Besh-Aral Reserve
Besh-Aral State Reserve is located in the south-western part of Chatkal valley surrounded by Pskem, Chandalash, Talas and Chatkal mountain ranges at altitudes from 1100 to 4000 m.
Besh-Aral State Reserve is located in the south-western part of Chatkal valley surrounded by Pskem, Chandalash, Talas and Chatkal mountain ranges at altitudes from 1100 to 4000 m.
The area of the reserve is more than 1120 sq. km. You can get there only through the passes Kara-Buura (3305 m) on Talas Ala-Too range and Chapchama (2840 m) on Chatkal Ridge. In the valley flows the river Chatkal which is one ot the largest rivers in the country with the total length of 144 km.
In Besh-Aral reserve you can find over 1500 species of plants, 30 of which are included in the Red Book. Also there are many medicinal herbs. The reserve is the habitat of 46 species of mammals and 150 species of birds. There are wild boars, goats, rabbits, wolves, foxes, bears, martens, porcupines, red marmots and other wildlife. Espesially important animal-endemic of the Western Tien Shan inhabiting there, is Mensbir marmot, also listed in the Red Book.
