Kugitang state reserve

The reserve was established in 1989 on an area of 27,140 hectares to protect the unique mountain landscapes of the Kugitangtau ridge. In total, there are about 150 plant species, many of which are endemic. The reserve is home to 21 species of mammals (horned goat, Turkmen lynx, white-clawed bear, leopard, and bearded vulture), 143 species of birds, 21 reptiles, 2 amphibians. Archaeological and paleontological monuments are preserved - dinosaur footprints, Karlyuk and Kap-Kutan caves.

In the flora of the reserve, Pamir-alai species predominate, and 872 species, including other species, are found to be growing here, and 10% of them are endemic species only (high tulips, sparrows, sparrows, etc.). There are also more than 130 species of medicinal plants used in both folk and scientific medicine. Among the valuable plants, plants such as Glegiagi's cleomeus, Nikiti's asparagus, high tulip, and Victor's giraffe were included in the second edition of the Red Data Book of Turkmenistan.

The reserve includes three Garlyk, Hojapil and Hojaburjy High Landscape Reserves with a total area of about 90,000 ha. The multifaceted Garlyk Reserve (40,000 ha) includes the southern slope of Kugitang and the mountainous areas up to the Amu Darya. It protects the world-famous Garlyk karst cave group, the underwater lakes inhabited by blind fish from the hot-water Gainarbaba spring, and deep and beautiful valleys such as Sinjir, Kettek, Abdere, Bulakdere.

The Hojapil Landscape - Paleontological Reserve (31.6 thousand ha) includes the northern part of the Kugitang that is not included in the reserve, the upper belt of the Kugitang Valley and the northeast of the Govurdak Low Mountain. It is home to the Dinosaur Plateau, which has preserved footprints of dragons that died about 150 million years ago.

The Hojaburjy High Landscape Reserve (17.6 thousand ha) is located northwest of the village of Kugitang and includes the Sakyrtma, Hojaburjy, Tahtatag ridges. It is home to the famous Pistachio Forest (1.5 thousand ha) and the foothills of the mountain.