The Landscape and Geobotanical Characteristics of the LevinsonLessing Lake Basin, Byrranga Mountains, Central Taimyr
M.A. Anisimov 1 and LN. Pospelov 2
(1) State Research Center - Arctic and Antarctic Research Institute, 38 Bering St., 199226 St. Petershurg,
Russia
(2) Taimyrsky State Biosphere Reserve, Krasnoyarski Kray, 18 Sovietskaya Street, Khatanga, Russia
Received 30 June 1997 and accepted in revised form 26 January 1998
Abstract - A landscape and geobotanical map of the Levinson-Lessing Lake basin in the
Byrranga mountains of the Taimyr peninsula i~ presented, accompanied by explanatory text.
The lake basin has an area of about 500 km and is situated on the border between the
typical tundra and arctic tundra bioregional subzones. The mountainous character of this
territory renders this border meaningless and it is most expedient to designate a special
province in the geobotanical subdivision system: the Byrranga mountain tundra region.
The map was created at a I: 100.000 scale on the basis of aerial photographs and field
investigations by the authors from 1993 to 1996. Thirty-four landscape units were
identified, ranging from polygonal bog complexes and shrub communities in the valleys to
cold alpine deserts. For each area probable geological genesis, relief characteristics,
vegetation and soil types are described.
Introduction
During the years 1993-1996, a Russia-German cooperative project (AARI, A WI, IPO, MGU,
ISSP, IFB, MLU) conducted investigations in the Levinson-Lessing Lake basin, Byrranga
mountains, Central Taimyr. The lake and a large part of its basin are situated within the
Taimyrsky State Biosphere Reserve. Reserve employees also worked in the region, but their
research was mainly devoted to the biotic natural environments. Until now the region has
received only scant attention from the research community. As a result of this series of studies,
Levinson-Lessing Lake has become the most investigated area in the mountains of Central
Taimyr. Extensive findings on the geology, hydrology, soils, vegetation and animals of the
region have been collected and require integration (Report on Polar Research, No. 175, 1995;
No. 211, 1996; No. 237, 1997).
The most convenient form of representation of this material is a complex landscape map of the
lake basin territory. In the creation of the map presented here, special attention was given to
vegetation, which is not only an indicator for, but also an important factor in determining
landscape dynamics. The landscape-geobotanical map, in giving a general overview of the
characteristics of the territory covered, can be applied for many purposes.
Materials and methods
The map was made following field survey route observations by M.A.Anisimov frpm 1993
until 1996 and by I.N .Pospelov during 1993 and 1996, on the basis of topographic maps
(1: 100,000) and from 1 :50,000 scale aerial photographs. About 600 field descriptions in total
were made during the project: about 400 are landscape descriptions and 200 are landscapegeobotanical descriptions. During primary analysis, some preliminary maps were created; in
particular, the landscape map (Report AARI, 1995) and the permafrost features map (Chronicle
of Nature, 1995).
In: Kassens, H., H.A. Bauch, I. Dmitrenko, H. Eicken, H.-W. Hubberten, M. Melles, J. Thiede and L. Timokhov (eds.)
Land-Ocean Systems in the Siberian Arctic: Dynamics and History. Springer-Verlag, Berlin, 1999,307-327.
M.A. Anisimov 1 and LN. Pospelov 2
(1) State Research Center - Arctic and Antarctic Research Institute, 38 Bering St., 199226 St. Petershurg,
Russia
(2) Taimyrsky State Biosphere Reserve, Krasnoyarski Kray, 18 Sovietskaya Street, Khatanga, Russia
Received 30 June 1997 and accepted in revised form 26 January 1998
Abstract - A landscape and geobotanical map of the Levinson-Lessing Lake basin in the
Byrranga mountains of the Taimyr peninsula i~ presented, accompanied by explanatory text.
The lake basin has an area of about 500 km and is situated on the border between the
typical tundra and arctic tundra bioregional subzones. The mountainous character of this
territory renders this border meaningless and it is most expedient to designate a special
province in the geobotanical subdivision system: the Byrranga mountain tundra region.
The map was created at a I: 100.000 scale on the basis of aerial photographs and field
investigations by the authors from 1993 to 1996. Thirty-four landscape units were
identified, ranging from polygonal bog complexes and shrub communities in the valleys to
cold alpine deserts. For each area probable geological genesis, relief characteristics,
vegetation and soil types are described.
Introduction
During the years 1993-1996, a Russia-German cooperative project (AARI, A WI, IPO, MGU,
ISSP, IFB, MLU) conducted investigations in the Levinson-Lessing Lake basin, Byrranga
mountains, Central Taimyr. The lake and a large part of its basin are situated within the
Taimyrsky State Biosphere Reserve. Reserve employees also worked in the region, but their
research was mainly devoted to the biotic natural environments. Until now the region has
received only scant attention from the research community. As a result of this series of studies,
Levinson-Lessing Lake has become the most investigated area in the mountains of Central
Taimyr. Extensive findings on the geology, hydrology, soils, vegetation and animals of the
region have been collected and require integration (Report on Polar Research, No. 175, 1995;
No. 211, 1996; No. 237, 1997).
The most convenient form of representation of this material is a complex landscape map of the
lake basin territory. In the creation of the map presented here, special attention was given to
vegetation, which is not only an indicator for, but also an important factor in determining
landscape dynamics. The landscape-geobotanical map, in giving a general overview of the
characteristics of the territory covered, can be applied for many purposes.
Materials and methods
The map was made following field survey route observations by M.A.Anisimov frpm 1993
until 1996 and by I.N .Pospelov during 1993 and 1996, on the basis of topographic maps
(1: 100,000) and from 1 :50,000 scale aerial photographs. About 600 field descriptions in total
were made during the project: about 400 are landscape descriptions and 200 are landscapegeobotanical descriptions. During primary analysis, some preliminary maps were created; in
particular, the landscape map (Report AARI, 1995) and the permafrost features map (Chronicle
of Nature, 1995).
In: Kassens, H., H.A. Bauch, I. Dmitrenko, H. Eicken, H.-W. Hubberten, M. Melles, J. Thiede and L. Timokhov (eds.)
Land-Ocean Systems in the Siberian Arctic: Dynamics and History. Springer-Verlag, Berlin, 1999,307-327.