Naurzum State Nature Reserve
Encyclopedia
Naurzum State Nature Reserve is a nature reserve in Kazakhstan
. It is part of the UNESCO heritage site Saryarka — Steppe and Lakes of Northern Kazakhstan. It protects about 3077 sqkm of steppes, semi desert and forests.
Plateau within the steppe zone of Kazakhstan. It consists of three clusters of core areas, which are surrounded by buffer zones and connected via an proteced eco-corridor. The core area is about 1.910 sqkm, the buffer zone about 1.167 sqkm in size.
). Along the seashores there is also typical aquatic vegetation of sedges and reeds. In the shrub dominated parts, typical steppe shrubs are Russian almond (Amygdalus nana), cherry (Cerasus fruticosa
), greenweed (Cytisus ruthenicus
) (western distribution boundary), species of wild roses (Rosa
) and juniper (Juniperus sabinea). At moister places there also willow bushes (Salix) and along lake shores, tamarisk (Tamarix ramosissima
).
(Mustela eversmanni), corsac fox
(Vulpes corsac), common fox
(Vulpes vulpes), wolf
(Canis lupus), long-eared hedgehog
(Erinaceus auritus), European hare (Lepus europaeus) and several rodent species like bobak marmot
(Marmota bobac), large-toothed souslik (Spermophylus fulvus), red-cheeked souslik (Spermophylus major), little souslik (Spermophylus pygmeus), common hamster (Cricetus cricetus), jerboas (Allactaga major, Stylodipus telum) as well as several species of voles and lemmings. The forests are inhabited by elk
(Alces alces), Tartarian roe deer
(Capreolus pygargus), lynx (Lynx lynx), badger (Meles meles), ermine (Mustela erminea), weasel (Mustela nivalis), pine marten (Martes martes) and raccoon dog
(Nyctereutes procyonoides), red squirrel
(Sciurus vulgaris), European hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus), Blue Hare (Lepus timidus). Mainly along rivers one can also find wild boar (Sus scrofa). Among the species, which can be found occasionally in the deserts and semi deserts of the reserve is the rare saiga antelope
(Saiga tatarica).
Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan , officially the Republic of Kazakhstan, is a transcontinental country in Central Asia and Eastern Europe. Ranked as the ninth largest country in the world, it is also the world's largest landlocked country; its territory of is greater than Western Europe...
. It is part of the UNESCO heritage site Saryarka — Steppe and Lakes of Northern Kazakhstan. It protects about 3077 sqkm of steppes, semi desert and forests.
Size
The reserve is located in the central part of TurgaiTurgai River
Turgai is a river that sits in the Turgai Valley in Kazakhstan.It is 825 km long, the surface is 157,000 km². Average water consumption is around 9 cubic meters/second...
Plateau within the steppe zone of Kazakhstan. It consists of three clusters of core areas, which are surrounded by buffer zones and connected via an proteced eco-corridor. The core area is about 1.910 sqkm, the buffer zone about 1.167 sqkm in size.
Flora
The vegetation is diverse and consists of steppes, shrub lands, semi deserts and as a unique feature within the southern steppe zone, also forests. These forests are composed mainly of pine (Pinus sylvestris), birch (Betula pendula, B. pubescens) and aspen (Populus tremulaPopulus tremula
Populus tremula, commonly called aspen, common aspen, Eurasian aspen, European aspen, trembling poplar, or quaking aspen, is a species of poplar native to cool temperate regions of Europe and Asia, from the British Isles east to Kamchatka, north to inside the Arctic Circle in Scandinavia and...
). Along the seashores there is also typical aquatic vegetation of sedges and reeds. In the shrub dominated parts, typical steppe shrubs are Russian almond (Amygdalus nana), cherry (Cerasus fruticosa
Cerasus
- Plants and fruits :* Cherry, aka Cerasus, subgenus of the genus Prunus* Cerasus, a synonym of the genus Prunus- Places :* Giresun, provincial capital of Giresun Province in the Black Sea Region of northeastern Turkey...
), greenweed (Cytisus ruthenicus
Cytisus
Cytisus is a genus of flowering plants in the legume family, Fabaceae. It belongs to the subfamily Faboideae.-Selected species:* Cytisus arboreus DC.* Cytisus ardoini E.Fourn.* Cytisus baeticus Steud....
