Nature of Kazakhstan - national parks and reserves for active recreation

The nature of Kazakhstan is charming and diverse. The country has clean lakes, sandy barchans, mountain sceneries, and fast rivers in emerald valleys. It never stops inspiring and amazing both locals and tourists. Vacationers should visit several important natural landmarks of the country, and the Aksu-Zhabagly Nature Reserve is one of them. This is the oldest natural reserve in the country. It was founded almost a century ago in order to preserve the ecosystem of two rivers – Aksu and Zhabagly. The reserve has become home to more than three hundred varieties of birds and roughly 50 species of animals. More than three thousand different plants grow in the reserve. There are as many as 27 small lakes in the Aksu-Zhabagly Nature Reserve.

The Altyn-Emel National Park is a no less interesting place to visit. This park is located in the valley of the Ili River. In this park, visitors can see several absolutely different terrains – mountains, desert, and crushed stones. Truly Martian landscape of the Ak-Tau mountain range amazes generations of travelers that visit the park. Bright colors, bold yellow and orange hues make the scenery look completely alien. No wonder why UNESCO plans to add the Altyn-Emel National Park to the list of protected sites. It is also important to mention one more unusual phenomenon – the singing barchan (sand dune). Because of an unusual wind direction, the barchan makes a strange noise. There are many legends connected with this fact.

Locals informally call the Borovoe resort area the “Kazakh Switzerland”. There is nothing strange in this – the bright green area can really compete with the famous beauty of this European country. The unique bright green region is in striking contrast with the desert that surrounds it. Clean lakes, centuries-old trees, picturesque hills – this place is simply marvelous! Borovoe (or Burabai) is definitely one of the best destinations for serene and tranquil recreation in Kazakhstan. It is perfect for leisurely strolls, admiring the surrounding beauty, and restoring peace of mind. By the way, visitors can undergo a unique treatment course here – they can improve their health with kumis. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

Many know about Issyk Lake because of the tragedy that happened here in the past. Rockslide high in the mountains destroyed the beautiful area and claimed the lives of many people. This happened in the previous century. Nowadays, the area near Lake Issyk restores slowly, and young trees become bigger every year. However, giant stones from the rockslide still remind of the past.

The area around Lake Issyk is full of rocky cliffs, bright green fields, and dense forests full of wild animals. Lucky tourists can see the mountain goat, lynx, wolf, and bear. Local flora is no less unique. Many endangered species of plants grow in this park. Stipa kungeica, Schrenk's spruce, Golden Adonis, and Alpine edelweiss are just some of them. July, August, and September are the best time to visit the lake. Lake Issyk itself is an interesting landmark – its water looks grey in cloudy weather, and it becomes bright azure on sunny days.

There is a beautiful lake that is located not far from Almaty. It is named after the former capital city – Big Almaty Lake. Water from the Tian Shan Mountains supplies the lake. The depth of Big Almaty Lake is more than forty meters. This lake has an interesting peculiarity – its water remains turquoise or pale green whole year round contrary to other similar lakes. It would be a mistake not to mention Lake Balkhash surrounded by the Bektau-Ata Mountain area. It is a popular camping destination. The infrastructure is not well-developed in the region, so people mostly come to enjoy crystal clear air and beautiful landscapes.

The Korgalzhyn State Nature Reserve is one of the two nature reserves protected by UNESCO. The steppe area and lakes are the most valuable objects in this reserve. Lakes of a rare type are home to many species of birds. Lucky visitors can see flamingo and Dalmatian pelican. It is also possible to see the white-headed duck and particularly rare pink pelican. No need to remind visitors, who plan to visit this reserve, that they need to be as careful as possible when visiting the area. This concerns not only animals and birds but also local flora. Do not pick flowers and do not disturb animals. This is the only way for us to preserve the unique nature of Kazakhstan and save it for future generations.