Our Beautiful World

Chukotka  

Part 7: Mountains

Animals, birds and flowers on this page:

BIRDS
ANIMALS
FLOWERS
Peregrine falcon, Falco peregrinus
Snowsheep, Ovis nivicola
Primula, Primula sp
Brown bear, Ursus arctos
Ledge stonecrop, Rhodiola integrifolia
Snow arnica, Arnica frigida
Northern arnica, Arnica latifolia



From a rearranged translation of Vladimir Dinets original pages to norwegian, with supplements.



Klikk på flagg for norsk versjon



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Iskaten Range, Chukotka, Russia.

Mountain ranges cover most of Chukotka. Although the highest peaks only reach 1200-1800 m, these extensive,
frigid highlands have little vegetation except in lower parts f the slopes, and are seldom visited by people.


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On the summit of Dionisia Mt.

The foothills, however, are full of life. Wildflower blooms here
are among the best in the Arctic, and there's a lot of wildlife



plant
Primula, Primula sp., Dionisia Mt.

plant
Ledge stonecrop , Rhodiola integrifolia, Dionisia Mt.

Primula is a genus of 400–500 species of low-growing herbs in the family Primulaceae. They include primrose,
auricula, cowslip and oxlip. Many species are grown for their ornamental flowers. They are native to the temperate
Northern Hemisphere, south into tropical mountains in Ethiopia, Indonesia and New Guinea, and in temperate
southern South America.

Perennial primulas bloom mostly during the spring; their flowers can be purple, yellow, red, pink, or white.
Generally, they prefer filtered sunlight. Many species are adapted to alpine climates.

The word primula is the Latin feminine diminutive of primus, meaning first (prime), applied to flowers that are among
the first to open in spring.

Primroses are used as food plants by the larvae (caterpillars) of some Lepidoptera species, including
Duke of Burgundy butterfly, Large Yellow Underwing, Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing,
Setaceous Hebrew Character and Silver-ground Carpet.
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Primula

Rhodiola integrifolia is a species of flowering plant in the stonecrop family known by the common names western
roseroot, king's crown, and ledge stonecrop. It is native to Eurasia and western North America, where it grows in
mountainous habitat in subalpine and alpine climates, including meadows, cliffs, and talus. It is a perennial herb
producing a stout stem from a fleshy, branching caudex, reaching a maximum height near 30 centimeters.

The fleshy leaves are alternately arranged on the stem, widely lance-shaped to oval and pointed, flat but upcurved
toward the tip, reaching 2.5 centimeters long. They are green when new and age to orange, rose, or red.
The inflorescence is a dense cyme of up to 50 flowers with fleshy petals in shades of bright red to deep purple.


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Foothills of Iskaten Range near Egvenkinot.

Winter storms fill valleys with deep snow that takes a long time to melt, so summer doesn't come here until July


plant
Snow arnica, Arnica frigida, Iskaten Range.

plant
Northern arnica, Arnica latifolia, Iskaten Range.

Arnica is a genus with about 30 perennial, herbaceous species, belonging to the sunflower family, Asteraceae.
The genus name Arnica may be derived from the Greek arna, "lamb", in reference to the soft, hairy leaves.

This circumboreal and montane (sub-alpine) genus occurs mostly in the temperate regions of western North
America, while two are native to Eurasia (Arnica. angustifolia and Arnica montana).

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Iskaten Range.

bird
Great knot, chick,
Calidris tenuirostris,
Iultin.

Plants and animals of the mountains are different from
lowland tundras, although most montane species
sometimes descend to dry, rocky habitats near the sea
level. Rock ptarmigan, Lagopus mutus, replaces
willow ptarmigan, Lagopus. lagopus, at higher elevations, but there's a lot of overlap.
A few waders, such as
great knot (left), and silver voles, Alticola macrotis,
prefer mountains to valleys.
.

bird
Rock ptarmigan chick,
Ichuveem Range


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Highlands of Golden Ridge (left) and Dionisia Mt.

Endless talus slopes and rocky outcrops above 500 m also have some wildlife, but it is very difficult to find.


nest
Peregrine falcon, Falco peregrinus, nest, Dionisia Mt.

nest
Peregrine falcon chicks, Dionisia Mt

The rarest creatures of high mountains are the snow sheep. They inhabit remote ridges and cliffs,
but sometimes descend to Alpine meadows. Only a few hundred are left on Chukotka



sheep

sheep
Snowsheep, Ovis nivicola, Iskaten-fjellene.


sheep
Snow sheep, Iskaten Range.

sheep
Snow sheep, Iskaten Range.

Read more abouit the Snowsheep here.


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Golden Ridge.

Chukotka is one of the few places in Russia where brown bear numbers haven't been severely depleted
by poaching for gall bladder and trophy hunting.



bear
Brown bear, Ursus arctos, Iskaten Range

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Brown bear tracks, Belyaka Spit


bear

bear
Brown bears, Iskaten Range.

In summer, the bear prefer foothills near snow fields and coastal spits. Most are very light- colored.


bear
Brown bear, Iskaten Range.

bear
Brown bear, Iskaten Range..

Read more abo0ut the Brown Bear here


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Mountain lake, Iskaten Range.

Hundreds of beautiful lakes are hidden in the mountains. Some have endemic fish species and even genera.


hare
Mountain lake, Iskaten Range.

hare
Iskaten Range.

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View from Golden Range, Chukotka, Russia.

Back to part 6

All pictures, unless otherwise stated, Copyright © Vladimir Dinets



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ANIMALS

over 250

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BIRDS

over 500

flower.jpg
FLOWERS

over 225
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