Data Zone
Country/territory: Kazakhstan
IBA criteria met: -
For more information about IBA criteria, please click here
Area: 4,800 ha
Site description (2004 baseline)
A shallow fresh-water lake in bunch-grass steppe, in Korgalgin Natural Reserve ("Kurgal'dginskyi Zapovednik"). The lake is a part of the lake system of the Nura river basin. The landscape is typical for Central Kazakhstan dry steppe.
Key biodiversity
In the Natural Reserve, 327 bird species have been recorded (including 126 breeding species). 46 species are included in the Red Data Books of Kazakhstan and IUCN. Within the IBA, several tens of water-bird and passerine species breed (including Dalmatian Pelican, White-headed Duck, Black-winged Pratincole etc), and many species migrate and stop here in great number in spring and autumn, as well as for moulting (swans, ducks, gees etc.).
Non-bird biodiversity: In the Nature Reserve, there are 41 species of mammals, 4 reptiles, 2 amphibians, 14 fishes, about 400 plants.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2023) Important Bird Area factsheet: Isei Lake. Downloaded from
http://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/isei-lake-iba-kazakhstan on 02/10/2023.
