Kitaba National Geological Park

Kitab State Geological National Park is located in Kitab district of Kashkadarya region of the Republic of Uzbekistan. It is located in the southwestern spurs of the Zaravshan range, in the Kashkadarya River basin (left bank of the Jindydarya River). The geopark received its status in 2020 as a result of the reorganization of the territory of the Kitaba Nature Reserve, founded in 1979 to open the reserve's unique natural attractions to wide tourist access.

Along with the picturesque mountain landscapes of the park, the main objects are the unique geological stratigraphic sections of Zinzilban and Khojakurgon and the remains of ancient fossil forms of marine animals and plants contained therein. The Zinzilban section is recognized as a world stratigraphic standard, the so-called “GOLDEN NAIL" of one of the lower boundaries of the Emian stage of the Devonian period of the Paleozoic era (400 million years) . Kitaba Geopark is truly a geological chronograph of the earth. Here are the most interesting geological formations, which contain the richest and unique information on a significant period of the geological history of the Earth lasting 130-170 million years, starting from the appearance of terrestrial land and the origin of life.

The geopark is also of particular importance for the protection of modern plants and animals.

The wildlife world of the park is rich and diverse. Endemic genera and species involved in the formation of the mountainous semisavanna are concentrated here. The flora of higher plants includes 798 species. The vertebrate fauna consists of 168 species of vertebrates, including 3 species of fish, 2 species of amphibians, 14 species of reptiles, 128 species of birds and 21 species of mammals.

Currently, work is underway to include the Kitaba Geopark in the UNESCO global network of geoparks.

According to UNESCO criteria, geoparks should represent not only geological interest, but also the culture, history and nature of the region and are intended to promote sustainable tourism and regional economies, social and ecological development of regions in order to protect the environment, rational use of resources and sustainable development. local communities.

In this regard, the boundaries of the geopark will be expanded, new territories with natural, cultural and historical attractions will be included, and conditions for agro, eco and adventure tourism will be created.