Azas Nature Reserve
Azas Nature Reserve is a Russian 'Zapovednik', located in the central part of the Todzha basin of south-central Asia about 500 km west of Lake Baikal. The reserve stretches along the Azas River, and is situated in the Todzhinsky District of Tuva.
Topography
The reserve covers a dense network of rivers and lakes in the mountain headwaters of what eventually becomes the Yenisei River. The primary river is the Azas River, which flows into Todzha Lake, before flowing out again as the Toora-Khem River. The base rock is Proterozoic and Paleozoic sandstones, limestones and various intrusions. In most of the territory this is covered with recent moraine and fluvial sediments.Located in the glacially-created Todzha Basin, the reserve itself is mid-level in altitude, but surrounded on three sides by higher mountains. To the west are the Western Sayan Mountains, and to the north and east are the Eastern Sayan Mountains. In the hilly moraine sections of the basic there are many lakes and sphagnum bogs.
Climate and ecoregion
Azas is located in the Sayan alpine meadows and tundra ecoregion. Below 2400 meters, this ecoregion is characterized by glacially-carved valleys with an upland mosaic landscape of alpine meadows and stands of upland conifers.The climate of Azas is Subarctic climate, characterized by long, very cold winters and cool summers. The average daily temperature in January is -28,7 C °, in July - +14,6 C °. There are only 52 frost-free days on average, and the average annual precipitation is 343 mm, 60% of which falls in the summer.