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Endangered animal species in Buryatia. Nature, plants and animals of Buryatia

Buryatia is one of the most beautiful regions Eastern Siberia, the land of mountains and steppes. The nature of Buryatia is distinguished by its amazing diversity, in which the beauty of Lake Baikal is organically combined with the endless taiga spaces, wide rivers and the snowy peaks of the Sayan mountain ranges.

The terrain is predominantly mountainous. Most high point in the Eastern Sayan Mountains is Mount Munku-Sadyk, located on the border with Mongolia. Buryatia neighbors the republics of Mongolia and Tyva, and also borders Irkutsk region and Trans-Baikal Territory.

The territory of Buryatia accounts for the bulk (approximately 60 percent of the coastline) of the largest on the planet freshwater lake Baikal, which has the status World Heritage» UNESCO.

Flora of Buryatia

Among the natural zones of the republic one can distinguish steppe, forest-steppe, taiga, altitudinal zone, as well as the tundra. At the same time, the transitions from one natural zone to another are smooth, so it is impossible to distinguish their clear boundaries.

The main part of the entire territory of Buryatia is occupied by mountain taiga. The trees here are dominated by pine, spruce, cedar, larch, fir, birch, aspen and poplar. Numerous bushes rise along the mountain slopes. In the spring, among the awakening taiga, wild rosemary (Daurian rhododendron) begins to bloom in pinkish-purple color. IN summer time forests and mountains, and especially the mountain plateaus of Buryatia, are full of flowers. Here you can find entire meadows covered with orange, fiery red and bright yellow lilies of amazing beauty.

There are many growing in the forests medicinal plants, widely used in folk medicine(hawthorn, thyme, plantain, celandine). You can also mention among them: Rhodiola rosea, Ural licorice, peony marina root, Thermopsis lanceolata, etc.

In autumn, many wild berries ripen: lingonberries, blueberries, blueberries, swamp cranberries, Altai honeysuckle, wild currants, wild raspberries, sea buckthorn, bird cherry. Less common are wild apple trees and Siberian apricots. There are a lot of mushrooms in the Buryat forests. IN steppe zone Typical plants are fescue, wormwood, Bogorodsk grass and cinquefoil. Lake Baikal is surrounded on all sides by mountains covered with taiga, consisting of cedars, pines, birches, aspens and larch.

The territory of the Dzherginsky Nature Reserve, located in the north of Buryatia, is dominated by high-altitude plant belts. Forest-steppes stretch for thousands of meters, birch and deciduous forests give way to steppes. The most common trees here are pine and aspen. Forest-steppes are replaced by pine and deciduous forests, and then thickets of dwarf cedar.

The mountains are covered with rocky placers, interspersed with areas of mountain moss-lichen tundra and rare patches of heather, cinquefoil and dryads. In Tunkinsky national park taiga vegetation predominates, consisting mainly of Siberian cedars and larch. On the mountain peaks there are areas of tundra and alpine lawns.

More than 1,800 species of especially valuable higher vascular plants, listed in the Red Book of Russia and Buryatia, have been discovered in the republic. Many ornamental shrubs grow here. You can list: bird cherry, rose hips, Siberian apple tree. In some places in the mountains, relict species of rare plants, including horsetails and ferns, have been preserved.

Fauna of Buryatia

The fauna of the republic is extremely diverse. Here you can see the inhabitants of the steppes, inhabitants of the taiga, tundra and rocky mountains.

For example, gophers, foxes, and pikas live in the Mondin Basin. IN forest areas squirrels, martens, weasels, and muskrats are hiding. There are Barguzin sable, hares, brown bears, wild boars, and lynxes. Ungulates: elk, wapiti, roe deer, musk deer. Birds: black grouse, wood grouse, hazel grouse, partridges, jays, nutcrackers, woodpeckers. Inhabitants of the high mountain zone: reindeer and Siberian mountain goats. Most of them are included in the Red Book of Buryatia. Among other endangered species, we should remember such animals as: otter, wolverine, Baikal seal, Saker Falcon, Greater Spotted Eagle, Altai Snowcock, Long-eared Owl, Scops Owl, Chough, Common Viper, Sharp-faced Frog.

A particularly rare guest among the mammals of Buryatia, listed in the Red Book of Russia, is Snow Leopard. In addition to him, no less rare argali and red wolves live in Buryatia. Common commercial species here include muskrats, long-tailed gophers, wapiti, deer, roe deer, musk deer, weasel and mountain hare.

The steppes are home to many rodents, such as jerboas, ground squirrels, tolai hare, and tabargan. Predators include ferrets, solongoi, weasels, stoats, wolves and foxes. Among steppe birds, typical representatives are partridges, larks and bustards.

The real symbols and treasures of Baikal are considered to be the omul, the viviparous fish - golomyanka, as well as the Baikal seal - a unique freshwater seal, the mystery of whose appearance in the lake has not been revealed to this day. Here you can also find: Baikal sturgeon, pike, catfish, bream, perch, carp, as well as white Baikal grayling, davatchan, sorog and whitefish.

Birds of prey include the white-tailed eagle and many other rare species.

Climate in Buryatia

The Republic of Buryatia has a sharply continental climate. Winters here are cool, with little snow, and dry frosts. Spring is cold, windy, sunny, with frosts and virtually no precipitation. The short summer is characterized by alternating dry and rainy weather, hot on sunny days And cool nights. The onset of autumn occurs imperceptibly; without sudden changes in weather, with its arrival the deciduous taiga acquires a golden color. Autumn itself is usually warm, clear, quiet, and gets cold only in the second half of October.

The average July temperature in Buryatia is + 18.5 degrees Celsius, the average temperature in January is -22 degrees. In most of the territory of Buryatia, vertical zonality is well monitored; the temperature and amount of precipitation that falls here varies depending on the altitude. The entire republic is characterized by the corresponding southern Russian regions long period of sunshine.

When buying pine nuts, follow a few tips: it is better to dry raw nuts in the sun, and the cones can be boiled, after which they peel off easily. In addition, lightly toasted nuts taste better than raw ones.
If during your hike you used a hunting winter hut for the night, do not forget to leave small stock dry firewood, matches and salt. This is a vital hunting tradition of Siberia
In winter it can be very cold in Buryatia, and there is a risk of frostbite. Folk remedy In case of frostbite: cut the potatoes in half and take them out into the cold. If a brown coating appears, remove it with a knife, spread it on a rag and apply it to the sore spot.
Remember that buying dried, smoked or salted fish from the local population can be fraught with botulism infection. It is better to buy fish prepared at fish factories

The natural resources of the Republic of Buryatia are unique both in their reserves and in their diversity. Thick coniferous forests Siberia, high mountain ranges, wide steppes, mountain valleys with colorful grasses, an abundance of nuts and berries provide favorable conditions for numerous representatives of the animal world of Buryatia. There are many unique and rare species listed in the Red Book of Siberia and the Republic of Buryatia.

CLIMATE

The climate of Buryatia is sharply continental. Winter is long, frosty, almost windless and with little snow. The exception is the coast of Lake Baikal. Here the softening influence of the huge water mass of the lake is noticeable. The average temperature in January is -24-25 C. Summer is short, but warm, even hot in some places. The average temperature in July is +17-18 C, but on some days the temperature reaches +35-40 C. On the coast of Lake Baikal, summer is cooler. Maximum amount precipitation is 250-300 mm per year, in the mountains 300-500 mm.

ANIMAL WORLD

Barguzin sable is world famous, Brown bear, Mountain goat, wild reindeer. Man deer, elk, squirrel, lynx, wolverine, roe deer, musk deer, wild boar, Baikal seal, omul, as well as numerous species of birds - this is an incomplete, but representative list of the diversity of the animal world of the Republic of Buryatia.

