FLORA OF THE KURILSKIY NATURE RESERVE

Geography of the Kurilskiy Nature Reserve. When the Kurilskiy Nature Reserve was established, special geographical situation of Kunashir Island, unusual and rich nature, concentration of the rarest representatives of flora and fauna, scientific and economic value of natural and historical objects, as well as fragility and vulnerability of the island ecosystems were taken into account. The reserve occupies a part of Kunashir Island, the islands of the Lesser Kuril Ridge–Demin, Lisy, Shishki, as well as the islets of Kira, Peshchernaya, Parus, Svecha. The total area is 65,861 ha, and the total area of the protective zone with the sea area is 74,475 hectares. Kunashir Island extends from the north-east to the south-west for 123 km, width of the island varies from 7 km in the isthmi to 30 km in the north. The reserve occupies 44.2% of its territory and consists of three sites. Located in the north and north-east of the island, the Tyatinsky site has an area of 50,345 ha. Its northern part occupies the foothills and mountains of the Dokuchaev Ridge. The highest part of the northern part is Ruruy Volcano (1485 m) and the highest part of the north-eastern one is Tyatya Volcano (1819 m). The Alekhinsky site with an area of 15,416 ha is situated in the south-western part of the island. It is characterized by small elevation differences. Its central part is occupied by the caldera of Golovnin Volcano (Golovnin Mountain, 541 m). The third site is occupied by Demin Island and other islands of the Lesser Kuril Ridge with a total area of 200 ha. Climate of the Kurilskiy Nature Reserve. From the west, the island is washed by the Sea of Okhotsk with the warm Soya current, from the east – by the Pacific Ocean with the cold Oyashio current. Therefore, the marine monsoon climate is characterized by an abundance of precipitation. For the period of observations between 2000 and 2017, the average annual rainfall was 1367.7 mm, more than 41% of which fell in summer. The described territory is characterized by mild winters, long rainy springs, foggy cool summers, and relatively dry and warm autumns. According to the weather station of Yuzhno-Kurilsk, for the period between 2000 and 2017, the average annual temperature was +5.7ºC, the coldest month was February with the average monthly temperature of 4.8ºC, the absolute minimum was –17ºC. The warmest month was August, the average monthly temperature was +15.9ºC, the absolute maximum was +30.5ºC. The highest atmospheric circulation was observed in late autumn and winter. Strong, gale-force and even hurricane-force winds blew during the given period (43 m/s in 2014).