Cape Horn and the Falklands

Avenue of the Glaciers at the End of the World; Goldman Sachs Gets in Park Business; Tame Wolf Noted by Darwin Goes Extinct

Map boundaries: 50 to 60 degrees South; 56 to 70 degrees West

Countries: Argentina (Santa Cruz, Tierra del Fuego, Burdwood Bank), Chile (Region XII-Magallanes), United Kingdom (Falklands overseas territory)

Overview

At the southern tip of South America, the Patagonian grasslands meet the southern beech forests. Santa Cruz province of Argentina and the northern and eastern parts of Tierra del Fuego are covered by Patagonian grassland and semiarid vegetation. Tierra del Fuego was given its name by Fernando de Magellan, who referred to the fires lit by Indians along the coast of the Straight of Magellan. The native people’s name for Tierra del Fuego was Karukinka, which is the name of a new natural park managed by the Wildlife Conservation Society and donated by Goldman Sachs.

The east-west Beagle Channel, on the border between Argentina and Chile, and known as the Avenue of the Glaciers, is noted for sea mammals and birds. South of the Beagle Channel are the Chilean Islands Navarino and Hoste. Navarino is the site of an ethnobotanical park and a center for research and education. Hoste, most of which is part of Alberto de Agostini National Park, has the southernmost trees on Earth.

To the south of Hoste are three other island groups, including Ildefenso, Wallaston (site of Cape Horn), and Diego Ramirez, the southernmost Chilean island group. Offshore to the east of Tierra del Fuego is Staten Island, the end of the Andes Mountain chain. To the east of Staten is Burdwood Bank, an important marine ecosystem preserve designated by Argentina.

To the north of Burdwood are the Falkland Islands, consisting of two larger islands and over 700 smaller islands. West Falkland is rugged and more mountainous than East Falkland, although East Falkland has the highest peak. The Falklands are hilly and covered with low grasses and scrubby vegetation; there are no native trees. The mountains have cushion plant communities.

The Falkland Islands have high concentrations of seabirds, oystercatchers, steamer ducks, rockhopper penguins, and black-browed albatrosses. In addition, marine mammals such as elephant seals and sea lions may be seen. The Falklands wolf was noted by Darwin in the Voyage of the Beagle. He noted that gauchos kill them by offering a piece of meat in one hand and sticking them with a knife in the other. The tameness is a common characteristic of island endemics, and no doubt contributed to the extinction of the Falkland wolf by 1876. Although Darwin thought the wolf was a fox, more recent DNA research indicates that the wolf is related to the maned wolf of the South American savannas, despite its short legs and jaws designed for grabbing and shaking large prey, such as seals and penguins.

Ecoregions and Provinces/Political Subdivisions (Locations noted on attached map)

NT 402, Magellanic subpolar forests. Forests of Nothofagus cover mountains and fjords between icefields. Forests are deciduous to the north of the Beagle channel in Argentina and Chile and evergreen to the south in Chile. Found in Region XII-Magallanes, Chile, and Tierra del Fuego province, Argentina.

Temperate Grasslands, Savannas and Shrublands

NT 804. Patagonian grasslands. Tundra grasslands, meadows, deciduous thickets, swamp forests , low mountains, mesas, and plains. Coiron grass and Senecio are common. Grass-stepppe and shrub vegetation. Found in Region XII-Magallanes, Tierra del Fuego and Santa Cruz provinces, Argentina; and Falkland Islands.

NT 805. Patagonian steppe. Cold desert scrub with thich patches of shrubs and scattered grasses. Found in Santa Cruz province of Argentina. Low-lying mountains, plateaus, and plains with drought-adapted vegetation. Shrubs of Acantholippia, Benthamiella; cushion plants.

Marine Ecoregions of the World (locations noted on attached map)

Temperate South America Realm, Magellanic Province

185. Patagonian Shelf. Approximately 32 species of cetaceans, 8 species of pinnepeds, and 450 species of fish in the Argentine Sea.

186. Malvinas/Falklands. Includes Burdwood Bank, where commercial fishing was banned in 2008.

187. Channels and Fjords of Southern Chile

Freshwater Ecoregions of the World

South America Region, Temperate Coastal Rivers

348. Patagonia

Ramsar Sites (Locations noted on attached map)

Bahia Lomas, Region XII-Magallanes, Chile. Ecoregion 804.

Bertha’s Beach, East Falkland. Ecoregion 804. Long sand beach with dunes hosts migratory birds from Canadian Arctic; dolphins may be seen. Ecoregion 804.

Coastal Reserve (Reserva Costa Atlantica de Tierra del Fuego), Tierra del Fuego province, Argentina. Largest concentration of migratory shorebirds in South America. Ecoregion 804.

Sea Lion Island, off East Falkland. A rat-free island with native songbird breeding areas and burrowing petrels. Ecoregion 804.

Biosphere Reserves (Locations noted on attached map)

Cape Horn, Region XII-Magallanes, Chile. The world’s southernmost forested ecosystem; includes Cape Horn National Park, ethnobotanical park at Omora, and Alberto de Agostino National Park. The Omora Ethnobotanical Park on Navarina Island serves and the research and education center. A five-day hiking circuit is possible on Navarino Island. Alberto de Agostino National Park contains the avenue of the glaciers in the Darwin Mountains along the Beagle Channel. Ecoregion 402.

Other points of interest (sites noted on attached map)

Arch Island, Natural Arch, Sea Dog, Albemarle Rock, and Tusssac Island Nature Reserves, West Falkland. Ecoregion 804.

Beagle Channel, Argentina and Chile. Bordered by deciduous and evergreen beech forests (Nothofagus), this is a waterfowl and penguin breeding area noted for cormorants, oystercatchers, and geese. Ecoregion 402.

Beauchene Island Nature Reserve, south of Falkland Islands. Southernmost Falkland Island hosts black-browed albatross and rockhopper penguin nesting; endemic Cobb’s wren. Ecoregion 804.

Beaver Island, off West Falkland. West-facing sheer cliffs host breeding penguins and giant petrels off West Falkland. Sheer cliffs and seasonal pools on island free of introduced mammalian predators hosts nesting striated caracaras, blackbrowed albatross and sooty shearwater. Ecoregion 804.

Bleaker Islands Sanctuary, off East Falkland. Open heathland with ponds; coastal kelp beds. Falkland grass wren. Ecoregion 804.

Bull Point, East Falkland. Heath, dunes, and seasonal pools hosts high density of penguins and geese, Falkland steamer duck, ruddy-headed goose, and white-rumped sandpiper. Ecoregion 804.

Burdwood Bank, off Argentina. In 2008, Argentina declared the area a reserve and banned all commercial fishing. The area is believed to be an important feeding ground for sea lions, penguins, and albatross and a fish nursery for blue whiting and Fuegan sardines. Ecoregion MEOW 186.

Cape Virgenes Provincial Reserve, Santa Cruz province, Argentina. Large penguin rookery. Ecoregion 804 and MEOW 185.

Cochon Island Nature Reserve, off East Falkland. Ecoregion 804.

Condor Estancia, Santa Cruz province, Argentina. Bunchgrass vegetation harbors ruddy-headed goose and flamingos. Ecoregion 804.

Cormoran Islands Scientific Use Area and Leones Island Area of Limited Use, Santa Cruz province, Argentina. Ecoregion 805.

Coyle River Estuary, Santa Cruz province, Argentina. Shrub-steppe vegetation harbors rheas while coastal areas provide nesting areas for Magellanic penguins, hooded grebe, southern giant petrel, southern flamingo and Magellanic plover. Ecoregion 805.

Deseada Island Area of Scientific Use, Santa Cruz province, Argentina. Ecoregions 804 and 805.

Diego Ramirez Islands, Region XII-Magallanes, Chile. Chilean protected area at southernmost point of South America; nesting area for albatrosses, penguins and southern giant-petrel. Ecoregion 402.

Cape Dolphin Sanctuary, East Falkland. Ecoregion 804.

East Bay, the Narrows, Middle Island, Dunbar Island, and Low Island Sanctuaries, West Falkland. Ecoregion 804.

Elephant Cays, Falkland Islands. Tussock-covered islands in sound between East and West Falkland. World’s most important breeding site of southern giant petrels. Ecoregion 804.

Fueguino Volcano, Region XII-Magallanes, Chile. Lava domes on Cook Island. Ecoregion 402.

Gallegos River Estuary, Santa Cruz province, Argentina. An area with a tidal range of 13 meters. The most important wintering site of Magellanic plover and nearactic migrating birds. Ecoregions 804 and 805.

Grand River, Tierra del Fuego province, Argentina. Fly-fishing area with sheep ranches. Ecoregion 804.

Haberton Ranch, Tierra del Fuego province, Argentina. Private ranch offers tours. Ecoregion 402.

Hope Harbour and Hummock Islands, West Falkland. Hope Harbour is a mountainous site harboring colonies of black-browed albatross and gentoo penguins. Hummock Islands offshore harbor native passerine birds. Ecoregion 804.

Jason Islands Nature Reserves, off West Falkland. Reserves are Elephant Jason, Flat Jason, the Fridays, Jason East Cay, Jason West Cay, South Jason, the Twins, and White Rock. Cliffs and craggy peaks with dense native tussock vegetation on eight islands harbor nesting colonial seabirds, including striated caracara. Ecoregion 804.

Karukinka Natural Park, Region XII-Magellanes, Chile. A large natural landscale donated by Goldman Sachs to the Wildlife Conservation Society in 2004, is an experiment in natural landscape conservation. Area harbors guanaco and Magellanic woodpecker. Ecoregion 402.

Keppel Island, off West Falkland. First island settled in Falklands, dating to 1855. Island harbors Falkland grass wrens, Magellanic penguin burrows, and flocks of geese. Ecoregion 804.

Kidney Islands Nature Reserve, off East Falkland. Endemic birds in native tussock vegetation. Ecoregion 804.

Laguna del Diablo Nature Recreative Reserve, Tierra del Fuego province, Argentina. Ecoregion 402.

La Martial Nature Protected Area, Tierra del Fuego province, Argentina. The Martial Mountains rise behind Ushuaia, and are accessible by trail from the town. Ecoregion 402.

Lively Islands, East Falkland. Low-lying islands with estensive off-shore kelp beds. The largest rat-free island in the Falklands harbors native songbirds. Ecoregion 804 and MEOW 186.

Mitre Peninsula, Tierra del Fuego province, Argentina. A transition area between deciduous and evergreen beech forests, noted for cormorants and geese. Ecoregion 402.

Monte Leon National Park, Santa Cruz province, Argentina. Coastal park with penguins, sea lions, guanacas, and pumas. A trail to La Olla reveals a tidal cave. The coastline is arid, with steppe vegetation. Offshore sea stacks. Ecoregion 805 and MEOW 185.

Moss Side Sanctuary, East Falkland. Ecoregion 804.

New Islands Sanctuary, off West Falkland. Cliff-lined islands harbor colonial seabird nesting areas, noted for Falkland skuas and black-browed albatross; the most important breeding ground for thin-billed prion. Ecoregion 804.

North Fur Nature Reserve, off West Falkland. Ecoregion 804.

Pali Aike National Park, Region XII-Magallanes, Chile. Rugged volcanic steppe with hundreds of craters, spatter cones, caves and lava rocks. The last eruption was 5500 BC. Ecoregion 804.

Passage Islands, off West Falklands. A rat-free area with native songbird breeding. Ecoregion 804.

Pebble Islands, off West Falkland. A large wetland area harbors black-necked swans. Ecoregion 804.

Saunders Island, off West Falkland. Steep cliffs provide habitat for black-browed albatross and rockhopper penguins. Ecoregion 804.

Seal Bay, East Falkland. Geese congregate on an inland pond while offshore coasts are dotted with sea stacks. Ecoregion 804.

