Gissar Mountains
UzbekistanNational Commission of the Republic of Uzbekistan for UNESCO
Kashkadarya Region
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Property names are listed in the language in which they have been submitted by the State Party
Description
The territory consists of two sites: Gissar state reserve (founded in 1983, 80986 hectares) and Kitob State reserve (founded in 1979, 3938 hectares) located in the western end of Gissar mountain ridge. These reserves provide preservation of all the natural sites and complexes in this territory in absolute inviolability. Gissar Mountains is the unique territorial natural complex, which represents all the variety of ecosystems of western extremity of the Pamir-Alay mountain range. All the distinctive and rare representatives of flora and fauna of this region were preserved here. Geological outcroppings are unique for Eurasia and international stratigraphic standard as well. Combination of the guarded nature and objects of cultural heritage is unique. Two unique objects represent cultural heritage. In the northern part of Gissar reserve on the slope of Khazret Sultan Mount located Muslim pilgrimage site for Saint Khodji Daud (Khazret Sultan). In the southern part of reserve located world-known cave of Amir Temur - natural cavern cavity of corridor-grotto type with the length of 860 m. It has the largest subterranean lake in Uzbekistan. The cave was settled in the Stone Age and Greco-Bactrian period (IV-III centuries B.C.).
Statements of authenticity and/or integrity
Territory includes the zone of middle mountains and highlands until water-separate ridges, which provides long-term preservation of ecosystems of these zones, plant and animal communities. The territory provides full set of conditions for constant dwelling of rare kinds of animals.
Comparison with other similar properties
Combination of unique biodiversity with unique geological outcrop is not met anywhere.