Aktau-Buzachinskiy Nature Reserve

The rest of the reserve extends 60km north along the Dolgiy Peninsula, part of the western Buzachi Peninsula, until Aktumsuk Bay. On the peninsula’s north-west coast are the remains of Krasnyy ‘Red’ Dolginets, an abandoned village and collective fishing farm, and the birthplace of decorated Red Army soldier Sisembaev Sham (1919–2004). According to Soviet maps, there may be a few more ruins on the road leading north to Aktumsuk.

Animals living in the area include the Ustyurt mouflon, Brandt’s hedgehog, Persian gazelle, foxes, caracal, steppe polecat, Pallas’ cat, whooper swans, occasional saiga herds, wolves, Caspian seals, and Dalmatian and eastern white pelicans. There are at least 15 reptile species and 30 types of birds of prey, such as vultures and white-tailed eagles. Please note that this information reflects the biodiversity as of the 1990s, and the current fauna composition may have changed since then.