The Belaya (White) River flows along the border of Shulgan Tash Nature Reserve, known for its rare wild honey bees. View from Mount Thirmentau

Nugush River near the Kashalya ranger station

Foggy morning on the Nugush river near Kashalya Ranger Station

Visitors at the entrance to the Kapova Cave

Drawings by ancient artists on the walls of the Kapova Cave. The oldest drawings are about 30,000 years old

A local wild beekeeper tends the hive of the wild Burzyan honey bee, which builds its hive in the hollow dens of old growth trees

Ranger-beekeepers, who maintain hives of wild bees in old growth trees using these handmade tools, learned the trade from their forefathers. Now there are few remaining skilled wild beekeepers