Kitab Geological State Nature Reserve, Protected geological area in Kitob District, Uzbekistan.
Kitab Geological State Nature Reserve is a protected area in the southwestern branches of the Zarafshan mountain range with elevations from about 1,300 to 2,650 meters (4,265 to 8,694 feet) and deep valleys cutting between ridges. The region displays over 4,000 meters of stacked rock layers from ancient ocean periods, preserving extensive marine fossils throughout the exposed sections.
The area was established as a protected reserve in 1979 to preserve the exceptional geological exposures showing marine life from different geological periods. The rock layers span from the Middle Ordovician through the Lower Carboniferous time, recording changes in ocean environments across hundreds of millions of years.
The reserve draws researchers from around the world who study the fossil discoveries and explore what these rocks tell us about ancient ocean environments. The work here helps scientists understand how life on Earth has changed over time.
A visitor center at the field base near Hodzhakurgan stream offers geological and biological museums with accommodation and dining for guests and researchers. Plan your visit during milder seasons when the paths through the mountain terrain are most accessible for walking and exploring.
The Zinzilbon section contains an international stratigraphic reference point for the Devonian period, officially designated in 1989 and recognized by the International Association of Geological Sciences. This designation makes the location a global benchmark for dating and understanding rocks from this distant era.
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