power soil profile, skeletonized, often swamped. The soils formed in the subalpine belt are characterized by the presence of a peaty horizon, an acid reaction, a high humus content in the upper horizon, and a sharp decrease in it down the profile. Among the latter, there are 6 main types of soils. Mountain gray forest low-power skeletonized heavy loamy soils are represented by a relatively large contour in the central part of the reserve and a small contour in the west. Mountain-meadow subalpine clay soils – formed under sub-alpine grasses relatively large contour in the central part of the reserve have a fairly thick humus horizon (up to 30-40 cm), the profile is noticeably skeletonized, and the soil is slightly acidic. Mountain-meadow subalpine dark-colored clayey and heavily-argillaceous soils are quite widespread in the territory of the “Erzi” gas processing plant, they have high natural fertility.

The territory with the last two types of soil is used as pasture. Irrational use and overgrazing can quickly lead to degradation of soil fertility. Mountain chernozems are typical medium-thick low-humus medium loamy soils – they have an insignificant distribution in the Targum depression on the terraces on either side of the Assa river. Minor-chestnut low-moisture low-humus noncarbonate light loamy soils are represented by a small contour along the slopes of the southern exposure.
Mountain meadow steppe subalpine medium loamy soils are isolated within arid hollows. Occur on the southern slope of the Rocky Range.

Flora and vegetation:

Mountain landscapes of this territory can be combined into two subclasses: the medium-sized (height from 1000 to 2000-3000 m) and high-altitude (over 3000 m) complexes.
In the highlands of the reserve, there are distinctly expressed 2 zones: the zone of limestone ridges of Pastbishny (2000 m). Rocky (up to 3000 m) and slate-sandstone zone of the Lateral Range with its spurs. The structure of landscapes is characterized by the presence of steep southern slopes, gentle northern slopes of ridges, trading valleys. There is a difference factor in the altitudinal zonality of the exposure of the ridges.

The forest type of landscapes (up to 1800-2600 m) of dismembered slopes, valleys, gorges, is represented by various coniferous-broadleaved forests.
– within the northern macroslope of the Lateral, less often southern macrocrack of the Rocky Range, at an altitude of up to 800 m, mainly on the southern and south-eastern slopes, small areas of the oak forest;
– beech stands occupy the northern slopes of ridges from 500 to 1500 m. Sometimes here there is a maple-leaf maple;
– in the floodplains of the rivers Assa, Armhi from 1500 to 1200 m. there is tree-shrub vegetation represented by sea-buckthorn, willow, gray alder;
– above 1500 m on steep slopes, where the climate is dry (the southern slope of Skalisty, the northern slope of the Lateral Range), the stand forms a pine hooked with an admixture of oak, birch, hornbeam, linden, mountain ash.
On the upper limit, pine forests border on birch forest, and sometimes with subalpine and alpine meadows.
Birch woods are wedged by separate curtains alternating with pine or on beams of subalpine meadows. In the underbrush occurs the Caucasian rhododendron.
Rhododendrovo-birch crooked forests brightly on the northern macroslope of the Lateral ridge in the Guloy-hi basin, the upper reaches of the Shok-dong on the concave slopes of the northern exposition, forming a belt from 1200 to 2500 m.

