Alakol State Nature Reserve, Nature reserve in Alakol District, Kazakhstan
Alakol State Nature Reserve is a protected area in Alakol District in Kazakhstan that covers parts of a large lake and its surroundings. The territory is divided into twelve separate sections scattered across the region that protect different habitats.
Authorities established the reserve in 1998 to protect the delta of the Tentes River and the islands in the lake. The designation followed decades of observations of bird populations in the region.
The name Alakol means colorful lake and refers to the changing hues of the water under different light. Birdwatchers from different countries travel here to see the rare gull species during the breeding season.
Access to the protected sections is restricted and visitors must register with the administration offices in Ushayral or at the station in Kabanbay. A buffer zone of two kilometers surrounds the reserve boundaries to protect the inner areas.
The islands in the lake provide breeding grounds for relict gulls that belong to the rarest gull species in the world. The small museum in the administration building displays exhibits on natural history and presents records on the flora and fauna of the region.
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