Köýtendag Nature Reserve

Köýtendag Nature Reserve (Turkmen: Köýtendag goraghanasy), formerly Kugitang Nature Reserve, is a nature reserve (zapovednik) in the extreme east of Turkmenistan.

Köýtendag Nature Reserve
Map showing the location of Köýtendag Nature Reserve
Map showing the location of Köýtendag Nature Reserve
LocationKöýtendag District Lebap Province,  Turkmenistan
Coordinates37°48′N 66°30′E / 37.800°N 66.500°E / 37.800; 66.500
Area271.4 km2
Established1986

Geography

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Established in 1986, it is located in the Köýtendag Range of Lebap Province and covers an area of 271.4 km2.[1] It spreads in the middle and upper mountain belt at an altitude of 900–3139 meters above sea level. The main feature of Koytendag are cave complexes ( more than 300 caves )[2] that are unique in Eurasia and the diversity of geological processes that formed them and the beauty of geological phenomena.[3]

The highest peak of Turkmenistan—Aýrybaba—falls in this nature reserve.[1]

Sanctuaries

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It also incorporates four sanctuaries:

Flora and Fauna

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This place is one of the 50 important areas for birds and biodiversity in Turkmenistan.[2] The reserve is home for the rare Heptner's markhor (Capra falconeri heptneri).[4]

References

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  • National Program for the Protection of the Environment, Ashgabat, 2002, pp. 149–151 (in Russian)
  1. ^ a b Brummell, Paul (2005). Turkmenistan. Bradt Travel Guides. p. 197. ISBN 978-1-84162-144-9.
  2. ^ a b Welch, Geoff; Stoev, Pavel (2019-03-07). A report of RSPB-supported scientific research at Koytendag State Nature Reserve, East Turkmenistan. pp. e37858. doi:10.3897/ab.e37858. ISBN 978-954-642-967-4. S2CID 198809012.
  3. ^ "Dinosaurs and Caves of Koytendag". UNESCO World Heritage Centre. Retrieved 2021-04-08.
  4. ^ Paul I. Weinberg, Raul Valdez, Alexander K. Fedosenko: Status of the Heptner's markhor (Capra falconeri heptneri) in Turkmenistan Journal of Mammalogy, Vol. 78, No. 3, Aug., 1997
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