十八里長(chang)峽自然保護區(qu)始(shi)建于1988年(nian),2002年(nian)晉升(sheng)為市級自然保護區(qu)。
2003年8月,湖(hu)北省政府批(pi)準納(na)入省級自(zi)然(ran)保護區建設(she)。
2004年12月,湖北十八里(li)長(chang)峽省(sheng)級自(zi)然(ran)保護(hu)區管理(li)局掛牌成立(li)。
2005年3月,完成了管理局內設科(ke)室配置及二級單位的組建。
2014年1月,晉升(sheng)為國家級自然保(bao)護(hu)區(qu)。
湖北(bei)十八里(li)長峽自然保(bao)護(hu)區位(wei)于(yu)湖北(bei)省(sheng)竹溪(xi)縣(xian)(xian)南部(bu),鄂(e)、渝、陜交界(jie)處,北(bei)緯31°31′13″~31°43′15″,東經109°42′50″~109°58′15″,距(ju)離竹溪(xi)縣(xian)(xian)城(cheng)248 km、重(zhong)慶市巫溪(xi)縣(xian)(xian)城(cheng)54 km、陜西省(sheng)鎮坪縣(xian)(xian)城(cheng)81 km。
保護區地(di)處北亞熱(re)帶(dai)向溫(wen)(wen)帶(dai)過度地(di)帶(dai),氣候區劃上為亞熱(re)帶(dai)濕(shi)潤季風,具有南北兼宜的(de)特(te)征,四季分明、氣候溫(wen)(wen)和、雨量充沛、夏(xia)無酷暑(shu)、冬無嚴寒(han)、光熱(re)適度、溫(wen)(wen)暖(nuan)濕(shi)潤。地(di)表高(gao)(gao)(gao)差懸殊,地(di)表獨特(te),立體(ti)氣候顯著(zhu)。春季平(ping)(ping)(ping)均(jun)(jun)89天(tian)(tian)(tian),由低山(shan)到高(gao)(gao)(gao)山(shan)逐漸(jian)(jian)增多;夏(xia)季平(ping)(ping)(ping)均(jun)(jun)45天(tian)(tian)(tian),由低山(shan)到高(gao)(gao)(gao)山(shan)逐漸(jian)(jian)減少;秋季平(ping)(ping)(ping)均(jun)(jun)77天(tian)(tian)(tian),由低山(shan)到高(gao)(gao)(gao)山(shan)逐漸(jian)(jian)增加(jia);冬季平(ping)(ping)(ping)均(jun)(jun)154天(tian)(tian)(tian),由高(gao)(gao)(gao)山(shan)到低山(shan)逐漸(jian)(jian)減少。歷年(nian)(nian)平(ping)(ping)(ping)均(jun)(jun)氣溫(wen)(wen)14.4℃,隨(sui)地(di)勢變化從河谷到低山(shan)、中(zhong)高(gao)(gao)(gao)山(shan)、高(gao)(gao)(gao)山(shan)依次(ci)遞(di)減。海拔(ba)每(mei)上升100 m,氣溫(wen)(wen)下降0.53℃。歷年(nian)(nian)極端高(gao)(gao)(gao)氣溫(wen)(wen)為1969年(nian)(nian)﹣12.9 ℃,極端高(gao)(gao)(gao)氣溫(wen)(wen)為1984年(nian)(nian)40 ℃。海拔(ba)在2000m左右(you)的(de)高(gao)(gao)(gao)山(shan)年(nian)(nian)平(ping)(ping)(ping)均(jun)(jun)氣溫(wen)(wen)在6℃~11℃之(zhi)間;海拔(ba)在1000m左右(you)的(de)中(zhong)高(gao)(gao)(gao)山(shan)年(nian)(nian)平(ping)(ping)(ping)均(jun)(jun)氣溫(wen)(wen)在11℃~14℃之(zhi)間;海拔(ba)在500m左右(you)的(de)丘陵河谷區,年(nian)(nian)平(ping)(ping)(ping)均(jun)(jun)氣溫(wen)(wen)在14℃~16℃之(zhi)間。
十八里長峽自然保護區為(wei)中(zhong)國中(zhong)東(dong)(dong)部(bu)地(di)(di)區地(di)(di)貌(mao)深(shen)(shen)切劇烈(lie)的(de)地(di)(di)區,是我(wo)國中(zhong)東(dong)(dong)部(bu)地(di)(di)區深(shen)(shen)的(de)峽谷(gu)(gu)。保護區中(zhong)部(bu)巖(yan)(yan)溶地(di)(di)貌(mao)現(xian)象(xiang)相(xiang)當發(fa)育,為(wei)典(dian)型的(de)喀斯特(te)地(di)(di)貌(mao),溶蝕盆地(di)(di)、落水洞(dong)、巖(yan)(yan)溶漏斗、溶溝石(shi)芽、溶洞(dong)豐富;西(xi)部(bu)和(he)南(nan)(nan)部(bu)還有(you)奧陶系(xi)(xi)、志留系(xi)(xi)、二疊(die)系(xi)(xi)和(he)三疊(die)系(xi)(xi)。