Aksu-Jabagli A UNESCO biosphere reserve in southern Kazakhstan, situated 1000-4000m (3280-3120ft) above sea level, and home to 238 species of birds, 42 species of animals and 1300 species of plants. Almaty Located in the southern Tian Shan Mountains and home to snow leopards, jeirans, gazelles, arkhars and the unique Tjan-Shan fir tree.

k a z a k h s t a n

Barsa Kelmes
Translated as 'the land of no return, this island, off the northwestern Aral Sea coast, is the home of the rarest hoofed animal in the world - the kulan.

The West-Altai
Situated in the Altai Mountains and home to 16 types of forest, 30 species of mammals and 120 species of birds.

Kurgaldjino
Located in central Kazakhstan, this A-class nature reserve is of international importance, and its feather-grass steppe is home to 300 types of plant and the most northerly settlement of flamingoes in the world.

Marakol
Home to 232 species of bird, 50 species of animal and 1000 types of plant, the reserve is set in the southern foothills of the Altai Mountains.

Naurzum
Located in northern Kazakhstan and home to such rare animals as white herons, jack-bustards, hisser swans and grave eagles.

Ustiurt
Situated in west Kazakhstan in the Karagie Depression, 132m (433ft) below sea level, this chalk-cliffed reserve is the largest in the country.

Bayan-Aul National Nature Park
Known as the museum of nature, the reserve is located in central Kazakhstan.