The Bogeda Biosphere Reserve is located in the eastern region of the Tianshan Mountains in China's Xinjiang Province. Local residents named the area the Sangong River Valley after one of the largest rivers in this region, which originates from Bogeda Peak. Altogether, five major landscapes are distributed throughout the northern and southern areas of the biosphere reserve: ice-snow belts, alpine and sub-alpine meadow belts, forest belts, steppe belts and sand desert dunes. The topography consists of a middle mountain belt, low mountain erosion hills and alluvial areas. Tianchi Lake is the only natural lake in the region and lies adjacent to the Sangong River.
Ecology
The Bogeda Biosphere Reserve is situated within the temperate continental arid climate zone. Different habitat types range from snowy landscapes to meadows, steppe and sand dunes, offering ideal circumstances for the development of a rich biodiversity. Alpine and sub-alpine landscapes with Koresia capilliformis and perennial herbaceous cover approximately 80% of the area. The low plain lingo halophyte vegetation desert zone contains flora species such as Suaeda physophora and Halostachys caspica. Characteristic fauna species include Ciconia nigra, Buteo rufinus and Felis lynx. However, numerous endangered or threatened animal species within the biosphere reserve struggle for survival, including Falco subbuteo and Gazella subgutturosa among others. The region is also home to species of commercial or traditional importance, such as Cistanche salsa, which grows in desert habitats and is used for traditional Chinese medicine.
Socio-economic characteristics
About 134,000 people inhabit the Bodega biosphere reserve permanently, while over 410,000 people visit on a seasonal basis. The main economic activities are livestock, agriculture and tourism. The majority of inhabitants are Han Chinese with Hui, Hasake and Uygur populations also living in the reserve. The nearest major town is Fukang City, located in the transition zone. Since the 1960s, the underground freshwater table has deepened, while the underground salt water table has risen. The result has been serious soil salinization and erosion, which hinders the cultivation of agricultural products. The Tianchi Lake, located in the core area on the mountains, is a Taoist shrine and constitutes the main cultural and traditional site of the Bogeda Biosphere Reserve.