Speedwell Island, George, and Barren Islands, off East Falkland. Rat-free islands with native songbirds, southern giant petrels. Ecoregion 804.

Stanley Common and Cape Pembroke Peninsula Sanctuary, East Falkland. Ecoregion 804.

Staten Island Provincial Touristic, Historic, and Ecological Reserve, Tierra del Fuego province, Argentina. Dense low elevation forest and coastal grasslands at southernmost tip of Andes, noted for rockhopper penguins and birds of prey. Ecoregion 402.

Tierra del Fuego National Park, Argentina and Corazon Provincial Reserve, Tierra del Fuego province, Argentina. Colonies of sea lions on Beagle Channel on Lobos Island and Isla de los Pajaros. Also penguins, isolated glacial valleys, lakes, and forests. Fagnano Lake is surrounded by beech (Nothofagus) forests, peat bogs, and glaciers. Lake Roca flows into the turbulent River Lapataia and out into the bay. Large flooded areas of peat bog. Subarctic forests of beech (lenga) and evergreen coihue. Ecoregion 402 and MEOW 187.

Volunteer and Cow Bay Sanctuary, East Falkland. A lowland peninsula with kelp beds offshore. The largest king penguin area in the Falklands. Ecoregion 804.

West Point Islands, off West Falkland. Devil’s Nose is a cliff with black-browed albatross and rockhopper penguins. Ecoregion 804.

Yendegaia Ranch, Region XII-Magallanes, Chile. Native forest, glaciers, and waterfront purchased in 1998 by Foundacion Yendegaia, in cooperation with the Conservation Land Trust. Ecoregion 402.

References:

Abell, Robin and 27 others. 2008. Freshwater Ecoregions of the World: A New Map of Biogeographic Units for Freshwater Biodiversity Conservation. Bioscience 58:403-414.

Argentina Bans Commercial Fishing to Protect Marine Wildlife. Environmental News Service, October 2, 2008. www.ens-newswire.com/ens/Oct2008/2008-10-02.asp)

Argentina National Parks. www.parquesnacionales.gov.ar (Accessed 11/14/09).

John Baxter, Peter Clarkson, Elizaeth CRuwys, and Beau Riffenburgh. 1995. Natural Wonders of the World. Barnes & Noble Books.

Emma Beare, ed. 2007. 501 Must-Visit Natural Wonders. Bounty Books.

BirdLife International. 2009. Important Bird Area factsheets. Available at www.birdlife.org (Accessed 11/9/09)

Conservation Land Trust. http://www.theconservationlandtrust.org/ (Accessed 11/26/09).

Charles Darwin. 1845. The Voyage of the Beagle, Chapter 9.

Falkland Islands Tourist Board. www.falklandislands.com

Fodor’s Patagonia. Random House, 2009.

Philip Gardner, Allan Scott, Michael Scott Rohan, and Andrew Shackleton. 1993. Encyclopedia of World Geography. Barnes & Noble Books.

Global Volcanism Program. www.volcano.si.edu (Accessed 11/14/09).

Carolyn Hubbard. 2009. Chile and Easter Island. Lonely Planet Publications.

International Penguin Conservation Work Group. www.seabirds.org or www.penguins.cl

Karukinka Natural Park. www.karukinkanatural.cl (accessed 11/26/09).

Morell, Virginia. Whence the Falklands Wolf? ScienceNOW Daily News, 2 November 2009 (www.sciencenow.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/full/2009/1102/3)

Olson, David M., et al., 2001. Terrestrial Ecoregions of the World: A New Map of Life on Earth. BioScience 51:933-938. Ecoregion map at http://www.nationgeographic.com/wildworld/terrestrial.html

Palmerlee, Danny and others. 2008. Argentina, 6^th edition. Lonely Planet Publications

Riley, Laura and William. 2005. Nature’s Strongholds. Princeton University Press.

Spalding, Mark D. and 14 others. 2007. Marine Ecoregions of the World: A Bioregionalization of Coastal and Shelf Areas. Bioscience 57:573-583.

World Database of Protected Areas. http://www.wdpa.org/ (Accessed August 9, 2009)

Ural Mountains and Turgay Plateau

Waterfowl, Mountain Meadows, and Nuclear Legacy

Map of the Month: Ural Mountains-South, Turgay Plateau, and Ishim Steppe

Map boundaries: 50 to 60 degrees North; 56 to 70 degrees East

Countries: Kazakhstan (Akmola, Aktobe, Karagandy, Kostanay, and North Kazakhstan) and Russia (Bashkortostan Republic, Chelyabinsk, Kurgan, Orenburg, Perm Territory, Sverdlovsk, Tyumen, Khanti Mantsia Autonomous Region)

Overview

This map area marks the transition from the Central Asian Desert to the vast boreal forest that covers northern Europe and Asia. In between are the steppes, which in this area contain patches of forests. The European and Asian steppes are separated by the forested Ural Mountains. East of the Urals in Chelyabinsk and Sverdlovsk are areas affected by the legacy of nuclear weapons production. The boreal forest is separated from the steppe by a band of deciduous forest. East of the Urals, thousands of lakes and wetlands dot the steppe, deciduous, and boreal forest, providing vital habitat for waterfowl in a dry region. The Turgay Plateau is a major watershed boundary, separating north-flowing polar rivers from the temperate Volga or Caspian Sea drainage to the west. To the south of the plateau, the Irghyz and Turgai rivers evaporate in the Central Asian desert.

Ecoregions and Provinces/Political Subdivisions of the Palearctic (PA) Biome

Temperate Broadleaf and Mixed Forests

PA 419, East European forest steppe. Found in Bashkortostan Republic, Perm Territory, and Sverdlovsk. Forests of oak, linden, maple, and ash border grasslands and riverside wetlands.

PA 436, Sarmatic mixed forest. Found in Bashkortostan Republic, Perm Territory, and Sverdlovsk. A taiga-broadleaf forest transition area with pine, oak, and hazelnut.

PA 444, West Siberian broadleaf and mixed forests. Found in Chelyabinsk, Kurgan, Sverdlovsk, and Tyumen. A boreal-broadleaf forest transition area about 150 km in width with birch forests, Siberian fir, black spruce, pine, linden, aspen, and scotch pine.

Boreal Forests/Taiga

PA 608, Scandinavian and Russian taiga. Found in Perm Territory. Boreal forests with juniper, birches, pine, and willow.

PA 610, Urals montane tundra and taiga. Found in Bashkorstostan Republic, Chelyabinsk, Perm Territory, and Sverdlovsk. Boreal woodlands of pine-spruce and fir-spruce.

PA 611, West Siberian taiga. Found in Bashkorstostan Republic, Chelyabinsk, Khanti-Mantsia autonomous region, Tyumen, and Sverdlovsk. Boggy area with belts of taiga forests along rivers.

Temperate Grasslands, Savannas and Shrublands

PA 809, Kazakh forest steppe. Found in Bashkortostan Repubic, Chelyabinsk, Kostanay, Kurgan, North Kazakhstan, Orenburg, and Tyumen. Aspen, birch and pine grow in small groves called koloks. Many wetlands.

PA 810, Kazakh Steppe. Found in Akmola, Aktobe, Karagandy, Kostanay, and North Kazakhstan. Grasslands between the Ural and Altai Mountains. Many closed basins.

PA 811, Kazakh upland. Found in Akmola and North Kazakhstan. Low mountains and highly eroded plateaus with sparse pine forests, stony meadows, and shrub steppe vegetation.

PA 814, Pontic steppe. Found in Aktobe and Orenburg. Steppe vegetation with riparian forests along large rivers.

Deserts and Xeric Shrublands

PA 1318, Kazakh semi-desert. Found in Aktobe, Karagandy, and Kostanay. Grassy plains and eroded plateaus, a transitional area between steppe and desert.

Freshwater Ecoregions of the World (Abel et al. 2008)

Europe and Middle East Region

Temperate Floodplain Rivers and Wetlands

410, Volga-Ural. Drains western slopes of the Urals and southern Ural Mountains. Found in Aktobe, Bashkortostan Republic, Chelyabinsk, Perm, Sverdlovsk

Northern Asia Region

Polar Freshwater

602, Ob. Fifth largest drainage basin in the world, includes north and eastern parts of map area. Many steppe lakes in the Tobol drainage are saline. Major tributaries shown on map of Ishim/Esil, Tobol, and Tura.

Xeric Freshwaters and Closed Basins

601, Irgyz-Turgai. Spring-flooding river fish have affinities with Siberian fish flora. Found in Aktobe, Kostanay, and Orenburg east of Mugodzhary Mountains.

World Heritage Sites

Saryarka—steppe and saline lakes of northern Kazakhstan, found in Akmola and Kostanay. The Naurzum and Korgalzhyn nature preserves preserve substantial undisturbed areas of central Asian steppes interspersed with forest patches. Wetlands are critical for migratory waterbirds. Tengiz Lake harbors 15-16 million migratory birds. Also the Saiga antelope is preserved. Ecoregion 810.

Ramsar Sites

Tengiz-Korgalzhyn Lake System, Akmola. See Saryarka under World Heritage Sites.

Tobol-Ishim Forest-Steppe, Tyumen. Ecoregion 809.

Other Sites

Ai, Bashkortostan Republic. Eagle breeding area. Ecoregion 610

Aiskiye Yary, Bashkortostan Republic. Eagle breeding area. Ecoregion 419.

Akh Lakes, Sverdlovsk. Important bird area for yellow-breasted bunting. Ecoregion 61.

Aksuat Lake, North Kazakhstan. Brackish lake important for waterfowl. Ecoregion 810.

Aktubek, Karagandy. Steppe area important for sociable lapwind and pallid harrier, near Tengiz Ramsar Site. Ecoregion 810.

Akzhan Lake, Kostanay. Important bird area for waterfowl. Ecoregion 810.

Amangeldy, Akmola . Steppe area important for sociable lapwing, black-winged pratincole, and waterbirds; near Tengiz Lake Ramsar site. Ecoregion 810.

Amankaragay Forest, Kostanay. Pine forest of 60,000 ha, important for eagles and bustards. Ecoregion 810.

Atyazh Lakes, Kurgan. Waterfowl breeding area. Ecoregion 444.

Ayke, Orenburg. Waterfowl area. Ecoregion 809

Balykty Lake, North Kazakhstan. Waterfowl area, part of Smirnovsky State Nature Preserve. Ecoregion 810.

Bashkiria National Park, Bashkortostan Republic. Low mountains and deciduous forests; natural bridge across Kuperlya River. Ecoregion 419. Adjacent is Shulgan-Tash Nature Preserve, which protect brown bears and last wild bees in central Russia.

Bassegi Nature Reserve, Perm. Protects original taiga forests. Ecoregion 610.

Beloe Lake, Tyumen. Pelican, cormorant, harrier, and corncrake breeding area. Ecoregion 809.

Birsuit, Chelyabinsk. Breeding for raptors. Ecoregion 809

Burekesken, Kurgan. Waterfowl area and lake. Ecoregion 809.

Butash and Gorkoye, Chelyabinsk. Waterfowl areas. Ecoregion 809.

Cheka, Chelyabinsk. Mountain and important bird area. Ecoregion 809.

Chernoye Lake, Kurgan. Major goose, swan, and duck breeding area. Ecoregion 809.

Chuburat, Kurgan. Lake and waterfowl breeding area. Ecoregion 809.

Chusovskoi National Park, Sverdlovsk. Ecoregion 610.

Dikoye and Epanchine Lakes, Sverdlovsk. Important bird area for yellow-breasted bunting. Ecoregion 611.

Gorkoye Lake, Kurgan. Harrier breeding area. Ecoregion 809.

