Kulyagash
Encyclopedia
The Kulyagash is the biggest wetland in Tatarstan
, Russian Federation. It consists of Kulyagash swamp and several lakes. It is situated in Belaya and Ik River
s interfluvial, Aktanyshsky District
, at the east of Tatarstan, near the border with Bashkortostan
. The area of the wetland is estimated as 22,000 ha. Kulyagash stretches from west to east 17.5 kilometres (10.9 mi), from north to south 10 kilometres (6.2 mi). The most notable lakes in the wetland are Atyr, Kinder-Kul, Azybeyevskoye, Syulyale-Kul, the biggest being, however elongate Kulyagash Lake. There are forests at the several islands in the swamp.
, which is now at 62 meters above sea level, but it is planned to fill it up to 68 to flood Kulyagash totally.
The wetland was formed by meandering Ik and Belaya. Several species of plants, such as Andromeda polifolia, Scheuchzeria palustrus, Oxicoccus palustrus, Eriophoeum vaginatum, Salix myrtilloides, mentioned in the local Red Book
, as well as rare Najas major, Nymphaea alba
, Nuphar pumila
, Leersia oryzoides
, Calamagrostis neglecta, C.phragmitoides, Ligularia sibirica
and Betula humilis inhabit the area. Kulyagash is proposed to be included to Ramsar sites in Russia
.
In 2001 the district government proposed the creation of Kulyagash reserve there, and in 2004 Tatarstan ministry of ecology promised to establish reserve there.
However, in 2008 it was decided to fill the reservoir up to 68 m.
peoples in Kulyagash. Prior the 14th century the area was populated by Finno-Ugric peoples
, but then was populated by Volga Bulgars and other Turkic peoples
, developed to the modern Tatars
and Bashkirs
. Since late 16th century is also a home of the Eastern Mari and Russians
. In the 19th century Derbeshkinsky settlement was founded at the north of the wetland. There were dockyards for the Kama river
ships, until the settlement, as well as several surrounding villages was flooded in 1980s by reservoir.
Tatarstan
The Republic of Tatarstan is a federal subject of Russia located in the Volga Federal District. Its capital is the city of Kazan, which is one of Russia's largest and most prosperous cities. The republic borders with Kirov, Ulyanovsk, Samara, and Orenburg Oblasts, and with the Mari El, Udmurt,...
, Russian Federation. It consists of Kulyagash swamp and several lakes. It is situated in Belaya and Ik River
Ik River
Ik River is a river in Russia which flows north to the Kama River. It flows through the Republics of Bashkortostan and Tatarstan, and through Orenburg Oblast. The left tributaries are Mellya, Menzelya, Dymka, the right tributary is Usen....
s interfluvial, Aktanyshsky District
Aktanyshsky District
Aktanyshsky District is an administrative and municipal district , one of the forty-three in the Republic of Tatarstan, Russia. Its administrative center is the rural locality of Aktanysh. District's population: 31,712 ; Population of Aktanysh accounts for 25.7% of the district's population....
, at the east of Tatarstan, near the border with Bashkortostan
Bashkortostan
The Republic of Bashkortostan , also known as Bashkiria is a federal subject of Russia . It is located between the Volga River and the Ural Mountains. Its capital is the city of Ufa...
. The area of the wetland is estimated as 22,000 ha. Kulyagash stretches from west to east 17.5 kilometres (10.9 mi), from north to south 10 kilometres (6.2 mi). The most notable lakes in the wetland are Atyr, Kinder-Kul, Azybeyevskoye, Syulyale-Kul, the biggest being, however elongate Kulyagash Lake. There are forests at the several islands in the swamp.
Ecology
Since 1978 it is endanged by Nizhnekamsk ReservoirNizhnekamsk Reservoir
Lower Kama Reservoir or Nizhnekamsk Reservoir is the lowest reservoir from the Kama River hydroelectric cascade. It is situated in Tatarstan, Udmurtia, Bashkortostan and Perm Krai, Russian Federation. The reservoir was filled in 1978-81 up to 62 m above sea level after the construction of dam of...
, which is now at 62 meters above sea level, but it is planned to fill it up to 68 to flood Kulyagash totally.
