Ecological walks in the Aksu-Zhabagly park
Tours and excursions to the sights of the Aksu-Zhabagly park
Aksu-Dzhabagly reserve (Asu-Zhabagily korygy Aksu-Shabagly) is the oldest reserve in Central Asia). It is located in the south of the Republic of Kazakhstan and includes the northwestern ridges of the Tien Shan. The name of the reserve comes from the name of the largest river in the Aksu reserve and the Shabagyly mountain range, which lies in the northern part of the territory.
How to get there
The Aksu-Dzhabagly reserve extends to the foothills of Talas-Alatau, in the western mountains of the Tien Shan. It borders on the Kyrgyz Republic in the east, the Maidontol river valley in the south and the Republic of Uzbekistan. To the west of the reserve lies the Kyzyl Kum desert, and to the north - the Karatau mountains. Further chains of the Tien Shan stretch to the east and south. Administratively, the reserve is located in the administrative districts of Tulkibas and Tole Bi, in the region (Oblis) of Turkestan. The reserve is located at altitudes from 1100 to 4236 m and covers an area of 131 934 hectares. The most important mountain ranges are Shabagyly in the northern part, as well as the main ridge Talas-Alatau in the center and Baldybrektau and Ugomskie mountains in the south. The highest mountain, Peak Sairam, is located at the southernmost tip of the reserve. The mountain ranges are separated by the rivers Shabagyly, Aksu and Baldybepek, which flow in a westerly direction and flow into the Syr-Darya, which, in turn, flows into the Aral Sea. The Aksu River forms a 500 m deep gorge, which can only be crossed by a pedestrian bridge on the territory of the reserve at the southern border.
Weather
The climate in the area of the reserve is determined by the continental position in the center of the Asian continent and the western air masses, which cause precipitation. In the mountainous part of the reserve there is a meteorological station that records an average annual temperature of 6 ° C and a total rainfall of 903 mm per year. While winters are snowy and cool, summers are very hot and dry. Among other things, strong winds blow in this region. The local wind is called Chokpak, and it can bend trees at speeds up to 40 m / s.
Flora and vegetation
The flora of the reserve includes 1312 plants. The genera Astragalus, Gagea, Allium, Carex and Oxytropis are especially rich in species. There are 44 rare plant species listed in the Red Book of Kazakhstan in this area, including the wild apple Malus sieversii, wild grapevine (Vitis vinifera) and many tulip species (eg Tulipa greigii). At low altitudes of the mountains, semi-desert, dry shrubs and steppe define the landscape, which in spring forms a colorful carpet of geophytes. In the highlands, the mosaic consists of open juniper forests (Juniperus seravshanica and Juniperus semiglobosa) and mesophilic meadows with European-Siberian and Central Asian species. Fragments of a deciduous forest with wild Asian apples (Malus sieversii) and Turkestan maple (Acer turkestanicum) can still be found in the Aksu canyon. The subalpine and alpine levels are covered with meadows, perennials, blackthorn corridors (with Onobrychis echidna) and low-growing lawns (with Carex melanantha, Kobresia persica). Willow and birch forests grow along the rivers. There are often trash areas on which the rare blue-tongued leek (Allium karataviense) grows.
Fauna
The reserve includes 44 species of mammals, which are listed in the Red Book of Kazakhstan as strictly protected. The most prominent representative is the snow leopard, which, however, is very rare. Somewhat more common are the bear, the Tien Shan argali, marmot. With a little luck and patience, wolf, fox.
Aksu-Zhabagly geological park and reserve
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