Currently, 446 species of terrestrial vertebrates have been registered on the territory of the Republic of Buryatia. Amphibians of the Republic of Buryatia are represented by 6 species from 2 orders. There are 7 species of reptiles, and they are all from the same order, i.e. The Republic of Buryatia is home to 0.1% of the world's reptile fauna. This is explained by many factors: in particular, the harsh, sharply continental climate, as well as the limited number of suitable places for their habitat, which in turn determines the extremely uneven distribution of amphibians and reptiles in the region. They often live in small and sometimes isolated areas far from each other, therefore they are very vulnerable to many external factors, some of them have become rare or even endangered species.

Birds are the richest class of terrestrial vertebrates in the Republic of Buryatia, including 348 species, united in 18 orders, which accounts for about 4% of the world's avifauna. Of the 348 species, 260 are regular or irregular nesters, 34 are migratory, 7 are wintering, 46 are vagrant. These figures are highly unstable because various reasons some species change the nature of their stay and area of distribution.

In the Republic of Buryatia, qualitative and quantitative changes are constantly taking place, new species are appearing, for example, in the last two decades, the common and gray starlings began to nest and are noticeably expanding their range Mongolian gerbil, rock pigeon, rook At the same time, some other species are disappearing or have already disappeared - the gazelle and great cormorant are practically not found in the Republic of Buryatia, the bustard, whooper swan and many others are disappearing predator birds. The latter demand increased attention and special security measures. Unfortunately, there are many such rare and endangered species in the Republic of Buryatia: 2 species of amphibians, 4 reptiles, 63 birds and 25 mammal species, 7 species of terrestrial vertebrates are listed in the International Red Book and 40 species are included in the Red Book Siberia.

WATER RESOURCES

Buryatia is rich water resources. There are about 9,000 rivers and streams that belong to the catchment area of Baikal and the basins of the large rivers of Siberia - the Yenisei and Lena. The Baikal basin includes the largest river of Buryatia - the Selenga, as well as very interesting and unique rivers - the Barguzin, Upper Angara, Snezhnaya, Turka, Chikoy, Khilok and others. The Yenisei basin includes four large rivers- these are Oka, Kitoy, Belaya, Irkut. Stormy waters flow into the Lena basin mountain rivers. This is Vitim, Tsypa, Muya.

There are a number of lake groups in the republic: Gusino-Ubukunskaya, Eravninskaya, Bauntovskaya, Severo-Baikalskaya, Barguzinskaya and others. The main resource is Lake Baikal.

Buryatia is exceptionally rich in mineral water deposits, varying in chemical composition and physical properties. In total, over 360 sources are known. Some of them have been studied and mastered. There are deposits of medicinal silt and mud (mineral lakes Kiran, Bormashevoye, and medicinal mud in Lake Kotokel).

DEPOSITS OF BURYATIA

The Republic of Buryatia is rich in mineral resources. In the territory of Buryatia, over 50 years of active work, geologists have explored more than 700 deposits of various minerals, of which more than 600 are included in the state balance of Russia and the territorial balance of the Republic of Buryatia.

The balance reserves of 10 deposits of brown coal and 4 deposits of hard coal will be enough for hundreds of years to meet the needs of the fuel and energy complex of Buryatia. On the territory of the Republic of Buryatia, 2 deposits of asbestos, a number of jade and construction raw materials, as well as apatite, phosphorite, graphite and zeolites have also been identified.

Most large and unique mineral deposits are located within a radius of up to 200 kilometers from the nearest railway lines. The degree of geological knowledge of the subsoil of the Republic of Buryatia makes it possible to predict the discovery here of new promising deposits of various minerals, including new genetic types.

FORESTS

Location Buryatia is located on the border of two different natural regions: the East Siberian mountain taiga (4/5 of the territory) and the Central Asian steppe. This explains the great diversity and unique nature of the distribution of vegetation cover on its territory. The northern slopes of the mountain ranges are mainly covered with larch forests with dense undergrowth and thick moss litter, less often with cedar and fir-cedar forests.

Pine trees and thickets of dry-loving bushes grow on the southern slopes of the mountains. The steppes are mainly feather grass and chamomile, often rising to 900-1000 m. Above there is a forest belt, the upper border of which runs at an altitude of 1500-1600 to 2000 meters. Pine forests widespread in the Baikal region, on the slopes of the Primorsky and Baikal ridges. Larch forests, as opposed to pine forests, are common in the northern part of Transbaikalia. Cedar forests are concentrated in the highlands and midlands. The distribution of fir forests is quite narrow. Slight spread and spruce forests. Birch forests are widespread; they grow in 60% of the ecosystems of the Baikal basin, but in limited areas.

LAKE BAIKAL AND THE REPUBLIC OF BURYATIA

Lake Baikal in numbers: contains 23 thousand cubic meters. km of fresh water - 20% of the world's reserves, age - 25-30 million years, length - 636 kilometers, width - from 25 to 80 kilometers, maximum depth - 1640 meters, average depth - 731 meters, coastline length - more than 2000 kilometers, The catchment area is about 570 thousand square meters. km, Lake Baikal has 22 islands, the largest of which is Olkhon Island, more than 340 rivers flow in, one river flows out - the Angara, over 2,500 species of animals, of which 82% are endemic, more than 1,000 species of plants, more than 50 species of fish.

The area of the lake's water surface is 31,500 km2, which is approximately equal to the area of a state such as Belgium. Having maximum depth At 1640 meters, Lake Baikal is the deepest lake in the world.

Lake Baikal contains 23 thousand km3 or 20% of the world's reserves of surface fresh water, which meet the best quality standards for clean drinking water in terms of microbiological, organoleptic and hydrochemical parameters.

The basin of Lake Baikal can contain all the water of the Baltic Sea or the water of all five Great Lakes of America. The Angara River, flowing out of the lake, carries out 2000 m3 of water per second. If the flow of all the rivers flowing into Lake Baikal stopped, then in this case the Angara could flow out of Baikal for 360 years. To fill the basin, the entire annual flow of the world's rivers would be needed.

A unique feature of Lake Baikal is the high diversity and endemism of plants and animals living in it. Currently, 2565 species and subspecies of animals and 1000 species, subspecies and forms are registered in Baikal aquatic plants, of which 2/3 are endemic, that is, they are not found anywhere else. To this number we must add many hundreds of species of aquatic and benthic microorganisms, as well as so far little-studied viruses and phages. The species diversity of Lake Baikal has no equal among the ancient and Great Lakes of the World. In terms of the number of species, the fauna of Baikal hydrobionts is more than 2 times richer compared to that of Lake Tanganyika - 1248 species and almost 13 times more than in Lake Titicaca - South America. Considering the fact that more than 20 species of invertebrate animals are described annually for Lake Baikal, experts predict the presence of more than 1,500 species of hydrobionts of Lake Baikal that are not yet known to science.

The top of the trophic pyramid in the ecosystem of Lake Baikal is the endemic Baikal seal or seal, whose ancestors, apparently, were Arctic seals that in ancient times penetrated Lake Baikal along the Lena or Yenisei.

Yesterday, October 6, was International Habitat Conservation Day. Using the example of the rarest animals of the republic, the site decided to show how humans influence nature through their activities

Red color is a signal of alarm, impending danger, warning. The Red Book includes plants and animals of which there are very few left on Earth; they are in danger of extinction. Buryatia also has its own Red Book. In our republic there is practically no place where no human has set foot. Every extinct species is a severe and irreparable loss. We are conquering space, we have learned to print houses and body organs. But can we recreate the snow leopard or sagaan-dali? For now, everything that disappears in the animal world disappears forever. We present to readers the rare decorations of the nature of Buryatia: snow leopard (irbis), manul, steppe bustard, red wolf.

