“Abyz Dala, Qobyz Dala – Saryarqa” (The legendary steppe, the kobyz steppe – Saryarqa), as the poem goes, describes our country’s central region—a unique land rich in cultural monuments and abundant in resources both above and below the ground. “Saryarka – Steppe and Lakes of Northern Kazakhstan” is the first natural site in Kazakhstan and Central Asia to be inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. This historical decision was made on July 7, 2008, during the 32nd session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee held in Quebec, Canada.

The site comprises two reserves located in the Kazakh Steppe with a total area of 450,344 hectares: the Korgalzhyn State Nature Reserve and the Naurzum State Nature Reserve. It includes two groups of freshwater and saltwater lakes, serving as a watershed for rivers flowing north to the Arctic and south to the Aral-Irtysh basin. Furthermore, it is a crucial stopover site for millions of migratory birds traveling annually from Africa, India, and Southern Europe to their nesting grounds in Western and Eastern Siberia.

Hundreds of thousands of Arctic geese, ducks, and cranes migrate to the Naurzum Reserve every spring and autumn, including several endangered species. For this reason, Todd Katzner, an ornithologist and director of the renowned AVIARY Center, noted while studying raptors in Naurzum that the area holds one of the highest densities of birds of prey in the world. Currently, approximately 30 pairs of golden eagles inhabit this region. If we properly promote and introduce such extraordinary lands to the world, our vast steppe—no less majestic than the nature of Switzerland—will undoubtedly become a thriving tourism hub and bring immense economic benefits to the country.

#Ministry of Culture and Information
#UNESCO