Information about Zaamin Zaamin is 3000 meters above sea level and located in the mountainous area of the Jizzakh region, Uzbekistan. The ruins of castles on its landscape attest to the region's ancient historical presence and legends and stories of these lands have been passed down from generation to generation for centuries until today. But first of all these highlands are unique for their nature, its coniferous forests, and its fresh, rejuvenating and healing air, among other natural resources. There are also many recreational resources and activities in the area with a lot of potential for further tourism development. FOR INSTANCE: џ active tourism (tracking, hiking and walking tours in
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the high mountainous area): speleological tourism, combined tourism (organic combination of various types of active tourism within the same route), sports tourism, mountain bike, fishing and hunting; ecological tourism (eco-tourism): (for instance, adventure travel) where natural environment or its individual elements as landscapes, natural monuments, certain types of plants or animals, or their combination can motivate tourists; recreational tourism: as a destination for visitors looking to improve health and general wellbeing, as well as for preventing different types of diseases; cultural and cognitive tourism: visiting historic, cultural and geographical cites; folklore and ethnographic tourism: visiting guest houses, crafts centers, monuments of folk architecture, museums, places of worship, acquaintance with local folklore, local cuisine, national spirit, local handicrafts, among other pursuits.
One of the gems of Uzbekistan, the Zaamin National Park, is located here. It has been established for recreational development and to preserve and restore the unique mountain juniper ecosystems. The powerful mountainous barrier of the Turkestan range in the east and south-east of Zaamin, as well as the wide open region to the north significantly impact the microclimate of the park. The territory of the National Park is a natural health resort, a favorite recreation area of the region. The park has maximum conditions and facilities for ecotourists. There are over 50 species of medicinal and food plants in the park. To preserve the unique natural juniper forests with its distinctive plants and animals, the Zaamin National Mountain Juniper Preserve has been created within the National Park. There are almost 12,000 hectares of the largest and primeval array of forest area. The landscape of the preserve has areas of alpine steppe, subalpine and alpine meadows, canyons, rocks and saz marshes. Once, slopes of all mountains in Central Asia were covered with dense forests of archa, the Asian juniper tree which reaches a height of 10-18 meters. However, the disappearance of these unique natural systems almost coincided with the development of the human civilization in the area between Amudarya and Syrdarya. Now, mountain forests of juniper are preserved only in nature reserves and national parks. Taking into account the location of the preserve, its natural systems and environment is recommended to the status of the biosphere preserve. Forests play a protective role in reducing soil erosion. Juniper forests improve the quality of the air. The quantity of negatively charged light ions are several times higher here than elsewhere. Forests also enrich oxygen. Additionally, the juniper trees produce phytoncides facilitating deposits of vitamin C in the organism. One hectare of the juniper forest produces 30 kg of phytoncides a day, enough to clean the air of a 25-30 thousand population town. The air is sterile in the juniper forests. It is no accident that these forests are nominated to the UNESCO World Heritage List as there are no such massive juniper forests in Central Asia.
One of the remarkable sites of the preserve are massive red, oddly shaped stones which are similar to sphinxes in the Kyzyl-ataksay glade. Locals refer to this place as “Qirq qiz”, or, “Forty Girls”. The figures are composed of conglomerate and sandstone. Some appear highly polished while others have cracks of varying sizes where different shrubs have managed grow. Animals are part of the mountain fauna in the National Park. There are over a hundred species of mammals, as well as birds and amphibiotic fish. One can glimpse animal species that are listed in the Red Book of the Republic of Uzbekistan and UNESCO; the Turkestan lynx, the Tien Shan brown bear, the marbled polecat, the bearded eagle, the golden eagle, the saker falcon, the black stork and the juniper grosbeak. There are Asiatic ibex, steppe polecats, badgers, hares, foxes, hedgehogs, wolves, wild boars and sometimes snow leopards as well. Chuckars and their bigger congeners, such as mountain snow cocks nest, here. Birds of prey such as Egyptian vultures, griffons, black vultures, sparrow hawks, goshawks, buzzards, kestrels, eagle owls and marsh owls may be spotted here. Apart from its natural offerings, there is arecreational zone for health, wellbeing and recuperation and tourism, represented by the Zaamin sanatorium and dozens of nearby resorts, rest houses and children's camps. The recreational zone for health, wellbeing and recuperation and tourism is located in 1200-4025 meters above sea level. There is a health resort, Zaamin sanatorium, located within the preserve. The beautiful mountain scenery, fresh air, plenty of sunshine and increased ultraviolet radiation create favorable conditions for climatic and prophylactic procedures for children and adults suffering from respiratory and nervous system disorders. The Zaamin sanatorium is equipped with upto-date medical and diagnostic hardware but the main medical factor is the mountain climate. It uses hydrotherapy (artificial pearl, iodide-bromine and coniferous baths, showers and pools), physiotherapy,
Khokim of Zaamin district
Uskan Buriboevich Azimov (+998 72) 392 1212
Deputy khokim of Zaamin district
Sheroziy Djuraev (+99872) 392 1215
Head of Information Center of
Urozali Berdibekov
Khokimiyat of Zaamin district
(+99891) 208 9085 (+99872) 392 1028
remedial gymnastics, health path, massage therapy, sauna, and hydrochloric halo chamber for curing people suffering from bronchial asthma. Single and double rooms are available, and there are recreational facilities, such as a club, a library, a bar, playgrounds with amusements for children, and a gym hall. Tours are organized. In the sanatorium, there is a waterfall, and a 700 years old English walnut 20 in meters height, with crowns up to 28 meters wide and a trunk 2,7 meters in diameter. Guests may explore along marked routes covering different plant zones and altitudinal belts, along paths ranging from 5 to 13 km, designed for one day's hiking at a moderate level of difficulty. For multiple days, guests may stay in the camp area.
Director of Museum of Zaamin district Representative of Federation of Trade Unions of Uzbekistan
Sindor Koraboev (+99895) 504 8670 Olga Kvashina (+99871) 256 8568 (+99871) 256 5769
Director of tourist company “Nature and Recreation”
Lola Sanaeva (+99895) 503 0593 (+99890) 229 7284 sanaeva_08@mail.ru
Guide-translator
Marguba Ergasheva (+99891) 598 4767 emarguba@mail.ru
Director of “Urukli” camping
Anvar Normatov (+99895) 503 1939
Director of National Park “Zaamin”
Alisher Khodjaev (+99891) 596 6633