Ilmen Nature Reserve, Chelyabinsk. An archaeological reserve with 50 sites, including settlement of Arkaim, 17^th to 26^th century BCE. Also corncrake breeding area. Ecoregion 610

Indra Lake, Sverdlovsk. Important bird area for hazel grouse. Ecoregion 611.

Iremelski, Bashkortostan Republic. Mountain known for taiga zone birds. Ecoregion 610.

Irendyk, Bashkortostan Republic. Ridge known for raptors. Ecoregion 809.

Irnykshinskie, Bashkortostan Republic. Marsh known for breeding eagles. Ecoregion 419.

Ishim River floodplain, Tyumen. Red-footed falcon and corncrake breeding area. Ecoregion 809.

Istochnoye, Sredneye, and Schuchiye Lakes, Sverdlovsk. Important bird area for hazel grouse. Ecoregion 611.

Kabeni Lake, Tyumen. Pelican and goose breeding area. Ecoregion 809.

Kak Lakes (Big--bolshoy and Little--maliy), North Kazakhstan. Waterfowl areas. Ecoregion 810.

Kamsko, Perm Territory. Wetland known for eagle nesting. Ecoregion 608.

Kamyshovoe-Zhamankol Lakes, Kostanay. Groundwater fed lakes used by waterfowl. Ecoregion 810.

Katai Lake, Chelyabinsk and Kurgan. Waterfowl area. Ecoregion 809.

Kochedyksky, Chelyabinsk. Waterfowl area. Ecoregion 809.

Kokshetau National Park, Akmola. Ecoregion 811.

Koybagar-Tyuntyugur Lake, Kostanay. Freshwater lake surrounded by low cliffs; important for waterfowl. Ecoregion 810.

Kraka, Bashkortostan Republic. Ridge known for raptors. Ecoregion 610.

Krutali Lake, Kurgan. Waterfowl area. Ecoregion 809.

Kuktybiz, Kurgan. Waterfowl area. Ecoregion 809.

Kulykol-Taldykol Lake, Kostanay. Saline lake important for waterfowl. Ecoregion 810.

Kungar, Perm Territory. Ice cave with frozen waterfalls and underground lakes. Ecoregions 419 and 436.

Kurtan Lake, Kurgan. Waterfowl breeding area. Ecoregion 809.

Kushmurun Lake, Kostanay. On the northern escarpment of Turgay Plateau, a saline lake important for waterfowl. Ecoregion 810.

Makushinsky nature area, Kurgan. Goose and duck migratory area. Ecoregion 809.

Maly Nakas, Orenburg. Ridge known for raptors. Ecoregion 419

Manyass Lake, Kurgan. Waterfowl breeding area. Ecoregion 809.

Mayan Lake, Chelyabinsk. Waterfowl area. Ecoregion 444.

Miass, Chelyabinsk. Ballistic missile production area. Ecoregion 611

Novouralsk (Sverdlovsk-44), Sverdlovsk. Uranium enrichment facility. Ecoregion 610.

Okhlebinin, Bashkortostan Republic. Floodplain area, important bird area. Ecoregion 419.

Orenburg Nature Reserve, Orenburg. Protects sites on Kazakh border that are steppe ecosystems. Ecoregions 809 and 814.

Ozersk (Chelyabinsk-65), Chelyabinsk. Large nuclear weapons production facility, currently producing tritium and other isotopes. A 1957 explosion in a radioactive waste storage area dispersed radioactivity into Sverdlovsk and Tyumen. In addition, radiation was dumped into the Techa River on an ongoing basis. Ecoregion 611

Pavlovskoye, Bashkortostan Republic. Reservoir and eagle breeding area. Ecoregions 419 and 610.

Pelym River area, Sverdlovsk. Important bird area for red-breasted goose breeding. Ecoregion 611.

Perm-36, Perm territory. Site of Gulag Museum, former labor camp for political prisoners. Ecoregion 610.

Peschanokoledin, Kurgan. Waterfowl breeding area. Ecoregion 444.

Pripyshmenskie National Park, Sverdlovsk. Pine forests, spruce, and aspen forests on ancient river terraces. Ecoregion 611.

Pustoye, Big, Kurgan. Lake and waterfowl area. Ecoregion 809.

Redut pine forest, Kurgan. Eagle nesting area. Ecoregion 809.

Ruskoye Lake, Sverdlovsk. Important bird area known for hazel grouse. Ecoregion 611.

Sakmara River valley, Orenburg. Broadleaf forest with steppe, an Important bird area. Ecoregion 419 and 814.

Saltosarayskoye Lake, Kurgan. Waterfowl breeding area. Ecoregion 809.

Sankebay Lakes, Kostanay. Spring-fed lakes important for waterfowl. Ecoregion 810.

Sarykopa Wildlife Reserve, Kostanay. System of desert lakes, ponds and flooded meadows important for waterfowl. Ecoregion 1318.

Sarykud, Chelyabinsk. Waterfowl area. Ecoregion 809.

Schuchye Lake, Kurgan. Gadwall and grebe breeding area. Ecoregion 809.

Shaglyteniz Lake, North Kazakhstan. Freshwater lakes and marshes important for waterfowl. Ecoregion 810.

Shoshkaly Lake, Kostanay. Important waterfowl area. Ecoregion 810.

Siverga Lake, Tyumen. Harrier and avocet breeding area. Ecoregion 809.

Snezhinsk (Chelyabinsk-70), Chelyabinsk. Home of Russian Federal Nuclear Center for weapons design. Ecoregion 611.

Sorbalyk and Maybalyk Lake, North Kazakhstan. Saline lakes important for waterfowl. Ecoregion 809.

South Urals Nature Reserve, Bashkortostan Republic. Ecoregion 610.

Stekleny Lake, Kurgan. Waterfowl breeding area. Ecoregioni 809.

Sulukol Lake, Kostanay. Brackish lake known for lesser white-fronted goose. Ecoregion 810.

Syntasty River and Big Karaganda River source, Chelyabinsk. Important bird area. Ecoregion 809.

Taganay National Park, Chelyabinsk. Ural mountain endemics, flower-filled meadows, and spruce-fir forest. Ecoregion 610.

Teniz-Karakamys Lake, Kostanay. Freshwater lakes important for waterfowl. Ecoregion 810.

Terenkol Lake, North Kazakhstan. Part of Smirnovsky State Nature Preserve, important for waterfowl. Ecoregion 809.

Tirikul and Kadkul Lakes, Chelyabinsk. Waterfowl area. Ecoregion 444.

Tobol Bottoms, Kurgan. River floodplains and pine forest. Waterfowl and eagle breeding area. Ecoregion 809.

Tounsor Hollow State Nature Preserve, Kostanay. Lakes and marshes of Turgay Plateau important for waterfowl. Ecoregion 810.

Travykul Lake, Kurgan. Waterfowl breeding area. Ecoregion 809.

Tri Gusikhi, Chelyabinsk and Orenburg. Eagle breeding area. Ecoregion 809.

Tulak, Chelyabinsk. Lake known for white-headed duck migration. Ecoregion 809.

Tundrovo Lake, Tyumen. Dalmation pelican and great cormorant breeding area. Ecoregion 809.

Uj, Kurgan. Confluence of Uj and Tobol rivers is a waterfowl breeding area. Ecoregion 809.

Uradki, Kurgan. Waterfowl breeding area. Ecoregion 809.

Visim Nature Reserve, Sverdlovsk. Waterfowl and owl important bird area. Ecoregion 610.

Yekaterinburg, Sverdlovsk. Site of murder of Tsar Nicholas and Tsaritsa Alexandra, Ural Geology Museum. Ecoregion 611.

Yuzhno-Uralsky Nature Reserve, Bashkortostan Republic and Chelyabinsk. Protects taiga forests of spruce-fir. Ecoregion 610.

Zaikovo Forest, Sverdlovsk. Waterfowl breeding area. Ecoregion 611.

Zhaltyr Lake, North Kazakhstan. Important area for migrating waterfowl. Ecoregion 810.

Zharkol Lake, Akmola. Four lakes important for geese and ducks. Ecoregion 810.

Zharsor-Urkash Lake, Kostanay. Forest-steppe region contains salt lakes important for cranes, eagles, and bustards. Ecoregion 810.

Zhumay-Mayshukyr Lakes, Akmola. Lakes and wetlands on eastern periphery of Tengiz Lake system important for waterfowl. Ecoregion 810.

Zhylandy Lake, North Kazakhstan. Dense reed cover provides breeding areas for waterfowl. Ecoregion 810.

Zilim, Bashkortostan Republic. River canyons known for raptors. Ecoregion 419.

Zyuratkul National Park, Chelyabinsk. Ancient temples, prayer stones, mountain streams, alpine meadows and boreal forests. Ecoregion 610.

References

Abell, Robin and 27 others. 2008. Freshwater Ecoregions of the World: A New Map of Biogeographic Units for Freshwater Biodiversity Conservation. BioScience 58:403-414.

BirdLife International. 2008. BirdLife’s Online World Bird Database. Accessed 29/12/2008 at http://www.birdlife.org/

Center for Russian Nature Conservation, Washington, DC. http://www.wild-russia.org/ (accessed October 18, 2009).

Edwards, Mike. 1994. Lethal Legacy: Pollution in the Former U.S.S.R. National Geographic 186(2):70-99.

Gulag Museum at Perm-36. http://www.perm36.ru/eng/

Olson et al., 2001. Terrestrial Ecoregions of the World: A New Map of Life on Earth. BioScience 51:933-938. WildWorld map: www.nationalgeographic.com/wildworld

Richmond, Simon. 2006. Russia and Belarus. Lonely Planet.

Riley, Laura and William. 2005. Nature’s Strongholds. Princeton University Press.

Russian Academy of Sciences, A.N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution. www.sevin.ru/natreserves (accessed October 18, 2009).

GlobalSecurity.org, Alexandria, Virginia. Russian nuclear weapons site information from www.globalsecurity.org/wmd/world/russia/ (accessed October 25, 2009).

Gulf of St. Lawrence and Bay of Fundy

Where the Appalachians Meet the Sea

Map boundaries: 40 to 50 degrees North; 55 to 66 degrees West

Countries: Canada (New Brunswick (part), Newfoundland and Labrador (part), Nova Scotia (part), Prince Edward Island, Quebec (part); France (St.-Pierre and Miquelon).

Overview

The map area includes the Canadian provinces bordering the Gulf of St. Lawrence—New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and Quebec—and the French islands of St.-Pierre and Miquelon. Islands within or bordering the Gulf of St. Lawrence include Anticosti Island, Cape Breton, Magdelan Islands, Newfoundland, Prince Edward Island, Miscou, and Lameque. Also included are the shallow banks and islands off the Atlantic Coast, including Browns Bank, Sable Island Bank, Banquereau, and St. Pierre Bank. Ecologically, this is the transition from deciduous hardwood forests to boreal forests. Because the area is mountainous, tundra is found at some higher elevations. The numerous sandy beaches interspersed with rocky headlands provide scenery and seabird breeding areas. Historically, this region was the site of early British and French settlement in North America, with historic sites commemorating intact examples of early villages and the removal of the Acadians from Nova Scotia and New Brunswick. Geologically, this northernmost extension of the Appalachian Mountains is a geologic Galapagos, with oceanic crust rocks that provide evidence of continental drift, a coal age forest containing fossils of the earliest reptiles, and the world’s highest tides in the Bay of Fundy.

Ecoregions and Provinces/Political Subdivisions

Nearctic Biome

Temperate Broadleaf and Mixed Forests

• NA 408, Gulf of St. Lawrence lowland forests. Found in New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island,and Quebec (Magdelan Islands). Mixed hardwoods with red spruce, balsam fir, hemlock, white pine, maples, birch, and beech.


• NA 410, New England-Acadian Forests. Found in New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Quebec. Northern hardwoods and spruce, a transitional region between deciduous and boreal forest. Common species are red spruce, red pine, maple, beech, and birch.

