Shulgan-Tash Nature Reserve, Nature reserve in Bashkortostan, Russia.
Shulgan-Tash Nature Reserve sits in the western foothills of the Southern Urals and covers mountain forests, river gorges, and several karst caves. The landscape consists of wooded slopes, limestone cliffs, and the turquoise Shulgan River flowing through deep valleys.
The area was established in 1958 as part of a larger protection project for bee populations in Bashkortostan. Nearly 30 years later, it gained status as an independent institution to protect wildlife populations and the cave system on a permanent basis.
The area takes its name from the Shulgan River and the Bashkir word for stone, both referring to the rocky landscape and cave system within the region. Visitors today see a protected forest where Bashkir beekeepers practice traditional apiculture, harvesting honey from ancient hives placed inside hollow tree trunks.
Visitors follow marked paths to viewpoints and information centers that explain local ecology and wildlife. Guided walks run regularly and provide access to sections of the terrain not open for independent exploration.
One of the caves preserves rock paintings from the Old Stone Age that are among the oldest artworks in Eastern Europe. These images show Ice Age animals and are accessible only in small visitor groups to protect the delicate surfaces.
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