Basegi Nature Reserve

Basegi Nature Reserve is a Russian 'zapovednik' along the Basegi Ridge in the Middle Ural Mountains. "Basegi" means "spectacular", "beautiful" in the local Urals Russian dialect. It is relatively untouched by commercial use, and thus the area has scientific value as a "reference site" for spruce-fir forests of the Urals. It also supports a spawning habitat for trout and grayling. The main rivers are the Usva and the Vilva. There are also some small rivers that have rapids typical of mountain rivers. The reserve is situated in the Gremyachinsk area of Perm Krai.

WWW Official Site

Topography

The reserve covers the Basegi Ridge, which runs north-south, and is divided into three sections by steep ravines. The Basegi's geology is stable Lower Paleozoic and Proterozoic quartzite facing the surface with lesser amounts of granite and diabase. The main rivers are the Usva and the Vilva. There is also a network of smaller rivers.

Climate and ecoregion

Basegi is located in the Urals montane tundra and taiga ecoregion, a region that covers the Ural Mountains in a band that is narrow from west-east, but runs up most of the divide between European and Asiatic Russia. The region is a meeting zones of taiga and tundra tree and plant species.
The climate of Basegi is Humid continental climate, cool summer. This climate is characterized by mild summers and cold, snowy winters.

Flora and fauna

There are more than 250 species of plants in the nature reserve, among them more 45 are rare. Many species of mosses and lichens,
50 species of mammals, more than 180 species of birds, 1 species of reptile, 17 species of fish and 3 species of amphibians. The fauna is typical for taiga. Species, protected by Red Data Book of the Russian Federation, include:

Lichens: Lobaria pulmonaria
Plants: Calypso orchid
Invertebrates: clouded Apollo butterfly and others
Fishes: Hucho taimen and others
Birds: golden eagle, Eurasian curlew, white-tailed eagle, peregrine falcon, black stork, Eurasian eagle-owl and others.

The reserve has a large community of shrews, of 6 species. In some years, the body mass of shrews can total over 70% of the total weight of vertebrates in the territory.

Ecotourism

As a strict nature reserve, the Basegi Reserve is mostly closed to the general public, although scientists and those with 'environmental education' purposes can make arrangements with park management for visits. There is an 'ecotourist' hiking route to the top of North Basegi Mountain in the reserve, however, that is open to the public. Permits must be obtained in writing in advance. The main office is in the city of Gremyachinsk.