Boreal Forests/Taiga

• NA 605, Eastern Canadian forests. Found in Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Quebec, and St. Pierre and Miquelon. This maritime-influenced area contains forests of balsam fir and black spruce with hardwoods such as birch and aspen.


• NA 611, Newfoundland Highland forests. Found in Newfoundland and Labrador. Wet, mossy boreal forests of higher elevations with spruce-fir and Kalmia.


• NA 615, South Avalon-Burin oceanic barrens. Found in Newfoundland and Labrador. Racomitrivia heath plants with scattered balsam fir.

Marine Ecoregions of the World

Temperate North Atlantic Realm, Cold Temperate Northwest Atlantic Province

37. Gulf of St. Lawrence—Eastern Scotian Shelf. Found offshore of Anticosti, Gaspe, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, Magdelan Islands, and Cape Breton Island south to continental shelf.

38. Southern Grand Banks—South Newfoundland. Found south of Newfoundland to the continental shelf

39. Scotian Shelf. Found south of Nova Scotia to the continental shelf edge

40. Gulf of Maine—Bay of Fundy. Found in Bay of Fundy and Georges Bank

Arctic Realm, Arctic Province

5. Northern Grand Banks—Southern Labrador. Found on northern coast of Newfoundland.

Freshwater Ecoregions of the World

North America, Temperate Coastal Rivers

115. Canadian Atlantic Islands. Includes Anticosti, Prince Edward Island, Magdalen, Newfoundland, St. Pierre and Miquelon.

118. Northeast U.S. and Southeast Canada Atlantic Drainages. Includes Gaspe Peninsula and New Brunswick. The fauna is dominated by saltwater-tolerant freshwater fishes such as sturgeons, shads, smelts, and eel. Many species exhibit diadromy.

119. Scotia-Fundy. Includes Nova Scotia and Cape Breton Island. Bras d’Or has minimal tidal exchange with the ocean and is lower in salinity than the ocean. The margaree-Lake Ainslie system is known for waterfalls and deep pools.

UNESCO World Heritage Sites

• Gros Morne National Park, Newfoundland and Labrador. Flat-topped mountains overlooking fjords with 700-m cliffs. Rock formations 1.25 billion years old contributed to the understanding of plate tectonics, as deep ocean crust lies exposed in a rare example of continental drift. Tablelands area is of periodotite rock, inhospitable to plants. Ecoregions 605 and 611.


• Joggins Fossil Cliffs, Nova Scotia. World’s thickest and most comprehensive record of Pennsylvanian strata, containing fossils of earliest reptiles. Coal age trees stand where they grew.


• Old Town Lunenburg, Nova Scotia. The best surviving example of a planned British colonial settlement, dating to 1753, with original layout, and retaining its original appearance. Bank Fishery National Historic Site, sailboat fishing 1500-1930. Ecoregion 410.

Ramsar Sites

• Chignecto. Found in Nova Scotia. Ecoregion 410 and marine ecoregion 40.


• Grand Codroy Estuary. Found in Newfoundland. Ecoregion 605 and marine ecoregion 37


• Malpeque Bay. Found adjacent to Prince Edward Island. Large shallow bay enclosed by a long coastal sand spit; 9 islands, 7 of which are forested. Beaches noted for piping plover and islands for double-crested cormorants. Ecoregion 408 and marine ecoregion 37.


• Mary’s Point. Found in New Brunswick near Fundy National Park. Ecoregion 410 and marine ecoregion 40.


• Musquodoboit Harbor. Found in Nova Scotia. Ecoregion 410 and marine ecoregion 39.


• Shepody Bay. Found in New Brunswick, upper northwest arm of Bay of Fundy. Hemispheric shorebird reserve, known for sandpipers. Ecoregions 408 and 410 and marine ecoregion 40.


• Southern Bight-Minas Basin. Found in Nova Scotia, east arm of Bay of Fundy. Ecoregion 410 and marine ecoregion 40.


• Tabusintec Lagoon. Found in New Brunswick. Piping plover area. Ecoregion 408 and marine ecoregion 37.

Other points of interest by location

Anticosti Island, Quebec. Heavily wooded, cliff-edged island with waterfalls, canyons, rivers, and caves. Part of the island is a Quebec national park (Parc national d’Anticosti), created in 2001. Falaise aux Goelands and Pointe de l’est are national wildlife reserves with kittiwakes, cormorants and eiders. Ecoregion 605.

Brion Island, Quebec. Ecological reserve in Gulf of St. Lawrence with breeding cormorants. Ecoregion 408 and marine ecoregion 37.

Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia.

• Alexander Graham Bell National Historic Site. Commemorates Bell’s inventions of the telephone, aircraft, hydrofoil, and in deaf education. Ecoregion 410.


• Basque Islands and Michaud Point. Four low rocky islets off of Cape Breton, home of great cormorants and gray seals. Ecoregion 410 and marine ecoregion 37.


• Bird Islands. Two long narrow islands with 20-m cliffs, home of great cormorants, kittiwakes, razorbills and puffins. Important bird area. Ecoregion 410 and marine ecoregion 37.


• Bras d’Or. An enormous saltwater lake, known for eagles and puffins. Ecoregion 410.


• Cape Breton Highlands National Park. Extensive park with tablelands and deep gorges, woodland, tundra with taiga-like wetlands, 1000-foot deep river gorges, canyons, and sea views. The scenic Cabot Trail provides access to the eastern, northern, and western areas.. Ecoregion 605 and 410.


• Cape Mabou. Highlands contain a network of trails along coast. Ecoregion 410.


• Cape St. Lawrence. Known for views of pilot whales in sea. Ecoregion 410 and marine ecoregion 37.


• Fortress of Louisbourg National Historic Site. Site of French settlement in 1740s, 50 buildings restored. Ecoregion 410.


• Glace Bay. Coastal lagoon enclosed by barrier beach; important bird area. Ecoregion 410 and marine ecoregion 37.


• Madame Islands. Wooded islands between Cape Breton and Nova Scotia. Ecoregion 410.


• Marconi National Historic Site, Glace Bay. Site of first wireless message to Europe, 1902. Wireless Hall of Fame. Ecoregion 410.


• St. Peters Canal National Historic Site. Constructed in 1854, an 800-m canal connects Bras d’Or Lake with the sea. Ecoregion 410.


• Scatarie Island. Rich and diverse population of seabirds, including Leach’s storm petrels. Ecoregion 410 and marine ecoregion 37.

Gaspe Peninsula, Quebec

• Bonaventure Island and Pierced Rock (Quebec national park: Parc national de I’ile-Bonaventure-et-du-Rocher-Perce). The island contains one of the world’s largest gannet nesting colonies, kittiwakes, and murre; the offshore rock contains a natural arch. Ecoregion 605 and marine ecoregion 37.


• Bonaventure River. Noted canoe river with Grotte de St. Elzear cave nearby. Ecoregion 410.


• Chic Chocs Wildlife Reserve. Spruce-fir forest and tundra; caribou, moose, and white-tailed deer. Bicknell’s thrush breeding area. Agates common in mountain range. Ecoregion 605


• Espoir. Sea ducks, cormorants and gulls. Important Bird Area. Ecoregion 605 and marine ecoregion 37.


• Forillon National Park. Where the Appalachians meet the sea. Sea cliffs to 225 m, seabirds, whales, seals. Ecoregion 605 and marine ecoregion 37.


• Gaspe Bay. Important Bird Area with seaducks. Ecoregion 605 and marine ecoregion 37.


• Grande Vallee. Strata-lined cliff faces. Ecoregion 605


• Malbaie. Lagoon near tip of Gaspe with geese and ducks; breeding yellow rail. Ecoregion 605 and marine ecoregion 37.


• Port-Daniel Wildlife Reserve. Trout lakes and a salmon river. Ecoregion 605.


• Shigawake-Newport. Small bays, cliffs and rocky points noted for sea ducks. Ecoregion 605 and marine ecoregion 37.

International Appalachian Trail. Extends from Maine to end of Gaspe Peninsula at Forillon National Park; extension planned along Long Range Mountains of Newfoundland. Ecoregions 605 and 611.

Magdalen (Madeleine) Island, Quebec. Forests on sand spits and red cliffs. Beaches are breeding area for piping plover, terns, great cormorant. Ecoregion 408.

• Point East National Wildlife Area. Piping plover and horned grebes; seals. Important Bird Area. Ecoregion 408


• Entry Island. Seal interpretive center. Ecoregion 408


• Le Corps Mort. Rocky island noted for great cormorant breeding. Ecoregion 408 and marine ecoregion 37.

Miquelon Island, St.-Pierre and Miquelon. Trails to lookout and waterfalls. Ecoregion 605.

New Brunswick (eastern)

• Boishebert and Beaubears Island Shipbuilding National Historic Site. Sites associated with Acadian settlement of northeast New Brunswick after their removal from Nova Scotia and southern New Brunswick, as well as site of 19^th century shipbuilding industry. Ecoregion 408.


• Bouctouche Bar. Barrier dune and estuary area, noted for salt marsh copper and short-tailed swallowtail butterflies. Breeding piping plover and shorebirds. Major hiking area. Ecoregion 408.


• Cape Jourimain. National Wildlife Area at Confederation Bridge. Ecoregion 408.


• Escuminac Beaches. Breeding piping plover, Important Bird Area. Ecoregion 408.


• Fort Beausejour-Fort Cumberland National Historic Site. A 1751 French fort overlooks a sweeping vista of marshlands. Ecoregion 410.


• Fundy National Park, Fundy Trail Parkway/Fundy Footpath, and Cape Enrage Marsh. The last coastal wilderness in North America. World’s highest tides; sandstone cliffs; forested Caledonia Highlands. The Fundy Footpath traverses 23 miles along rocky gorges and shoreline. The Dobson Trail connects Fundy National Park with Moncton. At Cape Enrage, towering cliffs overlook a salt marsh. Ecoregion 410 and marine ecoregion 40.


• Hopewell Rocks Provincial Park. Unusual eroded sea stack formations in upper Bay of Fundy. Ecoregion 410.


• Kennebecasis River valley. A bucolic agricultural valley. Ecoregion 410.


• Kouchibouguac National Park. Beaches, lagoons, sand dunes, forests and salt marsh. Sand Islands have second largest tern colony in North America. Ecoregion 410.


• Lameque Island. Birding area off of New Brunswick. Ecoregion 408.


• Miramichi River Valley System. Largest producer of Atlantic salmon in world. The Southwest Miramichi River is known for canoeing. Ecoregion 408.


• Miramichi Bay. Neguac sandspit has broadest dune system in Canada, piping plover and tern nesting. Ecoregion 408 and marine ecoregion 37.


• Miscou Island. Birding area piping plover and shorebirds off of New Brunswick. Ecoregion 408.


• Pokemouche and Grand Passage. System of beaches, barrier dunes, and bays supporting piping plover, black duck, black-crowned night heron colony. Ecoregion 408 and marine ecoregion 37.


• Pokeshaw Rock. Sea stack with nesting double-crested cormorants. Ecoregion 408 and marine ecoregion 37.


• Quaco Bay. Semipalmated plovers and least sandpipers on Bay of Fundy. Important Bird Area. Ecoregion 410 and marine ecoregion 40.

Newfoundland, Newfoundland and Labrador

• Barachois Pond Provincial Park, Newfoundland. Glacial-carved valley and trail to Erin Mountain. Ecoregion 605


• Bay du Nord Wilderness Reserve. Rugged countryside with glacial erratics, peat, barrens, lakes, rapids, and waterfalls. Important Bird Area. Ecoregion 605.


• Big Barasway Provincial Wildlife Reserve. Beaches with piping plover. Important Bird Area. Ecoregion 605.


