Zyuratkul National Park

Zyuratkul National Park is a specially protected natural area, formed on November 3, 1993 on the territory of Satka district of the Chelyabinsk region. The area of the park is 88.3 thousand hectares. Zyuratkul is one of the few territories of the region with relatively untouched nature. In terms of its scientific and recreational significance, degree of preservation and uniqueness, the park fully complies with international standards. The park is protected by 11 monuments of cultural and historical heritage and 15 monuments of nature, among them geological, botanical, hydrological and landscape. Sparkling sapphire in the emerald greenery of the forests, the alpine lake Zyuratkul is the main decoration of the park. It got its name from the Bashkir Yurak – kul, which means Heart – Lake. Unique is the high-altitude position of the lake – it is the highest and at the same time the freshest lake of the Southern Urals. The water is very clean, as the water exchange in the lake takes place in a year. Nature as if in the cradle laid the lake surrounded by ridges - Urenga, Lukash, Nurgush, Moskal and Zyuratkul, which protect the basin from the chilling northern winds. The highest ridge of the Chelyabinsk region is the Nurgush ridge, 1406 m, the total length is 39 km. Translated from the Bashkir language Nurgush means a light bird. At the top of the ridge is the largest mountain-tundra plateau in the region - 9 square km. with unique tundra vegetation. It is here, according to legend, lives Ural Santa Claus. Rich and diverse flora and fauna of the national park. The list of rare and rare plants, in most of the listed in the Red Book, includes more than 70 names. Under the canopy of the forest, on the mountain plateaus and in the marshy lowlands, 46 species of mammals live. The largest are the bear and elk. The winged world of the park is represented by 150 different species of birds. There are 16 species of fish in the park. Insects 7 species listed in the Red Book. Zyuratkul also has all the opportunities for sports tourism – fishing and outdoor activities. The territory that is now occupied by the national park began to develop a long time ago. At present, 15 sites of ancient people belonging to the epochs are taken into account: Mesolithic, Neolithic, Eneolithic. In all these sites found ancient tools of jasper, bone, wood. On the Capes Stone and Long Christmas tree during excavations found the remains of ancient dwellings. The spiritual appearance of the ancestors is reminiscent of “prayer stones”. These are majestic quartzite rocks - the remains of the pillar at the foot of the Zyuratkul ridge.