precious-postcards

Putorana Plateau

This site coincides with the area of the Putoransky State Nature Reserve, and is located in the central part of the Putorana Plateau in northern Central Siberia. It is situated about 100 km north of the Arctic Circle. The part of the plateau inscribed on the World Heritage List harbours a complete set of subarctic and arctic ecosystems in an isolated mountain range, including pristine taiga, forest tundra, tundra and arctic desert systems, as well as untouched cold-water lake and river systems. A major reindeer migration route crosses the property, which represents an exceptional, large-scale and increasingly rare natural phenomenon.

http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1234

The Putorana Plateau is a remote and pristine Arctic landscape.

It is situated in northern Central Siberia about 100 km north of the Arctic Circle, on a basalt and tuff plateau created by volcanism. The area holds a complete set of subarctic and arctic ecosystems like taiga, tundra and arctic desert. It is protected as the Putoransky State Nature Reserve.

This mountainous area is a classical example of the so-called trappean, or stepped relief. It holds many canyons, waterfalls and lakes. Permafrost covers the major part of the plateau, where lichens and forest grow. Wildlife includes brown bear, wolf, Arctic Fox, reindeer and the endemic Putorana snowsheep. A major reindeer migration route crosses the property twice a year. The plateau is also an important stop-over point for migrating arctic birds.

There is no human inhabitance in the core and buffer zones, though Dolgan and Evenk with a reindeer herding tradition live in a nearby village.

http://www.worldheritagesite.org/sites/site.php?id=1234