Altai is not just fabulously beautiful forests, mountains, rivers with waterfalls and meadows with medicinal plants. This is the territory on which the Gorno-Altai Botanical Garden is located with a unique collection of healing herbs, trees, flowers and bushes. It also introduces the latest environmental management technologies based on ethnic traditions of the Altai people. Thousands of tourists visit the garden every year to touch the wildlife with their souls.
Where is the botanical garden
Some tourists note that it is not difficult to get to the Gorno-Altai Botanical Garden - the location near the main highway on the Chuysky tract makes it as simple as possible to get to the reserve. So, its territory is located on the tract Chisty Lug (in front of the village Kamlak of the Shebalinsky district), at the 503rd kilometer of the tract. If you move south, then the garden can be found 77 kilometers from Gorno-Altaysk. In addition, on the way to it there is a road sign showing an arrow on the bridge over the Sema River. This sign indicates that in 800 meters there will be a pine forest with a wide terrace of the river, on which the botanical garden is located. Also to the left of the road you can see a colorful poster with detailed information about this research area.
It is worth noting that the location of the Gorno-Altai Botanical Garden near the village of Kamlak is also due to the fact that it is on this territory that there is a natural monument of republican significance Katail-Shishkular-Chisty Lug. The rivers Katun, Sosnovaya and Sema form a kind of natural border with the conditions for the formation of biogeocenoses. The area of the garden is 60 hectares.
Garden history
The famous Gorno-Altai Botanical Garden was founded by enthusiasts in 1994 with the aim of preserving and studying the diversity of the plant world of the republic, as well as for further introduction and laying of expositions of endangered, endemic and rare plant species. In 2009, over 1, 500 plants of various species, varieties and forms were counted in his collection. Branch employees annually go on expeditions, during which they carefully examine the far corners of the republic, after which they bring new samples and plant them in the park, trying to get seed material. Seminars, student practices and conferences are held at the garden. Joint expeditions are also organized with representatives of Germany, Ireland, the Czech Republic, China and America.
What you can see when visiting the garden
The Altai Gorno-Botanical Garden of the Altai Republic invites tourists to get acquainted with hundreds of plants of various species, which can often be found only in this territory. At the demonstration sites it is allowed to consider Rhodiola rosea, odorous zizifora, creeping thyme, woolly carapace, rocky euphorbia, Caspian penny, Krylov’s brahantenum and other species composition.
The park is divided into small peculiar natural zones, representing a complex of plants in Siberia, North America and the Far East. There is also an exposition with medicinal herbs. Only taiga and alpine forest-steppe zones comprise up to a thousand cultivated and wild plants.
Garden expositions:
- North America;
- rock garden;
- steppe;
- decorative garden;
- Far East;
- Europe;
- coniferous plants collection;
- spicy aromatic garden.
The entire Gorno-Altai Territory, with. Kamlak, a botanical garden and other territories of the republic are picturesque places. However, they also differ in their special culture, so tourists are invited to look at the dwellings of the Altai people, try their national dishes, see the beauty of the meadows of the At-Ayil tract and the reserved forests listed in the Green Book of Western Siberia. It is also allowed to spend holidays in this reserved corner - you can settle in wooden houses located directly in the middle of the garden, or in tents in protected areas. In addition, having previously rented a conference room, it is possible to hold seminars, forums, round tables and conferences here.
After the Gorno-Altai Botanical Garden is inspected, visitors are offered to try drinks in a phytobar, purchase medicines made from medicinal herbs, seeds and planting stock. It is worth noting that katun rafts are organized for extreme lovers.
Opening hours of the Botanical Garden
In the spring-summer period, the Gorno-Altai Botanical Garden is open to visitors from 09:00 to 20:00 without lunch and weekends. In addition, a volunteer program is being implemented on its basis, according to the conditions of which groups of volunteers from 23 years old are formed. All volunteers are provided with free housing and meals. They should weed daily, except weekends, for 6 hours of exposure and collect medicinal herbs. The registration fee is 1, 200 rubles. Groups are formed upon receipt of applications:
- June 19-28;
- July 10-19;
- July 31-August 9.
It is also possible to come by agreement, outside the groups.