The landscapes of broad-leaved, coniferous-broad-leaved forests on weakly and moderately dissected relief elements, mainly located in the upper Arkhi flow, can be attributed to complexes favorable for the purposes of the reaction, and on the strongly dissected relief in the southern and northeastern regions it is limitedly favorable.
Forests occupy about 30% of the territory, grow mainly on mountain slopes. Pine and birch stands prevail, in the undergrowth – mainly hazel.
High altitude mountain-steppe type of landscapes is located at an altitude of up to 2000 m along the valleys of the Armhi (lower course), Assy within the Targhim depression (arid) and along the southern slope of the Rocky Range. They are represented by the herbaceous-wormwood-cereal xerophytic steppes on low-mountain meadow soils. Intensively used for grazing livestock.
High altitude mountain meadow type of landscapes (50%).
At an altitude of 1800 to 2500 m, subalpine meadows are located on the wetter sections of the northwestern slopes, along creeks and troughs, on mountain-meadow soils, which are based on cereals. Alpine meadows lie above 2500 m, are formed by low-growing densely derninni cereals on thin mountain-meadow soils. The high-altitude nival-glossy type of landscapes is located above 3500 meters (about 2% of the territory under consideration) (Lateral ridge) is represented by screes, masons, glaciers, practically devoid of vegetation. Medium-mountain landscapes are represented by mountain-cuest species of Montenegrin (Lesid), Pasture (Cretaceous) and the foot of the northern slope of the Rocky Range on Neogene, Paleogene, Jurassic and Cretaceous sediments. Forest, forest-meadow, meadow-steppe mountain complexes and complexes of fragmentary karst are formed here.
The type of landscape of the fragmentary karst is developed on the northern slope of the rocky ridge in the massif of the Black Mountains.

Fauna and fauna:

The animal world is very diverse. The greatest variety he reaches in the floodplains of the subalpine crooked forest. Mammals here are represented by a wolf, a fox, a bear, a marten, a wild boar, a mole, shrews, a hare, a forest duck, mice and voles. Here the Dagestan and chamois tour descends from the overlying places, and the bezoar goat in the upper reaches of Nel’ha. Birds in this strip in summer meet up to 47 species, in winter – up to 16. The most common are various species of tits; from plain land, ordinary lentils come up here; Within the Rocky and Lateral ranges there are Caucasian grouse. From the reptiles there are found a rock lizard, a snake, a Viper’s dipper, a Georgian lizard, an anemone.
In the mountain forests of the reserve there are a bear, various kinds of martens, caress, rarely a badger, a forest cat, various species of mouse (sony, mouse, voles) and insectivorous (shrews, belozubki); wild boar and roe deer are common here.

Birds in the forests occur in the summer about 40 species, in winter 16 species; the main ones are different kinds of tits, cich, and thrush. Here you can meet very rare species for the republic – a clyster, a yellow-headed king. Of the reptiles there are the same species as in the subalpine taiga, as well as the Georgian lizard.
Caress, fox, bear, tour, chamois, bezoar goat are encountered within the subalpine and alpine meadows, and occasionally comes the trot. Subalpine and alpine meadows are used extensively for summer pastures, often in violation of grazing cattle and small ruminants, as a result, chamois tours and bezoar goat are displaced in the subalpine zone of the cliffs and scree with poor forage. Of the birds there are 27 species in the summer, and 12 in summer. Mass species in the summer include a puppy, a mountain oatmeal, a mountain tap-dance, a horned lark, a mountain horse, a redstart – a black-bellied, red-bellied fin. Ulnars, Caucasian lentils nest in the subnival zone. Birds of prey are represented by a black neck, a bearded buzzard, a golden eagle and an ordinary kestrel, and very rarely a peregrine falcon.
In the arid hollows of mammals there are voles, mice, in the thickets of sea-buckthorn – foxes, martens, hares. Of birds, there are up to 25 species in summer, and in winter 10 different species. Massovymi are – krasnoshapochny finch, klushitsa, field horse, mountain oatmeal, field lark, mountain horse, stove dancer. More rarely a stone sparrow. Of reptiles – Loteev rocky lizard, possibly the habitation of a western boa constrictor. On rocks and screes – there are about 22 species of birds. Massive are the white and black wagtails, often found in the kulik – carrier. Along the thickets of bushes along the rivers and streams in the mountains rise plains – cane, ordinary cricket. In addition, from the mammals here are found the curator and the water vole. There are few amphibians in the reserve: the lake frog, the green toad, the tree frog, the Asian frog. On the territory under consideration, there are rare endangered vertebrate animals that need protection. There are 31 species, including trout, trout, one species of amphibians, two species of reptiles, 18 species of birds and 9 species of mammals.