• Blow Me Down Provincial Park. Sea vistas and caribou. Ecoregion 605


• Cape Ray. Archaeological site and hiking terminous of Cormack Trail. Ecoregion 605.


• Cheeseman Provincial Park. Beaches with piping plover; important bird area. Ecoregion 611.


• Codroy Valley and Estuary. Boreal woodlands with red crossbill, ovenbird, and waterfowl. Important Bird Area. Ecoregion 605.


• Corbin Island. Important bird area known for Leach’s storm petrel. Ecoregion 605 and marine ecoregion 38.


• Fortune Head Ecological Reserve, Burin Peninsula. Ecoregions 605 and 615. Precambrian to Cambrian era fossils, trails.


• Grand Falls. Salmonid Interpretation Centre. Ecoregion 605.


• Green Island and Middle Lawn Island. Islands between Burin Peninsula and Miquelon with Leach’s storm petrel and shearwaters. Important Bird Area. Ecoregion 605 and marine ecoregion 38.


• Gros Morne National Park. See World Heritage Site list above.


• Main River. Canadian Heritage River, known for canoeing. Ecoregion 605 and 611.


• Port au Port Peninsula. Isolated French-speaking settlement with secluded beaches. Ecoregion 605.

Nova Scotia (New Scotland)

• Annapolis Royal. A 1635 French settlement at Fort Anne National Historic Site overlies Charles Fort National Historic Site, a Scottish settlement from 1629. Melanson Settlement National Historic Site contains archaeological remains of dykeland agriculture as practiced by an Acadian community. Also a tidal power project since 1984. Ecoregion 410 and 408.


• Annapolis Valley. Known for apples and produce. Ecoregion 408.


• Birchtown. Black loyalist area settled by freed slaves. Ecoregion 410.


• Bon Portage Islands. Two drumlins covered with spruce-fir; home of Leach’s storm petrel. Important bird area. Ecoregion 410 and marine ecoregion 39.


• Cape Chignecto Provincial Park. Old growth forests and 600-foot sea cliffs. Backpacking area along Bay of Fundy. Ecoregion 410.


• Cape George. Scenic views of Cape Breton Island. Ecoregion 410.


• Cape Sable Island. Birding area with piping plover, semipalmated sandpipers, and other waterbirds. Ecoregion 401 and marine ecoregion 39.


• Cobequid Mountains and Bay. Hikes to waterfalls, canyons, and Five Islands. During low tides, up to 2 million shorebirds feed on mud flats of the bay. Important Bird Area. Ecoregion 410 and marine ecoregion 40.


• Fort McNab National Historic Site, Halifax. A harbor island used for defense 1888-1940. Ecoregion 410.


• Georges Island National Historic Site, Halifax. A harbor island used as a naval base. Ecoregion 410.


• Goose Island and Country Islands. Nesting area for roseate terns. Important bird area. Ecoregion 410 and marine ecoregion 39.


• Grand Pre National Historic Site. Site of deportation of French Acadians to Louisiana starting in 1755. Ecoregions 408 and 410.


• Grassy Island Fort and Canso Islands National Historic Site. 1720 British fort and center of fishery in 18^th century. Ecoregion 410.


• Halifax Citadel National Historic Site, Halifax. An 1856 British fort that was principal naval station in British empire. Ecoregion 410.


• Kejimkujik National Park. Glacial geology with lakes and forests for hiking and canoeing. A seaside adjunct contains a rugged peninsula with harbor seals and piping plovers. Ecoregion 410.


• Mahone Bay. More than 100 islands, known for kayaking, whale, and puffin watching. Ecoregion 410 and marine ecoregion 39.


• Maitland. Rafting in Shubenacadie River at Bay of Fundy tides. Ecoregion 410.


• Malagash Peninsula. Birdwatching and seal-watching area. Ecoregion 408.


• Parrsboro. Fundy Geological Museum. Ecoregion 410.


• Pennant Point. Hiking trail through barrens, bogs and boulders. Ecoregion 410


• Port Royal National Historic Site. First European settlement north of Florida, 1605. Ecoregion 410.


• Prince of Wales Tower National Historic Site, Halifax. Constructed in late 1700s. Ecoregion 410.


• Raddall, Thomas Provincial Park. Rocky headlands known for birdwatching. Ecoregion 410.


• Scots Bay and Blomidon Provincial Park. Hiking area high above Bay of Fundy and Minas Basin; sea cliffs to 600 feet. Agates found along beach.


• Tancook Island. Trails. Ecoregion 410.


• Taylor Head Provincial Park. Part of eastern shore islands important bird area known for waterfowl. Trails, wildflowers and rugged coastline. Ecoregion 410.


• Windsor. Fort Edward National Historic Site. Protected road between Halifax and Annapolis Valley. Ecoregion 408 and 410.


• York Redoubt National Historic Site, Halifax. 1793 fort operated until 20^th century. Ecoregion 410.

Prince Edward Island. Ecoregion 408

• Bedeque Bay. Marshy estuary; important bird area. Ecoregion 408 and marine ecoregion 37.


• Cascumpec Bay and Alberton Harbor. Barrier islands and estuaries adjoining peat lands; important bird area. Ecoregion 408 and marine ecoregion 37.


• Lennox Island. Mikmaq cultural center


• Malpeque Bay. Large shallow bay enclosed by long coastal sand spit, 9 islands, 5 of which are forested. Piping plover and double crested cormorant colony. Ecoregion 408 and marine ecoregion 37.


• North Cape. Tide pools can be viewed at low tide in shallow gulf up to 800 m from shore.


• Northumberland Provincial Park. Known for clam digging.


• Orwell Bay. River estuaries, important bird area. Ecoregion 408 and marine ecoregion 37.


• Panmure Island. Oldest wooden lighthouse, sand dunes, grazing horses.


• Prince Edward Island National Park. Dunes and red standstone bluffs. Nearby is the house of Green Gables, home of Lucy Maud Montgomery. Gulf Shore Parkway, bicycling and hiking trails. Greenwich unit has large sand dunes. Canavoy area is nesting area for piping plover.


• Port La Joye-Fort Amherst National Historic Site, Charlottetown. 1720 French settlement.


• Province House National Historic Site, Charlottetown. Birthplace of Canada in 1864.

Rochers aux Oiseaux, Quebec. Sandstone rocks with 30 m cliffs; northern gannet colony, Important Bird Area. Ecoregion 408 and marine ecoregion 37.

Sable Island, Nova Scotia. Isolated sand spit 42 km in length in Atlantic Ocean 160 km to the south of Nova Scotia, known for its free-ranging population of horses. The temperate oceanic climate is milder than other parts of Nova Scotia. A meteorological station is operated by Environment Canada. Offshore, Thebaud platform is a natural gas processing facility. Ecoregion 410.

St-Pierre, St.-Pierre and Miquelon. Ecoregion 605.

Trans-Canada Trail. A 21,500 km recreational trail through every province and territory, shown on this map on Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick. Includes 357-km Confederation Trail on Prince Edward Island. Ecoregions 408 and 410.

References

Abell, Robin and 27 others. 2008. Freshwater Ecoregions of the World: A New Map of Biogeographic Units for Freshwater Biodiversity Conservation. BioScience 58:403-414.

Beare, Emma, ed. 2006. 501 Must-Visit Natural Wonders. Bounty Books.

Canadian BirdLife International co partners Bird Studies Canada and Nature Canada, an on-line Important Bird Area site directory. http://www.bsc-eoc.org/

DeVilliers, Marq. 2001. Guide to America’s Outdoors: Eastern Canada. Washington, National Geographic Society.

Dunbar, David. 1991. The Outdoor Traveler’s Guide to Canada. Stewart, Tabori and Chang, New York.

International Appalachian Trail—Quebec, Matane. http://www.sia-iat.org/ (Accessed September 26, 2009).

International Appalachian Trail—Newfoundland and Labrador Chapter, Corner Brook, Newfoundland. http://www.iatnl.ca/ (Accessed September 26, 2009)

Joggins Fossil Institute, Joggins, Nova Scotia. http://www.jogginsfossilcliffs.net/ (Accessed September 26, 2009).

Miramichi River Resources. 2007. Miramichi River. http://www.miramichiriver.ca/ (Accessed October 3, 2009).

National Geographic Society. 1997. National Geographic’s Driving Guides to America: Canada.

Olson, David M., et al., 2001. Terrestrial Ecoregions of the World: A New Map of Life on Earth. BioScience 51:933-938. Ecoregion map at http://www.nationgeographic.com/wildworld/terrestrial.html

Parks Canada. http://www.pc.gc.ca/. (accessed October 4, 2009).

Parks Quebec. http://www.sepaq.com/ (accessed October 4, 2009).

Riley, Laura and William. 2005. Nature’s Strongholds. Princeton University Press.

Sable Island Green Horse Society. http://www.greenhorsesociety.com/ (accessed October 4, 2009).

Schultz, Patricia. 2003. 1,000 Places to See Before You Die. Workman Publishing.

Spalding, Mark D. and 14 others. 2007. Marine Ecoregions of the World: A Bioregionalization of Coastal and Shelf Areas. Bioscience 57:573-583.

Trans-Canada Trail Foundation, Montreal. http://www.tctrail.ca/. (accessed September 26, 2009).

World Database of Protected Areas. http://www.wdpa.org/ (Accessed August 9, 2009)

Zimmerman, Karla. 2008. Canada. Lonely Planet.

Valdes and the Patagonian Coast

A Marine Mammal Area of Global Significance

Map of the Month: Valdes, Patagonian Coast and Patagonian Shelf

Map boundaries: 40 to 50 degrees South; 55 to 66 degrees West

Country: Argentina (The map area includes the administrative part of Buenos Aires province in Patagonia, coastal Rio Negro and Chubut provinces, and Cape Blanco of Santa Cruz province)

Overview

Although inland areas of Patagonia are known for being semiarid and cold, the Patagonian coast is a site of global significance for conservation of marine mammals. Tourism centers around the Valdes Peninsula of Chubut, which harbors thousands of sea lions, killer whales, right whales, southern elephant seals, and fur seals. Other sites along the coast are nesting sites for penguins. Fossils may be found in cliff faces along coastal Rio Negro. The most important fossil finds in Patagonia, including dinosaurs, are displayed in a museum in Trelew. The area is also noted for its human communities, including Welsh settlements along the Rio Chubut.

Terrestrial Ecoregions and Provinces/Political Subdivisions

Temperate Grasslands, Savannas and Shrublands

NT 802, Argentine Monte. Found in Buenos Aires, Chubut, and Rio Negro provinces of Argentina. Thorn scrub and dry grasslands with resinous evergreen bushes such as Larrea, Bulnesia, and Plectocarpa.

NT 805, Patagonian steppe. Found in Chubut, Rio Negro and Santa Cruz provinces of Argentina. Low-lying mountains, plateaus, and plains with drought-adapted vegetation. Shrubs of Acantholippia, Benthamiella; cushion plants.

NT 806., Semi-arid Pampas. Found in Buenos Aires and Rio Negro provinces of Argentina. Steppe grasses and xerophytic shrubland.

Marine Ecoregions of the World

Temperate South America Realm, Magellanic Province

184. North Patagonian Gulfs. Coastal areas from Gulf of San Jorge northward.

185. Patagonian Shelf. Coastal Santa Cruz and offshore areas to edge of continental shelf to the north

186. Malvinas/Falklands. Continental shelf of south of 49 degrees south.

Freshwater Ecoregions of the World

South America Region, Temperate Coastal Rivers

348. Patagonia.

UNESCO World Heritage Site

Valdes Peninsula. Found in Chubut. An ax-shaped promontory with 250 miles of coastline and gulfs enclosing tidal mud flats and salt marshes. A site of global significance for conservation of marine mammals, including the endangered southern right whale. Ecoregions NT 805 and MEOW 184.

