Addres:680502 Khabarovsky kray, s. Bychikha, Yubileynaya St., 8.
Zapovednik Bolshekhekhtsirsky, in the southern part of Khabarovsky Krai, was founded in
1963. Its area is 45,1 thousand ha. It is situated within the island range of Bolshoy
Khekhtsyr 15-20 km south from Khabarovsk city.
The territory includes valley, low mountain and mountain landscapes. The absolute
height of the axis ridge reaches 700-800 m above sea level; that of its spurs, 300-500 m.
In the low mountains average heights of 80-150 m above sea level prevail. Valley floors
are attached to ancient lake terraces. The density of the river network is 0,6 km/km2. The
length of the most part of the rivers is 8-17 km; the length of the greatest of them, the
river Chirka (a tributary of the Ussuri), is 32 km.
In the mountains cedar broad-leaved and spruce broad-leaved forests prevail; in the
pre-mountain zone broad-leaved plantations with a mix of coniferous species. In the
valleys larch forests, shorthair-sedge meadows, birch-pine and oak forests are found. The
most characteristic species are Picea ajanensis, Korean pine, and Tilia amurensis.
The animal world consists of the usual species of Manchurian and Siberian taiga fauna.
Among the "background" species are yellow-throated bunting, Phylloscopus
occipitalis, nutcracker, hazel grouse, Clethrionomys rufocanus, chipmunk, wild boar,
roebuck. Sable, and Asiatic black bear are common. Musk deer, otter, lynx, bush mouse,
pheasant and black grouse are rare. In recent years tiger became permanent inhabitant of
the Zapovednik.
Far-Eastern turtles (a type of soft-shelled turtle) and fish hawks are in the Red Data
Book of the Russian Federation.
