The Sayram-Ugam State National park
The territory of the Sayram-Ugam State National park occupies the north -eastern position in the system of the Western Tien Shan and is presented by mountain massif of the Ugam, Karzhantau and Boraldaytau, and also by the northwest spur of the Talas Alatau.
On the territory of the park the rivers Ugam, Sayramsu, Kaskasu, Burgulyuk, Badam, Mashat and Kokbulak run. The territory of the park has 7 natural zones, beginning from mountain steepe till high-mountainous, where there are 1635 types of plants, 59 types of mammals and 300 types of birds. The species composition of vegetation of the park is unique. About 240 types of plants, brought into the Redden book of the Republic Kazakhstan, are grown there. Specifically it is possible to point out that practically all reeddenbook types are rare ones.
Very rare types: a Sogdiana ash, a wild grape, a currant of Yanchevskii, an iris of Albert, is presented only in several copies. The most notable particularity of the Western Tien Shan also is a spreading of many types of wild relatives of the cultural plants as apple trees, pears, plum trees, grape, nut-tree, onion and tulip there. The animal world of the park is also varied. Bears, wolfs, wild boars, rocky-mountain goats, roe deer, badgers and porcupines are the usual inhabitants of the park. Graceful karatau archars stay in the south areas of the Boralday ridge.
It is very seldom to see the most careful inhabitants of the park- a snow leopard and a Turkestan bobcat. A vegetable cover, an animal world, a varied relief, rivers, waterfalls and mountain lakes make picturesque, inimitable landscapes, possessing an enormous recreational potential. On the territory of the park it is possible to see the religious buildings, petrogliphs, ancient settlings and burials of the different history epoches, but as a whole its cultural landscapes are studied badly and wait their own researchers.
The mountain of the Western Tien Shan is an inimitable world of the wild nature. The high snow tops, where the peak Sayram (4236 metres over sea level) stands out, turquoise high-mountainous lakes and amongst them the pearl of the Ugama - the lake Makpal (2100 m), the most clean waters of rivers and springs, the whimsical forms of the Kyrykkyz - Forty girls, the tulip of Greyg of fairy-tale beauty and many others. The mountains are “a green heart” of enormous territory, where more than one million people live. The mountain woods regulate the water sewer, enrich the air by oxygen and phytoncids. They protect from rain and spring high waters, slow the melting of snow, transfer the surface sewer into the subsurface, prevent a formation of landslides and ground erosions.
The mountains provide the population of Shymkent and of the adjoining districts by the water resources and in the first place by the high-quality drinking water. This is a priceless gift of the nature, which many inhabitants of the steppe and deserted zones of Kazakhstan are deprived and hundred millions of the people on planet, compelled to buy water. Biological variety of the mountains is the most valuable wealth, which will provide a development to the future generations and will allow to save the genetic fund of different types. The Sayram-Ugam national natural park was discovered in 2006. Its area is 150 thousand hectare.
Sayram-su
One of the most picturesque gorges of our region is the Sayram-su. There on the height of 2350 m the lake of the glacial origin is located. Its hollow has a form of a guitar. Water in this lower lake is of turquoise colour, very cool and is replenished from the powerful underground springs. It is interesting that the colour of the lake is clearly delimited on transparent-blue and turquoise. Moreover, in any weather the colours are clearly tracked. There is a legend on this cause. In old times in the high mountains people lived. And, as usual, the daughter of the head of this tribe since infancy was promise in marriage to a rich khan. The daughter of mountains and steppes grown up as beautiful and free, proud and resolute.
The time came and she fell in love with a youth-shepherd from their own origin. The young people decided to ask blessing of their parents. But he father of the girl flew into rage. He demanded from her to do her duty and become a wife of the rich khan. – It will not be! - decided the proud girl. And late in the night, together with her sweetheart have run away from the native aul. An old grandmother blessed them and gave as gift to the bride a turquoise ring and bracelet- snake. She ordered her to use the gift only in case of the direst need. The loving couple run far away for a night, but the furious father overtake the unruly daughter. Then the girl threw on the ground down the turquoise ring and there on this place appeared a lake with water of an amazing malachite tone. The pursuit was detained. But the voice of the furious father sounded loudly in the mountain gorge: - Curse! The heavy moan sounded around, and the land shivered, and the stones from mountain tops were sprinkled, by blocking the way of fugitives.
From the last power, underbidding in blood their hands and legs, they clambered on stones. But the pursuit was closer and closer. Then the loving couple stopped, were embraced firmly and they swear each other never to leave. The girl took off from her hands the bracelet and threw it before themselves. And there on this place appeared a new lake in the form of eight, symbolizing an infinity. Wherefore, love is endless, but the parental power under their children and the power of the given word are endless, too. And during many years the waters of the turquoise colour (the girl’s) and transparent-blue (the boy’s) have already been merged together. And as it is not possible to spill the lake into two halves, so the soul of the loving couple is united forever, which gave the beginning of this lake.
Scheme of the journey: the gorge Sayram Su, the Ugam ridge, SW Tien Shan (80 km from Shymkent)
