Sary-Chelek Nature Reserve

The Sary-Chelek Nature Reserve (Сары-Челек мамлекеттик коругу, Сары-Челекский государственный заповедник) is located in Aksy District, Jalal-Abad Region in western Kyrgyzstan. Established in 1959, it currently covers 23,868 hectares. In 1978 it was designated as a World Biosphere reserve by UNESCO. The Reserve is located at altitudes from 1200 - 4247 m above sea level. The name of Sary Chelek translates as "Yellow bucket" from Kyrgyz language.

Geography
Sary-Chelek Nature Reserve is approximately 60 km to the northwest of Tash-Kömür town. The reserve currently occupies 23,868 ha, including 18,080 has core area, and 2,394 ha transition area. Its headquarters are in the village Arkyt.

Description
The comparatively large Lake Sary-Chelek is the main feature of the nature reserve. In the low hills south of Lake Sary-Chelek there are 6 smaller lakes: Kylaaköl, Iyriköl, Bakalyköl, Aramköl, Chöychökköl, and Chachaköl. The river Kojata divides the nature reserve in an eastern and western part.

Average relative humidity is about 60 percent, and annual rainfall is about 817 mm at the Sary-Chelek Nature Reserve.