十八里長峽(xia)自(zi)然(ran)保(bao)護(hu)區始(shi)建于1988年,2002年晉(jin)升(sheng)為市級自(zi)然(ran)保(bao)護(hu)區。
2003年8月,湖(hu)北(bei)省(sheng)政府批準納入省(sheng)級自然(ran)保護區建設。
2004年12月,湖北(bei)十(shi)八里長峽省(sheng)級自然保(bao)護區管理(li)局(ju)掛(gua)牌成立。
2005年3月,完成(cheng)了管理局內設科室配置及二級單位的組建(jian)。
2014年1月,晉升為(wei)國家(jia)級自然保(bao)護區。
湖(hu)北十八里長峽(xia)自然保護區位于(yu)湖(hu)北省竹溪(xi)縣南部,鄂、渝、陜交界處,北緯31°31′13″~31°43′15″,東(dong)經109°42′50″~109°58′15″,距離竹溪(xi)縣城(cheng)248 km、重慶市巫溪(xi)縣城(cheng)54 km、陜西省鎮坪(ping)縣城(cheng)81 km。
保(bao)護區地處北亞熱(re)帶(dai)向溫(wen)(wen)帶(dai)過度地帶(dai),氣(qi)候(hou)區劃上為亞熱(re)帶(dai)濕潤(run)季(ji)風,具有南北兼宜的特(te)征,四(si)季(ji)分明、氣(qi)候(hou)溫(wen)(wen)和(he)、雨(yu)量充沛、夏無酷(ku)暑(shu)、冬(dong)無嚴(yan)寒、光熱(re)適(shi)度、溫(wen)(wen)暖濕潤(run)。地表(biao)高(gao)差懸殊,地表(biao)獨(du)特(te),立體氣(qi)候(hou)顯著(zhu)。春季(ji)平(ping)(ping)(ping)(ping)均(jun)(jun)(jun)89天(tian)(tian),由(you)低(di)(di)(di)山(shan)(shan)到(dao)高(gao)山(shan)(shan)逐漸(jian)(jian)增(zeng)多(duo);夏季(ji)平(ping)(ping)(ping)(ping)均(jun)(jun)(jun)45天(tian)(tian),由(you)低(di)(di)(di)山(shan)(shan)到(dao)高(gao)山(shan)(shan)逐漸(jian)(jian)減少;秋季(ji)平(ping)(ping)(ping)(ping)均(jun)(jun)(jun)77天(tian)(tian),由(you)低(di)(di)(di)山(shan)(shan)到(dao)高(gao)山(shan)(shan)逐漸(jian)(jian)增(zeng)加;冬(dong)季(ji)平(ping)(ping)(ping)(ping)均(jun)(jun)(jun)154天(tian)(tian),由(you)高(gao)山(shan)(shan)到(dao)低(di)(di)(di)山(shan)(shan)逐漸(jian)(jian)減少。歷年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)平(ping)(ping)(ping)(ping)均(jun)(jun)(jun)氣(qi)溫(wen)(wen)14.4℃,隨(sui)地勢(shi)變(bian)化從河谷到(dao)低(di)(di)(di)山(shan)(shan)、中(zhong)高(gao)山(shan)(shan)、高(gao)山(shan)(shan)依(yi)次遞減。海拔每上升100 m,氣(qi)溫(wen)(wen)下降0.53℃。歷年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)極端高(gao)氣(qi)溫(wen)(wen)為1969年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)﹣12.9 ℃,極端高(gao)氣(qi)溫(wen)(wen)為1984年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)40 ℃。海拔在2000m左右(you)的高(gao)山(shan)(shan)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)平(ping)(ping)(ping)(ping)均(jun)(jun)(jun)氣(qi)溫(wen)(wen)在6℃~11℃之(zhi)間;海拔在1000m左右(you)的中(zhong)高(gao)山(shan)(shan)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)平(ping)(ping)(ping)(ping)均(jun)(jun)(jun)氣(qi)溫(wen)(wen)在11℃~14℃之(zhi)間;海拔在500m左右(you)的丘陵河谷區,年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)平(ping)(ping)(ping)(ping)均(jun)(jun)(jun)氣(qi)溫(wen)(wen)在14℃~16℃之(zhi)間。
