Altai is a complex concept. It includes the Altai Mountains, the Altai Republic and the Altai Territory. The nature of the region fascinates with its beauty, attracting tourists from all over the world.
Geographically, Altai is a large territory inthe very center of Asia. It is located on the territory of just 4 states (Russia, China, Kazakhstan and Mongolia). The common name is the Altai Territory. The nature of the region is very diverse, contains such climatic zones as taiga, forest, forest-steppe, steppe and mountains.
From the point of view of administrative division intoexpanses of our country this territory is divided into 2 subjects of the Russian Federation - the Republic of Altai with the capital in the city of Gorno-Altaisk and Altai Territory, whose capital is the city of Barnaul.
Thus, the concept of the Altai Territory can mean both an administrative unit of the state and a special natural zone on the planet. The article will deal specifically with the natural zone.
The nature of the region is very diverse. The terrain is divided into:
On the lowland there is a forest-steppe and steppe. Coniferous and deciduous forests rustle in the valleys of the mountains and on the plateau.
There are many rivers running along the entire edge,most of which are not navigable, but are decorated with picturesque waterfalls. The main waterways are the Katun River (688 km long) and Biya (280 km long), from which the mighty Ob river originates. Water resources are also represented by numerous lakes, there are about 20 thousand of them. The most significant - Teletskoye - a huge storehouse of fresh water, mountain lake Aya, the sacred water reservoir Djulukul.
Altai Mountains - a complex system of ridges, dotted with caves, gorges and rocks with hanging glaciers. The highest part of the Altai Mountains is the Belukha peak with a height of 4506 m.
Altai Territory, the nature of the region is amazingdiversity of the animal world. The territory is inhabited by brown bears, squirrels, chipmunks, sables, otters, wolverines, foxes, wolves, musk deer, marals, mountain sheep, goats, snow leopards, choruses, cat manul, even reindeer and antelope. A total of more than 100 species of mammals and reptiles, many of which are protected and recorded in the Red Book. More than 260 species of birds live in these parts: tundra partridge, golden eagle, hawk, owl and eagle owl, lark, stove-dumplings and others.
The fauna is represented by such species of trees as larch, spruce, pine, fir, birch, aspen, poplar and others. The pearl of the edge is cedar.
In the steppe zone, valuablemedicinal plants such as marin root, valerian, morality, adonis spring, kuril tea, golden root, ginseng, sea buckthorn, horse sorrel, edelweiss.
"Golden Mountains" abound in picturesque places, many of which are unique in nature. Here are the only ribbon burs in the world - unique monuments of nature of the Altai Territory.
In the Altai Territory 33 reserves have been created andzakaznik, which occupy 5% of the territory of the region. They are designed to protect unique amazing landscapes and unique biological complexes in which rare animals live and unique plants grow. Many territories have a pristine appearance and are not touched by civilization.
The most beautiful and interesting places of Altaithe borders are declared a UNESCO heritage site. Among them there is a reserve "Altai" with Teletskim lake, Katunsky reserve, a natural park on the slope of Belukha mountain and Ukok plateau. The total area of the protected zone is 1.64 million hectares.
Among the most significant:
• Geophysical - one of the most beautiful caves of the Altai Territory. The length is 500 m, goes deep into the rock at 130 m. Particularly impressive is the "Royal Grotto" with 4-meter stalactites and stalagmites.
• Denisova Cave - one of the most interesting withscientific point of view. Archaeological excavations have been conducted for a long time. We have already studied 20 cultural layers, the oldest of which is about 300 thousand years old.
• Ecological - the cave has the deepest mine in Siberia - 340 m, the cave length - more than 2 km.
• Tavdinskaya - for the unusual beauty of through corridors and arches, the cave is called a monument of nature of national importance.
• Altai - goes deep into 240 m, its length is about 2.5 km. Interesting is that in the depths of the cave speleologists have discovered a lake with unique calcite flowers and cave pearls.
