The Azas State Nature Reserve is located in the north-east of Tuva, in the Todzha Basin, at the source of the largest river in Siberia — the Yenisei. It was formed by a Decree of the Council of Ministers of the RSFSR on January 11, 1985; its area was then set at 337,300 hectares. The purpose of creating the reserve is to preserve and study in their natural state the typical and unique ecological systems of the Todzha Basin and the mountain uplifts framing it, to protect the gene pool of the flora and fauna of Tuva and the mountains of Southern Siberia in general. The history of its organization is closely connected with the discovery, study and adoption of measures to protect the aboriginal beaver population. Nature reserve. Square: 3003,9 sq.m.