十八里長峽自然(ran)保(bao)護區始建于1988年,2002年晉升為市級自然(ran)保(bao)護區。
2003年(nian)8月,湖(hu)北省政府(fu)批準納入(ru)省級自然(ran)保護區建設。
2004年12月,湖北十(shi)八(ba)里長峽省級(ji)自然保護區(qu)管理(li)局掛牌成(cheng)立。
2005年(nian)3月,完成(cheng)了(le)管理(li)局內設科室配置及二(er)級單位的組建。
2014年1月,晉升為國家級自然保護區。
湖北十八里長峽自然保護區(qu)位于(yu)湖北省竹(zhu)溪(xi)縣南部,鄂(e)、渝、陜交界處,北緯31°31′13″~31°43′15″,東經109°42′50″~109°58′15″,距離竹(zhu)溪(xi)縣城(cheng)248 km、重(zhong)慶市巫溪(xi)縣城(cheng)54 km、陜西省鎮坪縣城(cheng)81 km。
保護區地(di)處北亞熱(re)帶(dai)向溫(wen)(wen)帶(dai)過度(du)地(di)帶(dai),氣(qi)候區劃上為(wei)亞熱(re)帶(dai)濕潤(run)(run)季(ji)(ji)(ji)風,具有南北兼宜(yi)的(de)(de)(de)特征,四季(ji)(ji)(ji)分(fen)明(ming)、氣(qi)候溫(wen)(wen)和、雨(yu)量充沛、夏無(wu)酷暑(shu)、冬無(wu)嚴寒、光(guang)熱(re)適度(du)、溫(wen)(wen)暖濕潤(run)(run)。地(di)表高(gao)差懸殊,地(di)表獨特,立(li)體氣(qi)候顯(xian)著。春季(ji)(ji)(ji)平(ping)均89天,由低山(shan)(shan)(shan)到(dao)(dao)高(gao)山(shan)(shan)(shan)逐(zhu)(zhu)漸(jian)增多;夏季(ji)(ji)(ji)平(ping)均45天,由低山(shan)(shan)(shan)到(dao)(dao)高(gao)山(shan)(shan)(shan)逐(zhu)(zhu)漸(jian)減(jian)(jian)少(shao);秋季(ji)(ji)(ji)平(ping)均77天,由低山(shan)(shan)(shan)到(dao)(dao)高(gao)山(shan)(shan)(shan)逐(zhu)(zhu)漸(jian)增加;冬季(ji)(ji)(ji)平(ping)均154天,由高(gao)山(shan)(shan)(shan)到(dao)(dao)低山(shan)(shan)(shan)逐(zhu)(zhu)漸(jian)減(jian)(jian)少(shao)。歷年平(ping)均氣(qi)溫(wen)(wen)14.4℃,隨地(di)勢變(bian)化從河谷到(dao)(dao)低山(shan)(shan)(shan)、中(zhong)(zhong)高(gao)山(shan)(shan)(shan)、高(gao)山(shan)(shan)(shan)依次遞減(jian)(jian)。海(hai)拔(ba)每(mei)上升(sheng)100 m,氣(qi)溫(wen)(wen)下降0.53℃。歷年極端(duan)高(gao)氣(qi)溫(wen)(wen)為(wei)1969年﹣12.9 ℃,極端(duan)高(gao)氣(qi)溫(wen)(wen)為(wei)1984年40 ℃。海(hai)拔(ba)在(zai)2000m左(zuo)(zuo)右(you)的(de)(de)(de)高(gao)山(shan)(shan)(shan)年平(ping)均氣(qi)溫(wen)(wen)在(zai)6℃~11℃之間;海(hai)拔(ba)在(zai)1000m左(zuo)(zuo)右(you)的(de)(de)(de)中(zhong)(zhong)高(gao)山(shan)(shan)(shan)年平(ping)均氣(qi)溫(wen)(wen)在(zai)11℃~14℃之間;海(hai)拔(ba)在(zai)500m左(zuo)(zuo)右(you)的(de)(de)(de)丘陵(ling)河谷區,年平(ping)均氣(qi)溫(wen)(wen)在(zai)14℃~16℃之間。
十八里長(chang)峽(xia)自(zi)然(ran)保護(hu)區(qu)(qu)(qu)為中(zhong)(zhong)國(guo)中(zhong)(zhong)東部(bu)地(di)(di)(di)區(qu)(qu)(qu)地(di)(di)(di)貌深(shen)切劇烈(lie)的地(di)(di)(di)區(qu)(qu)(qu),是我(wo)國(guo)中(zhong)(zhong)東部(bu)地(di)(di)(di)區(qu)(qu)(qu)深(shen)的峽(xia)谷(gu)。保護(hu)區(qu)(qu)(qu)中(zhong)(zhong)部(bu)巖溶地(di)(di)(di)貌現象相當發育,為典型的喀斯特地(di)(di)(di)貌,溶蝕(shi)盆地(di)(di)(di)、落水洞、巖溶漏斗、溶溝(gou)石(shi)芽(ya)、溶洞豐富;西(xi)部(bu)和南部(bu)還有奧陶系(xi)、志留系(xi)、二疊系(xi)和三(san)疊系(xi)。