Katon-Karagai National Park

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

About Park

Katon-Karagai State National Natural Park (in Kazakh Катонқарағай мемлекеттік ұлттық табиғи паркі) is a national park in the Katon—Karagai district of East Kazakhstan region within the Central Altai and South Altai physical geographical provinces. The territory of the national park became part of the Kazakhstani part of the Altai-Sayan ecoregion. It was formed according to Decree of the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan No.970 of July 17, 2001. This is the largest national park in Kazakhstan.

In 2014, the park was included in the UNESCO list of specially protected heritage.

Location

East Kazakhstan region.

49.10″ N. 85.36″ E.

Geography

East Kazakhstan region, Katon-Karagai district. The Katon-Karagai State National Natural Park (KKSNNP) includes: the southern macrosclines of the Listvyaga and Katunsky ridges (the southern and eastern slopes of the Belukha Mountain node), the western part of the Ukok high-altitude plateau within Kazakhstan, the Southern Altai, Tarbagatai (Altai) and Sarymsakty ridges.

The following park boundaries have been established:
In the north and east: borders with Russia (Altai Republic); In
the southeast: the border of the park runs through the territory of the Katon-Karagai district; In
the west: the border runs along the Farpusnaya River (Shurshutsu) to Belkaragai (Medvedka) and Soldatovo villages.
In the south: the border runs along the northern slopes of Southern Altai ridges: Sarymsakty, Altai Tarbagatai, along the border of the Muz-Belskaya forest dacha of the Shingistai forestry and along the administrative border of the Katon-Karagai and Kurchum districts.

Flora

A rich species diversity of flora and fauna is concentrated here and the species listed in the Red Book of Kazakhstan have been preserved. According to preliminary data, over 1000 species of higher vascular plants grow in the park. 30 species are listed in the Red Book: Snowdon rose, safflower-shaped rhaponticum (Rhaponticum carthamoides), Altai rhubarb (Rheum altaicum), snow springhare (Macropodium nivale), Altan sibirea (Sibiraea altaiensis), Ludwig iris (Iris ludwigii), etc.

Forests, which are the main asset of the park, occupy 34% of the territory and are mainly represented by conifers. These are spruce, Siberian cedar, larch and fir, birch and aspen, a wide variety of shrubs and semi-shrubs.

Fauna

It is represented by 363 species of vertebrates: bony fish (6), amphibians (2), reptiles (6), birds (284), mammals (65). Taimen, Altai snowcock, black stork, gray crane and demoiselle, steppe eagle, osprey, saker falcon, duck hawk, white-winged scoter, snow leopard, stone marten are listed in the Red Book.

Climate

The climate of the alpine and mountain-forest zone is very humid, moderately cold, sometimes very cold. In the northern half of the zone, 550-560 mm of precipitation falls per year. The July maximum precipitation is well expressed. The average monthly wind speed for the year is 1.7 m/sec. The number of days with a strong wind in a year is 7, and with a dust storm — 10 days.

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