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 Repetek
The Karakum Desert occupies the area of about 35 million
ha, or more than 80% of the whole territory of Turkmenistan.
According to its geological and natural conditions, the
Karakum can be divided into three large parts: Northern
or Zaunguz, Central or Lowland, and South-Eastern Karakum.
The latter incorporates the Repetek State Biosphere Reserve
where 20 species of mammals and 23 species of birds live.
The total flora of higher plants growing here includes
269 species belonging to 206 genera and 84 families. Of
132 species of aboriginal plants in the Repetek nature
reserve 42 species (31.8%) are endemic for the Karakum
and Kyzylkum deserts.
 The
Repetek Nature Reserve, located about 540 km from Ashgahabt,
Repetek Reserve is one of the most beautiful places in
the Karakum desert. It is located in the Eastern Kara
Kum about 70 km to the south west from the city of Turkmenabat
(Chardjou) the centre of the Lebap region. The reserve
was founded in 1927 on the basis of a scientific station
from 1912. The main current activity of the reserve is
preservation and study of unique flora and fauna of the
34,600 ha area it covers. In February 1979 the Repetek
Reserve gained status of an International Biosphere Reserve.
 The
Repetek Reserve has a typical climate of the continental
subtropical deserts. The region has big thermal resources.
Annual amount of the solar radiation is 40 kkal/cm2. Average
temperature of the air is +16 C.The hottest month is July
with monthly average temperature +31 C and a maximum temperature
+50 C. Precipitation is 113,6 mm per year. In spring,just
for a short period of time the desert is covered by a
colorful carpet of vegetation. Flora in the Reserve accounts
about 120 different kinds of aboriginal flower plants,
8 kinds of soil mushrooms, 4 kinds of glues, 4 kinds of
lichens, 18 kinds of soil alga and sonic kinds of epidemic
plants.
The animal world of the Reserve is also rich. Here live
26 species of mammals. Among them different species of
rodents, such as sanderling and jerboa and others. Here
one can meet hares, porcupines, the so called blinders,
hedgehogs, foxes, desert cats, caracals, Gazella subgutturosa(Latin
name). There are 198 species of birds. Among them desert
sparrow, pheasant. In the Reserve live 22 species of reptiles:
middle Asian tortoise, desert crocodile (grey varan),
4 species of alsophylax (Latin name), 4 species of lizards
and 9 species of snakes.
In the Reserve there is a big collection of herbarium
- about 100 specimens of the plants, growing on the territory
of the Reserve, about 1000 specimens of the plants, growing
in the other regions of Turkmenistan, as well as in Uzbekistan
and Kazakhstan. About 400 sheets of herbarium, representing
the plants, growing in the deserts in the south of the
USA. This herbarium collection is a gift of the National
Museum of Herbarium of the USA.
In the Reserve there is a Nature Museum, displaying 13
kinds of stuffed animals, 62 species of stuffed birds
and 21 species of reptiles.
From the ancient times Repetek was on the way of the Great
Silk Route. In the IX-X c.c. this place was known under
the name of AI-Aksha, later called Djubba-Khammad, in
the XIX c as Rubshatah, then Rafatak and these days as
Repetek. The word Repetek is translated from the Arabic
language " the confined place with insipid water".
The Repetek Biosphere Reserve - Turkmenistan
On a World map of natural zones Turkmenistan almost wholly
situated in an arid area with moderate and subtropical
climate. However the Kara-Kum desert differs from the
subtropical deserts of the Northern Africa by plenty of
precipitation. Therefore here the vegetable world is rich.
One of the beautiful places in the Kara-Kum desert is
the Repetek Reserve. It is located in the Eastern Kara-Kum
and about 70 km to the south-west from the city of Chardjou-
the main center of the Lebap region. Here there is a big
variety of sandy reliefs and natural monuments. The picturesque
and unique nature, curative climate attract here thousands
of tourists, students, pupils, scientists and simply amateurs
of nature.
The Repetek Reserve was founded in 1927 on the basis of
the scientific station, exsisting here since 1912. The
main activity of the Repetek Reserve is preservation and
study of flour and fauna of the arid zone. The total area
of the reserve is 34600 hectares. The staff of the reserve
always give big attention to the gardening of the reserve,
railway stations and halts, water wells on the pastures.
On the 19th of February, 1979, the UNESKO gave to the
Repetek Reserve a status of the International Biosphere
reserve. In 80th years in Reserve the UNESKO conducted
courses ,,Protection the environment,, for the experts
form the developing countries of Asia, Africa and Latin
America.
The Repetek Reserve has a typical climate of the continental
subtropical deserts. The region has big thermal resources.
Annual amount of the solar radiation is 40kkal/cm2.Average
annual temperature of the air is + 16. The hottest month
is July with monthly average temperature + 31 and maximum
temperature + 50 C, which is the highest for CIS. Cold
period lasts about 200 days. Precipitation is 113,6 mm
per year. Just for a short period of time In spring the
desert is covered by a colourful carpet of vegetation.
Flour in the Reserve accounts about 120 different kinds
of aboriginal flower plants, 8 kinds of soil mushrooms,
4 kinds of glues, 4 kinds of lichens, 18 kinds of soil
alga and some kinds of endemic plants.
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