Putoransky State Nature Reserve

Putoransky Reserve of state importance is located on the picturesque plateau of the northwestern tip of the Central Siberian Plateau. The protected area is almost 2 million hectares. In the Yukaghir language the name of these places means “mountains without peaks”, and, according to another version, Putorana translates from Evenki as “lake with steep banks”, which in both cases reflects the peculiarities of the landscape. The Putorana Reserve is spread over two Russian regions at once: the Evenki and Taimyr regions.

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Arctic and subarctic climatic conditions dominate here. The zonality of vegetation is clearly expressed. At the lower level there is a dense taiga, where spruce, birch and larch predominate. As they ascend, travelers get to forest tundra with alder groves. Then there is a smooth transition to tundra and arctic desert with rocky landscapes.

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Video: Putoransky Reserve

Contents

History of Putoransky Reserve

Officially Putoransky Reserve was established on December 15, 1988 with a staff of 28 people. In 2010, these territories were recognized by the UNESCO commission as part of the World Natural Heritage. This decision was made due to the unique combination of several large landscape zones (Arctic desert, forest tundra and taiga) with rich ecosystems. Until 2013, the organization was considered an independent entity, but then merged with the Great Arctic and Taymyr Reserves, becoming part of the FGBU “Taymyr Reserves.”

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‘ Kandinskiy waterfall
‘ Dulismarskiy waterfall

Significance of the Putoransky Reserve

The zapovednik was created to protect:

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  • vast taiga, mountain and lake territories;
  • unique world of plants, places of endemics of the region;
  • rare small animals, for example, the red-listed Putoran snow ram;
  • the largest population of wild reindeer, whose wintering grounds are located on the territory of the local plateau.

The Putoransky Krai is the largest Siberian basalt plateau. The region ranks among the first in the world in terms of the number of lakes and their depth. Most of Russia’s waterfalls are located here.

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‘ Putorana Plateau

Interesting facts

  • The Konda River boasts the largest waterfall in the region. The streams rush with thundering rushes from black rocks 108 meters high.
    • On the territory of the Putoransky Reserve there are 25 thousand lakes, occupying about 10% of the total area. There are more than 20 largest tectonic reservoirs.
  • The average January temperature is -34 degrees, and in July the thermometer rises to +10…+12 degrees. Polar day and polar winter last for 2 months.
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  • The plateaus are 1000-1500 meters above sea level.
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Fauna and Flora

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Routes

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‘ Lake Dog Lake
‘ Bolshoy Kureyskiy waterfall

Tourists

Since the Putoransky Reserve has the status of a strict nature reserve, tourists are not only not allowed to hunt here, but also not allowed to get too close to the animals.

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How to get there

There are regular flights and railroad routes to Norilsk from Moscow and other major cities. To get directly to the Putoransky Reserve, you need to visit the administration office and obtain the appropriate authorization. In the application form specify:

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  • Name. Full name and other data of each participant of the trip;
  • the person responsible for the group;
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  • purpose of the trip;
  • the main points of the planned route;
  • the dates of the visit;
  • the date of the visit.
  • dates of the visit.

Administration address: 22, Talnakhskaya St., 22, p. 2, Norilsk, Krasnoyarsk region. Phone: +73919311727.

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‘ class=”fancybox” >Fishing is allowed in Putoransky Reserve in specially designated places

There is no automobile road to the Putoransky Reserve as such. Travelers are forced to use alternative transportation, which is entirely privately owned. For this reason, the transfer will be the main expense of the tourist group. The exact cost depends on the drop-off point, the chosen mode of transportation, the season, the owner. You can use:

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  • snowmobiles in winter;
  • boats in summer;
  • helicopter at any time of the year.

Take into account that the possibilities of any transportation in such harsh conditions may be limited by weather, and in any season. Tourist firms in Norilsk and some local recreation centers are ready to organize the group’s reservation. Difficulties arising on the tourist’s way are justified by the stunning landscapes where one can observe unique flora and fauna against the background of untouched nature.

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