National Park

There are a lot of spots in Kazakhstan which are considered s a real beauty of nature. Among them there are beautiful lakes of Northern Kazakhstan, wonderful peaks of the Tjan Shan and unique forests of East Kazakhstan. One can name many other places which have kept their virgin beauty. Some of these picturesque places were declared national parks.

The national park “Kurgaldzhino” was established in 1968 near Akmola specially for the purpose of saving a rare and the most beautiful kind of birds - the pink flamingo. The birds have chosen Lake Tengiz. The territory of the park covers 243, 700 hectares. More than half of it occupied by lakes and swamps. There are about 42 species of animals and 298 species of birds there. The dominant part of them is waterfowl. Among them one can find such rare species as pelican, flamingo, swan and many others. Lake Tengiz attracts immense number of waterfowl during periods of spring migration. This unforgettable phenomenon has brought world fame to this park. Now UNESCO has included it in the list of especially protected wetlands.

Another unique place is the national park “Aksu-Dzhabagly”. It was founded in 1926 and is considered as one of the first in Kazakhstan. Its territory is more than 740 square kilometers. The most interesting part of it is a spectacular view of a unique canyon of the river Aksu, which stretches for 18 kilometers. The canyon is 400-500 meters wide in its top part. In some places slopes form small terraces just on the steep vertical walls. Wildlife here is very rich and various. It looks like unforgettable Alpine landscapes. About 47 species of wild animals and 239 species of birds live in this park. Bears, snow leopards, deer, mountain and Siberian goats, different birds of prey among which are golden eagles, falcons, carrion eagles and others comfortably live in this place. The majority of animals and birds living there are put down in the Red Book. Hunting is forbidden. One more beauty of the national park is its forests.

Many kinds of various trees grow there. Unique juniper woods cover the slopes of the mountains. Not only flora and fauna is preserved in the park. A ancient fish, mollusks and turtles of Jurassic Age were found near Mount Karatau.

The national park “Batsakelmes” is well known too. The translations of its name means “once you go –you will not return ”. It is located on the island with the same name in the Aral Sea. Its territory is 30, 000 hectares. About 250 species of plants and animals and 203 kinds of birds inhabit this place. The theme park Bayan Aul is also situated near. It is a real oasis of magnificent mountains and woods surrounded with steppes and deserts. The granite slopes of Bayan aul are covered with pine and birch woods. A breathtaking view of semideserted plains is presented from there. Four beautiful lakes like precious stones decorate these plains.

Another place of great interest is Tamgaly Tas. It is known because of its ancient pictures or petroglyphs. All the rocks and cliffs in the radius of 10kilometeres are sacrifices took place. All this has found its reflection in ancient pictures.