Data Zone
Country/territory: Kazakhstan
IBA criteria met: A1, A4i, A4iii (2005)
For more information about IBA criteria, please click here
Area: 8,582 hectares (85.82 km2)
| IBA conservation status | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year of assessment (most recent) | State (condition) | Pressure (threat) | Response (action) |
| 2005 | poor | medium | not assessed |
| For more information about IBA monitoring, please click here | |||
Site description (2005 baseline)
The site consists of a dual system of waterbodies situated 95 km south-west of Astana and approximately 45 km to the south of Korgalzhyn village. It represents the terminal fragment of the distinct group of lakes running south-west in a long chain parallel to the course of the Nura river and about 30 km distant from it.
The salty lakes form part of the eastern periphery of the major Tengiz lake system. Karasor and Tuzaschy lakes are the first lakes in the long chain of waterbodyies running north-east from the area lying to the south of Tengiz lake. The landscape of the whole area is a very gently rolling plain with herbage-grass associations corresponding to areas intermediate between proper steppe and semi-desert. The lakes have a high salinity and only feeble reed growth. A considerable portion of the depressions containing the lakes contain salt-marshes or alkaline plots.
Key biodiversity
Given its open nature and abundance of shallows, the lakes are ideal for intermediary staging of most common waterfowl species and many species of north-breeding waders. In autumn the most numerous ducks are Anas strepera, Anas crecca, Anas platyrhynchos, Anas penelope, Anas clypeata and Netta rufina.
Non-bird biodiversity: Due to the high salinity of the lakes reed growth is patchy and thin. On the outskirts of the lake system, as well as in the immediate proximity of the shores, a few plots of steppic landscape remain, severely deteriorated in most places by intensive grazing, but still featuring the remnants of rich-herbage-motley-turf-grass associations.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Tuzashchy and Karasor Lakes (Kazakhstan). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/tuzashchy-and-karasor-lakes-iba-kazakhstan on 27/12/2024.