Editing Altai Mountains (section)

==World Heritage Site==
{{Main|Golden Mountains of Altai}}
[[File:Lake Teletskoe (10423932746).jpg|thumb|[[Lake Teletskoye]]]]
[[File:Тюнгур, алтайский край.jpg|thumb|Natural Park of Belukha]]

A vast area of {{convert|16,178|sqkm|abbr=on}}<sup>2</sup>, which incorporates the Altai and Katun Natural Reserves, [[Lake Teletskoye]], Mount [[Belukha]], and the [[Ukok Plateau]], this area is designated as a [[World Heritage Site]] (UNESCO), entitled the [[Golden Mountains of Altai]]. As stated in the UNESCO description of the site, "the region represents the most complete sequence of altitudinal vegetation zones in central Siberia, from steppe, forest-steppe, mixed forest, subalpine vegetation to alpine vegetation". While making its decision, UNESCO also cited Russian Altai's importance for preservation of the globally endangered mammals, such as [[Snow leopard]], [[Altai argali]], and [[Siberian ibex]] that live in these mountains.<ref>{{cite web 
 |url=http://www.pacificenvironment.org/article.php?id=934 
 |title=Greater Altai – Altai Krai, Republic of Altai, Tyva (Tuva), and Novosibirsk – Crossroads 
 |access-date=November 30, 2006 |url-status=dead 
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070314172727/http://www.pacificenvironment.org/article.php?id=934 
 |archive-date=March 14, 2007 |website=[[Pacific Environment]]
}}</ref> The [[Uvs Nuur basin]] is also a protected site.

Violations of the protection status of Argali sheep and other species have been alleged, together with accusations of corruption, in the [[Altaigate Scandal]]. The incident arose from the death of several Russian VIPs in a helicopter crash early in 2009, purportedly on a poaching excursion.