Qyzylqum.
The territory is mainly the plain (height up to 300 м (about 984 feet) above
sea level) with a number of the secluded lowlands and highlands (Sultanuizdag, Bukantau). Most of the area bespread with the sand-dunes (barkhans); in northwest the large areas are covered with takirs (clay coatings); there are also some oases. There are
agricultural settlements along the
rivers and
oases. The local population use large spaces of Kyzil Kum as a pasture for livestock.
Desert fauna include the extremely rare
Saiga Antelope (Saiga tatarica) and a large lizard (Varan, Varanus griseus) that can reach lengths of 1.6 m (5 ft). There is Kyzyl Kum reserve at Bukhara province, founded in 1971. The area of the reserve amounts 101,000 sq km (approximately 39,000 sq mi) and is located at the flood-land (tugai) drained by the Amu Darya close to the settlement Dargan Ata. Animality: Bukhara Deer (local kind of Cervus elaphus),
Wild Boar (Sus scrofa),
Pheasant (Phasianus colchicus),
Golden Eagle (Aquila chrysaetus) etc.
Another reserve (eco-centre) "Djeyran" is located 40 km to the south from Bukhara. Total area of this reserve is 51,450 sq km (approximately 20,000 sq mi). The centre reproduces animals of rare kinds such us: Gazelle (Djeyran, Gazella subgutturosa), Przevalsky's Horse (Equus przewalskii), Koulan (Onager, Equus hemionus),
Bustard (Otis tarda). The reserve was founded in 1977.
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