natural area set aside for research in the natural sciences, in the northeastern Altai Mountains near Lake Teletsky, in south-central Russia. The reserve, established in 1932, has an area of 34,025 square miles (88,124 square km). Its physiographic features include high mountains with glacially produced landforms, high mountain forest, and mountain steppe. The vegetation is mostly forest of Siberian silver fir and pine; larch and mixed forests of aspen are also present. The higher elevations have alpine meadows and thickets of rhododendron. Wildlife includes Altai pika, Siberian chipmunk, and Arctic ground squirrel in the mountain steppe; sable and red deer in the mountain forests; and reindeer and wild sheep in the high mountain regions. Tourism is limited.