Momsky

Momsky Nature Park is a regional protected area in Momsky District of the Sakha Republic (Yakutia), covering the upper basin of the Mom River in the eastern part of the Momo-Selennyakh depression, including the Buordakh massif with Mount Pobeda. It was established on 18 June 1996 and covers about 1,959,887 hectares^[1].

Fauna includes reindeer, elk and argali sheep, along with several bird species^[1].

The park's vegetation includes steppe, floodplain forests and relict poplar (chozenia) forests^[1].

The park holds Mount Pobeda in the Buordakh massif of the Ulakhan-Chistai range, a stratovolcano, as well as the extinct volcanoes Balagan-Tas and Uraga-Tas and the Momsky Ridge. A marble deposit lies at Marble Mountain^[2]. The Ulakhan-Taryn naled, a sheet of ice formed from frozen river flows, is described as the largest in Russia^[1].

Lake Ulakhan-Kyuel is reported not to freeze at temperatures down to -60 °C^[2], which reflects the extreme continental cold of the Oymyakon region.

Cultural sites inside the park include the ruins of the old town of Zashiversk and the Spaso-Zashiversk church^[1].

The park's legal basis is a 1994 presidential decree on developing protected areas and Sakha Government resolution No. 260 of 18 June 1996, after a Momsky ulus council decision of 23 February 1996. Its regulations were approved in 2018 and amended in 2020^[1].

Highlights are the Ulakhan-Taryn naled, the Balagan-Tas volcanic dome, Lake Ulakhan-Kyuel and Mount Pobeda, which has alpine climbing routes up to category 5A^[2]. Rafting and multi-mode tours are offered^[3].

The park administration is in the settlement of Khonuu, and the nearest town named in references is Sasyr. Reaching the park takes several thousand kilometres of travel from European Russia^[3].

Zoning includes a strict protection zone of about 391,000 ha, a limited recreation zone of about 6,600 ha and an active recreation zone of about 226,000 ha; the rest is a traditional nature-use zone. Altering hydrology, industrial construction, mining and clear-cutting are prohibited^[1].