Sayano-Shushensky state biosphere nature reserve is situated in the south of Krasnoyarsk region on the territory of a hard to reach West Sayan mountains zone.

When traveling around Sayano-Shushensky nature reserve you should definitely take a camera with you as you will see unique combination of landscapes here. You will be able to see rare orange flowers on white snow, a herd of musk deer on a green meadow and fragrant pink wild rosemary in the mountains.

The main Sayan mountain ridge in the centre of West Sayan mountains divides Sayan mountains and the State nature reserve into two different climatic and geographic zones.

Cedar taiga (almost 1000 square km) meets southern flatlands in the north (500-2735 m in height). The territory covered by forest occupies 59% of the whole nature reserve, mountain steppes - 9.6%, tundras - 19.4%, rock massive - 11.9%.

Such nature conditions have formed unique and unusual animal world of the central Sayan mountains. This land is inhabited by taiga animals (sable, brown bear, musk deer), tundra representatives (Siberian mountain goat, snow leopard, long tailed hamster) and northern animals (the northern deer, ptarmigan).

The flora of the nature reserve strikes your imagination by its diversity. The major part is presented by Siberian plants: cedar, larch, Siberian fir, pine-tree, birch, aspen, bedstraw and many other rare plants.

The State biosphere nature reserve was founded in 1976. The main purpose of its foundation was to preserve pristine ecosystem. It occupies the area of 400 000 hectares. In 1978 scientists began to carry out various researches. In 1985 it was given the status of a biosphere nature reserve and included in the list of international nature reserves of UNESCO.

In 1994 the government of Krasnoyarsk region issued a regulation according to which an additional protected zone (102 000 hectares) was founded there.