Kuznetsk Alatau Nature Reserve
Kuznetsk Alatau Nature Reserve is a Russian 'zapovednik' on the Kuznetsk Alatau, a mountain ridge in the Altai-Sayan mountain region in southwestern Siberia. The Kuznetsk Alatau consists of several ranges of medium height, between which there are river valleys. The reserve is in the watershed of the Tom River and the Chuly River. It is spread over three districts of Kemerovo Oblast: Tisulsky District, Mezhdurechensky District, and Novokuznetsky District. The reserve was established in 1989 and covers an area of 412,900 ha (1,594 sq mi).
Kuznetsk Alatau
Alpine creek in Kuznetsk Reserve (photo: ru:Igor Shpilenok)
Zapovednik is an established term on the 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 protected and access to the public is restricted.
A view of the Bryansky Les Nature Reserve, a zapovednik of Russia
Image: Chulyshman reka 01
Image: Astrachan Volgadelta
Image: Вид с берега на озеро (зима)