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Burabay National Park

Coordinates: 53°05′00″N 70°18′00″E / 53.08333°N 70.30000°E / 53.08333; 70.30000
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Burabay National Park
Map showing the location of Burabay National Park
Map showing the location of Burabay National Park
LocationAqmola Region, Kazakhstan
Nearest cityShchuchinsk, Kokshetau, Nur-Sultan
Coordinates53°05′00″N 70°18′00″E / 53.08333°N 70.30000°E / 53.08333; 70.30000
Area83,511 hectares (206,360 acres)
Established2000 (2000)
Governing bodyUnder the responsibility of the President of Kazakhstan
Websitehttp://parkburabay.kz/

The Burabay National Park (Kazakh: Бурабай мемлекеттік ұлттық табиғи паркі, Burabai memlekettık ūlttyq tabiği parkı) is a natural park located in Burabay District, in Aqmola Region, Kazakhstan, near Astana.

The park was selected as one of the top 10 tourist destinations in Kazakhstan.[1]

The park is under the direct jurisdiction of the President of Kazakhstan.

In the protected area of the national park, economic and leisure activities are prohibited, as the park is under the regulation of nature reserves.

Geography

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A satellite image of the Burabay National Park (Sentinel-2 L1C data, modified)

The Burabay National Park is located in the Kokshetau Massif, part of the Kokshetau Hills, in the northern sector of the Kazakh Uplands.

History of status

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The first step towards the protection of this natural space was the establishment of the State Forest in 1898. In 1920, Burabay was nationalized and declared a spa town of national importance. In 1935, the "National Nature Reserve of Burabay" was organized. In 1951, the nature reserve was dissolved, replaced by the Burabay Forest. The governmental motion N° 787 of May 6, 1997, transformed the Forest of Burabay into the "Natural and Well-being Complex of the Forest of Burabay", managed by the State. In 2000, the motion N°1246 of August 12 created the "National nature park of Burabay", which covered an area of 83,511 ha, of which 47,600 ha was covered in forest. In 2010, the area of the park was expanded to 129,935 ha. In 2012, 370 ha was converted into spare lands.[2]

Climate

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The climate of Burabay is Humid continental climate, warm summer (Köppen climate classification (Dfb)). This climate is characterized by large seasonal temperature differentials and a warm summer (at least four months averaging over 10 °C (50 °F), but no month averaging over 22 °C (72 °F)).[3][4] The average temperature in the park in January is -16 °C, and +19 °C in July.[5] Precipitation averages around 300 mm yearly. In winter, snow cover is around 25–35 cm thick, and lasts from mid-November to April.[6]

Flora, fauna, and funga

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The park contains 757 species of plant,[7] of which 119 are protected, and 12 registered in the Red Book. The forest comprises 65% pines, 31% birches, 3% aspens and 1% shrubs. Many species of edible mushroom can also be found.[8]

Due to the diversity of the flora, the fauna is very abundant: 305 species of animal can be found,[7] which represent 36% of the fauna diversity of Kazakhstan. 40% of them live at the border of their habitat, and 13 species are registered in the Red Book.

Currently, Burabay's forests host a variety of deer including roe deer, moose, wild boar, squirrels, stoats, weasel and marten. Amongst the predators, wolves and lynx might be encountered. In the steppes and wooded areas, fox species, weasels and European and mountain hares might be present, as well as badgers in the forests.

There are a variety of birds, particularly ducks and waders which include common goldeneye, mallard, gadwall, northern pintail, ruddy shelducks, plovers, northern lapwings, common sandpipers and green sandpipers. Ducks numbers rise massively during autumn and during migration periods.

In the dry stony pine forests, and along the forests, the birch wooden steppes, the grey partridge and the capercailie can be found.

Legend

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Many legends evoke Burabay. One of them explains that the Creator only left arid steppes to the nomads of Kazakhstan. Feeling aggrieved, the Kazakh people prayed to God, who gathered all the remaining mountains, forests, lakes and rivers, and threw them towards the steppes. Burabay National Park is also known as "Kazakhstan's pearl".[9]

Kenesary Cave

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Kenesary Cave is a popular tourist destination and photo spot in Burabay. The cave is named after the grandson of the famous Khan Abylai, Kenesary Khan. It is believed that Kenesary Khan spent his childhood here.[10]

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References

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  1. ^ June 2021, Adelya Dauletkyzy in Tourism on 16 (2021-06-16). "Kazakhstan Selects Top 10 Tourist Destinations". The Astana Times. Retrieved 2021-09-27.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  2. ^ History of Burabay's status Archived 2015-11-19 at the Wayback Machine on the official website. (Russian)
  3. ^ Kottek, M.; Grieser, J.; Beck, C.; Rudolf, B.; Rubel, F. (2006). "World Map of Koppen-Geiger Climate Classification Updated" (PDF). Gebrüder Borntraeger 2006. Retrieved September 14, 2019.
  4. ^ "Dataset - Koppen climate classifications". World Bank. Retrieved September 14, 2019.
  5. ^ Burabay National Natural Park- the perl of Kazakhstan, on Kazakhstan Wonders, March 29, 2010;
  6. ^ Climate characteristics and its influence on the ecosystem Archived 2015-11-24 at the Wayback Machine, official site. (Russian)
  7. ^ a b State National Park "Burabai" Archived 2016-03-04 at the Wayback Machine, welcome to Kazakhstan.
  8. ^ Mushrooms Archived 2015-11-23 at the Wayback Machine, official site. (Russian)
  9. ^ Burabay (Borovoe) National Nature Park , on orexca.
  10. ^ "Zh.Kaiyrymdenov: Kenesary Cave - place for tourism development". Strategy2050.kz. Retrieved 2021-09-28.