) (western distribution boundary), species of wild roses (Rosa
Rosa
The name Rosa, Latin and botanic name of the flowering shrub Rose, could refer to:-Places:*223 Rosa, an asteroid*Rosa, Alabama, USA*Rosa, Germany, in Thuringia, Germany*Roşia Nouă village, Petriş Commune, Arad County, Romania-Other uses:...
) and juniper (Juniperus sabinea). At moister places there also willow bushes (Salix) and along lake shores, tamarisk (Tamarix ramosissima
Tamarix ramosissima
Tamarix ramosissima, commonly known as Saltcedar, is a deciduous arching shrub with reddish stems and feathery, pale green foliage.-Description:...
).
Fauna
There are 47 species of mammals, 279 species of birds, 10 species of reptile and amphibious animals and 10 species of fish reported in the reserve. In addition more than 1000 species of invertebrates are found. Typical mammals of the steppe zone are steppe polecatSteppe polecat
The steppe polecat , also known as the white or masked polecat, is a species of Mustelid native to Central and Eastern Europe and Central Asia...
(Mustela eversmanni), corsac fox
Corsac Fox
The corsac fox , also known as the steppe fox, is a medium sized Asiatic fox species found throughout the central steppes of Asia. It is sometimes referred to as the "sand fox", but this terminology is confusing because two other species, the Tibetan sand fox and Rüppell's fox are also sometimes...
(Vulpes corsac), common fox
Red Fox
The red fox is the largest of the true foxes, as well as being the most geographically spread member of the Carnivora, being distributed across the entire northern hemisphere from the Arctic Circle to North Africa, Central America, and the steppes of Asia...
(Vulpes vulpes), wolf
Gray Wolf
The gray wolf , also known as the wolf, is the largest extant wild member of the Canidae family...
(Canis lupus), long-eared hedgehog
Long-eared Hedgehog
The Long-eared hedgehog is a species of hedgehog native to Central Asian countries and the Middle East. The long-eared hedgehog lives in burrows that it either makes or finds and is distinguished by its long ears. It is considered one of the smallest middle eastern hedgehogs . This Hedgehog is...
(Erinaceus auritus), European hare (Lepus europaeus) and several rodent species like bobak marmot
Bobak Marmot
The bobak marmot , also known as the steppe marmot, is a species of marmot that inhabits the steppes of Eastern Europe and Central Asia. It is also found in Belarus...
(Marmota bobac), large-toothed souslik (Spermophylus fulvus), red-cheeked souslik (Spermophylus major), little souslik (Spermophylus pygmeus), common hamster (Cricetus cricetus), jerboas (Allactaga major, Stylodipus telum) as well as several species of voles and lemmings. The forests are inhabited by elk
Moose
The moose or Eurasian elk is the largest extant species in the deer family. Moose are distinguished by the palmate antlers of the males; other members of the family have antlers with a dendritic configuration...
(Alces alces), Tartarian roe deer
Siberian Roe Deer
Capreolus pygargus, also known as the Siberian roe deer or eastern roe deer, is a species of roe deer found in northeastern Asia. In addition to Siberia and Mongolia, it is found in Kazakhstan, the Tian Shan Mountains, Eastern Tibet, the Korean peninsula, and northeastern China...
(Capreolus pygargus), lynx (Lynx lynx), badger (Meles meles), ermine (Mustela erminea), weasel (Mustela nivalis), pine marten (Martes martes) and raccoon dog
Raccoon Dog
The raccoon dog , also known as the magnut or tanuki, is a canid indigenous to east Asia. It is the only extant species in the genus Nyctereutes...
(Nyctereutes procyonoides), red squirrel
Red Squirrel
The red squirrel or Eurasian red squirrel is a species of tree squirrel in the genus Sciurus common throughout Eurasia...
(Sciurus vulgaris), European hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus), Blue Hare (Lepus timidus). Mainly along rivers one can also find wild boar (Sus scrofa). Among the species, which can be found occasionally in the deserts and semi deserts of the reserve is the rare saiga antelope
Saiga Antelope
The saiga is a Critically Endangered antelope which originally inhabited a vast area of the Eurasian steppe zone from the foothills of the Carpathians and Caucasus into Dzungaria and Mongolia. They also lived in North America during the Pleistocene...
(Saiga tatarica).