If you lift your gaze toward the majestic peaks of the Zailiyskiy Alatau, a remarkable world will unfold before you — a world of snow-capped summits, deep gorges, crystal-clear mountain rivers, and forests where nature has preserved its pristine beauty.

It is here, at the foothills of the Northern Tien Shan, that the Ile-Alatau State National Nature Park is located — one of the largest and most valuable specially protected natural areas in Kazakhstan.

Ile-Alatau National Park was established on February 22, 1996, by a resolution of the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan, with the aim of preserving the unique natural complexes of the Zailiyskiy Alatau, its rich flora and fauna, mountain landscapes, forests, and rare species of great scientific, ecological, and cultural significance.

Today, the park covers an area of 200,160 hectares. Its territory includes picturesque mountain gorges, forested areas, alpine meadows, glaciers, and high-altitude peaks. Along its perimeter, the park is protected by the Almaty State Complex Nature Reserve, which covers an area of 542,400 hectares.

The territory of the park is divided into several functional zones: a strict protection zone, an ecological stabilization zone, a tourism and recreation zone, and a zone of limited economic activity. This zoning makes it possible to combine nature conservation, scientific research, environmental education, and regulated tourism.

One of the main natural treasures of Ile-Alatau National Park is its forests. The area of forest-covered land amounts to more than 73,000 hectares. The forest cover of the territory is 36.5 percent. These forests not only adorn the mountain slopes but also play an important role in preserving the region’s water resources, soils, climate, and biological diversity.

The flora of Ile-Alatau National Park is exceptionally rich. More than 2,000 species of vascular plants grow here, 37 of which are listed in the Red Book of Kazakhstan. Among them are the Sievers apple, the common apricot, and other rare plants that have survived in the mountain ecosystems of the Zailiyskiy Alatau.

The park’s fauna is also diverse. About 270 species of vertebrate animals inhabit its territory, including 48 species of mammals and 198 species of birds. Many of them have special conservation status. In the mountain forests and gorges, one can encounter roe deer, wild boar, foxes, squirrels, and stone martens, while rare predators — true symbols of wild nature — inhabit the remote high-mountain areas.

Ile-Alatau State National Nature Park is not merely a protected area. It is a living heritage of mountains, forests, and rivers — a natural laboratory where the unique gene pool of wild fruit plants is preserved. Here, the past meets the future: ancient relict species continue to live, bloom, and bear fruit, reminding humanity of its responsibility toward nature.

Ile-Alatau National Park is the heart of the Zailiyskiy Alatau, a symbol of the richness of Kazakhstan’s nature, and a place where the grandeur of the mountains is combined with the fragile beauty of forests. Its preservation is an important duty to future generations, to whom we must pass on clean rivers, green gorges, blooming apple orchards, and the living harmony of wild nature.

Source : https://www.gov.kz/memleket/entities/ecogeo/press/news/details/1252960?lang=ru