Anisimov and Pospelov: The Landscape and Geobotanical Characteristics
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meadows (Poa glauca, Roegneria villosa., Astragalus alpinus, Senecio tundricola,
S.resedifolius, Pedicularis verticillata et al.) on Eutri-gelic Regosols; D) Niches on slopes with
mesic herb-cassiope-moss (Cassiope tetragona, Saxifraga cemua, S. nelsoniana; Hylocomium
splendens var. obtusifolium) communities, on the same soils. The vegetative cover corresponds
exactly to similar communities of unit #6. The alluvial plains of each valley support a further 2
vegetative community types depending on the level of the flood-plain: E) Low altitude pebble
banks with sparse (cover 1-3 %) forbs (Chamaenerion latifolium, Arabis petraea); soils are not
presented; and H) High altitude pebble banks with herbaceous cover up to 40 % (Oxytropis
nigrescens, Papaver polare, Festuca brachyphylla, Luzula confusa et al.) on Dystri Regosols.
22 - Flat-bottomed valleys of small mountain streams with scree or overgrown slopes
In these regions, wide flood plains are formed and the modem erosion and alluvial processes
are still active. Generally, these landscape types occur on the limestone plateau on the north-east
lakeshore. Because of this shore's favourable south-east aspect and the consequent fast thaw of
even thick snow covers, the fragments of shrub communities observed here are almost unique
in the region. The vegetation supported represents a series of ecological communities: A) Scree
slopes with sparse (3-7 % cover) dry herbaceous (on limestones: herbaceous and lichen)
vegetation: Saxifraga oppositifolia, Braya purpurascens, Parrya nudicaulis et al. on Dystric
Regosols; B) Pebble banks with sparse forb short grass meadows (Oxytropis middendorffii, O.
nigrescens, Novosieversia glacialis et al.; cover up to 30 %) growing on soils of fluvitierrestrial
origin. C) Rare bushes of Salix alaxensis and S.lanata, with a layer of grasses, Cardamine
pratensis, Equisetum arvense, E. variegatum et al.) on Eutric Fluvisols. The cover is either
continuous or, in the willows-bushes, close to 30 %. Beneath the limestone slopes and near
snow-fields there is usually wet nival turf with Oxygraphis glacialis, Minuartia stricta,
Cochlearia arctica et al.
23 - U-shaped, nival, upper reaches of streams valleys with large snow accumulation and late
thaw
The delay of snow thaw in this region can reach 2 months relative to the background surfaces.
The slopes are composed of scree and are occupied (A) by primitive nival herbaceous
aggregations (Saxifraga cemua, S.nivalis; in moss cushions: Oncophorus wahlenberghii) with
irregular cover from I to 30-40 %; the soils are fragmented distric regosols. B) Lower slope
reaches of pebbles at the altitude of alluvial deposits, with sparse vegetation consisting of a few
herbs (10-15 % cover): Cardamine bellidifolia, Arabis petraea, Papaver po/are, Eritrichium
villosum et al. The soils are fragmented Eutric Fluvisols.
24 - Erosion valleys with overgrown slopes and with hummock-tussock nanorelief, on the
northern macroslope of the lake basin
The vegetation of the valley bottoms is continuous, moist sedge-moss (Carex arctisibirica,
Lagotis minor, Eriophorum callitrix; in the moss layer: Tomentypnum nitens) on moist Umbrigelic Gleysols.
25 - Flood-plain of the Krasnaja river and its tributaries (large streams in the river delta).
This region is characterized by well-developed alluvial relief, but the limits between alluvial
levels are rather variable; they are frequently expressed only in vegetation, which is again
present as a series of ecologically distinct communities and includes the following elements: A)
Low altitude pebble banks with solitary plants (Thlaspi cochleariforme, Papaver poiare,
Leymus interior, Arabis petraea), cover not more than 1 %, soils are absent.: B) Mid-altitude
323
meadows (Poa glauca, Roegneria villosa., Astragalus alpinus, Senecio tundricola,
S.resedifolius, Pedicularis verticillata et al.) on Eutri-gelic Regosols; D) Niches on slopes with
mesic herb-cassiope-moss (Cassiope tetragona, Saxifraga cemua, S. nelsoniana; Hylocomium
splendens var. obtusifolium) communities, on the same soils. The vegetative cover corresponds
exactly to similar communities of unit #6. The alluvial plains of each valley support a further 2
vegetative community types depending on the level of the flood-plain: E) Low altitude pebble
banks with sparse (cover 1-3 %) forbs (Chamaenerion latifolium, Arabis petraea); soils are not
presented; and H) High altitude pebble banks with herbaceous cover up to 40 % (Oxytropis
nigrescens, Papaver polare, Festuca brachyphylla, Luzula confusa et al.) on Dystri Regosols.
22 - Flat-bottomed valleys of small mountain streams with scree or overgrown slopes
In these regions, wide flood plains are formed and the modem erosion and alluvial processes
are still active. Generally, these landscape types occur on the limestone plateau on the north-east
lakeshore. Because of this shore's favourable south-east aspect and the consequent fast thaw of
even thick snow covers, the fragments of shrub communities observed here are almost unique
in the region. The vegetation supported represents a series of ecological communities: A) Scree
slopes with sparse (3-7 % cover) dry herbaceous (on limestones: herbaceous and lichen)
vegetation: Saxifraga oppositifolia, Braya purpurascens, Parrya nudicaulis et al. on Dystric
Regosols; B) Pebble banks with sparse forb short grass meadows (Oxytropis middendorffii, O.
nigrescens, Novosieversia glacialis et al.; cover up to 30 %) growing on soils of fluvitierrestrial
origin. C) Rare bushes of Salix alaxensis and S.lanata, with a layer of grasses, Cardamine
pratensis, Equisetum arvense, E. variegatum et al.) on Eutric Fluvisols. The cover is either
continuous or, in the willows-bushes, close to 30 %. Beneath the limestone slopes and near
snow-fields there is usually wet nival turf with Oxygraphis glacialis, Minuartia stricta,
Cochlearia arctica et al.
23 - U-shaped, nival, upper reaches of streams valleys with large snow accumulation and late
thaw
The delay of snow thaw in this region can reach 2 months relative to the background surfaces.
The slopes are composed of scree and are occupied (A) by primitive nival herbaceous
aggregations (Saxifraga cemua, S.nivalis; in moss cushions: Oncophorus wahlenberghii) with
irregular cover from I to 30-40 %; the soils are fragmented distric regosols. B) Lower slope
reaches of pebbles at the altitude of alluvial deposits, with sparse vegetation consisting of a few
herbs (10-15 % cover): Cardamine bellidifolia, Arabis petraea, Papaver po/are, Eritrichium
villosum et al. The soils are fragmented Eutric Fluvisols.
24 - Erosion valleys with overgrown slopes and with hummock-tussock nanorelief, on the
northern macroslope of the lake basin
The vegetation of the valley bottoms is continuous, moist sedge-moss (Carex arctisibirica,
Lagotis minor, Eriophorum callitrix; in the moss layer: Tomentypnum nitens) on moist Umbrigelic Gleysols.
25 - Flood-plain of the Krasnaja river and its tributaries (large streams in the river delta).
This region is characterized by well-developed alluvial relief, but the limits between alluvial
levels are rather variable; they are frequently expressed only in vegetation, which is again
present as a series of ecologically distinct communities and includes the following elements: A)
Low altitude pebble banks with solitary plants (Thlaspi cochleariforme, Papaver poiare,
Leymus interior, Arabis petraea), cover not more than 1 %, soils are absent.: B) Mid-altitude