The Caucasus is an amazingly beautiful region. Located at the junction of two climatic zones, the region is striking in its diversity of landscapes, nationalities and wildlife.
By the number of animal species, it is second only to tropical countries. But the air temperature here is about 5 ° C lower than in other places located at the same latitude.
Animals of the Caucasus are not only known to alljackals, foxes, hares. This set of rare species that live in inaccessible places. In the Caucasus, alpine chamois is still preserved, capable of moving through the mountains at a speed of 50 kilometers per hour. Here live proud Caucasian tours, cautious leopards, fearless bezoar goats, able to move on steep cliffs. Bears, wild boars, bison, Eurasian lynxes, deer, roe deer are all listed in the Red Book, but still feel at home in the Caucasus region.
In order to save endemic animals,a unique biosphere, rare plants, preserved in the mountains and on the plains, reserves have been created in the Caucasus. They represent the highest form of nature conservation. They are created on strictly allotted plots of land protected by the state. Observations, studies are carried out in reserves, but the main thing is the protection of flora and fauna is provided, stability and safety is guaranteed.
In 1998, the Association was created, which included the following reserves of the Caucasus:
• At the junction of Adygea, Krasnodar Territory andKarachay-Cherkessia is Caucasian Reserve. The full name of the territory is the Caucasus State Natural Biosphere Reserve. It rises above the sea for 3.5 km. From the south it is bounded by steep, very steep slopes, and in the north its territory is flat. The Caucasian Reserve is the oldest protected area of the modern Caucasus. Today it is on the list of objects of particular value to UNESCO.
Previously, this territory housed a state reserve in which bison were bred. Then the status was expanded, and the Caucasian Reserve became the legal successor of its predecessor.
Today, 19 families live there.mammals. On the territory exceeding 280 hectares, representatives of the family of hedgehogs, dormouse, bearish, weasel, bovidy, deer and a dozen more rare species perfectly coexist. Many animals are endemic or relict.
Interestingly, the Caucasian Reserve shelteredrepresentatives of not only Caucasian fauna. There you can find specimens of European, Mediterranean, Colchian fauna. Caucasian reserve is one of the largest in Europe.
• Тебердинский заповедник граничит с Кавказским.The vast majority of its territory is located significantly above the sea (by 2,000 m), and some places rise to 4,000 meters. The climate here is similar to the sea, and vertically there are three mountain zones: forest, meadow, and nival. The reserve is home to animals typical of Central Asia, Western Europe, the Mediterranean.
• North Ossetian Reserve is famoustemperate continental climate, abundant snowfall, glacial winds. It is home to 2,000 invertebrates of various species, the same number of insects, 175 species of birds, 35 animal species.
The Association of Caucasus reserves also includes the following:
• Kabardino-Balkaria;
• Erzi located in Ingushetia;
• Voronezh;
• Kabardino-Balkaria;
• The Black Lands Reserve;
• Bogdinsko-Baskunchaksky;
• Abkhaz Ritsensky Relic National Park;
• Sochi Park (national).
This is not the whole list of Caucasian reserves.There are a total of 27. Most of them are small in size (up to 30 hectares). Most of them are located in the Transcaucasian republics, but all are important.
But as scientists believe, even so manynature reserves are not enough to maintain normal conditions for endangered animals. It is necessary in the near future to create such in Armenia, Azerbaijan, Dagestan.
The general role of all reserves is the same: they are designed to preserve natural objects, climate, flora and fauna.
The stability that parks and reserves provide to animals serves as a guarantee of their survival.
