Issyk-Kul Biosphere Reserve is the largest in the Kyrgyz Republic, with an area of 19 thousand hectares. It was created in 1948 to protect unique species of animals and birds wintering off the shores of Lake Issyk-Kul. These are Marco Polo’s sheep, Capricorns, Tien-shan brown bear and snow leopard. The Reserve is one of the 338 World Reserves recognized by the UNESCO program «Man and Biosphere».