Tarbagatai National Park | |
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Kazakh: Тарбағатай ұлттық паркі | |
Location | East Kazakhstan Region |
Nearest city | Urzhar |
Coordinates | 47°17′N 81°50′E / 47.283°N 81.833°E |
Area | 136,367 hectares (336,970 acres; 1,364 km2; 527 sq mi) |
Established | June 27, 2018 |
Governing body | Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Kazakhstan |
Tarbagatai National Park (Kazakh: Тарбағатай ұлттық паркі, Tarbağatai ūlttyq parkı), also Tarbagatay, was established in 2018 to protect a region of mountain-steppe in East Kazakhstan that supports stands of wild fruit trees that have been isolated from genetic encroachment by commercial varieties.[1]
The Tarbagatai Mountain range runs west-to-east for about 250 km, starting about 70 km southeast of the regional city of Ayagoz. The main body of the park runs along the south slope of the ridge.[2] Additional clusters cover areas of the Karabas Mountains, Arkaly Mountains, and valleys of the Urzhar and Emel rivers.[3]
The climate of Tarbagatai 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).[4][5]
The region is one of high biodiversity, with over 1,600 species of vascular plants identified, 270 of birds, 19 of fishes, 23 of reptiles, and 80 species of mammals.[6]