Zapovednik Yugansky, in the south of Khanty-Mansiysky Autonomous Okrug was established
in 1982. Its area is 648,7 thousand ha. Located in the basin of the Ugan River, left
tributary of the river Ob.
The topography is typically plain, rising 90-100 m above the sea level. The vegetation
is that of taiga forests and mires. Fir-spruce and fir-spruce-Siberian pine true moss,
lichen and sphagnum forests prevail, and also pine lichen and cowberry forests. The
understory is formed by Tartar dogwood, bird cherry, guelder rose, honeysuckle; the
herb-shrub layer is formed by cowberry, blackberry, blueberry, ledum, crowberry. In
forests, wood sorrel, may-lily are found. Derivative birch and birch-aspen forests cover
significant areas. Sphagnum bogs with thick peat mosses are widespread in watersheds.
There are some rare plant species: Cypripedium calceolus, Cypripedium macranathon,
Calypso bulbosa.
The fauna is typical to middle-taiga. There are about 50 mammal species, including
reindeer, moose, brown bear, lynx, wolverine, sable. The birds (about 200 species) include
the capercaillie, black grouse, willow grouse, hazel grouse. Among the rare birds are:
osprey, white-tailed eagle, golden eagle, black stork; on the flyway, the Siberian crane
and red-breasted goose stop over. The beaver colonies are protected. More than 10 valuable
fish species have their spawning grounds in the Zapovednik.