十八(ba)里長峽(xia)自然保護區(qu)為(wei)中(zhong)(zhong)國中(zhong)(zhong)東(dong)部地(di)(di)區(qu)地(di)(di)貌(mao)深切劇烈的(de)(de)地(di)(di)區(qu),是我國中(zhong)(zhong)東(dong)部地(di)(di)區(qu)深的(de)(de)峽(xia)谷。保護區(qu)中(zhong)(zhong)部巖(yan)(yan)溶(rong)(rong)(rong)地(di)(di)貌(mao)現(xian)象(xiang)相當發育(yu),為(wei)典型(xing)的(de)(de)喀斯特地(di)(di)貌(mao),溶(rong)(rong)(rong)蝕盆地(di)(di)、落(luo)水洞、巖(yan)(yan)溶(rong)(rong)(rong)漏斗、溶(rong)(rong)(rong)溝石(shi)芽、溶(rong)(rong)(rong)洞豐富;西部和(he)南部還有奧(ao)陶(tao)系(xi)、志(zhi)留系(xi)、二(er)疊系(xi)和(he)三疊系(xi)。境內(nei)(nei)峰高(gao)(gao)谷深,河(he)(he)谷兩岸崖壁陡峭(qiao)(qiao),故有長峽(xia)之稱。山(shan)(shan)(shan)巒起伏,高(gao)(gao)低(di)懸(xuan)殊,高(gao)(gao)山(shan)(shan)(shan)峰為(wei)南部的(de)(de)蔥坪(原名(ming)為(wei)鳳凰嶺(ling)),海拔(ba)2740.2 m,低(di)處為(wei)東(dong)部的(de)(de)雙(shuang)河(he)(he)口,海拔(ba)僅570.0 m,相對高(gao)(gao)差2170.2 m。主(zhu)要地(di)(di)形由山(shan)(shan)(shan)地(di)(di)、懸(xuan)巖(yan)(yan)、河(he)(he)流組成(cheng)(cheng),保護區(qu)內(nei)(nei)主(zhu)要地(di)(di)貌(mao)為(wei)中(zhong)(zhong)山(shan)(shan)(shan),主(zhu)要巖(yan)(yan)石(shi)及(ji)成(cheng)(cheng)土母巖(yan)(yan)有石(shi)灰巖(yan)(yan)、板巖(yan)(yan)、頁(ye)巖(yan)(yan)、花崗(gang)巖(yan)(yan)等。地(di)(di)勢呈南高(gao)(gao)北低(di),境內(nei)(nei)崇山(shan)(shan)(shan)峻嶺(ling),山(shan)(shan)(shan)峰林立,峽(xia)谷幽(you)深,地(di)(di)形險峭(qiao)(qiao)。
地表水
保(bao)護區是南水(shui)北(bei)調工程重要的水(shui)源涵養地之一,境內水(shui)系(xi)由大河(he)及其支流構成。
大河(he)亦(yi)稱五道河(he),是保(bao)護區(qu)境內大的河(he)流(liu)(liu)(liu)(liu),源于區(qu)內的長(chang)嶺(ling)溝,由西向東經向壩流(liu)(liu)(liu)(liu)入竹(zhu)山(shan)縣官渡(du)河(he)上游的公(gong)祖河(he),全長(chang)40 km,流(liu)(liu)(liu)(liu)域面積313 km,高差1755 m,徑(jing)流(liu)(liu)(liu)(liu)量3.13×10m,徑(jing)流(liu)(liu)(liu)(liu)深1000 mm。其主要(yao)支流(liu)(liu)(liu)(liu)向壩河(he),全長(chang)20 km。另外還有(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)溝埡子(zi),有(you)一天(tian)然(ran)湖泊,面積1.6 hm,自然(ran)風光秀麗(li)。所有(you)徑(jing)流(liu)(liu)(liu)(liu)均(jun)匯入漢江(jiang)(jiang),注入丹江(jiang)(jiang)口水庫。
地下水
區內(nei)石(shi)灰(hui)巖(yan)分(fen)布(bu)(bu)面積較大(da)(da),暗(an)河、泉(quan)流(liu)較多。暗(an)河主要分(fen)布(bu)(bu)在大(da)(da)河各級(ji)支流(liu)河溪、流(liu)域中,高山巖(yan)溶地表徑流(liu)滲入地下形(xing)成暗(an)河,大(da)(da)都在低山一帶又(you)成暗(an)泉(quan)涌出(chu);泉(quan)流(liu)具有流(liu)量穩定,四季不斷,落差較大(da)(da)的特點。
