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RUSSIAN FEDERATION
Name of property: Centre historique de la ville de Gorokhovets
Coordinates: N56 12 24.64 E42 40 37.80
Date of submission: 07/03/2017
Criteria:
Submitted by: Commission of the Russian Federation for UNESCO
WH list (name, id):
State, Province or Region: Région de Vladimir, Gorokhovetski district, ville de Gorokhovets
Brief Description
Au XIIe siècle, sur la berge escarpée droite de la rivière Kliazma s'est levée la ville de Gorokhovets, gardien de la
frontière sud-est de la Principauté de Vladimir-Souzdal.
Le relief, les ravins, les collines et les falaises sur la rive de la rivière ainsi que la hauteur des remparts du Detinets1
(citadelle) atteignant cinq mètres ont fait cet avant-poste inexpugnable.
Le thème de « la montagne » c’est une image habituelle de l'inaccessibilité, l’invulnérabilité de la ville ce qui est
devenu sa caractéristique la plus importante à l'égard de la composition. Une technique préférée de l’urbanisme était
de placer le Krom (Kremlin)2 avec la cathédrale principale de la ville sur un mont, une colline. Souvent, ayant perdu
sa valeur d’avant-poste, la citadelle devient un centre templier comme le mont Nikolina Gora du Kremlin de
Gorokhovets où actuellement se situe le Monastère de Saint-Nicolas (Nikolsky).
Une version commune de l'origine du nom de la ville « Gorokhovets » annonce la présence des deux racines du mot,
à savoir l’un en vieux slave « khovatsia » (se cacher), et l’autre la première racine « gor » qui veut dire « une
montagne ». Donc, Gorokhovets c’est une ville qui se cache sous une montagne ou sur l'ourlet d’une montagne. Le
mont sur l’ourlet duquel se cache la ville s’appelle « Puzhalova » qui se traduit du vieux slave comme « Pugalova »3.
De nombreux chercheurs sont convaincus que la ville de Gorokhovets a été conçu par les princes de VladimirSouzdal comme une citadelle frontalière sur les frontières orientales de la Principauté de Vladimir-Souzdal, et qu’elle
est apparue sur la carte de la principauté, probablement après 1107, plus précisément pendant l'époque de Yuri
Dolgorouki (années de vie 1090-1157). « Lors de leur expédition militaire à Souzdal lancée en 1107 sur la route la
Volga, l’Oka, la Kliazma, la Nerl, les Bulgares de la Volga n’ont pas rencontré sur leur chemin à Souzdal aucun point
fortifié mais ils ont facilement atteint la ville dans l’absence de son gouverneur princier. C’est ce fait-là qui a conduit à
la construction le long de la Kliazma d'une série de villes fortifiées qui abritaient des garnisons pour protéger contre
les nouvelles attaques des Bulgares: les villes de Starodoube, Yaropoltch, Gorokhovets et Berezhets. »
L’emplacement des citadelles a été dicté principalement par des plans stratégiques. Sur la chaîne de collines qui
longe la rive Kliazma près de son confluent avec l'Oka, il a été sélectionné la dernière, la plus haute et la plus
inexpugnable. Depuis le nord et l'est ses pentes descendent brusquement vers la Kliazma et sa plaine côtière, depuis
l'ouest et le sud elles sont coupées par des ravins profonds. La partie la plus ancienne de la ville (le Detinets) située
sur le Mont Nikolskaya sur un petit plateau monté à 55 m au-dessus du niveau de la rivière.
C’est déjà depuis le XIe siècle que l’espace élevée du Mont Nikolskaya a été occupée par des colons slaves. Les
fouilles sur les vestiges de la ville ont été réalisées en 1956 par l’archéologue V.V. Sedov, en 1980 – par
M.V.Sedova, l’examen et les travaux d’exécution des fouilles de recherche depuis la couche culturelle ont été conduit
dans les années 1980 par V.P.Glazov. Ils ont montré que la ville était elle-même une forteresse bien fortifiée. Son
noyau était le Detinets situé au plus haut point. Le Detinets avait une forme ovale (200x100 mètres) et couvrait une
superficie d'environ 2 hectares. Autour du Detinets a été construit un rempart de terre, atteignant jusqu'à 5 mètres de
hauteur. Le rempart est partiellement conservé sur le côté sud. En face de lui on observe les restes des douves, qui
relient deux ravins. Ici, dans le système de fortification, il y a une ouverture des portes d'entrée d'environ 25 mètres
de large.
La couche culturelle a une capacité maximale de 1 mètre, perturbée par des fouilles plus récentes. Son épaisseur de
l'horizon inférieure de 0,1 - 0,5 mètres date de l'antiquité russe. Ici il ont été trouvés des fragments des vieux plats
russes, principalement des 12e-13e siècles, dans de rares cas du 11e, des couteaux en fer, morceaux de serrures à
cylindre et clés pour eux, un fragment d'un bracelet en bronze, fusaïoles en argile, des plombs de pêche et d'autres.
L'horizon supérieur fouillé de la couche culturelle contient la poterie médiévale tardive, des fragments de produits de
fer. Les fouilles ont révélé la présence dans le Bourg (possad) d’une couche de période pré-mongole, dans laquelle
ont été découvert des fragments des plats, datés principalement des XIIe-XIIIe siècles., des bracelets en verre,
pendentif cloche avec une fente et d'autres.
Pendant le règne du fils de Iouri Dolgorouki, Andrei Yurevich Bogolioubski (années de vie 1110-1174), Gorokhovets
est déjà la ville importante, pour les normes du Moyen Age, apportant des revenus considérables.
La recherche archéologique de V.V.Sedov a conduit à la conclusion que «... déjà au 12e siècle Gorokhovets occupe
non seulement la colline, où les vestiges des fortifications ont survécu, mais son Bourg a grandi en bas, au pied de
l'ancienne ville. L'hypothèse des historiens de l'existence de Gorokhovets au 12e siècle sur la base des données
écrites, ont trouvé des confirmations lors de la toute première étude archéologique », comme en témoignent des
articles trouvés au nord de l'Eglise de la Resurrection (Voskresnaya tserkove). Le Bourg situé au pied oriental de la
forteresse a été entouré, probablement, de murs en chêne avec des tours. En apparence, il a rappelé d'autres villes
déjà construites dans la Principauté de Vladimir-Souzdal. La couche culturelle, découverte lors des fouilles a atteint
une épaisseur de 1 mètre et a contenu des fragments de la poterie céramique, des fragments de bracelets en verre
et d'autres. Tous les objets trouvés sont datés du XIIe - début XIIIe siècles, soit la période pré-mongole.
Au pied de la montagne, sur laquelle se trouvaient les fortifications de la ville étirées le long de la rivière, s’est
cramponné un Bourg clôturé d’une palissade en bois et ayant trois portes. La rivière et la montagne procuraient des
barrières naturelles robustes, tandis que depuis de l'est du pied du mont Puzhalova jusqu’à un fleuve qui se jetait
dans la Kliazma (plus tard la fleuve Mogilenka), le renforcement du bourg a été entouré de douves avec un pont jeté
dessus pour traverser la rivière à la prison.
Après 1619 Gorokhovets a cessé, pour jamais, d'être considérée comme une forteresse russe frontalière. A cette
époque, le bourg est finalement formé. La séparation de l'artisanat et de l'agriculture a été l'une des conditions
préalables à la création des villes avec une population permanente. Au XVIIe siècle, Gorokhovets était parmi 12 des
plus grandes villes et contenait plus de deux cents foyers (236 foyers).
Gorokhovets est mentionné en premier dans la Chronique Laurentienne en 1239 comme un avant-poste frontière à
nord-est de la Russie. Enfin, à la fin du XVIIe siècle, la ville a atteint sa hauteur s’appuyant sur l’unité organique et
colorée de la nature et l'architecture parvenu jusqu'à nous.
En 1643, au lieu de l'emplacement d'une forteresse, en vertu d'une charte du tsar Mikhaïl Fiodorovitch, a été fondé le
Monastère de Saint-Nicolas (Nikolski), en 1658, selon le décret du Patriarche Nikon, ont été posée les fondements
du Monastère de la Chandeleur (le Monastère Sretenski) au sein du Bourg de Gorokhovets. Toutes les églises du
Bourg et des monastères a été construit en bois de type kletski4, des coupoles ont été couvertes de lemekh5, des
rampes de toit couvertes des voliges. Les plus grandes et estimées églises se situaient au centre du Bourg - la
Cathédrale de l'Annonciation (Blagovechenski sobore) et l'Eglise de la Résurrection (Tserkov Voskresenia) avec des
clochers. Ainsi, de cette manière, les principales dominantes architecturales servant de noyau de la composition de
la ville se sont créées déjà dans le 3e quart du XVIIe siècle. Depuis le milieu XVIIe siècle, la ville commence à se
développer progressivement. Depuis le milieu du XVIIe siècle, la ville commence à se développer activement. Parmi
la population ont commencé à dominer des gens de commerce et de l'artisanat, suite à la situation avantageuse de la
ville sur le trajet entre Moscou et Nizhni Novgorod.
De riches négociants ont fait d'importants dons pour la construction des cathédrales et des églises en pierre, qui ont
remplacé les temples en bois. Simultanément à la construction des temples il a été mené la construction en pierre
des objets civils. De grands et spacieux bâtiments (palata) en pierre ont commencé à être construits par les plus
riches et notables. Des cours des marchands avec des bâtiments auxiliaires en pierre dépassaient souvent en
dimensions des bâtiments publics. Au tournant des XVIIe-XVIIIe siècles, 8 bâtiments (palata) en pierre blanche se
sont déjà pavanés au Bourg de Gorokhovets. Ainsi, vers le milieu du XVIIe siècle, la silhouette de panorama
historique paysager de la ville s’est formée sur la base des dominantes architecturales de Gorokhovets qui
demeurent jusqu'à ce jour.
Le premier plan dessiné de la ville de Gorokhovets date de 1722. Il montre déjà tous les bâtiments construits en
pierre. Les constructions sur les pentes du Mont Nikolskaia n’ont pas encore mis en place, mais sous le mont, sur les
rives de la Kliazma, il a existé déjà le Faubourg supérieur (Verkhnaia sloboda), tout comme Le Bourg inferieur (Nizhni
possad) ou Ogolenki s’est désigné derrière le Monastère Sretensky, près de la rivière également.
Le centre du bourg occupe la cathédrale de la ville avec sa place, à partir de laquelle des routes divergent dans
différentes directions: vers Faubourg supérieur, Monastère de Saint-Nicolas, pont sur la Kliazma, village de banlieue
Krasnoe. Ces routes ont déterminé en grande partie la structure du développement de la ville
Il existe un plan préservé de Gorokhovets, daté du 1771. La langue du dessin reflète l’apogée de sa prospérité
urbaine. Le plan a consolidé et nous a transmis visiblement toute la richesse des conceptions des urbanistes
anciennes.
La structure de planification comprend deux parties de la ville formée traditionnellement: la plus ancienne (le detinets)
est située sur le mont de Saint-Nicolas, et la plus ultérieure (le bourg) se trouvant au fond de la rivière.
Comme le detinets, le bourg avait des frontières établies naturellement. De l'ouest, il était encerclé par une chaîne
des grandes montagnes (le mont de Saint-Nicolas et Puzhalova), du nord par la Kliazma et du sud-est par le lit de
fleuve Mogilenka.
Le territoire du bourg a représenté un triangle allant de l'ouest vers l'est, en élargissant progressivement à l'est. Le
centre s’est formé à proximité de la cathédrale de la ville. De là venait l'axe de planification principale le long des
collines vers le village de Krasnoe. Ici s’est formé la rue Bolshaya, l'endroit où commençait la route à Nizhny
Novgorod. Toutes les rues principales ont été axées sur la place publique. De là vers la rivière se séparaient la route
au Faubourg supérieur et à la Promenade. Vers le mont de Saint-Nicolas, à travers le ravin, menait la route en
direction de Vladimir, qui a été reliée dans sa partie montagneuse avec la route de Nizhny Novgorod. La place
publique était le centre de toutes les institutions administratives. Une telle disposition était facile et pratique. Il avait
ses propres particularités. Contrairement à d'autres villes anciennes de la Russie, le Kremlin (Detinets) de
Gorokhovets bientôt perdu sa fonction d'origine du centre-ville, qui a déménagé à la zone principale du bourg. Sur la
montagne s’est installé un monastère qui est devenu une dominante à haute altitude du panorama, son achèvement
artistique.
Le panorama du bourg a été couronné par la cathédrale de la ville. Une sorte de « deux centre unis » est un
phénomène unique dans la structure de planification des villes de la Russie. La vaste plaine s'étirant du bourg vers le
sud-est, donnait à la ville une possibilité de grandir pas grâce au joint d'étanchéité de sa construction, mais par
extension naturelle du territoire.
Pour la structure des villes russes avant le XVIIIe siècle, à la fois pour les nouvelles, construites dans les XVIe-XVIIe
siècles, et pour les vieilles, qui continuaient à vivre dans ce temps, sont spécifiques les caractéristiques qui
permettent de les appeler les villes paysages décloisonnés.
Ce système est censé correspondre à l'emplacement des bâtiments en construction, leur complexité, hauteur
(altitude) et orientation sur le paysage naturel, aux places basses et hautes, pentes et ravins, ainsi que suggère un
lien avec les plans d'eau naturels, allocation des bâtiments dominante visibles de tous les points de la zone
correspondante de la ville, distance suffisante entre les bâtiments et les blocs de construction, formant des «sillons»
et des zones d'incendie.
La planification prenait en compte autant que possible le terrain naturel. La combinaison en elle des hautes plaines
vallonnées avec des plaines inondables de la rivière a créé une scène très pittoresque, rare pour d'autres villes
russes.
Le système de paysage était une formalisation consciente des principes de planification urbaine qui remplissent les
conditions qui existaient dans l'ancienne Russie et l'Empire Russe depuis plusieurs siècles, et a été reflétée dans des
documents écrits.
Les conditions d'urbanisme en Russie, dans l'Empire Russe et en Europe occidentale diffèrent au moins par le fait
qu'il n'y avait pas de surpeuplement de la population en Russie, qui ne permettait pas de poser des maisons urbaines
l'un loin de l'autre.
Il est important à noter également la différence des matériaux de construction et de leurs capacités de prévention des
incendies. Alors que, dans de nombreux pays européens la sortie de la pierre sur la surface en faisait une matière
habituelle pour la construction des maisons (sous forme pure ou sous forme de colombage avec la conception
assemblant en bois) en Russie, la pierre a été exploitée dans certains régions, en règle générale, du sous-sol,
transportée sur les rivières et utilisée exclusivement pour des églises, palais princiers, fortifications. La construction
de masse en bois nécessitait des règles de construction strictes et particulières non seulement pour des installations
de production, où un feu ouvert et des températures élevées ont été utilisées constamment, mais aussi pour des
bâtiments résidentiels.
Dans ces circonstances, naturellement, se supposait la nécessité de l'existence des normes différentes des
européennes et la fixation des règles pour la construction de la ville.
Étude à la fois du texte de la Loi municipal (Zakon gradski) et des recueils, qui l’incluent, conduit à la conclusion que
la Loi pouvait effectivement servir de règlement, d'ailleurs portant plus d'actualité pour le XVIIe siècle que pour les
XVe et XVIe siècles.
Le système russe de la planification libre est susceptible d'avoir son origine et son développement sur la base des
conditions du paysage de la Plaine d'Europe orientale, disponibilité des certains matériaux de construction, existant
principes esthétiques, normes des relations traditionnelles entre des propriétaires des domaines, règles de
construction des structures défensives qui existaient chez les Slaves orientaux.
Ce système local, développé et ayant utilisation pratique depuis de nombreux siècles, a reçu (au moins depuis
l'avènement des traductions des préceptes légaux et des actes de consécration byzantins) une forme écrite et un
soutien autoritaire dans des recueils juridiques reconnus par l'église. Les XVIe-XVIIe siècles c’est un moment où la
construction des villes pouvait désormais être menée sur la base des règles écrites existantes.
Tout d'abord, c’est une existence réelle, au XVIe-XVIIe siècles et plus tard, des paysages urbains avec la
planification libre, dont les images ont été enregistrées à l'époque; certaines de ces villes ont été partiellement
préservées jusqu'à nos jours, Gorokhovets est l’une d’elles.
Deuxièmement, c’est une présence dans des archives des décrets du gouvernement central et d'autres documents
prescrivant le signet des villes en accord avec un schéma spécifique et la sélection des lieux pour les différentes
composantes de la ville.
Troisièmement, ont été conservés dans les anciens livres imprimés « Rangs du signet des villes » des endroits liés à
la consécration où la ville doit être construite, et reflètent les actions pratiques existantes.
Enfin, ce sont des normes d'urbanisme sous forme de traduction du Code de droit du Loi municipal (le Procheiron),
chapitre 49, section (facette) 38 « Sur la construction de nouveaux bâtiments et la mise à jour des vieux et d'autres
choses » conservées dans des manuscrits russes des XIIIe-XVIIe siècles. C’est par des traditions byzantines
reportées sur le sol russe et inscrites dans les lois russes devrait être expliquée l'absence dans des villes anciennes
des rues avec des maisons, allant strictement par la ligne rouge.
Ceci est démontré par la Promenade à Gorokhovets, fixée par des maisons en pierre du XVIIe siècle en possession
de population bourgeoise riche. Les maisons sur la Promenade ne se tiennent pas dans une rangée. Elles se retirent
dans la profondeur du terrain, puis passent à la ligne rouge de la rue. Un trait distinctif du développement urbain
oriental est l'attention à l'image artistique de la ville. Beauté a été une partie intégrante du confort urbain. En même
temps, les principes d'urbanisme orientaux, en ajustant des orientations fondamentales de l'organisation de la ville,
n’ont pas entravé des créations initiatives des architectes. De là provient, évidemment, la diversité extraordinaire des
plans et des silhouettes de villes anciennes russes et leur coordination habile avec le paysage.
Ainsi, il est clair que dans l’apparence de Gorokhovets, dans ses lois artistiques, il n'y avait rien d'accidentel. Tout a
été construit sur le calcul, les connaissances, lois, pratiques. Ceci est confirmé par un certain nombre de documents
qui montrent comment chaque nouveau bâtiment dans la ville est lié par sa composition à l'ensemble existant.
La fin XVIIe siècle - début XVIIIe siècle est une époque de grands changements dans la politique urbaine de l'Etat
russe. Depuis le développement spontané de la ville a été fait des passages à la planification et la construction
régulières. En 1763, le gouvernement a publié un décret « Sur la création des plans spéciaux de toutes les villes,
bâtiments et rues dans chaque province séparément ».
Les nouveaux plans directeurs ont été développés pour de nombreuses villes. En général, ils étaient de nature
progressive, puisque l'ancienne construction désordonnée des rues a été opposé à un système rationnel de
répartition de la zone urbaine en grille des blocs géométriquement corrects, formés par l’intersection des rues
mutuellement perpendiculaires et la mise des maisons sur une ligne rouge unique.
En 1781, un plan régulier a été approuvé pour la ville provinciale de Vladimir, et en 1787 - pour Gorokhovets,
devenue à cette époque le centre du district. Le plan de Gorokhovets a été développé par les planificateurs
talentueux. Ceci est démontré par le fait qu'ils ont pris en compte autant que possible les particularités de l’ancienne
planification de la ville et ont tout fait pour garder son identité unique.
Les rues sur le plan ont été légèrement redressées. Leur grille longitudinale est restée toujours axée sur la direction
de la crête des collines allant de la Kliazma dans la direction du village de Krasnoe. La première rue qui a passé au
pied des collines, est restée la rue Bolshaia (Grande), rebaptisée Blagoveschnskaia (de l’Annonciation) (maintenant
rue Lénine). Il était l'une des principales routes de la ville, portée sur la place centrale avec la cathédrale de
l'Annonciation. En parallèle à elle, au lieu des anciens terrains vagues et potagers, s’est ouvert la rue Sretenskaia (de
la Chandeleur) (aujourd'hui rue Lounatcharskogo). La rue longitudinale suivante passait déjà au-delà de la rivière
Mogilenka sur la trace de l’ancienne rue Korolevka (maintenant rue Frounze). La ligne de construction a été
également nivelée le long de la Kliazma. Le Faubourg supérieur a été rebaptisé la Promenade supérieure et la rue
Ogolenki a été renommée en Promenade inférieure (maintenant, ils ont fusionné en une seule Promenade). Les rues
transversales ont gardé en général leurs anciennes directions.
Au total, la nouvelle planification régulière de la ville vraiment a pris en compte la topographie du terrain et la
structure des bâtiments historiquement développés.
Selon le projet dans la partie centrale de la ville a été prescrite la construction des maisons en pierre robustes. Mais
à cause du « manque des biens chez les résidents locaux » le magistrat a décidé de construire dans le centre des
maisons en bois sur des fondations en pierre.
Le plan a été révisé à plusieurs reprises, il a été corrigé en 1809, 1822, 1836. Pourtant, même au milieu du XIX
siècle, l'objectif n'a pas été atteint.
