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M. Gorky considered "Old Woman Izergil" his the best work, as evidenced by his letters addressed to colleagues in the pen. This work belongs to the early work of the writer, but it surprises with unusual images, storylines and composition. Schoolchildren study it in the 11th grade. We offer brief analysis works of "Old Woman Izergil", which will help to prepare well for the lessons and for the exam.

Brief analysis

Year of writing - 1894.

History of creation- In the spring of 1891, M. Gorky traveled around Bessarabia. The atmosphere of the southern region inspired the young writer to create the analyzed story. The poet realized the idea only after 3 years.

Topic- The work reveals several themes, the central ones are: love that knows no barriers, man and society, the generation of weak people.

Composition- The structure of the work has features. It can be defined as stories within a story. "Old Woman Izergil" consists of three parts, the link between which is the dialogue of a guy and an old woman.

Genre- Story. Parts dedicated to Larra and Danko are legends.

Direction- Romanticism.

History of creation

The history of the creation of the work dates back to 1891. Then M. Gorky traveled around Bessarabia. He was impressed by the nature and people of the southern region. At this time, he had an idea for a work, which the writer began to implement in 1894. Assumptions about the year of writing are confirmed by letters addressed to V. G. Korolenko.

The story refers to the early period of M. Gorky's work, represents the romantic layer of his work. The author himself considered "Old Woman Izergil" to be a "slender and beautiful work", about which he wrote to A. Chekhov. He doubted he could create anything else like it.

For the first time, the work saw the world on the pages of Samara Newspaper in the spring of 1895.

Topic

In the analyzed story, motifs characteristic of romantic literature were displayed. The author realized them through extraordinary plots and images. M. Gorky revealed multiple topics, among which the following stand out: love that does not obey; man and society, generation of weak people. These themes are closely intertwined and define the problematics of the work.

The Old Woman Izergil begins with a landscape sketch that immerses the reader in the atmosphere of Bessarabia. Gradually, the author's attention switches to the company of boys and girls. The narrator watches them. He notices the outward beauty of young people, which radiates freedom that fills their souls. The narrator himself remains near the old woman Izergil. The woman cannot understand why her interlocutor did not go with cheerful company. Gradually, a conversation begins between the narrator and the old woman.

A woman tells a guy from a foreign land local legends, reminisces about her life. The first legend is dedicated to Larra - a shadow that roams the Bessarabian steppes. Once it was a young man - the son of an eagle and a woman. He, along with his mother, descended from the mountains after the death of his father, an eagle. The guy considered himself superior to people, so he dared to kill the girl. For this he was expelled. At first, Larra enjoyed solitude, abducting girls and cattle without a twinge of conscience. But loneliness began to "eat" him. Larra decided to commit suicide, but death did not want to free him from torment. The guy wandered the steppes for thousands of years, his body and bones dried up, only a shadow remained.

In the first part the problem of man and society is revealed. M. Gorky shows that a person cannot live without love, without the support of other people. A lonely existence is just an illusion of happiness, which breaks very quickly.

In the second part the old woman talks about her life and relationships with men. The meaning of life, according to the heroine, is love. Izergil had many fans. She knew how to surrender to tender feelings without much thought. In her youth, a woman sacrificed herself for the sake of those she loved. She was ruthlessly betrayed, used, but her soul continued to radiate light. Izergil's story pushes the reader to the conclusion: one should not allow one's own to be covered with a stone shell, even if it has been broken more than once.

The third part M. Gorky's story "Old Woman Izergil" is a legend about Danko, a guy who sacrificed his heart for other people. In it, the author continues the theme of the conflict between man and society. That's just Danko - the complete opposite of Larra. Danko is a typical romantic hero. He is alienated from society, at the same time his soul is filled with noble impulses. Old Woman Izergil sets this guy as an example for the generation of the storyteller with a weak spirit.

The meaning of the name works should be sought in the system of images. Its center is precisely the old woman Izergil. It is also important to take into account symbolic meaning woman's name. Most researchers believe that the name "Izergil" was formed from the Old Norse "yggdrasil", meaning ash. The Scandinavians considered this tree to be the basis of the world, linking three kingdoms: the dead, gods and people. The heroine of the story also resembles an intermediary between the living and the dead, because she keeps and transmits the wisdom given by life itself.

Artwork idea: glorification of courage, beauty and noble impulses, condemnation of passivity and spiritual weakness of people.

The basic idea- a person cannot be happy without society, at the same time he should not extinguish his inner fire, trying to conform to stereotypes.

Composition

Features of the composition allow the author to reveal several themes. The work can be called stories within a story. It consists of three parts, which are framed by a dialogue between the narrator and the old woman Izergil. The first and last parts are legends, and the second are the old woman's memories of her youth. The conversation between the elderly woman and the narrator connects three parts that are different in content.

Each story has an exposition, a plot, a development of events and a denouement. Therefore, for a deeper understanding of the work "Old Woman Izergil", the analysis of the plot of each part of it should be done separately.

main characters

Genre

The genre of the work is a story, because it is of a small volume, and leading role plays the storyline of the old woman Izergil. Also in the story there are two legends (the first and third parts). Some researchers consider them parables because of their pronounced instructive component. The direction of "Old Woman Izergil" is romanticism.

Genre originality, the system of images and the plot determined the nature of artistic means. Trails help bring the story closer to folklore.

The Baikal Nature Reserve borders on the amazing Lake Baikal.

