Heritage with Related Tags
Saryarka – Steppe and Lakes of Northern Kazakhstan
The Saryalka-Northern Kazakhstan Steppe and Lakes Reserve consists of two reserves: the Naurzum State Nature Reserve and the Kolgarzhin State Nature Reserve, with a total area of 450,344 hectares. The wetlands within the reserve are of great importance for migratory birds, including globally endangered species, including the extremely rare Siberian white crane, the Dalmatian pelican, the red-necked sea eagle, etc. The wetlands are an important stopover and crossroads on the Central Asian flyway for African, European and South Asian birds flying to their breeding grounds in Western Siberia and Eastern Siberia. The 200,000 hectares of Central Asian steppes within the reserve provide a valuable refuge for more than half of the region's steppe plant species, many endangered bird species, and the critically endangered saiga antelope, which was previously abundant but has been greatly reduced due to poaching. The property includes two groups of freshwater and saltwater lakes located on the watershed of rivers flowing north to the Arctic and south to the Aral Sea-Irtysh River Basin.
Sulaiman-Too Sacred Mountain
The Holy Mountain of Suleiman-To, Kyrgyzstan, is located in the Fergana Valley, the backdrop of the city of Osh, at the crossroads of an important route of the Silk Road in Central Asia. For more than 1,500 years, Suleiman has been a beacon for travelers and is revered as a holy mountain. Its five peaks and slopes are home to many ancient places of worship and caves with petroglyphs, as well as two largely reconstructed 16th-century mosques. So far, 101 petroglyph sites have been inscribed on the heritage list, representing humans and animals as well as geometric shapes. The site has 17 places of worship, many of which are still in use and many of which have ceased to be used. These places of worship are scattered around the peaks and connected by footpaths. These places of worship are believed to cure anemia, headaches and backaches, and to grant blessings of longevity. The worship of this mountain is a blend of pre-Islamic and Islamic beliefs. The site is believed to be the most complete example of a holy mountain in Central Asia, and people have worshipped it for thousands of years.
Tokayi Forest in the Tigrovaaya Balka Nature Reserve
The site is located in southwestern Tajikistan, between the Vakhsh and Panj rivers. The protected area includes the vast riparian Tokayi ecosystem, the Kashka-Kum desert, the Buritau peak and the Hodja-Kaziyon mountain. The site consists of a series of alluvial floodplain terraces, including the Tokayi riparian forests in the valley, with unique biodiversity. Compared with similar forests in Central Asia, the Tokayi forests in the protected area are the largest and best preserved. It is also the only place in the world where a large area of Asian poplar Tokayi ecosystem is preserved in its original state.