West Altai State Nature Reserve

The West Altai State Nature Reserve is located in the northeastern part of the Kazakhstani Altai. The reserve was established in 1992 in order to comprehensively protect the biogeocenoses of the Altai mountain system. The area of the nature reserve is 86,122 hectares .

The reserve is located at the junction of the West Siberian steppes, mountains of Southern Siberia and Central Asia, and Kazakhstani deserts. The absence of nearby oceans and seas caused the continentality of the climate, which is expressed in sharp temperature changes. The average air temperature for the year is +1.5°C.

The relief of the West Altai Reserve has similarities with the medium mountainous landscape, but the central part of the Ivanovo chain of mountains is characterized by Alpine relief.

Approximately 14 small glaciers can be found in the low-lying areas of Belaya Uba River, and small mountain lakes are located in the upper part of the forest. The West Altai Nature Reserve includes four natural zones: mountain tundra, mountain meadows, mountain tundra.

The West Altai State Nature Reserve and its flora and fauna

The flora of the reserve is represented by 804 species. Its main feature is originality. Subendemic and endemic species grow on the territory of the reserve. Wheatgrass, being narrow-localised endemics, are found exclusively on the territory of the reserve.

More than 25 plant species are included in the Red Book of Kazakhstan. These are spring pyrethrum, feather grass, steppe peony, bear’s-garlic, Altai rhubarb, drop-like lady’s-slipper, snow springhare, adder’s-fern, Gymnospermium altaicum, etc. In total, 82 species need special protection.

Most of the fauna of the Western Altai Reserve consists of birds, insects and mammals. The order of mammals includes 52 species. Among large mammals, the fox, bear and lynx are most common. Valuable fur-bearing animals also live in the forests of the reserve: Alpine weasel, sable and Siberian weasel.
Otters and American minks are found in all rivers. Among rodents, voles and common field mice are often found. It is noteworthy that the largest moose in Kazakhstan and the smallest musk deer live on the territory of the reserve.
About 130 species of birds are found in the West Altai Nature Reserve. Nutcracker, song thrush, chiff-chaffs, bluethroat, pine grosbeak and many others are numerous. Here you can also meet rare species: red-flanked bluetail and Siberian blue robin.
Fish (common char, arctic grayling), reptiles (snakes, lizards), as well as amphibians (Rana terrestris, common toad) live on the territory of the reserve.