Shulgan-Tash Nature Reserve
Shulgan-Tash Nature Reserve is a Russian 'zapovednik' in the western foothills of the Southern Ural Mountains. The terrain is one of heavy forest and karst topography; the site contains some of the oldest caves of human habitation. The reserve has 13 full-time "bortniks" - practitioners of the ancient apiculture (bee-keeping) of tree-hollow cultivation of wild honeybees. The reserve is situated in the Burzyansky District of Bashkortostan. It is about 40 km southeast of the District town of Starosubkhangulovo. In 2012, the reserve was added to the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve "Bashkir Ural", in particular for protection of the Burzyuan bee, which has been cultivated since ancient times by the local Bashkir people.
Shulgan-Tash Zapovednik
Human record of Mammoths, in Kapova Cave
Apiculture (Beekeeping) in Shulgan-Tash
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)