Barsa-Kelmes Nature Reserve, Nature reserve in Aral District, Kazakhstan
The sanctuary extends over 163,126 hectares across three distinct sectors, including former seabed areas of the Aral Sea and eastern coastal regions.
The reserve received its protected status on December 10, 1939, initially covering 16,795 hectares dedicated to preserving regional wildlife populations.
Scientists from the Russian Empire first documented the area in 1831, with Lieutenant Alexey Butakov leading the initial geographical expedition in 1848.
The reserve contains three sections: Barsa-Kelmes, Kaskakulan, and Delta, each representing different ecological zones of the former Aral Sea region.
The Delta section gained international recognition in 2012 through the Ramsar Convention, supporting 200,000 waterfowl and rare fish species.
Location: Aral District
Inception: December 10, 1939
GPS coordinates: 45.66205,59.91463
Latest update: November 11, 2025 19:31
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