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16-472: The reserve covers mountains ranging from 1,800 meters in the river valleys to the highest point on Mt. Dykh-tau (5,204 meters). 60% of the reserve is alpine zone above the tree line. The territory consists of three ridges separated by deep valleys of Chegem River, the Cherek-Bezengi River, and Cherek-Balkaria River. The westernmost ridge is called Kargashilsky ridge. Kabardino-Balkarski is located in

32-519: Is a deciduous tree native from Austria to Iran . Its range includes the Caucasus , where it may be called the Georgian oak . Quercus petraea subsp. polycarpa is a fairly large tree growing up to 20–25 metres (66–82 ft) in height, or exceptionally up to 40 m (130 ft). It is known for its very short stalk and acorns that occur either in pairs or alone. Quercus petraea subsp. polycarpa

48-623: Is a forest belt of broad leaf trees to 1,600 meters and conifers above. Below 1,000 meters is pine, birch and oak forest. The representative mammal is the endangered West Caucasian tur . It is found in two separate sub-species in the Chegem and Bezengi gorges, representing the Western Caucasus and Dagestan. Brown bears are very common. Other common animals are fox, jackal, wild cat, martens, ermine, weasels, Altai squirrel, hare, and several species of rodents, shrews, and bats. The only fish found in

64-472: Is characterized by large swings in temperature, both diurnally and seasonally, with mild summers and cold, snowy winters. The climatic effects in the reserve are highly affected by altitude: at 2,000 meters, the minimum temperature in January can reach -30 C degrees, while at 4,000 meters the minimum temperature might reach -50 C degrees. The biodiversity of the plants is due to the wide range of altitude zones and

80-884: Is dominant between 1000 and 1500 meters elevation, with Caucasian oak ( Quercus macranthera ) dominant in drier areas. Conifers become dominant above 1500 meters elevation, including Nordmann fir ( Abies nordmanniana ), Caucasian spruce ( Picea orientalis ), and Caucasian pine ( Pinus sylvestris var. hamata ). Dwarf forests occur near the treeline at 1800 to 2000 meters elevation, mostly of birches ( Betula pubescens var. litwinowii and Betula raddeana ) in more humid areas, and oriental oak and Caucasian pine in drier areas. Subalpine grasslands occur from 1800 to 2500 meters elevation, and alpine meadows from 2500 to 3000 meters, interspersed with thickets of Rhododendron caucasicum between 2000 and 2800 meters, and areas of rock scree. Sub-nival plants and lichens grow from 3000 to 4000 meters elevation. Large hoofed mammals include

96-664: Is in the city of Kashkhatau . Caucasus mixed forests The Caucasus mixed forests is a temperate broadleaf and mixed forests ecoregion in the Caucasus Mountains , as well as the adjacent Lesser Caucasus range and the eastern end of the Pontic Mountains . The ecoregion covers an area of 170,405 square kilometers (65,794 sq mi), extending across portions of Armenia , Azerbaijan , Georgia , Iran , Russia , and Turkey . The main Caucasus chain, known as

112-831: Is native to eastern Europe from Austria to European Turkey , including Bulgaria , Czechoslovakia , Greece , Hungary , Romania , former Yugoslavia and the Caucasus (including Armenia , Azerbaijan and Georgia ) and temperate asia including Turkey and Iran . In Georgia, the tree is widely distributed throughout the drier regions of eastern Georgia and generally does not like excessively moist or marshy soils, although it can be found in large groves in moist areas of western Georgia as well. It forms forests together with chestnut , hornbeam and maple . In most areas, it grows at elevations of 400–1,000 m (1,300–3,300 ft) above sea level, but in some cases it can be found at elevations up to 1,500–2,000 m (4,900–6,600 ft) above sea level. This article about plants in

128-630: 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 Kabardino-Balkarski is Humid continental climate, cool summer ( Köppen climate classification (Dfb) ). This climate

144-489: The East Caucasian tur ( Capra cylindricornis ), West Caucasian tur ( Capra caucasica ), Caucasian chamois ( Rupicapra rupicapra caucasica ), mouflon ( Ovis orientalis gmelini ), Caspian red deer ( Cervus elaphus maral ), and wild goat ( Capra aegagrus ). The East Caucasian Tur and West Caucasian Tur are endemic to the eastern and western portions of the Caucasus Mountains, respectively. Large mammal predators include

160-606: The Eurasian brown bear ( Ursus arctos arctos ), wolf ( Canis lupus ), and Caucasus leopard ( Panthera pardus tulliana ). The ecoregion is home to the raptors golden eagle ( Aquila chrysaetos ) and lammergeier ( Gypaetus barbatus ). Other resident birds include the Caucasian grouse ( Lyrurus mlokosiewiczi ), Caucasian snowcock ( Tetraogallus caucasicus ), great rosefinch ( Carpodacus rubicilla ), and Güldenstädt's redstart ( Phoenicurus erythrogaster ). Native water birds include

176-558: The Greater Caucasus , run from northwest to southeast, extending from north of the Black Sea eastwards to the Caspian Sea . The Caucasus forms the traditional border between Europe and Asia . The highest point in the Caucasus is Mount Elbrus (5,642 m). The ecoregion also includes the Lesser Caucasus or Anti-Caucasus range, which lies south of the Caucasus, as well as the eastern end of the Pontic Mountains , which extends along

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192-708: The gadwall ( Mareca strepera ), whooper swan ( Cygnus cygnus ), common pochard ( Aythya ferina ), greater scaup ( Aythya marila ), common goldeneye ( Bucephala clangula ), and Dalmatian pelican ( Pelicanus crispus ). A 2017 assessment found that 30,540 km , or 18%, of the ecoregion is in protected areas. Protected areas include the Lagodekhi Protected Areas , Borjomi-Kharagauli and Tusheti National Parks , Zagatala State Reserve , and Caucasus Biosphere Reserve . Georgian oak plus many others at lower ranks. Quercus petraea subsp. polycarpa , synonyms including Quercus iberica ,

208-460: The complexity of the terrain. In the nival zone, above 3,600 meters, there is no vegetation at all. In the sub-nival zone from 3,000 to 3,500 the sparse and non-continuous vegetation is that of tundra: lichens, creeping willow, saxifrage. From 2,300 meters to 3,000 meters is low-grass alpine meadows (up to 30 cm in height). The sub-alpine zone, 1,400 to 2,600 meters, is alpine meadows of hazel, alder, and rhododendron. From 1,000 to 2,400 meters

224-407: The ecoregion's area. Broadleaf trees are predominant at lower elevations, transitioning to conifer-dominated forests at higher elevations. Between 400 and 1000 meters elevation, Georgian oak ( Quercus iberica ) and European hornbeam ( Carpinus betulus ) are the dominant trees, along with sweet chestnut ( Castanea sativa ) in the more humid western mountains. Oriental beech ( Fagus orientalis )

240-544: The southern shore of the Black Sea . The climate is temperate to continental, and varies with elevation. Average annual rainfall is generally higher in the western portion of the ecoregion, ranging from 1500 to 2000 mm in the western ranges along the Black Sea, to 600 to 1000 mm at the eastern and southern portions of the range. The ecoregion's plant communities vary with elevation. Temperate mixed forests extend from 400 to 2200 meters elevation, covering about 70% of

256-517: The streams are brook trout. As a strict nature reserve, the Kabardino-Balkaria 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 are several 'ecotourist' routes in the reserve, however, that are open to the public, but require permits to be obtained in advance. Three popular tourist routes are: The main office

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