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Discover Kazakhstan’s Korgalzhyn Nature Reserve, a haven for thousands of flamingos

A short trip from Astana, the Korgalzhyn State Nature Reserve is a pristine wildlife escape where visitors can observe majestic pink flamingos in their nesting grounds.

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READ MORE : http://www.euronews.com/2025/10/15/discover-kazakhstans-korgalzhyn-nature-reserve-a-haven-for-thousands-of-flamingos

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00:00In this episode of Modern Nomads, we will try to get closer to wild animals and enjoy the pristine nature of the Kurgaljin State Reserve with its one-of-a-kind natural system barely touched by human hand.
00:15Just 150 kilometers away from Astana lies one of Kazakhstan's natural treasures, the Kurgaljin State Nature Reserve. Vast, wild and full of life. Welcome to Kazakhstan. Welcome to Modern Nomads.
00:30The Kurgaljin Reserve engulfs steppes, semi-deserts, fresh and saltwater lakes. The uniqueness of its system resulted in the reserve becoming a wetland of international importance, recognized under the Ramsar Convention as well as the UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site in 2008.
00:50The Kurgaljin State Reserve is founded in 1968 as a place of scopling birds and animals, as unique water and water.
01:02The Kurgaljin State Reserve is the largest in Kazakhstan. Its height is 543 171 hectares.
01:11Most notably, the reserve is known as the heaven for birds. Three migration flyways across Kurgaljin's territory – Central Asian, West Asian East African and Black Sea Mediterranean.
01:35This brings thousands of birds here every year, including the crown jewel, the pink flamingo.
01:41First of all, because there is a food base here, a food base, and also a security regime.
01:47They don't bother them. They even fly planes on a special level. So they feel safe here.
01:55Hailing from Iran, Iraq, India, Pakistan and Egypt, flamingos arrive in Kazakhstan in April and stay through October.
02:02While here, they renew their plumage, hatch chicks, and wait for the babies to get stronger.
02:07Kurgaljin is the northernmost nesting point for these birds.
02:11Flamingos lay their eggs on the shores. Both male and female birds take care of the hatchlings, of which there are no more than two to three.
02:33Flamingos are drawn to the lakes in Kurgaljin for their salinity. With nothing but open shorelines, predators have nowhere to hide, making this place a safe haven for the birds.
02:52The biggest lake in the reserve, Lake Tingas, has 270 grams of salt per liter of water, which is almost seven times the average amount of salt in sea water.
03:02This makes perfect habitat for Artemia salina, a type of brine shrimp that is the main food source for flamingos.
03:09Is it true that the color of flamingos is because of this Artemia?
03:14Yes, it is true, because in Artemia salina, there is a type of carotenoid, which is, for example, in the larvae.
03:22And the flamingos are used for a long time. When it is used to feed it, it is used to feed it.
03:28It is used to feed it, and then it is used to feed it, and then it is used to feed it, and then it is used to feed it.
03:33Because of this process, it takes around three years for a flamingo to turn pink, which is why you can always spot young birds, who are usually grey.
03:41For tourists wishing to see flamingos, the journey will start from the visit center in the village of Quraaljin,
03:52where an inspector will take you around a small museum, talking about the richness of the reserves flora and fauna.
03:59There are three touristic routes in the reserve, centering around either flamingos, swans or saiga antelopes. Each excursion takes around three hours.
04:22For tourists, we have 3,000 to 5,000 people in the village.
04:32They are France, Poland, China, and Japan.
04:37Home to thousands of birds, animals and insects, the reserve lives its own life.
04:49A perfect balance of nature, where you can disconnect from the fast-paced world and simply breathe.
04:55Breathe.
04:56Breathe.
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