Teberda Nature Reserve

Teberda Nature Reserve
Russian: Тебердинский заповедник (Also: Teberdinsky)
IUCN category Ia (strict nature reserve)
Mountain Belalakaya, Teberda Reserve
Location of Reserve
Location	Karachay-Cherkess Republic
Nearest city	Teberda
Coordinates	43°21′0″N 41°42′0″E / 43.35000°N 41.70000°E / 43.35000; 41.70000Coordinates: 43°21′0″N 41°42′0″E / 43.35000°N 41.70000°E / 43.35000; 41.70000
Area	84,996 hectares (210,030 acres)
Established	1936 (1936)
Governing body	Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (Russia)
Website	http://teberda.org.ru/

Teberda Nature Reserve (Russian: Тебердинский) (also Teberdinsky) is a Russian 'zapovednik' (strict ecological reserve) located on the northern slopes of the western section of the Caucasus Mountains. It is the most visited nature reserve in the Russian Federation, with over 200,000 recorded in 2010. Included in the reserve are a popular tourist complex ("Dombay") and resorts in the surrounding areas. The terrain show extremes in variation: 31.7% forests, 20% meadows, 8.5% glaciers, 38.4% rock and scree, 0.7% - water (there are 157 lakes and 109 glaciers). The reserve is divided into two sections - the Tebardinsky (65,792 hectares (162,580 acres)) to the east, and the Arkhyz (19,272 hectares (47,620 acres)) to the west. The two sections were connected in 2010 by a "biosphere polygon", the Caucasus State Nature Reserve. The two sectors are situated in the Karachayevsky District of the Karachay-Cherkess Republic. It is part of a UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve. The reserve was created in 1936, and covers an area of 84,996 ha (328.17 sq mi).

The Teberda Reserve's southern border runs along the Main Caucasus ridge from the peak "Klukhori" to the peak "Herzog". The eastern section, Tebardinsky, covers the headwaters of the Tebarda River. The western section, Arkhyz, is the valley of the Kyzgych River. The altitude varies between 1,260 and 4,047 meters above sea level. The highest peaks in the area are Dombay-Ulgen (4042 m), Boo-Ulgen (3915 meters), Dzhalovchat (3870 meters), and Bela Kaya (3861 meters). The mountains were formed by tectonic forces, and the longitudinal valleys carved by two main periods of glaciation, one in the Jurassic, and the other the more recent.

There are 109 glaciers, with a total area of 74.3 km2, and extensive snowfields on the mountains. Feeding streams on steep slopes, the glaciers form powerful rapids and waterfalls. There are 157 lakes are concentrated on the territory, with a maximum depth of 30–50 meters, and most above an altitude of 2,000 meters.

Teberda is located in the Caucasus mixed forests ecoregion. Located along the Caucasus Mountains between the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea. One of the highest levels of species endemism and diversity in the world: 23% of vascular species, and 10% of vertebrates.

The climate of Teberda is Humid continental climate, cool summer (Köppen climate classification (Dfc)). This climate is characterised by long cold winters, and short, cool summers. The average temperature in January is 2.9 C, and in July is +15.5 C. The average frost-free period is 126 days. Snow cover lasts from 21 to 122 days, an average of 73 days. As altitude increases, precipitation increases, and the temperature drops an average of 0.5 C per 100 meters of ascent.