La seconde moitié du XIXe - début XXe siècle a été marqué dans la ville par la construction plus intensive, qui a été
menée principalement dans le centre. De grands bâtiments publics ont été construits des briques, notamment la
Douma municipal, galerie marchande, gymnases pour homme et femme, école paroissiale, hospice, et plusieurs
maisons de marchands. Mais ils n’ont pas pu déjà porter atteinte à la disposition historique durable du centre-ville.
Si, on regarde attentivement, aujourd'hui, du côté de monastère de Saint-Nicolas, magnifiquement tourné vers le
sommet de la ville, les croisillons complexes des rues et des ruelles zigzaguant en bas, on remarque que les
anciennes structures en pierre continuent à déterminer la forme de la ville historique. Elles constituent des principales
dominantes de grande hauteur, points et accents de composition très importants dans sa structure urbanistique.
Niché confortablement autour d'eux une construction en bois, tissée par une ingénieuse invention des charpentiers
locaux, souligne de plus des façades blanches des bâtiments anciens. D’ailleurs, entre les uns et les autres se
distingue une proportionnalité claire, ce qui permet d'apprécier le talent des artistes populaires qui ont créé au cours
des siècles un ensemble urbain d’une intégrité et d’une coloration incroyables.
Même la planification régulière du XVIIIe siècle a dû compter avec les fruits des activités de développement urbain
des anciens architectes et repousser le géométrisme sec de la nouvelle grille des rues pour l’éloigner du centre
historique situé au pied de la colline vers la plaine de la rive droite de la rivière Kliazma.
Un chapitre distinct dans l'histoire de la ville a marqué les demeures de l'architecture en bois, décoré la ville à la fin
XIXe - début XXe siècles. La beauté des toits, sculpture sur bois sourde et de la coupe réjouit les yeux avec l'identité
russe en conjonction avec la modernité européenne.
Sur le plan de la ville, de ses rues anciennes se révèle la beauté des anciennes terres russes, les particularités de
l'artisanat de Gorokhovets, l’émergence des gens d'affaires dans l'ancienne ville des pauvres vieux-croyants aux
célèbres marchands mécènes qui ont rendu célèbre l’ancienne terre de Gorokhovets.
Le centre-ville historique de Gorokhovets est une fusion de la beauté artificielle et naturelle, elle est l'esprit des vieuxcroyants et des anciennes villes fondés par des premiers colons de la région. La ville est unique par la concentration
extraordinaire de l'architecture du XVIIe siècle, et non seulement d'Église, mais aussi civile, et comme la ville est
petite, en issue elle possède une construction compacte, historique et paysager.
Il serait approprié de citer les propos de l'académicien (russe) Igor Grabar: «...l’architecture merveilleuse de Mourom
6, et lui-même Théophane lui-même, s'estompent devant Gorokhovets. Certes, ici, la moitié de l'affaire est faite par la
nature ».
Name of property: The Oglakhty Range
Coordinates: E91 25 10 N54 3 25
Date of submission: 25/11/2016
Criteria:
Submitted by: Permanent Delegation of the Russian Federation to UNESCO
WH list (name, id):
State, Province or Region: Republic of Khakassia, Bogradsky district
Brief Description
The Oglakhty Range is located on the left bank of the Yenisei (Krasnoyarsk Reservoir) and represents a system of
low-lying ranges with a great number of Devonian red sandstone rock exposures providing a picturesque landscape
on the one hand, and its human use throughout thousands years on the other hand. Thousands of rock paintings
related to different historic periods on the vertical rock outcrops and rock fragments give evidence of changes in the
environment, husbandry types, material and intellectual culture of the peoples who inhabited this area. The same
stone was used to erect impressive burial constructions found in the areas of foothills and intermontane steppe
valleys, and an enormous fortification which borders the mountains on the south side. The territory nominated is of
great scientific interest in terms of natural heritage: with its diversity of landscape; rare endemic plants; 5 reptile
species, 148 species of birds and 44 species of mammals. Partially the territory is included in the area "Oglakhty" of
the State Nature Reserve "Khakassky" registered in 1991. The key task of the reserve is to conserve and protect
steppe biocenosis, habitats of rare endemic plants and rare species of animals, rock bird assemblages, monuments
of historical and cultural heritage.
Natural Heritage
Geology and relief
The low-mountain striking monoclinal Oglakhty Range located on the left bank of the Yenisei (Krasnoyarsk
Reservoir) below the mouth of the river Tuba (right tributary of the Yenisei) divides the Minusinskaya (SouthMinusinsk) and Syda-Erbinskaya (Central-Minusinsk) hollows of the vast Minusinsk depression in the mountains of
South Siberia. Depression formation took place at Devonian (410—360 million years ago) period. It was the time of a
stable long-term surface tectonic settling. And at the same time the folded rock foundation was split into separate
blocks resulting in some parts separation has been preserved until now. Ancient rocks forming the Minusinsk
depression repeatedly exposed to tectonic forces and formed both folded and block mountains. Affected by external
elements (such as wind, water, temperature fluctuations) the mountains were successively eroded therewith denser
rocks were eroded at a much lower rate. Thus was created the relief variety that is characteristic of this region: vast
plains, hills, ridges, and low mountains. Now the low mountains composed of Devonian red-brown lea stone rise
above the surrounding area which is specific feature of khakass landscapes.
The Oglakhty Range consists of sedimentary rock of the Low Carboniferous and Upper Devonian: sandstone,
siltstone, tuffite, limestone, and dolomite. Its hilly relief is intermingled with cuesta ridges with large rock outcrops and
small valleys. This territory is a perfect example of cuesta relief (formed due to inclined bedding of different density
rocks). Cuestas that run in latitudinal direction have large low angle folds, complicated by flexures and flexure-type
curves of layers. They form a system of long, parallel elevations with cuesta ravines developing between them.
Aeolian processes play a key role in the exogenous relief-forming processes, not only cuestas, but also deflation
basins and lost mountains have become widespread due to them. Selective weathering processes and denudation
are clearly observed throughout the area, as well as surface morphology strict dependence on the geological
structure. Relative elevations are of100-150 m. The highest point (580 m above sea level) is Mount Oglakhty. The
range extends 15 km from south to north.
Highly fragmented terrain, variable slope steepness and exposure provide a wide variety of landscapes in this
relatively small area.
The eastern border of the range is linked with the Yenisei left bank line (since 1970 Krasnoyarsk Reservoir). Here
one can see high picturesque cliffs dropping steeply into the river. Stretching north-west within the range the deep
ravines cut through the cliff front in several places. One of them represents quite a wide valley which divides the
range into well-defined north and south areas.
Climate. Geographic position, orographic characteristics and atmosphere circulation have a significant influence on
climate formation of the Oglakhty Range. The climate of this territory as the climate of the mountain steppes of the
Minusinsk hollow on the whole is a continental one with cold, long winter (five months) and short, hot summer. Not
only monthly but also daily sharp fluctuations in temperature are quite typical of it. The annual precipitation ranges
from 250 to 300 mm. The average temperature in January is within –16–20° С, in July within +18–20° С. Minimum
temperature reaches –40–45° С, and maximum up to +35–40° С. the Minusinsk hollow is superior in the number of
sunny days in the year to the Crimea.
Soils. The soil cover is characterized by the dominance of medium-humic, medium-deep southern and ordinary
chernozems covering the gentle slopes. Low-humic chernozems, both thin and medium deep, are constant
component of the soil-cover complex. Low-humic chernozems in the southwestern portion of the area are developed
on the red rocks and mostly gravelly. Gravelly soils are common in the Yenisei hilly part of the steppes. All the soils
are heavy-textured. The soils on northern forested slopes are sod-podzolic. Some soils of the Oglakhty Range are
listed in Red Data Book of Soils and Cadastre of particularly valuable soil objects of Russia, such as ordinary
medium-deep medium-loamy chernozem on loess loams (have not been worked for 30 years). The soils in this area
are specific natural-historical formations that can serve standards to compare with those modified due to human
activities as well as to assess the damage to soils and ecosystems with subsequent development of recovery
methods.
Flora. The Oglakhty Range and the surrounding steppe areas are home to rear and endemic plants, such as
minusinsk sweetvetch (Hedysarum minussinense), martyanov warmwood (Artemisia martjanovii), oxytrope (Oxytropis
encludens) and others. 234 species of higher vascular plant species have been already registered. Low-bushgrass
and high-bushgrass steppes and their petrophyte aggregations cover the greater part of the territory. Meadow
steppes and steppe dry meadows are less common. Northern slopes are mostly covered with birch forests and
steppe bushes.
True low-bushgrass steppes are found both in plain and slope areas on chestnut and south chernozem soils. Typical
plant species are: 1) Bushes: Caragana pygmaea. 2) Drought-resistant gramineous plants form a grass cover:
Festuca pseudovina, Koeleria cristata, Poa sibirica, Cleistogenes squarrosa, Carex duriuscula, Carex pediformis. Из
разнотравья обычны Veronica incana, Aster alpinus, Heteropappus altaicus subsp. altaicus, Artemisia frigida,
Artemisia glauca, Leontopodium ochroleucum subsp. campestre, Hedysarum gmelini and quite a large number
of plants of Oxytropis and Astragalus families.
True high-bushgrass steppes are found on steppe areas on western and eastern exposure slopes and come over to
southern slopes in forest-steppe areas. Typical plant species are: 1) Grass cover: Stipa capillata or Helictotrichon
desertorum prevail. The other types of plants are the following: Poa stepposa, Agropyron cristatum, Phleum
phleoides, Carex pediformis, Dianthus versicolor, Galium verum, Delphinium grandiflorum, Artemisia glauca,
Medicago falcata, Onobrychis arenaria, Aster alpinus, Heteropappus altaicus subsp. altaicus.
Semi desert steppes are not widely spread and fragmentarily found on south slopes. Vegetation is thin and low.
Plant covering does not exceed 40%. Typical plant species are: 1) Bushes: Caragana pygmaea. 2) Grass cover:
Panzerina lanata subsp. argyracea, Thymus minussinensis, Artemisia frigida, Ceratoides papposa, Kochia laniflora
and low grass.
Meadow steppes and steppe dry meadows are found on northern slopes. Typical plant species are: 1) Grass cover:
mostly Iris ruthenica, Phleum phleoides, Poa stepposa, Bromopsis inermis, less often Stipa pennata. Herbs including:
Bupleurum multinerve, Delphinium grandiflorum, Fragaria viridis, Sanguisorba officinalis, Medicago falcata,
Astragalus danicus, Dracocephalum ruyschiana, Phlomis tuberosa, Scabiosa ohroleuca, Ligularia glauc and the
plants of Potentilla, Geranium, Thalictrum families and others.
Stony steppes are found on the steep slopes of southern exposures. Typical plant species are: 1) Tree species: larch
thin forests are often found on southern slopes (Larix sibirica). 2) Grass cover: except common steppe species there
are relic species: Patrinia sibirica, Kobresia filifolia, Gypsophila patrinii, Aster alpinus., Chamaerhodos ereca,
Orostachys spinosa, Arctogeron gramineum, Goniolimon speciosum, Androsace maxima, Ephedra monosperma,
Asparagus pallasii, Sedum aizoon, Sedum hybridum, Phlox sibirica, Onosma simplicissima.
Tree and shrubbery vegetation is found on northern slopes, small woods and forest outliers and only some areas are
covered by small forests. Typical plant species are: 1) tree species: Betula pendula and Larix sibirica, less often
Populus nigra. 2) Bushes: mostly Spiraea hypericifolia, Spiraea media, Spiraea chamaedryfolia, Cotoneaster
melanocarpus, Rosa aciculari, Caragana arborescens, less often Padus avium, Crataegus sanguinea, Grossularia
acicularis, Lonicera tatarica, Atraphaxis frutescens. 3) Grass cover: Bupleurum multinerve, Delphinium grandiflorum,
Fragaria viridis, Sanguisorba officinalis, Medicago falcata, Astragalus danicus, Dracocephalum ruyschiana, Phlomis
tuberosa, Scabiosa ohroleuca, Ligularia glauca and the plants of otentilla, Geranium, Thalictrum families and others
(Hemerocallis lilio-asphodelus, Trollius asiaticus, Anemone sylvestris and others.)
Fauna is a typical steppe one and represented by the wild life of open spaces, tree and shrubbery vegetation and
rock outcrops. 44 species of mammals, 148 species of birds, 5 reptile species, and 26 species of fishes have been
registered (in Krasnoyarsk Reservoir).
Characteristic animal species: 1) Amphibia: moor frog (Rana arvalis). 2) Reptiles: sand lizard (Lacerta agilis), Central
Asian viper (Gloydius halys), common lizard (Zootoca vivipara), common northern viper (Vipera berus). 3) Birds: tree
pipit (Anthus trivialis), chiffchaff (Phylloscopus collybita), chaffinch (Fringilla coelebs), great tit (Parus major), longtailed tit (Aegithalos caudatus), willow tit (Parus montanus), black-throated thrush (Turdus atrogularis), stonechat
(Saxicola torquata), yellow-browed warbler (Phylloscopus inornatus), scarlet grosbeak (Caprodacus erythrinus,
common quail (Coturnix coturnix), partridge (Perdix daurica), black grouse (Lyrurus tetrix). 4) Mammals: common
shrew (Sorex araneus), steppe sicista (Sicista subtilis), dwarf hamster (Phodopus sungorus), steppe lemming
(Lagurus lagurus), field mouse (Microtus arvalis), water vole (Arvicola terrestris), narrow-skalled vole (Microtus
gregalis), field-mouse (Apodemus agrarius), east asian mouse(Apodemus peninsulae), house mouse (Mus
musculus), long-tailed souslik (Spermophilus undulates), badger (Meles amurensis), brown hare (Lepus europaeus),
fox (Vulpes vulpes), wolf (Canis lupus), Siberian Roe Deer (Capreolus pygargus).
This area is home to such rare mammal listed in the Red Book of Russia as steppe polecat (Mustela eversmanni),
rare birds listed in the Red Book of Russia: peregrine (Falco peregrinus), golden eagle (Aquila chrysaetos), steppe
eagle (Aquila nipalensis), saker falcon (Falco cherryg) and imperial eagle (Aquila heliaca).
Cultural heritage
The undoubted value of the territory nominated is that the natural landscape is rich in traces of its cultural
development throughout several historical epochs.
The area of the Minusinsk hollow was mastered as far back as the Stone Age. Primitive people hunted big mammals
here, some species of which became extinct, and the others have changed their habitat. Later the territory was
populated with more and more new peoples for thousands of years, one culture gave way to another, economic and
cultural types changed as well as the methods of human and natural environment interaction. Here, in the territory of
the Minusinsk hollow taiga hunters, fishers from Northern Asia and the peoples from the mountainsteppe zones of
Central Asia interacted for centuries. They have created a unique cultural synthesis appeared in the peculiarities of
the economic adaptation of different population groups (mobile forest hunters and fishers, settled farmers and metalmakers, nomadic cattle-farmers), in the functioning of internal and external relations of different communities and the
ways of their communication, including the creation of spectacular, visible, identifying cultural objects, such as
mounds, steles, and rock paintings in the landscape.
The Oglakhty Range and adjacent steppe areas are only a small part of the Minusinsk hollow, but hundreds of
mounds and thousands of rock paintings as well as other archaeological and historical artifacts (settlements, religious
places, fortifications, quarries) are concentrated here. They have a long history of studying (since the middle of the
XVIII th century) and well developed chronology from the Paleolithic Age to the New Age and modern times. The
most representational ones are those of afanasyevsk Eneolithic culture (IV– 1st half of the III millennium BC),
okunyevsk culture, the Early Bronze Age (mid. III – the beginning of the II millennium BC), karasuk culture, the Late
Bronze Age (the 2nd half of the II – the beginning of the I millennium BC), and the cultures of the Early Iron Age:
tagarsk culture (of 9–3 centuries BC), tesinsk culture (of 2 – 3 centuries AD) and tashtyk culture (of 1–7centuries AD).
The impressive stone- earthen mounds of tagar culture with fences and high corner and intermediate plates are an
essential feature of the historical landscape of Minusinsk steppes. Unique burial masks, mummified remains,
preserved objects made of organic materials (fabric, fur, wood) found in the burial grounds of tashtyk culture in
Oglakhty now decorate the halls of the State Historical Museum in Moscow and the State Hermitage Museum in St.
Petersburg. The grandiose monument of I - beg. II millennium AD is the famous Oglakhtinskaya "fortress", which
ruins surround a huge area of several dozen square kilometers. This structure consists of horizontally laid sandstone
plates, some remnants of the wall reach 6-8 m in width and 1 m in height, from the outside one can find the traces of
a ditch surrounding the wall, "bastions" have been preserved in some places. The wall was erected by many
generations, probably at first to protect against hunnish and later against Uighur invasions.
Rock art is the most significant cultural component of the Oglakhty Range area. The relief features described above
provided a great number of comfortable "canvasses" for ancient artists: as red Devonian sandstone outcrops can be
found everywhere here, so everywhere can be found the paintings on the rocks. Images made with the use of all
known techniques - knockout, engraving, grinding, painting. Most of the paintings are on the vertical planes, but some
of them are found on the stone blocks lying on the slopes, as well as on the plates used for mound construction
(some of the images date back to mound construction and associated with obsequies while the others were made by
the following generations). The rock paintings are clustered in different parts of the Range. The rocks along the
Yenisei bank and the south-western slope of Mount "Sorok Zubyev" are particularly rich in such paintings. Each of
such clusters itself is a very important monument of rock art, but all 12 currently known painting clusters form the
largest complex of Minusinsk hollow - a region known as one of the world's richest culture area of rock art.
Historical and cultural value of this complex is not only in the number of sources, but in their diversity,
representativeness, the presence of both typical and unique plots, images and styles. Oglakhty petroglyphs represent
all the cultural and chronological periods (of at least nine) determined in the ancient art of South Siberia, apart from
the unique groups that far from being simple issue to explain. A number of the images are made at a very high artistic
level, thus they are of great importance aesthetically as well. The Rock Art of the Oglakhty Range is a valuable
historical source. Parallels can be drawn between many cultural and chronological groups and the corresponding
burial archaeological sites to add some significant information on a particular culture, obtained due to excavations.
Some periods have not been presented in terms of archaeology so far in this area but rock art (most likely, the
artifacts have not been found yet). In this case, the petroglyphs provide the information of invaluable significance. The
most typical example is the so-called "ancient layer" image. The figures of wild animals, as well as the enigmatic
anthropomorphic figures and symbolic images of boats with "passengers" are made with great realism and artistic
skill. Their dating is unknown, it has been determined only that not later than the III millennium BC. It is not excluded
that they belong to the Stone Age. Once all the coastal cliffs were covered entirely by such paintings. Not all of them
have survived up to now but those survived are an impressive example of the artistic genius of primitive man and
gives us valuable information, have not been confirmed so far by paleontological sources, about the biocenosis
disappeared from the area. Some animals in the rock paitings became extinct and the others have not inhabited in
this area any longer. The former include wild horse (Equus ferus) and the primeval ox (Bos taurus primigenius). The
latter include elk (Alces alces), red deer (Cervus elaphus), ibex (Capra sibirica), mountain sheep (Ovis ammon), bear
(Ursus arctos), and wild boar (Sus scrofa). The only specie that has been still living in the territory of the range is the
roe (Capreolus pygargus).
Among the images of later eras, there are some that reflect the influence of remote area cultures (of Central Asia,
China and so on.), direct migration and the presence of certain ethnic groups serve as indirect evidence of historical
events. The images of cultural artifacts are found on the rocks, for example, a series of images of daggers and
chariots of the Late Bronze Age are knocked out on the unique object – the plate from Kizan area. On the lower
plates of Mount "Sorok Zubyev" there is the image of a kettle and, probably, the oldest image of a felt yurt - a typical
nomad dwelling. The absolute majority of images, however, has mythological, epic, and religious plots and serves as
a source to reconstruct the worldviews of different epochs and nations.
The series of images of so-called ethnographic time deserves special mention. These are the paintings of the
indigenous population - Khakas, who continued to maintain the rock art millennial tradition in Oglakhty until the
beginning of the twentieth century. There is not any other monument in Khakassia with such a number of Khakas
paintings. They are very informative both for studying Khakas beliefs and mythology and the realities of their daily
living, economic structure, and even historical events. On the folds and separate plates there are images of horses
(decorated, with tamgas, "dappled", with "bells", saddled, harnessed, with and without riders, etc.), camels, deer,
dogs, and goats. Numerous anthropomorphic figures wearing in different ways, symbolic, holding hands, forming
rows of dozens of figures with bows, guns and so on; many images of shamans wearing robes with fringes with
drums and tampons. The images of tamga and other signs, as well as mysterious complex abstract motifs are found
in a large number. The images of a Christian church, samovar, cart, etc. are the evidence of Russian culture
penetration. It is essential that some plots cannot be explained in terms of existing ethnographic data sources, that is,
they represent a unique source for further studying Khakas traditional culture.
