• Summary
• Text account
• Data table and detailed info
• Map
• Reference and further resources

Site description (2007 baseline)
The IBA is situated to the west of the Gissar ridge in the western part of the Pamir-Alay mountain system. It is a limestone-gypsum gorge, part of the Baysuntau range with a mountain river of the same name. The gorge is situated 25 km to the south of Baysun. The gorge has so far not been affected by the building of the Guzar-Baysun-Kumkurgan railway. There was a large mud flow two years ago which destroyed many of the stony-clay cliffs. At present it is a tiered valley with stony ridges, riverside Tamarix sp. bushes, a mountain river and a multitude of limestone-gypsum rocky ledges. The upper borders of the site are the ridges of the slopes descending to the Darasay river. The most interesting area is the plain in the centre of the site where vultures and other birds of prey nest on the cliffs.

Key biodiversity
IBA fieldwork recorded the following species included in the national Red Data Book - Ciconia nigra, Gyps fulvus and Aquila chrysaetos and other uncommon species such as - Ammomanes deserti, Oenanthe pleschanka, Cercotrichas galactotes and Monticola solitarius. Other nesting species include - Neophron percnopterus, Charadrius dubius, Galerida cristata, Motacilla personata and Passer indicus.

Non-bird biodiversity: Mammals: Vulpes corsac, Ellobius talpinus and several rodents. Hystrix indica is thought to occur. Vegetation consists of annual and perennial Gramineae and Umbrelliferae. There are Tamarix sp shrubs on the banks of the river.

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Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2023) Important Bird Area factsheet: Darasay Gorge. Downloaded from http://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/darasay-gorge-iba-uzbekistan on 30/09/2023.