Fish:

Trout brook.
Amphibians: Cauldron vulgaris.
Reptiles: western slave, Vinnya’s viper.
Birds: bearded vulture, griffon, black vulture, golden eagle, peregrine falcon, black grouse Caucasian, ular Caucasian, early bird horned krasnobryuhaya redstart, blackbird colorful stone, bead yellow-, stenolaz lycidae, lentils large, crossbill-Elovikov, sparrow stone, sparrow rocky , a pink starling.
Mammals: a small horseshoe, a large horseshoe, a nighty eagle, a caucasian cat, a roe deer, a leopard, a bezoar goat, a chamois.

The land of ancient watchtowers and incredible untouched nature — all this picturesque Argun gorge. It is here today erected a state of the art ski resort Veduchi and here is the visiting card of Chechnya – the famous Ushkaloy Twin Towers. Having stretched almost 120 km from Khevsurety to the Black Mountains, the gorge stores over 600 monuments of history, culture, archeology, architecture and nature.

Located in the heart of Chechnya, this gorge has been known since ancient times as a path through which caravans from Chechnya to Khevsurety (Georgia) passed. Already in the 16th and 17th centuries, this road was marked by Russian and Georgian embassies, marveling at the fairy tale and wild beauty of the Argun gorge, marveling at the harsh, old way of life of its inhabitants. And its impassable jungle, narrow paths and steep walls since the time of Tamerlane brought this place the glory of the impregnable. Repeatedly, the hordes of nomads tried to invade here, and were repeatedly torn away. And not least thanks to the legendary watchtowers that they began to build in the Middle Ages at the crossroads of the most important roads.

A.P. Berger wrote that in the middle of the 19th century the Argun gorge was called the “gorge of the towers” – they stood right up to the border with Georgia on every branch and stream. And today, in the ruined state, the towers rise above the road, like wise spies, looking after the order in Allah’s entrusted land.

It is not surprising that almost the entire territory of the gorge is part of the Argun Museum-Reserve, which not only protects the towers of the 10th-18th centuries, but also unique living creatures that serenely jumps, crawls and flies at its borders. Add to this all kinds of cave grottos, unique sites and tombs, earth burial grounds, ancestral crypts and castle complexes, and it becomes clear that there will not be enough weeks to study this place.

The main excursion points of the trip along the Argun gorge are the vaulted dwellings of the 10th-15th centuries: the Khoysky, Khimoisky, Pakochi, Maistin and Tsekaloi. Ushkaloyskie towers of 10-12 centuries, located in the narrowest place of the gorge (one of them was almost destroyed to the base in 1944, but today it is restored). And also the 17-meter tower Guchan-kale, erected on the right bank of the Argun River. Tapering to the top, it attracts attention with preserved eye sockets of loopholes and machine-guns, as well as petroglyphs that are carved on its walls. If you believe the legends, one of the commanders of Tamerlane called it “winged” – for inaccessibility and remoteness.

In order to fully explore all the beauties of the legendary Argun gorge, it is better to acquire a personal car and an experienced guide. From the city center, it is necessary to travel along Kadyrov Avenue, which then flows into the regional route P305. Following the villages of Gikalovsky, Starye Atagi, Pionerskoye and Yarysh-Mardy will have about 45 km or 50 minutes. Then begins the very Argun gorge with its watchtowers and the flowing river Argun flowing down below.

Caucasian state nature biosphere reserve is located on the southern and Northern slopes of the Western Caucasus. This protected area was declared on may 12, 1924, but the experience of preserving the unique nature of these places has its roots to the Grand “Kuban hunting”, organized in 1888.