Snow Leopard

In the category of species extinction in the Red Book of Buryatia, the snow leopard ranks first. There are only 20 to 30 of them left in Buryatia. Protected on the territory of the Tunkinsky National Park and natural park national significance "Shumak". Two areas of stable habitat for the snow leopard are known: western (Eastern Sayan ranges, Okinsky and Tunkinsky districts) and eastern (western part of the Malkhansky ridge, Bichursky district). Over the past 20 years, one snow leopard has died every year due to human fault. And the future forecast for the state of the species is disappointing.

Manul

Globally, the status of this species is assessed as rare and declining in numbers. Pallas's cat prefers to live in forest-steppe spaces with rocky areas. In Buryatia, its main habitat is the Selenginsky, Dzhida, and Kyakhtinsky districts. His main food is field mice. He is a food competitor of the fox; they share the same habitats due to the food supply. It is extremely rare, because by nature this small animal is very mysterious and secretive. The threat of extinction of the Pallas's cat is hunting, killing by people chance meeting, death from dogs, any trap fishing, steppe fires, disturbance factor.

Steppe Bustard

The number in Buryatia reaches 30 - 40 individuals. Although even before the 60s and 70s it lived in all areas of the south of Buryatia, in the north to the delta of the Selenga River and the Vitim Plateau, as well as in the Barguzin region. Later, the range shrank almost everywhere, with the exception of the southern regions. Currently, it constantly nests in the Dzhidinsky and Mukhorshibirsky regions, sometimes reaching Ulan-Ude. Experiments were carried out in the Daursky Nature Reserve and it was found that the bustard feeds well on rapeseed fields (weed). Previously, collective farms specifically planted it for harvesting. Now the steppe bustard has serious problems with its food supply. Scientists believe that the main threat to the bustard is agriculture. Because in its nesting places there are steppe burnings or grazing. And for her, the disturbance factor is very important, because she nests on the ground. If a bustard is scared away from its nest, it will never return there. The chicks are dying. During autumn rains, the wings of the steppe bustard get wet and freeze. Birds cannot fly and become easy prey even for children. There are known cases when such defenseless bustards were driven into courtyards and beaten to death with sticks.

Red Wolf

Its numbers and distribution are also declining globally. The red wolf never howls; his voice is a mixture of barking, whining and squealing. Outside the mountains, the red wolf cannot compete with the ordinary wolf, which is capable of taking prey even from a pack of red wolves. It has also been established that red wolves die from invasive diseases and are sensitive to anthropogenic impact: they leave their habitats when people visit them. Their food supply has been undermined by widespread poaching of the main species of ungulates. In Buryatia, the red wolf is occasionally found in the highlands and mountain taiga of the Eastern Sayan Mountains, as well as in the south of the Tunka Valley. According to Olga Martynova, head of the department of state environmental assessments and biodiversity conservation, some types of nature are inclined to reproduce, some are not. The habitat of these animals is simply extremely cruel and they cannot produce large offspring.

Cheetah

A predatory “intellectual” and gourmet. It is difficult to imagine that several centuries ago there were cheetahs in our steppes. And they became extinct on our territory, according to scientists, because they were gourmets - they hunted mainly ungulates: steppe antelopes, gazelles. Their abundance disappeared with the plowing up of the steppe, for hunting in which cheetahs are ideally suited, never feeding on carrion. They don't even return to the remains of their own prey. Today, the free cheetah can only be found in Africa in remote places and in protected areas. In Asia it has disappeared or is very rare. The cheetah is the fastest dying species. Firstly, although cheetahs run fast, they get tired quickly. Secondly, they only hunt gazelles; thirdly, it is more difficult for them to hide their cubs, because they don't climb trees. The cheetah is called the "intelligent" in the world of predators. That is why it is so difficult for him to withstand numerous external influences. Flocks of vultures flock to the cheetah's hunting area and push it back. It's sad to think that cheetahs have to change their habits due to their growing popularity with tourists. Hearing loud sounds, a cheetah often abandons its prey, leaving it to be eaten by other animals. The claw of the first toe always remains sharp, as it never comes into contact with the ground. It is with its help that the predator knocks down its prey. This feature explains the images in the paintings when the cheetah calmly rests on a horse behind the rider. The most famous painting of Kublai Khan hunting.

Tiger

Now he is associated exclusively with the Ussuri region. Although the first name of such a tiger is “Siberian”. “The Babr is the rarest of all animals in the Irkutsk region and surpasses them in its strength and courage. It has irregularly located blackish transverse stripes along its white-yellowish fur; does not exceed the height of a large wolf” - this is how the evidence of those years is described. As you can see, according to the descriptions, the babr resembles a tiger. “Siberians call babr without distinction between leopard and tiger... It has been known since ancient times that tigers and leopards often enter Dauria from Manchuria, Tibet and other parts of the celestial empire,” confirms A.A. Cherkasov in the famous “Notes of a Hunter of Eastern Siberia”. “Eastern Siberia is adjacent to Mongolia and Manchuria, which constitute the last northern limit of the tiger's habitat. We have had cases of tiger appearances both in Transbaikalia and in the mountain spurs of the Sayan Mountains,” wrote scientist I.S. back in 1896. Rural.

Extinction threat by the numbers

During the 19th centuries AD, the following disappeared on Earth:

150 species of mammals, mostly large 139 species of birds

In 1 day, about 100 species of plants and animals disappear on Earth.

The following may disappear in the near future:

5435 animal species 5611 plant species

In the Red Book of Buryatia:

140 animal species 139 plant species

They are not yet extinct, but require monitoring of their condition:

185 species of animals 282 species of plants and fungi

The fauna is characterized by inhabitants of the steppe, taiga, and rocky mountain peaks: in the Mondin dry basin - gopher, pika, fox; in the forest zone - sable, squirrel, muskrat, weasel, elk, wapiti, roe deer, musk deer, black grouse, wood grouse, hazel grouse, partridge, nutcracker, jay, woodpecker; in the high mountain zone - the Siberian mountain goat and reindeer, included in the Red Book of Buryatia. Other rare and endangered animal species include the otter, saker falcon, greater spotted eagle, Altai snowcock, long-eared owl, scops owl, chough, common viper, a sharp-faced frog.
To date, more than 310 species of vertebrates have been recorded, belonging to 5 classes - Pisces(more than 10 species), Amphibians (4), Reptiles (5), Birds (237), Mammals (54). Amphibians Siberian salamander. It is found along the banks of reservoirs and in damp places, and during the breeding season - in reservoirs.
Among mammals, the habitat of 54 species belonging to 6 orders is known. Of these, 10 species are rare, among which the snow leopard is listed in the Red Book of Russia (periodic visits are noted). The remaining 9 are 6 species of bats, an otter, a reindeer and a Siberian mountain goat. All of them mainly belong to category 3 of the Red Book. To date, more than 310 species of vertebrate animals have been recorded, belonging to 5 classes - Fish (more than 10 species), Amphibians (4), Reptiles (5), Birds (237), Mammals (54).
Mammals listed in the Red Book:
В· Arhar. In small numbers, they enter the region from Mongolia. Outwardly, it differs sharply from mountain goats with spirally twisted horns. Adapted to living in flat and slightly hilly landscapes. Capable of fast running, close to the saiga, gazelle and gazelle. Travel speed is about 60 km/h. Listed in the Red Book of Russia.
В· Red wolf. Listed in the IUCN Red Book and the Red Book of Russia. It is noted in the high-mountain landscapes of the Eastern Sayan, as well as the western part of Khamar-Daban.
· Siberian mountain goat. They stick to rocky areas and alpine meadows. Listed in the Red Book of Buryatia.
Commercial species:
В· Muskrat. Lives along water bodies. Active at night and at dusk. It digs holes on high banks and makes huts on low banks.
В· Long-tailed ground squirrel. Found in forest-steppe and steppe zones. They dig holes up to 2 meters. They spend the winter in hibernation.
В· Red deer. A beautiful slender animal with branched horns on males. Inhabits mixed and deciduous mountain and lowland forests. They belong to representatives of real deer.
· Deer is a valuable game animal that provides meat, skin and valuable medicinal raw materials. Hunting is allowed only with licenses
· Musk deer. The smallest representative of the deer family. In adult males from under upper lip long, up to 10 cm, fangs protrude, and there is a musk pouch between the navel and the genitals. It accumulates 40-45 grams of musk, known as “musk musk stream” and used in the perfume industry. Hunting is permitted under licenses.
· The roe deer is the second largest deer after the musk deer, with a light and graceful build. Male roe deer have small antlers with 3-5 branches. Roe deer swim well and cross easily big rivers. It is considered a valuable game animal. Hunting in the national park is permitted under licenses.
В· White hare. Distributed throughout the forest zone of Buryatia. It also lives in forest-steppe and bush thickets along the river banks of lakes. It feeds on a variety of herbaceous plants. In winter, it eats shoots of bushes, trees and the bark of aspen, willow, birch and other tree species. The white hare is of commercial importance; its skins are used to make fur products. The meat is eaten.
· Weasel is the smallest representative of the mustelidae family and predators in general. Weasels are ubiquitous. Lives in a wide variety of areas, wherever there are a lot of mice, often found in fields, in stacks, in outbuildings And populated areas. The commercial value is insignificant.