Thus, a huge variety of different heritage sites occurring at different times, which perfectly characterize the culture
development of the whole region for thousands of years are concentrated in the nominated area, despite its small
size.
Name of property: Mamayev Kurgan Memorial Complex "To the Heroes of the Battle of Stalingrad"
Coordinates: N48 44 32 E44 32 13
Date of submission: 10/09/2014
Criteria:
Submitted by: Permanent Delegation of the Russian Federation to UNESCO
WH list (name, id):
State, Province or Region:
Brief Description
Mamayev Kurgan Memorial complex "To the heroes of the Battle of Stalingrad" in Volgograd is a symbol of heroism
and patriotism of the Soviet nation and a tribute to the memory of those who died in the great battle of the Volga river,
the most significant land battle in the human history which became a turning point in the World War II.
Due to its convenient location in the very centre of the city, Mamayev Kurgan held the key position in the defence of
Stalingrad, and it is here where the construction of an enormous memorial complex started in the May of 1959, it
being first presented on 15th October, 1967.
The Memorial complex "To the heroes of the Battle of Stalingrad" represents a unique formation with a total height of
820 meters from its foot to the top.
There is a flight of steps, ramps and squares with sculptural compositions leading to the top of the ensemble which
tell us about the Battle of Stalingrad, ending with the Military Honour Hall, the Square of Sorrow and the war cemetery
dedicated to the fallen.
The key element of the ensemble is a world famous sculpture "The Motherland Calls!", one of the most recognizable
and artistic war monuments.
The main elements and components of the memorial complex:
Entry Square with an introductory composition "Memory of Generations"
The composition represents a huge high relief (17 m x 3 m x 0,75 m) consisting of 11 figures. A funeral procession
goes towards Mamyev Kurgan to pay tribute to those who died.
Avenue of Lombardy Poplars
"Fight to the bitter!” Square with "Fight to the bitter!" Sculpture - the sculptural image of a soldier as if growing
together with the land out of the great Russian river Volga personifying heroic defenders of the Volgian strength.
Symbolic Walls - the ruins of Stalingrad
The ruins of a huge building destroyed by long term shooting attacks, endless bombings, direct hits and bursts of fire.
Square of Heroes which comprises the wall as a spread banner saying: "With an iron wind blowing straight into their
faces, they were still marching forward, and fear seized the enemy: were they people who were attacking? were they
mortal at all?!'' and six sculptural groups as if answering this question: The all of us were ordinary mortals". The first
of the groups is inscribed: "We’ve stood out and defeated death!" The second one is dedicated to nurses. The third
group is devoted to sea soldiers. The fourth of the groups commemorates the commanders of the Battle of
Stalingrad. The fifth tells the story of saving the banner. The sixth group represents the victory at Stalingrad and the
end of the great battle.
Monumental Relief exhibiting main episodes of the great battle: the attack of Soviet troops at Stalingrad, blockading
of the fascists and their destruction, the victorious movement of Russian forces to the west, the selfless labour of
workers of the fronts. Big Breast Wall which bears the monumental relief
Military Honour Hall
Square of Sorrow with the composition "Mother's sorrow".
Other stones are symbolic.
The first of the memorial stones whis founded to the honour of an Unknown soldier with the inscription on it: "Your
name is unknown. Your deed is immortal. Eternal glory".
The key monument "The Motherland Calls!"
The central element of the complex " The Motherland Calls!" is an allegorical statue of Motherland. It is the heart of
the whole memorial.
Little collective grave
Those who had died defending, the main height of Russia - Mamayev Kurgan - are buried here.
Tank Turret on the plinth defines the place of the most violent fights during the Battle of Stalingrad.
Church of alt the Saints
Military Memorial Cemetery of the Soviet soldiers fallen during the Battle of Stalingrad between 1942 and 1943 (west
slope of Mamayev Kurgan). It consists of the Memorial Walls bearing 6480 surnames of warriors died in the Battle of
Stalingrad.
Individual Reburials - here the gravestones are set bearing full names, dates of birth and death. Collective Graves here unknown soldiers have been reburied.
Name of property: Virgin Komi Forests (re-nomination)
Coordinates: N63 37 33 E58 57 09
Date of submission: 04/06/2014
Criteria:
Submitted by: Permanent Delegation of the Russian Federation to UNESCO
WH list (name, id):
State, Province or Region: Komi Republic
Brief Description
Preparation of a new category “Virgin Komi Forests” (re-nomination) solves two major tasks:
1. Extend the area of the existing World Heritage site due to the increase of the territory of the National Park " Yugyd
Va " (an area of over 183 thousand hectares) that is the part of an entire old-growth coniferous forests ecosystem,
protected within the National Park "Yugyd Va" New territories, linking and complementing the National Park, act as
one of the important elements of ecological frame, designed for protection of a complex of unique ecosystems of the
National Park "Yugyd Va" and the Pechora-Ilych State Natural Reserve .
2. Streamlining of borders in the northern part of the existing World Heritage site.
Total area of the property to be nominated is 3 473 085 ha, including:
·The Yugvd Va National Park is 2 029 014 ha;
·conservation zone of the Yugvd Va National Park is 228 877 ha;
·The Pechoro-llychsky state natural biosphere reserve is 721 930 ha;
·buffer area of the Pechoro-llychsky state natural biosphere reserve is 493 264 ha.
From October 3 to 11, 2010, by the decision of 34 COM 7B.25 of the World Heritage Committee was implemented
the Monitoring Mission of the World Heritage Centre and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) to
the UNESCO World Heritage Site "The Virgin Komi Forests".
Mission reviewed the situation with the enclave PL350 (the site between the rivers Shchugor and Podcherye). This
site was included in the nomination, but excluded when the property was inserted in the World Heritage List, as the
site had no conservation status.
Mission had the opportunity to see the forest in the upper reaches of the Ilych River, which separates the National
Park and the Reserve. As in the case with the enclave PL350, this area was included in the nomination, but excluded
when the property was included in the list of World Heritage sites, due to the lack of protective status.
As in the case of the enclave PL350, this site was included in the nomination, but excluded when the object was
inserted in the list of World Heritage sites, due to the lack of protective status. Flying over the area, the members of
Mission made sure that the area is covered by untouched virgin forest, without any signs of human intervention.
Mission considered it important to give protected status to these sites in order to enhance the integrity of the property.
Merged to the National Park areas are a part of an entire old-growth coniferous forests ecosystem, protected within
the National Park "Yugyd Va”. New territories, linking and complementing the National Park, act as one of the
important elements of the ecological frame, designed for protection of a complex of unique ecosystems of the
National Park "Yugyd Va" and Pechora-llych State Natural Reserve.
Including in the composition of the National Park of new areas will expand the zone of protection of the Podcherye
River Basin, which is an important recreational facility of the National Park.
Relief
In the nominated territory there are three large geomorphological areas according to specific features of relief and
geological structure: Pechora Depression, Piedmont hilly (rugged hills) area, Mountainous area.
Meridian mountain chains of the Ural have the major impact on the outlook of the park. Major landscape zones of the
Park, i.e. plain, foothill (rugged hills) and mountain, differentiating by geomorphologic structure, climate conditions
and, as the outcome, soil and vegetation.
In the mountain landscape of the reserve there can be segregated three tiers of the plants: mountain forests,
subalpine and mountain tundra.
Hydrology
The territory of the Park is characterized by well-developed hydrographical network that is explained by strong
segregation of the relief and significant moisturizing of the western slope of the Ural.
The rivers of the park, flowing down from the western slope of the Ural Mountains, perform an important function deliver “fresh” water to the Pechora, one of the biggest rivers in Europe, flowing into the Barents sea.
The major rivers of the National Park are right influxes of the Pechora, the Podcherem and the Schugor (the Northern
Ural), the left influxs of the Usa flowing into the Pechora, the Bolshaya Synya (the Big Synya), Kosyu and Kozhim, the
right in-stream of the Kosyu (Sub-Polar Ural).
The major rivers of the Reserve are Pechora and Ilych, each of them goes along the boundaries of reserve around
200 km.
Pechora is the biggest and the best river in the European North, it starts in the territory of reserve with two streams,
coming together in the boundaries of mountain tundra belt between the peaks of Engile-Chahl and Pecherya-TalyahChaly at the altitude of 896.8 m above the seal level. Its total length is 1809 km, water catchment area is 322
thousand km2.
Climate
The climate of the Sub-Polar Ural and the Northern Ural is severe and extremely continental. It is formed under the
impact of the western drifting of the air masses and frequent intrusions of the cold arctic air from the north along the
mountain ranges. As a result of such circulation there can be noticed intensive cyclone activities and deformation of
the air flows by the mountains, that causes extremely unstable and excessively humid weather. The Sub-Polar Ural
and the Northern Ural are the richest in snow and rain water areas of the Ural. Especially a lot of them falls down in
the upper lands of the western slope of the Sub-Polar Ural - annual amount of the rain & snow water achieves 1500
mm and more, in the mountain areas of the Northern Ural this parameter is a hit lower - 1000 mm. In the plain and in
the piedmont area the annual summary of the rain and snow water reduces significantly and equals 500 - 800 mm.
The major part of them falls down in thewarm period of the year (April - October). Up to 40% of the annual amount of
the rain and snow water in the form of the snow falls down.
Because of long territory of the park in the latitude direction and variety of the relief forms, the temperature mode in
its different parts shows significant differences.
In the Sub-Polar Ural the average monthly temperature of the coldest month (January) in the south equals -18°C, in
the north -21°C. Winter temperature minimum is -55°C. Winter lasts from October to mid-April, in the higher
mountains longer. For the winter period are typical strong winds, their speed achieves sometimes 40 - 50 m/sec.
Snow thawing starts in March and it is accompanied with rapid fluctuations of daily temperatures: at night air cools
down to -30°C, in the day-time warms-up to 10°C. In sunny days there are abnormal temperatures mentioned, it is
when in the higher mountain areas air temperature is lower than in the plateau and in the plain land.
Average monthly temperature of the warmest month (July) in the Sub-Polar Ural is 10°C, in its piedmont areas 12°C.
In general summer is characterized by cool instable weather and frequent returns of colds and night frosts, deceasing
of the atmospheric processes. The duration of autumn is 50 - 60 days, in the northern part and in the higher
mountains it starts significantly earlier than in the plain land.
The Reserve is located in the area where arctic and moderate climatic zones meet. The climate is characterized as
continental & oceanic with the difficult process of annual climatic phenomena.
Average monthly positive temperatures of the air are noticed within the period of 6 months, but average duration of
the frost-free period is 80-83 days. In certain years when there were late spring and early autumn frosts mentioned,
the frost-free period is reduced to 50 days. The vegetation period when the average daily temperature exceeds
+10°,is 80-85 days in the plain land and 47-80 days in the piedmont area and in the mountains. Average annual
temperature of the air in the area of the Yaksha is 0.7°C, in the north of the mountain area is around -4°. Average
temperature for many years of the coldest month, January is -17,8°; of the warmest month, July -16.3°. Absolute
minimum is -55,5°C, absolute maximum +35,7°C°.
General annual rainfall is the following: in the plain land area 500-800 mm (coverage annual amount is 635.5 mm), in
the mountain area it is up to 1000 mm. major part of the rainfall happens in the warm period of the year (April October). Almost 40% of the annual rainfall amount in the form of snow falls down.
Average duration when the snow cover lays on in the plain land is 200 days, in the mountains it is up to 220 days.
Average date of the forming of the stable snow cover in the Yaksha area is October 21st, thawing is May 7th. In the
mountains snow falls down at the end of September, thaws quite unevenly, staying sometimes until July. Maximum
average decade height of the snow in the pine forests is around 90cm, in the dark softwood taiga it is 90 - 120 cm. In
the mountains depending on the conditions of relief and exposure of the slope this number varies between 20 and
200 cm and more. Minimum height of the snow cover is typical for mountain tundra, where snow is normally blown by
the wind.
Vegetation
Flora of the National Park includes more than 600 species of the vascular plants, tens of species of mosses and
lichens. Some of them have the status of "red hook" ones. These are yellow lady's slipper and blotched slipper,
Woodsia alpina, common peon, Snowdon rose etc.
The main role in the picturesque landscapes is played by wood species: Siberian spruce, silver-fir, Siberian pine
(cedar), larch, white birch, European white birch, mountain birch and more seldom pine and aspen. In the southern
part of the park quite often the one can meet growth of tree-like willows. In the swampy and river-side areas
impassable "jungles" are formed by bush willows, and also by dwarf birch and hush alder. At the forest borders and
towpaths in the lower parts of the slopes there are many bushes: Spiraea media, prairie weed, hedge rose, Pallas
honeyberry. The specific feature of the plant cover of the park is diversity of the shrubs. Normal in the over soil cover
of forest and mountain tundra communities are lingonberry, swamp blueberry, blueberry, and crowberry. In the stony
exposed surface of the forest belt and higher grow dryad, Alpine bearberry, Harrimanella, Diapensia, fruticulous
willow.
The specific feature of the park's flora is numerous amounts of ferns and heather. Here gramineous, composite
flowers, rose family, buttercup family, buttercup, figwort family belong to ten most multiple families.
Of the biggest interest are endemic species of the plants. The other endemic species were formed as a result of
hybrids forming of the relative species and isolated geographic plants. To the endemics in the national park are listed
Taliev's thyme, mountain anemone, Ural aypsophila, Northern flax etc, all in all more than 10 species.
The territory of the Park is represented by virgin forests with rare and endemic species of shrubs and herbs: shrubby
cinquefoil, rodiola guadrefida, mountain anemone, etc. Such plant species as arctic paintbrush, yellow lady's slipper,
Snowdon rose are included in the Red Data Book of the Russian Federation. The majority of cenopopulations of rare
plants is in a stable state.
Specific feature of the plant cover of the Reserve are ruling of the dark softwood forests with wood stand of Siberian
species: spruce, fir, cedar. In the lower tiers of the forest undergrown forests and in the above-soil cover there are
both European and Siberian species. Specific features of the plant cover is also stipulated by the availability of big
Ural mountain system with clearly visible altitude belts. The lay-out of the geobotanical splitting into districts
incorporates the areas:
I. The area of pine frests and sphagnum swamps of the Pechora low land (complete territory of the Yaksha district):
II. The area of dark soft wood forests of the steeply sloping piedmont sub-area of swampy dark softwood forests and
sphagnum swamps of Verhneilych low land (the territory of the Ural area until western slopes of the main mountain
range of the Northern Ural, excluding transition stripe);
III. The area of mountain dark softwood forests, subalpine crooked forests and meadows, mountain tundra and bareboulders of the Northern Ural (western sloped, mountain chains, valleys and separate peaks of the Uran range of
mountains)/
Nowadays the Reserve counts 113 plant species from the Red Data Book of the Komi Republic.
In 2012 15 cenopopulations of 7 rare plant species were studied: .Adonis sibirica Patrin ex Ledeb., Calipso bulbosa
(L.) Oakes, Epipactis atrorubeas (Hoffm. ex Bernh.) Besser, Platanthera bifolia (L.) Rich., Paeonia anomala L.,
Polypodium vulgare L., Puisatilla patens (L.) Mill.
Wildlife
The fauna of vertebrates of the National Park includes representatives of fish (21 species), amphibia (3 species),
reptilian (1 specie), birds (around 200 species) and mammals (42 species). Many of them are the most precious
properties of the world fauna. Into the Red Data Book of Russia are entered bullhead, red-breasted goose, fish-hawk,
golden eagle, white-tailed eagle, gerfalcon, peregrin (duck hawk), black stork, common crane etc.
Specific feature of the fauna of the region is big share of the Siberian species, many of them have here the western
boundary of the aerial.
Species diversity of the animal world of the reserve territory and conservation territory in relation to the different
endemic taxa is studied unevenly. Sufficient complete inventory fauna reports are available only for water and ground
vertebral.
Thomas Brockhaus, a German entomologist, visited Pechoro-Ilychsky reserve from July 29 till August 5, 2012. During
his trip on the Pechora River (Shaytanovka cordon) he noted 15 species of dragonflies, whereof two species
(Somatochlora graeseri, S. pedemontanum) turned to be new for the Reserve and the Republic of Komi.
Ichthyofauna
Absolutely different place in the diversity of the animal communities of the western slopes of the Northern and the
Sub-Polar Urals takes the world of fishes. The fish populations of the National Park as far as it is known, accounts for
21 species out of eleven communities.
Ichthyofauna of the Reserve is relatively poor, that is related to the hydrological specific features of the territory:
mountain character of the majority of the rivers and small amount of accompanying water bodies. In its content enter
the representatives of the round-mouthed fishes - 1 specie, and the fish, 17 species that makes around 53% of the
species diversity of fish of the complete Pechora river basin.
Birds
In the fauna of the Yugyd va National Park are known around 200 species of birds. Out of them, despite of severe
ecological surrounding, nest about 150. Some representative of feathered, in majority water fowl and sandpiper,
inhabit the area of tundra, can be met also within the boundaries of the park only during autumn and spring migration.
Bird fauna of the Yugyd va National Park presents the composite mix of Siberian taiga species. European and Arctic
and Alpine species migrating from the plain tundra and also birds, widely spread in the European part of Russia.
Avifauna of the conservation area includes 252 species of birds of 18 orders, 50 families which makes 96% of the
total number of species recorded within the entire Komi Republic. The species include 170 breeding species (67%),
30 seasonal transient birds (12%), 52 vagrant species (21%). The widest range of species have the Passeriformes
(107 species), Charadriiformes (40), Anseriformes (30) and Falconiformes (20): the rest classes are presented by 1
to 8 species.
Avifauna is compositionally heterogenic, Siberian bird species prevail (heather cock, hazelhen, Blyth's cuckoo, threetoed woodpecker etc), typically European species are almost twice less in number (chaffinch, warbler, swift,
corncrake etc), some species are of arctic ptarmigan, common dotterel, Eurasian golden plover etc) and Chinese
(greenish warbler, red-backed shrike, oriental tree pipit) oriuin.
Most of breeding birds (77%) are migrating. The highest diversity of species, summer bird numbers and biomass are
peculiar to forest hank line habitats, subalpine belt and some pattern bogs. Common and the most numerous species
of forest communities are: chaffinch, finch, tree-pipit, thrushes – snowbird, red-winged thrush and song thrush, chiffchaffs - willow-warbler and arctic warbler, European redstart, buntings - rustic-bunting and little bunting, common and
Blyth's cuckoos. The dominating species of wetland birds are: fiddler, grey gull, greenshank, snipe, whimbrel, mew
gull, common teal, bullhead, and goosander. The typical representative of mountain tundra is meadow pipit, and this
is the unique place for common dotterel, Eurasian golden plover and ptarmigan nesting.
The following breeding birds are included in the lists of Red Data Book of the Russian Federation: erne, osprey and
golden eagle; transient birds: peregrine and brant goose. Erne, double snipe and corncrake are on the international
list of globally rare species. 29 bird species of the reserve are listed among rare and requiring protection on the
territory of Komi Republic. 26 species of birds nesting in the conservation are on the list of Red Data Book of Komi
Republic:
Category I (endangered) - honey buzzard, quail.
Category II (shortening the numerosity) - osprey, erne, golden eagle, eagle owl.
Category III (species with small numerosity and restricted distribution) - hooping swan, black kite, kestrel, corncrake,
spotted crake, double snipe, hawk-owl, Siberian grey owl, short-eared owl, boreal owl, wryneck.
Category IV (with undefined status) — common pochard, jack snipe, pintail snipe, dove, pygmy owl.
Category V (recovering species) - merlin, common woodcock, curlew, whimbrel.
Mammals
The territory of the National Park is unique from the point of view of theriology, where European and Siberian faunas
come together. The territory of the Park is inhabited by 42 species of the mammals.
Out of 52 species of the mammals registered in the territory of the Reserve the biggest one is the order of predators,
17 species (33%), related to the 4 families. Then are the rodents, 16 species, 6 families; insect-eating mammals - 8
species, 2 families; hoofed mammals, 4 species, 2 families; cheiropterous (Chiroptera) animals, 5 species, 1 family;
double-toothed rodents - 2 species and 2 families.
Name of property: Western Caucasus (re-nomination)
Coordinates: N43 36 29.46 E40 48 10.17
Date of submission: 04/06/2014
Criteria:
Submitted by: Permanent Delegation of the Russian Federation to UNESCO
WH list (name, id):
State, Province or Region: Krasnodar Territory, Republic of Adygeya, Karachayevo-Cherkessian Republic
Brief Description
Preparation of new nomination "Western Caiscasus" (re-nomination) resolves three basic tasks:
1. Expand the area of existing World I leritage Site by means of broad leaved old-growth forests
(currently not represented within the Site boundaries) of Sochi National Park and Sochi Reserve, located on the
southern macroslope of Greater Caucasus and forming almost a continuous strip along the southern and southwestern boundaries of the "Western Caucasus" Site;
2. Eliminate apparent errors, allowed during formation of the nomination case tile of 1999, forwhich purpose rectify
the boundaries and area of the territories, comprising the nomination of "Western Caucasus", correct the boundaries
and area of the World Heritage Site;
3. Carve out a part of the area of Lagonaki plateau from the existing World Heritage Site notmeeting the criteria of
outstanding global value and integrity due to the reason of considerable anthropogenic disturbance of this area as a
result of intensive cattle grazing in the second half of XX century and active tourist activity.