Where is the Baikal Nature Reserve

It is located in the south and southwest of Buryatia, covering central part mountain range Khamar-Daban. It is divided into 2 parts - the northern one, which runs along the coast of Lake Baikal and the macro slope of the ridge, and the southern one. From the north it borders on the Trans-Siberian Railway, which separates the reserve from the lake.

Story

In the 1950s among scientists who were studying the nature of the lake and its surroundings, the idea arose of creating a protected area in these parts in order to preserve the unique nature.

The initiators were scientists and teachers of the Irkutsk University, who repeatedly organized botanical expeditions here. For a decade, the idea remained unrealized, and only in the late 1960s. the project was put into practice.

The basis for this was a resolution adopted by the Council of Ministers of the country. The official year of the creation of the Baikal Reserve is considered to be 1969. The employees of the institution saw the conservation of nature, the study of mountains and taiga, flora and fauna, nature, the Baikal coast as the main goal of their work.

In the mid 1980s. The reserve was included in the world biosphere reserves, and in 1996 became part of the World Natural Heritage Lake Baikal. Later listed world heritage under the protection of UNESCO.

The reserve was organized as a complex protected area in order to preserve and study the nature and objects of the southern part of the Balkal region, ecological systems ridge Khamar-Daban.

Characteristics

The area of ​​the organized reserve was originally more than 169 thousand hectares, but then it was cut down, as local residents began to complain about the lack of meadows for grazing animals.

• Today the area of ​​the Baikal Reserve is 167871 hectares of land
• Forests occupy about 117 hectares
• Reservoirs (rivers and lakes) - 1.5 thousand hectares
• The rest is a huge expanse of highlands, devoid of vegetation.
• The length of the border of the protected area is 200 km.

Baikal nature reserve animals

The reserve is home to a large number of animals, birds and insects. A distinctive feature of the Baikal Reserve is the diverse ichthyofauna, whose representatives are much larger than reptiles, amphibians and amphibians.

What animals are there in the Baikal Reserve (List)

On the territory of the reserve, feathered inhabitants are numerous, of which there are more than five thousand species. They are divided into groups:

• Falconiformes (hobbies, buzzards, kites);
• Waterfowl (mallard, teal);
• Galliformes (black grouse, partridge, etc.);
• Owls (long-eared owl, owl, etc.);
• Passerines (bullfinches, schur, waxwings, etc.)

saker falcon photo

Among the rare birds you can see the golden eagle, saker falcon, eagle, sea eagle. When migrations begin, a large number of birds begin to gather on the Baikal coast. Only the largest number of species remain wintering in the protected area, but many migrate.

Rodents are found in the steppes - small ones, of which there are a lot. These include mice-voles of various species, the East Asian rodent. Among other representatives of the fauna can be found:

• Muskrats are a small population;
• Squirrels and chipmunks - in the taiga;
• Hares;
• Alpine pikas;
• Sable;
• Otters;
• Wolverines;
• mink;
• Weasels, weasels, solongai.

chipmunk photo

There are few brown bears - about 80 individuals. They live in different parts of the reserve. Bears migrate, moving from the reserve to neighboring territories. Other mammals include wolves and foxes, deer, elks, roe deer, and wild boars. There are few wolves, no more than 20 animals, deer live in the forest zone, not wanting to go into the taiga, climb steep slopes. Boars are found in the foothills.

Baikal Nature Reserve: plants

The total number of flora is 840 various kinds plants, many of which have been preserved since ancient times. They could have arisen even in the period before the onset of the glacier.

Among these relict plants, you can find several species of ferns, as well as other 24 plant varieties. They managed to adapt to the new climate conditions, so the northern large slope of the ridge is covered with relic representatives of the flora.

flowers of the Baikal Reserve photo

• Clubs that creep under the poplars;
• Horsetails - 8 species;
• Uzhovniki - 5 types;
• Junipers;
• Lichens;
• Mushrooms (butter, chanterelles, camelina, morel, boletus, porcini, boletus, etc.);
• Ferns - 25 species.

60% of the reserve is forests, among which are often found fir, Siberian and ordinary pines, spruce, larch. Near the rivers you can see clean forests with fragrant poplars, which are adjacent to willows. Among them are birches. Other deciduous trees include elm.

In 1969, the Baikal Reserve was organized, on the territory of which the protected natural complexes of the southern Baikal region and the coast of Lake Baikal are located. total area The reserve is 165.7 thousand hectares. Also, the ornithological reserve Kabansky, which is located right in the delta of the Selenga River, is considered a branch of the reserve.

Since 1986, the Baikalsky Reserve has been endowed with the status of a biosphere reserve and is under the supervision of State Committee Russian Federation for Environmental Protection.

The main activity of the reserve is the preservation and restoration of the ecosystem of the southern part of the Baikal region, environmental education and education, full monitoring.

The geographical position of the reserve and its features

The reserve is located on the southern shore of Lake Baikal, not far from the Khamar-Daban ridge and occupies a small part of the Baikal terrace. The eastern part of the reserve is located on the banks of the Mishikha River, the southern part is on the watershed of the Khamar-Daban ridge, and the western part is along the Vydrino River.

The Khamar-Daban ridge is located on coastline Lake Baikal. Some spurs of the ridge on the south side reach the Temnik River, and the entire northern side of the hill is completely turned to the lake. This area is characterized by lateral spurs with traces of glaciation and alpine-type landforms. On the southern slope of the hill, the relief is smoother, maximum height mountains in the area is 2000-2300 meters above sea level.