Reptiles

Common viper. Lives more often in the forest, in clearings and swamps. Ovoviviparous species. Poisonous.
An ordinary one. It sticks to the banks of ponds, swamps, and wet meadows. Not poisonous.

The bird fauna of the Republic of Buryatia is represented by 237 species of 17 orders. Of these, 48 species are listed in the Red Book of Buryatia and 9 species in the Red Book of Russia. When studying rare bird species, it was determined that category 3 predominates - rare species that are currently not yet in danger of extinction, but they are found in such numbers or in such limited areas that they may disappear if the habitat changes unfavorably. According to researchers, the territory of the republic deserves the status of a key ornithological territory in Asia. This is confirmed by the fact that the fauna of birds, in particular chickens, has significant species diversity. Nesting, migration and wintering are observed large quantity birds listed in the Red Book. Also, the Tunkinsky district of the Republic of Buryatia has a unique wetland complex of the Koimorsky, Engarginsky and Nurkutul lakes. Currently, the Coymore wetland complex is in need of restoration.

Tunkinsky National Park

The second largest park in Russia, with an area of 1183.7 thousand hectares, was founded in 1991 in the Tunkin Valley, in one of the most attractive places in Buryatia. The valley, located between the two great lakes of Asia - Baikal in the east and Khubsugol in the west, stretches for 200 km, is limited from the north by the slopes of the Eastern Sayan Mountains, from the south - by the slopes of the Khamar-Daban ridge.
Rivers and lakes.
The Irkut River flows through the Tunka Valley. Its main tributaries in the park are: the left ones - Ekhe-Ukhgun, Yengarga, Tunka; right - Khalagun, Small and Big Zangisan, Kharagun, Zun-Muren. There are many small lakes in the park. Mountain Lake Hobok and the valley chain of the Comoros Lakes are declared natural monuments.
Plant and animal world. The park is dominated by the taiga type of vegetation. Forests of cedar, larch and pine, giving way with height to thickets of dwarf cedar. On the mountain peaks there are tundras, in some places there are alpine lawns.
Among the plants, 40 species are rare.
The fauna is represented by more than 50 species of mammals and more than 230 species of birds.
In "The Land of Siberian Narzans". The valley is often called the land of Siberian Narzans due to the abundance of healing springs, which are not inferior in their properties to the famous waters of the Caucasus and the Carpathians. These are the carbonated waters of the Arshan resort (treatment of the digestive system and of cardio-vascular system), ferruginous springs of Khongor-Uuly (treatment of iron deficiency anemia, eye diseases, liver, kidney, cardiovascular diseases), methane thermal baths of Zhemchugskiye mineral springs, siliceous radon thermals of the Nile Desert (unique waters for the treatment of skin diseases and joint diseases), carbon dioxide radon thermals of Shumak (Valley of 100 Springs).
Fantastic a nice place at the foot of rocky mountains with icy stormy rivers and picturesque waterfalls - the Valley of 100 Springs. There are 118 mineral water outlets here, varying in chemical composition and temperature. They are called Shumak springs. The waters of Shumak are similar in chemical composition to the waters of Pyatigorsk, Kislovodsk, Tskaltubo and heal many diseases. There are even sources called “Male stubbornness” - from impotence and “Women’s whims” - from frigidity. There is a special place in the valley - “Child Mountain”.
Natural attractions. The park has many natural sites, many of which are declared natural monuments. Among them are the Kyngara River, famous for its 12 waterfalls, a river canyon with a bottom lined with polished yellow and pink marble, a long-lived larch, a natural monument. Interesting extinct volcanoes: Kovrizhka, Podgorny, Khara-Boldok (Cherskogo). An amazingly beautiful place is the Bowl of Virgins, in which, according to local Buryat customs, the bride bathes before the wedding. The legendary Peak of Love, 2412 m high, and the natural standard of intermountain basins light coniferous forests Badarsky pine forest, the most important stratotype of the Bely Yar outcrop, picturesque river Yehe-Uhgunv¦
Monuments of history and culture. Tunkinskaya land is rich in historical monuments. Tea, silk, bronze and other routes passed here. Horseback riding and hiking trails along these ancient paths offer tourists many interesting cultural and historical monuments.
Particularly interesting is the original culture of the Buryat people, which combines elements of shamanism and Buddhism.
Datsans, Burkhan-Baabay, Bukha-noyon, Tamkhi Baryasha (Pipe of Peace), Bukha-Noyonoy Hebteshe volcano (Sacred Mountain), Mount Munku-Sardyk are waiting for you.
Hunting and fishing. In the park you can hunt waterfowl and upland game, roe deer, wild boar, wapiti, bear, and sable. In rivers and lakes, your trophies will be grayling, whitefish, lenok, pike, perch, and roach.

Dzherginsky Reserve

The reserve, with an area of 237.8 thousand hectares, created in 1992, is located in the north of Buryatia.
Territory of Dzherginsky State nature reserve is the natural standard of the northeastern basin of Lake Baikal. Here is the source of the Barguzin River, the second largest tributary of Baikal, carrying its waters through the lands of the legendary golden taiga.
The relief is mountainous, the highest point is the Barguzinsky ridge (2840 m above sea level).
High-altitude plant belts are distinguished on the territory of the reserve. From 500 to 1000-1200 m the forest-steppe extends with birch and larch forests alternating with the steppe, there are pine and aspen trees. They move into deciduous and pine forests, giving way to thickets of dwarf cedar. On the tops of the mountains there are rocky areas with areas of mountain moss-lichen tundra, patches of heather, dryads and cinquefoils. The reserve is home to 1,170 plant species.
The Dzherginsky Nature Reserve is home to 1,208 species of animals.
The heart of the reserve is called the relict glacial Amut Basin with a network of crystal clear lakes.

Buryatia - amazing land, where there are high mountains, caves, steppes, fast mountain rivers, warm and not so warm lakes, Baikal and rich taiga. The nature here is of unprecedented beauty and its pearl Baikal is a life-giving and bewitching creation. There is a sea of sunlight here, charging you with warmth and energy. Among such diversity, every resident of Buryatia has a corner of nature that seems most wonderful to him.

