Kokshetau National Park

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

About park

Kokshetau State National Nature Park (in Kazakh «Көкшетау» мемлекеттік ұлттық табиғи паркі) is a national park in Zerenda district of Akmola region and Aiyrtau district of North Kazakhstan region of Kazakhstan. It was formed according to Decree of the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan No.415 of April 10, 1996.

Location

Akmola region
North Kazakhstan region. Zerenda district Aiyrtau district

52.5311″ N. 68.2805″ E.

Geography

The National Park is located approximately 60 km southwest of Kokshetau city, on the territory of Aiyrtau and Zerenda districts of Akmola region. On its territory there are lakes Shalkar and Zerendi, Aiyrtau peak. Ridge-hilly plain lands are combined with granite peaks and bumpy hills.

Flora and fauna

The territory of the national park belongs to the zone of forest-steppe and steppe natural zones. The vegetation on the territory of the national park is rich in varieties and is closely related to the landscape features of the entire region. Vegetation is represented by the following types: forest, steppe, meadow. The forest openings and river valleys between the forests are covered with grass vegetation. Dense pine forests grow at the foot.

The wildlife of the Kokshetau State National Natural Park is very rich. The fauna of vertebrates has 282 species. They are classified as follows: mammals — 47 species, birds — 216 species, reptiles — 7 species, fish — 12 species. Moose deer, roe deer, badger, fox, wolf, marten, squirrel, hare, partridge are typical for the local fauna.

On the territory of the National Park there are 13 natural monuments of republican status: Green Cape, Smolnaya Sopka, Strekach Sopka, Raspberry Cape, Pozharnaya Sopka, Two Brothers Sopka, Ostraya Sopka, Waterfall with cave, Split Sopka, Imantau Lake Island (Cossack), Obozrenie Sopka, Kotelok Sopka and Relict massif.

Climate

The territory of the Kokshetau national natural park refers to the forest-steppe and steppe climatic zones. The climate is extremely continental, with hot summers and harsh, snow-free winters.

The temperature in January ranges from -5 to -35 degrees, in July - from +27 to +35 degrees. The first frosts are observed on average in early September, the last ones are in late May and early June. The total duration of the frost-free period ranges from 111 to 130 days.
The annual precipitation ranges from 250-300 mm in the plain part and up to 441 mm in the high part.

In the warm season (April-September), an average of 212-254 mm falls in the form of rains, that is, 70-85% of the annual precipitation. Winter precipitation is 93-137 mm, i.e. 15-30%. There is almost twice as much precipitation for each summer month as for the spring one.
In summer, rains often have the character of showers and are accompanied by thunderstorms.

A stable snow cover is set on average on November 5-10, and it thaws on average on April 10-15. In years with early spring, it thaws at the end of March, and in years with late spring — in the second half of April.

Fogs are observed year-round. They are not stable, their repeatability in some years varies 10-30 days. In the warm period, fogs are less common.

+20 °С