"South Altay" Sanctuary

The "South Altay" sanctuary lies in Kurshim district, East Kazakhstan region, covering part of the Tarbagatai mountain system, including the Tuiemaynak ridge and the Kara-Kabinsky gorges, near Lake Zaysan. Managed as a habitat and species protection area, it was set up to safeguard the varied terrain of valleys, gorges and ridge slopes that make this corner of the Kazakhstan Altai distinct from the open steppe further west. Documented wildlife includes the Altai viper and the grey marmot, while its recorded flora includes the regionally rare tulip Tulipa annae and the steppe plant Rindera tetraspis. The combination of mountain ridges, river gorges and proximity to Zaysan Lake gives the sanctuary a mix of alpine, forest and semi-desert habitats within one protected area, reflecting the ecological transition between the Altai mountains and the Kazakh steppe to their south.