Reserves of Kazakhstan

There are many reserves or national parks which save the flora and fauna of these unique environment in Kazakhstan. Among them are national parks Altyn Emel and Bayanul, reserves Aksu-Dzhabagly, Naurzumskiy, Usturtskiy and Markakolskiy.

Aksu-Djabagli.

Aksu-Djabagli is the oldest reserve of Kazakhstan and the first in Central Asia received status of biospheric reserve of UNESCO is located in spurs of Western Tian Shan at height from 1000 up to 4280 meters above sea level. All general height zones are presented there. Semi-deserts are replaced by dry steppes, magnificent meadows give place to pine forests. Motley mosaic from multi-colored Alpine flowers decorates peaks’ bottom with dazzling snows and blue glaciers. Aksu Djabagli is the richest treasury of rare and disappearing species of animals and plants. It is habitat of argalis and mountain goats, marals and roe deers, lynxes and snow leopards, wolves and foxes, bears and porcupines, stone martens and ermines. The world of feathery is rich. Griffon-vultures, griffons and golden eagles live in the clouds. Snowcocks are met near to snowy areas. Flycatchers feathering seems to be alive spark in the shadow of trees. Rare species of colorful butterflies flit there.
The flora of reserve is various. Slopes are covered by a scarlet carpet of Grayg tulips.
In a difficult for access remote foundation trench at a height of 3000 meters above sea level there is one more sight of reserve - original "picture gallery", consisting from a set of drawings carved on dark brilliant stones. Wild and domestic animals, moments of hunting and a life of ancient people are represented on them. Hardened prints of ancient inhabitants – plants, fishes, insects and pangolins have been kept on paleontologic areas of Aksu-Djabagly.

Altyn-Emel.

On the western spurs of Dzungarian Alatau ridge is located Altyn-Emel National Park which is the largest reserve of Kazakhstan. The area of 460 000 hectares is destined for preservation of rare species of animals and plants. Also it is possible to enjoy an incredible view of colorful Aktau and sandy Katutau mountains. Several historical monuments are located on the Park territory. Among them are Scythian burial mounds Bes-Shatyr dated from first thousand years BC and Tamgaly-Tas with ancient rock paintings dated from 16-14 c.c. BC.

Bes-Shatyr necropolis (Five tents) was a place of worship for ancient saks lived on territory of present Kazakhstan in the first millennium BC. Here, on 2km. territory 2 are located 18 imperial barrows about 9 m. in diameter and about 2.5 m. in height. Crypts have been built from Tian-Shan fir-tree under these barrows. This unique monument of early nomads is situated near Ili river. Tamgaly-Tas tract (Stones noted by a patrimonial sign) is 170 km far from Almaty. An unique There the unique sanctuary with rock paintings representing an ancient art gallery has been found there. More then 4000 drawings related to the Bronze Age, early nomadic and turk period nave been revealed. Burial grounds related to these epochs are near to the gorge. The gallery of Tamgala’s petrogliphs is treasure of world value and is under protection of UNESCO.

Here, on the right coast of Ili river is situated well-known Singing Barkhan. It is renowned because in dry whether sand makes noise resembled melody of organ. This sound is heard for several kilometers. Interestingly that the Barkhan has remained on the same place for many hundreds of years. Its south-west slope is smooth, but on the north-east it has several ridges.
Going to safari you will meet variety of animals: Sibirian mountain goats, desert gazelles, argalis, wolves, foxes, such birds as golden eagle, mountain partridge and others main of them are registered in the Kazakhstan and World Red Book.

Malkakolskiy Reserve.

In East Kazakhstan is located one of the most amazing areas of Kazakhstan – National Markalskiy Reserve. A pearl of this area is Markakol Lake lying in a hollow, bounded by Kuchum ridge from the north and Azutau ridge from the south. The lake’s length is 38 km, width - 19 km and depth 27 - m. 27 rivers and rivulets flow into the lake, but only Kalzhir River has its source from this lake. Water of Markakol is sweet and very soft, but its main value is an art of salmon fishes. Markakol Lake is only habitat of this fish in Kazakhstan.
Scenic rocky mountains ledges are covered mainly by deciduous, less often by fir wood. Subalpine meadows are rich with flowers and rare herbs. The fauna of reserve is rich and various too. These forests are habitat of bears, elk, fox, lynx, maral (the Siberian deer), glutton, sable, ermine, falcon, blackcock, the rare red wolf, black stork, the silvery seagull and many other species.

Karkalinskiy state national natural park.

The name of Karkaraly mountains comes from the name of a national women headdress – karkali, which is made from velvet and silk, decorated by glass beads owl"s feathers. And Karkalinskie mountains are shining as karkala. Their height is rather insignificant: the highest peak Komsomolskiy is 1403 m above sea level rises over surrounding hills on 400-500 m. Mountains are covered by a pine and birch wood, various grassy vegetation.

Baikonur space center.

The main proud of Kizil Orda region attracting many tourists from all over the world is Baikonur space center. Its total area is 6 717 sq. km. It is possible to observe start of a rocket and visit the Museum of Astronautics, as well as houses where Jury Gagarin and Sergey Korolev lived.