This general schematic map of the reserve shows changes made to the configuration of the "absolutely protected" plot between 1926 and 1991.

1 - borders of the "absolutely protected" plot of the steppe established by Yu.D. Kleopov in 1926; 2 - borders of the "absolutely protected" plot of the steppe established by Ye.M. Lavrenko in 1928; 3 - old plot of "absolutely protected" steppe; 4 - areas included in the "absolutely protected" plot in 1970; 5 - the same in 1974; 6 - the same in 1982; 7 - the same in 1983; 8 - areas included in the "absolutely protected" plot in 1991 and excluded in 2001; 9 - old fallow land; 10 - vegetable gardens; 11 - gorges and the deepest ravines; 12 - the headquarters of the reserve and single buildings; 13 - tumuli; 14 - earth roads; 15 - paths; I-XI - area numbers (Tkachenko et al., 1998, with modifications).