十八(ba)里(li)長峽自(zi)然保護區始(shi)建于1988年(nian),2002年(nian)晉升為市級自(zi)然保護區。
2003年8月,湖北省政府批準納入省級自然保護(hu)區建設。
2004年(nian)12月,湖北十八里長峽省(sheng)級自然保護區管理(li)局掛牌成立。
2005年3月,完成了管理局(ju)內設科室(shi)配(pei)置及(ji)二級單位的組建。
2014年(nian)1月(yue),晉(jin)升(sheng)為國家級自(zi)然保護區。
湖北十(shi)八(ba)里長峽自然保護(hu)區位于湖北省竹溪縣南部,鄂、渝、陜交界處,北緯(wei)31°31′13″~31°43′15″,東經109°42′50″~109°58′15″,距離竹溪縣城(cheng)248 km、重(zhong)慶市(shi)巫溪縣城(cheng)54 km、陜西省鎮(zhen)坪縣城(cheng)81 km。
保(bao)護區地(di)處北亞熱帶(dai)向溫(wen)(wen)(wen)帶(dai)過度地(di)帶(dai),氣(qi)(qi)(qi)候(hou)區劃上為亞熱帶(dai)濕潤季(ji)(ji)(ji)(ji)風,具有南北兼宜的(de)特征,四(si)季(ji)(ji)(ji)(ji)分明(ming)、氣(qi)(qi)(qi)候(hou)溫(wen)(wen)(wen)和、雨(yu)量充(chong)沛、夏無(wu)酷暑、冬(dong)無(wu)嚴(yan)寒、光(guang)熱適(shi)度、溫(wen)(wen)(wen)暖濕潤。地(di)表(biao)高(gao)(gao)(gao)(gao)差懸(xuan)殊(shu),地(di)表(biao)獨特,立(li)體(ti)氣(qi)(qi)(qi)候(hou)顯著。春(chun)季(ji)(ji)(ji)(ji)平(ping)(ping)均(jun)(jun)(jun)89天(tian)(tian),由低(di)(di)山(shan)(shan)(shan)到(dao)(dao)高(gao)(gao)(gao)(gao)山(shan)(shan)(shan)逐(zhu)漸(jian)增(zeng)(zeng)多;夏季(ji)(ji)(ji)(ji)平(ping)(ping)均(jun)(jun)(jun)45天(tian)(tian),由低(di)(di)山(shan)(shan)(shan)到(dao)(dao)高(gao)(gao)(gao)(gao)山(shan)(shan)(shan)逐(zhu)漸(jian)減少(shao);秋季(ji)(ji)(ji)(ji)平(ping)(ping)均(jun)(jun)(jun)77天(tian)(tian),由低(di)(di)山(shan)(shan)(shan)到(dao)(dao)高(gao)(gao)(gao)(gao)山(shan)(shan)(shan)逐(zhu)漸(jian)增(zeng)(zeng)加;冬(dong)季(ji)(ji)(ji)(ji)平(ping)(ping)均(jun)(jun)(jun)154天(tian)(tian),由高(gao)(gao)(gao)(gao)山(shan)(shan)(shan)到(dao)(dao)低(di)(di)山(shan)(shan)(shan)逐(zhu)漸(jian)減少(shao)。歷年(nian)平(ping)(ping)均(jun)(jun)(jun)氣(qi)(qi)(qi)溫(wen)(wen)(wen)14.4℃,隨(sui)地(di)勢變化從(cong)河谷到(dao)(dao)低(di)(di)山(shan)(shan)(shan)、中高(gao)(gao)(gao)(gao)山(shan)(shan)(shan)、高(gao)(gao)(gao)(gao)山(shan)(shan)(shan)依次遞減。海拔每上升100 m,氣(qi)(qi)(qi)溫(wen)(wen)(wen)下降0.53℃。歷年(nian)極(ji)(ji)端高(gao)(gao)(gao)(gao)氣(qi)(qi)(qi)溫(wen)(wen)(wen)為1969年(nian)﹣12.9 ℃,極(ji)(ji)端高(gao)(gao)(gao)(gao)氣(qi)(qi)(qi)溫(wen)(wen)(wen)為1984年(nian)40 ℃。海拔在(zai)(zai)2000m左(zuo)右的(de)高(gao)(gao)(gao)(gao)山(shan)(shan)(shan)年(nian)平(ping)(ping)均(jun)(jun)(jun)氣(qi)(qi)(qi)溫(wen)(wen)(wen)在(zai)(zai)6℃~11℃之(zhi)間(jian);海拔在(zai)(zai)1000m左(zuo)右的(de)中高(gao)(gao)(gao)(gao)山(shan)(shan)(shan)年(nian)平(ping)(ping)均(jun)(jun)(jun)氣(qi)(qi)(qi)溫(wen)(wen)(wen)在(zai)(zai)11℃~14℃之(zhi)間(jian);海拔在(zai)(zai)500m左(zuo)右的(de)丘陵河谷區,年(nian)平(ping)(ping)均(jun)(jun)(jun)氣(qi)(qi)(qi)溫(wen)(wen)(wen)在(zai)(zai)14℃~16℃之(zhi)間(jian)。
十八里長峽(xia)自然保(bao)(bao)護區(qu)(qu)為(wei)(wei)中(zhong)國(guo)中(zhong)東部(bu)(bu)地區(qu)(qu)地貌深切劇烈的(de)(de)(de)地區(qu)(qu),是(shi)我國(guo)中(zhong)東部(bu)(bu)地區(qu)(qu)深的(de)(de)(de)峽(xia)谷(gu)。保(bao)(bao)護區(qu)(qu)中(zhong)部(bu)(bu)巖(yan)(yan)(yan)溶(rong)(rong)地貌現(xian)象(xiang)相(xiang)當發育,為(wei)(wei)典型(xing)的(de)(de)(de)喀斯特地貌,溶(rong)(rong)蝕盆地、落水洞、巖(yan)(yan)(yan)溶(rong)(rong)漏斗、溶(rong)(rong)溝石芽(ya)、溶(rong)(rong)洞豐(feng)富;西(xi)部(bu)(bu)和(he)南部(bu)(bu)還有(you)奧陶系、志留(liu)系、二疊系和(he)三(san)疊系。