Preserve of Ust-Lensk: life in the ice

The location of the Ust-Lensky Reserve may surprise some nature lovers. The fact is that, unlike many other similar organizations, this one is not located in the warm regions of our country, but in the northernmost regions. Where the Ust-Lensky Reserve is located, cold waters of the Arctic Ocean meet with the Lena River.

Objectives of creation

But why did you need to create a reserve in these northern regions? The river Lene was fortunate, and on it were not built hydroelectric power stations or dams. Thanks to this, its water remains so pure that you can drink it by simply taking your hands. That Lena remained such, as well as many centuries ago on its banks the reserve has been organized.

Location

Ust-Lensky Reserve (photo shown on this page) is located in Yakutia on the north side of Bulunsky ulus. It consists of two territories, it is a "delta", with a size of 1,300,000 ha, and a "falcon" comprising 133,000 ha. The total area of the reserve is 1 433 000 hectares. But the protected area does not include the entire territory, but only 150 000 hectares.

The Ust-Lenskiy Nature Reserve does not have settlements nearby, and there are no motorways or public roads. The largest and most significant reservoir is Lena. But this is not the only "artery" in the reserve. The channels Arynskaya, Trofimovskaya, Bykovskaya and others also have a significant significance. But the navigable importance at the moment is only Bykovskaya channel.

Terrain

For the most part, the Ust-Lensky reserve is located in the ice. The main channels of the delta flow through the plain of Arctida, where the permafrost remains, covered by a small soil layer. In the north-west is the ancient island of Arga-Muora Sise. In the south-west there are three large islands that are buried in ice. In addition, the territory has about 300 ice hills, and not far from each of them you can see the failures. Also in the delta are many small lakes of different depths. On the right bank of the Lena near the island of Tit-Ary from the waters rises the cliff of White Rock.

Forest in the tundra

In addition to permafrost, the Ust-Lensky reserve is famous for its tundra zone. Also on the island of Tit-Ary is the northernmost deciduous forest in the world. Local larch, which grows from the western side of the island, reach a height of 6 meters.

The local flora is unique here. The tundra of the Lena delta is truly rich in lichens and mosses. For example, Cetrelia Alaskan is a rare species that occurs only in two places. Along the banks of the Lena are willows, and the northern northern streams are covered with several species of willows and shrubs.

On the seaside ridge rare bean species grow, they are bria, pome and copper-red. Also there is rhodiola officinalis.

Underwater inhabitants

The Ust-Lensky Reserve is unique not only for its rare flora, but also for ichthyofauna. In local reservoirs fish live, they are nelma, omul, sturgeon, tugun, muxun, etc. In the local lakes live peled, char and chir, which practically do not occur in the ducts. In the autumn period the Saika is massively visited to the banks for spawning. Also in the delta of Lena there are pink salmon and chum. Amphibians and reptiles do not live in the reservoirs of the reserve.

Birds of Ust-Lensk

Since the channels of the reserve are rich in a variety of fish, and in the tundra zone there is a herbaceous vegetation, it attracts many waterbirds and waterfowl. This territory is located on the route of migratory species. This is what makes the fauna so diverse. There are 109 species recorded, with about 60 subspecies preferring to nest in the Lena delta. Numerous on the tundra lakes are black-throated loons, in less abundant numbers are the red-throated representatives of this family. In the same places a small swan likes to settle, and at the moment there are about 6,000 of them in the reserve. In addition to them, in the spring in these parts geese, black goats, sailors, pintailers, teal-whistle and many subspecies of ducks stop. The state natural reserve is rich in other species of birds, which are rare in other parts of the world. In the delta, such sandpipers like rockstone, duckweed, Ruff, white-tailed sandpiper and others like to nest.

A feature of the reserve can be considered a rare feathered predator. For example, it is a derby, a golden eagle, a gyrfalcon, a peregrine falcon.

Ust-Lensky Reserve: animals that love the cold

32 species of mammals were recorded throughout the territory, including 5 marine and 27 terrestrial. Permanent residents are the Arctic fox, polar bear, Middendorf voles, reindeer, Siberian and hoof lemmings.

Among the taiga inhabitants who do not leave this territory, there are foxes, wolves, hares, ermines, caresses and other mammals. Also there are those species that come here regularly, these are moose, sable, muskrat, wolverine, lynx and others. Marine species include ringed seal, Laptev walrus, sea hare, beluga, narwhal.