Other points of interest:

Balneario El Condor. Found in Rio Negro. Cliff faces along coast contain 35,000 nests of burrowing parrots. Ecoregion 802.

Cabo Blanco Nature Preserve. Found in Santa Cruz. Ecoregion 805.

Cabo Dos Bahias Nature Reserve. Found in Chubut. Up to 50,000 penguins, orcas, whales, sea lions, and seabirds. Ecoregion NT 805 and MEOW 184.

Caleta de los Loros Multiple Use Reserve. Found in Rio Negro. Ecoregion 802.

Complejo Islote Lobos Wildlife Reserve. Found in Rio Negro. Six granite rock island outcrops used by nesting seabirds; northernmost colony of Magellanic penguins. Ecoregions 802 and MEOW 184.

Rio Deseado Nature Reserve. Found in Santa Cruz. Nesting area for penguins and sea birds. Ecoregions NT 805 and MEOW 185.

Las Grutas. Found in Rio Negro. Eroded sea caves with large tidal range. Ecoregion 802 and MEOW 184.

La Loberia (Reserva Faunistica de Punta Bermeja). Found in Rio Negro. A notable sea lion colony. Ecoregions NT 802 and MEOW 184.

Meseta de Somuncura Reserve. Found in Rio Negro. Provincial protected area consisting of a basaltic plateau created from past volcanic activity. Ecoregion 805.

Penguin Island. Found in Santa Cruz. Nesting rockhopper penguins and breeding elephant seals. Ecoregions NT 805 and MEOW 185.

Pt. Gutierrez. Found in Chubut. Nesting area for seabirds and penguins. Ecoregion 805.

Pt. Leon. Found in Chubut. Boulder beaches at the foot of 70-meter cliffs containing nesting seabirds. Ecoregions 802 and MEOW 184.

Pt. Loma Nature Reserve. Found in Chubut. A sea lion colony and cormorant rookery. Ecoregion NT 802 and MEOW 184.

Pt. Ninfas. Found in Chubut. Noted for a colony of elephant seals. Ecoregion NT 802 and MEOW 184.

Pt. Piramides Touristic Nature Reserve. Found in Chubut. Ecoregion 805

Pt. Tomba Provincial Reserve. Found in Chubut. Nesting area for 500,000 Magellanic penguins. Ecoregion 805 and MEOW 184.

San Matias Gulf Fish Reserve. Found in Rio Negro. Ecoregion MEOW 184.

San Antonio Bay. Found in Rio Negro. Nesting area for shorebirds. Ecoregion 802.

San Blas Bay Nature Reserve. Found in Buenos Aires province. Ecoregion 806.

San Jose Gulf Provincial Marine Park. Found in Chubut. Ecoregion MEOW 184.

Trelew. Found in Chubut. Welsh villages such as Gaiman extend up the Chubut river valley. The Museo Paleontologico Egidio Feruglio contains dinosaur exhibits. Ecoregion 802.

References:

Abell, Robin and 27 others. 2008. Freshwater Ecoregions of the World: A New Map of Biogeographic Units for Freshwater Biodiversity Conservation. Bioscience 58:403-414.

Emma Beare, ed. 2006. 501 Must-Visit Natural Wonders. Bounty Books.

BirdLife International. 2009. BirdLife’s Online World Bird Database. Accessed September 12, 2009 at http://www.birdlife.org/

Olson, David M., et al., 2001. Terrestrial Ecoregions of the World: A New Map of Life on Earth. BioScience 51:933-938. Ecoregion map at http://www.nationgeographic.com/wildworld/terrestrial.html

Palmer, Danny and others. 2008. Argentina, 6^th edition. Lonely Planet.

Riley, Laura and William. 2005. Nature’s Strongholds. Princeton University Press.

Schultz, Patricia. 2003. 1,000 Places to See Before You Die. Workman Publishing.

Spalding, Mark D. and 14 others. 2007. Marine Ecoregions of the World: A Bioregionalization of Coastal and Shelf Areas. Bioscience 57:573-583.

World Database of Protected Areas. http://www.wdpa.org/ (Accessed August 9, 2009)

Aral Sea (former) and Golden Age Lake (future)

Map of the Month: Aral Sea, Golden Age Lake, and Irgiz-Turgay Basin

Map boundaries: 40 to 50 degrees North; 55 to 66 degrees East

Countries: Kazakhstan (Aktobe, Atyrau, Karagandy, Kostanay, Kyzylorda, and Mangystau), Russia (Baykonur), Turkmenistan (Ahal, Balkan, Dashoguz, and Lebap), and Uzbekistan (Bukhara, Karakalpakstan Republic, Samarqand, and Xorezm)

Overview

The central Asian desert landscapes covered by this map area are drained by streams which flow into closed basins. The fate of two bodies of water and two rivers depend on decisions being made by three countries—Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and Kazakhstan. The Aral River is shrinking due to diversion of its two sources of water—the Syr and Amu rivers. The area of the formerly freshwater to brackish “sea” shown on most maps is now inaccurate. Most of the water from the Amu River in Turkmenistan is diverted for irrigation. The drainage is collected in a series of canals and ultimately flows to the site of the former Kara Salt Lake, or to Sarykamish Lake, also in Turkmenistan. The Kara Salt Lake has been renamed Golden Age Lake in anticipation of it successfully collecting the drainage water. The Amu River no longer flows into the Aral Sea in Karakalpakstan. The irrigation around Dashoguz has saturated the ground and brought salt to the surface throughout the region. Numerous saline lakes have formed from the saturated ground. It is hoped that the drainage scheme will cause the water table to drop, allowing for reclamation of saline soils.

Uzbekistan also plans to build a drainage canal from the Xorezm (Khorezm) region to the Aral Sea. Some water from the Syr River still reaches the Aral Sea in Kazakhstan. In order to try to salvage part of the former body of water, the Kok-Aral Dam diverts water to the North Aral Sea, a smaller body of water. It is believed that a smaller lake could be supported by the current inflows, and that a fishing industry could be revived here.

Outside of the deserts, the land gradually transitions to grassland in the northwest, where the foothills of the Ural Mountains extend southward into the map area, and to the southeast, where the foothills of the Tien Shan Mountains extend into the area. The northeastern area is dominated by another closed basin, that of the Irgiz-Turgay river drainages. Both rivers drain south from the Turgay Plateau to the north of the map area.

In addition to the large canals and irrigation works using water from the Amu and Syr rivers, other notable features covered by the map include the Russian space launch center at Baykonur and the former Soviet bioweapons laboratory (Vozrozhdeniya Island) in the Aral Sea.

Ecoregions and Provinces/Political Subdivisions

(Palearctic Biome)

Temperate Grasslands, Savannas and Shrublands

PA 801, Alai-Western Tian Shan steppe. Foothills and low mountains with tall grasses and forests of juniper, pistachio, almond, and maple. Found in Uzbekistan—Navoiy and Samarqand.

PA 810, Kazakh Steppe. Grasslands between the Ural and Altai Mountains. Many closed basins. Found in Kazakhstan—Aktobe.

Deserts and Xeric Shrublands

PA 1310, Central Asian northern desert. Clay, sandy, salt lakes, and stony desert areas with sagebrushes and halophytes. Found in Kazakhstan—Aktobe, Atyrau, Karagandy, Kyzylorda, and Mangystau; Russia-Baykonur; and Uzbekistan—Karakalpakstan Republic and Navoiy.

PA1311, Central Asian riparian woodlands. Thickets of trees interspersed with grassy clearings and wetlands. Poplar, willow, tamarisk, lianas, meadows, wetlands. Found in Kazakhstan—Kyzlorda; Russia-Baykonur; Turkmenistan—Dashoguz, Lebap; Uzbekistan—Buxoro, Karakalpakstan Republic, Xorezm.

PA1312, Central Asian southern desert. Saksaul trees, acacias, Salsola, shrub bindweed. Found in Kazakhstan—Kyzylorda; Turkmenistan—Ahal, Dashoguz, Lebap; Uzbekistan—Bukhara, Karakalpakstan Republic, Navoiy, Samarqand, Xorezm.

PA 1318, Kazakh semi-desert. Grassy plains and eroded plateaus, a transitional area between steppe and desert. Found in Kazakhstan—Aktobe, Atyrau, Karagandy, Kostanay, and Kyzylorda; and Russia—Baykonur

Freshwater Ecoregions of the World

Europe and Middle East Region

Temperate Floodplain Rivers and Wetlands

410, Volga-Ural. Other than the Emba, rivers do not reach the Caspian Sea in the area of this map. Found in Kazakhstan—Aktobe, Atyrau, Mangystau

Xeric Freshwaters and Endorheic Basins

450. Turan Plain. The most arid area of the Transcaspian region, generally follows the former channel of the Uzboy River and includes Ustyurt Plateau. Found in Kazakhstan—Mangystau; and Turkmenistan—Ahal, Balkan, Dashoguz.

Northern Asia Region

Temperate Upland Rivers

626. Lower and Middle Syr Darya. Found in Kazakhstan—Karagandy, Kyzylorda; Russia—Baykonur; and Uzbekistan--Navoiy

628. Northern Central Asian Highlands. Found in Kyrgyzstan—Batken and Tajikistan—Sughd

630. Middle Amu Darya. Found in Turkmenistan—Ahal, Dasoguz, Lebap; and Uzbekistan—Bukhara, Navoiy, Samarqand, Xorezm

Large Lakes

629. Aral Sea Drainages. This includes Sarykamish depression. The Aral Sea was formerly brackish, but these habitats have disappeared as the inland sea has evaporated. Found in Kazakhstan—Kyzylorda; Turkmenistan—Dashoguz, and Uzbekistan—Karakalpakstan Republic, Navoiy, and Xorezm

Xeric Freshwaters and Closed Basins

601, Irgyz-Turgai. Found in Kazakhstan—Aktobe, Karagandy, Kostanay.

UNESCO World Heritage Sites

Kunya-Urgench. Found in Turkmenistan—Dashoguz. The old town contains monuments from the 11^th to the 16^th centuries, include a mosque, fortress, and minaret. Ecoregion 1312.

Itchan Kala (Khiva Oasis). Found in Uzbekistan—Xorezm. Well preserved muslim architecture of central Asia. Ecoregion 1311.

Other Sites

Akjagaya. Found in Turkmenistan—Dashoguz. Zaunguz depression near Dashoguz Collector. Wetland birds. Ecoregion 1312.

Aksay Lake. Found in Uzbekistan—Navoiy. Brackish lake in Minbulak Hollow in central Kyzylkum Desert; wetland birds. Ecoregion 1312.

Aktau Mountain in Tamditau Mountain range. Found in Uzbekistan—Navoiy. Mountain range inaccessible to people and cars contain gorges with shrubby vegetation, springs, and endemic species. Ecoregion 1312.

Assake-Audon Depression. Found in Uzbekistan—Karakalpakstan Republic. A depression in Ustyurt Plateau with brackesh water; Haloxylon forests. Ecoregions 1310 and 1312.

Baykonur Cosmodrome, administered by Russia, contains the launchpad for Russian spacecraft. The current rental agreement ends in 2050. Construction is scheduled to start in 2010 on a new facility in the Amur province of Russia to replace the current site. Ecoregions 1310, 1311, and 1318.

Bukantau. Found in Uzbekistan—Navoiy. Mountain range in desert with stony ravines, seasonal springs, and large numbers of nesting raptors. Ecoregion 1312.

Buzaubay. Found in Uzbekistan—Navoiy. Hilly region with temporary waterbodies. Ecoregion 1312.

Depmechay. Found in Turkmenistan—Balkan. Southern scarp of Ustuyurt Plateau and Kazaklyshor Depression, home of Saker falcon. Ecoregion 1312.

