The Khakassky State Nature Reserve (Russian: Государственный природный заповедник «Хакасский», also known as Khakassia Nature Reserve) is a federal protected area in the Republic of Khakassia, southern Siberia, Russia. Established in 1999, it is the only nature reserve in the republic and functions as a conservation, research, and eco-educational institution. The reserve safeguards a diverse array of ecosystems, including steppes, wetlands, mountain taiga, cedar forests, and inland waters, while also preserving historical and archaeological sites from Neolithic to medieval periods. Spanning 267,600 hectares across nine isolated sections, it represents 89.7% of Khakassia's plant and animal species and 40.3% of those in the broader Altai-Sayan Ecoregion. As a UNESCO-recognized biosphere reserve, it plays a crucial role in protecting rare and endemic species, monitoring environmental changes, and promoting sustainable tourism. The reserve's name derives from the Khakass people, indigenous to the region, and it embodies the "pearl necklace" of protected lands in Siberia, blending natural beauty with cultural heritage.
The Khakassky Nature Reserve is situated in the Republic of
Khakassia, within the Minusinsk Hollow and the Western Sayan Mountains
of southern Siberia. It occupies coordinates roughly between 52°-54°N
and 89°-91°E, at elevations ranging from 200 meters in steppe lowlands
to over 2,000 meters in mountainous taiga zones. The reserve is divided
into nine isolated clusters across five districts: Ordzhonikidzevsky,
Shirinsky, Bogradsky, Ust-Abakansky, and Tashtypsky. These are grouped
into two main categories: seven steppe sections on the left bank of the
Yenisei River (covering lakes like Bele, Itkul, and Ulug-Kol) and two
mountain taiga sections (Maly Abakan and Podzaploty, formerly Zaimka
Lykovykh).
The total area is 267,600 hectares, with steppe areas
featuring flat to gently rolling terrain, river valleys, and lake
basins, while mountain taiga includes rugged highlands, cedar-fir
forests, and alpine meadows. The climate is continental, with cold
winters (average January temperatures around -15°C to -20°C) and warm
summers (July averages 18°C-20°C), receiving 300-500 mm of annual
precipitation. Key geographical features include wetlands, inland
waters, and the Abakan River basin, which support diverse habitats. The
reserve borders other protected areas, such as the Altai Reserve to the
west and Ubsunur Hollow to the south, forming part of a transboundary
conservation network in the Altai-Sayan region.
The establishment of the Khakassky Nature Reserve traces back to the
1970s, when Soviet scientists, including academician Evgeny
Syroechkovsky from the Developmental Morphology and Ethnology Institute,
conducted surveys to protect steppe ecosystems in Khakassia and Tuva.
Initial plans for a reserve did not materialize due to agricultural
priorities. By the late 1980s, biologists Yuri Kustov and Sergei
Prokofiev advocated for protected areas amid intensive land use for
livestock. Despite challenges—all steppes were agriculturally
utilized—they secured eight isolated plots totaling over 5,000 hectares
in northern and central Khakassia, focusing on unsuitable farming lands
like steppes, lakes, and wetlands.
In August 1991, the Chazy State
Nature Reserve was founded by RSFSR Council of Ministers resolution,
encompassing seven areas across four districts with 24,100 hectares.
Early issues included ongoing road access, waste dumps, and funding
shortages. Lake Ulug-Kol, a key ornithological site, was added in 1998
after its international recognition, expanding Chazy to 27,300 hectares.
Concurrently, the Maly Abakan section originated in 1979 as a wildlife
refuge designed by F. Shtilmark and N. Obushenkov to halt deforestation
in cedar-fir forests. Established in 1980 over 119,000 hectares, it
faced threats from logging until its upgrade to a state nature reserve
in September 1993 (resolution #816), covering 104,500 hectares of remote
highlands.
In 1993, Chazy and Maly Abakan were administratively
united, and in November 1999, they merged into the Khakassky State
Nature Reserve via Government Resolution #1004. Expansion followed in
2001 with the addition of the Zaimka Lykovykh (Podzaploty) section,
incorporating Old Believer hermit sites and aiming for transboundary
protection with neighboring reserves. This created a network
safeguarding snow leopards, ibex, and reindeer. The reserve gained
UNESCO biosphere status, emphasizing its role in global conservation. As
of 2025, it continues research and education, with recent collaborations
like adopting Altai State University's methods for raptor care.
The Khakassky Reserve boasts exceptional plant diversity, with 837
higher vascular plants in steppe areas and 540 in mountain taiga,
including over 30 endemic species and 25 listed in Russia's Red Data
Book. The flora encompasses 176 algae species, 204 lichens, and 516
vascular plants overall, reflecting the transition from steppe to taiga
zones. Steppe sections feature meadow-steppe communities with grasses
like feather grass (Stipa spp.), fescue (Festuca spp.), and endemic
plants such as Minusinsk sweetvetch (Hedysarum minussinense) and
Martyanov peony (Paeonia martyanovii). Wetlands support aquatic
vegetation like reeds and sedges.
