Korgalzhyn Nature Reserve lies 120 km southwest of the city of Astana. In 1968, it was re-established as a nature reserve by government decree. It covers 258,963 hectares.
There are 8 bird migration routes in the world, and three of them cross Lake Tengiz in this reserve. That is why millions of birds live on Korgalzhyn's nearly 70 lakes.
The reserve belongs to Group "A" under the Ramsar Convention, and in 2007 its lakes were designated an Important Bird Area (IBA) of international significance.
