Shoshkakol Lakes (19954)
Kazakhstan, Central Asia
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2007
National site name: Shoshkakol Lakes
Central coordinates: Latitude: 43.0333, Longitude: 69.5167
System: freshwater, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 180 to 180
Area of KBA (km2): 535.00953
KBA classification: Regional
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: A system of about 15 brackish-water lakes, with degraded reedbeds, within a semi-desert landscape. The main lakes are Shoshkakol, Kumkol, Sholaukol, Korsakkol, Kogakol, Chushka, Astaukol, Ayakkol, Kamyshovoe and Bugrovoe.
Rationale for qualifying as KBA: This site qualifies as a Key Biodiversity Area of international significance that was identified using previously established criteria and thresholds for the identification of Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas (IBAs) and for which available data indicate that it does not meet global KBA criteria and thresholds set out in the Global Standard.
Additional biodiversity: 245 species of birds have been recorded, including more than 100 wetland species (waterfowl, waders, gulls). Twenty-nine species are included in the Red Data Book of Kazakhstan. In July 2001, 90 species were observed. Non-bird biodiversity: 30 species of mammals have been recorded. The lakes are important for many species of fish (for fisheries).
Habitats
Land use: agriculture (50%) | fisheries/aquaculture (50%) | hunting (80%) | nature conservation and research (60%) | tourism/recreation (10%) | water management (20%)
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Wetlands(Inland) | 72 | |
| Desert | 18 | |
| Shrubland | 10 |
Additional information
References: 1. Gistzov, A.P., and Erokhov, S.N. (2000). Number of birds during spring migration at Shoshkakol lake (middle stream of Syr-Darya) Selevinia: 164-170 (in Russian). 2. Khrokov, V.V., and Bekbaev, E.Z. (2002) Summer fauna of birds of Shoshkakol lake system (South Kazakhstan) Russian Ornithological Journal, express-issue 194: 747-752 (in Russian).