Turianchai Preserve
Turianchai Preserve
a nature preserve located in the foothills of the Greater Caucasus on the slopes of the Bozdag Range, between the Geokchai and Aldshiganchai Rivers in Ag-dash Raion, Azerbaijan SSR. Within the preserve, the Bozdag Range is intersected longitudinally by the Turianchai River, which flows from the Greater Caucasus.
The preserve was organized in 1958 to safeguard the rare pistachio-juniper thin forests and jasmine of the lower zone and the world’s only grove of eldar pine, in the El’iarougi Range. The preserve covers an area of 12,400 hectares (1975). Species registered in the Turianchai Preserve include 20 species of mammals, including wild boar, wolf, bear, badger, tiger weasel, fox, golden jackal, European hare, raccoon, and jungle cat. There are 108 species of birds, 30 of which are nonmigratory, and 11 species of reptiles, including the Levantine viper.