Sokhondo Nature Reserve () (also Sokhondinskiy) is a Russian '
zapovednik
A zapovednik is an established term on the Post-Soviet states, territory of the former Soviet Union for a protected area which is kept "forever wild". It is the highest degree of environmental protection for the assigned areas, which are strictly ...
' (strict nature reserve) in the south of
Eastern Siberia
Eastern Siberia is a part of Siberia that incorporates the territory located between the Yenisei River in the west and the Pacific Ocean divides in the east. Its area is equal to 7.2 million sq. km.Galina Samoylova (Г. С. Самойлова)В ...
, 25 km north of the border with
Mongolia
Mongolia is a landlocked country in East Asia, bordered by Russia to the north and China to the south and southeast. It covers an area of , with a population of 3.5 million, making it the world's List of countries and dependencies by po ...
. It is the farthest source of the
Amur River
The Amur River () or Heilong River ( zh, s=黑龙江) is a perennial river in Northeast Asia, forming the natural border between the Russian Far East and Northeast China (historically the Outer and Inner Manchuria). The Amur ''proper'' is ...
, and is centered on the Sokhondo Mountain massif (), in the highest sector of the Khentei-Chikoy Highlands in the Khentei Range mountain range. The Sokhondo massif has two peaks (Big Sokhondo and Little Sokhondo), and is an ancient volcano. Also within the borders are many lakes of glacial origin. In 1985, Sokhondo was named a UNESCO MAB (Man and Biosphere) Biosphere Reserve. The reserve is situated in the Chita district of
Chita Oblast
Chita Oblast ( rus, Чити́нская о́бласть, r=Čitínskaja óblastj, p=tɕɪˈtʲinskəjə ˈobləsʲtʲ) was a federal subject of Russia (an oblast) in southeast Siberia, Russia. Its administrative center was the city of Chita. ...
.
Topography
The Sokhondo Reserve is in a mountainous area of the trans-Baikal region (east of
Lake Baikal
Lake Baikal is a rift lake and the deepest lake in the world. It is situated in southern Siberia, Russia between the Federal subjects of Russia, federal subjects of Irkutsk Oblast, Irkutsk Oblasts of Russia, Oblast to the northwest and the Repu ...
). The two main peaks (Big Sokhondo and Little Sokhondo) are within 100 meters of each other in height, but are separated by rivers and valleys. To the southeast of the Sokhondo massif is the Altan-Kyra Depression, an area of Mongolian steppe character. The mountains of Sokhondo are on the continental divide between the Pacific and Arctic drainages, with some rivers flowing into the
Yenisei River
The Yenisey or Yenisei ( ; , ) is the list of rivers by length, fifth-longest river system in the world, and the largest to drain into the Arctic Ocean.
Rising in Mungaragiyn-gol in Mongolia, it follows a northerly course through Lake Baikal a ...
and north, while others flow to the
Onon River
The Onon is a river in Mongolia and Russia. It is long, and has a drainage basin of .Онон
Amur River
The Amur River () or Heilong River ( zh, s=黑龙江) is a perennial river in Northeast Asia, forming the natural border between the Russian Far East and Northeast China (historically the Outer and Inner Manchuria). The Amur ''proper'' is ...
to the east. Sokhondo is across the border from
Onon-Balj National Park
Onon-Balj National Park () covers two sectors of the Onon River valley as it flows north from Mongolia into Russia. The region is in the transition zone between the Siberian conifer forests of the north and the Daurian steppe and forest steppe o ...
in Mongolia.
Climate and ecoregion
Sokhondo is located in the '' Trans-Baikal conifer forests'' ecoregion, a region of extensive conifer forests, primarily of Dahurian larch, in the mountains and hills east and southeast of Lake Baikal.
The climate of Sokhondo is '' Subarctic climate, dry winter'' (
Köppen climate classification
The Köppen climate classification divides Earth climates into five main climate groups, with each group being divided based on patterns of seasonal precipitation and temperature. The five main groups are ''A'' (tropical), ''B'' (arid), ''C'' (te ...
Subarctic climate(Dwc)). This climate is characterized by mild summers (only 1–3 months above ) and cold winters having monthly precipitation less than one-tenth of the wettest summer month.
Flora and fauna
Sokhondo is in the transition zone where two biogeographic zones meet: the East Siberian Taiga and Mongolian-Manchurian Steppe. The former dominates, with 85% of the reserve being forested. The light coniferous taiga is of larch (
Larix gmelinii
''Larix gmelinii'', the Dahurian larch or East Siberian larch, is a species of larch native to eastern Siberia and adjacent northeastern Mongolia, northeastern China (Heilongjiang), South Korea and North Korea.
Description
''Larix gmelinii'' ...
) and pine (
Pinus sylvestris
''Pinus sylvestris'', the Scots pine (UK), Scotch pine (US), Baltic pine, or European red pine is a species of tree in the pine family Pinaceae that is native plant, native to Eurasia. It can readily be identified by its combination of fairly s ...
). The dark taiga (1,600 - 1,800 meters) is of cedar (
Pinus sibirica
''Pinus sibirica'', or Siberian pine, in the family Pinaceae is a species of pine tree that occurs in Siberia from 58°E in the Ural Mountains east to 126°E in the Stanovoy Range in southern Sakha Republic, and from Igarka at 68°N in the l ...
), spruce (
Picea obovata
''Picea obovata'', the Siberian spruce, is a spruce native to Siberia, from the Ural Mountains east to Magadan Oblast, and from the Arctic tree line south to the Altay Mountains in northwestern Mongolia.
It is a medium-sized evergreen tree grow ...
) and fir (
Abies sibirica
''Abies sibirica'', the Siberian fir, is a coniferous evergreen tree native to the taiga east of the Volga River and south of 67°40' North latitude in Siberia through Turkestan, northeast Xinjiang, Mongolia and Heilongjiang.
Distribution
The ...
). In the upper forest belt up to 85% of the soil is covered with mosses. At the higher elevations the plant life is that of mountain tundra, with elfin cedar (
Pinus pumila
''Pinus pumila'', commonly known as the Siberian dwarf pine, dwarf Siberian pine, dwarf stone pine, Japanese stone pine, or creeping pine, is a tree in the family Pinaceae native to northeastern Asia and the Japanese isles. It shares the commo ...
). In between are alpine meadows. Among the brush species, Dahurian rhododendron is common. Scientists on the reserve have recorded over 1,000 species of vascular plants.
By far the most common predator in the territory is the sable, which lives at much higher density in the reserve boundaries than in the surrounding area. It is followed by the weasel, stoat, wolf and a dozen other predators. The territory supports significant numbers of ungulates - red deer, moose, musk deer, and Siberian roe deer. Scientists on the reserve have recorded 276 species of birds, of which 168 are breeding.
Eco-education and access
As a strict nature reserve, the Sokhondo 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 nine 'ecotourist' routes in the reserve, however, that are open to the public. These require permits to be obtained in advance. The main office is in the village of
Kyra, Russia
Kyra () is a rural locality (a '' selo'') and the administrative center of Kyrinsky District of Zabaykalsky Krai, Russia. Population: Geography
The village is located in the area of the Khentei-Daur Highlands on the left bank of the Kyra Rive ...