Add a review about Sailyugem National Park

Sailyugem National Park is located in the Kosh-Agach District of the Altai Republic. It was established in 2010 with the participation of the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), as well as a number of state institutions. At first it was planned to create a reserve here, but the need to take into account the interests of the indigenous population, whose main source of livelihood is still livestock, made it necessary to correct the original plan. The result was a high-altitude national park with an area of ​​almost 120,000 hectares instead of the reserve.

The national park consists of three separate zones. The first two, Sailyugem and Ulandryk, are located in the neighborhood on the northern side of the Sailyugem Ridge, bordering on the south with Mongolia. The third zone, Argut, is located near the Katun and North Chuya ridges, not far from the border with Kazakhstan.

One of the largest populations of argali, a large Altai subspecies of argali, numbering five hundred thousand specimens lives here.

The fauna of the national park is unique. Here lives one of the largest populations of argali, a large Altai subspecies of argali, a population of five hundred individuals. Near the Argut River, at a lower altitude above the sea level, snow leopards live. On the territory of the park there are about 10-15 individuals - that is, about 10% of all leopards in Russia. Here also live ibex, mountain goats, which feed leopards, and also wild cats - manul

The population of brown bears living in the park is introduced as a special subspecies in the Republican Red Data Book. These animals are very light color, which live high in the mountains; they are sometimes called white-haired. Plus, in the park you can meet birds of almost 150 species, including a variety of rare predators.

Argali barks are the largest argali on Earth. Their horns can weigh up to 27 kg.

One of the goals of creating a national park was the development of ecotourism, and here for this there are all possibilities. In these places, travelers can get acquainted with this untouched Altaic nature and local culture. The Argut zone is considered to be the wildest in the park, it is the standard of the virgin beauty of Altai. Since the park was established not long ago, its infrastructure is still developing.

The local population in the national park is very few . Here most of the Telengits live - the Altai people with their own unique traditions and rites - and the Chui Kazakhs . Here they still sew and wear national clothes, weave carpets with old patterns, make skin . Kosh-Agach district - the only one in Altai where yaks and camels are bred . The milk of the latter can be treated at a farm near the district center, the same name about village . Here you can buy a variety of handicraft products as souvenirs .

The sights of the national park are not only natural beauties. In the villages of Kokor and Zhana-Aul there are local history museums. Fans of archeology should visit the ancient Tarkhatin observatory and the Yystyde complex. And you can see the rock drawings and runes of ancient people in the petroglyphic complex of Elangash, Kurgak and Kereksur
Sailyugem National Park

Practical information

To get to the territory, you need to get a pass in the administration. This can be done in the village of Kosh-Agach, the village of Ust-Koksa or the village of Maima (on Lenin street, 8a). Special permission is required to visit the areas near the border.