State Nature Reservat "Altyn Dala"

Altyn Dala State Natural Reserve is a reserve located in the territories of the Amanğeldı and Zhambeldı districts of Kostanay Region.

On 27 November 2012, the State Natural Reserve Altyn Dala was newly organized by the special Government Decree No. 1496 of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

The area of the Altyn Dala State Natural Reserve covers 489 766 ha.

This natural reserve aims to protect the natural ecosystems and landscape features of steppe, semi‑desert, desert, meadow and wet swamp territories located in the Amanğeldı and Zhambeldı districts of Kostanay Region, as well as the population of the steppe polecat (Mustela eversmannii) in the country.

Within the district, this part of the Torgay basin is characterized by a flattened plain relief with absolute elevations ranging from 120 to 200 m. Its height gradually rises from west to east up to the Jilanshikturme hill located in the meridional segments of the Karatorgay and Ulı‑Jılandırshıq rivers, with absolute elevation marks between 200 and 300 m.

The territory of the Altyn Dala State Natural Reserve is divided into three clusters:

Saryqopa – 52 115 ha (Saryqopa lake system).

Tosynkum – 95 881 ha (Tosynkum sand, left bank of the Torgay River).

Ulı Jılandırshıq – 341 670 ha (desertified steppe area, banks of the Ulı Jılandırshıq River).