4. Prepare the basis and proposals for creating a buffer zone of Western Caucasus Site in the newboundaries and
their common management plan.
Area of nominated area: 358,112.94 ha; Area of buffer zone: nil;
The site "Western Caucasus-in the new nomination capacity is represented by 175 km long stretch of unpopulated,
undeveloped or marginally developed western part of the Greater Caucasus range, which is the most important
watershed divide and climatic barrier between Eastern Europe and West Asia, i.e. between the two continents. The
site represents all the characteristic landscapes and fundamental types of vegetation of the Greater Caucasus, with
pronounced latitudinal and longitudinal zonality. Moreover, the site represents the unique Colchian vegetation.
The area, proposed for expansion of the existing World Heritage site "Western Caucasus", is located mainly on the
southern macroslope of the Greater Caucasus, starting from 40 km to the north-west of the existing nomination, and
spreads to the southeast in three large fragments. The first separate patch is located in the upper reaches of the river
Ashe. The second and the largest patch is adjacent directly to the boundaries of the existing Western Caucasus site
in the upper reaches of the rivers Psezuapse, Shakhe and Sochi. The third patch also closely borders with the site
"Western Caucasus", but in the upper reaches of Mzymty River. These new patches form part of the reserve and
specially protected zones of Sochi National Park (SNP), and Sochi General State Nature Sanctuary.
Incomparably smaller, but valuable patches supplement the existing "Western Caucasus" nomination on the northern
macroslope as well. These being the forests to the north from Lagonaki plateau, in the valley of the rivers Tsitsa and
Pshekha: beech forests, beech and fir forests and box forests.
The proposed new area of total length 140 km and width 3 - 10 km occupies an area of 69,828 ha.
Relief
The site area is a section of the western part of the Greater Caucasus range, comprising of several parallel ranges.
The basis of its relief is the Greater Caucasus range, stretching from northwest to southeast. Overall, the range is
asymmetrical. It has steep southern macroslope, falling to the Black Sea and included in the Colchian region of
Caucasus highland. The wide northern macroslope of least dip is made up from the system of additional ranges:
Bokovoi, Peredovoi and Skalisty.
Typically, the mountain relief is characterized by elevation changes of 250 - 3.360 m above sea level. The highest
points viz. the Akaragvarta Mountain (3.360 in), Tsakhvoa Mountain (3,346 m), Pseashkho Mountain (3,256 in) and
Chugush Mountain (3,228 m) arc related to the Greater Caucasus Mountain Range. The peak height of the Greater
Caucasus Mountain Range increases in the direction from the west to the east.
The Bokovoi range passes to the north of the Greater Caucasus Range with marked mid-mountain relief. Further,
north of the Bokovoi range and parallel to the Greater Caucasus Range is the Peredovoi range, dissected by the river
valleys into separate stretches. The highest peaks here are Pshekish Mountain (2,257 in), Bolshoi Tkach Mountain
(2,364 m), Yatyrgvarta Mountain (2,760.1 m). Overall, the Peredovoi range has smooth and slightly sloping form of
relief.
The northwestern part of "Western Caucasus" has been formed by the Fisht-Oshtensky mountain group with three
peaks viz. Fisht Mountain (2,867.7 m), Pshekho-Su (2,743.9 in) and Oshten Mountain (2,804.0 in). The limestone
block is dissected by numerous funnels, caves, karren, vauclusians. The Lagonaki plateau closely adjoins the massif,
which represents the system of medium altitude mountain graded ranges with extensive subalpine and alpine
meadows, developed at the karsted limestone massif.
The northern boundary of the Site passes mainly along the Rocky range. The Rocky range starts near the
Lagonaksky highlands and extends to the east. The range has sharp asymmetrical appearance, characteristic for
cuesta, viz. slightly sloping long northern slope and steep, dropping sharply southern slope. The heights of the Rocky
range reach the levels 1,000 to 1,250 in. Individual peaks of the Rocky range exceed 2,000 in: Acheshbok, or
Chertovy Vorota (2,486 in), Afonka (2,036 m).
The Southern Front Range is at the territory of Sochi National Park on the southern macroslope, parallel to the
Greater Caucasus Range. The massif Aibga (2,396 m), Bzych (1,936.7 m), Amuko (1.918 m), Autl (1,855.7 in) etc.
belong to it. The third to the south chain of mountain ranges unites the massif with heights about 1,000 M: Dzykhra
(1,277.1 m), Akhtsu (1,124 m), Arosh (836 m) etc. It is less expressed in the relief than the previous. The fourth chain
of mountain ranges with heights Akhun (662.7 in), Mamaika (307 in) and Akhshtyr (464 m), which is stretching from
the southeast, ends abruptly to the sea. The mountain chains and dividing intermountain falls are intersected by the
valleys of numerous rivers and streams.
Hydrology
About 80 small glaciers are located at the "Western Caucasus" territory, of total area 18.2 km 2 and more than 130
mountain lakes of different origin, age and size, with the most famous among them being Kardyvach (14 ha), Inpsi
(13 ha) and Bezmolviya (20 ha).
The rivers of the northern part of "Western Caucasus" belong to the Kuban River basin, falling into Azov Sea; the
rivers of southern macroslope have relatively short length and after 50-100 kmfrom the origins fall directly into the
Black Sea. The full-flow of the rivers during the course of the year intensely changes, as they are fed by
precipitations. The largest rivers of northern slope of "Western Caucasus are Belaya (with tributaries Ches-Su, Kisha,
Pshekha etc.), Malaya Laba (with tributaries Tsakhvoa, lirushten), and the Zakan and Damkhurts Rivers, related to
the Bolshoi Laby basin, of the southern slope — Mzymta (with tributaries Chvezhipse, Laura, Achipse, Pslukh,
Tikhaya etc.), Khosta, Sochi, Shakhe (with tributaries Bzych, Azhu, Bushchi etc.). The territory of Sochi National Park
is similarly covered by vast hydrographic network of rivers and streams. Here there are more than 60 rivers and
streams with numerous inflows. The longest and full-flowing river of the Dart is Mzymty River. The largest are also
Shakhe, Psou, Sochi, Psezuapse, Ashe Rivers. All the rivers fall directly into the Black Sea. The length of rivers
fluctuates from 7 to 89 km. They are primarily of mixed feed: ground water, rainwater and snow. Moreover, Mzymta
River is also glacier-fed.
The hydrological system of the nominated area has undergone no changes. Water is of drinking quality and even
spring water quality, and many adjoining population centers (villages and settlements) consume it without treatment,
directly from the river channels. The resort city Sochi is provided with water, which is taken from channels of the
largest rivers viz. Shakhe, Mzymty and Sochi Rivers.
Climate
"Western Caucasus" is located in the zone of intersection of moderate and warm humid climatic belts. Its relief exerts
a great influence on the climate of individual parts of the Site. Many ranges are the boundaries of climatic areas. The
Greater Caucasus range prevents the transfer of cold air mass from the north to the south. The warm and humid
climate of the Black Sea coast and low-hill terrain has nature, close to sub-tropical, average temperature in January is
4.2°C, in July and August — 20-21°C.
In the middle altitudes the annual temperature fluctuates from 1 to 6°C, average temperature in January is –4 to –
6°C; winters are moderate, snow-covered. The snow cover is retained for five or more months. The summer is
moderately warm, average temperature in July is 16-22°C. Annual amount of precipitation is 700-1,200 mm, and the
maximum is in early summer.
From the height about 2,000 in the leading role belongs to the western transfer of air, therefore the highland climate is
more humid and by certain properties of its regime reminds of marine climate. However, winter here is distinguished
by sustained frost. Thus at the level about 2,000 m the average temperature of January fluctuates from –6 to –8 °C,
about 3,000 m reaches –10 °C.
The temperature of air in the mountains of "Western Caucasus" decreases by 0.5°on an average rise of every 100 m.
The Black Sea considerably influences the overall climate. The cyclones of the Mediterranean front, defining the
precipitation regime and quantity, pass predominantly above the nature reserve. Their greatest amount is observed
on the windward southwestern slopes. The snow line due to significant humidity of the climate in the western area of
the reserve is lower than in the eastern area by 200-500 in. At the northern macroslope, it passes at the level of 2,750
3,200 in. The height of snow cover in the mountains is highly intermittent. The snow cover thickness at the flattened
areas of the mountains constitutes 2-4 m. Snow avalanches are common.
Soil
The soil cover of the "Western Caucasus" site has strongly pronounced altitudinal sequence. Mountain-meadow,
mountain-meadow-forest, mountain-forest, alluvial soils of river valleys and azonal soil types are distinguished here.
Mountain meadow soil is predominant in the central and eastern part of the Site.
Mountain-meadow alpine soil is found at the heights of 2,300-2,500 to 2,800-2,900 in above sea level below the
alpine vegetation. Mountain-meadow subalpine soil is confined to the subalpine belt and formed within the limits of
heights 1,850-2,000 to 2,300-2,500 m below subalpine vegetation. Mountain-meadow-forest soil is prevalent by a
short belt at the places of contact of subalpine and forest vegetation, rhododendron thickets in the subalpine belt and
below rarefied birch, beech and maple timber stands with thick grass cover. The mountain-forest brown soil occupies
more than half of the territory of the Caucasus natural reserve at the height 600 – 850 in. The mountain forest brown
acid soil is confined to the upper part of the forest viz. pine forests with closed canopy. Brown weakly unsaturated
forest soils are formed below the fir, fir and beech, beech, oak and chestnut forests on the parent rock materials, rich
with base. Humic, carbonated degraded soils are found predominantly in the piedmont part of Sochi National Park.
These soils are usually of medium and minor thickness, and at places with developed deluvial processes are thick.
Vegetation
The historic development of the "Western Caucasus" mountains, unique geological, orographic and climatic features
were instrumental in the formation of the unique biological diversity, especially vegetation. The saturation of "Western
Caucasus" site with endemic and relict species is one of the parameters of its uniqueness. Hydrophilic and
thennophilic elements of the late Tertiary flora survived here the unfavorable climatic conditions of glacial and
interglacial epoch. The location of "Western Caucasus" on the northern and southern macroslopes of the Greater
Caucasus stipulates the clear phytogeographic differentiation of this territory.
The territory of "Western Caucasus" on the northern macroslope belongs to Maikop District of West Caucasus
Province. It is represented by the highlands of the moderately warm belt with typical vertical change of orobioms.
Represented here are:
– Zone of beech, beech and fir forests;
– Zone of fir forest comprising of Caucasian fir;
–
Subalpine zone with crooked birch and willow forest or rhodorets comprising of Caucasian rhodendron and tall
grass;
– Alpine zone with heathland and grassland vegetation and ledge rock;
– Subnival zone with fragmented vegetation on mass of rock;
– Nival zone with ice caps and snow patches.
Oriental beech forests predominantly extend within the limits of 500-1 500 m above sea level. Fir forests and beach
and fir formations occupy a greater part of the forests.
Giant grass thickets, called as "subalpine tall grass are found along the ravines, clearings in the forests and edges
near the upper boundary of forest.
At the height 1,800-1,900 m above sea level the fir forest gives way to unique vegetation communities of the forest
upper limit belt, called as subalpine wood and timber belt. Hooked pine forests frequently form the forest line along
the southern slopes.
The heights 2,000-2,300 m above sea level is the tree line of forest expansion. Above lies the treeless space of the
highlands, occupied by meadows, bushy scrubs, scree debris and ledge rocks. The Caucasian rhododendron thickets
occupy extensive areas in the subalpine belt. Grass and herb meadows constitute the basic vegetation ground in the
limits of 1,800-2,400 in above sea level. Low grass small sedge and grass and herb meadows are widespread at the
alpine belt meadows.
The southern macroslope, steeply descending to the Black Sea, belongs to the Sochi district of Evksinsky province. It
has a special transition version of ecosystems, from eastern sub-Mediterranean Colchian to alpine. These forests,
characteristic for warm humid climate of near N-S latitude, are fully represented only at the territory of Sochi National
Park, proposed for expansion of the existing World Heritage Site, and are not found anywhere else in Russia.
The bulk of Sochi National Park (SNP), extending from Psou River to Ashe River, belongs to Cherkessk geobotanical
district, which is divided into four forest districts with well-defined vertical zonation and influence of slope direction:
– Coastal district of oak and hornbeam forests;
– Area of medium-altitude mountains of chestnut, oak and hornbeam and beech and hornbeam
forests;
– Mountainous area of beech forests;
– Upper mountainous area of beech and fir and fir forests.
Broad-leaved oak, chestnut, hornbeam, maple, ashwood and alder forests are located in the coastal and low
mountain area up to height 1,000 m above sea level. Highland forests in their entire range of height are represented
primarily in the eastern part of SNP. They are made of beech, beech and fir, rarely white deal forest crops, with
mixture of beech, gradually transiting with increase in height above sea level to alpine fir forests with inclusions of
maple forests on the terrace type ledges and places with increased wetness. A small part of SNP territory is located
in the southeastern part of North Cherkessk district, represented by mesophile Eastern beech and European chestnut
forests. Forest meadow plant communities are the widespread component of the biotic mosaic of forest ecosystems
of the national park.
On the territory of "Western Caucasus" site, according to summarized information, currently about 4000 species of
plant bodies, mushrooms and lichen sprout. The share of vascular plants constitutes more than 2,000 species. This
corresponds to 2/3 of the total number of species of the Greater Caucasus and '/2 species of the entire Caucasus
(about 6000 species).
Vascular plant are related to the areal types, which represent different elements of flora:
- Eurasian boreal (for example, plants of coniferous forests);
- Eurasian and European moderately-(sub) oceanic (for example, Nemoral plants of deciduous forests);
- Eurasian and European meridional-submeridional (-moderately) continental (for example, plants of steppes and
forest steppes);
- Submediterranean/Alpine central European;
- (Mediterranean/alpine)- submediterranean, and eastern-Mediterranean species, Euxine, Colchian or western
Caucasian species are distributed and are endemics of the provinces or even local areas;
- (Sub-Mediterranean) - Central European and (Mediterranean)- Sub-Mediterranean oreophytes, typical highland
plants, besides included here are numerous species, which have only Caucasian or only western Caucasian
distribution. Cases of local endemism are also known in Western Caucasus.
The flora of Caucasus reserve has been explored best of all, a greater part of which is located in the northern
macroslope. Recorded at the reserve territory are 1586 species (503 genus, 121 families) of vascular plants. From
the total quantity of species, 10% are tertiary relicts. The composition of vascular plant flora of the reserve has 416
endemic forms or 26.2% of their total quantity. Endemism of highland flora overall is higher and constitutes 35%.
Caucasian endemics represent the largest group. related with the Greater Range in its origin. The forest flora of the
reserve includes 16% of endemic species. The flora of Fisht-Oshtensky massif of Lagonaki highland is characterized
by the highest uniqueness. Three types of local endemic of this district are noted here, and 22 species are narrow
regional endemics.
The flora of Sochi National Park is distinguished by very high species diversity and comprises 2,026 species of
vascular plants, of which 164 species belong to trees, shrubs, sub-shrubs and climbers, and the remaining to herbs.
In view of direct proximity to the Caucasus reserve, a majority of the species of the National Park coincides with that
grown at the reserve. The number of rare plants, animals and mushrooms, included in the Red Book of the Russian
Federation and Krasnodar Territory exceeds 70 species. A large numbers of rare Mediterranean species, majority of
which is in the Red Books of different levels, are present. Abkhazian floristic endemics are concentrated in the
southeastern part of the nominated area. Among 84 Abkhazian endemics at the nominated area of SNP growth of 35
species has been noted.
Wildlife
"Western Caucasus" is part of Holartic biogeographical realm and by faunistic zoning of Caucasus belongs to two
large biogeographical sub-realms: Circumboreal and Central Asian. The Site at the Circumboreal realm is
represented by the Caucasus forest district of European forest province, and widely distributed forest species are
represented in its fauna, found here often at the boundary of its distribution or away from the basic areal. The fauna
of Central Asian subregion is represented by the Caucasus mountain meadow district, occupying subalpine, alpine
and subnival belts and part of Nagorno-Asian province.
The wildlife of -Western Caucasus" site is extremely varied. Among the animals living here are a multitude of endemic
and protected species.
Shellfish
Shellfish fauna of Caucasus reserve, jointly with the territory of Sochi National Park. includes no less than 128
species. The list is to be considered as incomplete. Terrestrial spineless gastropods are predominant. Overwhelming
majority of shellfish constitute the Caucasian group species (80 species) 70%, including Colchian species (29) - 25%,
western Caucasian (27) - 24% and General Caucasian (24)
-
21%. The remaining groups in total constitute less than 30% of the total number of species: boreal (21)
-
18.4% and Eastern Mediterranean (12) -11.4%.
Insects
Information about the region's entomofauna is not complete. More than 2.500 species have been recorded (forecast
strength about 15,000). Entomofauna best of all has been studied on the territory of the Caucasus reserve. Here it is
represented by more than 20 orders. Ninety-eight insect species have been included in the Red Book of Russia and
regional Red Books. The largest by the number of species is beetles. About 5,000 species of the representatives of
this order comprising of more than 70 families inhabit at all the biotopes of all attitudinal belts. About 12% of beetles
are endemic to Caucasus. Similarly, among this order there are many tertiary relicts.
The species composition of lepidopterous insect group is rich and varied. The rarest endemic of Caucasus is Apollo
Nordmann and Polyxena. Protected on the territory of the reserve are 31 species of butterflies, included in the Red
Book of Russia and regional Red Books, and three are included in IUCN Red List.
The hymenoptrans group is quite varied. Among Syrphidac about 200 species have been detected, 137 species of
Dolichopodidae have been described, and among them more than 20 species are endemic.
Ichthyofauna
Twenty-eight species of fish inhabit the rivers of "Western Caucasus", live among them are included in IUCN Red
List. The brook trout is the common specie of the upper and middle course of a majority of the Site rivers. The richest
is the ichthyofauna of Sochi National Park. It is represented by 27 species and subspecies, related to 24 genus, 8
bloodlines, 7 orders. The representatives of 10 species and subspecies of 4 bloodline fish are characteristic for the
lower course of the rivers.
Herpetofauna
The world of amphibians and reptiles of "Western Caucasus" is distinguished by the uniqueness; many types are
represented by several sub-species. Each second specie of the amphibians and reptiles inhabiting here is located at
the boundary or in total separation from its basic areal. At the Site territory, four types of representative areas of these
groups criss-cross (Tuniev, 1994): European, Eastern Mediterranean, Colchian and Caucasian. Sochi National Park
is among the most interesting regions of Caucasus isthumus in herpetological relation. Between 86 amphibian and
reptile species, inhabiting the Caucasus, 29 (32.6%) are registered within SNP. An overwhelming majority of the
species are represented by endemic and relict forms (amphibians — 66%, reptiles -47.7%).
Birds
Avifauna of "Western Caucasus" numbers 246 species, among them about half are nestling, 23 species are included
in the Red Book of Russia and 11 in IUCN Red List.
The presence of endemic species and sub-species of birds is a unique feature of avifauna of the region. Endemism is
manifested most at the sub-species level. Endemic species are lesser, among the Caucasian snowcock, Caucasian
blackcock, and Caucasian chiff-chaff.
The unique migration routes of the birds cross the territory of "Western Caucasus. One of them passes along the
Black Sea coast. Smaller migration flows of birds fly over the mountain river valleys.
Sochi National Park is an Important Bird Area of global significance by three key features. Here is a considerable
number of species with endemic or organic areal, and species whose propagation is limited by one biotope. Avifauna
of the national park numbers 234 species, representing 16 orders: among them 99 are related to nestling, 87 to flying,
36 flying in for wintering, 12 vagrant species.
Mammals
The mammal fauna of "Western Caucasus"numbers 8 species, 11 of them have been included in the Red Book of
Russia and 17 in IUCN Red List. Small animals constitute about 60% of the species diversity.
The smallest representatives of mammals are related to the insect-eating order, which numbers 11 species.
At "Western Caucasus" 22 species of night bats, with each third species included in the Red Book of Russia, inhabit.
Rodents are the most numerous order of mammals, that numbers 23 species, among which almost half is
represented by relict or endemic forms. Predatory animals at the Site territory number 17 species. Wolves are
numerous (about 80 permanently living animals).
Seven hoofed mammal species inhabit "Western Caucasus". The wide spread representatives of cloven-hoofed
mammals common for this territory are the Caucasian gazelle and West Caucasian Tur. The unique representative of
"Western Caucasus" mammal fauna is the bison.
Name of property: Testament of Kenozero Lake
Coordinates: N 62 E38
Date of submission: 11/04/2014
Criteria:
Submitted by: Permanent Delegation of the Russian Federation to UNESCO
WH list (name, id):
State, Province or Region: Archangelskaya oblast, Kenozero National Park
Brief Description
The National Reserve of Kenozero takes the territory of a hilly glacifluvial plain with many lakes and other diverse
glacial forms of landscape. Due to geological conditions, the plain forms a specific uplift surrounded by vast wetlands
and taiga forests. This fact induces a relative isolation and a high patchiness of the landscape.