Flora and fauna of the Baikal Reserve

Throughout the territory of the Baikal Reserve there are about 30 rivers, the largest and most famous of which are Vydrino, Pereemnaya, Temnik and Mishikha.

The northern side of the ridge is under the constant climatic influence of Lake Baikal. Humid air masses carried by wind currents from the Atlantic also get here. In these places, a huge amount of precipitation accumulates, on the coast of Baikal - up to 1500 mm in the highlands, 1000 mm along the Baikal region.

The Baikal Reserve has a humid, cool climate. average temperature in January - 17-20 degrees of frost, in July - 14-15 degrees of heat. Average annual temperature is 0.7 degrees.

The thickness of the snow cover in some places reaches up to 100 cm, in the highlands the thickness of the snow cover can reach 200 cm. Such a high cover makes it possible for the ground under it not to freeze, thanks to which favorable conditions are created for the development and life of plants and animals.

Lake Baikal also has a thermal effect on environment. This is manifested up to 300 meters above the level of the reservoir. This influence can be traced up to several kilometers inland along the river valleys. This manifests itself in elevated temperature in winter and cool in summer.

Climatic conditions throughout the highlands are characterized by sufficient moisture.
On the southern slope of Khamar-Daban one can trace the influence arid climate Transbaikal steppes. In these places the climate is sharply continental, the annual rainfall is up to 400 mm per year. The average temperature in winter is 26-27 degrees, in summer months+18-19 degrees. The average annual temperature is -6 degrees.

All the vegetation of the hill is divided into three zones: subalpine, alpine and mountain forest.
A large number of dark coniferous forests grow along the northwestern slope of the Khamar-Daban ridge, which many scientists attribute to a number of the most ancient forms of vegetation in all of Siberia. They include unique types of forest: anemone fir forest, wallenstein, new fir forest. In some other forests, relict plants are also present. Sometimes in these places you can find fir forests with a layer of fir elfin, high-mountain fir parks with elements of a relic complex, poplars with stone berries, wallenstein and many others.

The diversity of relict plants along the slopes of the hill is explained by the climatic features of this zone. Apparently, the local climate has not undergone much change since the Pleistocene.

Relics of the Tertiary period have also been found here: creeping oak tree, mountain fireweed, officinalis officinalis, mountain stinkweed, golden volodushka, fragrant poplar, Altai anemone, Pallas primrose, trifoliate waldsteinia and many others.

At an altitude of 500 m, the mountain forest belt of the ridge begins and ends at 1500 m. The belt is divided into two strips: fir-cedar and spruce-cedar forests grow in the Baikal territory, in which pines and larches are present. The grassy layer contains green mosses, blueberries, bergenia, shieldwort, bluegrass, reedgrass, anemone and some others.

In the valleys of the rivers of the reserve, poplars, stone stumps, aconitomas are often found, sometimes there are secondary formations - grass swamps, birch forests with wintergreen, wild garlic, bluegrass and others.

In the next strip of the Khamar-Daban ridge, fir and cedar-fir taiga with elements of slight moisture are concentrated. A large number of cedar thickets with bergenia, lingonberries, and green mosses grow along the rocky slopes. Elfin fir and cedar-fir undergrowth grow along the undergrowth. Siberian and blue spruces can often be found along the lower parts of the slopes.

On the river valleys of the Baikal Reserve, forests grow with an admixture of fir and poplar. There is also a large number of shrubs - mountain ash, willow, bird cherry, elfin cedar and alder. The herbaceous layer contains a fairly large number of relict species.
A large number of fir grows along the upper line of the ridge. In the herbaceous layer there are reed grass, shieldwort, aconite, bluegrass, kashkra, anemone, Wallsteinia and others. Such Siberian forests are relic.

The subalpine belt of the Khamar-Daban ridge contains fir, cedar-fir thickets, with admixtures of ferns, juniper, bergenia and many other plants. Here you can also find mixed herbs, cereal meadows, on which blueberry bushes grow. Often there are ferns, reed grass tall grasses, ranunculus and umbrella plants. In some places tall grass can reach 1.5 meters in height. On the large areas green mosses, dwarf pine, cranberries, blueberries and kashkara grow. Willows and alder bushes are not often found here.

The Alpine belt of the ridge is located at an altitude of 2000 m and stretches 300 meters up. Alpine tundras grow here, in which moss-lichen and lichen plant species are most common. The herbaceous-shrub belt of the ridge is represented by a large number of meadows with herbs, here you can also find fescue, dryad, round-leaved birch, gray willow and many other plants characteristic of these places.

Pine and deciduous forests are widespread along the southern side of the Khamar-Daban slope, in which you can often find moss, lingonberries, and dwarf pines. Some parts of the southern slopes are completely planted with steppe cenoses. At an altitude of up to 2000 m above sea level, there are cedar-deciduous forests.

Rare cedars grow on the subalpine belt. Thickets of round-leaved birch and juniper are spread here.

In the entire Baikal Reserve, there are about 800 species of vascular plants, of which about 40 are considered rare, relic plants of ancient times.
Raponticum Khamarsky, radiola pinnately incised, Baikal svertia, Irkutsk bluegrass and many others belong to rare species. Some plant species were listed in the Red Book of Siberia and the Red Book of Russia.

Mountain-taiga influence prevails in the fauna of the reserve. The only exceptions are the inhabitants of the mountain-steppe qualifications along the southern slope. In total, about 45 species of mammals, 2 species of amphibians, 8 species of fish, 2 species of reptiles and 260 species of birds live in the reserve.

