The reserve was established in 1983 and is located in the southern part of the Hisar Range of Kashkadarya region, at an altitude of 1750–4349 meters above sea level. It borders Surkhandarya region in the southeast and Tajikistan in the north.

The fauna of the reserve includes 250 species of vertebrates. Among them are 2 species of fish (including Amudarya trout, listed in the Red Book of Uzbekistan), 17 species of reptiles, more than 200 species of birds, and more than 30 species of mammals. 9 of them are listed in the Red Book. The reserve is also home to 950 species of invertebrates. 

Of the 200 bird species of the reserve, 109 species are permanent inhabitants, and 116 species are migratory birds. 8 species of birds are listed in the Red Book of Uzbekistan.