The position of Buryatia on the border of two different natural zones: the East Siberian mountain taiga and the Central Asian steppe - created a great variety and special character of the distribution of soil and vegetation cover. South part Buryatia is similar to the steppes of Mongolia, and in middle lane The forest-steppe landscape predominates. Southern steppe elements, confined to intermountain depressions and basins, penetrate far into the northern regions. Thus, the steppes are, as it were, “interspersed” in separate areas into the main background of forests. The upper limit of the steppe landscape on the southern slopes often reaches 1000 m in absolute height. Steppes formed in river valleys are distinguished by a richer and more varied herbaceous cover. Mountain steppes, poor precipitation and groundwater, in some places they even take on a semi-desert character. Buryatia is characterized by a gradual rise from northwest to southwest, into the East Sayan mountain system, and east to the Yablonovy Range, after which a slow decline in the area begins.

Forests are known to have great water-regulating importance. Clear cuttings of forests, especially in the catchments of small rivers, contribute to a decrease in the natural regulation of flow and drying out of rivers, as well as the intensive development of soil erosion processes. At present, when forest acts as a cheap raw material and the barbaric destruction of the centuries-old taiga is taking place not only by state timber industry enterprises, but also by numerous entrepreneurs and commercial firms, the problem of preserving forest resources is especially acute. Soils of the podzolic type are widespread in Transbaikalia. They are located mainly on plateaus, lower and middle parts of the slopes of ridges under larch, pine and cedar-fir forests. The most powerful and humus-rich varieties are plowed, and the weaker ones serve as pastures. The most fertile soils, chernozems, occupy significantly smaller areas than chestnut soils. The transitional link from chernozem and chestnut soils to podzolic soils is the gray forest soils located below the podzolic soils. In areas of river valleys with close occurrence groundwater and on gentle marshy slopes meadow and swamp soils are developed. In areas with permafrost, meadow-permafrost soils form along river valleys. In the south of the republic, in the driest basins, there are solonetz and solonetzic soils covered with solonchak vegetation. In general, altitudinal zonation is clearly evident in the distribution of soils.

The fauna of the republic is very diverse. The stable commercial status of all types of game animals opens great prospects in the development of hunting farms and hunting trophy tourism, which have great importance for the economy of the region in general and for the population in particular. The main hunting objects hunted on the territory of the republic include 28 species of mammals (fur-bearing animals, wild ungulates), 6 species of upland game (chickens) and about 30 species of waterfowl. The basis of the fishery is sable, squirrel, fox, hare, muskrat, weasel, and ermine; among ungulates - elk, wapiti, musk deer, wild boar, roe deer, reindeer; in the group of game birds - capercaillie and stone grouse, black grouse, hazel grouse, Daurian partridge. In remote taiga swamps it is possible to meet a black stork.

The administrative regions of the republic have significant reserves of fish and sea animals, which are of great interest as objects of hunting and fishing tourism. Lake Baikal and the surrounding area are inhabited by 2,500 various types animals and fish, 250 of which are endemic. The most famous are the omul - a commercial fish of the salmon family, as well as the viviparous golomyanka - transparent fish without scales and swim bladder. The Baikal sturgeon, davatchan, white Baikal grayling, taimen and tench are listed in the Red Book of Russia and Buryatia. Organizing sport fishing on the lake is possible throughout the year. The seal hunt, which takes place in March-April on the ice of Lake Baikal, is particularly specific.

Most of the territory of Buryatia is occupied by mountain taiga. Its entire northern, western and eastern parts are covered with forests. The forest boundary reaches a height of 2000 m. The main landscape-forming species is pine. In pine forests there is an admixture of cedar, fir, aspen, and poplar. The vegetation in the mountains is quite dense, often continuous thickets of dwarf cedar up to 3 m high form on the peaks. In the spring, wild rosemary blooms, and the forest turns bright purple. In summer, there is an abundance of flowers in the forests and mountains, especially on the mountain plateaus. The meadows of bright orange lilies, yellow and red lilies are very beautiful. Many plants have not only decorative, but also commercial value, and some plants are used in folk and Tibetan medicine. In autumn there are a lot of berries: lingonberries, blueberries, blueberries, cranberries, currants, raspberries, sea buckthorn, bird cherry. In some places, wild apple trees and Siberian apricots grow. In autumn, the forests are rich in mushrooms: milk mushrooms, saffron milk caps, boletus mushrooms, porcini mushrooms.

Buryatia is a land of the most picturesque protected areas, one of the few corners of our country where places of unique untouched nature have been preserved (Appendix 3). Here are some of the largest specially protected natural areas in Russia (by area). Three reserves - "Baikalsky", "Barguzinsky", "Dzherginsky", two national parks - "Zabaikalsky", "Tunkinsky", natural Park"Shumak", three state reserve federal significance, 13 reserves of regional significance, 5 recreational areas of local significance and 266 identified natural monuments.

tourism Buryatia climate resource

446 species of terrestrial vertebrates have been registered on the territory of the republic. Amphibians of Buryatia are represented by 6 species from two orders. There are 7 species of reptiles in the republic, and they are all from the same order, that is, we are home to 0.1 percent of the world’s reptile fauna. This is explained by many factors: in particular, the harsh, sharply continental climate, as well as the limited availability of suitable places for their habitat, which, in turn, determines the extremely uneven distribution of amphibians and reptiles in the region. They often live in small and sometimes isolated areas far from each other, therefore they are very vulnerable to many external factors, some of which have become rare or even endangered.
Birds are the richest class of terrestrial vertebrates in Buryatia, including 348 species, united in 18 orders, which accounts for about 4 percent of the world's avifauna. Of the 348 species, 260 are regular or irregular nesters, 34 are migrating, 7 are wintering, 1 are flying and 46 are vagrant. The given figures are very unstable, because for various reasons some species change the nature of their stay and area of distribution.
There are 85 species of mammals from 7 orders recorded in Buryatia, which makes up 21-23 percent of the world’s theriofauna. In general, the species composition of animals in Buryatia, like any other region, is unstable. Qualitative and quantitative changes are constantly taking place here: new species appear (for example, in the last two decades, the common and gray starlings began to nest, the Mongolian gerbil, rock pigeon, rook and others are noticeably expanding their range), at the same time, some others are disappearing or have already disappeared species (the gazelle and great cormorant are practically not found in Buryatia, the bustard, whooper swan, many birds of prey and others are disappearing). The latter require increased attention and special security measures. Unfortunately, there are many such rare and endangered species in Buryatia: 2 species of amphibians, 4 species of reptiles, 63 species of birds and 25 species of mammals. 7 species of terrestrial vertebrates are included in the International Red Book and 40 species in the Red Book of the Russian Federation.
The resource potential of hunting in the Republic of Buryatia is characterized by great species diversity. It includes 30 species of mammals, 6 species of upland game and 30 species of waterfowl. Currently, the hunting industry of the republic is represented by 36 enterprises various forms property. The total area of land assigned to hunting enterprises is 23,634.9 thousand hectares (66 percent of the entire territory of the republic).
The fauna is characterized by inhabitants of the steppe, taiga, and rocky mountain peaks: in the Mondin dry basin - gopher, pika, fox; in the forest zone - sable, squirrel, muskrat, weasel, elk, wapiti, roe deer, musk deer, black grouse, wood grouse, hazel grouse, partridge, nutcracker, jay, woodpecker; in the high mountain zone - the Siberian mountain goat and reindeer, included in the Red Book of Buryatia. Other rare and endangered animal species include the otter, saker falcon, greater spotted eagle, Altai snowcock, long-eared owl, scops owl, chough, common viper, and sharp-faced frog.
To date, more than 310 species of vertebrates have been recorded, belonging to 5 classes - Fish (more than 10 species), Amphibians (4), Reptiles (5), Birds (237), Mammals (54). Amphibians Siberian salamander. It is found along the banks of reservoirs and in damp places, and during the breeding season - in reservoirs.
Among mammals, the habitat of 54 species belonging to 6 orders is known. Of these, 10 species are rare, among which the snow leopard is listed in the Red Book of Russia (periodic visits are noted). The remaining 9 are 6 species of bats, otter, reindeer and Siberian mountain goat. All of them mainly belong to category 3 of the Red Book. To date, more than 310 species of vertebrate animals have been recorded, belonging to 5 classes - Fish (more than 10 species), Amphibians (4), Reptiles (5), Birds (237), Mammals (54).
Mammals listed in the Red Book:
· Arhar. In small numbers, they enter the region from Mongolia. Outwardly, it differs sharply from mountain goats with spirally twisted horns. Adapted to living in flat and slightly hilly landscapes. Capable of fast running, close to the saiga, gazelle and gazelle. Travel speed is about 60 km/h. Listed in the Red Book of Russia.
· Red Wolf. Listed in the IUCN Red Book and the Red Book of Russia. It is noted in the high-mountain landscapes of the Eastern Sayan, as well as the western part of Khamar-Daban.
· Siberian mountain goat. They stick to rocky areas and alpine meadows. Listed in the Red Book of Buryatia.
Commercial species:
· Muskrat. Lives along water bodies. Active at night and at dusk. It digs holes on high banks and makes huts on low banks.
· Long-tailed gopher. Found in forest-steppe and steppe zones. They dig holes up to 2 meters. They spend the winter in hibernation.
· Red deer. A beautiful slender animal with branched horns on males. Inhabits mixed and deciduous mountain and lowland forests. They belong to representatives of real deer.
· Deer is a valuable game animal that provides meat, skin and valuable medicinal raw materials. Hunting is allowed only with licenses
· Musk deer. The smallest representative of the deer family. In adult males, long, up to 10 cm, fangs protrude from under the upper lip, and there is a musk pouch between the navel and the genitals. It accumulates 40-45 grams of musk, known as “musk deer stream” and used in the perfume industry. Hunting is permitted under licenses.
· Roe deer is the second largest deer after the musk deer, with a light and graceful build. Male roe deer have small antlers with 3-5 branches. Roe deer are good swimmers and can easily cross large rivers. It is considered a valuable game animal. Hunting in the national park is permitted under licenses.
· White hare. Distributed throughout the forest zone of Buryatia. It also lives in forest-steppe and bush thickets along the river banks of lakes. It feeds on a variety of herbaceous plants. In winter, it eats shoots of bushes, trees and the bark of aspen, willow, birch and other tree species. The white hare is of commercial importance; its skins are used to make fur products. The meat is eaten.
· Weasel is the smallest representative of the mustelid family and predators in general. Weasels are ubiquitous. It lives in a wide variety of areas, wherever there are a lot of mice, often found in fields, stacks, outbuildings and populated areas. The commercial value is insignificant.

