Köpetdag Nature Reserve, Mountain nature reserve in Ahal Region, Turkmenistan.
Köpetdag Nature Reserve is a mountain protected area in the Ahal Region that covers a large territory with varying elevation zones. The landscape transitions through different ecological bands, from lower slopes to higher peaks, each supporting different plants and animals.
The reserve was established in 1976 to protect the mountain ecosystems of the region. This marked the beginning of organized efforts to safeguard Turkmenistan's natural diversity in this important mountainous area.
The mountains here have shaped how local communities live and work in the Ahal Region for generations. People in nearby villages have developed their customs and daily practices in harmony with this mountainous environment.
Access to the reserve requires special permits for research activities, and the site is divided into zones with different visiting conditions. Plan a visit during spring or autumn when temperatures are milder and mountain trails are easier to navigate.
The reserve protects plant species found nowhere else on Earth, with hundreds of specimens that occur only within these mountains. These rare botanical finds belong to several different plant families, making the area scientifically important for botanical research.
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