Daursky Nature Reserve, Nature reserve in Chita, Russia
Daursky Nature Reserve is a protected area in the southeastern portion of Transbaikal Territory near the Mongolian border. The territory includes wide steppes, wetlands, and several lakes stretching across roughly 210,750 acres (840 square kilometers) and serves as a transition zone between taiga and Mongolian desert.
The protected area was created in December 1987 to preserve the biodiverse steppe and its migratory species. In 2017 it gained recognition from UNESCO together with a neighboring Mongolian reserve as a shared cross-border World Heritage site.
The name refers to Dauria, a historical steppe region east of Lake Baikal known for its particular climate and wildlife patterns. Scientists from several countries come here to observe rare species and study the interplay between climate cycles and animal movements.
Access to selected areas requires advance permission from the administration, typically granted during the summer months. Visitors should prepare for extreme temperature swings and bring clothing for varying weather conditions, as the steppe offers little shelter from wind and sun.
The area serves as an important stopover for migratory birds traveling between East Asia and Australasia, with thousands pausing here each year. Mongolian gazelles cross the border lands in large herds, creating some of the largest land mammal migrations in this part of Asia.
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