Central Asia's Almas
This mountain region is the crossroads of the ancient Mediterranean, the eastern Mediterranean and the younger mountains of Central Asia.
Description[]
Found in the Gissaro-Alai are a number of endemic central Asian montane species that are often localized to specific mountain ranges. Characteristic vegetation types include coniferous evergreen woodland of Juniperus species and ephemeroid herb vegetation, as well as unique fruit and relict nut forests. Spectacular red tulips (Tulipa micheliana) display the beauty of some of the ephemeroid spring vegetation.
Almas Map
The diversity of fauna is equally rich and includes threatened species such as snow leopards, Siberian ibex, Bukhara urial, and numerous birds, fishes, reptiles and amphibians. The mountain forests of the Gissaro-Alai play a crucial role in protecting the soil from wind and water erosion that has resulted from forest clearing and overgrazing. Conservation measures leading to sustainability have been implemented but need strengthening.
The Vegetable Lamb of Tartary is a legendary plant of central Asia, believed to grow sheep as its fruit. The sheep were connected to the plant by an umbilical cord and grazed the land around the plant. When all the plants were gone, both the plant and sheep died.
It is also home to a variety of Bigfoot or Yeti populations, such as Almas, Dev, Dzu-Teh, Farishta, Harrum-mo, Jungli-Admi and Matah Kagmi. Yet another Russian analog of the bigfoot is the Abnauayu, said to roam the lands around the Caucasus mountain range. Like other potential relict hominid habitats, the Caucasus is heavily forested and sparsely populated in many areas, allowing plenty of room for both a large creature to roam and legends to grow.
Quite possibly the strangest of all Russian cryptids is the Flat Man, a living shadow entity that is said to suck it's victims inside of it like a black hole.