Reptiles

Common viper. Lives more often in the forest, in clearings and swamps. Ovoviviparous species. Poisonous.
An ordinary one. It sticks to the banks of ponds, swamps, and wet meadows. Not poisonous.

The bird fauna of the Republic of Buryatia is represented by 237 species of 17 orders. Of these, 48 species are listed in the Red Book of Buryatia and 9 species in the Red Book of Russia. When studying rare bird species, it was determined that category 3 predominates - rare species that are currently not yet in danger of extinction, but they are found in such numbers or in such limited areas that they may disappear if the habitat changes unfavorably. According to researchers, the territory of the republic deserves the status of a key ornithological territory in Asia. This is confirmed by the fact that the fauna of birds, in particular chickens, has significant species diversity. Nesting, migration and wintering of a large number of birds listed in the Red Book are noted. Also, the Tunkinsky district of the Republic of Buryatia has a unique wetland complex of the Koimorsky, Engarginsky and Nurkutul lakes. Currently, the Coymore wetland complex is in need of restoration.

Tunkinsky National Park

The second largest park in Russia, with an area of 1183.7 thousand hectares, was founded in 1991 in the Tunkin Valley, in one of the most attractive places in Buryatia. The valley, located between the two great lakes of Asia - Baikal in the east and Khubsugul in the west, stretches for 200 km, is limited to the north by the slopes of the Eastern Sayan Mountains, and to the south by the slopes of the Khamar-Daban ridge.
Rivers and lakes.
The Irkut River flows through the Tunka Valley. Its main tributaries in the park are: left - Ekhe-Ukhgun, Yengarga, Tunka; right - Halagun, Small and Big Zangisan, Kharagun, Zun-Muren. There are many small lakes in the park. Mountain Lake Hobok and the valley chain of the Comoros Lakes are declared natural monuments.
Plant and animal world. The park is dominated by the taiga type of vegetation. Forests of cedar, larch and pine, giving way with height to thickets of dwarf cedar. On the mountain peaks there are tundras, in some places there are alpine lawns.
Among plants - 40 species are rare.
The fauna is represented by more than 50 species of mammals and more than 230 species of birds.
"The land of Siberian Narzans." The valley is often called the land of Siberian Narzans due to the abundance of healing springs, which are not inferior in their properties to the famous waters of the Caucasus and the Carpathians. These are the carbonic waters of the Arshan resort (treatment of the digestive organs and cardiovascular system), the ferruginous springs of Khongor-Uuly (treatment of iron deficiency anemia, eye diseases, liver disease, kidney disease, cardiovascular system), methane thermal baths of the Zhemchug mineral springs, siliceous radon thermal baths of Nilova Deserts (unique waters for the treatment of skin diseases and joint diseases), carbon dioxide radon thermal baths of Shumak (“Valley of 100 Springs”).
A fantastically beautiful place at the foot of rocky mountains with icy stormy rivers and picturesque waterfalls - the Valley of 100 Springs. There are 118 mineral water outlets here, varying in chemical composition and temperature. They are called Shumak springs. The waters of Shumak are similar in chemical composition to the waters of Pyatigorsk, Kislovodsk, Tskaltubo and heal many diseases. There are even sources called “Male stubbornness” - from impotence and “Women’s whims” - from frigidity. There is a special place in the valley - “Child Mountain”.
Natural attractions. The park has many natural sites, many of which are declared natural monuments. Among them are the Kyngara River, famous for its 12 waterfalls, a river canyon with a bottom lined with polished yellow and pink marble, a long-lived larch, a natural monument. Interesting extinct volcanoes: Kovrizhka, Podgorny, Khara-Boldok (Cherskogo). An amazingly beautiful place is the Bowl of Virgins, in which, according to local Buryat customs, the bride bathes before the wedding. The legendary Peak of Love, 2412 m high, and the natural standard of intermountain basin light-coniferous forests Badarsky Bor, the most important stratotype outcrop Bely Yar, the picturesque river Ekhe-Ukhgun...
Monuments of history and culture. Tunkinskaya land is rich in historical monuments. Tea, silk, bronze and other routes passed here. Horseback riding and hiking trails along these ancient paths offer tourists many interesting cultural and historical monuments.
Particularly interesting is the original culture of the Buryat people, which combines elements of shamanism and Buddhism.
Datsans, Burkhan-Baabay, Bukha-noyon, Tamkhi Baryasha (Pipe of Peace), Bukha-Noyonoy Hebteshe volcano (Sacred Mountain), Mount Munku-Sardyk are waiting for you.
Hunting and fishing. In the park you can hunt waterfowl and upland game, roe deer, wild boar, wapiti, bear, and sable. In rivers and lakes, your trophies will be grayling, whitefish, lenok, pike, perch, and roach.

Dzherginsky Reserve

The reserve, with an area of 237.8 thousand hectares, created in 1992, is located in the north of Buryatia.
The territory of the Dzherginsky State Nature Reserve is a natural standard for the northeastern basin of Lake Baikal. Here is the source of the Barguzin River, the second largest tributary of Baikal, carrying its waters through the lands of the legendary golden taiga.
The relief is mountainous, the highest point is the Barguzinsky ridge (2840 m above sea level).
High-altitude plant belts are distinguished on the territory of the reserve. From 500 to 1000-1200 m the forest-steppe extends with birch and larch forests alternating with the steppe, there are pine and aspen trees. They move into deciduous and pine forests, giving way to thickets of dwarf cedar. On the tops of the mountains there are rocky areas with areas of mountain moss-lichen tundra, patches of heather, dryads and cinquefoils. The reserve is home to 1,170 plant species.
The Dzherginsky Nature Reserve is home to 1,208 species of animals.
The heart of the reserve is called the relict glacial Amut Basin with a network of crystal clear lakes.

