Krasnodar GRES Project Volume I11 Environmental Assessment

divided into separate massifs by the valleys of the Belaya, Laba rivers and their
tributaries.
The Caucasus Biosphere reserve is located approximately 48 km south/southwest
of the Krasnodar GRES on the boundary of temperate and subtropical climatic
belts. The warm and humid climate in the low mountains is of a subtropical nature
with positive average temperatures in January (4.2"C) and high average
temperatures in July and August (20-21 "C). In the medium mountains the annual
temperature varies from 1 to 6 "C, the average temperature in January from - 4
to - 6 "C; winter is usually temperate with abundant snow. The snow cover
persists for over 5 months. Summer is mild and warm (average temperature in
July is 16-22 "C), the annual sum of precipitation is 700-1200 mm, with the
maximum rainfalls early in summer. From an altitude of approximately 2000 m,
the leading role belongs to the western transfer of air, therefore the climate in the
high mountains is more humid and in some characteristic features it resembles sea
air. However winter here is noted for persistent frosts. For instance, at a level of
approximately 200 m the average temperature in January varies from -6 to -8 "C,
and at 3000 m it reaches - 10 "C.
The territory of the Caucasus Biosphere reserve is separated by 3 climatic
provinces within the boundaries of 3 climatic regions. Its northern microslope is
@ included into the province Western part of the North slope region of the Major
Caucasus; its southern slope - into the province of the South-Western slope of the
Major Caucasus in the Western Transcaucasian Region; the high mountain part of
the axis zone - into the province Western high mountains of the Major Caucasus in
the High Mountain Region.
Soils are formed on crystalline (granites, gneisses, syenites, porphyrites),
metamorphic (crystalline slates, red conglomerates) and more often on
sedimentary rock (argillites, sandstones, limestones, etc.). The territory of the
Caucasus Biosphere reserve covers almost the entire profile of natural landscapes,
characteristic of the Western Caucasus.
Nivalic landscape - kingdom of permanent snow and ice - does not form a
continuous strip, it is fragmented on the highest mountain tops and ridges above
3000 m. This is an area of physical weathering with minus air temperatures all the
year round and completely frozen soil-vegetative processes.
Overgrowth of gigantic grasses, which are called "subalpine high mountains" are
sometimes found in troughs, forest meadows and forest edges near the upper
boundarv of forest at altitudes of 1600 to 2000 m under conditions of increased
humidity and thick soils.
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