Köýtendag Nature Reserve Explained

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.

Geography

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.

Sanctuaries

It also incorporates four sanctuaries:

Flora and Fauna

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

External links

Notes and References

  1. Book: Brummell, Paul. Turkmenistan. Bradt Travel Guides. 2005. 978-1-84162-144-9. 197. en. Paul Brummell.
  2. Book: Welch. Geoff. Stoev. Pavel. 2019-03-07. A report of RSPB-supported scientific research at Koytendag State Nature Reserve, East Turkmenistan. en. e37858. 10.3897/ab.e37858 . 978-954-642-967-4 . 198809012 . free .
  3. Web site: Dinosaurs and Caves of Koytendag. 2021-04-08. UNESCO World Heritage Centre. en.
  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