Khakassia is a land of picturesque and truly unique nature. The republic is located in the central part of Eurasia. The complex terrain with elevation differences from 250 m above sea level in the flat part and up to 2969 m in the Western Sayans, combined with the sharply continental climate of the region, made it possible to preserve the unique natural landscapes in their original form.
In a relatively small area concentrated mountains with peaks covered with glaciers and snow, tundra, alpine and subalpine meadows, forests and steppes. The land is rich in fast-moving rivers and deep lakes, grottoes and caves.
Flora
A highly fragmented relief with different types of soil layer, uneven illumination of steep mountain slopes and ravines formed the conditions for an extraordinary diversity of the plant world. Over 1670 species of higher plants grow here, from mighty cedars and larches to tremulous forest orchids.
Plants of all types of vegetation are found in Khakassia: steppe, forest, meadow, tundra and swamp.
Of the steppe grasses, the most common are sedge, wormwood, feather grass, chiy, pikulnik, and plants of the bluegrass family. Meadow plants are represented by herbs and herbs: meadow fescue, clover, yarrow, meadow geranium, Dzhungarian aconite, etc. from the family of cereals and legumes.
Coniferous trees prevail among the forest vegetation: cedars, fir, spruce, larch, and only in the steppe and forest-steppe regions of Khakassia grow birch, and very rarely aspen and poplar forests mixed with willows.
Mosses and lichens predominate in the alpine tundra. Swamp vegetation is represented by reeds, reeds, sedges, and mosses. Achnaterum and hemp nettle are common on saline soils near mineralized lakes.
Endemic plants
A unique landscape, clean air and a pristine environment untouched by man are ideal conditions for the conservation of species sensitive to human impact. Many relic plants grow in Khakassia. 28 species can be seen only here, these plants are endemic to the republic.
These are Saxar birch, crossbill Reverdatto, narrow-leaved ovary, Tatar crane, Khakassian leafworm, Sayurea Sayanskaya and others.
Fauna
The animals of Khakassia are also diverse and unusual. Gigantic moose, bears, deer, otters, snow leopards, wolves, chipmunks, etc. live here.
Among mammals in the mountain coniferous taiga, you can find shrews, chipmunks, foxes, squirrels and sables. Weasel, columns, ermine are sometimes found, but the populations of these animals in Khakassia are few. Bears, deer, Siberian forest reindeer, lynxes, wolverines are typical representatives of large animals in coniferous forests. In the river valleys hare and mink live. Sometimes you can see an otter. In alpine meadows, vole mice, moles, shrews, and Dzungarian hamsters are widespread.
Unique animals
Among the plants and animals of Khakassia are many unique. You will rarely meet them. 281 species of plants and animals of Khakassia are listed in the Red Book. The red wolf, Tuva beaver and Pallas are classified as a probably extinct species. The snow leopard and argali are threatened with extinction; the population of the Siberian forest reindeer is declining. Animals such as the Siberian goat and river otter have become rare.
The protection and restoration of populations of rare and endangered species, the preservation of the gene pool of plants and animals is the main concern of the staff of the Khakass State Nature Reserve, established in 1999.
We wish them good luck hoping to see animals from the Khakassia Red Book in the wild in a couple of decades.