Ulytau State Nature Sanctuary

Ulytau National Reserve, Ulytau National Historical, Cultural and Natural Museum Reserve — a large collection of geographical‑historical and natural‑cultural monuments covering the region. It was established by the decree of the Council of Ministers of the Kazakh SSR on 29 November 1990, and its area is 1 883 square km.

Historical data

According to the scholar Alkey Khakanuly Margulan, the Ulytau region was a major bronze‑age metallurgical center, and its sites Arganaty, Altynkazgan, Zhartas, Karashoky are ancient settlements. Monuments of the ancient nomadic people are also found in this region. A peculiarity of Ulytau history is that a great caravan route, extending the Silk Road through Central Asia to Siberia, passed along the Small Silk Road.

New research in central Kazakhstan has shown that around Ulytau there was a complex period of cultural development and exchange thousands of years ago. Studies conducted in the early 18th–19th centuries were limited only to listing the monuments.

In 1946 large reconnaissance works were carried out along the rivers Baikonur, Bulanty, Zhezdı, Karakengir and others. As a result, ancient human settlements were identified in the basins of the Zhezdı–Sarykengir rivers and on the mountains Ulytau and Arganaty. Especially the stone‑built fortified signs of ancient steppe nomads have preserved many secrets of this civilization. The geographical‑historical and natural‑cultural monuments of the Ulytau National Reserve have become the subject of scientific‑research works of the republic’s scholars.

Historical monuments

Within the museum reserve there are ancient necropolises dating back to approximately 5000 BC. Their total number is about 200. More than 700 historical‑archaeological and architectural monuments are located in the reserve, including 12 monuments of republican significance. In particular: Josy Khan, Alasha Khan, Dombayul, Labak, Makhat arena, Erden, Ketebay, Zhakuda‑Ishan, Basqamyr settlement, Akmeshit shrine, Edige, Ayranbay tombs.

Natural Features

The Ulytau region is known not only for its monuments full of history, but also for its natural features. The reserve, covering a total area of 18 million hectares, extends from north to south and consists of the Ulytau, Arganaty, Zheldiadyr, Baykonyr, Maitobe, Araltobe, and Üsh Qagyl mountain ridges.

Flora and Fauna

According to the results of geographical‑botanical scientific‑research work, a total of 617 plant species grow in this region, including 400 medicinal plants, 100 pasture grasses, 50 food plants, 70 technical plants, and more than 40 poisonous plants, some of which are rare in other areas. One of these plants is listed in Kazakhstan’s Red Book. The mountainous slopes are also inhabited by many animal species (e.g., argali, white‑headed ibex, bearded goat, duadaq, snake‑eagle, black vulture, eagle, among others).

Museum Description

The “Ulytau” historical‑cultural and natural national reserve‑museum is located in Karaganda Region, Ulytau District, Ulytau village. The museum consists of a 2‑storey building with a total area of 583.2 sq m. The museum building houses 8 rooms:

Room of Rare Manuscripts;

Historical Room;

Room Dedicated to the Scholars of Ulytau;

Ethnographic Room;

Room for Kazakh Handicrafts;

Room Dedicated to the Nature of Ulytau;

Minerals Room;

Room of Rare Insects of the Ulytau Region.

Museum staff are engaged in protecting historical‑archaeological monuments and preserving them for future generations. By Order No. 295 of 20 November, the Ministry of Culture and Information of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the “Ulytau” museum‑fund was admitted on 6 December 2006 as a “Symbol of the State’s Integrity and the Unity of the Peoples of Kazakhstan.”