Nuratin State Nature Reserve

Nurota State Reserve – a reserve located in the western part of Jizzax region (Forish district), in the northern foothill of Nurota mountain. Established in 1975. Area 22 135 ha, including 2 599 ha covered with forests (2001), at an altitude of 530–2100 m above sea level. Its main task is to protect the flora and fauna of this area, the population of Seversev goat (Red Sand goat) belonging to the Asian goat subspecies listed in the International and Uzbekistan Red Book, as well as to preserve the natural diversity of the surrounding.

The reserve contains more than 629 species of plants, more than 195 species of birds, and more than 60 species of animals. Most of them are endemic (lola species, anzur piyozi). Wild apples and hawthorn grow together with walnut trees. The mammal fauna consists mainly of Turkmen deer, red deer, roe deer, musk deer, ibex, and wild boar.

The reserve area is distinguished by its natural scenery and archaeological finds: it has monuments such as the hunting pictures of mountain goats (qoyatosh) and a 8.5 m tall eastern biota tree in Majrumsoy, whose age is estimated at over 1000 years. The number of goats exceeds 500 (2003).

Abdushukur Xonazarov