The mountain forest belt of the reserve has exceptionally pleasant conditions for animals of many species. This area is distinguished by an abundance of various food, hilly-depression microrelief and some other factors that contribute to the favorable residence of many species of birds and animals here.

These areas are dominated by small mammals. Very often there are red-gray and red-backed voles, Asiatic wood mouse, house vole and other rodents. Squirrels, chipmunks, stoats, sables, weasels are also often found here. The habitat of a bear, lynx, wolves, foxes can be traced everywhere. The otter is quite rare for the reserve. A large number of wild boars, red deer, and roe deer live in the Baikal Reserve. There is also a small population of reindeer.

From amphibians in the reserve live moor frog and Siberian salamander. The reptiles of the reserve include the common muzzle and the viviparous lizard.

The avifauna of the reserve is based on European, Siberian species. There are also impaled species of Chinese, Tibetan, Mongolian and Arctic origin. On the Baikal terrace one can often meet the black crow, the turtle dove, the carrier, the brown-headed tit, the long-tailed tit.

In the mountain forest belt of the Khamar-Daban ridge, the mountain wagtail, brown-headed chickadee, and nutcracker are most often found. Sometimes they come here forest species birds, such as hazel grouse, capercaillie, woodpecker, Muscovy, yellow-headed kinglet. Some birds of prey are also typical - goshawk, buzzard, black kite, sparrowhawk. From the detachment of owls there are an eagle owl, hawk, marsh and long-eared owl, scops owl, many-legged owl and long-tailed owl. Waxwings, scurry, bullfinches and snow buntings often spend the winter in the reserve.

In the subalpine belt of the ridge, you can most often meet the eastern funnel, nightingale - rubythroat, lentil. Common for these places are also the thrush, the yellow-collared warbler, the scurry, the dubrovnik, the white-capped bunting.

In the Alpine belt, the species composition is quite poor. The mountain pipit, horned lark, hoopoe and tundra partridge dominate here most.

On the southern side of the ridge you can meet the inhabitants of meadows and steppes. The most prominent representatives of this group of birds are the skylark, field pipit, red-eared bunting, long-nosed merganser, hook-nosed scoter and some others. Waterfowl are quite rare for these places.
In the rivers of the Baikal Reserve there are lenok, burbot, black grayling taimen and some others.

Many inhabitants of the reserve are listed in the Red Book - otter, reindeer, black stork, Siberian mole, golden eagle, white-tailed eagle, osprey, crested honey buzzard, hook-nosed scoter and many others.

A huge part of the reserve and the territory adjacent to it is under strong anthropogenic influence, since the northern border of the Baikal Reserve is located near the highway and the railway line. To some extent, this is also facilitated by local winds that are directed along the coastline and collect air pollution and emissions from the Irkutsk-Cheremkhovo industrial hub.

Rains in the area of ​​the lake coast are characterized by an oxidized reaction. For this reason, grasses are regularly damaged and leaves fall on some tree species. Also, in recent times, a deterioration in the general condition of fir forests in Siberia has been noted. The annual growth of needles has decreased by 40%, the life expectancy of trees has decreased.

Due to the destruction of the ecosystems of the reserve, the existence of many species is under threat. This is also reflected in economic activity southern Baikal region and is the most topical issue to date.

To solve the problem, it is necessary to add to the area of ​​the reserve the territory of the Ichetui and Torey rivers, as well as the lands of the Tagleysky reserve, within which the migration route of ungulates passes. The largest relict forests in Siberia are also located here.

Fauna of the Baikal Reserve

Fauna of the protected area quite typical for Siberia, but it also has some individual characteristics. Quite often in these places you can meet birds and animals that appeared from the depths of Central Asia.

The group of invertebrates remains unstudied today. Materials are available only for some species of insects. In total, there are more than 1000 species in the reserve, which belong to 8 orders and 87 families. The fauna of vertebrate animals is known to scientists more extensively. Throughout the territory of the Baikal Reserve, 318 different species can be found.

The invertebrates of the Baikal Reserve are extremely diverse, but due to the large number of species specializations, it becomes extremely difficult to study them. In total, there are 344 species of higher Lepidoptera, 150 species of cycads, 83 species of hover flies, 22 species of stoneflies, more than 380 species of beetles and only 23 species of horseflies in the reserve. But to date, this information is considered incomplete and gives an idea only about the class of insects living in the territory of the Baikal Reserve. Since 1981, observations of insects dangerous for the economy have been carried out in the reserve. During its existence, there were not many outbreaks of pest reproduction and this did not affect the vegetation and resources of the zone.

The ichthyofauna of the reserve includes 12 species. The main ones are lenok, taimen and grayling. These species of fish appear in the rivers during spawning, and at the end of summer they again migrate to Lake Baikal, where they spend the winter. Only in the Temnik River can these fish live all winter. without leaving her. Also in the reservoirs of the reserve you can often find pike, roach, common minnow.

Reptiles and amphibians are not very common in the reserve. The most common here is a viviparous lizard. On the shores of the lake you can see the moored frog or the Far Eastern tree frog. On the southern slope of the Khamar-Daban ridge, the common muzzle and the Siberian salamander live.

Throughout the reserve there are about 250 species of birds, which are divided into 19 orders. Among the birds, Siberian species are the most dominant, but there are also many European and Arctic species.

