Karatau Nature Reserve ( kk, Қаратау мемлекеттік табиғи қорығы, ''Qaratau memlekettık tabiği qoryğy'') is a
wildlife refuge in the mid-part of the
Karatau Mountains
The Karatau or Qaratau ( kk, Қаратау жотасы, Qarataw jotasy) is a mountain range located in southern Kazakhstan.
The name Karatau means ''Black Mountain'' in the Kazakh language. The mountains have deposits of phosphorite, lead a ...
, near
Kyzylkum
The Kyzylkum Desert ( uz, Qizilqum, Қизилқум, قىزىلقۇم; kk, Қызылқұм, Qyzylqūm, قىزىلقۇم) is the 15th largest desert in the world. Its name means ''Red Sand'' in Turkic languages. It is located in Central Asia, ...
,
Betpak-Dala
Betpak-Dala or Betpaqdala ( kk, Бетпақдала, ''Betpaqdala''; from Turkic ''batpak'', “swampy,” or Persian ''bedbaht'', “unlucky” and Turkic ''dala'', “plain”; Russian: Бетпак-Дала or Сeверная Голодна� ...
and
Moiynkum deserts in the
South Kazakhstan Region
Turkistan Region (), formerly South Kazakhstan Region ( kk, Оңтүстік Қазақстан облысы, translit= Oñtüstık Qazaqstan oblysy) (russian: Южно-Казахстанская область, ') from 1992–2018 and Chimkent ...
of
Kazakhstan, in
Central Asia.
It was founded in 2004. Its territory is around 34 300
ha. Some 700 species of plants constitute its flora, 62 species are
endemic. Its fauna includes, among others, the
Kara Tau argali,
Indian crested porcupine
The Indian crested porcupine (''Hystrix indica'') is a Hystricomorpha, hystricomorph rodent species native to southern Asia and the Middle East. It is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. It belongs to the Old World porcupine family, Hys ...
and
beech marten
The beech marten (''Martes foina''), also known as the stone marten, house marten or white breasted marten, is a species of marten native to much of Europe and Central Asia, though it has established a feral population in North America. It is ...
. There are 118
bird species in the area.
External links
Karatau Nature Reserve Karatau Nature Reserve official site (in Russian)Description (in Russian)Flora of the Karatau Nature Reserve
Nature reserves in Kazakhstan
Turkistan Region
Protected areas established in 2004
2004 establishments in Kazakhstan
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