| Repetek Biosphere State Reserve | |
|---|---|
| Location | Lebap Province, Turkmenistan |
| Area | 346 km² |
| Established | 1927 |
Repetek Biosphere State Reserve, often referred to as Repetek Nature or Desert Reserve, (Turkmen: Repetek goraghanasy) is a desert nature reserve (zapovednik) of Turkmenistan, located in Lebap Province, East Karakum Desert, near Amu Darya. It is located approximately 70 km south from Türkmenabat and is known for its zemzen (desert crocodile which is Varanus griseus). Established in 1927 for the study and preservation of a sand-desert ecosystem, it covers an area of 346 km².
The landscape of the reserve is arid, with extensive ridged sand dunes some 15-20m in height and 8–10 km in length in many areas, large areas of sand dune and valley-like depressions.[1] Black saxaul (Haloxylon aphyllum), rare to most part of Central Asia covers more than 1,470 ha, approximately 4.5% of the territory of the reserve. The soils have sandy subsoils, but some 21 trees, 104 grasses, 8 mushrooms, 1 moss, 68 soil algae and 197 fungi grow within the reserve.[1]
The Repetek Biosphere State Reserve is part of an Important Bird Area (IBA) and since 1979 has been a under the monitoring of UNESCO but the site is under the administration of the Ministry of Nature Protection of Turkmenistan.[1] The reserve supports the most complete assemblage of bird species typical of the sand desert of the Karakum and has an important population of Goitered Gazelle (Gazella subgutturosa) which is listed as Vulnerable (VU) in the IUCN Red List.[1]
The Institute of Deserts, Flora and Fauna of the Academy of Sciences of Turkmenistan was established in 1962 to study ways of reclaiming desert land for economic use in the reserve.[2]
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