These mentioned peculiarities justify the exceptional attractiveness of this place for numerous peasant settlements
inclined to limnic landscapes, as well as a highly developed communal farming system with its typical harmonious
balance of forest industrial lands, pasturable lealands, and campestral agricultural lands. The settling system took
shape in the X II-XV I centuries and generally persists unchanged until nowadays. Historical plans and buildings,
typical country estate organization and traditional country houses with their painted frontages, carved balconies,
fenestral architraves, traditional inner decorations and housing facilities are preserved in settlements. Nearby almost
each village are located wooden chapels, most of which are genuine masterpieces of Russian wooden art of building,
as well as sacred groves, i.e. local territories of primary forest until now worshipped by indigenous people.
Picturesque lakesides with their fanciful shapes, various creeks and islands, silhouettes of wooden chapels and holy
groves, ancient small villages, fluvioglacical hills and boulder fields represent masterpieces of beauty of the European
North and, at the same time, vividly bear witness the Ice Age of geological history of this land.
The Kenozero National Park was created over here in 1991. It includes a system of lakes, the biggest of which are
Kenozero and Lekshmosero. The security arrangement established for the territory of the national park involves
suitable regulations in order to maintain traditional natural resources management and preserve historical and cultural
monuments. All this comes under the range of its primary targets. Starting from 2004 the National Park is attributable
to biospheric reserves of UNESCO.
Name of property: Bashkir Ural
Coordinates: S53 08 30 E57 00 30
Date of submission: 30/01/2012
Criteria:
Submitted by: Secretariat of the Commission of the Russian Federation for UNESCO
WH list (name, id):
State, Province or Region: Republic of Bashkortostan
Brief Description
The natural and cultural complex "Bashkir Ural" is located on the western macroslope of the Southern Urals within the
limits of the mountain forest zone of Bashkortostan. "Bashkir Ural" occupies the territory of approximately 45
thousand hectares (450 km2). The main part of the complex "Bashkir Ural" is slightly affected by the man-induced
changes (the standard residential population density makes up 2,3 people per square meter) and consists of a
specifically protected state wilderness area "Shulgan-Tash" and a part of a state entomological wildlife reserve "Altyn
Solok".
The eastern part of the complex "Bashkir Ural" is located at the junction of two massive wood biomes of Europeantype broadleaved forests and light-coniferous and Siberia-type parvifoliate hemiboreal forests with grass layer. About
90% of the complex territory is covered with woods.
The land area of "Bashkir Ural" comprises a high diversity of wild landscapes: mountain rivers gorges, plateau-like
summated szyrts, steep-sloped ranges, bottom-lands and water storage basins. Low anthropogenic effect, variety of
land forms within the complex territory and the convergence of European and Siberian floristic and faunal
assemblages made conditions for a particularly high biodiversity of the complex. All of the above mentioned points
have, in its turn, been making the given area attractive for a man to live since ancient times and defined the natural
management culture and traditions.
The famous cave Shulgan-Tash (Kapova) belongs to the unique phenomena - it is one of the largest coves in the
Southern Urals with more than 150 Paleolithic cave drawings of global importance having been discovered (drawings
of mammoths, horses, rhinoceroses, bulls and abstract characters in red ochre). The radiochemical analysis testifies
that Shulgan-Tash drawings are not less than 13-14 thousands years old. Such antique cave art can be found only in
France and Spain. Discovery of the Paleolithic art in the Southern Urals within the distance of 4 thousand kilometers
from Pyrenees gives evidence to the existence of the Ural center of the Paleolithic culture (the second after the
South-Western Europe).
A dwelling site of Paleolithic people with plenty of bonfires, charcoal and different objects have been found in the
vegetable soils of Shulgan-Tash cave during the recent years. As much as 193 objects were found, with the tools
made of the local cryptalline limestone, calci-spar and green and brown jasper prevailing. Green serpentinite
ornamentals, discovered in the soil, are purely unique. There are also pendants made of bones or, possibly,
mammoth tusks. Discovery of a clay lamp fragment was unique, since earthenware is very rarely found in the cultural
Paleolithic soils.
Since ancient times to the present days within the area of "Bashkir Ural" there have existed the settlements of
indigenous inhabitants, guarding and carrying on the archaic traditions, customs and rites of the Bashkir people, their
culture stemming from the semi-nomadic lifestyle. Their legends, mythological epic cyclus, archaic rites are full of
cosmogonic mythology with the Shulgan-Tash cave cult being its core. This cult, surviving from the Stone Age up to
the present, has reflected in many ancient eposes of the Southern Urals (eposes: "Ural-Batyr", "Akbuzat", "KaraYurga", "Akhak Kola" and others). The wildlife preserve "Altyn Solok" (which means a "Golden Bee-tree") comprises
objects of historical and ethnographic value, being the domain of the Bashkir national culture: "Masim" ridge,
"Babsak-biya" burial mound, "Yilkysykkan" lake; 5 sites, explicitly referred to in the Bashkir epos are also found here.
Age-old traditions of national harvesting are sparingly preserved within the territory of the complex; among other
factors, wild-hive beekeeping is being revived. Forest bee-keeping is an ancient and globally unique way of national
harvesting of the Bashkir people. This craft concerns bringing the honey-bee clusters in to the artificially made and
fitted caverns. Major efforts in genetic conservation of the Burzyan wild hive bee are under way.
Name of property: Bikin River Valley (Extension of the "Central Sikhote-Alin")
Coordinates:
Date of submission: 19/11/2010
Criteria:
Submitted by: Permanent Delegation of the Russian Federation to UNESCO
WH list (name, id):
State, Province or Region: Pozharski District, Primorski Region.
Brief Description
The nominated territory is situated 80-100 km to the north from the «Central Sikhote-Alin» World Heritage Property.
As the main cluster (the Sikhote-Alin State Reserve), it belongs to Amur- Coastal physiographic region. However
while the Sikhote-Alin State Reserve covers mainly the eastern macro slope of Central Sikhote-Alin, the nominated
territory occupies its western macro slope, adding a consonant feature to recognized outstanding universal value of
the World Natural Heritage Property. The nominated Special Protected Natural Areas represent the landscape
preserve "Verkhnebikinsky" and the Territory of traditional nature use of the indigenous small people - they adjoin
each other and occupy the upper and middle parts of the Bikin river valley, situated at the North of Primorski Region.
In the natural landscapes classification the Central Sikhote-Alin it is possible to count as the complex of different taiga
and unmoral (broad-leaved) ecosystems. The golets and Middle Mountains with the fragments of mountain tundra,
overgrows of spread and alpine meadows change by dark coniferous taiga and larch forests on the mountain slopes
and plateau. The Korean cedar appears in the lower part of the strip of fir-spruce forests and then transition strip of
the cedar-spruce and spruce-cedar forest forms. The participation of unmoral elements is increased in the formation
of the plant groupings. Specific combination of the natural factors has determined the contact of the typical fir-spruce
forests with the boreal appearance, the broad-leaved cedar and the valley mixed forests with the considerable
participation of unmoral elements in all the layers of the forest phytocenosis in this region.
Fauna of the Central Sikhote-Alin is rather rich and specific. The existences of a number of habitats that ensure the
needs as of the widely spread as of endemic species are explained by the specific of the vegetation cover and
landscape combination. The total number of species from the Mammals which representatives can be found in the
region including Chiroptera and those species that were registered compile till 65.
31 species of mammals are concentrated in the cedar-broad-leaved forest belt. The main hunting lands of Amur tiger
(Panthera tigris altaica), settled by this predator with a high density, are also there. In the river Bikin Valley 30-35
heads of tiger are preserved. There exist the ecological corridors for the predator and its potential victim's migrations
to the basins of the neighbor rivers Khora, Bolshaya Ussurka (Iman) and to the Japanese Sea coast. As the SikhoteAlin Reserve area, the Bikin river valley territory is the habitat of Amur tiger (Panthera tigris altaica) of vital importance
as reproductive centre.
The valley of Bikin and flood-plain vegetation complexes contain the considerable number of species. There are
observed the maximum densities of the habitats for many of them. The natural phenomenon, high mountain (golets)
landscape with the accompanying complex of narrow area and "Northern" animal species, that is typical for its height
belt, is expressed good on the watersheds of the ranges.
Among species which inhabit the territory, the top urgent for conservation is Amur tiger (Panthera tigris altaica) - its
subpopulation within the Central Sikhote-Alin maintains the integrity of habitats. Far East forest cat (Felis euptilura)
and mogera mole (Mogera wogura) inhabit the peripheries of habitats and it defines their inconstant number and
dispersion. Himalayan black bear (Ursus thibetanus) inhabits cedar-broadleaf forests with the density around 1
animal per 10 square km. Brown bear (Ursus arctos) with the highest density inhabits the cedar-broadleaf and cedar
forests.
The following species are common for this territory: sable (Martes zibellina), otter (Lutra lutra), Siberian striped
weasel (Mustela sibiricus), mink (Mustela vison), Indian marten (Martes flavigula), ermine (Mustela erminea), lynx
(Lynx lynx), elk (Alces alces), maral (Cervus elaphus), wild hog (Sus scrofa), roe deer (Сapreolus capreolus), musk
deer (Moschus sibiricus), blue hare (Lepus timidus), coney (Ochotona alpina), squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris), chipmunk
(Eatomias sibiricus), flying squirrel (Pteromis volans) and some murine rodents.
Insectivore order (Insektovora) is represented by Ussuri hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus ussuriensis), Far East
mogera (Mogera robusta), and some species of common shrews.
Avifauna of this territory by its species composition and ecological structure is very unusual. There is known 241
species of birds belonging to 17 orders in the basin of the Bikin River. Among them nearly 72% were marked as really
nestling, the other are met during seasonal migrations on the wintering or appear as summer staying or flowed
accidentally. The main ornithological associations are distributed in the next way: in the cedar-broad-leaved forest
complex there are 40-45 nestling species, in the cedar-spruce forest complex - nearly 40 species, in the fir-spruce
forest complex - 35-30 species. In golets, where bird fauna was studied insufficiently completely, there should settle
about 15 species of the nestling birds. Mergus sguamatus and Ketupa blakistoni are included into the red Book of the
IUCN.
Name of property: The archeological site of Tanais
Coordinates:
Date of submission: 24/02/2009
Criteria:
Submitted by: UNESCO Chair in Urban and Architectural Conservation
WH list (name, id):
State, Province or Region: Rostov on Don region
Brief Description
The city of Tanais was founded in the first quarter of the 3rd century by Greek colonists who came from Bosporon to
the mouth of the Tanais river (now Don) which was the area of habitation and migration of various tribes: Sarmatians,
Macotians, Alans, Goth etc.
Tanais quickly developed into an emporium (trading settlement) at the farthest northeastern extension of the Hellenic
cultural sphere, a natural post first for the trade of the steppes reaching away eastwards in an unbroken grass sea to
the Altai, the Scythian Holy Land, second for the trade of the Black Sea, ringed with Greek-dominated ports and
entrepots, and for trade from impenetrable north, furs and slaves brought down the Don.
The ancient historian Strabo mentions Tanais in his Geography (XI/2/3, final edition in 23AD):"it was the common
marth both of the Asiatic and the European nomads and of those who navigate the lake from the Bosporus, some of
whom bring slaves and hides, or any nomadic commodity; others exchange wine for clothes and other articles
peculiar to a civilized mode of life''.
A small emporium slowly became a large center of commerce and handcraft production, its location for a long time
determined the role of the city in the realization of contacts between two civilization, the Ancient Greece and
barbarian worlds. The influence of the surrounding steppe peoples on all sides of the city-life was much stronger than
in other ancient centers on the Black Sea coast and finally a new original culture was born.
Tanais was a colony of the Bosporian Kingdom but it tried to keep some independence and in 8 year BC has been
partly destroyed by the forces of the King Polemon. After that from I-middle III centuries AD started the second period
of Tanais development. The active new constructions proceeded in II - beginning of III centuries AD. During the II
century AD the territory of the main quadrangle transformed into a fortified fortress where resides a governor general
of the King of Bosporus. The role of Tanais was raising in the policy of Bosporus taken into account that the governor
general has been as mediator in the relations with the Sarmatians tribe the opinions of which the Bosporan Kingdom
obliged to take into consideration. In II-III centuries AD Tanais became one of the important center at the steppe
region, around of Tanais eared the agricultural settlements.
In the middle of the III century AD Tanais was bunt and ruined probably by the Goths but in the second half of the IV
century AD Tanais was rehabilitated but the site had not the previous significance in spite of Tanais remained the big
center of culture and transit point at the ways of nomads. After the first half of the V AD century Tanais became an
uninhabited city town, but in the VIII-IX AD centuries near this site appeared the settlement of the Khazar Khanate,
but the territory of the ruins of Tanais has not been covered with later buildings and until now is preserved at the initial
construction of the ancient city of Tanais.
Prof. I.A. Stempkovsky in 1823 afker the investigations deterrninated the location of the Tanais city and the first
archaeological works begun in 1853 by prof. P.M. Leontyev from the Moscow University. Prof, P.M. Leontyev
published in 1854 the results "Archaeological investigations on the territory of the ancient Tanais and its
surroundings" where he undertook an attempt to locate some living quarters at the territory of the Tanais settlement.
The archaeological excavations have been continued in 1867 by N.I. Tizengauzen, in 1870 by P.I. Hitsunov, in 19081909 by N.I. Velelovskiy that confirmed the conclusions of P.M. Leontyev.
Tanais as archaeological site is under the State protection from 14.10.1948 and in 1960 was created "the
Archaeological museum-reserve Tanais". The regular archaeological investigations, including the excavations,
started in 1955 and are continuing until the present time with the participations during the last ten years of specialists
from the German Institute of Archaeology and the Warsaw University of Archaeology.
Up to the present results of archaeological investigations and excavations the following archaeological objects of
ancient Tanais was deteminated and included into the List of the Federal monument significance:
-Main quadrangle of the site of ancient settlement what is a museum-reserve exposition under the open sky. The
quadrangle of the site is the main part of the city existed from the III century BS to the middle of V century AD,
dimension 240 250 meters, arounded by the deep moats and the fortified walls with the towers of the II century BC
destroyed by the King Polemon and rehabilitated only in the II century AD. At the excavated areas could see the
streets, side-streets determinating the quarters with the dwelling houses and service buildings.
-Western region (150 x 125 meters) of the III-I centuries BC is presenting the separate small quarters with the narrow
twisting side-streets and passages and the houses constructed up to the local tribe traditions.
-Western subject city (area - 1,5 hectares), excavations started in 1998 year, settlement of the end of III century BC,
there are three farmsteads constructed in sandstone into the Greek architectural traditions.
-The lower city (II century BC - V century BC) is a fortified site of the Tanais city with the walls and the deep moats.
Name of property: The Ilmensky mountains
Coordinates: N54 58 - 55 21 E60 07 - 60 22
Date of submission: 11/08/2008
Criteria:
Submitted by: Lenin Illmensky state Reserve, Urals branch of Russian Ccademy of Sciences
WH list (name, id):
State, Province or Region: Chelyabinskaya oblast, Miass
Brief Description
The Ilmensky mountains are located in the Southern Urals between 54 58 - 55 21
northern latitude and 60 07 – 60 22 eastern longitude in the Chelyabiskaya oblast on
the administrative territory of the Miass city in Chebarkulsky and Argayashsky districts.
The nearest railway track is in Miass, and the nearest international airport is 100 km to
the East, in Chelyabinsk.
Geo-mineralogical characteristics of the Ilmenogorsky complex
The Ilmensky mountains are a unique geological phenomenon famous for its
semiprecious and rare-metal mineralisation of the pegmatite lodes and wine spread of
the rare for the Urals alkaline rocks - nepheline syenites. Different metamorphic and
plutonic rocks, to this or that degree modified by deformational and metasomatic
processes, are host to them. The diversity of Ilmensky mountain rocks are known as the
"Ilmenogorsky complex".
The Pegmatites of the Ilmenogorsky complex
The Pegmatites of the Ilmenogorsky complex are specific geological formations, which
are coarse-grained or giant-grained rocks forming separate geological bodies. These
bodies have specific shape, internal structure and mineral composition. As a rule they
have contrasting borders with more fine-grained host rocks and can be clearly identified.
Pegmatites present the greatest interest in the study of the Ilmenogorsky complex,
since they contain the most interesting minerals and associations as well as the biggest
and perfect mineral crystals. According the main rock-forming minerals, there are three
main pegmatite types: granitic, miaskitic and syenitic. Granitic pegmatites contain the
primary rock-forming quartz; the miaskitic pegmatites contain nepheline; the syenitic
pegmatites do not contain neither quartz, nor nepheline, feldspar being the main
mineral. The detailed studies of the pegmatites held in the 20th century helped to
systematise them into the group of separate age groups and define their peculiarities of
structure and mineral composition.
Group I is the earliest: pre-miaskitic granitic pegmatites. The pegmatites of this group
are coarse-grained, their graphic structure and zoning are not clear-cut, deformation is
well pronounced (boudinage, undulated textures, cataclasis, quartz granulation). The
quantity and diversity of the accessory minerals is relatively small: magnetite, zircon,
allanite, betafite, much less muscovite, fluorite, apatite and some other minerals.
Group II comprises alkaline pegmatites: miaskitic ans syenitic. Their formation is linked
to the alkaline process in general. Due to the peculiarities of their composition and
interrelations, they can be split into 3 subgroups identifying different phases of the
alkaline process:
- IIa: feldspatltic pegmntites nnd feldspatholites (syenitic) are linked to the early stages
of the alkaline process. They have various bodies of very complex branchy form. The
diversity of some accessory minerals is relatively small, but in certain lodes or their
segments they are abundant and occasionally mineable (for example, molybdenite):
magnetite, pyrochlore, aeschynite, zircon, allanite, titanite, apatite, molybdenite,
ferrimolybdite, powellite, less frequently monazite and sarnarskite.
- IIb: miaskitic pegmatites (nepheline is the dominating mineral) are linked to the
maximal stage of the alkaline process. They have bodies of various and often very
complex form. They are peculiar for the cavities containing accessory minerals in the
form of big and perfect crystals. They used to be produced originally for commercial
purposes (collections and faceting) and later on for scientific studies. The main are
cancrinite, sodalite, wischnewite, ilmenite and magnetite, zircon, pyrochlore, aeschynite,
columbite, apatite and others.
- IIc: corundum- feldspathic pegmatites (syenitic, always contain corundum), are linked
to the late phases of the alkaline process. The form of the pegmatite bodies and lodes is
relatively simple, lens- or plate-like, sometimes zoning is well-pronounced. The
corundum concentration and its quantities in some lodes are so big that in the 19Ih
century it used to be produced as abrasive material. In some lodes corundum produces
the asterism effect. The typical accessory minerals are zircon, columbite, samarskite,
pyrochlore, aeschynite, monazite; spinel (pleonast- herzynite), garnet, chrysoberyl.
Group III: postmiaskitic granite pegmatites. They have quite thin bodies with simple
plate-like form. Among the accessory minerals are zircon (malacon), fergusonite,
betaphite chevkinite, apatite, thorite, titanite, ilmenite, helvite and others.
Group IV: amazonite pegmatites. This is the best-known type of pegmatites and one of
the first to be produced and studied in the Ilmensky mountains. It was the main
commercial attraction of these mountains in the 19th century: precious topaz, beryl
(including aquamarine) and phenacite (for faceting) were produced here, as well as
amazonite - beautiful perfect green microcline crystals - for collections. Amazonite
pegmatites have simple plate-like bodies, but the inner structure of many is rather
complex, with big cavities and perfect crystals inside. The mineral composition of this
group of pegmatites is very diverse: in total there are more than 60 minerals. The most
usual (besides rock-forming minerals) are topaz, beryl, phenacite, tourmaline,
columbite, monazite and others. Alumo-fluorides are quite rare (cryolithionite,
pachnolite, ralstonite, prosopite, cryolite, chiolite, gearksutite, thomsenolite),
astrophyllite kupletskite and others.
Rock associations of the Ilmenogorsky complex
Rock associations of the Ilmenogorsky complex are numerous and feature up to 70
types of plutonic and metamorphic rocks. Alkoline rocks of the Ilmenogorsky complex
are among the most recurrent. They possess a diverse mineral composition, forming
numerous varieties. The forms of the geological bodies that they compose and the
peculiarities of their relationships with the host rocks are also diverse. The biggest
Ilmenogorsky massif of alkaline rocks is situated in the southern part of the Ilmensky
ridge. It has a tear-shaped form with the dimensions 18x4,5 km stretching out in the
submeridional direction. A series of relatively small and narrow alkaline rock bodies of
the same type as the rocks of the Ilmenogorsky massif are submeridionally oriented to
the north. The nepheline syenites, which produced a big group of alkaline rocks, were
for the first time in the world science described in the beginning of the 19th century by I.
