Interesting places in reserve Aksu-Zhabagly.

“Nature magically suits a man to his fortunes by making them the fruit of his character”

Ralph Waldo Emerson.

Tours Aksu canyon Aksu-Zhabagly. 

Video film: Aksu Canyon. Aksu-Zhabagly Reserve. Turkestan region. South Kazakhstan.

Is located about 20 km to south west from the central base of the Reserve the village Zhabagly. The canyon is as wide as deep (500 - 600m) and stretching along the Aksu River for 15 - 18 km.
The stony slopes run down to the river, the banks of last are covered by unique “gallery” forest with a number of relict plant species. Some of them (Rhaphidophyton regelii, Celtis caucasica, Onobrychis grandis) represent the remnants of great forest surrounded the coasts of ancient seas 20 - 60 million years ago.
Many species are rare and endemic: Betula talassica, Sergia severzovii, Malus sieversii, Amygdalus petun nikovii, Tulipa greigii and others. You will find here the original plant Allium pskemese that belongs to one of the endangerous species of the World. 
Among the rare and endemic animals inhabited the canyon there are the large reptile armored glass lizard (Pseudopus apodus) and the birds: paradise flycatcher (Terpsiphone paradisi) a symbol of the Reserve, whistling thrust (Myophonus caeruleus), sparrow hawk (Accipiter nisus), rock nutcracker (Sitta tephronota) and Egyptian vulture (Neophron percnopterus). Every year a pair of black stork (Ciconia nigra) make their nest in the canyon.
Roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) and wild boar (Sus scrofa) are common mammals here.
Geographic coordinates of Aksu canyon: N42 ° 19'38.96 "E70 ° 22'31.02"

Authority:
"Zhetysu is the Land of  tourism”. A Tourist Guide-book. Almaty.  2003. 68 p. and the material for this page is taken from the printed edition."Guide to Kazakhstan" Baur Publishing House 2002

Photos
Alexander Petrov.