KGZ07 Key Biodiversity Area Besh-Tash

Area: 50 000 ha.
KBA Category: B1

Species that initiated the selection of KBA [and other species that are at risk of global extinction that are present in KBA, but the compliance of which is not confirmed by the KBA global criteria]: plants: Abies Semenovi), Bupleurum Ferganense, Campanula Eugeniae, Cousinia Margarita, Draba sarycheleki, Kosopoljanskia Turkestanica, Neuroloma Korovinii, Neuroloma Pulvinatum, Onosma Trachycarpa, Pyrethrum Sovetkinae, Scutellaria Popovi.
Designated Conservation Area (DCA) Availabilty: (yes)
Settlement points on KBA territory: -
Territories adjacent to KBA: Talas town



Besh-Tash is a large natural park located in the mountains of Talas Range at an altitude of 1100-3600 m above sea level. It is located south of Talas Town and includes Besh-Tash, Kolba, Kumush-Tag and Urmaral gorges.
Homonymous rivers flow with a widely branched network of tributaries in these gorges. Deep ravines cut this territory. These gorges look very beautiful in summer. Juniper shrubs are scattered along the slopes. There are light forests of spruce and juniper in the upper parts of gorges on the right slopes. Bright green alpine meadows begin above the border of forest-meadow zone. Cool breath of glaciers is felt in this zone. Chiyim-Tash pass (3575 m), which connects Urmaral basin with Kara-Kuldzha and Chatkal valleys, lies in ridge part of the ridge.



The area of Besh Tash national Natural Park is 13701 hectares; it was established in Talas Region in 1996 in order to preserve unique natural forests and high mountain meadows.
It is surrounded by mountain ranges that are part of Talas Ala-Too system on three sides. Besh-Tash River runs, fed by eternal glaciers, flowing throughout the entire reserve territory (about 30 km) from the mountains.
Distance from Talas town to Besh-Tash Natural Park is 13 km, and then it is possible to drive another 30 km deep into the park.
An unprecedented variety of flora and fauna is collected in this corner of nature. More than 800 species of plants grow here, of which about 28 are trees and bushes.



More than 2 000 species of insects live here, there are such animal species as deer, foxes, martens, ermine, mountain sheep, Turkestan lynx, snow leopard, bear, rock ptarmigan, golden eagle, kumai, balaban, bearded vulture and others. Rainbow trout is ranging in the Besh-Tash River.
Besh-Tash is translated as “Five stones” from Kyrgyz. Such a specific name was given to the park due to five stones installed in the Besh-Tash gorge, which stand there up to this day. An interesting legend is associated with them about five robbers who turned into these same stones because of their misdeeds.



This natural park was established to preserve biodiversity of Talas Region. Slopes of these gorges in the reserve are smothered with juniper forests and are practically untouched by humans. In addition to juniper, Tien Shan spruce and fir are ranged here. The reserve includes 8 mountain lakes, the largest of which is Lake Besh-Tash, located in the homonymous gorge.



This is a great place for trekking and multi-day rest. It will take a lot of time to see all beauties of the reserve, but the effort will be worth it.
The Besh-Tash Lake is one of the most beautiful lakes in northern Kyrgyzstan, located in Talas Region, the beautiful Besh-Tash gorge, rich in alpine meadows and amazing views at an altitude of 2997 m.
It is oblong moraine-dammed Lake Besh-Tash. The coast is rocky, but not sloping. Water has a delightful turquoise hue, which creates a great contrast with the surrounding snowy peaks and green grass. Depth is 28 meters, area – 0,5 km2. If we visit the lake in April or May, then it is likely to catch the moment when this lake is freed from ice.



Trout, marinka and osman live in the lake; there are few fishermen here, so there are chances to catch fish for dinner.
A small nameless lake is located a little below the Besh-Tash Lake.
The Besh-Tash Lake is located in the homonymous gorge, 47 kilometers south of Talas. A good unsurfaced road leads to the gorge, which is laid almost to the very lake. It is only 15 minutes of leisurely walking from the road end near the moraine to the lake itself.



Video:
https://youtu.be/s-TquKpH74o - short reel
https://youtu.be/_1ToZrDtBSg – video about the legend in Russian
https://youtu.be/x2LVUzGd5L8 - video: the legend of Besh-Tash in Kyrgyz language

According to legend, once upon a time, a man had five sons, but they all did not obey their parents, when they grew up, they ran away from their father's house, having left their elderly father and mother. Parents were looking for their children for a long time. Meanwhile, a rumor was growing in the village that real robbers had appeared in mountains nearby, who robbed everyone, young and old, healthy and sick. Once people came to the old man and said that it could be his sons. The grieve of the old man and the old woman knew no bounds. They couldn't raise such cruel children. Still they decided to make sure and went to the place, according to the villagers’ stories, where these robbers lived. They walked for a long time along steep cliffs and suddenly, one man attacked the old man on a small path. He wanted to hit the old man, and then the mother spotted the robber as her son by a mole on his ear. As soon as she cried out, “Mendibek!!! Don't touch your father, be damned!” the robber was confused for a minute and rushed off running. Following him, the old man shouted in despair, “You, my own son, raised your hand against me. I curse you and your brothers!" As soon as these words were spoken, the robber brothers fled in different directions, but before they had time to jump upon their horses, they froze and turned into stones. Since then, this gorge has been called “Besh Tash”.



Nearby village: Besh-Tash is a village in Talas District of Talas Region in Kyrgyzstan. It is part of Kalbinskiy Aiyl (Village) District. According to 2021 census, 412 people lived in the village.



Chiim-Tash Historical Sight
Picturesque birch groves at the mouth of Chiyim-Tash (the left tributary of the Urmaral River) serve as a wonderful place for the rest. There are ancient Turkic rock paintings of the 6th-8th centuries in the middle reaches of the Urmaral River. On the Besh-Tash River right bank, fanciful stone sculptures of Kesken-Debe, a cultural monument of the 6th-8th centuries, have survived to this day. It is possible to visit three mausoleums dating back to the 18th-19th centuries, located at the intersection of the Urmaral River with Talas-Taraz highway.

Source: http://students.com.kg/?p=5381

Беш-Таш негизги биоартүрдүүлүк аймагы KGZ07