Menge in the Ilmensky mountains and got the name of "ilmensky granite" due to the
external similarity with granite which contains nepheline instead of quartz. Starting from
the second half of the 19thcentury I.V.Mushketov set into use their present name
"miaskite". The most wide spread types of alkaline rocks are biotite, biotite-amphibolite
and amphibolite miaskites and syenites, miaskitic and syenitic migmatites, sandyites
and fenites. The main rock-forming minerals are potassium-sodium feldspars (usually
with perthite or antiperthite structure), nepheline (in miaskites), biotites and amphiboles.
Among accessory minerals are titanites, zircon, apatite, les frequently pyrochlore and
magnetite. The data of the last 5-7 years give grounds to relate the alkaline rocks of the
complex with abyssal alkaline-ultrabasic magmatism. Associations of basic and ultrabasic rocks are mostly represented by small boudine like and lens-like bodies and less
frequently by relatively big massifs (Nyashevsky, Bayksky and others), which are
randomly placed in the blastomylonite matrix and concentrated in chains along the
junction zones of the tectonic plates. The ultrabasic rocks are represented by metahyperbasites: serpentinites in big bodies, talc-carbonate, talc-antophillite, talc-tremoliteantophillite, olivine-enstatite, enstatite and other rocks, almost not containing the relicts
of the primary minerals. The basic rocks are associated with meta-hyperbasites in
tributary quantities, and are represented by gamet, zoisite, gamet- zoisite-corundum,
cummingtonite and other amphibolites. Rarely do they display their primary magmatic
structure (gabbro texture). According to the geochemical specificity these rocks are
represented by Urazbaevskaya metabasite-peridotite association, which is formed by
metasomatically transformed alkaline- ultrabasic rocks (from the ijolite-jacupirangitic
series).
Associations of granitoids are spatially linked to the peripheral parts of the Ilmenogorsky
complex, mostly to the eastern and southern ones. They formed between early
Ordovician and Triassic periods. The main genetic groups are:
- basalt and alkaline-basalt magma derivatives (urazbaevsky, pustozerovsky,
kundravinsky, uvildinsky complexes);
- ultrametamorphogenetic granitoids (chashkovsky complex);
- palingenetic crustal magma derivatives (sabanaysky complex).
In a number of complexes different types of migmatites have been identified
(metasomatic, injection-metasomatic and injection types), reflexing the stages of their
formation. All the granitoid associations go together with dyke complex. Metamorphic
rocks are numerous and diverse. They compose a thick stratum, which can be split into
3 structural-substantial segments: selyankinsky block, ilmensky and saitovsky series.
They host plutonic rocks. The most recurrent are gneisses, amphibolites, schist,
quartzites. The formation of the metamorphic rocks strata passed several stages over a
long period of time: the most ancient are 2,2 bn years old, the youngest are 150 m
years old. Metamorphism went on with brittle-ductile deformations, and its high level
corresponds to the granulite and amphibolite factions.
Relief
The area around the Ilmensky mountains is one of the highest mountain ranges of the
eastern foothill of the northern part of the Southern Urals. This mountain range runs
meridian- wards up to lake Kundravinsky in the south, and in the north to the group of
lakes: Silach, Irtyash, Kasli, Uvildy. The Southern part of the mountains situated
between the lakes Kundravinsky and Ilmensky, is called the Chashkovsky mountains; to
the north from them is the Ilmensky ridge and further to the north - the Vishnevy and
Sysertsky mountains. The Chashkovsky and Ilmensky mountains are separated from
the main chain of the Urals by the wide valley of the river Miass.
The Ilmensky mountains represent a system of ridges which go down from 754,1 m
above the sea level in the South (mountain Ilmentau) to 364 m in the North. The central
ridge runs 28 km from lake Ilmensky in the south to lake Ishkul in the north. The side
western ridge 11 km long in the region of lake Ishkul is called the Ishkul ridge (mountain
Ishkul, 661 m). In this region the Ilmensky ridge, crossed by rivers and springs, is
scarcely pronounced. The average height of the ridge between lake Ishkul and lake
Terenkul is about 400 m asl. In the northern part of the Ilmensky mountains between
lake Terenkul and Argazinsky reservoir (14 km) there are 2 parallel ridges of low
mountains.
The major part of the Ilmensky mountains belong to Lenin Ilmensky state Reserve, the
Ural branch of Russian Academy of Sciences (the Reserve) with the area of 303,8 km2.
The typical feature of the zonal-geographic position of the Reserve is its location in the
transitional territory between the mountainous woodland of the Urals to the plain
wooded steppe of the Zauralie and Western-Siberian lowland.
Climate
The climate is acutely continental with hot summer and cold winter. January with its
average monthly temperature -20,8 C is the coldest month in the year, July with
average monthly temperature +18,4 C is the warmest. Late frosts are quite common.
The weather is unstable: dry and rainy summers can come in tums, as well as frosty
winters with little snow and mild winters with much snow. The precipitation level
fluctuates between 500-800mm per year, the maximum is reached in warm season. The
depth of the snow cover reaches lm and can stay up to 195 days running. The frost-free
period lasts 80-90 days, but morning frosts occur throughout the year.
Water
There are more than 40 rivers on the territory of the Reserve, most of them flow from
the Ilmensky ridge. The rivers are short, shallow, with steep falls in rocky shores and
beds. In winter when the snow melts or after a strong rain the rivers tum into foamy
streams. In summer they usually dry up, water remains only in the deepest holes, under
the placers and in the strong springs feeding the rivers. The longest river is Bolshaya
Cheremshanka (9,8 km). There are about 30 lakes on the territory which make part of
the Kaslinsko-Kyshtymski lake system. There are 2 types of lakes: deep-water lakes
with clear water in firm rocky shores, with scarce vegetation and little biomass stores
(Bolshoy and Maly Kisegachi, Bolshoy Miassovo, Bolshoy Ishkul, Terenkul, Baraus,
Savelkul, Karmakkul) and numerous shallow lakes with well-developed water and earth
vegetation and big biomass reserves.
Flora
The territory of the Reserve makes part of the Vishnevogorsko-Ilmenogorsky
geobotanical district of the pine-birch forest sub-zone. More than 82,3 % of the territory
is covered with forests, 50 % are pine-woods, 44 % are birch woods, and the rest are
deciduous aspen and alder forests. Pine dominates in the southern half of the Reserve,
starting from the latitude at Selyankino-Miassovo and near lakes B. Ishkul, Karmakkul,
Araktaban, Sharankul. On the rest of the forest territory birch prevails. Other species are
mixed with these two or form there own massifs on small spots.
On the territory of the Reserve one can come across coniferous taiga forests and
patches of herbal-poaceous steppes, northem sphagnous marshes and bushy steppes,
light birch forests and shady riparian forests, tall-grass mountainous meadows, lowland
ling marshes and stony placers with lichen stains.
The specific feature of the Reserve Bora is its mosaic character. There are no large
areas of homogeneous forests; all of them feature numerous glades and meadows of
different size.
The Reserve's flora counts about 927 vascular plants (50 relicts, 23 endemic species),
about 140 moss species, 483 algae species and 566 mushroom species.
On the territory of the Reserve there are a number of species included into the Red
Book of Russia: feather grass, downy-leaved feather grass, Zalessky feather grass,
moccasin flower, ladies'-slipper, neottianthe cucullata, Baltic orchis, fen orchis,
helmeted orchis, dark-winged orchis, Gelma sandwart, Krasheninnikov sandwart, Clare
astragalus. Besides 35 plant species are included into the red Book of the
Chelyabinkaya oblast.
Fauna
The fauna of the vertebrate animals in the Reserve counts 19 fish, 5 amphibian, 5
reptile, 174 bird and 48 mammal species.
The territory is inhabited by elks, roe deer, boars, foxes, wolves, lynxes, badgers,
common weasels, least weasels, forest ferrets, Siberian striped weasel, common
marten, American mink. Squirrels, beavers, muskrats, hares, dibblers, moles,
hedgehogs, voles are quite common, as well as chiropterans: pond bat, water bat,
Brandt's bat, whiskered bat, northern bat, long-eared bat, parti-coloured bat, Nathusius'
pipistrelle.
Bird species feature white-tailed eagles, honey hawks, boreal owls, gnome owls, hawk
owls, tawny owls, common scoters, cuckoos, wookcocks, common grouses, wood
grouses, hazel grouses, common partridges, shrikes, goldenmountain thrushes, blackthroated loons and others.
Among the invertibrates the most diverse are the anthropoids (3389 species), rotifers 166, Bat worms (1 25 species), ostraceans (24 species). In the Reserve there are
insects included in the Red Book of Russia (Calosoma sycophanta, Rimn blue, Apollo
butterfly, Bombus mastrucatus Gerstaecker and Bombus paradoxus); birds (eagle owls,
peregrine falcons, ernes, lesser white-fronted geese). The regional Red Book counts 73
animal species.
Name of property: Ensemble of the Astrakhan Kremlin
Coordinates: N46 20 50 E48 02 00
Date of submission: 28/04/2008
Criteria:
Submitted by: Commission of the Russian Federation for UNESCO
WH list (name, id):
State, Province or Region: Astrakhan Region
Brief Description
The Astrakhan Kremlin is a markworthy monument of military and engineering art of building of the second half of XVI
century and of the orthodox church architecture of XVII-XVIII centuries.
In 1558 a wooden Kremlin was built. Construction of stone fortification of Astrakhan Kremlin started during the reign
of Ivan the Terrible and it was completed during reign of Fedor Ioanovich with participation of Boris Godunov. Walls
and eight towers were erected in the period of 1582 - 1589. The project of the stone Kremlin was approved in
Moscow and Moscow specialists Mikhail Velyaminov, Grigoriy Ovzin and government official Dey Gubasty headed
reconstruction of the Kremlin. The configuration of the Kremlin was dictated by a local natural landscape. The Kremlin
planform is a right-angled triangle with walls of 3-3,5 m thickness and 7-1 1,3 m height. The whole length of walls is
1554 m, total area of the Kremlin is 11 hectares and these parameters are kept up to our days.
Initially the Kremlin walls had 8 towers and 7 of them are preserved to our days. Three towers have passages and
four other are blind: Red Gate, Nikolskay Gate, Prechistenskie Gate, Ordnance tower (or "Torture"), Arkhireyskaya,
Zhitnaya, Krymskaya (Crimean). The real embellishments of the Kremlin are unique orthodox temples: the Cathedral
of the Assumption, Trinity Cathedral (1 568) with adjoined Refectory Camber of former Trinity monastery (lost), Kirill's
Chapel (1 677), Over-the-gate Nikolskaya Church (1738) and the Cathedral bell tower (80 m height, 1910).
The Assumption Cathedral of the Astrakhan Kremlin is considered by right as one of the best pieces of the Russian
church architecture of the early XVIII century. During his visit to Astrakhan in 1722 Emperor Peter the Great
expressed admiration for the exquisitely decorated five-domed Assumption Cathedral: "In the whole of my empire,Peter said, - there is not a single cathedral as beautiful as this one".
Just after construction of the Kremlin walls a military garrison, the building of Administrative Chamber, Voevode's
mansion had been placed there. In XVIII century the Govemor Palace, Metropolitan's Chambers, the Govemor
Chancery and 131 dwelling houses were built in the Kremlin. In early 1720 all these dwelling houses were taken out
from the Kremlin and during the period of 1806 - 1813 only officer houses, barracks and other buildings for Astrakhan
garrison were constructed there.
In the middle of XX century the military garrison was withdrew from the territory of Astrakhan Kremlin and the garrison
service buildings adjacent to the wall were pulled down, but the house of officership front rooms preserved, in
general, its primary appearance up to date. The guard- house erected in 1808 in the center of the Kremlin exists now
and in spite of some inside re- planning it keeps the historical value as an object of original construction of the stone
Kremlin.
At present all existing buildings on the Kremlin territory are under protection of the State.
The Astrakhan Kremlin is bounded up with significant historical events in Russia:
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In 1556, the Astrakhan Khanate was conquered by Ivan the Terrible, who had a new fortress built
on a steep hill overlooking the Volga. In 1569, Astrakhan was besieged by the Ottoman army,
which had to retreat in disarray. A year later, the Sultan renounced his claims to Astrakhan, thus
opening the entire Volga River to Russian traffic. In the 17th century, the city was developed as a
Russian gate to the Orient. Many merchants from Armenia, Persia, India and Khiva settled in the
downtown, giving it a multinational and variegated character.
In 1614 inhabitants of Astrakhan took by storm the Kremlin and expelled Marina Mnishek (she
would like to seize the Russian Throne) and her protector ataman (Cossack chieftain) Zarutskiy.
For seventeen months in 1670-1671 Astrakhan was held by Stenka Razin and his Cossacks.
The city rebelled against the tsar once again in 1705, when it was held by the Cossacks under
Kondraty Bulavin. A Kalinuck khan laid an abortive siege to the kremlin several years prior to that.
In 171 1, it was made a capital of a gubemiya, whose first governors included Artemy Petrovich
Volynsky and Vasily Nikitich Tatishchev. Six years later, Astrakhan served as a base for the first
Russian venture into Central Asia.
In 1942, during the World War II Astrakhan stood the siege and the Astrakhan Kremlin played
again a role of the main defence of the Astrakhan City which has not been occupied.
At the present time towers, walls and monuments of the Astrakhan Kremlin are under restoration for its 450
anniversary in 2008. The works on preparation of Kremlin properties as museum pieces are also in progress.
In the center of Kremlin, in the building of former Administration of Military Commander it is presented museum
exposition "Culture and Mode of Life of Peoples of Astrakhan Region". In the exposition there are unique artefacts of
Russians, Tatars, Kazakhs, Kalmyks and some other peoples of the Lower Volga. Now it is supposed to place the
Residence of Astrakhan Governor and his Chancellery in the building of former military store.
On the first tier of the Red Gate Tower it is placed an exhibition "the History of Astrakhan Gamson" and on the third
tier at a height 14,7 m there is a vista point for tourists.
Name of property: Krasnoyarsk Stolby
Coordinates: N55 57 40 E92 48 25
Date of submission: 06/03/2007
Criteria:
Submitted by: Ministry of Natural Resources
WH list (name, id):
State, Province or Region: Berzyozovka district, Krasnoyarsk territory
Brief Description
The nominated area is located on the north-western spur of the Eastern Sayan. Its natural borders are right tributaries
of the Yenisey River; in the north-east the Bazaikha, in the south and south-west - the rivers Mana and Bolshaya
Slimeva. In the north-east the territory borders on the suburb of Krasnoyarsk.
Geology
According to geomorphological division the territory where "Stolby" is located lies in the zone of contact of AltaiSayan mountain country with Mid-Siberian plateau and Western Siberian plain. The rocks are mostly of sedimentary
and volcanic origin, aged from the Cambrian (more than 600 million years old) to the Carbon period. Stolby's
massive, comprising all the known rocks ("stolby"), is a part of Shumikhinskiy intrusive complex formed of pinkish-red
quartz syenite. It has a linear shape and stretches in the north-eastern direction, where the ancient remains - "stolby"
- are located in the form of a chain.
Petrographic structure is plain, rocks are mostly formed of potassium feldspar - orthoclase. On the whole, Stolby's
massive has a shape of a stock (drop-like or cylindrical shape) 'and in accordance with geophysical data goes down
to a significant depth. In the process of cooling of melting magma, which penetrated from the depth of 500 - 1500 m
into a layer of peneplain there formed a system of cracks naturally spread across the whole massive. Selective
weathering along those cracks led to the formation of mattress-like prismatic detachments, which caused all the
diversity of the rock outcrops. In the region of syenite intrusion there are more than 600 rock outcrops and about 60 of
them are 50-100 metres high.
Relief.
The newest rise and division of the territory has continued during the Cainozoi era (30-35 million years) until
nowadays. Ancient peneplainized surface risen in the regicrn of the nature reserve up to 700-900 m above sea level
was considerably influenced by water erosion, which was the cause of the formation of winding arcs of Listvyazhnyi,
Central (Abatakskiy) and Kaidynskiy ridges, each one about 11-16 km long. On the Carnbrian deposits surrounding
"Stolby" from the North, East and West karst areas appeared. Among them there are fields of karst craters, caves up
to 200 m deep, rivers disappearing under ground, the so-called "stone city" etc.
Climate.
Continental climate of the territory is slightly softened by mountainous relief and differs -from borderline forest-steppe
by higher air humidity, precipitation (686mm) and shorter vegetation period (138 days). The average annual
temperature at "Stolby" is - 1.2'C, in the forest-steppe - +0.3 "C.
Soil and Vegetation.
With change of absolute height of the area soil and vegetation also change. In the lowmountain area (200-500 m
above sea level) sub-taiga and forest-steppe leaf-bearing and light coniferous forests are spread on mountain grey
forest soils. The higher areas (500-800 m above sea level) are covered with the light coniferous and dark coniferous
taiga on mountain podzolic soils.
On the nominated territory pine and silver fir forests predominate. Siberian pine and larch forests are less spread.
Aspen and birch forests are spread in transformed areas where selective cutting down of trees was made.
On the steep south slopes there can be found small (up to 3 ha) steppe pieces in the middle of the forests which are
parts of ancient steppes, formerly much more extensive. According to some data, 4-5 thousands years ago real
steppes extended over a significant area on the territory of the reserve. In the caves bone remains of marmot
(Marmota baibacina) and Myospalax myospalax - steppe inhabitants - were found. The total area of those pieces is
not more than 1% of the reserve's territory. In those steppe parts a third of all Stolby's higher plants is registered.
Flora.
The flora of the territory is represented by 728 species of angiospermous plants, 6 - gymnospennous plants, 40 fern-like plants $ 3 - Lycopodiophyta, 257 - moss-like plants, 17 1 - lichens, 148 - fungi, including 114 relic and
endemic plants of Siberia.
Fauna.
The fauna of the vertebrate animals is rather well-studied. There was described 1 species of cyclostomes, 22 species
of bony fishes, 4 - of amphibians, 5 - of reptiles, 212 - of birds and 58- of mammals. The fauna of invertebrate animals
has lack of researchers' attention. So, out of all the diversity of living beings in this area there was described 1
species of sponges, 4 - of turbellaria, 28 - of oligochaeta, 6 - of leeches, 2 - of polyzoa, 18 - of mollusks, 28 - of
crustaceans, 59 - of arachnids, 1 165 - of insects.
Most of the animals are forest and taiga species. Out of the mammals sable was reacclimatized, and such
acclimatisants as American mink and muskrat populated the reserve independently.
On the territory of the reserve species from the Red Book of the Russian Federation were registered: 1 species of
butterfly - Parnfssius Apollo L. and 8 species of birds (Ciconia nigra L., Pandion haliaetus L., 'Aquila chrysaetos L.,
Aquila heliaca Sev., Aquila rapax Temrn., Falco cherrug Gray., Falco peregrius Tunst., Bubo bubo L.).
"Stolbism".
150 years ago at "Stolby" a unique mass sport movement, called "stolbism" appeared. Its essence is freestyle
mountaineering. "Stolbism" in its ethno-social sense should be preserved as people's non-material heritage.
Name of property: The Great Vasyugan Mire
Coordinates: N56 58 51 E79 41 24
Date of submission: 06/03/2007
Criteria:
Submitted by: Ministry of Natural Recourses of the RF
WH list (name, id):
State, Province or Region: Tomsk oblast, Bakcharsky district
Brief Description
The Great Vasyugan Mire, the largest swamp system in the northern hemisphere of the planet, is located in the
central sector of the West Siberian plain, a geographical phenomenon due to extremely wide spreading of swamps.
The mire occupies a large area of the Ob and Irtysh watershed and stretches between latitudes 55'35' and 58'40'
North, and longitudes 74'30' and 83'30' East. Mire extension from west to east is about 550 km, from north to south in
the axial part - in average 50-80 km; with spurs, or "tongues" taken into account, spread of the mire from north to
south reaches 270 km.
The area of the Great Vasyugan Mire is over 55 000 m*, which is about 2% of the whole area of peat bogs of the
world. The landscape structure of the Great Vasyugan Mire includes bogs (32%), fens (35%) and forested mires
(33%).
The Great Vasyugan Mire is located within boundary of four regions of Russian Federation: Tyumen, Omsk, Tomsk
and Novosibirsk regions (mainly Tomsk and Novosibirsk regions). The system of registration of land resources
categorizes the mires as the land belonging to forest fund. The western part of the mire till about 78' E meridian is
involved into the area of exploration and exploitation of oil and gas fields.
The eastern part of the Great Vasyugan mire with adjoining forested mires and forest landscapes (5090.45 km2) is
suggested to be nominated for inscription on the World Heritage List. The largest extent of the nominated territory in
the direction from the north-west to the south-east is 180 km, from the north to the south - 55 km.
Nature conditions of the region of the Great Vasyugan mire (climate, relief and geological structure) are determined
by its position in temperate latitudes in the central part of Eurasian continent and within the West Siberian plain, and
are typical for swamp regions of Western Siberia. However, the structure of local landscapes, their lithogenic
foundation and biological components have their own specificity, which is caused by location of the swamp in the
southern part of West Siberian plain as well as processes of its development and functioning.
