The “Khakassky” state natural reserve was established in accordance with the resolution of the Government of the Russian Federation from 4.09.1999 № 1004 on the basis of state nature reserves “Chazy” and “Maly Abakan”. The “Khakassky” reserve is situated on the territory of the Republic of Khakasia and includes 9 cluster (isolated) sections in Ordzhonikidzevsky, Shirinsky, Bogradsky, Ust-Abakansky and Tashtypsky districts.
The total area of the reserve is 267,6 thousands of hectares.
The “Khakassky”state natural reserve is the (nature) conservation, research and eco-educational establishment of federal importance. The main functions of the reserve are preservation and study the natural processes and phenomena, preservation the gene pool of plant and animal world and certain plant and animal species and communities.
In this connection the crew of the reserve is responsible for the following tasks:
- Protection of natural complexes and objects;
- Implementation of ecological monitoring;
- Organization and conducting scientific researches, including maintenance of Nature chronicle;
- Ecological education;
- Assistance in scientists and environmentalists training.
The specificity of natural conditions of reserve’s territory, which determines a rich variety of biological and landscape diversities, allows combining them in two natural groups: steppe and mountain taiga.
The main protected objects in the “Khakassky” reserve are:
steppe group of sections:
- steppe, meadow and wood-shrubby plant communities and animal world of steppe and forest-steppe vegetation zones of Minusinsk Hollow;
- inland waters (lakes);
- water-marsh lands;
- places of rare and endemic plant species growth;
- 244 bird species, 52 mammal species, 6 reptile species and 4 amphibian species;
- 837 higher vascular plant species.
mountain taiga group of sections:
- cedar forests with inherent complexes of plant and animal world;
- more then 139 bird species, 50 mammal species, 3 reptile species and 3 amphibian species;
- 540 higher vascular plant species;
- valuable game animal species – a sable (Martes zibellina Linnaeus, 1758), a maral (Cervus elaphus Linnaeus, 1758), an elk (Alces alces Linnaeus, 1758), a mink (Neovison vison Schreber, 1777), a capercailzie (Tetrao urogallus Linnaeus, 1758), and also grayling’s (Tliymallus arcticus Pallas 1776), lenok’s (Brachymystax lenok Pallas, 1773), taimen’s (Нucho taimen Pallas, 1773) breeding grounds;
- rare animal species of Altai-Sayan mountain land, listed in the Red Book of the Russian Federation and the Red Book of the Republic of Khakasia, which inhabit the territory of the reserve – a reindeer (Rangifer tarandus Linnaeus, 1758), a musk deer (Moschus moschiferus Linnaeus, 1758), an otter (Lutra lutra Linnaeus, 1758), a snow leopard (Uncia uncia Schreber, 1776).