境(jing)內峰高(gao)谷(gu)(gu)深(shen)(shen),河谷(gu)(gu)兩岸崖壁陡峭,故有(you)長峽之稱。山(shan)巒起伏(fu),高(gao)低(di)懸殊,高(gao)山(shan)峰為(wei)南(nan)(nan)部(bu)的(de)蔥(cong)坪(原名為(wei)鳳(feng)凰嶺),海拔2740.2 m,低(di)處(chu)為(wei)東(dong)(dong)部(bu)的(de)雙河口,海拔僅570.0 m,相(xiang)對高(gao)差2170.2 m。主要地(di)(di)形由(you)山(shan)地(di)(di)、懸巖(yan)(yan)、河流組成,保護區內主要地(di)(di)貌(mao)為(wei)中(zhong)山(shan),主要巖(yan)(yan)石(shi)及成土母巖(yan)(yan)有(you)石(shi)灰巖(yan)(yan)、板巖(yan)(yan)、頁巖(yan)(yan)、花崗巖(yan)(yan)等。地(di)(di)勢呈南(nan)(nan)高(gao)北低(di),境(jing)內崇山(shan)峻嶺,山(shan)峰林立,峽谷(gu)(gu)幽深(shen)(shen),地(di)(di)形險峭。
地表水
保護區是南水北(bei)調工程重(zhong)要的水源涵養地(di)之一,境內水系由大(da)河及其支流構成。
大(da)河(he)(he)亦稱五道河(he)(he),是保護區(qu)(qu)境內大(da)的河(he)(he)流(liu),源于區(qu)(qu)內的長(chang)(chang)嶺溝,由西向(xiang)(xiang)東經向(xiang)(xiang)壩流(liu)入(ru)竹山縣官渡河(he)(he)上游的公祖河(he)(he),全(quan)長(chang)(chang)40 km,流(liu)域面(mian)積313 km,高差1755 m,徑流(liu)量3.13×10m,徑流(liu)深1000 mm。其主要支流(liu)向(xiang)(xiang)壩河(he)(he),全(quan)長(chang)(chang)20 km。另外還(huan)有大(da)小河(he)(he)溪近20條,總長(chang)(chang)近50 km。在海(hai)拔1350 m 的長(chang)(chang)嶺溝埡子,有一天然湖(hu)泊,面(mian)積1.6 hm,自然風光秀(xiu)麗。所有徑流(liu)均(jun)匯入(ru)漢江,注入(ru)丹江口(kou)水庫。
地下水
區內石灰巖(yan)(yan)分布面積較(jiao)大,暗(an)(an)河、泉流(liu)(liu)較(jiao)多。暗(an)(an)河主要(yao)分布在(zai)大河各級支流(liu)(liu)河溪(xi)、流(liu)(liu)域(yu)中,高山巖(yan)(yan)溶(rong)地表徑流(liu)(liu)滲入地下形成暗(an)(an)河,大都在(zai)低山一帶又(you)成暗(an)(an)泉涌出;泉流(liu)(liu)具有流(liu)(liu)量穩定,四季不斷,落差(cha)較(jiao)大的特點。
保(bao)護區內的土(tu)(tu)(tu)壤(rang)(rang)(rang)(rang)劃分為黃棕(zong)(zong)壤(rang)(rang)(rang)(rang)、棕(zong)(zong)壤(rang)(rang)(rang)(rang)、暗(an)棕(zong)(zong)壤(rang)(rang)(rang)(rang)大區。竹溪縣(xian)土(tu)(tu)(tu)壤(rang)(rang)(rang)(rang)共(gong)劃分為6個(ge)(ge)土(tu)(tu)(tu)類、13個(ge)(ge)亞類、30個(ge)(ge)土(tu)(tu)(tu)屬、125個(ge)(ge)土(tu)(tu)(tu)種、58個(ge)(ge)變(bian)種;保(bao)護區土(tu)(tu)(tu)壤(rang)(rang)(rang)(rang)可分為6大土(tu)(tu)(tu)類、9個(ge)(ge)亞類、10個(ge)(ge)土(tu)(tu)(tu)屬,主要土(tu)(tu)(tu)壤(rang)(rang)(rang)(rang)為黃棕(zong)(zong)壤(rang)(rang)(rang)(rang)和棕(zong)(zong)壤(rang)(rang)(rang)(rang)。保(bao)護區內土(tu)(tu)(tu)壤(rang)(rang)(rang)(rang)分布(bu)的垂直(zhi)帶(dai)(dai)譜非常明顯,隨著(zhu)海拔升高依次出現(xian)泥質黃棕(zong)(zong)壤(rang)(rang)(rang)(rang)帶(dai)(dai)、山地黃棕(zong)(zong)壤(rang)(rang)(rang)(rang)帶(dai)(dai)、棕(zong)(zong)壤(rang)(rang)(rang)(rang)帶(dai)(dai)、暗(an)棕(zong)(zong)壤(rang)(rang)(rang)(rang)帶(dai)(dai)。