Geological structure and relief
The nominated property is located in the central part of the rivers Ob and Irtysh watershed within the Vasyugan plain,
that was formed in last-Pleistocene mid-Quarterly period and accumulated lake and swamp sediment during lastQuarterly and Holocene epochs. The nominated property includes the most elevated parts of the Vasyugan plain
where the watershed line between the rivers Ob and Irtysh goes. Absolute marks of the surface of watershed area
occupied by mires reach 130-150 meters. Slopes of the watershed plain with absolute marks 125- 140 m are also
occupied by swamps and become complicated because of valleys of small rivers, springs and temporary water
canals, running from vast waterlogged interfluves.
Modern meso- and micro relief of the surface is formed with a determining role of swamp process, leveling
unevenness of the relief of mineral sediment due to large bedding of peat and creating complicated specific relief of
the surface of swamp landscapes of different types. Basing on the morphology of micro relief and the character of
present relief-creating processes one can point out sections of developing upper, transitional and low-lying swamps,
plots with progressive swamping, the surface of which is often covered with mounds on the border of waterless
valleys and peat-beds, in sections of large rivers and river-heads of small ones. The rise of central parts of
protuberant upper swamps relative to periphery parts and "ryam" islands (moss high bog with pine) relative to
transitional and low-lying swamps surrounding them reaches 6-10 m. Slope surfaces with good drainage which are
subjected to erosion processes take rather small area and are located in river valleys and lower parts of watershed
slopes.
In tectonic respect the nominated territory belongs to Shegarskiy arch-like rising of Vasyugan ridge with the total
amplitude of latest rises 100-125 m. pre-jurassic formations of the basis of West Siberian plate according to the data
obtained through drilling and geophysical examinations are at a depth of 2400 to 3500 m. The platform cover
overlapping them is built of Mesozoic and Kajnozoic deposits. The lower part of the cover is a massive (more than
2000 meters) thickness of alternating sea and continental Jurassic sediments (sandstone, limestone) and chalk (clay,
sand, sandstone).
Palaeogene system in the location of the nominated territory with total thickness of the sediment 145-500 m begins
with sea clays and finishes with continental lake, lake-and-swamp and alluvial sediments presented by sands, clays
and alevrolits. Neocene's system with the thickness of 17-55 m is built by alevrolits, clays and sands with interlayer of
brown coal. Quaternary sediment is widely spread, it consists of mainly loam and clay and sometimes sandy loam
and sand.
The present link is represented by lake-and-swamp interfluve sediment (1bIV) and alluvial sediment of flood-lands
and river-beds (aIV). The present lake-and-swamp sediment is mainly peat and sometimes clay and loam. The
thickness of lake-and-swamp sediment reaches 8 meters, age - 8-11 thousand years. The average thickness of peat
at some plots within the nominated territory is from 2 m to 4 m.
Climate
The climate of the territory is continental-cyclonic with a long cold winter and a short hot summer. The average
temperature for many years according to the data of meteorological service in Bakchar is -1.1 'C. The coldest month
of the year is January. The average temperature in January is -20.5 'C. The absolute minimal temperature is stated in
December and is -56 "C. Maximum temperatures are observed in June and July. The average temperature in July is
+17.6 0 C. The absolute maximum temperature is +37"C.
A period without light frosts starts in the third decade of May and lasts up to the second decade of September. The
average duration of a period without frosts is 112 days, of a period with average daily temperatures more than 10°C 102-107 days. The sum of air temperatures more than 10°C is 1450-1650, the sum of positive air temperatures
during a year is about 20oo0c.
The average annual amount of precipitation is 440-480 mm. Up to 70% of annual amount of precipitation falls during
a warm period of a year. The average maximum height of snow cover on protected plots reaches 70 sm. The average
annual wind speed is 3.6 m/sec.
Hydrograghy
The nominated territory includes regions of forming drainage of large tributaries of the Ob and Irtysh flowing in
opposite directions. There lie upper reaches of the rivers of the Parabel (the rivers Emelich, Kenga) and Chaia (the
rivers Parbig, Andarma, Galka, Teterinka, Bakchar, Ixa) basins of the river system of the Ob. There are three large
mainland lakes (Targatch, Bolshoe Beloe and Srednee Beloe).
The inner hydrographic system of the swamp includes rivers, streams, lakes and marshes. Rivers and streams start
in inner lakes and marshes of the swamp and feed the drainage of bigger rivers with swamp water. In upper reaches
small inner rivers of the swamp run in peat river-beds and sometimes disappear inside peat deposit. Down the stream
with the increase of their draining role along the banks of the rivers appearing within open swamps develop forested
mires, then come zones on mineral soils with forest vegetation, attached to the rivers.
Soil
The soil cover of the nominated territory reflects characteristic features of the structure of soil in the southern part of
the Vasyugan plain, formed on surface with weak drainage, built with clay carbonate soil-forming rocks under the
hydrologic influence of the Great Vasyugan mire.
At the adjacent area prevail hydro-morph semi-hydro-morph soils which are at different stages of swamp-forming
process. Auto-morph soils are found near the most drained locations as small islands among vast stretches of over
wet ground. Soil cover of auto-morph locations to the north and south of the swamp differs greatly and is represented
by various zone types of soils. The structure of hydro-morph and semi-hydro-morph soils being formed in the belt
around the swamp is also different.
To the north of the swamp in the landscapes of southern taiga prevails the taiga type of soil-forming. Drained
locations in the northern part of the nominated territory under moss-herb dark-coniferous forests and secondary
small-leaves forests are taken by soddy podzols soils. On less drained plain locations on the periphery of the swamp
soddy gley soils are formed.
Drainage weakened and the level of subsoil swamp waters in auto-morph plots risen, indications of a gley process
appear, and a peat horizon is formed on the soil surface. In case of hydro-morph transformation soddy podzols soils
are replaced by soddy podzols gley, turf podzols gley, turf gley and, at last, peat oligotroph soils.
Main area within the swamp in the southern part of the nominated'territory is taken by peat swamp intermediate and
low soils. Turf bog soil of upper type are developed in the northern part of the territory, between tributaries of the river
Ob.
On the southern periphery of the Great Vasyugan mire, caused by increased drainage of sub-taiga landscapes with
small-leaves forests on washed from carbonate soil forming rocks grey forest soils are formed. The level of subsoil
waters risen, grey forest soils change into grey gley soils, and with surface accumulation of organic horizon transform
into humus gley and turf humus gley ones.
Vegetation
The nominated territory is situated on the joint of 2 botanical-geographical sub-zones (southern taiga and sub taiga or
sub-zone of birch and aspen wood) of the forest zone and 2 swamp zones - the zone of protuberant hummock-ridge
bogs and the zone of different swamps.
The vegetation on the territory is mainly presented by different complexes of swamp associations. Forest ecosystems
take a relatively small area and are found on plots near rivers.
Small tracts of native south taiga spruce-fir-cedar forests developing on drained plots with soddy podzols soils, are
found in north-western part of the nominated territory along the rivers Kenga, Parbig, Andarma. The secondary
aspen-birch forests mixed with the dark coniferous ones are more widely spread.
Total over wetting results in wide spread of forest associations of hydro-morph series. Pine-spruce-cedar forests
develop on areas with weak drainage and soddy podzols gley soils.Large periphery swamp areas with soddy gley
and turf gley soils are taken by cedar- pine -birch and pine forests with a number of transitional hydro morph forest
associations between them.
Vegetation associations of open swamps take about 60% of the nominated territory.
In the southern part of the territory, on the surface of the watershed between the rivers Ob and Irtysh one can find
Carex-Hypnum water bogs with bush-hypnum-sphagnum row ("veretja") Veretja 1-3 m wide and tens of meters long
are located across the inclination of the swamp surface. Width of marshes between different "veretjas" reaches 200
m.
On plain tops of the watershed with practically total absence of a surface drainage "veretjas" go in different directions
and, joining with each other, form a net pattern of surface microrelief with diameter of grounds from 50 to 100 m. On
"veretjas" meso-trophic bushhypnum- sphagnum associations with sparse wood layer of birches and single pines are
developed. The mosses Sphagnum warnstorjii, S. magellanicum, S. @scum, Tomentypnum nitens, Aulacomnium
palustre dominate here.
Marshes inside grounds are taken by intensively irrigated eutrophic hypnum-carex associations. Dominants of moss
layer are Hamatocaulis vernicosus, Drepanocladus sendtneri, Scorpidium scorpioides, Meesia triquetra. Prevailing
carexes are Carex lasiocarpa, C. diandra, C. limosa,C. chordorrhiza, C. omskiana.
The necessary element is thicket of birch: Menyanthes trifoliata, Comarum palustre, Equisetum fluviatile.
Because of stagnant wetting and oligotrophication of swamp waters in the axial part of the Great Vasyugan mire
among oligotrophic peat bogs develop marshes with Carex rostrata and C. omskiana with Comarum palustre,
Menyanthes trifoliata, Naumburgia thyrsiflora, Cicuta virosa, Warnstor-a exannulata, Sphagnum teres, Calliergon
stramineum, intensively irrigated with secondary lakes.
On the background of open irrigated carex-hypnum swamps one can encounter rather numerous moss high bog with
pine ("ryams"), with domination of Sphagnum fuscum, S. angustifolium, S. magellanicum, Carex globularis.
"Ryams" associations, which occupy larger areas, are a part of oligotrophic swamps on the northern macro-slope of
the Great Vasyugan mire. They occupy the most drained areas of upper watershed swamps. On slopes of such
swamps are formed, and on the periphery develop mesotrophic complexes. In depressions except for Eriophorum
vaginatum grow Carex, Sphagnum balticum, S. majus. In periphery associations of the meso-trophic belt prevail
Sphagnum obtusum, S. falax, S. magellanicum, S. angustifolium, different species of Carex, Oxycoccus palustris, 0.
microcarpus. On the main area and in island "ryams" Sphagnum fuscum, S. magellanicum, S. angustifolium, an
Pinus silvestris dominate. Typical elements of "ryam" associations are complexes of lichens ( Cladinia).
Large areas on the northern macroslope of the country between the rivers Ob and Irtysh are occupied by complex
hummock ridge bogs, which develop in central parts of oligotrophic upper swamps with stagnant wetting. Their slopes
are formed by fragments of low "ryams" associations. Vegetation cover of irrigated marshes and depression form
different variants of plant associations. Dominating species in depressions are Sphagnum balticum, S. papillosum, S.
jensenii, S. majus, Sphagnum fuscum, Scheuchzeria palustris, Rhynchospora alba, Eriophorum vaginatum, Carex
limosa, Cladopodiellajluitans, Calypogeia sphagnicola.
Vegetation associations of transitional swamps are characterized by great diversity. In contact zones between carexhypnum depressions and masses of protuberant upper swamps develop forested low birch and pine. Carexsphagnum associations are included into complex of hummock ridge bogs and develop on the periphery of upper
swamps. The important element of upper swamps of the nominated territory is meso-oligotrophic depressions. On the
periphery of the massif of the Great Vasyugan mire and in valleys of rivers running from it forest swamps develop.
Animal world
In all the types of ecosystems different species of invertebrates are widely spread. In grass and bush layer of forested
swamps and forests Ixodes ticks (Ixodidae) are usual, sometimes numerous. In these types of vegetation
associations one can find nocturnal butterflies (Geometridae, Noctuidae ect,), beetles (Cerambycidae,
Chrysomelidae, Ipidue, Carabidae, Staphylinidae ect.), different Hymenoptera. Along the banks of slowly running
rivers a lot of Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera and Diptera happen to fly in great amounts. A lot of small flying insects
leads to appearance here different representatives of Odonata. In bogs Odonata served as insect-eating birds.
Because of presence some big animals there are a lot of blood-sucker flies (Hipoderma bovis, Oestris ovis and
Hippoboscidae) in bogs.
The main biomass of invertebrates in small lakes of bog territory consist of larva of different flies (Culicidae, Tipulidae,
Tendipendidae) and others, and water Oligochaeta as well. These larva serve as the main food for birds living in
bogs. The fauna of blood-sucker insects included 121 species: 28 species of Simuliidae, 31 species of
Ceratopogonidae, 27 species of Culiseta and 35 species of Tabanidae.
There are three species of amphibian (Siberian salamander, true frog and common toad) and two reptile species
(common lizard and viper) met at the nominated property.
The avifauna consists of 195 bird species belonging to 15 orders. As a whole, local fauna of birds consists of Siberian
and European species but trans-pale artic species includes in fauna as essential element too. On the territories of
open low bogs and high bogs the trans-palaeartic species dominate.
The mammal fauna is rather typical for south part of taiga zone. More than half of mammals' bio-diversity consists of
insectivores and rodents. Among small mammals Siberian and European species are the most common.
Nevertheless, on this territory there are some transpale artic species, tundra-forests relicts and Mediterranean-China
species as well.
The presence of suitable ecological conditions and a rather good food base leads to appearance some big mammals
here. The mammals as follows: elk, brown bear, lynx, sable, squirrels are very common here. Most part of animals is
concentrated in the border between bogs and forests near the lakes and rivers. Most part of elks wintering in the
upper parts and valleys of all big rivers (Kenga, Parbig, Andarrna, Bakchar and others). The most valuable fur
mammal - sable - is concentrated within these places, too.
The bogs landscapes and forest-bogs landscapes of nominated territory play the important role for protection of rare
animals' species. From the other hand, these landscapes served for development of the common ungulate species of
taiga fauna.
The nominated territory is situated in the zone of migration flow of birds. Most part of birds use this territory for rest
while migrating. The combination of large open space with the closed ones accompanying with the different lakes,
rivers and streams create very favorable conditions for birds' temporary living during season migrations. Some
species of water birds and carnivorous birds (including Falco peregrinus Tunstall, Strix nebulosa Forster) are nesting
here. The density of Falco peregrinus population on the lake bogs is 0.12 specimen per km2. Over this area have
been reported reliable encounters of aquatic warbler and slender-billed curlew (Numenius tenuirostris) - almost
disappeared specie of the world fauna.
On the high bogs of nominated territory there are some populations of forest form of wild northern elk (Rangifer
tarandus). The density of this animal is not stable because of illegal hunting and predator pressure (firstly of wolf).
Here pass the main routes of elks seasonal migrations through the Great Vasyugan mire from winter pastures to
calving places. Elks density at winter pastures is approximately 10 specimen per km2.
Name of property: Daurian Steppes (Daursky State Biosphere Reserve)
Coordinates: Torey hollow in the South of Esat Siberia
Date of submission: 07/02/2005
Criteria: N (ii)(iv)
Submitted by: Commission of the Russian Federation for UNESCO Russian Ministry of Natural Resources
WH list (name, id):
State, Province or Region:
Brief Description
The territory includes the whole Torey lakes, adjoining river floodplains, more than 20 small lakes and vast steppes.
Climate: The climate in the area of the preserve is sharply continental, hot in summer and dry and cold in winter. The
climate distinctive feature is huge amplitude of variances in temperature, daily (15-20 C) and annual (90 C), as well
as non-uniform distribution of precipitation in the seasons. The climate changes are of cyclic type and they influence
the hydrological regime in the territory of the reserve (in particular, a water-level in lakes), which influences in its turn
ecosystem, flora and fauna condition. Relief: In the contemporary relief of the reserve's territory accumulative alluvial
and lacustrine (laky) plains, rough terrain and isolated massifs of low hills are prevailing. Higher hills with relative
height of 100-150 metres above sea level can only be found along the northern shore of lakes. Coastal plain consists
of three lake terraces, a characteristic form of terrain here are beach ridges located in a floodplain and the first
terrace of lakes above the floodplains. They were formed when the shoreline was shifted as a result of a lake level
change. The number of ridges amounts to 19-20 on a slope. Their size varies from 0.5 up to 2-3 metres high and 2030 metres wide. Hydrology: There are more than 500 lakes in the Torey hollow in the periods of high humidity. In the
nominated territory there are about 40 lakes including the largest ones – the - Torey lakes. The reserve contains the
Barun-Torey and Zun-Torey lakes, which have the common hydrological system. The lakes have an unsteady water
regime, the periodicity of their change is mostly determined by the climate: during the last 200-320 years the lakes
have dried and have filled up many times (just in the XX century - four times) with the periodicity of 25-40 years.
Constant season changes of Torey level also take place. Soils: Chestnut and mountain-chestnut soils as well as a
soil complex containing salines are most widely spread. In the south-western part of the reserve there are sand
sediments in the form of active and non-active dunes. Along the Imalka and Uldza river basins meadow and marshmeadow soils are formed. There are few areas of permafrost of an insular type that are mostly located around the
lake hollows. According to the data available, the depth of perennially frozen rocks is about 10-15 metres and
sometimes 20 metres. Flora: The list of plants in the reserve today consists of 440 species from 244 genera and 73
families. The following families are most rich with species: aster family - 56 species, gramineous family - 44 species,
rose family - 38 species, fabaceous family - 36 species. The reserve has more than 20 species of rare or narrow
habitat. Two of them are included in the Red Book of Russia: Chinese triborodnik (Tripogon chimensis (Franchet)
Hackel) and a narrow leafed asparagus (Asparagus brachyphyllus Turcz). Mosl of the rest are included in the Red
Book of Chita Region. Among the species with a special conservation status relicts and endemics of Central Asia
prevail. The crossing of different habitats is typical for the reserve's flora: South-Siberian and Mongolian (64 species),
Eurasian (48 species), Central-Asian (43 species), Mandjurian-Daurian (42 species), East Asian (38 species) and
circumpolar (35 species) habitats. There are steppes meadow, saline, water and shrubby types of communities, with
tansy steppes (a sort of meadow steppes) as endemic for Transbaikalia. Dauria's distinctive feature is a wide spread
of crushed stone soils on gentle slopes, ridge tops and placoras, which makes it possible for hemypetrophic variants
of steppes to develop among terrain's elements that arc unusual for them. Fauna: There are 4 fish species, 3
amphibian species, 3 reptile species 317 bird species and 48 mammalian species, more then 800 insect species in
the reserve's fauna. The fauna of invertebrates is still poorly understood.
Name of property: Magadansky State Nature Reserve
Coordinates: Kava-Chelomdjinsky cluster: E 146°50'; N60°10' Olsky cluster: E151°30';N 59° Yamsky cluster:
E155°20'; N59°20' Seimchansky cluster: E153°; N 63°50'
Date of submission: 07/02/2005
Criteria: N (i)(iii)(iv)
Submitted by: Commission of the Russian Federation for UNESCO Russian Ministry of Natural Resources
WH list (name, id):
State, Province or Region:
Brief Description
All four clusters of Magadansky Reserve are separated from each other, rather hard-to- reach and have no
settlements or constant transport roads. Each cluster has its own distinctive features in locality appearance, climate
conditions, composition of flora and fauna. Clusters of the Magadansky Reserve are located within the Northern Far
East mainland mountain and upland physical-geographical province. Among them emerges the OkhotskoKolymskoye highland standing on the watershed between Kolyma basin (Arctic basin) and rivers falling into the
Okhotsk Sea. From the west the area is adjoined by the south-eastern edge of Cherskogo mountain system and a
line of intermountain areas the most noteworthy of which is Seimchano-Buyundinskaya. The Reserve's area is
situated in the zone of moderate and sub-polar climate charactcrzed by cold long winter and cool short summer. The
vegetation period is not enough provided by heat, typical are summer frosts and uneven humidification. All
landscape-vegetation groups of the south of the Magadan Region are presented at the Reserve. According to the
latest data, at the area of three near-Okhotsk clusters were noted 638 species of higher vascular plants. At floristically
poor Seimchansky clusters grow 236 plant species, but the share of continental species absent at other clusters is
high here. The most significant features of each cluster from the conservational point of view: Yamsky coastal cluster
- features the disjunctively located part of Siberian spruce areal on the north-eastern edge of its distribution. The
cluster is distinguished by the high biodiversity and the abundance of relic dark-coniferous plant species. Yamsky
marine cluster - features the peculiar vegetation of the bird bazaars of Yamsky islands which had apparently been
formed as the result of long-time interaction of birds and coastal vegetation. Kava-Chelomdjinsky cluster - except its
vast area and great diversity of vegetation types, is unique by its species composition and wetland complex typology.
A line of species on their eastern edge of area1 grows here. Olsky cluster - has one of the richest specific flora of the
northern Far East with great number of endemics of the different floristic regions and relics of different age and
genesis. The peninsula is an intersection spot of arctic and arctic-alpine species' southern migration routes and
routes of' Far East species moving to the north. Simchansky cluster - is the only continental cluster with the
composite flood plain structure and rich and diverse wetland and flood plain vegetation. It is peculiar by many species
common in the Pacific found in its inland flood plain forests as relics. In rivers and lakes of the Reserve are met 32
fish species. The most numerous are migrating salmons - humpback salmon, chum salmon, silver salmon
(Onchoryncus Gorbuscha, 0. keta, O. kisutch) separate specimen of quinnat and blue-back salmon (O. tschawytscha,
0. nerka) are met. In rivers and lakes of the Seimchansky cluster are common: Arctic grayling, whitefish,
Brachymystax lenok, Coregonus cylinotraceous, pike, perch and burbot. Avifauna of the Reserve is representative for
the Okhotsk-Kolyma area. Avifauna list includes 173 species, 150 of which are nesting; the others are noted on
passage. 40 species of terrestrial and 8 species of marine mammals have been registered within the Reserve. Most
common are Sores caecutiens and Sores daphaenodon, northern redbacked vole, chipmunk, pika, blue hare, brow
bear, fox, sable, ermine, mink, locally - elk and bighorn sheep. At all clusters are met, but less typical are: red and
Russian flying squirrels, root vole, weasel, gluttton. Lynx is rarely met.