Of all the birds that are found on the territory of the reserve, 162 species nest here permanently, 93 are migratory and 39 spend here. all year round without leaving the reserve even in winter. Some species appear here during winter flights. Several cases of chapels, pied flycatchers and shelducks were recorded on the territory of the Baikal Reserve.

Their birds of prey here are black kite, buzzard, hawk. Sometimes you can see crested honey buzzard and small sparrowhawk. Kestrel and Hobby are often observed nesting.

On the territory of the reserve there are not many reservoirs suitable for living. waterfowl. In the valley of the Temnik River and on the shores of the lake, nesting mallards and common teals can be found. Merganser lives in almost all river valleys, sometimes there is also a hook-nosed scoter.

Throughout the reserve, chicken families are quite common. Common for these places is the tundra partridge, which builds nests in the mountain tundra or in stony placers. After the appearance of chicks, partridges prefer to stay in thickets of dwarf pine for quite a long time. Capercaillie is also quite widely spread. Most often it lives at the upper border of the forest belt. The most common member of the chicken family is hazel grouse.

Most of the waders visit the territory of the reserve during the period of seasonal migrations. Fifi and small plovers often nest on the coasts of various reservoirs. On the banks mountain rivers viet jack carrier. The forest belt is distinguished by a large number of forest snipes.

At the beginning of summer, two types of cuckoos can fly here: deaf and common. In some places, the deaf cuckoo outnumbers the common cuckoo. Owls are quite rare for the reserve. This species is represented here by the pygmy owl, short-eared owl.

Some of the birds living in the reserve are listed in the Red Book and are under protection. For example, in the valley of the Temnik River, an osprey nests, numbering only two pairs. Sometimes the osprey can be seen in other places in Siberia, but this happens very rarely. In the alpine belt of the Khamar-Daban ridge, you can meet the golden eagle, but the nesting place of this bird remains a mystery to many scientists. The eagle owl is very rare for these places. Imperial Eagle, Steppe Eagle, Peregrine Falcon, White-tailed Eagle appear in the reserve quite often during flights.

During the period of spring migration, the widow composition of birds in the reserve and their number will increase sharply. This is especially reflected in the Baikal plain. Migratory birds gather in flocks on the shores of the lake, moving mainly in a southwestern direction.

Until the end of April, the flight of bunting-remez lasts, after which the migration of thrushes begins. Large numbers of green pipit, oatmeal crumbs fly over the reserve. At the end of May, there is a massive flight of a large number of Dubrovnik.

The autumn migration is accompanied by the simultaneous formation of the winter avifauna. The most common wintering birds are black woodpecker, three-toed woodpecker, cuckoo, nutcracker, common nuthatch and many others. Waxwings, snowy owls, ashy tap dances, snow buntings flock to the Baikal Reserve from the northern side of Siberia for wintering. The number of wintering birds increases significantly in years that are fruitful for nuts and berries.

The mammals of the reserve are represented by 49 species from 6 orders. Most of the mammals belong to the Palearctic group. Many species also have a Beringian, European-Siberian, Holarctic origin. From insectivores here you can meet the Siberian mole, water shrew, some species of shrew.

Quite rarely, bats can be found on the territory of the reserve. Only in the forest belt lives a small number of earflaps and water bats.

Small rodents are common in the reserve. The red-backed vole, East Asian mouse, root vole, and wood mouse are the most common. On the shores of Lake Baikal there is a population of muskrat. In addition, chipmunks and squirrels are quite common in the reserve.

On the territory of the Baikal Reserve artificial settlements of the sable population are created. This type has been preserved since the period of the all-Siberian depression, which began at the end of the 19th century and lasted until the 30s of the last century. The number of sable has become so low that in order to restore the population, it was necessary to resort to the method of artificial resettlement of animals. To date, sable inhabits almost the entire habitable territory of the reserve. Their total number is 450-550 individuals. Most often, sable can be found in the foothills of the Khamar-Daban ridge, in the upper and lower parts of the forest belt. These places are distinguished by a sufficient amount of food for animals.
Of the marten family, the river otter is the most common on the territory of the reserve. Most of the rivers along the northern slope of the ridge are not covered with large amounts of ice. This makes it possible for otters to live in these places all year round. Apparently in the distant past, this species was found here in abundance, since one of the rivers bears his name.

The Temnik River freezes completely in winter, but when the years sag and break, some voids form. The otters living in these places use the voids to live in the winter. In spring, otters may move from one river valley to another.

Over the past few years, human encounters with the American mink, whose appearance is associated with resettlement from Irkutsk, have increased.

On the southern slope of the Khamar-Daban ridge, wolverines are quite common. The number of these animals is small and they feed mainly on the remains of victims of more large predators. Quite rarely, a wolverine can be found on the northern slopes of the ridge. Also, sometimes, ermine, weasel and solongoy live on the territory of the reserve.

There are about 80 brown bears throughout the reserve. AT summer time they prefer to live in high mountain meadows. With the beginning of the rut, they move to the upper strip of the forest belt, and in late summer and early autumn, bears gather to feed in cedar and berry forests. After hibernation, they wake up in the first half of April, and lie down in dens at the end of October. Some animals leave the reserve and settle in its vicinity.

With low snow cover, bears are forced to build their dens right under the roots of trees. On the northern slope of the hill, instead of dens, bears build their nests in dense thickets or under the trunks of fallen trees.

