Zyuratkul National Park
Zyuratkul National Park is located in the southern part of the Satka district of the Chelyabinsk region, 30 km south of Satka, 200 km west of Chelyabinsk.
Organized on November 3, 1993. The total area is 88,249 hectares, the length from north to south is 49 km, the length from west to east is 28 km.
The park got its name from the high-mountain lake Zyuratkul, translated from Bashkir "Yurak-kul" or "heart-lake".
Territory and attractions of the park
The park is located in the highest mountain part of the Southern Urals. The relief is mountainous, strongly crossed by river valleys. The mountain ranges of Zyuratkul (1175 m) and Suka (1195 m) border the territory of the park from the north-west. Urenga Ridge (1139 m) and Berry (1205 m) from the southeast. Moskal ridge (1048 m) covers Zyuratkul in the south-eastern part. The Nurgush Ridge is located in the central part of the park, its highest point (1406 m) is the highest point in the Chelyabinsk region.
In the park there is Lake Zyuratkul - the only alpine lake on the western slope of the South Urals (724 m above sea level) and at the same time the most fresh lake in the Urals.
The park includes such natural monuments as the Kalagaz and Berezyak rivers, the rocks of Zyuratkulsky Pillars, Elm Grove. Numerous park attractions: a mountain-tundra plateau with an area of 9 km² on the top of the Nurgush ridge, an artesian spring Fountain in the upper Malaya Satka river, relict larch forests on the Urenga and Lukash (Nukash) ridges, relict spruce forests on the Nurgush and Lukash ridges, rocky outcrop " the Berezyak river in the tract Vinogradov farm, onion glade in the upper Malaya Satka river, a dam on the lake, a diversion (directing) channel 9 km long from the lake to the hydroelectric station building in the village of Magnitka, sections of relict forest-steppe vegetation at an altitude of 850 m above sea level on the Maly Moskal ridge, peat bogs on Cape Dolgiy Yelnik, Medvedy rocks on the Zyuratkul ridge.
Flora and fauna
The territory is dominated by forests - spruce and spruce-fir (90% of the territory), as well as birch forests. The richness of the flora is proved by the presence of 653 species of plants, including Siberian and European (Siberian fir, European spruce, etc.). 70 rare plants of the park are listed in the Red Book of Russia, among them: a real slipper, a large-flowered slipper, leafless chin, male orchis, Ural anemone and pulmonary lobaria.
The animal world "Zyuratkul" has 214 species, including 40 species of mammals: predators - 14 (bear, wolf, fox, marten, ermine, etc.), ungulates - 3 (elk, roe deer, rarely wild boar), hare-like - 2. The fauna also includes fish - 17 (bream, perch, grayling, burbot, pike and others), amphibians - 3, reptiles - 6, birds - 145. There are rare species of animals: European mink, golden eagle, peregrine falcon, eagle owl, European grayling, mnemosyne and apollo ordinary. These species are listed in the Red Book of Russia.
Archeology
On the shore of the lake, 14 sites of ancient people of two eras were discovered: Mesolithic - 12 thousand years, Neolithic - 6-3 thousand years ago. Parts of buildings, products, stone axes, bronze tips, scrapers, choppers, etc. have been preserved. Many objects of excavation are presented in the exposition of the Satka Museum of Local Lore dedicated to this period of time.
Also, a geoglyph on earth has recently been discovered in the form of an elk measuring 218 by 195 meters. The estimated age of the image is about 8000 years.
Also, a geoglyph on earth has recently been discovered in the form of an elk measuring 218 by 195 meters. The estimated age of the image is about 8000 years.
Tourism
The main tourist sites are 5 ranges and an alpine lake. A convenient “ecological trail” has been laid to the foot of the Zyuratkul ridge.
At the recreation center "Ecopark Zyuratkul" is a mini zoo. It is in the process of formation. Not all zoo animals live in the nature of the Urals.
Also in the national park, between the village of Zyuratkul and the village of Magnitsky, there is a bear deer farm, which contains semi-wild deer brought from Altai.
Until the winter of 2012, another attraction was located on the shore of Lake Zyuratkul - Kitova Marina, which was also called the “Ural Disneyland”, a fabulous city with caravels, a Siberian prison, a mill and other buildings made of wood based on literary works. Next to the forest, behind a high fence, there is a building in the form of a tower - the estate of the Satka businessman Yu. V. Kitov, who built this fabulous town. But in the fall of 2012, by a court decision, all structures were demolished, as if they were built in a specially protected area without a corresponding permit.
The management of the park is located in the ancient town of the mining region - in Satka.
Natural Monuments and Landmarks of Zyuratkul National Park
- Zyuratkul Lake
- Berezyak River
- Bolshaya Kalagaza River
- Rock complex "Zyuratkul Pillars"
- Elm grove
- Mountain-tundra plateau with an area of 9 km² at the top of 1406 m on the ridge. Nurgush.
- Artesian spring Fountain in the upper river. M. Satka.
- Relict larch on the ridge. Urenga and Nukash (Lukash).
- Relict spruce trees on the ridge. Nurgush and Nukash (Lukash).
- The rocky outlier "Scallop" on the river. Berezyak in ur. Vinogradov farm.
- Onion meadow in the upper river. M. Satka.
- The sites of an ancient man (12 sites along the shore of Lake Zyuratkul) From the Mesolithic to the Early Iron Age.
- Dam on the lake. Zyuratkul
- Derivative (directing) channel 9 km long. from the lake Zyuratkul to the building of the hydroelectric station in the village of Magnitka.
- The mini-zoo in the village of Zyuratkul. at the base of the national park
- Sites of relict forest-steppe vegetation at an altitude of 850 m. On the ridge. M. Moskal.
- Peat bogs at Cape Dolgiy Yolnik.
- Rocks Bears on the ridge. Zyuratkul.
