Khazar Reserve

Date of publication: 19 April 2024 / Views: 1,151

The history of the Khazar Reserve begins in 1932, when the Gasankuli Ornithological Reserve was established. Since 1968, it was called Krasnovodsk, and in 1994, by the Decree of the President of Turkmenistan, it was renamed the Khazar Reserve. At the same time, the large island of Ogurdzhaly was included in its structure as a reserve. The boundaries of the reserve include the Khazar and Esenguli sections separated from each other. The total area of the protected area is 269 thousand hectares. The Khazar section includes the waters of the Turkmenbashi, North Cheleken, Balkan and Mikhailovsky gulfs. Underwater vegetation, zooplankton and benthos, as well as the fauna of vertebrates are abundant here. The Esenguli area includes the former bay of the same name, lakes Maloye and Bolshoye Delili and a land area with grass vegetation and tamarisk thickets. The flora of the reserve includes more than 360 species of flowering plants. Algae, as well as 29 species of zoobenthos, provide a rich food supply for millions of waterfowl and fish that winter here. The fauna is also rich – there are more than 420 species of vertebrates alone. Among them are 48 species of fish and 293 species of birds. Hundreds of thousands of birds spend the five-month winter here. Among them, pink flamingos, three types of swans, geese and ducks stand out. Favorable conditions for the mass wintering of waterfowl led to the inclusion of the Khazar Nature Reserve as a site of international importance. Second place in terms of biodiversity (49 species) is occupied by mammals. Among them, the most typical are the endemic Caspian seal, long-eared hedgehog, and rodents. More than 10% of the fauna of the reserve (45 species) are rare, endangered animals included in the Red Book of Turkmenistan. Long-term research by scientists of the reserve is summarized in 26 books “Chronicles of Nature”. Scientifically based recommendations have been prepared on a number of problematic topics. An important part of the reserve’s activities is the promotion of environmental knowledge. A rich Museum of Nature has been created here. The reserve team invites compatriots and foreign guests to visit this museum to get acquainted with the beautiful creations of nature on the eastern coast of the Caspian Sea.

Animals

Plants

Red Book

“Khazar State Nature Reserve” (Turkmen: Hazar döwlet tebigy goraghanasy; former names – “All-Union Hasan-Kuli Ornithological Reserve” (1932-1968), “All-Union Krasnovodsk Ornithological Reserve” (1968-1994)) – state natural reserve, specially protected natural territory of Turkmenistan, located in the west of the country, on the southeastern coast of the Caspian Sea. The central estate of the reserve is located in the city of Turkmenbashi (until 1993 – the city of Krasnovodsk).

Fauna

The current area of the reserve is 267,961 hectares, more than half of which is occupied by significant areas of coastal wetlands and the Caspian sea. The reserve consists of three sections: Khazarsky (191,261 hectares), with a number of bays and a kilometer-long buffer zone around, Esengulysky (69,700 hectares), a reserve on the island of Ogurchinsky (Ogurdzhaly) (7,000 hectares) with the adjacent water area. It is subordinate to the State Committee of Turkmenistan for Environmental Protection and Land Resources.