Tengiz Lake and Korgaljinski Lakes

Kazakhstan

Deserts, semi-deserts or steppe cover more than 80 % of the surface, 13 % only are farmland. Late 1991 Kazakhstan declared it's independence from USSR.

Lake Tengiz is three times larger, than Lake Constance and dotted with undisturbed islands. The lake water is salty, as an out-flow is lacking. Not far away are the Korgaljinski Lakes fed by the Nura river. Having both, an in-flow and an out-flow, these lakes contain fresh water. In 1968 large sections were placed under protection. Unlike other lake regions, the Kazakhs are taking the matter seriously, an effort that deserves our praise, since most of the steppe lakes have been vandalised.

In the marked-off zone, Kazakh and German biologists counted 340 plant, 318 bird, and 50 mammal species among the Saiga Antelopes and Steppe Wolves. The islands in Tengiz host 500 nesting pairs of Dalmatian Pelican, a threatened species world-wide, up to 50,000 pairs of Greater Flamingo and 1,300 pairs of Great Black-headed Gull. In the steppe around the shores nest Steppe Eagles and Demoiselle Cranes.

In July 2008, Naurzum State Reserve and Korgalzhyn State Reserve became UNSECO´s Worlds Heritage.