Donyz-Tau Cliff. Found in Aktobe, Atyrau, and Mangiystau, Kazakhstan. Clay escarpment of 200 me cliffs, Artemesia-Salsola vegetation, Saker falcon present. Ecoregion 1310 and 1318.

Gorelde. Found in Turkmenistan—Lebap. Area of floodplain forest on Amu River. Ecoregion 1311.

Golden Age Lake. To be located in the dry lakebed of the Kara Salt Lake in Dashoguz and Balkan provinces, Turkmenistan, the lake is intended to provide irrigation drainage for much of Turkmenistan. Decades of irrigated cotton and other crops has resulted in swamps and salt buildup, which have degraded much of the country’s arable land. Two feeder canals, the Dashoguz Collector and the Great Turkmen (Golden Age) Collector have been constructed to channel water into the proposed lake. A dam has been built to keep the drainage from flowing along the former Uzboy River channel into the Caspian Sea. Ecoregion 1312.

Goyungyrlan Lakes. Found in Turkmenistan—Dashoguz. Irrigation collector lakes. Ecoregion 1312.

Irgiz-Turgay Lakes. Found in Aktobe, Kazakhstan. Siberian flyway site; lakes dry in summer. Ecoregion 1318.

Kara Salt Lake. Found in Turkmenistan—Balkan and Dashoguz. Area consists of cliffs overlooking salt lakes. To be impacted by Golden Age Lake (see). Ecoregion 1312.

Karakyr Lakes. Found in Uzbekistan–Bukhara. Two large wastewater lakes with reedy vegetation, fed by the northern collector. A state nature reserve. Ecoregion 1312.

Khorezm Fish Farm. Found in Uzbekistan—Xorezm. Drainage from collector canals provides an important waterfowl habitat area near Khiva. Ecoregion 1311.

Koymat-Begarslan. Found in Turkmenistan—Balkan. Area of seteep cliffs and ravines on west edge of Chelyunkgyr Plateau. Ecoregion 1312.

Kurkuduk. Found in Uzbekistan—Navoiy. Northern foothills of the Bukantau Mountains contain wormwood, desert bushes, and habitat for Houbara bustard. Ecoregion 1312.

Mogodzhary. Found in Aktobe, Kazakhstan. Low mountains, rocky summits in a region of dry steppe; some aspen woodlands. Southernmost extension of Ural Mountains. Ecoregion 810.

Muskinata. Found in Turkmenistan—Dashoguz. Riparian forested area. Ecoregion 1311.

North Aral Sea (lesser Aral Sea). Found in Kazakhstan—Kyzylorda. The Kok-Aral Dam diverts water fromm Syr River into North Aral Sea in an effort to reestablish a smaller, more stabilized lake and return the fishing industry to the area. Breeding waterbirds. Ecoregion 1318.

Rogatoe Lake. Found in Uzbekistan—Navoiy. Large brackish lake in closed basin surrounded by clay cliffs. Ecoregion 1312.

Saiga Nature Sanctuary. Found in Uzbekistan—Karakalpakstan Republic. Preserves habitat in Ustyurt Plateau. Ecoregion 1310.

Sarmysh Nature Park. Found in Uzbekistan—Navoiy. Mountains covered by grass-wormwood, almond vegetation with plantations of walnut, mulberry and fruit trees. Petroglyphs in Sarmish Gorge dated to 25,000 years BP. Ecoregion 801.

Sarygamysh Lake. Found in Turkmenistan—Dashoguz. Waterfowl breeding area for Dalmatian pelicans and great cormorant. Ecoregion 1312.

Sudochye Lake. Found in Uzbekistan—Karakalpakstan Republic. Reservoirs in boggy area adjoining the Ustyurt Plateau, fed by the Kungrad collector. The most ecologically intact area of the lower Amu River delta. Ecoregion 1311.

Syrdarya Delta. Found in Kazakhstan—Kyzylorda. Lakes, reeds, and salt marshes. Ecoregion 1311.

Tekejik-Biynekyr. Found in Turkmenistan—Balkan. Steep cliffs under a clay plateau with Artemisia; saline depressions with halophytes. Homes of saker falcon. Ecoregion 1312.

Ustyurt Plateau. Found in Kazakhstan (Mangystau) and Uzbekistan (Karakalpakstan Republic). The northwestern area in Mangystau has 200 m cliffs overlooking the Caspian Depression. Ecoregion 1310.

Vardanzi. Found in Uzbekistan—Bukhara. Dense stands of saxaul in a state natural memorial. Ecoregion 1312.

Vozrozhdeniya Island. Found in Kazakhstan—Kyzylorda and Uzbekistan—Karakalpakstan Republic. Former site of Soviet bioweapons laboratory. Anthrax-contaminated area was neutralized in 2002. Ecoregion 1310.

Zhagabulak Forest. Found in Kazakhstan—Aktobe. Mature aspen-birch forest in Emba River floodplain. Ecoregion 1318.

Zholdyrbas Lake. Found in Uzbekistan—Karakalpakstan Republic. The former gulf of the Aral Sea and mouth of the Kazakh River contains brackish water, thermal springs.

References

Abell, Robin and 27 others. 2008. Freshwater Ecoregions of the World: A New Map of Biogeographic Units for Freshwater Biodiversity Conservation. Bioscience 58:403-414.

Beare, Emma, ed. 2006. 501 Must-Visit Destinations. Bounty Books.

Beare, Emma, ed. 2007. 501 Must-Visit Natural Wonders. Bounty Books.

BirdLife International. 2008. BirdLife’s Online World Bird Database. Accessed 29/12/2008 at http://www.birdlife.org/

Edwards, Mike. 1994. Lethal Legacy: Pollution in the Former U.S.S.R. National Geographic 186(2):70-99.

Ellis, William S. 1990. The Aral: A Soviet Sea Lies Dying. National Geographic, February.

Olson et al., 2001. Terrestrial Ecoregions of the World: A New Map of Life on Earth. BioScience 51:933-938. WildWorld map: www.nationalgeographic.com/wildworld

Pala, Christopher. Anthrax Island. New York Times Magazine, January 12, 2003. http://www.nytimes.com/ (accessed 6/19/09).

Riley, Laura and William. 2005. Nature’s Strongholds. Princeton University Press.

Schultz, Patricia. 2003. 1,000 Places to See Before You Die. Workman Publishing Company.

Spalding, Mark D. and 14 others. 2007. Marine Ecoregions of the World: A Bioregionalization of Coastal and Shelf Areas. Bioscience 57:573-583.

Stone, Richard. 2008. A New Great Lake—or Dead Sea? Science 320:1002-1005.

Coetivy Atoll

Map of the Month: Coetivy Atoll and Poydenot Shoal

Map boundaries: 0 to 10 degrees South; 56 to 64 degrees East

Countries: Mauritius and Seychelles

Overview

The northern part of the Mascarene Plateau, the largest submerged bank in the world, is covered with seagrass and interspersed with coral reefs. The plateau extends from the Granitic Seychelles southeast to Saya de Malha Bank, a series of shoals which would be a coral atoll if any of the area was above the ocean surface. Depths are as shallow as 8 m at Poydenot Shoal. To the west is a coral island, Coetivy Atoll. Coetivy is not connected to the Seychelles or Saya de Malha banks. Although the island is only 9.3 square km in area, it is surrounded by a platform reef providing shallow water of 14.2 square km. Covering much of the island are about 200 shrimp or prawn ponds operated by a Seychelles government corporation.

Terrestrial Ecoregions

Deserts and Xeric Scrublands

AT 1301, Aldabra Island Xeric Scrub. The interactive map at http://www.nationalgeographic.com/wildworld/terrestrial.html seems to indicate that Coetivy is in ecoregion AT 113, Granitic Seychelles Forests. However, the geographic position of the island (at 7 degrees South) and the low-lying coral nature of the island suggest that it would be better classified with desert islands such as Aldabra. Rainfall would likely be less at this latitude, and the winter dry season would likely be longer compared to more equatorial islands (Stoddart 1984).

Marine Ecoregions of the World

Western Indo-Pacific Realm, Western Indian Ocean Province

96. Seychelles. Includes the Mascarene Plateau and Coetivy Island.

Freshwater Ecoregions of the World

Africa and Madagascar Region, Oceanic Islands

585. Seychelles. Found on Coetivy Island.

References

Abell, Robin and 27 others. 2008. Freshwater Ecoregions of the World: A New Map of Biogeographic Units for Freshwater Biodiversity Conservation. Bioscience 58:403-414.

BirdLife International. 2008. BirdLife’s Online World Bird Database. Accessed 29/12/2008 at http://www.birdlife.org/

Kaplin, P.A. and P.A. Pirazzoli. 1988. A Geomorphological Reconnaissance of Coetivy Atoll (Seychelles, Indian Ocean). Smithsonian Atoll Research Bulletin No. 319.

Seychelles Tourism Board. http://www.seychelles.travel/ (accessed August 9, 2009).

Olson, David M., et al., 2001. Terrestrial Ecoregions of the World: A New Map of Life on Earth. BioScience 51:933-938. Ecoregion map at http://www.nationgeographic.com/wildworld/terrestrial.html

Spalding, Mark D. and 14 others. 2007. Marine Ecoregions of the World: A Bioregionalization of Coastal and Shelf Areas. Bioscience 57:573-583.

Stoddart, David Ross. 1984. Biogeography and Ecology of the Seychelles Islands. The Hague: W. Junk.

VDS Crustocean Feeds. http://www.crustocean.com/ (accessed August 8, 2009).

VLIMAR, the VLiz Marine Gazeteer. www.vliz.be/vmdcdata/vlimar.

Wise, Rosemary. 1998. A Fragile Eden. Princeton University Press.

Orinoco Delta and Eastern Guyana Highlands

Map of the Month: Orinoco Delta and Eastern Guyana Highlands

Map boundaries: 0 to 10 degrees North; 56 to 64 degrees West

Countries (States, Regions, or Districts): Brazil (Amazonas, Para, and Roraima), Guyana, Suriname (Coronie, Nickerie, and Sipaliwini), and Venezuela (Amazonas, Anzoategui, Bolivar, Delta Amacuro, and Monagas).

Overview

This map area extends from the Venezuelan coast range in the northwest to the Amazon rainforest in the south. Although the region is mostly tropical moist forest, there are areas of xeric vegetation in the northwest. Grasslands and savannas are found in the lower Orinoco and southwestern Suriname, and in La Gran Sabana where Brazil, Guyana, and Venezuela come together. In the Orinoco Delta and along the coast of Suriname are swamp forests that mark the transition from coastal mangroves to higher elevation tropical forests. The Guyana Highlands are notable for the tepuys, which are about 100 dramatic flat-topped sandstone mountains scattered across Venezuela, northern Brazil, central Guyana, and central Suriname. The most well-known tepuy is Auyan in southeastern Venezuela, from which Angel Falls plunges.

This map area includes Guri Reservoir, an artificial lake in Bolivar state, Venezuela. An archipelago of hilltop islands was created by the filling of the lake. Since 1993, ecologists have studied the islands in the Connecticut-sized reservoir. From an ecological standpoint, the islands were not big enough to support large predators like jaguars, army ants, and armadillos. With the predators gone, other animals and plants took over, causing major ecological changes. For example, freed from army ants and armadillos, fungus-eating ants of the genus Atta took over, deforesting trees and allowing thorny vines to grow. The end point was a treeless island with a tangle of liana (vine) stems. Howler monkeys initially experienced a population explosion, but then ended up starving as defoliated trees began growing increasingly poisonous vegetation in defense. Based on these results, conservation scientists should focus on replacing top predators, or at least devise management interventions to substitute for the loss of the key species (Stolzenburg, 2008).

