Zapovednik Azas, in the northern part of Tyva Republic, was founded in 1985 on the
basis of an existing beaver zakaznik. It has an area of 300,4 thousand ha. Located in the
basin of right tributaries of the river Bolshoy Yenisei (Biy-Khem) and on the left bank of
the river Sorug.
The relief is mountainous, with steep crumbling slopes characteristic of the Park.
Taiga and taiga-lake mountain landscapes prevail. Many lakes are of glacier origin, the
greatest one is the lake Azas (20 km long, up to 5 km wide). The main river is the river
Azas, of mountainous character.
The massifs of cedar taiga, larch and fir forests are widely spread; small areas are
occupied by pine forests, valley spruce and willow forests. The forests’ area makes
about 62% of the Zapovednik’s territory.
The flora includes rare species, that are in the Bed Data Book of the Russian
Federation — Orchis militaris, yellow lady’s slipper, Cypripedium macranthon, Sausurea
dorogostaiskii, — and also plants, rare for the Siberia — Rhodiola rosea, Rhodiola
pinnatifida, and Listera cordata.
The fauna includes typical taiga inhabitants: in the light coniferous forests maral is
numerous, at the foot of the mountains musk deer lives, elk is widely spread; Capreolus
pygargus, wild boar, brown bear, lynx, sable, squirrel, Siberian weasel are usual. In the
tundra communities wild reindeer is being met, traces of snow leopard are being found.
On the river Àzas, the left tributary of Biy-Khem, over a length of 200-250 km from
the upper reaches of the river to its mouth, the Tuvinsky beaver lives, a species in the
Red Data Book of endangered species of the Russian Federation.
Wild bird species number about 200, of rare and disappearing species black stork,
osprey, fish hawk, golden eagle, erne, and peregrine falcon.
In the rivers taimen, lenok, grayling, cisco, darter, pickerel, id are met.
