Nuratinsky Mountain Walnut State Reserve

The Nuratinsky State Nature Reserve is located in the central part of the region. Nuratau, the area of the reserve is 17,752 hectares. The Nuratinsky Nature Reserve was established in 1975 in order to preserve the population of a rare endemic subspecies of the Severtsov sheep (Ovis ammon severtzovi), listed in the International Red Book (IUCN) and the Red Book of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

And also to preserve the genetic varieties of walnuts and other cultivated varieties of fruit trees. Since the territory of the reserve has been recognized as one of the centers of origin of cultivated plants in Central Asia.

The Nuratau ridge consists of two parallel chains stretching for 250 km along the right bank of the Zaravshan River. The northern slopes of the ridge face the Kyzylkum desert. Nuratau is a complex system of low-to-mid-mountain massifs formed in the Upper Proterozoic, and it is one of the oldest mountain systems in Central Asia. The highest point of the ridge is Mount Hayat Bashi (2,169 m above sea level), located within the reserve.

The climate in the reserve is continental, dry and warm. The Nuratau Mountains are adjacent to the Kyzylkum desert, which has a great influence on the climate of this range, contributing to its aridization. The low altitude of the Nuratau Ridge does not create an obstacle for moist air masses that bring precipitation to Central Asia. However, the wet springs and streams in the mountains create a sharp contrast to the dry desert stretching from the foothills. It can be humid and cool here in the hottest summer. In winter, on the contrary, cold air often descends like fog down into the lower belt of mountains, foothills and desert, while the mountains have clear sunny weather. The average annual temperature in the low-mountain part of the reserve is 15-20 °C, the average temperature in January is 1 – 8 °C. Winters are moderately cold here, with snowfalls and frosts alternating with prolonged thaws and periods of rainy and windy weather. The minimum registered temperature is 32 °C.Precipitation mainly falls in winter and spring. The average rainfall is 400 mm per year. Spring is short, warm and rainy, with occasional frosts and even snowfalls. The summer is long, dry and hot, the average temperature in July is 29.4 °C, the total solar radiation is 130-140 kcal/cm2

The territory of the reserve is crossed by ten large and small, flowing streams, carrying their clear and transparent waters towards Lake Aidar. Small rivers flowing in spring from the low mountain ranges of Nuratau, for the most part, have the character of temporary watercourses. Only the most abundant of them, flowing down from the southwestern slopes of the ridges, are able to bring their waters to the Akdarya, one of the branches of the Zaravshan. There are many springs in the central part of the Nuratau range that function only in spring.

The Nuratinsky range is interesting because here, in the transition zone between the Pamir-Alai and Tien Shan mountain systems and the desert plains of Turan, a peculiar flora has formed, including both mountain and desert species, as well as a large number of endemics and relics.
The flora is represented by 814 species of vascular plants belonging to 78 families. Ancient Mediterranean plant species predominate here, mainly mountain and Central Asian.
Of the flora of the reserve, 29 species are listed in the Red Book of the Republic of Uzbekistan, 3 of them are eremuruses, 3 types of onions, 5 types of tulips, 5 types of astragaluses, etc.

But the ancient woody and shrubby thickets of deep gorges are especially rich. Here, as a result of the centuries–old activities of people engaged in gardening, a unique cultural landscape has been formed - forest gardens. In woodlands, the main forest-forming species is walnut. As a rule, it is accompanied by wild Sivers apple trees, white and black mulberries, apricots, cherries, plums, grapes, pears, poplars, willows, caragach, oriental plane trees and, finally, very rare in Central Asia - oriental biota.
The largest thousand-year-old tree of the Oriental biota reserve grows in the largest saye - Medzherum. In circumference, its trunk reaches 8.5 m.

The fauna of the Nuratinsky Reserve is rich and diverse. Of these, there are 34 species of mammals (3 species of insectivores, 8 species of bats, 1 species of hares, 13 species of rodents, 7 species of predators and 2 species of artiodactyls). Of the actual mountain species in the reserve, Turkestan rat, stone marten and Severtsov sheep are common. Among the insectivores, there is a long-eared hedgehog (in the lower belt of the mountains) and a long-necked hedgehog (in the middle belt of the mountains). The Karaganka fox and the stone marten are widespread among predatory animals. A wolf lives in the upper part of the mountain gorges, and a steppe cat is occasionally found in the Sayan mountains. The badger and steppe polecat live in the lower part of the mountains, and bandages can also be found here. Of the ungulates, the wild boar is widespread, which is found from the foothills to the upper parts of the mountains. The rich vegetation creates favorable conditions for the survival of this species.
Of the mammals, the Severtsov ram or the Kyzylkum ram is the most interesting. Currently, 1700-1800 individuals of the Severtsov sheep live in the reserve. This ram is practically not observed outside the reserve.

Fish are represented by only one species: it is widespread in the mountains of Uzbekistan – common marinka. Lake Fazilman is home to green toads and lake frogs.

There are 21 species among the reptiles. Among them, three species - the gray monitor lizard, the peppered wolftooth and the Central Asian cobra are listed in the Red Book of Uzbekistan (2003). Of the reptiles in the lower belt of the mountains, the Central Asian turtle, the steppe agama, and the swift foot-and-mouth snake live. Yellow-bellied, striped, multicolored and red-striped skids, long-legged skink, gyurza are found everywhere, Turkestan gecko and Turkestan agama are common on the rocks. In the upper part of the Nuratau Ridge, common cottonmouth and patterned snowshoe are not uncommon. Here you can occasionally find a striped wolftooth and a Central Asian cobra.

One of the migration routes of birds passes through the Nuratinsky Nature Reserve. In autumn and spring, the territory of the reserve literally rings with their polyphonic singing. There are 196 species of birds in the reserve, of which 103 species nest on the territory of the reserve. Of the birds found in the reserve, 9 species are included in the Red Book of the Republic of Uzbekistan. These are the black stork, black vulture, white-headed barn owl, balaban, golden eagle, snake-eater, dwarf eagle, bearded man, jack.

Tourist sites and attractions of the Nuratinsky Nature Reserve and its surroundings.

There are many tourist sites on the territory of the reserve. The most interesting ones are:

- Thousand-year-old Oriental Biota (sai Majrum);
- Lake Fazilman;
- Exotic mountain villages of Ashraf, Hayat, Uhum, Sentyabsai, etc.;
- Khon Bandi Dam (X-XI centuries);
- Severtsev Sheep Nursery.