From the canine family, the wolf and the fox live here. Foxes inhabit the entire territory of the reserve, but most of them are found in the valley of the Temnik River and on the coast of Lake Baikal. Wolves live in the valley of the Temnik River, trying to constantly adhere to the places where ungulates live. These animals almost never come to the northern slope of the Khamar-Daban ridge. In autumn, the number of wolves reaches 15-20 individuals. In snowy winters, wolves prefer to live along the Temnik River, without going deep into the Baikal Reserve.

From ungulates in the reserve moose, Siberian roe deer, wild boars, server and red deer, musk deer live. To date, the species identity of the red deer remains not fully clarified. Local residents and hunters call this animal a red deer, but at the same time, a number of researchers consider this species to be mixed. In summer, there are more than 250 deer in the reserve. They are distributed almost throughout the entire territory of the reserve, but most of all they are attracted by forests with meadow glades, edges of swamps, wastelands and meadows in the highlands, wetlands of rivers, thickets of shrubs. Often, animals come to the subalpine belt in order to escape from the invasions of blood-sucking insects. Deer avoid steep forest slopes, old birch forests and dark coniferous taiga. About half of the herd leaves the territory of the reserve in winter, as deep snow limits their ability to forage. Reindeer left for the winter gather in the valley of the Temnik River or on the slopes of Maly Khamar-Daban.

The reindeer population lives in the high-mountainous part of the Siberian forest, in the alpine and subalpine zones. The number of these animals can reach 30-50 individuals. Reindeer prefer to spend summer near snowfields and mountain lakes. Also often deer can be found in the mountain tundra. In winter, reindeer choose to live in areas of the subalpine zone, most often near the sources of rivers along the southern slope of the Khamar-Daban ridge.

In the Temnik valley and on the terraces of Lake Baikal, encounters with elk and roe deer are not uncommon. The number of these animals in the reserve is quite small. Wild boars live in the southeastern part of the reserve and on the southern slope of Khamar-Daban.

Different ecological conditions on different slopes of the ridge, heterogeneity of biotypes altitudinal belts and vertical zonality have a significant impact on the natural distribution of animals throughout the territory of the Baikal Reserve.

Coast of Lake Baikal, in some places, is covered with dense mixed forests, where a huge number of birds live (long-tailed tit, brown-headed tit, grey-headed bunting, green warbler, Siberian thrush, great turtledove). In places of accumulation of poplars, the needle-tailed swift prefers to nest. Birch forests are inhabited by black crow, small flycatcher, warbler-talovka. Of the mammals, roe deer, hares and foxes are common here.

The largest number of species lives in mixed forests and river openings of the Baikal Reserve. Buntings live in dark coniferous forests with fir undergrowth, lentils and shrike usually inhabit thickets of shrubs with clearings. Thrushes, nightingales and lentils prefer to nest on the banks of many rivers. In the forests, with a large number of poplars, the black woodpecker nests. Valley biotopes are inhabited by bears, sables, Siberian cats, chipmunks, voles, and shrews. In the river valleys there is a white hare, and in summer - deer.

The situation is much poorer in the forest biotypes on the slopes and watersheds of the reserve. The dark coniferous forests are filled with bluetails and warblers; the three-toed woodpecker lives in the fir and cedar forests. Of the small mammals, chipmunks, voles, shrews and East Asian mice are the most common here. In spring you can meet flying squirrel, wood mouse, brown bear and sable. Of the ungulates, the musk deer lives in this area.

In the southern hills Khamar-Daban, in the forests, some species of birds nest, which are not noted for nesting in other places. These include the bearded partridge, black swift, osprey, white-throated thrush and hook-nosed scoter. The forests of the Temnik valley and the southern slope are inhabited by white-capped and red buntings, white-rumped swifts. In these places there are locations of deer and wild boar. Roe deer, wolf, bear, elk, squirrel, sable, white hare and some other animals are often found in this segment of Siberia. Representatives of small mammals are voles and varieties of shrews. Of the reptiles, the most common are viviparous lizards, common muzzles and Siberian salamanders.
In the subalpine belt of the Khamar-Daban ridge, birds are dominated by common lentil, Siberian flycatcher and nightingale - rubythroat. Also, in these places, the eastern funnel is often found, which is considered a new species of Siberian fauna.

Common among mammals different types voles, reindeer, white hare, wood mouse. In the summer, these places become home to deer and brown bears. Of the insectivores, the common shrew predominates.

Alpine Ridge Belt is distinguished by a relatively small diversity of birds, but the nesting density of many species is quite high. The largest number of individuals belongs to the horned lark and mountain pipit. Some bird species of the reserve live exclusively in this zone. These include the Siberian finch, the chrustan, the red-bellied redstart, and the alpine hawker. Of the mammals, the belt is inhabited by voles, common shrews and reindeer. Sometimes you can meet ermine, northern pika, red-gray vole and odd-toothed shrew here.

Flora of the Baikal Reserve

Flora of the Baikal Reserve quite wide and varied. There are about 840 species of vascular plants in this area, which is quite a significant number for an area of ​​this size. Most of the species can be attributed to the boreal eco-geographical group, but at the same time, representatives of the alpine, mountain and other groups are also found on the territory of the reserve. One of the distinguishing features of the vegetation of the reserve is the presence in its composition of a large number of relict plants of the Tertiary period of the Earth's history.

