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Russian Rocky: removed Category:Geography of Altai Republic; added Category:Geography of the Altai Republic using HotCat

2017-03-31T06:50:39Z

removed Category:Geography of Altai Republic; added Category:Geography of the Altai Republic using HotCat

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{{Infobox protected area
| name = Katun Nature Reserve
| alt_name = {{lang-ru|Катунский заповедник}}<br/>(Also: '''Katunsky''')
| iucn_category = ia
| photo = File:Katun nature reserve.jpg
| photo_caption = Katun Zapovednik
| photo_width=300
| map = Russia
| relief = yes
| map_caption = Location of Reserve
| location = [[Altai Republic]]
| nearest_city = [[Gorno-Altaysk]]
| coordinates = {{coord|49|38|0|N|86|6|0|E|region:RU|format=dms|display=inline,title}}
| coords_ref =
| area = {{convert|150079 |ha|acres|sqmi|lk=on|0}}
| established = {{start date|1991}}
| website=http://www.katunskiy.ru/
| governing_body=[[Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (Russia)]]
}}
'''Katun Nature Reserve''' ({{lang-ru|Катунский заповедник}}) (also '''Katunsky''') is a [[Russia]]n 'zapovednik' (strict nature reserve) located in the highlands of the central [[Altai Mountains]] of south [[Siberia]]. The [[Katun River]] runs down through a valley in the reserve, serving as the primary source of the [[Ob River]]. The headwaters of the Katun River originate on [[Mount Belukha]], the highest mountain in Siberia at {{convert|4506|m|ft}}, which is located on the far eastern edge of the preserve. Katun is an internationally important center of biodiversity, forming part of the "Golden Mountains of Altai" UNESCO World Heritage Site. Katun Nature Reserve is situated in the [[Ust-Koksinsky District]] of [[Altai Republic]].<ref name='reservesite'>{{cite web|title=Katun Zapovednik (Official Site)|url=http://www.katunskiy.ru/|publisher=[[Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (Russia)]]|language=ru|accessdate=January 21, 2016}}</ref><ref name='zapsite'>{{cite web|title=Katun Zapovednik|url=http://www.zapoved.ru/catalog/43/|publisher=[[Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (Russia)]]|language=ru|accessdate=January 21, 2016}}</ref>

==Topography==
The topography of the reserve includes glaciers, alpine tundra, meadows, and forests. Much of the terrain has been formed through glaciation, and there are small lakes, streams, waterfalls, and steep slopes.<ref name='reservesite'/>
[[File:Схема Катунского заповедника.png|thumb|left|260px|Location of Katun Nature Reserve in southwest of [[Altai Republic]] ]]

==Ecoregion and climate==
Katun is located in the '''Altai alpine meadow and tundra''' ecoregion (WWF ID#1001). This ecoregion displays a complete sequence of altitudinal vegetation zones in central Siberia including steppe, forest-steppe, mixed forest, sub-alpine vegetation and alpine vegetation. The region is also an important habitat for endangered the snow leopard and its prey.<ref name='eco1'>{{cite web|title=Altai alpine meadow and tundra|url=http://www.worldwildlife.org/ecoregions/pa1001|publisher=World Wildlife Federation|accessdate=January 23, 2016}}</ref>

The Katun Reserve has an '''[[Alpine climate]]''' ([[Köppen climate classification]] '''[[Tundra#Climatic classification|(ET)]]'''). This indicates a local climate in which at least one month has an average temperature high enough to melt snow (0 °C (32 °F)), but no month with an average temperature in excess of 10 °C (50 °F).<ref name='climatesite'>{{cite web|title=Climate of Katun|url=http://globalspecies.org/weather_stations/climate/533/280|publisher=GloalSpecies.org|accessdate=January 21, 2016}}</ref>

==Flora and fauna==
The reserve features 700 species of plants, 51 mammals, 140 of birds, three types of reptiles and eight fish species. Endangered species include the fawn lily (Erythronium sibericum), peony (Paeonia hybrida), spleenwort (Asplenium exiguum),and, rarely, the snow leopard (Uncia uncia).<ref name='reservesite'/>
[[File:Sunset at Kucherla lake.jpg|thumb|right|360px|Sunset at Kucheria Lake]]

==Ecotourism==
As a strict nature reserve, the Katun Reserve is mostly closed to the general public, although scientists and those with "environmental education" purposes can make arrangements with park management for visits. There are "ecotourist" routes in the reserve, however, that are open to the public, but require permits to be obtained in advance. The main office is in the town of Ust-Cox. Reserve rangers lead ecotourist hikes to Upper Lake Multinskiye, with groups assembling at 11:00 daily in season (July–September). There are other ecoroutes, requiring guides, to the headwaters of the Katun River.<ref name='reservesite'/>

==See also==
* [[Zapovednik#List of Russian Nature Reserves|List of Russian Nature Reserves (class 1a "zapovedniks")]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.katunskiy.ru/posetitelyam/com_content-article-20 Map of the Boundaries of Katun Reserve]
* [http://www.unesco.org/mabdb/br/brdir/directory/biores.asp?mode=all&code=RUS+20 Entry for Katun, UNESCO-MAB Biosphere Reserve Directory]
{{Russian Zapovedniks}}

[[Category:Geography of the Altai Republic]]
[[Category:Nature reserves in Russia]]
[[Category:Biosphere reserves of Russia]]
[[Category:World Heritage Sites in Russia]]
[[Category:Altai Mountains]]
[[Category:Protected areas established in 1991]]
[[Category:1991 establishments in Russia]]

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Katun Nature Reserve - Revision history

Moderator: 1 revision

Russian Rocky: removed Category:Geography of Altai Republic; added Category:Geography of the Altai Republic using HotCat