境內峰高(gao)(gao)(gao)谷(gu)深,河谷(gu)兩岸崖壁陡峭,故有(you)長峽(xia)之稱。山巒起伏,高(gao)(gao)(gao)低懸殊,高(gao)(gao)(gao)山峰為(wei)(wei)南部(bu)(bu)的(de)(de)(de)蔥坪(原名(ming)為(wei)(wei)鳳凰嶺),海(hai)拔(ba)2740.2 m,低處為(wei)(wei)東部(bu)(bu)的(de)(de)(de)雙(shuang)河口,海(hai)拔(ba)僅570.0 m,相(xiang)對(dui)高(gao)(gao)(gao)差(cha)2170.2 m。主(zhu)(zhu)(zhu)要(yao)地形由山地、懸巖(yan)(yan)(yan)、河流組成,保(bao)(bao)護區(qu)(qu)內主(zhu)(zhu)(zhu)要(yao)地貌為(wei)(wei)中(zhong)山,主(zhu)(zhu)(zhu)要(yao)巖(yan)(yan)(yan)石及成土母巖(yan)(yan)(yan)有(you)石灰(hui)巖(yan)(yan)(yan)、板巖(yan)(yan)(yan)、頁巖(yan)(yan)(yan)、花崗巖(yan)(yan)(yan)等。地勢呈南高(gao)(gao)(gao)北低,境內崇山峻嶺,山峰林立,峽(xia)谷(gu)幽深,地形險峭。
地表水
保護(hu)區是南水(shui)(shui)北調工(gong)程重要的水(shui)(shui)源(yuan)涵養(yang)地之(zhi)一,境內水(shui)(shui)系由(you)大河及其支流構成(cheng)。
大(da)河(he)亦(yi)稱五道(dao)河(he),是(shi)保護區境內大(da)的(de)河(he)流,源于(yu)區內的(de)長嶺溝,由(you)西向東(dong)經向壩流入竹山縣官(guan)渡河(he)上游的(de)公祖河(he),全長40 km,流域面積313 km,高差1755 m,徑流量3.13×10m,徑流深1000 mm。其(qi)主(zhu)要(yao)支(zhi)流向壩河(he),全長20 km。另外還有(you)大(da)小(xiao)河(he)溪(xi)近20條,總長近50 km。在(zai)海拔1350 m 的(de)長嶺溝埡子,有(you)一天然湖泊,面積1.6 hm,自然風光秀(xiu)麗。所有(you)徑流均匯入漢江,注入丹江口水庫。
地下水
區(qu)內石灰巖分布面積較大,暗河、泉流(liu)較多(duo)。暗河主要分布在(zai)(zai)大河各級支流(liu)河溪、流(liu)域中,高山巖溶(rong)地(di)表徑(jing)流(liu)滲入地(di)下形成暗河,大都在(zai)(zai)低山一帶又成暗泉涌出;泉流(liu)具(ju)有流(liu)量穩定,四(si)季不斷,落(luo)差(cha)較大的特點。
保護區(qu)內(nei)的(de)土(tu)(tu)壤(rang)(rang)劃分(fen)(fen)(fen)為(wei)黃(huang)棕(zong)(zong)壤(rang)(rang)、棕(zong)(zong)壤(rang)(rang)、暗(an)棕(zong)(zong)壤(rang)(rang)大(da)區(qu)。竹溪縣土(tu)(tu)壤(rang)(rang)共劃分(fen)(fen)(fen)為(wei)6個(ge)(ge)(ge)土(tu)(tu)類、13個(ge)(ge)(ge)亞(ya)類、30個(ge)(ge)(ge)土(tu)(tu)屬、125個(ge)(ge)(ge)土(tu)(tu)種、58個(ge)(ge)(ge)變種;保護區(qu)土(tu)(tu)壤(rang)(rang)可分(fen)(fen)(fen)為(wei)6大(da)土(tu)(tu)類、9個(ge)(ge)(ge)亞(ya)類、10個(ge)(ge)(ge)土(tu)(tu)屬,主要土(tu)(tu)壤(rang)(rang)為(wei)黃(huang)棕(zong)(zong)壤(rang)(rang)和棕(zong)(zong)壤(rang)(rang)。保護區(qu)內(nei)土(tu)(tu)壤(rang)(rang)分(fen)(fen)(fen)布的(de)垂直帶譜非常明(ming)顯,隨著海(hai)拔升高(gao)依次出(chu)現泥質黃(huang)棕(zong)(zong)壤(rang)(rang)帶、山地黃(huang)棕(zong)(zong)壤(rang)(rang)帶、棕(zong)(zong)壤(rang)(rang)帶、暗(an)棕(zong)(zong)壤(rang)(rang)帶。
十八里長峽自然保(bao)護區(qu)的植(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)物(wu)(wu)(wu)區(qu)系屬泛北極植(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)物(wu)(wu)(wu)區(qu)、中(zhong)(zhong)國(guo)(guo)-日本森林植(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)物(wu)(wu)(wu)亞區(qu)、華中(zhong)(zhong)區(qu)系。植(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)物(wu)(wu)(wu)種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)類分布(bu)有172科,905屬,2523種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)。