jump to the content
Advanced search

The Teberdinskiy Reserve (extension of the “The Western Caucasus”)

Property names are listed in the language in which they have been submitted by the State Party.

Russian Federation (Europe and North America)

Date of Submission: 28/01/2004
Criteria: (vii)(viii)(ix)(x)
Category: Natural
Submission prepared by:
Ministry of Natural Recourses of the Russian Federation
Coordinates:
Teberda Site: N: 43°24’ N / 41°45’ E S: 43°12’ N / 41°48’ E E: 43°26’ N / 41°55’ E W: 43°19’ N / 41°30’ E Arkhyz site: N: 43°35’ N / 41°22’30 E S: 34°20’ N / 41°17’ E E: 43°33’ N / 41°24’30 E W: 43°25’ N / 41°15’ E
Ref.: 1862

Description

The Teberdinskiy State Biosphere Reserve that is situated within the Main Caucasian Range, 40 km of the Kavkazskiy State Biosphere Reserve. It is composed of the Teberda and Arkhyz sites. Total area of the reserve is 85,064 ha. Areas of the Teberda and Arkhyz sites make up accordingly 65,792 ha and 19,272 ha.



The nominated area is composed by two clusters such as the Teberda and Arkhyz sites, which represent together the whole wealth of flora and fauna of the Caucasian High Mountains.The Teberda site occupies the northern slopes of the Main Range in the Upper Teberda Valley. Natural borders of the intended area are watershed areas between the rivers Teberda and Daut in the east, and between the rivers Teberda and Aksaut in the west, and the Main Caucasian Range in the south. The rivers Dzhamagat and Mukhu form the northern border. The Arkhyz site of the reserve occupies the Kyzgych Valley (the upper reaches of the Bol’shoy Zelenchuk).A region occupied by the Teberdinskiy Reserve is a typical mountainous country with the height ranges between 1260 and 4047 m above sea level. Above 86% of the area is situated at the height above 2000 m above sea level. Major morphological feature of the relief is considerable height and vertical ruggedness of the Teberda site in comparison with the other. Here, the Main Caucasian Range rises up to its maximum height of 4046 m (the Dombay-Ul’gen Mountain). Dozens of other peaks do not exceed the height of 3500 m, including: Bu-Ul’gen (3917 m), Belalakaya (3861 m), Artsog (3863 m), Kyshkadzher (3822 m) etc.Alimentation of rivers and streams running via the reserve is snow or glacial. 30 rivers flow through the reserve. In the Teberda site, all rivers are the tributaries of the Teberda River, and in the Arkhyz site, the rivers are tributaries of the Kyzgych that in turn empties its water into the Bol’shoy Zelenchuk River. The rivers spring from glaciers, firn fields and lakes. Running down steep slopes, they frequently form riffles and great waterfalls. According to the last data, 157 lakes with a total area of 1.6 sq. km and 109 glaciers with a total area of 74.3 sq. km are situated in the reserve (including the Arkhyz site).Climate of the considered area is subboreal (moderate), moderately warm, but drier and more continental than that of the Western Caucasus. Annual average air temperature fluctuates from +5 to +7oC. Monthly average temperature of June is +15.5oC, of January is –2.9oC. Maximal average temperature of the warmest month is +22.7oC, minimal one is –7oC. Length of frost-free period is on the average 126 days. In spring the weather is mixed, frosts are frequent and snow falls occur even in May.Soil forming rocks are acidic magmatic and metamorphic rocks and alluvial and glacial deposits. Soil formation process following the pattern of brown soil formation is typical both for soils of the Teberdinskiy and Kavkazskiy Reserves.Complex strongly dissected topography forms diverse conditions for plants at the various heights above sea level. Diversity of conditions in combination with situation of the territory at the interface of two botanical and geographical districts, between the Western and Central Caucasus, have caused great floristic saturation and richness of the reserve’s vegetation cover. Flora of vascular plants includes 1200 species. It is extremely peculiar and in comparison with that of the Kavkazskiy Reserve includes a greater part of high mountain species, many of which do not occur in the Kavkazskiy Reserve.The Teberdinskiy State Biosphere Reserve plays an important role in conserving the zoological complexes of the Western Caucasus. Animal population of the Reserve has formed in result of complex interaction between the processes of local speciation (Caucasian goat (Capra caucasica Guld.), Caucasian black grouse (Larus molokoseiwiczi), apollo butterfly (Parnassius nordmanni), etc.) and extrinsic faunistic influences, from the direction of:coniferous and broad-leaved forests of the Western Europe (European wild cat - Felis silvestris, loir - Glis glis, black bird - turdus merula, etc.);forest zone of Eurasia (lynx - Felis lunx, brawn bear - Ursus arctos, Tengmalm’s owl - Aegolius furnereus, etc.);Central-Asian Highlands (chough - Pyrrchocorax graculus, black vulture - Aegipius monachus, Cionomiy nivalis, etc.);Mediterranean Region (chamois - Rupicapra rupicapra, Turdus torquatus).In addition there are typical glacial relics (grasshopper - Nocaracris cyanipes, etc.) in the fauna. Many populations of animals belonging to various faunistic groups have formed new species or subspecies because of more or less long isolation from the basic areas.74 species of animals that should be protected are recorded on the territory of the Teberdinskiy Reserve. Of them, 54 species are put into the Red Data Book of Karachayevo-Cherkess (1988), 36 species are entered into the Red Data Book of Russia (2000), 17 species are included into the Federal “List of the animal species requiring special concern” (2000). Conserve status of 17 species and subspecies is supported by international agreements. It is also possible to meet other 12 species of animals put into the Red Data Book of Russia.