The Complex Landscape Reserve "Saigachiy"
2025-05-01 00:00:00 / Nature reserves
The Complex Landscape Reserve "Saigachiy" has been established to ensure the reliable protection of the unique biological diversity of the Ustyurt Plateau, with a total area of 628.3 thousand hectares, of which the protected zone covers 219.8 thousand hectares.
Location: The Saigachiy Reserve is situated on the Ustyurt Plain of the Republic of Uzbekistan, bordering the Republic of Kazakhstan.
Main Activities: The main activities of the reserve include preserving all natural objects and complexes in their pristine natural state, conducting scientific research and environmental monitoring, training scientific personnel and specialists in the field of ecology and environmental protection, ensuring biological and landscape diversity, and maintaining ecological balance in the natural system of the Republic of Uzbekistan.
Natural Conditions: The territory of the Saigachiy Complex Landscape Reserve is mainly located on the Ustyurt Plain, where the climate is arid, with no permanent flowing waters and a small amount of precipitation. The air temperature drops to minus 25-30 degrees Celsius in winter and rises to plus 40-45 degrees Celsius in summer. The section of the reserve known as Doana and Dzheideli is located on the shores of the Aral Sea and is covered with dense saxaul vegetation.
Flora: A total of 103 species of plants have been identified within the reserve, some of which are listed in the Red Book of the Republic of Uzbekistan (including Actaun kovyl, Borsheva tulip, Buze tulip, bicolor tulip, Sogdian tulip, gray kumzum, Climacoptera ptiloptera, Khiva saltwort, etc.).
Fauna: The mammal class includes 13 species (saiga antelope, Turkmenian eagle, Turkmenian black-tailed deer, goitered gazelle, gyrfalcon, long-eared hedgehog, wolf, tolai hare, fox, badger, wild boar, jackal, sand cat). The bird class comprises 36 species, and there are 3 species of reptiles. Seventeen species of animals are listed in the Red Book of the Republic of Uzbekistan.
Ecotourism Sites: Within the reserve's territory stands the monument of the caravanserai Beleuli, which was considered one of the important settlements on the Great Silk Road, connecting Central Asia with the Volga region, Europe, and Southwest Asia (13th-14th centuries). Currently, construction of an ecotourism center covering an area of 5 hectares has begun near this historical monument. There are no hotels in the vicinity of the reserve. The nearest populated area is 100 kilometers away.
Visit time
Weekdays from 12:00 to 20:00 in summer (until 17:00 in winter) Weekends and holidays from 09:00 to 21:00 (until 17:00 in winter)
Address: 1-A, S. Nurymbetov Street, Nukus city, Republic of Karakalpakstan.