Author Topic: Kazakhstan Tien Shan (Read 8213 times)

Dave M · « **on:** July 03, 2016, 09:27:09 PM »

I’ve just come back from a couple of weeks tour leading and exploring the botanical highlights of the Kazakhstan Tien Shan. What a fantastic place, stunning scenery, an outstanding flora and fauna and lovely people. We spent roughly a week in the east exploring Ile-Alatau National Park then caught the overnight sleeper train to the west to botanise Aksu-Dzhagly Nature Reserve. My fellow botanist for the trip was Vladimir Epiktetov, a superb local naturalist and plantsman with a small nursery and an impressive collection of plants in his garden perched up in Ile-Alatau NP near Almaty.

Transport was a mix of foot, 4wd and horse riding to get to the real high altitude gems (Vladimir hated the horse riding!). Logistics into this area are not to be underestimated with few surfaced roads and tightly regulated access on the borders of China and Kyrgyzstan needing the right paperwork to negotiate the numerous armed military checkpoints and random stops. Accommodation was a mix of mountain guesthouses and a fairly basic mountain hut in Aksu-Dzhagly with no electricity, water or flushing toilet. The weather was excellent with only 2 days of inclement weather at lower elevations and temperatures ranging from 16-25 degrees most days in the mountains.

With some top-draw alpines, meadows of Tulips and wildlife including Snow Leopard and Himalayan Rubbythroat its not hard to see the appeal!

The Tien Shan bursting up from the steppe to the west of Almaty.

Overnight sleeper train from Almaty to Tulkubas

Mountain hut, Aksu-Dzhagly Nature reserve

Some muppet on horseback - the only way to find those remote alpine gems!

Vladimir Epiktetov and Thylacospermum caespitosum

Dave M · « **Reply #1 on:** July 03, 2016, 09:31:37 PM »

Starting off exploring the alpine meadows in the eastern Tien Shan within Ile-Alatau National Park.

Atrangene sibirica

Delphinium confusum

Dianthus hoeltzeri

Geranium saxatile

Iris sogdiana

Dave M · « **Reply #2 on:** July 03, 2016, 09:35:13 PM »

Oxytropis globulifera

Papaver croceum

Phlamoides oreophilla

Pulsatilla campanella

Trollius dschungaricus

Dave M · « **Reply #3 on:** July 03, 2016, 09:41:04 PM »

Codonopsis clematidea

Aquilegia atrovinosa

Delphinium confusum

Eremurus altaicus

Erysimum croceum

Dave M · « **Reply #4 on:** July 03, 2016, 09:44:58 PM »

Leontopodium fedtschenkoanum

Domestic apple relative Malus sieversii

A rather stunning dandelion, Taraxacum pseudoroseum

Dave M · « **Reply #5 on:** July 03, 2016, 09:51:08 PM »

Climbing a little higher now just above the tree line (mostly Picea schrenkiana and various Juniper species) around 'Big Almaty Lake'.

Cortusa brotheri

The stunning Dracocephalum grandiflorum

Dracocephalum grandiflorum

Gentian karelinii

Ligularia macrophylla

Maggi Young · « **Reply #6 on:** July 03, 2016, 09:52:47 PM »

Quite a trip, Dave - and in good company- it was a real pleasure to meet Vladimir at the 2nd Czech international rock garden conference - and he gave us a great talk too.

Dave M · « **Reply #7 on:** July 03, 2016, 09:57:32 PM »

Within the alpine zone above the old soviet observation station and the decommissioned kosmo-station between 2,800m and 3,590m.

Allium atrosanguineum

Androsace lehmanniana

Callianthemum alatavicum

Callianthemum alatavicum

Chorispora bungeana

Dave M · « **Reply #8 on:** July 03, 2016, 10:00:44 PM »

Quote from: Maggi Young on July 03, 2016, 09:52:47 PM

Quite a trip, Dave - and in good company- it was a real pleasure to meet Vladimir at the 2nd Czech international rock garden conference - and he gave us a great talk too.

It was an outstanding place. Also met up with Anna Ivashenko another fine central Asian botanist, unfortunately she is now getting out less into the mountains so couldn't join us.