Kazakhstan's Korgalzhyn nature reserve listed by UNESCO

The reserve already features in the UNESCO World Heritage List under Saryarka - Steppe and Lakes of Northern Kazakhstan, recognized for its wetlands of outstanding importance for migratory water birds and as a crossroads of migration routes for birds between Europe, Africa, South Asia and Eastern Siberia.

As part of the World Network of Biosphere reserves (WNBR), Korgalzhyn will join another 598 sites in 117 countries as part of a program that promotes North-South and South-South co-operation in sustainable development based on sharing knowledge, exchanging experiences, building capacity and promoting best practices.  According to UNESCO, the WNBR is one of the main international tools to develop and implement sustainable development approaches, the Kazakh MFA's press service said.

Located in the Akmola region, near Astana, the reserve covers a total area of 258,963 ha.  Its complex water system includes fresh, salty and brackish shallow lakes which culminate in the giant Lake Tengiz.  The area has an extreme continental climate with freezing winters and very hot summers.  Protected and endangered bird species rest in the area on their migration routes from Eastern Siberia to Europe or South Asia and Africa.  The reserve is also home to the northernmost population of pink flamingo.