It becomes difficult for a modern person to imagine that 20 million years ago Lake Baikal and the Khamar-Daban ridge did not exist, and in their place there was a small plateau-like flaw with many small lakes, swamps and with insignificant elevation changes. At that time, a close to subtropical, humid and warm climate prevailed here. The average January temperature was +8 degrees. According to some data of paleontological analysis and plant imprints, it was found that the vegetation of that period appeared to be coniferous-broad-leaved and deciduous forests. Tulip trees, palm trees, pandal trees, magnolias, styrax trees and others were found in the flora of that time. During the Miocene period, a gradual intensification of tectonic activity took place, which affected the outpouring of a large number of volcanic basalts, pits caved in, and the Baikal depression and mountain ranges formed. Then, gradually, the climate became colder and completely lost all features of the subtropical. At the same time, a forest belt with sections of the subalpine zone began to appear in some areas of the ridge. This belt was distinguished by the predominance of forests of beech, elm, hornbeam and some other species of broad-leaved trees.

During the Pliocene period, the climate continued to cool. The vegetation in these places gradually began to acquire a mountainous appearance with a fairly clear altitudinal zonality. Broad-leaved tree species began to fade into the background, and they were replaced by conifers (fir, spruce, pine, juniper).

Soon formed Baikal depression surrounded by mountains around the perimeter. At that time, the climatic conditions on the slopes of the Khamar-Daban ridge underwent some changes, which in turn played an important role in the formation of vegetation in these places.

Despite the fact that nemoral species did not completely disappear, the flora was significantly enriched with boreal species. However, after some time they almost completely disappeared from the highlands, remaining only in the valley forests on the northern slope of the ridge, where the climatic conditions necessary for these plants were preserved.

The cooling of the climate, combined with the rise of mountain ranges, was the reason for the onset of glaciation in the mountains. At that time, the structure of the Khamar-Daban ridge already resembled a modern one, thanks to which it was possible to accurately establish the boundary of the ancient snow line. Along the northern slope of the ridge, at maximum glaciation, the line was located at an altitude of 1150-1200 meters. The snow cover at that time was not continuous, but despite this, many species of leafy trees died off. Gradually, coniferous forests came to their place, but, even despite strong climatic changes in some places, herbaceous plants that lived in those distant times still grow. These include ferns, a group of spring ephemeroids.

Throughout the territory of the Baikal Reserve about 24 species of higher vascular plants were discovered, which can be attributed to the relict nemoral complex. Most of the plants are included in the Red Book of Buryatia. Plants are distinguished by excellent adaptability to the conditions of the forest belt on the northern slope of the ridge. They grow in these places quite violently, concentrating mainly along the river valleys and under the canopy of poplar and fir forests. The most ancient representatives of vascular plants are club mosses. Of this family, only 6 species grow in the reserve. The most common is the annual club moss, whose shoots with spikelets can be observed in mixed forests on the northern slope of the ridge. Also, 8 species of horsetails grow in the reserve. This group of plants is considered very ancient and peculiar, and according to some scientists, it dominated everything globe ancient times. The most common is the horsetail field, forest, meadow, wintering and river.

There are more than 25 species of ferns in the reserve. Their greatest diversity is observed in dark coniferous forests along the northern slope of Khamar-Daban. For these places, the tripartite golokuchnik, fegopteris connecting, male thyroid gland are familiar. A large number of the common ostrich grows along the river valleys, which amazes with its splendor and beauty. Another type of fern, the common bracken, grows in the highlands of the northern slope of the Khamar-Daban ridge. Also in extreme places, on steep slopes and in the highlands, mountain bladderwort, odorous shieldwort and Elbe woodsia grow.

Of great interest to scientists is the family of zhovnikov. According to the anatomical, biological structure and appearance saplings are noticeably different from other ferns and occupy an extremely isolated taxonomic position. Most of the plants of this species are listed in the Red Book of Buryatia. These are northern, virginian, lanceolate and multipartite grapevines.

The main forest-forming species on the territory of the Baikal Reserve are pine. These include fir, Siberian pine, Scotch pine, Siberian spruce, cedar and Siberian larch. On the northern slope of the Khamar-Daban ridge, cedars and fir grow; larch and pine prevail on the southern slope. In some places of the reserve, beautiful blue spruce grows, which has been included in the Red Book of Siberia for quite some time. According to some assumptions, the appearance and preservation of a waxy bluish coating on the needles of this tree was influenced by habitat conditions and high air humidity. This phenomenon remains to date unexplored to the end.

Blue spruce forests cover an area of ​​12,000 hectares and are located on the northwestern side of the reserve. This area is different high humidity. Spruce is a part of fir, spruce, poplar and cedar forests. Quite often, pigeon spruce can be found in broad-herb and blueberry Siberian forests, which are common in the lower reaches of rivers and on the ancient terraces of Lake Baikal. It should be noted that when studying blue spruce, which is often found in the forests of Siberia, scientists discovered an unusual type of needles and some cedar trees. During the study, it was found that some species have an annual, accelerated type of development. These trees make up only one percent of the total population, but differ in some other features: the length of the needles of these trees is 1.5 times longer than that of others, and their branches also differ slightly in shape and size. According to some scientists, trees with a one-year cycle of cone development can be considered relict. This gives reason to assume that the ancestors of Siberian pine developed under conditions warm climate, without seasonal divisions, and this made it possible to give a second growth of shoots and continue the growth of cones without stopping.

In the interfluve of the Snezhnaya and Vydrina rivers, as well as in some other areas, the probability of encountering such trees increases significantly. The center of the blue spruce cluster is located in the interfluve, so there is a possibility of transferring this territory to the status of a spruce biosphere polygon.

