Data Zone
Country/territory: Uzbekistan
IBA criteria met: A1, A4i, A4iii (2013)
For more information about IBA criteria, please click here
Area: 5,070 hectares (50.70 km2)
| IBA conservation status | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year of assessment (most recent) | State (condition) | Pressure (threat) | Response (action) |
| 2015 | not assessed | high | very low |
| For more information about IBA monitoring, please click here | |||
Site summary
The area of proposed IBA is 5070 hectares. The lake complex consists from Khojakul and Mashankul lakes and surrounded desert. The Khojakul lake is located on the territory of Muynak district, and Mashankul lake - on the territory of Kungrad district. Nearest settlement “Doslyk” is located in 8 km to the northeast of the IBA, and the Mashanaul settlement in 11 km to the south.
The lakes have different sources- Khojakul lake fed by the waters of Ustyurt collector and partially from the Suenli channel (This provides a relatively low salinity of the water in the lake), and the Mashankul lake fed from the Kattagar channel. The maximum depth of the Khojakul lake is 3.5 m, and the Mashankul lake is 5 m. The lakes have the following character of coastline - brokenness sloping, steep, and consists of many open water surface (Maral Aydin, Koptinkul, Asan oh, Kara Aydin, Aydin takyr ). About 40% of territory is reeds (reeds 80% and cattail 20%).
The porposed IBA is an important fish resourse in Karakalpakstan.
Acknowledgements
In October 2012 the members of Karakalpakstan branch of UzSBP with finance support of IFAS (International Fund of Aral Sea) were carried out a research project "Study of fauna of unstable reservoirs in Southern Aral Sea Region."
In March and May 2013 they were carried out a research project "Ornithological study of lakes and Mashankul and Khojakul during spring migration and nesting" with financial support of IFAS.
Both studies were the basis for the description of the proposed IBA.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Mashankul and Khojakul lake complex (Uzbekistan). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/mashankul-and-khojakul-lake-complex-iba-uzbekistan on 23/12/2024.