Mountain taiga areas preserve
virgin cedar (Pinus sibirica) and fir (Abies sibirica) forests, with
understories of rhododendrons, ferns, and mosses. Alpine meadows host
rare species like Siberian globeflower (Trollius asiaticus) and
edelweiss (Leontopodium spp.). The reserve's plant life represents 89.7%
of Khakassia's total flora, serving as a genetic repository for
biodiversity in the Altai-Sayan Ecoregion. Conservation focuses on
protecting endangered endemics from climate change and human impacts.
The reserve's fauna is rich and varied, with vertebrates dominating
documented species. Mammals total 52 in steppes and 50 in taiga,
including 11 Red Book-listed species like snow leopard (Panthera uncia),
musk deer (Moschus moschiferus), reindeer (Rangifer tarandus), and otter
(Lutra lutra). Common species include sable (Martes zibellina), brown
bear (Ursus arctos), lynx (Lynx lynx), moose (Alces alces), and small
rodents like steppe lemmings (Lagurus lagurus) and Djungarian hamsters
(Phodopus sungorus).
Birds are the most diverse group, with 294
species across 18 orders, representing 79% of Minusinsk Hollow's
avifauna. Steppe areas host 244 species, taiga 139, including 30 Russian
Red Book entries like demoiselle crane (Anthropoides virgo), tundra swan
(Cygnus bewickii), and whooper swan (Cygnus cygnus). Migration stopovers
at Lakes Bele and Ulug-Kol attract thousands, with nesting pairs of
ruddy shelduck (Tadorna ferruginea) and common shelduck (Tadorna
tadorna).
Reptiles number five species: common lizard (Lacerta
vivipara), sand lizard (Lacerta agilis), common European adder (Vipera
berus), Pallas' coluber (Elaphe dione), and Gloydius halys (Agkistrodon
halys). Amphibians include four: moor frog (Rana terrestris), Siberian
wood frog (Rana cruenta), common toad (Bufo bufo), and Siberian
salamander (Hynobius keyserlingi, Red Book-listed).
Fish species,
such as grayling (Thymallus arcticus), lenok (Brachymystax lenok), and
taimen (Hucho taimen), breed in rivers, while invertebrates remain
understudied but include diverse insects. The reserve protects 337 bird
species overall, 52 mammals, and supports game animals like maral
(Cervus elaphus) and capercaillie (Tetrao urogallus).
As a strict nature reserve (zapovednik), Khakassky prohibits most human activities to allow natural processes. It conducts environmental monitoring, maintains a "Nature Chronicle" for long-term data, and researches biodiversity threats like poaching, wildfires, and pollution. The reserve is part of international networks, including Wetland Link International and UNESCO biosphere programs, focusing on wetlands (e.g., Lakes Bele and Itkul as Ramsar sites) and transboundary protection for migratory species. Departments handle security, research, and education, with recent initiatives like raptor rehabilitation in 2025. Challenges include agricultural encroachment and climate impacts, addressed through buffer zones and community involvement.
The reserve preserves over 300 archaeological monuments, including Neolithic settlements, III-II century BC barrows, medieval fortresses, petroglyphs, and ancient cemeteries, highlighting Khakassia's role in Scythian, Turkic, and indigenous histories. Sites like Oglakhty Range (UNESCO tentative list) feature rock art and burial complexes. It also honors cultural figures like Agafia Lykova, an Old Believer hermit whose homestead (Zaimka Lykovykh) is protected. The reserve fosters eco-education, linking natural conservation with Khakass ethnic traditions, such as shamanism and folklore tied to landscapes. It symbolizes Siberia's untouched wilderness, dubbed "Little Switzerland" for its scenic diversity.
As of August 2025, the Khakassky Reserve remains active in
conservation, with updates including youth programs and bird-of-prey
care collaborations. It is open for eco-tourism in buffer zones,
emphasizing educational visits to avoid disturbing core areas. Key
attractions include hiking in steppe clusters, birdwatching at lakes
(e.g., Bele for migrations), and taiga trails in Maly Abakan (remote,
requiring permits).
The Museum of Nature in Abakan (Teplichnaya St.,
20) is a highlight, opened in 2009, featuring interactive maps, exhibits
on landscapes, Red Book species, and Agafia Lykova's artifacts. Open
weekdays 9 AM-4 PM; excursions by appointment at +7 (3902) 35-22-04.
Admission is modest (around 200-300 RUB), with guided tours available.
Visiting requires prior permission from the reserve administration
(Abakan, Teplichnaya St., 20; email: khakzap@mail.ru; phone: +7 (3902)
35-22-04). Best time is June-August for mild weather and bird activity.
Access via Abakan (airport/train), then local transport. Organized tours
focus on archaeology and nature, with options like climbing Oglakhty
Ridge (965 steps). Foreigners need Russian visas; no special fees, but
respect zapovednik rules—no off-trail access or collecting. Recent news
highlights international partnerships for wetland education.