Kazakhstan

The Ak-Zhayik Biosphere Reserve is situated on the plains of the Southern part of the Caspian depression at a negative altitude on the surface of -27m. The area is one single territory, divided by the Ural River and adjacent to the coast of the Caspian Sea, the waters of which are not included in the biosphere reserve’s total area. Ak-Zhayik mainly occupies the wetlands of Ural river delta and adjacent territories along the Caspian sea coast, one of the largest bird migration routes. The route stretches from Eurasia across the Caspian and Black seas towards Eastern Africa, rendering it a concentration site for over 240 migrating bird species. The marshy depression is partitioned by a system of delta channels, with their banks overgrown by dense vegetation, and a sea depth of up to 2m.