Also, some ornamental shrubs grow on the territory of the Baikal Reserve - common juniper, Siberian and false Cossack, which belong to the cypress family. Plants are distinguished by their ability to survive in difficult conditions and even to produce offspring.

Baikal Reserve has a great variety of flowering plants. Among tree species that can be attributed to this group are the most widely represented willow. The family contains 23 species that grow throughout the reserve. The most common are aspen and fragrant poplar. Forests, with a predominance of poplar, are found in many river valleys, along the northern slope of the Khamar-Daban ridge. Fragrant poplar differs from other trees in its size. It is not uncommon for these places to have gigantic-sized trees that can reach a height of thirty meters, and the thickness of their column can be one and a half meters.

8 species from the birch family were found throughout the reserve. Common and most common are drooping birch and flat-leaved birch, which form secondary forests in areas of clearings and burnt areas. In the composition of fir parks, at the upper border of the forest belt, downy birch is often found. On the southern slopes of Khamar-Daban, a large number of round-leaved, shrubby and dwarf birch will grow. Also, shrub alder, which is typical representative forests along the armholes and valleys of the Baikal rivers.

On the rocky slopes, in the southern part of the reserve, one can meet the only representative of the elm family in these places - the squat elm.

The heather family is represented here by berry bushes, which occupy a decent area and form whole berry bushes. Small-fruited cranberries, marsh cranberries, blueberries and blueberries grow in the protected area. Lingonberries and bilberries grow throughout almost the entire territory of the Baikal Reserve, being the dominant ground species in some forests. In addition, wild rosemary and rhododendron are common in these places.

Creation of the reserve

Creation idea nature reserve in the central part of the Khamar-Daban mountain range arose in the early fifties of the last century among scientists studying the nature of this amazing region of the Southern Baikal region. It was especially actively put forward by the staff of the Department of Botany of the Irkutsk state university- famous forest scientist, professor Alexei Vsevolodovich Smirnov and Nina Afanasievna Epova (associate professor of the department, who worked at the department from 1920 to 1960). The leading zoologist of ISU, Professor Andrey Stepanovich Fetisov, also supported the proposal of the botanists.

Nina Afanasievna studied for almost 15 years vegetable world Khamar-Dabana and fell in love with its peculiar nature. All of her scientific activity was associated with the study of the vegetation cover and flora of the ridge. She repeatedly undertook botanical excursions to various regions of Khamar-Daban. Its main studies were carried out in the central part of the ridge. She visited the lower reaches of the river. Snezhnaya, its tributaries and a number of rivers flowing into Baikal (Mangily, Pankovka, Osinovka, Anosovka, Pereemnaya, etc.). She also conducted research in the valleys of the rivers Temnik, Bolshoi Mamai, on mountain plateaus at the head of the river. Mishikha, in the lower reaches and south of the river. Ara-Burektai, on the loaches and upper reaches of the river. Shebortai, in the Timlyuisky and Utuliksko-Bystrinsky districts, on the tops of the loaches of the upper reaches of the river. Snowy.

The works of Nina Afanasvna Epova highlighted the unique features of the nature of the ridge, its vegetation cover. She discovered and described several plant associations endemic to the Southern Baikal region, discovered a remarkable refuge of tertiary relics deciduous forests. Nina Afanasievna's detailed articles examine the patterns of vegetation distribution over mountain belts and relief elements, trace the history of vegetation formation, propose an original, well-argued fractional geobotanical zoning of the ridge, characterize in detail fir, poplar forests, high-mountain meadows, study the phytocenotic role of nemoral relics in the flora of vascular plants. Her ideas about the proximity of the high-altitude floras of Khamar-Daban, Altai and Sayan, about the relic nature of fir and poplar forests, as well as the role of subalpine meadows in the high-mountain landscapes of Khamar-Daban, have not lost their relevance. Over the years of work at the Department of Botany of ISU, she trained and left behind many students.

A student of Nina Afanasievna, Doctor of Biological Sciences, Professor Leonid Vladimirovich Bardunov, said that Khamar-Daban was her swan song. She died on Khamar-Daban. Not far from Lake Baikal, on the banks of the Mishikha River, on a spruce, a notch was made, made with an axe. On it is an inscription that Nina Afanasievna Epova died in this place on August 30, 1960 while crossing the river. She was only 57 years old.

Nine years later, in the area of ​​expedition work of N.A. Epova in the mountains of Khamar-Daban, in the area indicated by N.A. Epova, the second state reserve on Baikal was established. And in 1974, the Komsomol members of the reserve (A. Shvets-Krasnopevtseva, L. Martusov, N. Fedorov, V. Petrov and the forester of the Mishikhinsky forestry A. Gulnov) erected a monument to this wonderful woman, a great scientist.

The work on the study of the alpine vegetation of Khamar-Daban, unfinished by N. A. Epova, was completed by her daughter, M. M. Ivanova.

The first practical steps towards the creation of the reserve were taken later, in 1968, at the initiative of a great enthusiast of Baikal nature protection and a talented leader Nikolai Timofeevich Antonenko, who at that time headed the Department of Hunting and Fisheries of the Buryat ASSR. Employees took an active part in the preparation of documents necessary for the organization of the reserve. Barguzinsky Reserve headed by the forester Arkady Ivanovich Tkachenko, as well as employees of the forestry and hunting departments of the Buryat ASSR. The Baikal State Reserve was established on September 26, 1969 in accordance with the Decree of the Council of Ministers of the RSFSR No. 571 “On the organization of the Baikal State Reserve of the Glavokhoty of the RSFSR”.