境(jing)內(nei)峰(feng)高(gao)谷(gu)深(shen),河(he)谷(gu)兩岸崖壁陡峭,故(gu)有長(chang)峽(xia)之稱。山巒起伏,高(gao)低懸(xuan)殊,高(gao)山峰(feng)為南部(bu)的蔥坪(原(yuan)名為鳳凰嶺),海(hai)(hai)拔2740.2 m,低處(chu)為東部(bu)的雙(shuang)河(he)口,海(hai)(hai)拔僅570.0 m,相對高(gao)差(cha)2170.2 m。主要地(di)(di)(di)形由山地(di)(di)(di)、懸(xuan)巖、河(he)流組成(cheng),保護(hu)區(qu)(qu)(qu)內(nei)主要地(di)(di)(di)貌為中(zhong)(zhong)山,主要巖石(shi)及成(cheng)土母巖有石(shi)灰巖、板巖、頁巖、花(hua)崗巖等。地(di)(di)(di)勢(shi)呈南高(gao)北低,境(jing)內(nei)崇山峻(jun)嶺,山峰(feng)林立,峽(xia)谷(gu)幽深(shen),地(di)(di)(di)形險峭。
地表水
保護(hu)區是南水北調(diao)工(gong)程(cheng)重要的水源(yuan)涵(han)養地之一,境內水系由大河及其支流(liu)構成。
大河(he)亦稱(cheng)五道(dao)河(he),是保護區境內大的河(he)流(liu)(liu),源于區內的長(chang)嶺(ling)溝,由西向東經向壩流(liu)(liu)入(ru)竹(zhu)山(shan)縣官(guan)渡河(he)上游的公(gong)祖(zu)河(he),全長(chang)40 km,流(liu)(liu)域面(mian)(mian)積313 km,高差1755 m,徑流(liu)(liu)量(liang)3.13×10m,徑流(liu)(liu)深(shen)1000 mm。其主(zhu)要支(zhi)流(liu)(liu)向壩河(he),全長(chang)20 km。另外(wai)還(huan)有(you)大小河(he)溪近20條,總長(chang)近50 km。在海拔1350 m 的長(chang)嶺(ling)溝埡(wu)子,有(you)一(yi)天然湖泊(bo),面(mian)(mian)積1.6 hm,自然風光秀麗(li)。所(suo)有(you)徑流(liu)(liu)均匯入(ru)漢江,注(zhu)入(ru)丹江口水庫。
地下水
區內石灰(hui)巖分布面(mian)積較(jiao)大(da)(da),暗(an)河、泉(quan)流(liu)較(jiao)多。暗(an)河主要分布在大(da)(da)河各級支流(liu)河溪(xi)、流(liu)域中,高(gao)山巖溶地(di)表徑(jing)流(liu)滲(shen)入地(di)下(xia)形成(cheng)暗(an)河,大(da)(da)都(dou)在低山一(yi)帶(dai)又成(cheng)暗(an)泉(quan)涌出;泉(quan)流(liu)具(ju)有流(liu)量穩定,四季不(bu)斷,落差較(jiao)大(da)(da)的特點。
保(bao)(bao)護區(qu)(qu)內(nei)的土壤(rang)(rang)(rang)劃(hua)分(fen)為黃(huang)(huang)棕(zong)(zong)壤(rang)(rang)(rang)、棕(zong)(zong)壤(rang)(rang)(rang)、暗(an)棕(zong)(zong)壤(rang)(rang)(rang)大區(qu)(qu)。竹溪縣(xian)土壤(rang)(rang)(rang)共(gong)劃(hua)分(fen)為6個(ge)土類、13個(ge)亞(ya)類、30個(ge)土屬、125個(ge)土種(zhong)、58個(ge)變種(zhong);保(bao)(bao)護區(qu)(qu)土壤(rang)(rang)(rang)可分(fen)為6大土類、9個(ge)亞(ya)類、10個(ge)土屬,主(zhu)要土壤(rang)(rang)(rang)為黃(huang)(huang)棕(zong)(zong)壤(rang)(rang)(rang)和棕(zong)(zong)壤(rang)(rang)(rang)。保(bao)(bao)護區(qu)(qu)內(nei)土壤(rang)(rang)(rang)分(fen)布的垂直帶譜非常明顯,隨著海拔升高依次出(chu)現泥質黃(huang)(huang)棕(zong)(zong)壤(rang)(rang)(rang)帶、山地黃(huang)(huang)棕(zong)(zong)壤(rang)(rang)(rang)帶、棕(zong)(zong)壤(rang)(rang)(rang)帶、暗(an)棕(zong)(zong)壤(rang)(rang)(rang)帶。