Buryatia is an amazing region where there are high mountains, caves, steppes, fast mountain rivers, warm and not so warm lakes, Baikal and rich taiga. The nature here is of unprecedented beauty and its pearl Baikal is a life-giving and bewitching creation. There is a sea of sunlight here, charging you with warmth and energy. Among such diversity, every resident of Buryatia has a corner of nature that seems most wonderful to him.

The republic's land fund is 35,113.4 thousand hectares. The soil cover is characterized by great diversity. Chestnut, gray forest and chernozem soils are relatively fertile and have the greatest production value. They occupy 56.4% of the area of all agricultural land and 76.5% of the area of arable land

The natural resources of Buryatia are unique both in their reserves and in their diversity. Dense coniferous forests, high mountain ranges, wide steppes, mountain valleys with colorful grasses, an abundance of nuts and berries provide favorable conditions for numerous representatives of the animal world of Buryatia. There are many unique and rare species listed in the Red Book. The Barguzin sable, brown bear, mountain goat, and wild reindeer are world famous. Man deer, elk, squirrel, lynx, wolverine, roe deer, musk deer, wild boar, Baikal seal, omul, as well as numerous species of birds - this is an incomplete, but representative list of the diversity of the fauna of Buryatia.

Currently, 446 species of terrestrial vertebrates are registered on the territory of the republic. Amphibians of Buryatia are represented by 6 species from 2 orders. There are 7 species of reptiles in the republic, and all of them are from the same order, i.e. We are home to 0.1% of the world's reptile fauna. This is explained by many factors: in particular, the harsh, sharply continental climate, as well as the limited number of suitable places for their habitat, which in turn determines the extremely uneven distribution of amphibians and reptiles in the region. They often live in small and sometimes isolated areas far from each other, therefore they are very vulnerable to many external factors, some of which have become rare or even endangered.

Birds are the richest class of terrestrial vertebrates in Buryatia, including 348 species, united in 18 orders, which accounts for about 4% of the world's avifauna. Of the 348 species, 260 are regular or irregular nesters, 34 are migratory, 7 are wintering, 1 is flying and 46 are vagrants. The given figures are very unstable, because for various reasons some species change the nature of their stay and area of distribution.

There are 85 species of mammals from 7 orders recorded in Buryatia, which makes up 21-23% of the world’s theriofauna. In general, the species composition of animals in Buryatia, like any other region, is not stable. Qualitative and quantitative changes are constantly taking place here; new species are appearing (for example, in the last two decades, the common and gray starlings have begun to nest, the Mongolian gerbil, rock pigeon, rook, etc. are noticeably expanding their range), at the same time, some other species are disappearing or have already disappeared (gazers are practically not found in Buryatia , great cormorant, bustard, whooper swan, many birds of prey, etc. are disappearing.) The latter require increased attention and special protection measures. Unfortunately, there are many such rare and endangered species in Buryatia: 2 species of amphibians, 4 species of reptiles, 63 species of birds and 25 species of mammals. 7 species of terrestrial vertebrates are included in the International Red Book and 40 species are included in the Red Book of the Russian Federation.

Lake Baikal is a natural reservoir of a fifth of the world's fresh water reserves highest quality. The lake is more than 20 million years old; the length of the lake is 636 kilometers, width - 80 kilometers, depth - 1637 meters; 2,500 different species of animals and fish, 250 of which are endemic, inhabit Lake Baikal and the surrounding area.

The republic is rich in mineral resources. In the territory of Buryatia, over 50 years of active work, geologists have explored more than 700 deposits of various minerals, of which more than 600 are included in the state balance of Russia and the territorial balance of the Republic of Buryatia. Among the identified deposits there are 247 gold (228 alluvial, 16 ore and 3 complex). The list of strategic types of mineral raw materials includes 7 deposits of tungsten, 13 of uranium, 4 of polymetals, 2 of molybdenum and beryllium each, and one of tin and aluminum. The Republic of Buryatia has a large pre-estimated raw material base of uranium. The balance reserves of 8 fluorspar deposits are capable of meeting the needs of metallurgical enterprises Siberia and Far East in lump fluorite. The balance reserves of 10 deposits of brown coal and 4 deposits of hard coal will be enough for hundreds of years to meet the needs of the fuel and energy complex of Buryatia. Two deposits of asbestos, a number of jade and construction raw materials, as well as apatite, phosphorite, graphite and zeolites have also been identified on the territory of the republic. The subsoil of Buryatia contains 48% of Russia's balance reserves of zinc, 24% of lead, 37% of molybdenum, 27% of tungsten, 16% of fluorspar and 15% of chrysotile asbestos. Most of the large and unique mineral deposits are located within a radius of up to 200 km from the nearest railway lines of the Eastern Eastern Railway and BAM. The degree of geological knowledge of the republic's subsoil makes it possible to predict the discovery of new promising deposits of various minerals here, including new genetic types.

According to experts, the Russian economy is in beginning of XXI century will retain its raw material orientation. It is expected that the species composition and structure of consumption of raw materials in the period until 2015-2020. will not undergo significant changes. The value of explored and assessed mineral reserves of Buryatia is about 135 billion US dollars, of which about two thirds are fuel and energy resources, precious, non-ferrous and rare metals.

Even in conditions of economic crisis and decline in mining production, not only domestic needs are met, but also a significant volume of export supplies of many types of minerals (gas, oil, iron ore, nickel, copper, platinum, diamonds, etc.). Mineral resources and products of their primary processing are the main source of foreign exchange earnings to the state budget.

The republic's land fund is 35,113.4 thousand hectares.

The soil cover is characterized by great diversity. Chestnut, gray forest and chernozem soils are relatively fertile and have the greatest production value. They occupy 56.4% of the area of all agricultural land and 76.5% of the area of arable land.

Russian Civilization

Buryatia is one of the most beautiful regions of Eastern Siberia, a land of mountains and steppes. The nature of Buryatia is distinguished by its amazing diversity, in which the beauty of Lake Baikal is organically combined with the endless taiga spaces, wide rivers and snowy peaks of the Sayan mountain ranges.

The terrain is predominantly mountainous. The highest point in the Eastern Sayan Mountains is Mount Munku-Sadyk, located on the border with Mongolia. Buryatia neighbors the republics of Mongolia and Tyva, and also borders the Irkutsk region and the Trans-Baikal Territory.

The territory of Buryatia accounts for the bulk (approximately 60 percent of the coastline) of the largest freshwater lake on the planet, Lake Baikal, which has the status of a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Flora of Buryatia

Among the natural zones of the republic one can distinguish steppe, forest-steppe, taiga, high-altitude zones, as well as tundra. At the same time, the transitions from one natural zone to another are smooth, so it is impossible to distinguish their clear boundaries.

The main part of the entire territory of Buryatia is occupied by mountain taiga. The trees here are dominated by pine, spruce, cedar, larch, fir, birch, aspen and poplar. Numerous bushes rise along the mountain slopes. In the spring, among the awakening taiga, wild rosemary (Daurian rhododendron) begins to bloom in pinkish-purple color. In the summer, forests and mountains, and especially the mountain plateaus of Buryatia, are full of flowers. Here you can find entire meadows covered with orange, fiery red and bright yellow lilies of amazing beauty.

