Established in 1931 in the Zailiysky Alatau mountain range, the Ile-Alatau State National Natural Park, formerly known as the Almaty State Park, spans an area of approximately 1,000 hectares. This vast natural reserve has become a center for scientific research, focusing on the study and preservation of its rich plant and animal life.
The park was created through the efforts of prominent zoologists, botanists, and academics from the Soviet Academy of Sciences, including B.A. Bykov and I.O. Baytulin. One of its main goals was to protect rare species such as the relic Tien Shan spruce, the Sievers apple, and wild apricot, all of which are now listed in the Red Book of Kazakhstan as endangered species.
Over time, the park’s popularity among tourists has grown, raising concerns about the need to protect its biodiversity, glaciers, rivers, and lakes. The Ile-Alatau Park includes some of Almaty’s most iconic landmarks, such as the Big Almaty Peak, Kok-Zhaylau Plateau, the Medeu high-altitude sports complex, Zoya Kosmodemyanskaya Peak, the Three Brothers Summit, Big Almaty Lake, Manshuk Mametova Peak, and the Tuyuk-Su Alpine Camp, among others.
The park’s flora and fauna are incredibly diverse. Its plant life includes the Tien Shan rowan, Siberian juniper, ziziphora, oregano, Eremurus robustus, and Rhodiola rosea, among many others. The wildlife is equally varied, featuring species such as maral deer, common shrews, Siberian roe deer, red pikas, and forest dormice. Among the birds, visitors may spot hoopoes, rollers, yellow-crowned kinglets, and nutcrackers.
Several plant species found in the park are also listed in the Red Book of Kazakhstan, including Vitrok’s rhubarb, Musketov’s curlycup gumweed, Almaty astragalus, Altai gymnosperm, Kolpakovsky’s tulip, and Alatau saffron. As for the fauna, protected species include the golden eagle, kumai (a type of eagle), Pevtsov’s toad, the Central Asian frog, the Turkestan lynx, the bluebird, the stone marten, and the Tien Shan argali (mountain sheep), among others.
The park offers a variety of services to tourists, as listed on its official website. These include tent rentals, camping areas, parking for cars and bicycles, and more, making it an ideal destination for nature enthusiasts and adventure seekers.
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