十八里長(chang)峽自然保護(hu)區(qu)的(de)(de)植(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)物(wu)(wu)區(qu)系(xi)(xi)屬(shu)泛(fan)北極植(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)物(wu)(wu)區(qu)、中(zhong)國(guo)(guo)-日本森(sen)林(lin)植(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)物(wu)(wu)亞區(qu)、華中(zhong)區(qu)系(xi)(xi)。植(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)物(wu)(wu)種(zhong)(zhong)類分(fen)(fen)布(bu)有(you)(you)(you)172科,905屬(shu),2523種(zhong)(zhong)。分(fen)(fen)布(bu)有(you)(you)(you)國(guo)(guo)家瀕危保護(hu)野(ye)生植(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)物(wu)(wu)43種(zhong)(zhong),其中(zhong)國(guo)(guo)家重點保護(hu)植(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)物(wu)(wu)26種(zhong)(zhong)(Ⅰ級(ji)5種(zhong)(zhong),Ⅱ級(ji) 21種(zhong)(zhong)),占(zhan)湖北省總(zong)數47種(zhong)(zhong)的(de)(de)55.3%。國(guo)(guo)家珍貴樹種(zhong)(zhong)17種(zhong)(zhong),占(zhan)湖北省總(zong)數28種(zhong)(zhong)的(de)(de)64.3%。國(guo)(guo)家瀕危保護(hu)植(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)物(wu)(wu)33種(zhong)(zhong),占(zhan)湖北省總(zong)數62種(zhong)(zhong)的(de)(de)54.8%。中(zhong)國(guo)(guo)特有(you)(you)(you)分(fen)(fen)布(bu)植(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)物(wu)(wu)38屬(shu)。紅豆杉原(yuan)始群落(luo)達4500多畝(mu),珙(gong)桐原(yuan)始群落(luo)達5000多畝(mu)。已(yi)(yi)查明(ming)分(fen)(fen)布(bu)有(you)(you)(you)“小勾兒茶”植(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)株(zhu)32株(zhu),大單(dan)株(zhu)高12米(mi)胸(xiong)徑13 .5厘米(mi)。保護(hu)區(qu)野(ye)生動物(wu)(wu)資(zi)源豐富,已(yi)(yi)查明(ming)陸生脊椎動物(wu)(wu)307種(zhong)(zhong),其中(zhong)有(you)(you)(you)國(guo)(guo)家重點保護(hu)陸生脊椎動物(wu)(wu)48種(zhong)(zhong)(Ⅰ級(ji)2種(zhong)(zhong),Ⅱ級(ji)46種(zhong)(zhong)),占(zhan)湖北省總(zong)數109種(zhong)(zhong)的(de)(de)44.04%。
十(shi)八里(li)長峽自(zi)然保(bao)護(hu)區蘊藏著豐富的(de)野生(sheng)(sheng)動(dong)植(zhi)物資源,是湖(hu)北省(sheng)乃至全國(guo)保(bao)存較為完好的(de)北亞熱帶(dai)原始森林群落之一(yi),是中國(guo)優先保(bao)護(hu)領域和具有全球意義生(sheng)(sheng)物多(duo)樣性(xing)關鍵地(di)區,具有極高的(de)保(bao)護(hu)和科研價(jia)值。主(zhu)要保(bao)護(hu)對象為瀕(bin)危野生(sheng)(sheng)動(dong)植(zhi)物及(ji)其(qi)棲息地(di)、陸生(sheng)(sheng)生(sheng)(sheng)物及(ji)其(qi)生(sheng)(sheng)境(jing)共同組(zu)成(cheng)的(de)森林生(sheng)(sheng)態系統和生(sheng)(sheng)物物種的(de)多(duo)樣性(xing),特別是紅豆杉和珙桐等(deng)國(guo)家保(bao)護(hu)植(zhi)物及(ji)豹等(deng)極度(du)瀕(bin)危動(dong)物及(ji)其(qi)棲息地(di)。