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| ] near the Russian border with ], ].]] | |||
| :'' This article concerns the World Heritage Site. For other meanings, see ] and ]. | :'' This article concerns the World Heritage Site. For other meanings, see ] and ]. | ||
| The '''Western Caucasus''' is a natural ] ] situated 50 km to the north from the Russian resort of ] |
The '''Western Caucasus''' is a natural ] ] situated 50 km to the north from the Russian resort of ] and comprising the extreme western edge of the ]. As stated by the UNESCO specialists, it is the only large mountain area in Europe that has not experienced significant human impact. Its habitats are exceptionally varied for such a small area, ranging from ] to ]s. | ||
| The area |
The area corresponds to the '''Caucasian Natural Reserve''', set up by the Soviet government in ] to preserve some 85 m-high specimens of the ], thought to be the tallest trees in ]. About a third of its high mountain species of plants are recognized as ]. The Western Caucasus is also the place of origin and of reintroduction of the ] (European Bison). The last wild wisent in the world was killed by poachers here in ]. The wisents were reintroduced several decades later. | ||
| The area also includes the ] (IUCN management category II). | |||
| The Western Caucasus is also the place of origin and of reintroduction of the ] (European Bison). The last wild wisent in the world was killed by poachers here in ]. The wisents were reintroduced several decades later. | |||
| ==External links== | ==External links== | ||
| * | * | ||
| * | * | ||
| * | |||
| ==Further reading== | |||
| *Алтухов Михаил Данилович, Литвинская Светлана Анатольевна. ''Охрана растительного мира на Северо-Западном Кавказе''. Krasnodar: Краснодарское книжное издательство, 1989. | |||
| *Кавказский заповедник. In ''Заповедники СССР. Заповедники Кавказа''. Moscow: Мысль, 1990. P. 69-100. ISBN: 5244004328 | |||
| {{World Heritage Sites in Russia}} | {{World Heritage Sites in Russia}} | ||
Revision as of 12:46, 5 July 2007
- This article concerns the World Heritage Site. For other meanings, see Caucasus (disambiguation) and Caucasia (disambiguation).
The Western Caucasus is a natural UNESCO World Heritage Site situated 50 km to the north from the Russian resort of Sochi and comprising the extreme western edge of the Caucasus Mountains. As stated by the UNESCO specialists, it is the only large mountain area in Europe that has not experienced significant human impact. Its habitats are exceptionally varied for such a small area, ranging from lowlands to glaciers.
The area corresponds to the Caucasian Natural Reserve, set up by the Soviet government in 1924 to preserve some 85 m-high specimens of the Nordmann Fir, thought to be the tallest trees in Europe. About a third of its high mountain species of plants are recognized as endemic. The Western Caucasus is also the place of origin and of reintroduction of the Wisent (European Bison). The last wild wisent in the world was killed by poachers here in 1927. The wisents were reintroduced several decades later.