安徽(hui)揚(yang)子(zi)鱷國(guo)家級自然保(bao)護(hu)(hu)區(qu),是(shi)中(zhong)國(guo)較(jiao)大的(de)(de)揚(yang)子(zi)鱷保(bao)護(hu)(hu)基(ji)地,以(yi)揚(yang)子(zi)鱷及其棲息地為(wei)主(zhu)要保(bao)護(hu)(hu)對象。這里(li)既是(shi)一片保(bao)護(hu)(hu)區(qu)和科研(yan)基(ji)地,也(ye)是(shi)一處(chu)風(feng)景(jing)優美的(de)(de)旅游觀光(guang)勝地,以(yi)自然風(feng)光(guang)為(wei)基(ji)調,以(yi)揚(yang)子(zi)鱷為(wei)龍(long)頭景(jing)點,集(ji)多種珍(zhen)稀動(dong)物為(wei)觀賞主(zhu)體,對揚(yang)子(zi)鱷保(bao)護(hu)(hu)和繁殖也(ye)起到了非常重要的(de)(de)作用。
保護區由朱村(cun)片、高井廟片、楊林片、紅星片、夏(xia)渡片、雙坑片、中(zhong)橋片、長樂(le)片8個片區構成,以(yi)中(zhong)國鱷(e)魚湖為主要(yao)游覽地(di)點,開辟了(le)熊池、猴島、鹿園、竹樓、跑馬(ma)場、垂釣區、鱷(e)魚表演(yan)、兒童樂(le)園等20多個景點。
滬(hu)渝高速公路(lu)從宣(xuan)城西/南陵/涇縣/宣(xuan)城市開發區出口離開,沿寶(bao)城路(lu)→水陽江(jiang)南大(da)道→X011即(ji)可。
安徽(hui)揚子(zi)鱷國家級自然保(bao)護區地理(li)坐(zuo)標(biao)為(wei):東經118°30′-119°35′,北緯30°18′-31°18′。
保(bao)護區濕(shi)地(di)地(di)處長(chang)江(jiang)下游丘陵(ling)平原水網區,為皖(wan)南山區向長(chang)江(jiang)沿岸平原的過渡地(di)帶,海拔20~200米,包括河流濕(shi)地(di)、湖泊(bo)濕(shi)地(di)、沼(zhao)澤濕(shi)地(di)等(deng)濕(shi)地(di)類型,主要由青(qing)戈江(jiang)、水陽(yang)江(jiang)、漳(zhang)河、南漪(yi)湖等(deng)水體及周邊(bian)沼(zhao)澤灘(tan)地(di)組成(cheng)。
保護(hu)區屬(shu)北亞(ya)熱帶濕潤和暖溫帶半溫潤季(ji)風氣(qi)候,年均氣(qi)溫15.9℃,年均降(jiang)水量(liang)約1294毫米,年均相(xiang)對濕度(du)28%,年均無(wu)霜期229天。
保護區內南漪湖為(wei)(wei)宣城市(shi)內的(de)天然湖泊,分為(wei)(wei)東(dong)西(xi)二湖,湖面(mian)(mian)面(mian)(mian)積約(yue)為(wei)(wei)100平方千米,水位為(wei)(wei)8.5米時,總蓄水量為(wei)(wei)3.5億立方米,入湖水流發源于南面(mian)(mian)山區,出水經水陽江向北(bei)流入長江。
保(bao)護區土(tu)壤(rang)類型以紅土(tu)壤(rang)、水稻土(tu)、黃棕壤(rang)等為主。
1979年1月,經(jing)安(an)徽省(sheng)政府批(pi)準在(zai)原宣城縣(xian)南郊(jiao)創建“安(an)徽省(sheng)揚(yang)子鱷養殖場”。
1982年6月,安(an)徽省(sheng)政府批準成立安(an)徽省(sheng)揚子(zi)鱷自然保護(hu)區(qu)。
1986年,保(bao)護區(qu)升級為國(guo)家(jia)級自然(ran)保(bao)護區(qu),更(geng)名為“安徽揚子鱷(e)國(guo)家(jia)級自然(ran)保(bao)護區(qu)”。
保(bao)護(hu)(hu)區內有(you)(you)國家(jia)級(ji)重(zhong)點(dian)保(bao)護(hu)(hu)植(zhi)物(wu)(wu)7種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong),國家(jia)級(ji)重(zhong)點(dian)保(bao)護(hu)(hu)動物(wu)(wu)30種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong),真菌(jun)116種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)。有(you)(you)野(ye)生植(zhi)物(wu)(wu)776種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong),其中(zhong)蕨類(lei)植(zhi)物(wu)(wu)28種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)、裸子植(zhi)物(wu)(wu)12種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)、被子植(zhi)物(wu)(wu)736種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)。國家(jia)一(yi)級(ji)重(zhong)點(dian)保(bao)護(hu)(hu)植(zhi)物(wu)(wu)有(you)(you)2種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong),包(bao)(bao)括水(shui)杉、銀杏(xing);國家(jia)二級(ji)重(zhong)點(dian)保(bao)護(hu)(hu)植(zhi)物(wu)(wu)有(you)(you)5種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong),包(bao)(bao)括香樟(zhang)等。作為(wei)揚(yang)子鱷(e)(e)洞穴隱蔽及營(ying)巢用的植(zhi)物(wu)(wu)有(you)(you)44種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)。有(you)(you)野(ye)生脊椎動物(wu)(wu)340種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong),其中(zhong)魚類(lei)有(you)(you)54種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong),兩棲(qi)類(lei)有(you)(you)24種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong),爬行類(lei)有(you)(you)50種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong),鳥(niao)類(lei)有(you)(you)176種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong),獸類(lei)有(you)(you)36種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)。此外,還(huan)有(you)(you)昆蟲類(lei)470種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)。國家(jia)一(yi)級(ji)重(zhong)點(dian)保(bao)護(hu)(hu)動物(wu)(wu)有(you)(you)4種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong),包(bao)(bao)括揚(yang)子鱷(e)(e)、云豹、黑麂和梅花鹿;國家(jia)二級(ji)重(zhong)點(dian)保(bao)護(hu)(hu)動物(wu)(wu)有(you)(you)26種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong),包(bao)(bao)括虎紋(wen)蛙、鴛鴦、白鷴、勺(shao)雞、穿(chuan)山甲、小靈貓(mao)等。保(bao)護(hu)(hu)區為(wei)野(ye)生揚(yang)子鱷(e)(e)主要分布區之(zhi)一(yi),有(you)(you)揚(yang)子鱷(e)(e)分布的池塘面積約(yue)0.41平(ping)方千(qian)米,分布有(you)(you)揚(yang)子鱷(e)(e)約(yue)150條。
保護區內植被以亞熱帶常綠闊葉林為(wei)主,其中丘陵地區植被以灌草(cao)叢為(wei)主。人工營造(zao)經濟林主要有馬尾松(song)、國(guo)外松(song)、杉木、茶樹及毛竹、油(you)桐等(deng)樹種。