Köýtendag Nature Reserve | |
Map: | Turkmenistan |
Relief: | 1 |
Location: | Köýtendag District Lebap Province, Turkmenistan |
Coordinates: | 37.8°N 96°W |
Area: | 271.4 km2 |
Established: | 1986 |
Köýtendag Nature Reserve, formerly Kugitang Nature Reserve, is a nature reserve (zapovednik) in the extreme east of Turkmenistan.
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.
It also incorporates four sanctuaries:
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]