保護(hu)區內(nei)的土(tu)壤(rang)(rang)(rang)劃分為(wei)黃(huang)棕壤(rang)(rang)(rang)、棕壤(rang)(rang)(rang)、暗(an)棕壤(rang)(rang)(rang)大區。竹溪縣(xian)土(tu)壤(rang)(rang)(rang)共劃分為(wei)6個(ge)(ge)土(tu)類(lei)、13個(ge)(ge)亞(ya)類(lei)、30個(ge)(ge)土(tu)屬(shu)、125個(ge)(ge)土(tu)種、58個(ge)(ge)變種;保護(hu)區土(tu)壤(rang)(rang)(rang)可分為(wei)6大土(tu)類(lei)、9個(ge)(ge)亞(ya)類(lei)、10個(ge)(ge)土(tu)屬(shu),主要土(tu)壤(rang)(rang)(rang)為(wei)黃(huang)棕壤(rang)(rang)(rang)和棕壤(rang)(rang)(rang)。保護(hu)區內(nei)土(tu)壤(rang)(rang)(rang)分布的垂(chui)直帶(dai)(dai)譜非常明顯(xian),隨著海(hai)拔升高依次出現泥質黃(huang)棕壤(rang)(rang)(rang)帶(dai)(dai)、山(shan)地黃(huang)棕壤(rang)(rang)(rang)帶(dai)(dai)、棕壤(rang)(rang)(rang)帶(dai)(dai)、暗(an)棕壤(rang)(rang)(rang)帶(dai)(dai)。
十(shi)八里(li)長峽自然保(bao)(bao)護區(qu)的植(zhi)物(wu)(wu)區(qu)系(xi)屬(shu)泛北(bei)(bei)(bei)(bei)極植(zhi)物(wu)(wu)區(qu)、中(zhong)國-日本森林(lin)植(zhi)物(wu)(wu)亞區(qu)、華(hua)中(zhong)區(qu)系(xi)。植(zhi)物(wu)(wu)種(zhong)類分(fen)布(bu)有172科,905屬(shu),2523種(zhong)。分(fen)布(bu)有國家瀕危保(bao)(bao)護野(ye)生(sheng)植(zhi)物(wu)(wu)43種(zhong),其中(zhong)國家重(zhong)點保(bao)(bao)護植(zhi)物(wu)(wu)26種(zhong)(Ⅰ級(ji)5種(zhong),Ⅱ級(ji) 21種(zhong)),占湖(hu)北(bei)(bei)(bei)(bei)省(sheng)總(zong)數47種(zhong)的55.3%。國家珍貴樹種(zhong)17種(zhong),占湖(hu)北(bei)(bei)(bei)(bei)省(sheng)總(zong)數28種(zhong)的64.3%。國家瀕危保(bao)(bao)護植(zhi)物(wu)(wu)33種(zhong),占湖(hu)北(bei)(bei)(bei)(bei)省(sheng)總(zong)數62種(zhong)的54.8%。中(zhong)國特有分(fen)布(bu)植(zhi)物(wu)(wu)38屬(shu)。紅豆杉原(yuan)始(shi)群(qun)落達(da)4500多畝(mu),珙桐原(yuan)始(shi)群(qun)落達(da)5000多畝(mu)。已查明分(fen)布(bu)有“小勾兒茶”植(zhi)株32株,大單(dan)株高12米胸徑13 .5厘米。保(bao)(bao)護區(qu)野(ye)生(sheng)動(dong)物(wu)(wu)資源豐富(fu),已查明陸(lu)(lu)生(sheng)脊椎(zhui)動(dong)物(wu)(wu)307種(zhong),其中(zhong)有國家重(zhong)點保(bao)(bao)護陸(lu)(lu)生(sheng)脊椎(zhui)動(dong)物(wu)(wu)48種(zhong)(Ⅰ級(ji)2種(zhong),Ⅱ級(ji)46種(zhong)),占湖(hu)北(bei)(bei)(bei)(bei)省(sheng)總(zong)數109種(zhong)的44.04%。
十八(ba)里長峽自然保護區(qu)(qu)蘊藏(zang)著豐富的(de)野生(sheng)(sheng)動植物(wu)資源,是湖(hu)北省(sheng)乃至全國保存較(jiao)為完好的(de)北亞熱帶原始(shi)森林(lin)群落(luo)之一,是中國優先保護領(ling)域和(he)具(ju)有全球意義(yi)生(sheng)(sheng)物(wu)多樣性關鍵(jian)地(di)區(qu)(qu),具(ju)有極高(gao)的(de)保護和(he)科研價值。主(zhu)要保護對象(xiang)為瀕(bin)危(wei)(wei)野生(sheng)(sheng)動植物(wu)及(ji)其棲(qi)息地(di)、陸生(sheng)(sheng)生(sheng)(sheng)物(wu)及(ji)其生(sheng)(sheng)境共同組(zu)成的(de)森林(lin)生(sheng)(sheng)態(tai)系統和(he)生(sheng)(sheng)物(wu)物(wu)種(zhong)的(de)多樣性,特別是紅豆杉和(he)珙(gong)桐等國家保護植物(wu)及(ji)豹(bao)等極度瀕(bin)危(wei)(wei)動物(wu)及(ji)其棲(qi)息地(di)。