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Badkhyz
Reserve
 The
Badkhyz nature reserve , and the Badkhyz region proper,
include ecosystems of hilly plateaus at the piedmont of
the Paropamiz, the northernmost range of the Hindukush.
The territory of the nature reserve supports 40 species
of mammals, 250 species of birds, 34 species of reptiles.
Among them are the Central Asian gazelle, Turkmen mountain
sheep, onager, striped hyena, caracal, leopard, short-toed
eagle, golden eagle, and others.
The vegetation in Badkhyz includes 1,050 varieties of
vascular plants (442 genera and 76 families) of which
more than 75 species and subspecies are endemic. The nature
reserve incorporates 3 protected areas (all established
in 1956):
Chemenibit (floodplain-river, the summer drinking place
for onagers);
Kyzyldjar (piedmont, the drinking place for mammals and
birds);
Pulikhatum (piedmont, the drinking place for mammals and
birds).
Created in 1935 the reserve is situated in Mary region
on the southernmost border of the former USSR near Kushka
(Serkhetabat). Its territory runs over for 150 sqkm. The
name of the reserve means "the place where wind begins".
And this geographical name reflects the real climate conditions
of the spot. It has two year periods: one of drought and
rain. In summer time the heat is closely combined with
drought. This period is a quite time
for most of flora and fauna. One can be pleasantly surprised
of the great variety of the animals here because fauna
here is presented tribes of hoofed, birds and reptile.
The most populated animals are "Kulans" a kind
of wild horses. The reserve is also famous for its pistachio-trees
that reap in May-June. Pistachio Gorge occupies the biggest
territory between the rest two parts of the reserve. The
trees growing far away from each other look like lonely
warriors that protect the reserve.  Rare
and beautiful animals make the reserve one of the most
attractive and outstanding spots of Turkmenistan. It is
the best pace where one can watch animals, their life
and spread over the grass under the shady and odorous
trees at the same time. It is like a comfortable and pleasant
to look theatre. That one feels happy who gets an opportunity
to see all the beauty, feel the wild world of the animals
and cruelty of the climate in the reserve. |
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