Caucasian biosphere reserve is the second largest in Europe, it occupies the land of the Republic of Adygea, Krasnodar Krai and Karachay-Cherkessia, adjacent to the border of the Republic of Abkhazia. Apart from the main area of the state Caucasus reserve in the Khosta district of the resort city of Sochi Khosta is located in the subtropical division of the reserve, yew and box grove, known throughout the world. The area of the Caucasian biosphere reserve is 280-320 ha. The reserve is surrounded by the buffer zone, natural monuments and wildlife refuges, to the southern boundary of the reserve adjoins the national Park of Sochi.

Conventionally, the territory of the Caucasian Nature Reserve is divided into six guard departments: North, West, East, South, South-East and Khostinsky.

The story of the creation of the Caucasian reserve.

As mentioned above, the Caucasian biosphere reserve was founded on may 12, 1924, but by 1886, the time of the establishment of this territory protected status, i.e., to the time when there was “Kuban hunting.”

In 1906, in accordance with the resolution of Rada of the Kuban troops rented for princely hunting area was divided between the 135 villages, and the lease term was extended to 1909. Academy of Sciences, realizing that after the elimination of the reserve will begin the mass extermination of animals, raised the question of the establishment of the state of the Caucasian reserve. The issue was resolved positively, and the Academy of Sciences we developed “regulations on reserve” and about his planned border. Kuban Rada in return, the allotment was proposed state land. But the Cossack elite was not pleased with this decision, and the establishment of the reserve was frozen.

Re-issue of the biosphere reserve had been raised in 1913, the Environmental Commission, PRO. The project proposed Environmental Commission of the Russian geographical society, offered to withdraw under natural reserve lands “Royal hunt”, belonging to the Kuban Rada. But this time the reserve was not created, as the Council of Ministers did not see this “useful measures”.

In 1916 was made the third attempt to organize a reserve. However, this attempt was not successful.

After the revolution, in 1919, was planned the creation of nine national parks, which included the Caucasian natural.

The civil war caused huge damage to wildlife populations of the Western Caucasus, which could not fail to alarm scientists. Great contribution to organization of the Caucasian biosphere reserve has made a former Forester of the Kuban hunt – Christopher G. Shaposhnikov. Realizing that the official decision on the reserve will be made soon, Shaposhnikov in 1917 requested the forest Department of the Kuban regional government to provide him rent the hunting grounds of the princely hunting. With Shaposhnikov asked for the rent several times more than they paid great princes, but the Ranger didn’t give up.

Shaposhnikov found a means to the end of 1920, the forest Department developed the terms of the contract.

After the establishment of Soviet power, Christopher Shaposhnikov appealed to the authorized Revolutionary Military Council of the Caucasian Front, Steinhaus, and found in his person a supporter of his plans. Soon, Christopher Shaposhnikov received a mandate with the task of organizing the reserve. In December 1920, the Kuban-Black Sea Revolutionary Committee adopted a resolution establishing the “Kuban Highland Reserve” in the Caucasus, within the boundaries set by the Academy of Sciences before the revolution. But due to inter-departmental inconsistencies, the project of the Kuban Reserve was rejected. Only in November 1923 the question of the boundaries of the state Caucasian Reserve, which officially obeyed the organs of the People’s Commissariat of Education of the RSFSR, was decided. And in May 1924 a decree was signed on the creation of the Caucasian bison reserve. Shaposhnikov opposed this name, believing that the mention in the title “bison” would lead to the destruction of the bison population by poachers and bandits, which the reserve was not profitable.

In the first years after the formation of any debate about the boundaries of the biosphere reserve. By the end of 1925, a Commission was established the CPC of the RSFSR under the leadership of N. And. Podvoisky. In July 1927, the Commission on the results of their work presented a report to the CPC, the CPC, in turn, adopted a resolution which confirmed the boundaries established may decree in 1924. But despite these decisions, in the future, the boundaries of the preserve have been subjected to changes. In 1930, the nature reserve was annexed to the territory of the Khosta yew-box grove. In 1936 Alpine massif, Lago-Naki were transferred to the Azov-black sea Krai, and Baseski plot “gave” Karachay-Cherkess region. In 1951, a significant portion of mountain meadows was reserved for grazing, and virgin forests began to be cut down.