The wetland was formed by meandering Ik and Belaya. Several species of plants, such as Andromeda polifolia, Scheuchzeria palustrus, Oxicoccus palustrus, Eriophoeum vaginatum, Salix myrtilloides, mentioned in the local Red Book
Regional Red List
A Regional Red List is a report of the threatened status of species within a certain country or region. It is based on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, an inventory of the conservation status of species on a global scale...
, as well as rare Najas major, Nymphaea alba
Nymphaea alba
Nymphaea alba, also known as the European White Waterlily, White Lotus, or Nenuphar, is an aquatic flowering plant of the family Nymphaeaceae....
, Nuphar pumila
Nuphar pumila
Nuphar pumila is an aquatic perennial plant from the Nymphaeaceae family. It is also known as Least or Dwarf Water Lily because it is the dwarf species of Nupar lutea; while Nupar lutea has a star- shaped form of the stigma disc and glabrous leaf undersides, Nupar pumila has a round stigma disc...
, Leersia oryzoides
Leersia oryzoides
Leersia oryzoides is a species of grass known by the common name rice cutgrass. It is a widespread grass native to Europe, Asia, and North America and present in many other regions, such as Australia, as an introduced species. This is a rhizomatous perennial grass growing to a maximum height...
, Calamagrostis neglecta, C.phragmitoides, Ligularia sibirica
Ligularia sibirica
Ligularia sibirica is the type species for the genus Ligularia. It is a 0.3-1.3 m tall perennial herbaceous plant, native to fens and damp grassy meadows in Siberia, Central and Eastern Europe...
and Betula humilis inhabit the area. Kulyagash is proposed to be included to Ramsar sites in Russia
Ramsar sites in Russia
there are 35 Ramsar sites in Russia of total area 103,237.67 km2.The first sites were registered with the Ramsar Convention in the Soviet era on October 11, 1976...
.
In 2001 the district government proposed the creation of Kulyagash reserve there, and in 2004 Tatarstan ministry of ecology promised to establish reserve there.
However, in 2008 it was decided to fill the reservoir up to 68 m.
Economy
Swamp's surface area, covered with peat is 4897 ha, 2774 of them are ultimate reserves. The mean thickness of peat is 1.32 m (the maximum is 4.5 m), total volume of peat is 36,624,000 m³.Human history
The archaeological excavations revealed scents of Bronze AgeBronze Age
The Bronze Age is a period characterized by the use of copper and its alloy bronze as the chief hard materials in the manufacture of some implements and weapons. Chronologically, it stands between the Stone Age and Iron Age...
peoples in Kulyagash. Prior the 14th century the area was populated by Finno-Ugric peoples
Finno-Ugric peoples
The Finno-Ugric peoples are any of several peoples of Europe who speak languages of the proposed Finno-Ugric language family, such as the Finns, Estonians, Mordvins, and Hungarians...
, but then was populated by Volga Bulgars and other Turkic peoples
Turkic peoples
The Turkic peoples are peoples residing in northern, central and western Asia, southern Siberia and northwestern China and parts of eastern Europe. They speak languages belonging to the Turkic language family. They share, to varying degrees, certain cultural traits and historical backgrounds...
, developed to the modern Tatars
Tatars
Tatars are a Turkic speaking ethnic group , numbering roughly 7 million.The majority of Tatars live in the Russian Federation, with a population of around 5.5 million, about 2 million of which in the republic of Tatarstan.Significant minority populations are found in Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan,...
and Bashkirs
Bashkirs
The Bashkirs are a Turkic people indigenous to Bashkortostan extending on both parts of the Ural mountains, on the place where Europe meets Asia. Groups of Bashkirs also live in the republic of Tatarstan, Perm Krai, Chelyabinsk, Orenburg, Tyumen, Sverdlovsk, Kurgan, Samara and Saratov Oblasts of...
. Since late 16th century is also a home of the Eastern Mari and Russians
Russians
The Russian people are an East Slavic ethnic group native to Russia, speaking the Russian language and primarily living in Russia and neighboring countries....
. In the 19th century Derbeshkinsky settlement was founded at the north of the wetland. There were dockyards for the Kama river
Kama River
Kama is a major river in Russia, the longest left tributary of the Volga and the largest one in discharge; in fact, it is larger than the Volga before junction....
ships, until the settlement, as well as several surrounding villages was flooded in 1980s by reservoir.