The Ramsar Convention on Wetlands

The Annotated Ramsar List: Kyrgyz Republic

The Annotated Ramsar List of Wetlands of International Importance

KYRGYZ REPUBLIC / RÉPUBLIQUE KIRGHIZE / REPUBLICA KIRGUISA

The Convention on Wetlands came into force for the Kyrgyz Republic on 12 March 2003. The Kyrgyz Republic presently has 2 sites designated as Wetlands of International Importance, with a surface area of 639,700 hectares.

site; date of designation; region, province, state; surface area; coordinates
site; date de désignation; région, province, état; superficie; coordonnées
sitios; fecha de designación; región, provincia, estado; área; coordenadas

Chatyr Kul. 08/11//05; Naryn Oblast; 16,100 ha; 40°37'N 075°18'E. State Reserve. A saline high altitude lake (3,530m asl.) in the Tien Shan Mountains with pristine ecosystem. The main inflow runs from the Ak-say river and the lake plateau is bound between the edges of At-Bashi (4,700m) and Kakshalto ridges (5,500m) with permanent snowfields and glaciers, forming the border between Kyrgyzstan and China. It is one of the few habitats for Pamir Brown-headed Gulls, a breeding area for Bar-headed geese, and crucial for nine species of moulting ducks, especially Tadorna ferruginea, representing about 40% of the global population. A significant population of IUCN Redlisted Argali Sheep (Ovis ammon) is also found grazing at the plateau. The absence of ichthyofauna, high transparency and shallowness of the lake support luxuriant growth of submerged macrophytes like Potamogeton and high population of rare invertebrates like Gammarus krevetki. Located near the Torugart Pass, the lake basin was once a part of the Silk Route, and remnants of a 10th century caravanserai can still be seen. Over hundreds of years, local nomads have been using the lake area for grazing horses in summer. Ramsar site no. 1588. Most recent RIS information: 2005.

Isyk-Kul State Reserve with the Lake Isyk-Kul. 12/11/02; 623,600 ha; 42º27’N 077º16’E. (First designated for the Ramsar List by the Soviet Union in 1976, added to the Montreux Record, 4 July 1990.) The fifth deepest lake in the world, Isyk-Kul is fed by over 80 streams and minor channels, but has no outflow. The name means "hot lake" because, despite its high altitude (1609m), the lake itself never freezes over -- the average water temperature is 22° C. The site is of primary importance as a wintering site for migratory waterbirds (up to 50,000 birds recorded annually). Notable waterbird species include the Whooper Swan, Mute Swan, Common Pochard, and small nesting colonies of storks. The lake is used for controlled commercial fisheries. The silt from the lake and the hot springs at Aksu are thought to have medicinal properties, which has led to the development and expansion of health resorts along its shore. Ramsar site no. 1231 (formerly Ramsar site no. 109). Most recent RIS information: ?.

For further information about the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, please contact the Ramsar Convention Secretariat, Rue Mauverney 28, CH-1196 Gland, Switzerland (tel +41 22 999 0170, fax +41 22 999 0169, e-mail ). Posted 13 December 2002, updated 12 January 2006, Dwight Peck, Ramsar.