十八里(li)長(chang)峽(xia)自然保(bao)護區(qu)(qu)的(de)(de)植(zhi)物(wu)區(qu)(qu)系屬泛北(bei)極植(zhi)物(wu)區(qu)(qu)、中(zhong)國-日本森(sen)林(lin)植(zhi)物(wu)亞區(qu)(qu)、華中(zhong)區(qu)(qu)系。植(zhi)物(wu)種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)類分(fen)布有(you)172科,905屬,2523種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)。分(fen)布有(you)國家(jia)(jia)瀕危保(bao)護野(ye)生(sheng)植(zhi)物(wu)43種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong),其中(zhong)國家(jia)(jia)重(zhong)點保(bao)護植(zhi)物(wu)26種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(Ⅰ級5種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong),Ⅱ級 21種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)),占(zhan)(zhan)湖北(bei)省總(zong)數47種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)的(de)(de)55.3%。國家(jia)(jia)珍貴樹(shu)種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)17種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong),占(zhan)(zhan)湖北(bei)省總(zong)數28種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)的(de)(de)64.3%。國家(jia)(jia)瀕危保(bao)護植(zhi)物(wu)33種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong),占(zhan)(zhan)湖北(bei)省總(zong)數62種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)的(de)(de)54.8%。中(zhong)國特有(you)分(fen)布植(zhi)物(wu)38屬。紅豆杉原始(shi)(shi)群落(luo)達4500多畝,珙桐原始(shi)(shi)群落(luo)達5000多畝。已查明(ming)分(fen)布有(you)“小勾兒茶”植(zhi)株32株,大單株高12米(mi)胸(xiong)徑13 .5厘米(mi)。保(bao)護區(qu)(qu)野(ye)生(sheng)動物(wu)資源豐富,已查明(ming)陸(lu)生(sheng)脊椎(zhui)動物(wu)307種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong),其中(zhong)有(you)國家(jia)(jia)重(zhong)點保(bao)護陸(lu)生(sheng)脊椎(zhui)動物(wu)48種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(Ⅰ級2種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong),Ⅱ級46種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)),占(zhan)(zhan)湖北(bei)省總(zong)數109種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)的(de)(de)44.04%。
十八里長峽自(zi)然保護區蘊(yun)藏著豐富的(de)野生(sheng)(sheng)動(dong)植物(wu)(wu)(wu)資源,是(shi)湖北省乃至全國(guo)保存較為完好的(de)北亞熱帶原始森林群落之一,是(shi)中國(guo)優先保護領(ling)域(yu)和(he)(he)具有(you)全球(qiu)意義(yi)生(sheng)(sheng)物(wu)(wu)(wu)多樣性(xing)關(guan)鍵(jian)地區,具有(you)極(ji)高的(de)保護和(he)(he)科研價值。主要保護對象為瀕危(wei)野生(sheng)(sheng)動(dong)植物(wu)(wu)(wu)及(ji)其棲息地、陸生(sheng)(sheng)生(sheng)(sheng)物(wu)(wu)(wu)及(ji)其生(sheng)(sheng)境共同組成的(de)森林生(sheng)(sheng)態(tai)系統和(he)(he)生(sheng)(sheng)物(wu)(wu)(wu)物(wu)(wu)(wu)種的(de)多樣性(xing),特(te)別(bie)是(shi)紅豆(dou)杉(shan)和(he)(he)珙(gong)桐等國(guo)家保護植物(wu)(wu)(wu)及(ji)豹(bao)等極(ji)度瀕危(wei)動(dong)物(wu)(wu)(wu)及(ji)其棲息地。