Burabay National Park

Burabay State National Nature Park
«Бурабай» мемлекеттік ұлттық табиғи паркі (Kazakh) Государственный национальный природный парк «Бурабай» (Russian)
IUCN category II (national park)
Location	Aqmola Region, Kazakhstan
Nearest city	Shchuchinsk, Kokshetau, Nur-Sultan
Coordinates	53°05′00″N 70°18′00″E / 53.08333°N 70.30000°E / 53.08333; 70.30000
Area	83,511 hectares (206,360 acres)
Established	1 June 1935 (1935-06-01) (nature reserve) 12 August 2000 (2000-08-12) (national park)
Governing body	Under the responsibility of the President of Kazakhstan
Website	http://parkburabay.kz/

The Burabay State National Nature Park (Kazakh: «Бурабай» мемлекеттік ұлттық табиғи паркі, romanized: «Burabai» memlekettık ūlttyq tabiği parkı; Russian: Государственный национальный природный парк «Бурабай», romanized: Gosudarstvennyy natsional'nyy prirodnyy park «Burabay») is a national park located in Burabay District, Aqmola Region, Kazakhstan, which covers a vast area of 129,935 hectares, with a significant portion of the land covered by forests, lakes, and diverse landscapes, including the Kokshetau Massif, part of the Kokshetau Hills.

The Burabay National Park has a rich history, starting with the establishment of a state forest in 1898. Over the years, it evolved from a nationalized spa town in 1920 to the National Nature Reserve of Burabay in 1935. In 2000, it officially became a national park, with the area expanded in 2010. The park features a variety of ecosystems, including forests, lakes, and steppes, and is home to a diversity of flora and fauna. The Burabay National Park is home to 757 species of plants, including many protected species, and 305 species of animals, some of which are listed in Kazakhstan's Red Book. The forest is predominantly made up of pines and birches, with many species of deer, wild boars, lynxes, wolves, and various bird species, including ducks, geese, and capercailies.

A popular feature of the park is Kenesary Cave, named after Kenesary Khan, the grandson of Ablai Khan, which is believed to have been his childhood residence. The Burabay National Park is also associated with numerous legends, giving rise to Burabay, often referred to as "Kazakhstan's pearl".

Being recognized as one of the top tourist destinations in Kazakhstan, the Burabay National Park is directly managed under the jurisdiction of the President of Kazakhstan and is considered a significant protected area, with activities in the park regulated to preserve its natural and ecological integrity.^[1]