Oiyl sanctuary

The Oiyl sanctuary is a state nature reserve in Oiyl district, Aktobe region, established on 10 March 2020 and covering roughly 63,470 hectares along the Oiyl River valley. The protected area takes in a stretch of semi-desert and steppe terrain marked by low cliffs and canyon-like gullies, with green hollows where wild apple and other fruit trees grow along watercourses, a contrast to the flat open plain typical of this part of western Kazakhstan. It was set up to safeguard this river-valley landscape and the vegetation it supports from unregulated grazing and land use, rather than to protect a single flagship species. The sanctuary has no developed visitor facilities, and its main interest for outsiders lies in the scenery along the Oiyl valley itself, where cliffs and fruit-tree groves stand out against the dry Aktobe steppe.