North Ossetia Nature Reserve
North Ossetia Nature Reserve is a Russian 'zapovednik' in the high mountains on the northern slope of the Caucasus Mountains with the heights ranging from 650 meters - 4,249 meters. There are 76 glaciers in the reserve with a total area of. The site is centered on the Ardon River valley, in the Alagirsky District of North Ossetia-Alania. It was formally created in 1967, and covers a total area of.
Topography
The North Ossetia Reserve has a terrain that steep mountain slopes and deep river valleys. The Ardon River basin in the reserve has five parallel ridges running north–south. The reserve is bounded on the north by foothills and steppes running down to the town of Alagir, on the east by further north-slope river valleys, on the south by the main ridge of the Caucasus Mountains, and on the west by Alaniya National Park. There are more than 100 rivers and streams in the reserve. The altitude in the boundaries ranges from 650 meters to 4,249 meters; the highest peak is Mt. Uilpata. There are four sectors in the reserve:Arhonskim. High array of cirque and hanging glaciers, fed by snow and avalanches. Currently, most of the glaciers are receding.Buronsky.Tseyskoe. The Tseyskoe Glacier, the largest glacier in the reserve's boundaries, is the source of the Tseyskoe River and its gorge. There are the remains of birch forests on the slopes in this sector.Fiagdonskaya. The Fiagdonsky River is the largest tributary of the Ardon river.Climate and Ecoregion
North Ossetia is located in the Caucasus mixed forests ecoregion. This ecoregion is located along the Caucasus Mountains between the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea. It has one of the highest levels of species endemism and diversity in the world: 23% of vascular species, and 10% of vertebrates.The climate of North Ossetia is Humid continental climate, cool summer. This climate is characterised by long cold winters, and short, cool summers. Average temperature in February is, to in July. Average annual precipitation is 800 mm/year in the middle altitudes.
Flora and fauna
Rocks, scree, and glaciers are over 70% of the terrain in the reserve. The other 30%, at the lower altitudes, is alpine meadow and forest. Typical trees on the lower north slopes are beech and hornbeam, with undergrowth of elderberry, Caucasian bilberry, and Rhododendron. On the south-facing slopes are oak and hazel communities. Alder stands grow along the river bottoms. Scientists on the reserve have recorded 1,383 species of vascular plants, 200 of which are endemic to the Caucasus.The animal life of the reserve reflects the location at the meeting of several different ecozones. Species that are characteristic of the Circumboreal region are mixed with steppe and alpine species, and a number of introduced species. There is a small herd of bison. Scientists on the reserve have recorded 58 species of mammals, and 208 species of birds.