The scientific expedition to Koytendag started on the eve of the International conference entitled “Nature of Turkmenistan: undiscovered wonders of Koytendag” with the aim to study the natural resources and sights of this region.
This large-scale international forum initiated by President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov is organized by the Academy of Sciences of Turkmenistan, the Secretariat of the National Commission of Turkmenistan for UNESCO, the Ministry of Nature Protection of Turkmenistan, the State Committee for Tourism and Sport and the Lebap Velayat Khyakimlik.
The expedition brought together over fifty participants – leading scientists representing eight countries, including the USA, Canada, the UK, Italy, Spain, Finland, Russia and their Turkmen colleagues, as well as journalists. Among the participants of the exhibition are paleontologists, mineralogists, speleologists, botanists and zoologists, ecologists specialized in preservation of natural sights, as well as UESCO representatives, who will assess the beauty of Koytendag.
Koytendag will become the center of detailed study and researches as well as the main topic for discussion, exchanging opinions between the leading scientists at the representative international forum to be held on the outcomes of the expedition.
It is not occasional that this region has become the venue of this first for our country large-scale international scientific expedition taken place with the aim to establish cooperation between foreign and Turkmen scientists and specialists in this sphere, to study and popularize natural landscapes, the diversity of the plant and animal kingdom of Turkmenistan, as well as the natural and ethnographic sights of our Fatherland.
This is the region of concentration of the unique natural sights, including the tracks of dinosaurs left dozens millions years ago, one of the longest system of karstic caves on the Earth, as well as a unique inhabitant of underground – Kugitang blind loach, a small fish, which became a real discovery for scientists in due time and which is worthy of thorough study.
Moreover, there are the highest in Turkmenistan mountains, the deepest fresh lake, healing hydrosulfuric springs, beautiful waterfall – Umbar, grandiose canyons with vertical sides hundred-meters in height, and, of course, rich flora and fauna in Koytendag. The unique cultural and ethnographic heritage reflected in the phenomenon of the Kyrkgyz grotto covered with legends arouses keen interest among visitors to Koytendag.
The base camp of the expedition was laid in the Koyten settlement, a beautiful place in Koytendag. This area is remarkable for numerous natural sights, including the Kattakel Lake 80 meters deep, and the relic grove of common jujube.
The rich programme of the expedition includes the field scientific researches carried out during daylight hours. The interim results will be discussed during the round-table meetings, which will be held every day.
Among the key topics for discussions are the prospects for international cooperation within the framework of the National geological park in the Koyten gorge and its registration at the global network of the geological parks, drafts of nomination proposals for the Koytendag Reserve to be considered for inclusion in UNESCO's World Heritage List. The role and prospects for the international scientific cooperation for thorough study of the preservation of natural and cultural wealth of Koytendag and development of tourism in the region will be discussed within the framework of the expedition.
This large-scale international forum initiated by President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov is organized by the Academy of Sciences of Turkmenistan, the Secretariat of the National Commission of Turkmenistan for UNESCO, the Ministry of Nature Protection of Turkmenistan, the State Committee for Tourism and Sport and the Lebap Velayat Khyakimlik.
The expedition brought together over fifty participants – leading scientists representing eight countries, including the USA, Canada, the UK, Italy, Spain, Finland, Russia and their Turkmen colleagues, as well as journalists. Among the participants of the exhibition are paleontologists, mineralogists, speleologists, botanists and zoologists, ecologists specialized in preservation of natural sights, as well as UESCO representatives, who will assess the beauty of Koytendag.
Koytendag will become the center of detailed study and researches as well as the main topic for discussion, exchanging opinions between the leading scientists at the representative international forum to be held on the outcomes of the expedition.
It is not occasional that this region has become the venue of this first for our country large-scale international scientific expedition taken place with the aim to establish cooperation between foreign and Turkmen scientists and specialists in this sphere, to study and popularize natural landscapes, the diversity of the plant and animal kingdom of Turkmenistan, as well as the natural and ethnographic sights of our Fatherland.
This is the region of concentration of the unique natural sights, including the tracks of dinosaurs left dozens millions years ago, one of the longest system of karstic caves on the Earth, as well as a unique inhabitant of underground – Kugitang blind loach, a small fish, which became a real discovery for scientists in due time and which is worthy of thorough study.
Moreover, there are the highest in Turkmenistan mountains, the deepest fresh lake, healing hydrosulfuric springs, beautiful waterfall – Umbar, grandiose canyons with vertical sides hundred-meters in height, and, of course, rich flora and fauna in Koytendag. The unique cultural and ethnographic heritage reflected in the phenomenon of the Kyrkgyz grotto covered with legends arouses keen interest among visitors to Koytendag.
The base camp of the expedition was laid in the Koyten settlement, a beautiful place in Koytendag. This area is remarkable for numerous natural sights, including the Kattakel Lake 80 meters deep, and the relic grove of common jujube.
The rich programme of the expedition includes the field scientific researches carried out during daylight hours. The interim results will be discussed during the round-table meetings, which will be held every day.
Among the key topics for discussions are the prospects for international cooperation within the framework of the National geological park in the Koyten gorge and its registration at the global network of the geological parks, drafts of nomination proposals for the Koytendag Reserve to be considered for inclusion in UNESCO's World Heritage List. The role and prospects for the international scientific cooperation for thorough study of the preservation of natural and cultural wealth of Koytendag and development of tourism in the region will be discussed within the framework of the expedition.
