Shushensky Bor National Park consists of two representative forests in the extreme southwest of Siberia, in the northern foothills of the Western Sayan Mountains. The northern section is forest-steppe in character, while the southern section is mountain conifer forest. The southern section is bordered on two sides by the Yenisei river reservoir behind the Sayano-Shushenskaya Dam, the largest hydroelectric dam in Russia. The forest has both high biodiversity value and recreational value for hikers and tourists. It is located in the Shushensky District of Krasnoyarsk Krai.
Topography
The forest is divided into two parts: a small section located on relatively flat forest-steppe land 60 km north of the ridge of the West Sayan Mountains, and a much larger "Mountain section" on the north slope of the Western Sayan range. The forest displays the transition between two climatic zones - forest-steppe and taiga, as well as altitude zoning in the types of trees and forest community. The Perovsky and Mountain combine for a total area of. The western and southern borders of the Mountain section are formed by the Sayano-Shushenskoye Reservoir, backed up behind the Sayano-Shushenskaya Dam. The mountain section in dominated by the Borus Massive, a high ridge of five peaks that runs north-south through the middle of the forest. The highest peak is Mt. Poilovo.
Climate and ecoregion
The ecoregion for the Mountain section of Shushensky Bor is Sayan montane conifer forests. This region describes the mid-elevation portion of the high mountains of Siberia, in the transition zone between the Siberian taiga and the Mongolian steppe. Flora and fauna at any locality is determined by relief and elevation. The climate of the Shushensky area is Humid continental climate, warm summer. This climate is characterized by large swings in temperature, both diurnally and seasonally, with mild summers and cold, snowy winters.
Plants
Except for the treeless alpine tundra zone at the top of the Borus Massif, the forest is a subalpine zone and divided into three subzones. Above 1,400 meters is the light needle-leaf sparse taiga. From 900 - 1,400 meters is the dark needle-leaf taiga. Below 900 meters is the black taiga pine forest on rich alluvial soils. In Spring, the alpine meadows are bright with colorful flowers.
Hiking and ecotourism are popular due to the remoteness and diversity of the terrain, plants, and animals. There are developed educational trails, and the park offers guided tours and services. Visitors are required to register and pay a small fee to enter the mountain section. The park also runs boat excursions on the reservoir.
