Nuratinsky Nature Reserve
There are so few places in the world where you can find all the wonders and beauties of nature and antiquity in one place. Among them is the Nuratinsky Nature Reserve. It is located in the central part of the Nuraty range in the Jizzakh region. The total area of the reserve is 17,800 hectares. The Nuratinsky Reserve was established in the 70s of the last century to preserve the population of a special subspecies of argali, the Severtsev ram, listed in the International Red Book (IUCN) and the Red Book of Uzbekistan. The genetic variety of mountain walnuts and special varieties of fruits grown here are also protected here.
The reserve has a dry and warm continental climate, with 300-400 millimeters of precipitation per year. The average annual temperature is 14 degrees, in January the average temperature is 19 degrees Celsius, and in July it is 30 degrees Celsius. It is worth noting that the absolutely high temperature recorded in the territory is 47 degrees Celsius, and the absolutely low temperature is 32 degrees below zero.
In addition to the unique nature and diversity of fauna, the Nuratinsky ridge itself, ancient rock carvings, the thousand-year-old Oriental Biota tree near Saya Majrum, which was allegedly planted by Alexander the Great himself, Lake Fazilman, exotic mountain villages, the Honbandi dam, the argali Severtsev nursery, are of great interest among tourists.
The rich and diverse fauna of the Nuratinsky Reserve is represented by more than 30 species of mammals. Turkestan rat, stone marten and Severtsev sheep live in the mountains. There is also a long-eared hedgehog and a long-necked hedgehog. The predators here include the Karaganka fox, the marten, the wolf and the steppe cat, the badger and the steppe ferret in the mountain gorges. From the foothills to the high mountains, wild boar can be found here.
Generous nature has created all the conditions for the survival of these animals.Among the reptiles here are the gray monitor lizard, the peppered wolftooth, and the Central Asian cobra. These three species are listed in the Red Book of Uzbekistan.In the lower belt of the mountains, steppe agama, Central Asian tortoise and lizard live here. Various snakes are found here and there: yellowbelly, striped, multicolored and patterned runners, gyurza.Interestingly, one of the migration routes of birds passes through the reserve. At special times of the year, the entire territory of the Nuratinsky Reserve literally rings with the polyphonic singing of birds. Black stork, black vulture, white-headed barn owl, golden eagle, snake–eater, balaban, dwarf eagle and bearded jack are often found here in the reserve - all of them are listed in the Red Book of Uzbekistan.