In 1979, the Caucasian state nature reserve received the status of biosphere and joins the International network of biosphere reserves. In December 1999, the Caucasian biosphere reserve included in the world heritage of UNESCO.

Fauna nature reserve.

Fauna of the Caucasian state nature biosphere reserve has more than 3000 kinds, half of which are vascular plants. The forest flora is represented by more than 900 species, some of which can be found in mountain-meadow zone. There are 165 species of trees and shrubs in the reserve, of which evergreens are 16, 7 conifers and 142 species of deciduous trees.

Unique flora of the reserve are ancient types and members that have a limited distribution not only in the Caucasus but also in the world. Every fifth plant of the Caucasian biosphere reserve is a relic (that is to say, a living witness of past geological eras) or endemic (i.e. restricted distribution).

In the state reserve is home to over 30 species of orchids, 40 species of ferns, there is also sineserye and evergreen plants, many decorative plants.

Throughout the territory of the Caucasian nature biosphere reserve there are small groups (or single trees) yew. Yew – evergreen, conifers can live up to 2 or even 2.5 thousand years of the patriarchs can be found in the Khosta yew-box grove. Here in the most picturesque Department of the reserve is found the Holly Colchis and Fig Carian, boxwood Colchis and Colchis leptopus, as well as many other ancient flora.

The exact quantity grown in the state Caucasian biosphere reserve of fungi is not established, but experts believe they may be about 2000 species.

Caucasian state nature biosphere reserve is the only store many of which have become rare in other parts of the world species of plants and animals. From growing on the reserve, plants, 55 species listed in the Red book of Russia. In the red books of different levels listed rare plants, not included in official lists of threatened.

Several dozen species of plants growing in the countries of the Mediterranean and black sea basins, on the territory of Russia are found only in the national Park of Sochi and the southern slope of the Caucasus state biosphere reserve. These include: isascii snowdrop, peony Wittmann, krucheniki spiral, split Larkspur, orchids, Provencal and others.

The fauna of the Caucasian biosphere reserve.

On the territory of the Caucasian nature biosphere reserve is home to mammals, birds (248 species), reptiles and amphibians, fish, mollusks, insects, worms, arachnids and crustaceans of various types.

The most vulnerable are the large mammals such as bison, brown bear, red deer, chamois and ROE deer, Western Caucasian Tur and wild boar.

Many of the animals natural biosphere reserve, endemic species or relicts. Any predominate among fish, reptiles, invertebrates, amphibians and reptiles.

In areas of the sanctuary has become a shelter for endangered species listed in the Red book of the Russian Federation, the IUCN Red list and regional Red books.

The fauna of the Caucasian biosphere reserve is heterogeneous in its origin. Here you can meet representatives of Colchis and the Mediterranean, Caucasian and European faunas.

The tour in the state Caucasus reserve.

As excursions are available for tourists: the area zoo, Khosta yew-box grove, Lagonaki plateau, pass devil’s gate, the Museum of nature in Guzeripl and the dolmen, the number of eco-tourist routes.

Captive complex for wild animals, you can learn a lot about the fauna of the Caucasian state reserve, mountain scenery, touch the heart and soul to the wildlife area.

Khosta yew-and-boxwood tree grove – a unique natural monument, preglacial relict forest, including at least 400 species of plants.

No less interesting are excursions to the “Devil’s Gate” or to the cordon of the reserve in the village of Guzeripl, where the largest megalithic structure in the territory of Adygea is located – the dolmen. Thus, in addition to the enormous importance for the conservation of the ecosystem, the Caucasian State Nature Biosphere Reserve has great potential for recreation and tourism.

