Chatkal Mountain Forest State Biosphere Reserve

The Chatkal Mountain and Forest Reserve is located at the western tip of the Chatkal Range within the Western Tien Shan.

It consists of two separate plots: Bashkizylsuisky (11103 ha) and Maidantalsky (24150 ha). The sites are separated from each other by more than 20 km along the centerline of the ridge and are located on different slopes: the first on the southwest, the second on the north. The Bashkyzylsui site is a mountainous part of the Bashkyzylsai River drainage basin with absolute heights from 1080 to 3265 m above sea level. The Maidantal site with elevations from 1200 to 3875 m above sea level includes the right tributaries of the Sereklisai, which flows into the Chirchik River.

The Chatkal Nature Reserve is one of the oldest in Uzbekistan, and was established in December 1947.
The climate in the reserve is sharply continental, with significant differences in night and daytime temperatures at all times of the year. Summers are dry (hot in the lower zones), winters are cold (harsh and snowy in the upper zones). The average annual temperature ranges from 9 °C to 13 °C. The absolute maximum air temperature in summer is 39.5 °C, and the absolute minimum winter temperatures are up to -24.1 °C. The annual precipitation is, on average, 700-1000 mm per year. The frost-free period lasts 190-220 days. It can rain for about 60 days, and snowfall for more than 30.

The main rivers of the reserve – Bashkyzylsai and Serkelisai with their numerous tributaries, begin at high altitudes.
The vegetation cover of the Chatkal Nature Reserve is extremely diverse in composition. For example, more than 8.5 thousand phytocenoses belonging to 153 formations have been identified on the area of 11103 hectares of Bashkizylsai. The reserve has a complete set of vertical vegetation belts and most of the dominant plant communities. In total, 219 formations have been registered in both sites, of which only 58 are common. This indicates the individuality of the vegetation cover of each territory.

The reserve preserves 57 species of plants characteristic of the flora of the Western Tien Shan, which are endangered and included in the Red Book of Uzbekistan. There are 6 narrowly endemic plant species growing on the territory of the reserve: Holocone - Adonis leiosepala, Pskov Onion – Allium pskemense, Cachimoid Allochrusa – Allochrusa gypsophillioides, Elongated anemone – Anemonastrum protractum, Red–leaved astragalus – Astragalus rubrivenosus, Komarov's Snakehead – Dracocephalum komarovii.

Vegetation justifies the name of the reserve "gorno-lesnoy". More than 57% of the territory is covered with woody and shrubby cenoses. To these should be added significant areas where trees and shrubs are present as single inclusions. Forests, like everywhere else in the dry subtropical zone, are sparse, stunted, and there are many sparse spots.The predominant tree species is Zarafshan juniper (Juniperus seravshanica), which occupies 24% of the area and grows in a wide range of medium-sized forests. However, in most of the territory, juniper forests are characterized by sparseness.

The mammal fauna of the reserve contains 65 species. Especially rare of them are: ermine; weasel; snow leopard; Siberian ibex; Menzbir's marmot; relict ground squirrel; common fox; white-capped brown bear; stone marten; badger; Central Asian otter; Turkestan lynx; roe deer; wolf.

The bird fauna of the reserve is quite rich and has 279 species. Of these, 176 species reliably nest, and the remaining 103 are found on spans and nomads.The best preserved are the high-altitude avifauna (bearded mane, kumai, golden eagle, Himalayan ular, thin-billed lark, horned lark, mountain horse, mountain wagtail, Alpine jackdaw, klushitsa, Iranian warbler, red-necked nightingale, mottled stone thrush, common stone and stone dancer, wall climber, snow finch, red-capped finch, mountain finches, meadow harrier, barrowhead, vulture, white-headed barn owl, black vulture, saker falcon, steppe kestrel, grey partridge, red-winged lentil, desert bullfinch, etc.).

The rivers of the Chatkal Nature Reserve have a particularly depleted ichthyofauna. There are only 4 species of fish here: marinka, Kushakevich's char, Stolichka char, Turkestan catfish.

A large number of reptile species have been recorded in the reserve (steppe turtle, gray gecko, yellowfin, long-legged skink, oriental boa constrictor, striped wolftooth, arrow snake, steppe viper, water snake, red-striped snake, striped runner, multicolored runner, patterned runner, cottonmouth, Alai bald eagle, black-eyed lizard, etc.

The reserve's territories are difficult to access, movement is possible only along a few horse trails, and many steep sections are impassable. River crossings are dangerous in spring in Bashkiria, and in Maidantala in early summer. Both sections of the territory are intersected by deeply embedded river valleys. The steepness of the slopes ranges from 20 to 40 °, about 15% of the slopes have a slope steepness of more than 40% and only 10%, mostly narrow ridges, valley terraces and several plateaus, more canopies – from 5 to 20 °. Permits are required to visit the reserve.

Tourist sites and attractions of the Chatkal Nature Reserve and its surroundings

There are many tourist sites on the territory of the reserve and adjacent territories. The most interesting ones are:
- Ugam-Chatkal National Park;
- Charvak reservoir;
- Chimgan/Beldersay ski resorts;
- Pulatkhan High Mountain Plateau;
- Karaarcha Canyon;
- Picturesque panoramas of the Chatkal range with peaks Chimgan (3309m.), Aucashka (3100 m.), Karakush (3864m.), Kyzylnura (3267m.);
- Angren plateau;
- Picturesque mountain villages of Kumyshkan, Nevich, Sukok;
- Picturesque valleys of the Bashkizylsai, Aksakata, and Maidantal rivers.

Attention!
Some parts of the Chatkal Nature Reserve are located in the border area with Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan. Therefore, to visit the reserve, it is necessary to obtain special permits from the State Committee for Nature Protection and the State Border Protection Committee of the Republic of Uzbekistan.