The Zeyskiy Nature Reserve (Amur Region): Short Essay
Zeyskiy Nature Reserve was created on 3 October 1963. It is located in the eastern part of the Tukuringra Range in the Amur Region and occupies the area of 99430 hectares. The reserve has mountainous terrain, absolute heights range from 350 to 1443 m above sea level (asl.). The relief of the reserve is represented by steep slopes (up to 60° and more), narrow and deep river valleys, flat watersheds. All rivers of the reserve belong to the Zeya river basin. In the valleys of Zeya tributaries, bays of the Zeya reservoir are wedged into the reserve. The climate in the reserve is moderately cold, continental with monsoon features. The average long-term air temperature is -0.9°C, with an absolute minimum of -46°C. The vegetation cover shows high-altitude zone: oak and black birch forests (350-500 m asl.); larch forests with the participation of Picea ajanensis (up to 900 m asl.); boreal spruce forests (1000-1100 m asl.); elfin wood (1100-1300 m asl.); mountain tundra (golets) (above 1100-1443 m asl.). There is marsh and meadow vegetation in the foothills and valleys of rivers. In the reserve grows more than 700 species of higher vascular plants, 310 species of mosses, 155 species of lichen and about 400 species of basidiomycetes. The fauna of terrestrial vertebrates includes 2 species of amphibians, 3 species of reptiles, 17 species of fish, 247 species of birds and 50 species of mammals.