Nature · Tuproqqala District
Kyzylkum Nature Reserve
A reserve of tugai forest and sandy desert on the middle Amu Darya, founded in 1971; part of it passed to Xorazm Region in 1982. It protects the Bukhara deer and the goitered gazelle.
Photo: Arina Pan · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
About the reserve
The Kyzylkum tugai-and-sand reserve was set up in 1971 on 3,985 hectares in Romitan District of Bukhara Region, and in 1982 a 4,254-hectare section was transferred to Xorazm Region. It comprises two separate sections — riverine tugai woodland, covering no more than a third of the area, and sandy desert. Key species include the Bukhara deer, goitered gazelle, marbled polecat, houbara bustard, flamingo, pelican and pheasant. Protection is strict: there is no open access for tourists, and visits require special permission.