Upper Taz Nature Reserve

This is a big forest in Russia.

The land has many trees. Most of the trees are pine. There are also many wet swamps.

Many animals live in the woods. You might see a brown bear. Foxes and small mink live here too.

Fish like salmon live in the water. They use the river to grow. It is a safe home for them.

The Upper Taz Nature Reserve is in Russia. It sits on the Taz River. This area is part of the West Siberian Plain.

The land is very hilly. Small ridges rise about 50 meters high. Many rivers and streams flow through the hills. Some rivers have rapids, which are fast, bumpy parts of the water. The reserve is 150 km from north to south. It is 70 km from west to east.

Most of the land is forest. About 75% is forest and 15% is swamp. You will see many pine trees. There are also cedar and larch trees. The winters are cold and snowy. The summers are cool.

Many animals live in these woods. You might see a brown bear or a fox. There are about 300 moose in the area. Small animals like the ermine live here too. Many fish, like salmon, use the rivers. They come here to spawn, or lay eggs.

Most people cannot visit the reserve. It is a strict nature area. Scientists go there to study the land. Some people can visit on special trips. They might travel by boat or snowmobile. The main office is in the village of Krasnoselkup.

The Upper Taz Nature Reserve is a special place in Russia. It is a strict nature reserve, which is also called a zapovednik. This area sits on the upper parts of the Taz River. It is located on the edge of the West Siberian Plain. The reserve is about 700 km north of the city of Tomsk. It sits within the Krasnoselkupsky District of the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug.

The land in the reserve has a lot of movement. It is made of hilly moraine ridges. These ridges are about 50 meters high on average. The landscape is broken up by many rivers and streams. The Ratta River is a major part of the area. It flows into the Taz River at the northern border. The Pokolku River is another large river here. Many of the smaller rivers have rapids and shoals. The highest point in the area is 285 meters above sea level.

The weather in Upper Taz is quite cold. It has a subarctic climate. This means the summers are mild and short. Only one to three months are warm. The winters are very cold and full of snow. Most of the land is covered by the West Siberian taiga. This is a region of thick forests and wetlands. About 75% of the reserve is forest. About 15% of the area is made of swamps and bogs.

Many different living things call this reserve home. The forests are mostly pine trees. You can also find cedar, larch, birch, spruce, and aspen trees. There are about 300 moose living in the territory. You might also see brown bears, foxes, and otters. Small animals like the ermine and sable live here too. Scientists have found 68 types of vertebrates. They have also found 98 different kinds of birds. The rivers are very important for salmon and whitefish.

Because it is a strict reserve, it is mostly closed to the public. Most people cannot just walk through it. Scientists visit to study the plants and animals. Some people can visit for environmental education. You can also join special ecotourist trips. These trips require a permit from the managers. You can travel through the area by boat or on foot. Some people even use snowmobiles to get around. The main office is in the village of Krasnoselkup.

The Upper Taz Nature Reserve is a protected area in Russia. It is classified as a zapovednik. A zapovednik is a strict nature reserve. These areas are designed to protect nature from human interference. The reserve is located at the geographic center of the former Russia Empire. It sits on the upper reaches of the Taz River. This area is on the east-central edge of the West Siberian Plain. Specifically, it is in the Krasnoselkupsky District of the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug. The reserve is one of the largest protected areas in Russia.

The physical landscape is part of the Upper Taz hills. The terrain is characterized by hilly moraine ridges. These ridges have an average height of 50 meters. The land is a strongly dissected landscape. This means it is broken up by many rivers and streams. The reserve protects the basin of the Ratta River. This river enters the Taz River at the northern border of the reserve. The Pokolku River is another major river in the area. Many of the smaller tributary rivers contain rapids and shoals. The highest point in the surrounding Siberian Uvaly is located here. It reaches 285 meters above sea level.

The reserve is part of the West Siberian taiga ecoregion. This ecoregion covers the West Siberian Plain from the Urals to the Central Siberian Plateau. The climate is a subarctic climate, also known as a Dfc climate. This is a humid continental climate with cool summers. Only one to three months of the year have temperatures above 10 degrees Celsius. The winters are cold and very snowy. The coldest month stays below 0 degrees Celsius. The land is a mix of extensive conifer boreal forests and wetlands. These wetlands include many bogs and mires.

Forests cover about 75% of the reserve territory. Swamps and bogs make up about 15% of the land. The forests are described as being relatively light. Pine trees grow on sandy terraces and make up 60% of the trees. Other trees include cedar at 17% and larch at 12%. Birch trees account for 7% of the forest. Spruce trees make up 3% and aspen trees make up 1%. The understory of the forest is mostly pine. There is a sparse shrub layer consisting of juniper and rosehip.

Many different animals live within these boundaries. The most common mammals are brown bears, otters, American mink, ermine, and foxes. The moose population is estimated at perhaps 300 individuals. Wolves appear in the territory during the fall. They arrive when the elk are migrating through the area. Scientists have recorded 68 species of vertebrates in the reserve. They have also recorded 98 species of birds. Most of this bird biodiversity is found in the floodplains. The upper reaches of the Taz River are vital spawning and wintering grounds for salmon and whitefish. The area also protects fur-bearing animals like the sable.

The reserve was established in 1986. Because the upper reaches of the Taz escaped most logging, it remains a vital refuge. Forest animals of the Euro-Asian boundaries find safety in these isolated areas. The reserve's boundaries are quite large. They stretch 150 km from north to south. They also stretch 70 km from west to east. This large size helps maintain the natural ecosystems. It allows species to live without constant human contact.

Access to the Upper Taz Nature Reserve is strictly controlled. It is mostly closed to the general public. This is because it is a strict nature reserve. Scientists can visit to conduct research. People interested in environmental education can also visit. They must make arrangements with the park management first. There are specific ecotourist routes open to the public. However, visitors must obtain permits in advance. Guided ecotours are available for those who have permission. These tours can be done by boat, on foot, or by snowmobile. The main office for the reserve is located in the village of Krasnoselkup. This village is located far from the actual reserve territory.