Snow has fallen on the Burabay mountains and lake. Very popular with city dwellers in summer, but rather neglected in winter, the Burabay State National Nature Park was created in 2000. A first attempt to protect this area, which is important to the Kazakh people, was made in 1935, but the forests were logged again from 1951 onwards.
Kazakhstan’s National Park status does not protect natural areas from tourism or industrial development projects. Some parks have been downgraded in the past, for example to allow a ski resort to be built at Kök Jailoo or accommodation to be built at Ile-Alatau.

Credits : Hélène Garnier (France, @suneclat)

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