Ecoregions and Provinces/Political Subdivisions

Tropical and Subtropical Moist Broadleaf Forests

NT 117, Cordillera La Costa montane forests. Found in Monagas State, Venezuela. Evergreen moist forests on mountain tops. Gyranthera, Trophis, and Ficus at lower elevations, then evergreen montane cloud forests, then elfin forest and scrub at the mountain tops.

NT 124, Guyanan Highlands moist forests. Found in Brazil—Amazonas and Roraima; and Venezuela—Amazonas and Bolivar. Tall primary rainforest and savannas. Emergent rainforest trees are Calophyllum, Anacardium, and Manilkara.

NT 125, Guyanan moist forests. Found in Brazil—Roraima; Guyana—Barima-Waini, Cuyuni-Mazaruni, Demerara-Mahaica, East Berbice-Corentyne, Essequibo Islands-West Demerara, Mahaica-Berbile, Pomeroon-Supenaam, Potari-Siparuni, Upper Demerara-Upper Berbice, Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo; Suriname—Coronie, Nickerie, and Sipaliwini; and Venezuela—Bolivar and Delta Amacuro. Tropical lowland forest and savannas. Bignoniaceae, Bobacaceae, Euphorbaceae trees and Calophyllum, Carapa, and Ceiba.

NT 143, Negro-Branco moist forests. Found in Brazil—Amazonas. Forested lowland plains and low sandstone table mountains. Notable plants are Virolia, Duckeanthus, Heteropetalum, and Leopoldina.

NT 147, Orinoco Delta swamp forests. Found in Guyana--Barima-Waini and Venezuela—Delta Amacuro and Monagas. Moist forests and wetlands with typical genera Carapa, Ceiba, and Dimorphandra.

NT 149, Paramaribo swamp forests. Found in Suriname—Coronie and Nickerie. A thin strip of flooded forests between mangroves and coastal mountains containing a mosaic of freshwater swamp habitats. Typical genera are Viriola, Symphonia, Euterpe, Crudia, and Macrolobium.

NT 158, Rio Negro capinarana. Found in Brazil—Amazonas and Roraima. Heath forests at the transition between the Guyana shield and Amazon basin. Savanna and thorn forests of cycads, Vochisia, Virola, Compsoneura, and Macrolobium grow on low nutrient soils.

NT 169, Tepuys. Found in Brazil—Roraima; Guyana—Cuyuni-Mazaruni, Potari-Siparuni, and Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo; Suriname—Sipaliwini; and Venezuela—Amazonas and Bolivar. Isolated mountains with dramatic cliffs rising out of the rainforests. Various vegetation zones of montane shrublands, meadows, rock communities, and forests of Clusia, Monorobea, Miconia, and Graffenrieda.

NT 173, Uatuma-Trombetas moist forests. Found in Brazil—Amazonas, Para, and Roraima. A region of blackwater rivers north of the Amazon River in eastern Brazil. Typical plant famililies are Sapotaceae, Lecythidaceae, Bursuraceae, and Fabaceae.

Tropical and Subtropical Grasslands, Savannas and Shrublands

NT 707, Guyanan savanna. Found in Brazil—Para and Roraima; Guyana—Cuyuni-Mazaruni, Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo; Suriname—Sipaliwini; and Venezuela—Bolivar. Located between the Amazon and Orinoco basins. Grass, shrubs, trees and forest islands, including the Gran Sabana of Venezuela. Impermeable subsoil and sandy soils are typical. Typical plant genera are Euphorbia, Humiria, and Clusia.

NT 709, Llanos. Found in Venezuela—Anzoategui, Bolivar, and Monagas. This is a transition area between the coastal xeric habitats of the Caribbean coast and the Amazon moist forests. Savannas are found in both seasonally flooded and non-flooded areas.

Flooded Grasslands and Savannas

NT 906, Orinoco wetlands. Found in Venezuela—Delta Amacuro and Monagas. Flooded grasslands and forests, buffered by mangroves.

Deserts and Xeric Shrublands

NT 1309, La Costa xeric shrublands. Found in Venezuela—Anzoategui and Monagas. Sparse dry desert shrubs, including Cactaceae, Leguminosae, and Capparidaceae.

Mangrove

NT 1411, Guyanan mangroves. Found in Guyana—Barima-Waini and Pomeroon-Supenaam; Suriname—Coronie and Nickerie; and Venezuela—Delta Amacuro and Monagas.

Freshwater Ecoregions of the World

South America Region

Tropical and Subtropical Upland Rivers

308. Orinoco Guiana Shield.

310. Essequibo

311. Guianas

315. Amazonas Guiana Shield

Tropical and Subtropical Floodplain Rivers and Wetland Complexes

307. Orinoco Llanos.

314. Rio Negro

Large River Deltas

309. Orinoco Delta and Coastal Drainages. As the Orinoco reaches the coast, the main river channel divides into a network of smaller channels.

Marine Ecoregions of the World

Tropical Atlantic Realm, North Brazil Shelf

71. Guianan

UNESCO World Heritage Sites

Central Suriname Nature Reserve. A pristine montane and lowland rain forest with 5000 vascular plants. Significant vertical relief and soil diversity in the watershed of the Coppename River. Contains Tafelberg Tepui. Found in Sipaliwini District of Suriname. Ecoregion 125, Guyanan moist forest.

Canaima National Park. An area of 100 tepuis, savannas, and waterfalls. The top of Auyan Tepui is an intricate maze of jagged sandstone with holes and caves. Includes 3211-foot-high Angel Falls, reached from Canaima, Venezuela, and Gran Sabana, reached by highway from Guayana City in Venezuela. Found in Bolivar State, Venezuela. Ecoregions 124 (Guyanan Highlands moist forests), 169 (Tepuis), and 707 (Guyanan savannas).

Other points of interest

Amazonas National Forest. Found in Brazil--Roraima. Ecoregion 124.

Anaua National Forest. Found in Brazil—Roraima. Ecoregion 158.

Bakhuys Mountains. An important bird area with crested eagle, harpy eagle,a nd blue-cheeked parrot. Found in Sipaliwini District, Suriname. Ecoregion 125.

Bigi Pan. Mudflat and swamp area with Guyanian Piculet, Blood-Colored Woodpecker, and Rufous Crabhawk. Found in Nickerie District, Suriname. Ecoregion 1411 (mangroves)

Blanche Marie Falls. Located in Sipalawini District, Suriname. Ecoregion 125.

Caracarai Ecological Station. Found in Roraima, Brazil. Ecoregion 707.

Caruachi. An important bird area on the Guri Resevoir. Found in Bolivar State, Venezuela. Ecoregion 709, Llanos.

Coppename Estuary National Park. Noted for bird colonies. Located in Coronie District, Suriname. Ecoregion 1411 (mangroves).

Delta del Orinoco National Park. Swamps and marshes of mangroves, palms, grasslands. Found in Delta Amacuro, Venezuela. Ecoregion 147 and 1411.

Gran Morichal Wildlife Refuge. Savanna with scattered trees and palms. Found in Delta Amacuro and Monagas, Venezuela. Ecoregion 906.

Guayana (city). Noted for waterfalls upstream on Caroni River. Found in Bolivar state, Venezuela. Ecoregions 125 (Guyanan moist forest) and 709 (Llanos).

Guaiquinima tepui. Tepui topped by evergreen rainforest. Found in Bolivar State, Venezuela. Ecoregion 124 (Guyana highlands moist forest) and 169 (tepuis).

Imateca Reserve. Hills of Guyana Shield; preserves evergreen rainforest. Found in Bolivar and Delta Amacura, Venezuela. Ecoregion 125 and 147.

Iwokrama Rainforest Programme. A research area with canopy walkway and hikes to mountains and petroglyphs. Located in Potari-Siparuni Region of Guyana. Ecoregion 125.

Jonestown (site). In 1978, the American cult known as the Peoples Temple committed mass suicide. The site was located southwest of Kaituma in Barima-Waini Region of Cooperative Republic of Guyana. Ecoregion 125.

Kabalebo/Arepahu. An important bird area by the Kabalebo River, noted for green ibis. Found in Sipaliwini District, Suriname. Ecoregion 125.

Kaieteur National Park. Unspoiled forest and a 100-meter waterfall five times the height of Niagara. Located in Potari-Siparuni Region of Guyana.

Maraca Ecological Station. Found in Brazil—Roraima. Ecoregion 124.

Niquia Ecological Station. Found in Roraima, Brazil. Ecoregion 158.

Nort Coronie. Important bird area and mudflats. Found in Coronie District, Suriname. Ecoregion 1411 (Mangroves).

Northwest Suriname (NWS on map). An area of grass swamps and swamp forests harboring the giant river otter and manatees. Found in Nickerie District, Suriname. Ecoregion 149, Paramaribo swamp forests.

Orinduik Falls. Located in Potari-Siparuni Region of Guyana and Roraima State, Brazil. Ecoregion 125.

Pedernales-Capure. Found in Delta Amacuro, Venezuela. Ecoregion 1411.

Raleigh vallen/Voltzberg Nature Reserve. A subunit of the Central Suriname Nature Reserve on the Coppename River. Found in Sipaliwini District, Suriname. Ecoregion 125.

Roraima National Forest. Found in Roraima, Brazil. Ecoregion 124.

Monte Roraima National Park. Encompasses the Brazilian portions of Roraima Tepui. Found in Roraima, Brazil. Ecoregion 125 and 169.

Roraima Tepui. The highest of the tepuis, this mountain is at the meeting point of Brazil, Guyana, and Venezuela. It has a 400 m cliff of quartzite with a cloud forest of ferns and an open, rocky summit. It is reached by a 5-day trek. Ecoregion 169 (tepuis)

Rupununi Savanna. Dry grassland in southern Guyana. Located in Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo Region of Guyana.

Serra da Mocidade National Park. Found in Roraima, Brazil. Ecoregion 124 and 158.

Shell Beach. A 145-km reach of coastline from Pomeroon River to Venezuelan border in Guyana. The nesting ground of sea turtles: leatherback, green, hawksbill, and olive ridley. Found in Pomeroon-Supenaam and Barima-Waini regions, Guyana. Ecoregion 1411.

Sipaliwini Nature Reserve. Contains the Sipaliwini savanna. Found in Sipaliwini District, Suriname. Ecoregion 707.

Tucupita. Base for excursions to Orinoco Delta and Warao villages at Guyana border. Found in Delta Amacuro State, Venezuela. Ecoregion 147.

Urutani tepui. Topped by an evergreen rainforest. Located in Bolivar State, Venezuela and Roraima State, Brazil. Ecoregion 169 (Tepuis).

Virua National Park. Found in Roraima, Brazil. Ecoregion 707.

References

Abell, Robin and 27 others. 2008. Freshwater Ecoregions of the World: A New Map of Biogeographic Units for Freshwater Biodiversity Conservation. Bioscience 58:403-414.

Emma Beare, ed. 2006. 501 Must-Visit Natural Wonders. Bounty Books.

Box, Ben. 2008. Footprint South American Handbook, 84^th edition.

BirdLife International. 2008. BirdLife’s Online World Bird Database. Accessed 29/12/2008 at http://www.birdlife.org/

Ildos, Angela S. and Bardelli, Giorgio G. 2001. Great National Parks of the World. AAA Publishing.

Olson, David M., et al., 2001. Terrestrial Ecoregions of the World: A New Map of Life on Earth. BioScience 51:933-938.

Schultz, Patricia. 2003. 1,000 Places to See Before You Die. Workman Publishing.

Riley, Laura and William. 2005. Nature’s Strongholds. Princeton University Press.

Spalding, Mark D. and 14 others. 2007. Marine Ecoregions of the World: A Bioregionalization of Coastal and Shelf Areas. Bioscience 57:573-583.

Stolzenburg, William. 2008. Ecosystems Unraveling. Conservation Magazine 9(1):21-25.

World Heritage List. Accessed 5/24/09 at whc.unesco.org/en/list