Saryarka-Steppe and Lakes, Northern Kazakhstan

This heritage site is located in northern Kazakhstan, approximately 120 km southwest of the capital of Astana, and covers a core protection area of 4,503 km². It consists of two state nature reserves, Naurzum and Korgalzhyn. Saliakar is a wetland of great importance to migratory waterbirds, including globally endangered birds, the extremely rare Siberian White Crane, Dalmatian Pelican, and Athena Osprey. The wetland is an important stopover point and meeting point for birds migrating from Africa, Europe and South Asia to the breeding grounds in western and eastern Siberia. The 2,000 km² central Asian savannah in the heritage area contains more than half of the area’s grassland plant species, numerous endangered birds and extremely endangered saiga antelope.