Barguzin State Nature Biosphere Reserve

The Barguzin Nature Reserve, a benchmark of purity and pristine condition of Baikal's nature, stretches across the northeastern shore of Lake Baikal—the world's oldest, deepest, purest, most transparent, and, in our view, most beautiful lake.

The Reserve accomplished its original mission—to preserve and restore the sable population—by the mid-1930s. Subsequently, its status changed from a targeted reserve to that of a comprehensive (complex) nature reserve. In 1986, in recognition of its international standing and its achievements not only in studying and restoring the sable but also in preserving the entire natural complex of this part of Baikal, the Reserve was designated a Biosphere Reserve. Furthermore, in 1996, the entire territory of the Barguzin Reserve was inscribed as part of the UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site "Lake Baikal." 

Territory

The territory of the Biosphere Reserve is zoned. Within the "core" area, commercial activity is prohibited, with the exception of educational tourism and certain types of subsistence natural resource use by citizens permanently residing within the reserve on specially allocated plots. Tourism and limited traditional use of natural resources are permitted within the buffer zone (biosphere testing ground).

Access to the "core" and the buffer zone for all citizens, regardless of the purpose of their visit, is permitted only with written authorization from the Director of the "Zapovednoe Podlemorye" Federal State Budgetary Institution or the Russian Ministry of Natural Resources.

The Protected Area Administration provides details on visitation procedures and eligibility to both private individuals and legal entities and, when applicable, issues the corresponding permit. The permit, once granted, is accompanied by a full briefing on the reserve's regulations and the terms of the visit.

In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, fur exports were a significant source of revenue for the Russian state. In 1913-1915, a series of "sable" expeditions were organized to Siberia and Kamchatka. Their objectives were to survey sable habitats, identify optimal locations for establishing nature reserves, and draft proposals for their creation.

Given the exceptional value of the dark fur of the Barguzin sable, an expedition led by Georgy Georgievich Doppelmair was tasked with surveying this Podlemorye territory (from the Svyatoy Nos Peninsula to Lake Frolikha).

The expedition team, besides G.G. Doppelmair, included K.A. Zabelin, Z.F. Svatosh, A.D. Baturin, and D.N. Alexandrov. For nearly two years, from 1914 to 1916, the scientists conducted extensive survey work under extremely challenging conditions.

On May 17, 1916, the Irkutsk Governor-General issued a Decree establishing the Barguzin Sable Nature Reserve.

Since 1986, the reserve has held the status of a Biosphere Reserve.

For many decades, anthropogenic impact on its natural ecosystem has been minimal. The reserve's wilderness has never been remodeled, transformed, or "improved" by human hands.

By a twist of historical fate, the Barguzin Reserve was granted the honorable distinction of being the progenitor of our country's system of state nature reserves, a flagship of protected areas, and the first scientific research institution on Lake Baikal.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

The Barguzin Nature Reserve is located on the northeastern coast of Lake Baikal, on the western slopes of the central part of the Barguzin Range. Its territory spans from the shoreline of Lake Baikal (456 meters above sea level) up to the main ridge of the Barguzin Range (2,652 meters above sea level).

The distance from the reserve's northern boundary to the district administrative center, the settlement of Nizhneangarsk, is approximately 100 km. Similarly, the distance from its southern boundary to the settlement of Ust-Barguzin is also about 100 km.

The reserve's topography was formed by Pliocene-Quaternary neotectonic movements and the influence of powerful Quaternary valley glaciers. Within the reserve, the Barguzin Range presents a majestic alpine chain with sharp peaks and jagged ridges, abundant hanging valleys, and snowfields. A fundamental element of the relief is the trough valley, enclosed by vast cirques whose slopes are carved by cirques and the mouths of hanging valleys.

Uplifts with absolute elevations of 1,250 meters and above form the predominant part of the reserve's terrain. The slopes of the ridges are exceptionally steep. Mid-elevation highlands, ranging from 600 to 1,250 meters, occupy approximately 30% of the reserve's territory.

