Aksu-Zhabagly Nature Reserve.
Kazakhstan reserves. The Biggest reserves in Kazakhstan

The Aksu-Zhabagly Nature Reserve is located at the western extremity of the Talasski Alatau ridge in the West Tien Shan at an altitude ranging from 1,100m to 4,236m. Its buffer zones offer highly attractive landscapes and are accessible and well-developed for ecotourism. The Great Silk Road dating back to the third century B.C. ran close to there and offers further opportunities for tourism.

The Aksu-Zhabagly Nature Reserve offers over 850 sq.km of wonderful archa (juniper) forests, alpine meadows, streams, rivers and rocky mountains. It was the first nature reserve created in Central Asia and Kazakhstan and is the only UNESCO biosphere reserve in the region. It hosts 1,279 recorded species of flora, 57 registered in the Red data Book of Kazakhstan including the Greig's Tulip (the symbol of the reserve). There are also 238 species of birds and 42 species of mammals, many endangered ones (Egyptian vulture, berkut, black stork, blue bird, brown bear, arkhar, paradise flycatcher, snow leopard, Central Asian lynx and others).

Highlights include: the giant Aksu Canyon ( 15 km long and 500 m deep), the Burgulyk Gorge, lakes Kyzyl-kol and Balyktin and their two powerful underground springs, the Akbiik karst cave and its stalactite and stalagmite galleries and underground lake, the Kelte-Mashat Gorge (a 10-km long canyon and its 'Crying Cave'). The Aulie and Karabastauc paleontology sites lay on the Karatau ridge, 120 km to the northeast of the main reserve. Their petroglyphs, carved on dark shimming stones and dating back to the 5-7th cc B.C., lay over 3,000 m above sea level and depict wild and domestic animals, hunting scenes and daily life of our ancestors. Well preserved petrified imprints of the planets inhabitants - plants, fishes, insects, and pangolins - are also found in shale deposits there.

Flora and Fauna

The climate is very continental with an average temperature of 4,9 Celsius for the coldest month and + 21,6 Celsius for the warmest month. The average annual rainfalls averages 400-700 mm (up to 850- 900 mm at high altitude), mainly in spring.

Landscapes: dry semi desert and steppe mountain foothills turn into forests of treelike junipers, dry valleys into luxuriant alpine meadows, snow and glaciers. Here the high-altitude flora grows in all its splendor. A mosaic of multi-colored alpine flowers adorns the foothills of peaks covered in dazzling snow and bluish hanging glaciers.

The flora includes forest lands (mostly forest shrubs) occupying 35% of the total area. Primarily, these include elfin wood formations of archa (Juniperus turkestanski) (45%) and bushes of honeysuckle (lonicera, 12%), Juniperus semiglobosa (8%) and Juniperus seravshanica (5%).

The small but hardly Celtis caucasica grows near the Amarantus grandifolia, a rich source of essential oils. In spring thousands of crimsom tulips set the mountain slopes ablaze and the delicate flowers of the Morina Kokanica burst in pinkish floscules. Tulips, cultivated in Holland as a major industry, are descended from species such as Greig,s and Kaufman tulips which flourish here.

The wildlife is typical of the southern mountains of Central Asia with Mediterranean elements resembling the Pamiro-Alai Mountain System. There are about 300 species of vertebrates, including 238 bird species (nearly half of all Kazakhstan species); about 700 species of beetles, and 100 species of bugs.

Many rare, endangered and endemic animal species live here. Patient visitors will come across mountain rams, goats, marals, roes, bears, porcupines, mountain martyrs, ermines and the cute Menzbier's marmot. If you are lucky you might even spot a wolf or a fox or perhaps the elusive lynx or snow leopard.

Bearded vultures, griffons and golden eagles soar in the pristine sky. Mountain partridges build their nests on the rocky slopes and the enigmatic snow cock dwells at the edge of everlasting snow. The paradise flycatcher flashes its colorful feathers in the shady, leafy forests. The Thrush whistles a melodious flute-like song. More that 300 species of beautifully butterflies, including the rare Apollo butterflies flutter over the waving grass.

The Reserve offers the following tourist routes: