South Ural State Nature Reserve

South Ural Nature Reserve is a Russian 'zapovednik' protecting mountain taiga ecosystems in the highest part of the Southern Ural Mountains. Several mountain ridges run through the territory: Mashak, Zigalga, Nara Kumardak and Yamantau. Mt. Yamantau reaches 1,640 metres, and is the highest mountain in the Southern Urals. 90% of the reserve is situated in the Beloretsky District of Bashkortostan, and the remainder in Chelyabinsk Oblast. Ufa, the largest city of Bashkortostan, is about 200 km to the northwest.