 

In early January, an expedition to study the complex of caves located in the area of the Sary-Tala tract was held in Kabardino-Balkaria. Speleological research of a unique natural object was carried out within the framework of the grant project of the RGO on the creation of an electronic cadastre of caves in Russia and large caves of the near abroad.

The expedition was attended by 25 researchers from different regions of Russia, including Gennady Samokhin, a scientific secretary of the RGO branch in the Crimea, a well-known cave explorer who established a world record of the depth of descent into the cave (2196 meters). Pavel Kravchik, an English speleologist of Polish descent, also joined the Russian specialists.

The area of the tract of Sary-Tala in the Republic of Kabardino-Balkaria – is a system of natural karst caves, which is one of the few in Russia, where a relatively small territory there are the horizontal single-level and multilevel caves, deep vertical wells with underground reservoirs.

A team of scientists-speleologists conducted a topographic survey inside the caves and on the surface, took samples of soil, water and underground fauna. Also refined the length of the largest caves of the Main fire. During the expedition, it was found that the underground space longer than 400 meters than previously thought. At the moment the length of the cave is 2900 meters of explored passages.

In addition, as part of the expedition was organized the school of young cavers.

According to Gennady Samokhin in Kabardino-Balkarii of such expeditions will help the development of sport, scientific and tourist-excursion speleodiver in the region.

“In Kabardino-Balkaria on the earth’s surface remained unknown places, so all the geographical discoveries will occur underground. We will definitely return here in the future and will continue the work started, and the search for new caves,” – said Gennady.

The participants of the expedition thank Kabardino-Balkaria branch of the Russian geographical society, the Republic’s administration and local residents for assisting in the conduct of the expedition.

Photo courtesy of Department of the Russian geographical society in the Republic of Kabardino-Balkaria.

original: https://www.rgo.ru/ru/article/tayny-urochishcha-sary-tala

State Nature Reserve Utrish located in the Krasnodar region, in north-western Black Sea coast. Its total area – 10008 ha. The reserve was established in 2010, on September 2.

On reserved territory dominated warm-temperate climate. It is characterized by hot, dry summers and mild winters with no permanent snow cover. Most of the precipitation falls in November, December and January. The least precipitation occurs from May to August.

Hydrography of Utrish reserve.

In Utrish reserve are the following waters: Lake Sukhoi Lyman, creek in Vodopadnaya Slots, upper river Sukko and two unnamed coastal lake. The number of temporary belong streams of watersheds of rivers Adegas, Durso, Sukko, as well as independent streams, which flow into the crevices of the Wide, Red, Peniska, Trubetskaya and others.

In addition, on reserve lands are sources of mineral waters. River Adelby, Adegas, Bogage, are tributaries of the river Kuban different order. They fall into the sea of Azov. Also in the buffer zone of the reserve has a Lake Sweet Lyman.

State natural reserve Utrish and its flora and fauna.

A distinctive feature of the flora of the nature reserve Utrish is unique pronounced Mediterranean core tertiary relict flora. It is represented by endemic species, such as Pitsunda pine, pistachio, fragrant juniper and juniper high.

The most ancient plant Association are pistachio-juniper woodlands, where the Mediterranean flora is 62% of the plants. About 40% of the share of such types of accounts in the oak-hornbeam forests. Significantly reduced this value, where the vegetation has suffered from economic activity – 29%.

The fauna of the reserve Utrish presented primarily reptiles and invertebrates. It was opened Empusa fasciata, which had previously been known only by the finds from the Crimea. Also on the reserved territory can be seen Saga pedo, eskulap runner Mediterranean tortoise. Typical representatives of the local avifauna are the following: serpent eagle, the vulture, the black vulture, white-tailed eagle, peregrine falcon. The huge diversity of species observed in the reserve during the autumn and spring migration along the sea coast.

Contact information:
“FGBU State Reserve” Utrish “
Address: 353440, Russia, Krasnodar, Anapa to Mr. Str. Astrakhan, d. 80