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Russian Zapovedniks and National Parks

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Zapovednik "Bolshekhekhtsirsky"

Addres:680502 Khabarovsky kray, s. Bychikha, Yubileynaya St., 8.

Zapovednik Bolshekhekhtsirsky, in the southern part of Khabarovsky Krai, was founded in 1963. Its area is 45,1 thousand ha. It is situated within the island range of Bolshoy Khekhtsyr 15-20 km south from Khabarovsk city.

The territory includes valley, low mountain and mountain landscapes. The absolute height of the axis ridge reaches 700-800 m above sea level; that of its spurs, 300-500 m. In the low mountains average heights of 80-150 m above sea level prevail. Valley floors are attached to ancient lake terraces. The density of the river network is 0,6 km/km2. The length of the most part of the rivers is 8-17 km; the length of the greatest of them, the river Chirka (a tributary of the Ussuri), is 32 km.

In the mountains cedar broad-leaved and spruce broad-leaved forests prevail; in the pre-mountain zone broad-leaved plantations with a mix of coniferous species. In the valleys larch forests, shorthair-sedge meadows, birch-pine and oak forests are found. The most characteristic species are Picea ajanensis, Korean pine, and Tilia amurensis.

The animal world consists of the usual species of Manchurian and Siberian taiga fauna. Among the "background" species are yellow-throated bunting, Phylloscopus occipitalis, nutcracker, hazel grouse, Clethrionomys rufocanus, chipmunk, wild boar, roebuck. Sable, and Asiatic black bear are common. Musk deer, otter, lynx, bush mouse, pheasant and black grouse are rare. In recent years tiger became permanent inhabitant of the Zapovednik.

Far-Eastern turtles (a type of soft-shelled turtle) and fish hawks are in the Red Data Book of the Russian Federation.

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