分布(bu)有國(guo)(guo)家(jia)瀕(bin)危(wei)保(bao)護野生植(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)物(wu)(wu)(wu)43種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong),其(qi)中(zhong)(zhong)國(guo)(guo)家(jia)重點保(bao)護植(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)物(wu)(wu)(wu)26種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(Ⅰ級(ji)(ji)(ji)5種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong),Ⅱ級(ji)(ji)(ji) 21種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)),占湖北省總數47種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)的55.3%。國(guo)(guo)家(jia)珍貴樹種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)17種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong),占湖北省總數28種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)的64.3%。國(guo)(guo)家(jia)瀕(bin)危(wei)保(bao)護植(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)物(wu)(wu)(wu)33種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong),占湖北省總數62種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)的54.8%。中(zhong)(zhong)國(guo)(guo)特有分布(bu)植(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)物(wu)(wu)(wu)38屬。紅(hong)豆杉原始(shi)群(qun)落(luo)達(da)(da)4500多畝(mu),珙桐原始(shi)群(qun)落(luo)達(da)(da)5000多畝(mu)。已查明分布(bu)有“小(xiao)勾兒茶(cha)”植(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)株32株,大(da)單(dan)株高12米胸(xiong)徑13 .5厘米。保(bao)護區(qu)野生動(dong)物(wu)(wu)(wu)資源豐富,已查明陸生脊椎動(dong)物(wu)(wu)(wu)307種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong),其(qi)中(zhong)(zhong)有國(guo)(guo)家(jia)重點保(bao)護陸生脊椎動(dong)物(wu)(wu)(wu)48種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(Ⅰ級(ji)(ji)(ji)2種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong),Ⅱ級(ji)(ji)(ji)46種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)),占湖北省總數109種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)的44.04%。
十(shi)八里長峽自然保(bao)護區蘊藏著豐(feng)富的野(ye)生(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)動(dong)植物(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)資源,是湖北省乃至全國(guo)保(bao)存較為完好的北亞熱帶(dai)原始森林群落之一,是中國(guo)優先保(bao)護領域(yu)和(he)具(ju)有全球意義生(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)物(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)多樣性關鍵地區,具(ju)有極高的保(bao)護和(he)科研價值。主要保(bao)護對象為瀕(bin)(bin)危野(ye)生(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)動(dong)植物(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)及(ji)其(qi)棲(qi)息(xi)地、陸生(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)生(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)物(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)及(ji)其(qi)生(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)境共同組成的森林生(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)態系統和(he)生(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)物(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)物(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)種的多樣性,特(te)別(bie)是紅豆杉(shan)和(he)珙(gong)桐等國(guo)家保(bao)護植物(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)及(ji)豹等極度瀕(bin)(bin)危動(dong)物(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)及(ji)其(qi)棲(qi)息(xi)地。