Name of property: The Commander Islands (Comandorsky State Nature Reserve)
Coordinates: Archipelago: N 55°25' - 54°31'; E 165°45' - 168°06' Water area: N 55°55' - 54°01'; E 164°52' - 168°58'
Date of submission: 07/02/2005
Criteria: N (i)(ii)(iii)(iv)
Submitted by: Commission of the Russian Federation for UNESCO Russian Ministry of Natural Resources
WH list (name, id):
State, Province or Region:
Brief Description
The Commander Islands archipelago consists of 15 islands of different size from 1667 km2 to less than 0.5 km2
which are crowns of a huge submarine volcanic ridge extending from Alaska to Kamchatka. The most ancient
Commander structures are dated as the beginning of Paleogene (60-70 million years ago). Now low hills and
coniform mountains occupy the most part of the Islands' territory. The highest point of the largest Bering Island is the
Steller peak (755 m). The most part of river valleys (except the greatest ones - as a rule formed along fractures) is cut
short by a coastal scarp forming picturesque waterfalls 10 - 100 meters high. Climate is characterized by mild winter
(- 4°C in February) and cool summer (+ 10.5°C in August) with short intermediate seasons; low precipitation,
constantly high relative humidity of air and strong winds The Commander elevation shelf and continental slope are
characterized with very abrupt depth: in the limits of 30 miles from the shores all the depth diapason can be observed
– from littoral to ultraabyssal. It could be mentioned that about 1,000 macrobenthic species inhabit the most studied
shallow shelf zone (up to the depth of 40m) only. As for inland waters the two large islands have well-developed
drainage network with one navigable river, and Toporkov and Ariy Kamen' are absolutely devoid of fresh water.
According to the last data, 389 species of vascular plants have been registered in the Commander Islands' flora,
relating to 183 genera and 63 families. In the system of floristic zoning the Commander Islands are related to the
Commander-Aleut region of Kamchatka province of Boreal floristic area. There are 203 bird species registered on the
Commanders according to the last data, including 58 nesting ones. There is a number of endemic forms and it is the
only place in Russia where a number of American birds are regularly reproducing. Fauna of the marine mammals is
extraordinary diverse. 32 species of 13 families and 4 orders has been registered there. About 50% of marine
mammal fauna representatives are regarded as rare and needing special protection: 12 species are enlisted into the
IUCN Red List and another 2 species - into the Red Book of Russia. Arctic fox is the only aboriginal species of
terrestrial mammals inhabiting the Commander Islands. There are two relict endemic Arctic fox sub-species: Bering
Arctic fox - Alopex lagopus beringensis and Medny one -A. I. semenovi, differing not only by their outward
appearance, but also by some ecological and morphological features. According to preliminary data, the fish fauna of
the Commander underwater plateau includes 216 species and subspecies, representing 148 genera, 56 families and
20 orders.
Name of property: Petroglyphs of Sikachi-Alyan
Coordinates: Long. 135°39'00" Lat. 48°45'00"
Date of submission: 31/01/2003
Criteria: C (not specified)
Submitted by: Pernanent Delegation of Russian Federation
WH list (name, id):
State, Province or Region:
Brief Description
At the end of the XIXth century the Russian orientalist Pallady Kafarov noted down in his diary the first information
about cliff-pictures which he saw travelling down the Amur river. The article of P.I. Vetlitsin about the ancient images
on the cliffs near the Sikachi-Alyan village was published in the newspaper "Priamurskiye Vedomosti" in 1895. The in
literature first special article about "Petroglyphs of the Amur river" belongs to the famous American orientalist Bertold
Laufer who took part in the ethnological expedition to the Amur. It was published in english in America in 1899. V.K.
Arsenyev described petroglyphs of Sikachi-Alyan during the expedition in the mountains of Sikhote Alin in 1908. This
monument was also researched by L.Ya. Sternberg, ethnographer I.A. Lopatin, Japanese historian Riuzo Torii from
1910 till 1919. The archaeologist N.G. Kharlamov studied the drawings of Sikachi-Alyan in the 30th years of the XXth
century. He was the first scientist who exactly described in the soviet literature the geographical location of
petroglyphs. N.G. Kharlamov photographed and traced the ancient drawings and also made the collection of
archaeological artifacts in this place. Since 1935 under the leadership of A.P. Okladnikov the research workers of the
Institute of ethnography, Academy of Sciences, USSR, later the workers of the archaeological and ethnographical
Institute , Russian Academy of Sciences began to study and to describe the petroglyphs of Sikachi-Alyan. The
scientific researches in the district of the monument's location were carried out by such famous scientists as A.P.
Okladnikov, A.P. Derevyanko, I.V. Galkovsky, Yu.A. Polumiskov, S.G. Glinsky, V.E. Larichev, V.E. Medvedev and
many others in 1953, 1954, 1958, 1963, 1969, 1980, 1988. In view of this a lot of scientific articles were published,
but the main of them was the monograph of A.P. Okladnikov " Petroglyphs of the Low Amur" published in Leningrad
in 1971. "Petroglyphs of Sikachi-Alyan" in accordance with the decree of the Soviet of Ministers from 4.12.1974.
N°624 are the archaeological monument of the state significance and on the ground of the decree of President of the
Russian Federation from 20.02.1995. N°176 it belongs to the objects of historical and cultural heritage of the federal
meaning. Petroglyphs of Sikachi-Alyan belong to the unique monuments of history and culture and are of great
scientific-historical and artistic value. The process of its study gives the opportunity to trace the evolution of the art of
ancient Amur tribes. This is also the most valuable source of the cognition of history and culture of the indigenous
peoples in Priamurye. The ancient cliffpictures is the unique scientific and cultural property not only for Russia but
also for the whole world. Annually the monument is visited by the great number of russian and foreign tourists. In
present time it is necessary to get to the monument the status of the world meaning. This event can allow to improve
the keeping and using of the property in the scientific and cultureeducational objects for all humankind.
Name of property: Great Pskov
Coordinates: Long. 26°36'-28°20' E / Lat. 57°48' N
Date of submission: 25/01/2002
Criteria: C (i)(ii)(iv) + CL
Submitted by: UNESCO Chair in Urban and Architectural Conservation
WH list (name, id):
State, Province or Region:
Brief Description
Historical Centre of Pskov-city and its ancient environs include the historical and architectural ensemble in the centre
of Pskov and the oldest natural and historical objects such as Budnik, Vybuty the Izboprsk Fortress in the IzborskMalsk Valley, monuments of nature, culture and early history of the old Russian state. The historical centre of Pskov
has preserved its ancient kernel, the Kremlin, an outstanding ensemble of old Russian architectural fortifications of
the XIII- XVIII centuries- monuments of civil architecture of the XVII-XXth centuries; the ecclesiastical architecture of
the XVII-XXth centuries including the unique monuments of wall painting dating back to the XII-XIVth centuries, as
well as architectural and historical monuments. The nearest environs such as Vybuty on the river Velikaya and
Budnik on the Cheryokha-river- the archaeological, natural and ethnographic monuments relating to the founders of
old Russia e.g. countess Olga of Russia, the legendary founder of Pskov, and Holy Vladimir, who baptised Russia.
The suburban fortress of Izborsk in the Izborsk-Malsk Valley, the cultural and historical ensemble of archaeological,
natural and ethnographic monuments (the traditional ethnic group Setu) of the VII-XX centuries.
Name of property: Historic Center of the Yenisseisk
Coordinates: Long. 92° 09'16" / Lat. 58° 37'23
Date of submission: 20/07/2000
Criteria: C (ii)(iii)(iv)
Submitted by: UNESCO Chair in urban and architectural conservation
WH list (name, id): Historical Centre of the City of Yeniseisk
State, Province or Region:
Brief Description
Founded in 1619 on the left bank of the Yenissey as a fortress, it facilitated the expansion of the Russians to the
East. The location of the town on the crossroads of the most important rivers, as a fertile region, rich in game, fish,
iron ore and salt, told favorably on the development of the town. Yenisseisk reminded the biggest city of East Siberia
till the end of the 18~ century. Due to its favorable location between the rivers Kjem and Angara which were
convenient waterways via the Ob and the Yenissey from the European part of Russia to East Siberia and further on
to the China, Yenisseisk became a very important center of farming, shipping and trade. At the beginning of the XIX
century Yenisseisk was on the list of the ten best provincial cities of Russia and was one of the most beautiful cities of
Siberia. The city's view was picturesque - two white stone monasteries and ten churches among the green of the
gardens. Not once did Yenisseisk live the times of prosperity and decay. Up to our days it preserved the image of an
old town, though it suffered irretrievable losses. The general view of the city is determined by the architecture of the
18-19~ centuries. Its most remarkable sight is the Spasso-Preobrazhenski Monastery. Alongside with a small number
of old churches of Tobolsk, Tomsk, Irkutsk this monastery can be regarded as the initial step in stone construction in
Siberia.
Name of property: Rostov Kremlin
Coordinates: Rostov, Yaroslavl Region, Russia. 57°11' S.L. ; 30°25' E.L.
Date of submission: 22/10/1998
Criteria: C (ii)(iii)(iv)(vi)
Submitted by: Russian World Heritage Committee
WH list (name, id):
State, Province or Region:
Brief Description
Rostov Kremlin is placed in the center of Rostov Veliky (the Great), on the hill of the side of the Lake Nero. The
Kremlin consistod of three independent areas. The central one (Bishop's Yard) is fenced by high walls with towers.
Two other smaller parts are: north-Sobomaya Square; soth-territory of Gregory Seclusion. In the second half of the
17th century in the time of Metropolitan Ioan Sysojevich these three parts were united and the integral architectural
ensemble was created. High fortress walls with 11 towers enclose metropolitan residence. Above the solemn gate
from the south and west temples flanked with towers. Metropolitan Chambers, personal church, "palace for grand
sovereigns' advents and others set inside the yard. Metropolitan Residence is one of the best Old Russian ensembles
reached our days. It combines masterpieces of Old Russian architecture and monumental painting. In Rostov
Bishop's Yard (Rostov Kremlin) there is Museum under the State protection "Rostov Kremlin" which is included into
the State Code of especially valuable objects of cultural heritage of Russia.
Name of property: Centre historique d'Irkoutsk
Coordinates: Long.52°3' E ; Lat. 103°
Date of submission: 30/09/1998
Criteria: (not indicated)
Submitted by: Mairie de la ville d' Irkoutsk, Delegation permanente de la Fédération de Russie.
WH list (name, id):
State, Province or Region:
Brief Description
A
Irkoutsk - centre administratif de la région d'Irkoutsk - est un objet de différentes sortes d'étude comme ”ville
histonque” dont l' histoire est plus de trois cents ans et la population est plus de 600 mille d'habitants.
Irkoutsk est traversée par quatre rivières (Angara, Irkout, Ouchakovka, Kaia) et située à 66 km du lac Baikal sur la
terrasse de recoupement qui passe au terrain accidenté. Sur le territoire qui se joint à Irkoutsk tous les types du
paysage sont réunis: steppe, forét-steppe, taïga, taiga de montagne. Le climat est fort continental.
La diversité du paysage a permis de mettre en oeuvre les terrains à partir des temps immémorieux et de les peupler
de la façon assez dense: seulement sur le territoire d'Irkoutsk il existe plus de 60 complexes fossiles, y çompris des
objets archéologiques de paléolithe, de mésolithe, d'âge neolithique, d'age de bronze et des périodes plus avancées.
La structure conservée de la planification reflète de différents stades du développement de la ville, le système qui
s'est organisé automatiquement suivant les lignes du littoral des nvières, le long des routes commerciales en «
réagissant » aux obstacles naturels (des pentes des colines) et artificiels (palissade). Elle représente l'objet de la
planification urbaine qui garde la trame des rues régulières.
La partie centrale est conservée comme un systéme avec une structure nette de l'orientation sociale. Aux alentours
des quartiers d'implantation de bâtiments en bois et des propriétés on peut mettre en relief des rues et des places
centrales qui ont une importance sociale et qui sont entourées au périmètre par des bâtiments en pierre.
Les accents urbams sont des temples. ns soulignent nonseulement des noeuds urbains importants mais aussi de
plus beaux endroits du paysage naturel - les méandres des rivières, le changement du relief.
La construction historique des bâtiments, vu la proportion actuelle des maisons en bois et des édifices en pierre avec
les fonctions de toute la ville - c'est un exemple unique du modèle optimal de la ville dans le sens écologique, sociale
et de composition.
Ce qui caractérise Irkoutsk c'est une grande quantité des monuments architecturals conservés de différentes
périodes et de différents styles (baroque sibérien, classicisme, art nouveau, « style russe», traditions locales, art
architectural gothique, byzantin, asiatique, constructivisme) mais malgré tout, cela ne trouble pas l'unité de
l'ensemble de ville.
L'architecture en bois se diffère aussi par la diversité de style, de typologie et de chronologie. Elle est représentée
par un nombre remarquable (plus de 500) des constructions authentiques qui forment des complexes urbains vastes
d'aprés leur superficie dont la partie est la zone de réserves.
B
Les ressources naturelles uniques ont favorisé que ces terrains étaient habités par des peuples, des tribus qui
chassaient, pèchaient, élévaient des animaux, s'occupaient de l'agriculture.
Les premières installations sont datées d'âge du haut paléclithe il y a trente mille ans. Les fouilles d'autres couches
culturels disent que le processus de la mise en valeur des terrains ne s'arrêtait pas malgré des mouvements
migratoires.
Seulement dans les chroniques chinoises il est dit que plus de trente différents peuples ethniques habitaient ces
terrains avant l'empire de Chinguizhkan.
Le processus du déplacement et du mélange des tribus et des familles continuait jusqu'au XVII sciècle.
A partir du XVII siècle il commence la colonisation de cette région par des premiers explorateurs russes. Irkoutsk a
été fondée en 1661 comme un fortin militaire pour lever un tribut en fourrures. Mais étant au croisement des voies
commerciales Irkoutsk devient le centre principal, commercial et administratif de tous les provinces orientals de
Russie (y compris Alaska). Aux XVII - XIX sciècles la ville s'est beaucoup développée et devenue un grand centre
administratif, commercial, culturel et religieux de la Sibérie. A partir de 1783 Irkoutsk est le centre du gouvernement
général, ensuite de 1822 le centre du gouverneur général.
L'apparition des membres participant à la révolte de décembre à Saint-Petersbourg en 1825 exilés en Sibérie c'étaient les représentants de la noblesse russe qui ont beaucoup favorisé le développement culturel de la ville ce qui
a été reflété dans l'architecture.
Les exilés polonais, membres de la révolte de libération de 1863-1864 ont aussi influencé le développement de la
ville.
Après l'incendie de 1879 la ville était très vite réstaurée.
A la fin du XlX- au début du XX siècles le champ d'information des architectes professionnels d'Irkoutsk élargit
beaucoup et comme conséquence - la diversité des styles dans l'art de projet. La construction du chemin de fer
Transsibérien et l'ouverture des complexes de département ont influencé l'aménagement de la ville.
Avec l'arrivée des communistes au pouvoir et l'apparition du régime soviétique on détruit certain nombre
d'établissements de culte, on fait apparaitre de nouveaux surfaces d'habitation mais jusqu'aux années 1955
l'urbanisme se développait traditionellement. A la fin des années 1950 et aux années 1960 les tendences outrées
fonctionnelles dorninent dans l'architecture soviétique. Les constructions séparées dans le centre ville apparaissant
en cette période ignorent complétement la construction historique aux alentours mais il reste quand-même l'unité de l'
ensemble urbain de la partie centrale de la ville.
Aux années 1970 on prend les premières mesures pour la restauration des monuments d'architecture - pour l'instant
encore des sites rares et uniques. A partir de 1980 on commerce déjà la restauration des sites de la ville.
C
- Par arrêté du Ministère de la Culture et du Ministère de la Construction de la Fédération de Russie No36 du
31.07.1970, et par décisions du jury du Ministère de la Culture Nol2 du 09.02.1990, du jury du Ministère de la
Construction No3 du 28.02.1990 et de la Présidence du Conseil Général de VOOPIK Nol2 (162) du 16.02.1990 le
site a été porté sur la liste des villes historiques de la Russie en 1970.
- Par décision du Comité exécutif régional No149 du 25.03.1985 l'aménagement historique en bois est sous défense
de l 'Etat comme un monument fédéral d'intérét régional. 553 sites dont 216 sont sous défense de l'Etat, 327 sites
sont enregistrés dans les services d'Etat de la protection des monuments.
- En 1975 il a été validé le projet de reconstruction et de restauration du complexe commémoratif « Décembristes à
Irkoutsk ». La superficie est 6,3 ha. La décision du Comité exécutif régional N° du
- En 1987 il a été validé le projet de reconstruction de la zone de réseves “Géliabovskyi complexe”. La superficie est
7,5 ha. La décision du Comité exécutif régional N° du
- Par arrété du Maire de la ville d'Irkoutsk No7/929 du 29.08.97 il a été ratifié la conception de restauration complexe
et de reconstruction du centre historique d'Irkoutsk.
D
Dans le centre historique la structure de planification s'est bien conservée, mais le parcellement des propriétés dans
les quartiers est presque detruit. Au fond on a démoli des enceintes, des portes qui déterminaient les frontières des
propriétés. Il s'est conservé des maisons d'habitation en pierre et en bois à un, à deux étages, partialement des
annexes, des granges, des portes. En principe ce sont les maisons avec le chauffage au poêle, sans canalisation,
téléphone et sans système d'alimentation en eau. L'état technique et ingénieur de la plupatt de ces maisons est
catastrophique.
Pour aujourd'hui on a restauré 8 temples parmis les 21, 15 monuments d'architecture en pierre, 21 monuments
d'architecture en bois.
Dix sites sont en train d'être restaurés, il était élaboré la docomentation de projet scientifique sur 238 sites, 405 notes
historiques, des plans architecturals et historiques sur 40 quartiers du centre historique.
- Par arrété du Maire de la ville d'Irkoutsk No7/929 du 29.08.97 il est ratifié la conception de restauration complexe et
de reconstruction du centre historique d'Irkoutsk.
- Il est élaboré le programme de principaux travaux de recherches scientifiques et le plan d'affaire sur la
revalorisation d'aménagement historique d'Irkoutsk « Idinskaya Storona » (21 ha).
- Il est élaboré le règlement urLain pour la restauration et l'amenagement dans le centre histouque de la ville.
- En 1996 il était créé une société municipale, scientifique et technolo~que ~ Tri Veka » pour effectuer des travaux de
projet scientifiques, de restauration et de reconstruction dans le centre historique.
-En 1997 le projet « Centre historique d'Irkoutsk>> a été inscrit par «World Monument Fund» dans la Liste des 100
plus prioritaires projets pour les années 1998-1999.
Name of property: The ensemble of former city building of Sviyazhsk
Coordinates: Long. 48°39' E ; Lat. 55°46' N Sviyahzsk village, Zelenodolsk region, republic of Tatarstan
Date of submission: 31/08/1998
Criteria: (not specified)
Submitted by: Principal management of State Protection Control & Usage of History Monuments and Culture,
Tatarstan
WH list (name, id):
State, Province or Region:
Brief Description
The ensemble of former city building (62 ha) consists of the structures of Uspenskiy Monastery and IoannPredtechensky Nunnery (cathedrals, churches, cells, stables, monastic schools, fortifications and towers), parish
churches, dwelling and public constructions. Sviyazhsk was founded on the 24th of May, 1551 by the Russian tzar
Ivan the Terrible as a powerful fortress, where everything was envisaged for beating off and defending it during a
protracted siege and it was also a strong point on Kazan capture.
Name of property: Historical and Cultural Jeyrakh-Assa Reservation
Coordinates: 43°00' East 45°30' North
Date of submission: 15/05/1996
Criteria: (not specified)
Submitted by: Ministry of Culture of Russian Federation
WH list (name, id):
State, Province or Region:
Brief Description
The Jeyrakh-Assa Reservation situates in the upper reaches of two mountainous rivers: the Armhi river and the Assa
river. There are 18 settlements on the slopes of canyons where more than 300 battle and Habitable towers of XVIXVII centuries, 200 vaults of the same period, the sacred place of XV-XVI century, the medieval christian temple of
XII century and many structures of bronze age IX b.c. through VI b.c. remain. The Reservation includes the Kromlekh
grave V-VI b.c.