The rivers and streams within the reserve form a dense, branched network. These rivers are typically mountainous in character, featuring fast currents and rocky, rapids-strewn channels. They often flow through deep, rocky gorges, but upon reaching broader lowlands, their character changes to that of calm, lowland rivers. Where their beds are obstructed by outcrops of hard rock, turbulent rapids occur. The largest rivers in the reserve are the Urbikan, Kaban'ya, Yezovka, Bolshaya, Davshe, Tarkulik, Sosnovka, and Kudaldy.

Within the designated water area, the average depth of Lake Baikal is approximately 30 meters, with maximum depths not exceeding 200 meters. In the valleys of the Yezovka, Bolshaya, Talamush, and Davsha rivers, there are outlets of thermal springs located at tectonic fault lines, with water temperatures in some of them exceeding 70°C.

The climate of the reserve is sharply continental, with certain maritime influences. The proximity of Lake Baikal moderates the temperature regime. Winter lasts an average of 161 days, and summer 81 days. Snow cover depth ranges from 60-90 cm, reaching 180-250 cm in the alpine zones.

The number of clear days per year is 14.8%, while overcast days account for at least 30%. The area is characterized by a predominance of windy weather: calm days make up only 19% of the year and are virtually non-existent in the high-altitude zones. The average annual wind speed is 2.5 m/s, reaching significant values only in the alpine areas. Two wind directions prevail throughout the year: northeastern and southwestern.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Seven main soil types have been identified within the reserve, encompassing 29 subtypes and variations: humus-podzolic, gleyed humus-podzolic, mountain forest podzolic, mountain forest soddy-podzolic, mountain meadow soddy-humus, mountain tundra peat-gley, and mountain tundra humus soils.

The reserve is situated across several altitudinal belts. The coast of Lake Baikal is fringed by a narrow belt of Baikal terraces (460-600 meters above sea level), dominated by larch forests with patches of Siberian pine, Scots pine, and birch stands, as well as moss bogs and meadows in some areas. The lower and middle slopes of the range (600-1250 meters above sea level) are covered by mountain taiga forests. The upper tree line is formed by birch, fir, and spruce forests of the subalpine belt. Approximately 60% of the territory is occupied by the high-altitude alpine belt.

The geobotanical map of the reserve includes 6 major vegetation complexes and 86 plant communities (Tyulina, 1981). The predominant tree species is Siberian pine, followed by dwarf Siberian pine. Pine forests cover 29.9 thousand hectares (20.1%). Larch, fir, birch, and spruce are also common.

The fauna of the Barguzin Reserve is typical of the taiga but has some distinctive features. The terrestrial vertebrate fauna includes 41 species of mammals, 281 species of birds, 6 species of reptiles, 3 species of amphibians, 46 species of fish, and over 800 species of insects. Of the 41 mammal species, over 80% are typical forest dwellers. These include such taiga animals as the Siberian flying squirrel, the Eurasian red squirrel, and the Laxmann's and Eurasian pygmy shrews. There are also East Palearctic species: the Siberian musk deer, sable, Siberian weasel, Asian forest mouse, Siberian chipmunk, and wood lemming. Palearctic species include the red deer (wapiti), while Central Asian mountain-tundra species are represented by the alpine pika and the large-eared vole. A significant proportion are Holarctic species: the wolf, red fox, least weasel, stoat, wolverine, mountain hare, lynx, brown bear, moose, the northern red-backed vole, and the tundra vole. Representatives of the Beringian fauna are also present: the black-capped marmot and reindeer. Among nesting birds, species of Siberian origin predominate: the black-billed capercaillie, hazel grouse, oriental cuckoo, Ural and great grey owls, boreal and Eurasian pygmy owls, the Siberian jay, spotted nutcracker, pine grosbeak, red and white-winged crossbills, the red-flanked bluetail, and the Siberian accentor.

One peculiarity of the northeastern coast of Baikal is the relatively poor fauna of amphibians and reptiles. Amphibians include the Siberian salamander, the sharp-snouted and Siberian wood frogs. Reptiles are represented by the halys pit viper, the Dione rat snake, the common grass snake, and the sand and viviparous lizards. Valuable commercial fish species include the Arctic grayling, omul, lenok, taimen, and whitefish. Burbot and pike are common, while perch and roach are also found. The reserve plays a significant role in preserving the region's biodiversity: two bird species—the white-tailed eagle and the black stork—are listed in the IUCN Red List.