The forests contain many medicinal plants widely used in folk medicine (hawthorn, thyme, plantain, celandine). You can also mention among them: Rhodiola rosea, Ural licorice, peony marina root, Thermopsis lanceolata, etc.

In autumn, many wild berries ripen: lingonberries, blueberries, blueberries, swamp cranberries, Altai honeysuckle, wild currants, wild raspberries, sea buckthorn, bird cherry. Less common are wild apple trees and Siberian apricots. There are a lot of mushrooms in the Buryat forests. Typical plants in the steppe zone are fescue, wormwood, Bogorodskaya grass and cinquefoil. Lake Baikal is surrounded on all sides by mountains covered with taiga, consisting of cedars, pines, birches, aspens and larch.

The mountains are covered with rocky placers, interspersed with areas of mountain moss-lichen tundra and rare patches of heather, cinquefoil and dryads. Tunkinsky National Park is dominated by taiga vegetation, consisting mainly of Siberian cedars and larch. On the mountain peaks there are areas of tundra and alpine lawns.

Fauna of Buryatia

The fauna of the republic is extremely diverse. Here you can see the inhabitants of the steppes, inhabitants of the taiga, tundra and rocky mountains.

For example, gophers, foxes, and pikas live in the Mondin Basin. Squirrels, martens, weasels, and muskrats hide in forest areas. There are Barguzin sable, hares, brown bears, wild boars, and lynxes. Ungulates: elk, wapiti, roe deer, musk deer. Birds: black grouse, wood grouse, hazel grouse, partridges, jays, nutcrackers, woodpeckers. Inhabitants of the high mountain zone: reindeer and Siberian mountain goats. Most of them are included in the Red Book of Buryatia. Among other endangered species, we should remember such animals as: otter, wolverine, Baikal seal, saker falcon, greater spotted eagle, Altai snowcock, long-eared owl, scops owl, chough, common viper, sharp-faced frog.

A particularly rare guest among the mammals of Buryatia, listed in the Red Book of Russia, is the snow leopard. In addition to him, no less rare argali and red wolves live in Buryatia. Common commercial species here include muskrats, long-tailed gophers, wapiti, deer, roe deer, musk deer, weasel and mountain hare.

Birds of prey include the white-tailed eagle and many other rare species.

Climate in Buryatia

The Republic of Buryatia has a sharply continental climate. Winters here are cool, with little snow, and dry frosts. Spring is cold, windy, sunny, with frosts and virtually no precipitation. The short summer is characterized by alternating dry and rainy weather, hot sunny days and cool nights. The onset of autumn occurs imperceptibly; without sudden changes in weather, with its arrival the deciduous taiga acquires a golden color. Autumn itself is usually warm, clear, quiet, and gets cold only in the second half of October.

The average July temperature in Buryatia is + 18.5 degrees Celsius, the average temperature in January is -22 degrees. In most of the territory of Buryatia, vertical zonality is well monitored; the temperature and amount of precipitation that falls here varies depending on the altitude. The entire republic is characterized by a long period of sunshine corresponding to the southern Russian regions.

The natural resources of the Republic of Buryatia are unique both in their reserves and in their diversity. The dense coniferous forests of Siberia, high mountain ranges, wide steppes, mountain valleys with colorful grasses, an abundance of nuts and berries provide favorable conditions for numerous representatives of the animal world of Buryatia. There are many unique and rare species listed in the Red Book of Siberia and the Republic of Buryatia.

CLIMATE

The climate of Buryatia is sharply continental. Winter is long, frosty, almost windless and with little snow. The exception is the coast of Lake Baikal. Here the softening influence of the huge water mass of the lake is noticeable. The average temperature in January is -24-25 C. Summer is short, but warm, even hot in some places. The average temperature in July is +17-18 C, but on some days the temperature reaches +35-40 C. On the coast of Lake Baikal, summer is cooler. Maximum precipitation is 250-300 mm per year, in the mountains 300-500 mm.

ANIMAL WORLD

The Barguzin sable, brown bear, mountain goat, and wild reindeer are world famous. Man deer, elk, squirrel, lynx, wolverine, roe deer, musk deer, wild boar, Baikal seal, omul, as well as numerous species of birds - this is an incomplete, but representative list of the diversity of the animal world of the Republic of Buryatia.

Birds are the richest class of terrestrial vertebrates in the Republic of Buryatia, including 348 species, united in 18 orders, which accounts for about 4% of the world's avifauna. Of the 348 species, 260 are regular or irregular nesters, 34 are migratory, 7 are wintering, 46 are vagrant. The given figures are very unstable, because for various reasons some species change the nature of their stay and area of distribution.

In the Republic of Buryatia, qualitative and quantitative changes are constantly taking place, new species are appearing, for example, in the last two decades, the common and gray starlings began to nest, the Mongolian gerbil, rock pigeon, and rook are noticeably expanding their range. At the same time, some other species are disappearing or have already disappeared - the gazelle and great cormorant are practically not found in the Republic of Buryatia, the bustard, whooper swan and many other birds of prey are disappearing. The latter require increased attention and special security measures. Unfortunately, there are many such rare and endangered species in the Republic of Buryatia: 2 species of amphibians, 4 reptiles, 63 birds and 25 mammal species, 7 species of terrestrial vertebrates are listed in the International Red Book and 40 species are included in the Red Book Siberia.

WATER RESOURCES

Buryatia is rich in water resources. There are about 9,000 rivers and streams that belong to the catchment area of Baikal and the basins of the large rivers of Siberia - the Yenisei and Lena. The Baikal basin includes the largest river of Buryatia - the Selenga, as well as very interesting and unique rivers - the Barguzin, Upper Angara, Snezhnaya, Turka, Chikoy, Khilok and others. The Yenisei basin includes four large rivers - Oka, Kitoy, Belaya, Irkut. Stormy mountain rivers flow into the Lena basin. This is Vitim, Tsypa, Muya.

There are a number of lake groups in the republic: Gusino-Ubukunskaya, Eravninskaya, Bauntovskaya, Severo-Baikalskaya, Barguzinskaya and others. The main resource is Lake Baikal.

DEPOSITS OF BURYATIA

FORESTS

Pine trees and thickets of dry-loving bushes grow on the southern slopes of the mountains. The steppes are mainly feather grass and chamomile, often rising to 900-1000 m. Above there is a forest belt, the upper border of which runs at an altitude of 1500-1600 to 2000 meters. Pine forests are widespread in the Baikal region, on the slopes of the Primorsky and Baikal ridges. Larch forests, as opposed to pine forests, are common in the northern part of Transbaikalia. Cedar forests are concentrated in the highlands and midlands. The distribution of fir forests is quite narrow. The distribution of spruce forests is also insignificant. Birch forests are widespread; they grow in 60% of the ecosystems of the Baikal basin, but in limited areas.

LAKE BAIKAL AND THE REPUBLIC OF BURYATIA

The area of the lake's water surface is 31,500 km2, which is approximately equal to the area of a state such as Belgium. With a maximum depth of 1640 meters, Lake Baikal is the deepest lake in the world.

A unique feature of Lake Baikal is the high diversity and endemism of plants and animals living in it. Currently, 2,565 species and subspecies of animals and 1,000 species, subspecies and forms of aquatic plants are registered in Baikal, 2/3 of which are endemic, that is, they are not found anywhere else. To this number we must add many hundreds of species of aquatic and benthic microorganisms, as well as so far little-studied viruses and phages. The species diversity of Lake Baikal has no equal among the ancient and Great Lakes of the World. In terms of the number of species, the fauna of Baikal hydrobionts is more than 2 times richer compared to that of Lake Tanganyika - 1248 species and almost 13 times more than in Lake Titicaca - South America. Considering the fact that more than 20 species of invertebrate animals are described annually for Lake Baikal, experts predict the presence of more than 1,500 species of hydrobionts of Lake Baikal that are not yet known to science.

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